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Last Tuesday myself and a friend popped along to Common Threads for the first time. This laid-back little crafting circle has been meeting in the spacious function room of Common Grounds cafe every Tuesday for the past two or three years. Funnily enough, I discovered the group during a brainstorming session to come up with a name for the Lisburn-based crafting group I’m in the process of setting up. I decided ‘Common Threads’ would be a great name for a social crafting group, but sensibly decided to do a quick Google search to see if another genius had got in there before me. And what do you know…?! Looking at their Facebook page, I could tell this group had exactly the type of vibe I wanted for my Lisburn venture, so I took the first opportunity to grab my needles, a likeminded pal, and get down there for some coffee and crafting. I was right about the vibe of the group – chilled and informal, but friendly, with little groups of crafters, sewists, lone knitters, all doing their own thing, but folks ready and willing to welcome you into the fold and get you started too. We were greeted by the lovely Meghan, one of Common Threads’ founders, who actually had her kids with her this night – and she wasn’t the only one. It was really lovely to see young people and little ones there, exploring their creativity during the summer holidays. Meghan chatted to us about the group, the kinds of events and workshops they host from time to time, and how it all started with a small group of crafters meeting once a week in the main cafe. The lovely people at Common Grounds offered them the use of the large back room and the rest is history. The group is currently taking its summer break, but will be back on the first Tuesday of August. It’s free to attend unless you are participating in one of their classes or workshops. Give their Facebook page a like and hopefully see you there some time! #fairtrade #sewing #CommonThreads #knitting #Belfast #cafe #CommonGrounds #NorthernIreland #craftgroup #crafting

After featuring this innovative art project on the PQ last year, I fell in love with it and vowed to see it in the flesh if it returned for a second year. Thankfully it has, and the response from artists has been even bigger and better than in 2013. If you haven’t heard of Papergirl Belfast (and clicking on that handy link is just too much like hard work), Jodie Young and Julie Steenson are two local ladies who have put a Belfast spin on a global free art concept. Papergirl invites submissions from artists – the only brief being that the artwork can be rolled up. After a short exhibition, the pieces are taken down, rolled up and distributed free to members of the public by the beautiful, bicycling Papergirl team. Friday 27 June saw the launch of Papergirl Belfast 2014, at PS². The exhibition continues until 5th July and I thoroughly recommend you get down before then to see the amazing variety of work on show. Not a single submission gets rejected, and it’s the inclusivity of this project that appeals to me as much as its diversity and accessibility. Keep an eye out for the Papergirl team, and get in touch here if you’re lucky enough to bag some free art from them! #art #freeartfriday #pssquaredbelfast #ps2 #paragonstudiosbelfast #Papergirl #PapergirlBelfast #popupgallerynorthernireland #donegallstreetbelfast

