Created in Birmingham

• Regeneration of Birmingham city centre’s Dale End on hold for five years
  “Independent clothing store the Oasis has been given a reprieve after signing a five-year lease for its Corporation Street premises”. Very glad to hear it. New leases are being offered on units in there now, if you’re interested
• TwiTrip to Birmingham – the verdict | Travel | guardian.co.uk
  “Sarah Turner’s Twitter-led trip to the second city took her from Russian art at the Ikon Gallery to a top Brum boozer in Moseley and a belting Balti in Sparkbrook”
• Crowning of the City’s Stylish | Style Birmingham
  Here’s the list of winners from the recent Style Awards 2009 – ‘the places and people keeping the city at the height of the fashion game’. Congrats to Disorder for picking up the Token Local Shop Award
• Brumcast 134 ‘Oxjam Brum Special’
  The most recent episode (scrap that, a newer one just arrived) of the must-listen podcast/radio show featured bands appearing on the Oxjam Brum bill over the weekend
• Cut-Out — CiB Charity T-shirt
  Apparently there’s only about 7 of the ‘small’ t-shirts left now. Thanks to everyone who bought one – the money has been going to Acorns Childrens’ Hospice

I hope you all had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, and didn’t make the mistake I made of eating Easter eggs for breakfast (not recommended). I’ve had a bit of a break from the laptop screen over the last few days, but me and Kay from Cut Out Shop have been busy Easter bunnies getting the Created in Birmingham T-shirts made.

Kay has done a wonderful job. She has lovingly hand screen printed the T-shirts in her West Midlands based studio, using the winning ‘Birmingham Wards Map’ design by Kate Parry. She has chosen ethically made shirts and has used earth friendly inks which don’t harm the environment. Along with designer Katie, we decided to create the items in classic black and daring gold, which is a bit brave, but also a million miles away from the usual, bland charity t-shirts.

First and foremost, the T-shirts and tote bags have been designed and created with one goal, to raise money and awareness for a Birmingham based charity – Acorns Children’s Hospice. The charity was chosen after reading your suggestions, and it was clearly a popular choice.

The items will be available to buy sometime over the next couple of weeks, in a very limited run of 50 T-shirts and 50 tote bags. Keep ‘em peeled so you don’t miss out.