PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED.

Our last day trading for 2009 was 23rd December when we closed early at 5pm and went for fish and chips followed by Public Image Ltd. at the Electric Ballroom.

Prick Your Finger is not a limited company, it is a partnership; but our public image, and the public image of all our customers and artists, is very important, and we would like to thank Johnny Lydon for his inspiration.

On stage, after greeting us he said 'We have a lot of work to do this evening,' and so we all did.

PIL were never a band but a company. Our part seemed as important as theirs and none of us would ever want to be categorized.

This was not the original band, but new PIL, funded by Johnny Lydon's butter advert. All new gigs were recorded and the CD sold at the end of the gig, to fund the making of a new album, with no record company interference. We like that.

We were too young to see PIL the first time round and of course it wasn't like it was, but the songs are so good and his voice and presence extraordinary. He explained his need to sing these songs at this time in his life, and we needed him to sing them for this time in our lives.

Anarchy had never seemed so warm, friendly, and achievable. We felt like guided warriers, with plenty of drive, who will not surrender under any circumstances.

Thank you Johnny, I hope you wouldn't mind me saying your gig was like a big cuddle.

MONEY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

Thank you to everyone who donated money, by purchasing a toy at our party for Aketsun Loveable. We have raised a grand total of £63.17 for the Environmental Justice Foundation, who heighten the awareness of the true cost of cotton.

We shall be delivering this giant cheque to the EJF in the new year, and hope, with your help, to raise more money for them in the future.

(We are quite proud of the giant cheques, which have digital swirls in the back ground, lifted off a pamphlet promoting the Crafts Council.)

TURNING SOLID BOBBINS.

Modern chunky bobbins are usually made in pieces. The benefit is less wood wastage, but problems arise when build up of yarn puts pressure on the ends of the bobbin causing them to wobble or pop off. We experience terrible tangles, and wasted time faffing with Superglue and clamps.

Well this Christmas, my Dad is coming to the rescue by turning 'Solid Bobbins' in Elm.

The only super glue needed is to fill up some little wood worm holes.

(Film made on phone)

LOUDER THAN BOMBS- ART, ACTION AND ACTIVISM.

We are pleased to announce we have been invited to take part in a show;

"Louder than Bombs- Art, Action and Activism" at the Stanley Picker Gallery in Kingston in the spring.

Our plan is to challenge the fashion and textiles industry with a bike powered wool mill / disco / boutique / protest platform, with which you are invited to participate.

There are seven artists taking part and each project seems to echo a song from The Smiths, 'Louder than Bombs'. Our song for the work in progress is 'Money Changes Everything.'

More info to follow. See you there!

SPEED WEAVE DARNING.

Father Christmas never fails to amaze me.

This year he brought the 'Speedweve,' Lancashire's smallest loom, made especially for darning. Darns come out square, for a modern look. Little hooks, twist to lift alternate threads, easing the weave, which is fast and effective. Genius.

(I'm down to phone camera, hense lo-fi images.)