A lovely variety of events this week – talks, exhibitions, quizzes, music and even superheroes! Make the most of your leisure time this week, and feel free to come back and comment or share your pics if you try out any of the activities in this week’s listing. Monday 30 June Derry ~ Londonderry Playhouse Painters Summer Exhibition, Playhouse Theatre Today is your last day to catch the summer exhibition of the Playhouse Painters, a group of retired people interested in creating art. Taking its lead from the ALLY Foyle ethos (Active Living in Later Years), there is a therapeutic element to the group, with members sharing a love of creativity. Phone 7126 8027 to find out more. Tuesday 1 July Newtownards Women & War exhibition, The Space @ Ards Visitor Information Centre, 1 – 31 July As part of Ards Borough Council’s commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the First World War, this is a fascinating look at the work of women during WW1. Director of the Somme Museum Carol Walker will give a talk using real stories of women, to illustrate the massive changes in their roles and rights between 1914 and 1918. Visit the website or call 9182 6846. Wednesday 2 July Belfast Brainteaser @ Sunflower, Sunflower Bar, 7.15pm Social Safari are a new organisation in Belfast, arranging social events based around fun shared activities as an instant ice-breaker. This is a free taster event based around brainteasers. You’ll get a five minute conversation with each person, trying to solve puzzles and sequences – but don’t worry, they insist you don’t have to be any good at it! They just ask that you relax and have fun, and fill in a short feedback questionnaire afterwards. Although it’s free, booking is required, so email hello@socialsafari.co.uk, with Free Trial Event in the subject line. Visit the website for more. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Thursday Belfast The Great Belfast Tea Fraud, PRONI, 1 – 2pm This lunchtime talk by Dr Pamela Emerson tells the untold story of this 19th Century crime. ‘Dummy’ boxes of tea, skeleton keys, a bribed boatman, a reported death in Jersey, suspicious land purchases in America and an untimely death… Come along to the Public Records Office on Wednesday to learn more about this Belfast mystery! Admission is free but booking is necessary to secure your place. Email proni@dcalni.gov.uk or phone 9053 4800. Friday 4 – Sat 5 July Warrenpoint Tanglewood Music & Arts Festival, Narrow Water Castle Now in its fourth year, Tanglewood is now well and truly established on Northern Ireland’s blooming summer festival scene. They have another cracking line-up, with over 50 acts including Ocean Colour Scene, Mojo Fury, Pete McAuley (Ram’s Pocket Radio) and Rory Nellis (Seven Summits), The Bonnevilles and Terri Hooley. Tickets are £16 for Friday only, £32 for Sat only and £45 for the whole weekend with camping. Visit the website for the full line up, further info and ticket sales. Sat 5 – Sun 6 July Armagh Heroes and Legends Weekend, Armagh Planetarium, 10am – 5pm each day After great success last year, Emerald Garrison’s Heroes and Legends Weekend is back. Come along to have your photo taken with your favourite iconic characters, and feel free to arrive in costume! There are fan-built sets and props from films and TV shows, including Ghostbusters and Dr Who. To find out more, email info@armaghplanet.com or phone 028 3752 3689. Sunday 6 July Belfast Festival of Fools Sunday Treats, Belfast city centre, 6 July – 31 Aug The PQ is delighted to hear Sunday Treats is back. I volunteered at The Festival of Fools in May and absolutely loved it, so do yourself a favour and get down to the city centre for some hilarious (and free!) street theatre. The summer of fun begins on Sunday with ultimate boyband Sean and Seamus Famous (2pm Cotton Court, 4pm St Anne’s Square) and the gorgeous silence of Lulu’s World (3pm Cotton Court, 5pm St Anne’s Square). These events and everything else happening this week can be found in the What’s On calendar Got an event you’d like to see here? Get in touch: #playhousepainters #NarrowWaterCastle #playhousetheatre #sunflowerbarbelfast #SocialSafari #activelivinginlateryears #WorldWarOne #brainteasers #Belfast #Newtownards #FirstWorldWar #WomenandWar #tanglewoodmusicfestival #quiz #greatbelfastteafraud #proni #publicrecordsofficenorthernireland #WW1 #summerexhibition #socialeventbelfast #allyfoyle #playhousederry #warrenpoint #puzzles #meetnewpeoplenorthernireland #belfastcrime

A lovely variety of events this week – talks, exhibitions, quizzes, music and even superheroes! Make the most of your leisure time this week, and feel free to come back and comment or share your pics if you try out any of the activities in this week’s listing. Monday 30 June Derry ~ Londonderry Playhouse Painters Summer Exhibition, Playhouse Theatre Today is your last day to catch the summer exhibition of the Playhouse Painters, a group of retired people interested in creating art. Taking its lead from the ALLY Foyle ethos (Active Living in Later Years), there is a therapeutic element to the group, with members sharing a love of creativity. Phone 7126 8027 to find out more. Tuesday 1 July Newtownards Women & War exhibition, The Space @ Ards Visitor Information Centre, 1 – 31 July As part of Ards Borough Council’s commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the First World War, this is a fascinating look at the work of women during WW1. Director of the Somme Museum Carol Walker will give a talk using real stories of women, to illustrate the massive changes in their roles and rights between 1914 and 1918. Visit the website or call 9182 6846. Wednesday 2 July Belfast Brainteaser @ Sunflower, Sunflower Bar, 7.15pm Social Safari are a new organisation in Belfast, arranging social events based around fun shared activities as an instant ice-breaker. This is a free taster event based around brainteasers. You’ll get a five minute conversation with each person, trying to solve puzzles and sequences – but don’t worry, they insist you don’t have to be any good at it! They just ask that you relax and have fun, and fill in a short feedback questionnaire afterwards. Although it’s free, booking is required, so email hello@socialsafari.co.uk, with Free Trial Event in the subject line. Visit the website for more. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Thursday Belfast The Great Belfast Tea Fraud, PRONI, 1 – 2pm This lunchtime talk by Dr Pamela Emerson tells the untold story of this 19th Century crime. ‘Dummy’ boxes of tea, skeleton keys, a bribed boatman, a reported death in Jersey, suspicious land purchases in America and an untimely death… Come along to the Public Records Office on Wednesday to learn more about this Belfast mystery! Admission is free but booking is necessary to secure your place. Email proni@dcalni.gov.uk or phone 9053 4800. Friday 4 – Sat 5 July Warrenpoint Tanglewood Music & Arts Festival, Narrow Water Castle Now in its fourth year, Tanglewood is now well and truly established on Northern Ireland’s blooming summer festival scene. They have another cracking line-up, with over 50 acts including Ocean Colour Scene, Mojo Fury, Pete McAuley (Ram’s Pocket Radio) and Rory Nellis (Seven Summits), The Bonnevilles and Terri Hooley. Tickets are £16 for Friday only, £32 for Sat only and £45 for the whole weekend with camping. Visit the website for the full line up, further info and ticket sales. Sat 5 – Sun 6 July Armagh Heroes and Legends Weekend, Armagh Planetarium, 10am – 5pm each day After great success last year, Emerald Garrison’s Heroes and Legends Weekend is back. Come along to have your photo taken with your favourite iconic characters, and feel free to arrive in costume! There are fan-built sets and props from films and TV shows, including Ghostbusters and Dr Who. To find out more, email info@armaghplanet.com or phone 028 3752 3689. Sunday 6 July Belfast Festival of Fools Sunday Treats, Belfast city centre, 6 July – 31 Aug The PQ is delighted to hear Sunday Treats is back. I volunteered at The Festival of Fools in May and absolutely loved it, so do yourself a favour and get down to the city centre for some hilarious (and free!) street theatre. The summer of fun begins on Sunday with ultimate boyband Sean and Seamus Famous (2pm Cotton Court, 4pm St Anne’s Square) and the gorgeous silence of Lulu’s World (3pm Cotton Court, 5pm St Anne’s Square). These events and everything else happening this week can be found in the What’s On calendar Got an event you’d like to see here? Get in touch: #playhousepainters #NarrowWaterCastle #playhousetheatre #sunflowerbarbelfast #SocialSafari #activelivinginlateryears #WorldWarOne #brainteasers #Belfast #Newtownards #FirstWorldWar #WomenandWar #tanglewoodmusicfestival #quiz #greatbelfastteafraud #proni #publicrecordsofficenorthernireland #WW1 #summerexhibition #socialeventbelfast #allyfoyle #playhousederry #warrenpoint #puzzles #meetnewpeoplenorthernireland #belfastcrime

It’s that time of year again already – the Blog Awards Ireland nominations have opened! This is the third outing for the awards that champion blogging creativity across the island of Ireland, and The Patchwork Quill has been lucky enough to be shortlisted in both previous years. If you would like to nominate any of Ireland’s many amazing blogs and sites, click the button above! For each blog you nominate, you need to provide an email address for the blog, as well as the county the blog owner lives in. So, suppose you wanted to nominate the PQ…. you’d have to tell them I live in County Antrim and that my email address is thepatchworkquill gmail com. Just, y’know, giving you a wee example there. Ahem… Blog Awards Ireland has a great FAQ page here and a list and explanation of the categories here. They have changed a few things with the categories – ‘Fashion’ and ‘Beauty’ have been separated into two categories, for example – so make sure you read the criteria for each carefully on the nomination form. Nominees will be announced on 25 July. #countyantrim #fashionblog #irishwebsites #irishblogs #BlogAwardsIreland #Ireland #NorthernIreland #blogawards #beautyblog #irishbloggers #blogawards2014

It’s that time of year again already – the Blog Awards Ireland nominations have opened! This is the third outing for the awards that champion blogging creativity across the island of Ireland, and The Patchwork Quill has been lucky enough to be shortlisted in both previous years. If you would like to nominate any of Ireland’s many amazing blogs and sites, click the button above! For each blog you nominate, you need to provide an email address for the blog, as well as the county the blog owner lives in. So, suppose you wanted to nominate the PQ…. you’d have to tell them I live in County Antrim and that my email address is thepatchworkquill gmail com. Just, y’know, giving you a wee example there. Ahem… Blog Awards Ireland has a great FAQ page here and a list and explanation of the categories here. They have changed a few things with the categories – ‘Fashion’ and ‘Beauty’ have been separated into two categories, for example – so make sure you read the criteria for each carefully on the nomination form. Nominees will be announced on 25 July. #countyantrim #fashionblog #irishwebsites #irishblogs #BlogAwardsIreland #Ireland #NorthernIreland #blogawards #beautyblog #irishbloggers #blogawards2014

Another varied week of things to see and do in Northern Ireland. Celebrate the vibrancy of African culture, enjoy maritime merriment or settle in for a movie marathon. Read on to find out more! Monday 19 – Sun 25 May Belfast Africa Week 2014, various locations Coordinated by the African and Caribbean Community Support Organisation Northern Ireland (ACSONI), this is a festival celebrating the vibrant culture of one of NI’s biggest minority ethnic communities. There are exhibitions, workshops, literary events, cookery demonstrations and music. One of the highlights looks set to be the AfricaFest family cultural day at Skainos on Saturday. Magwere will perform, and there’s a Fashion Against Hate event in the Skainos Square in the afternoon. Contact ACSONI for more information. Monday 19 May Belfast Sing For Life choir with Bart Players – The Canon Lindsay Hall, 7.30pm The Sing for Life community choir, developed in partnership by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland and Crescent Arts Centre, is joining with one of Belfast’s leading amateur drama groups, Bart Players. Compered by the BBC’s Noel Thompson, the evening will feature songs, drama and comedy, with proceeds split between the choir and St Bartholomew’s Church roof fund. At the end of the evening there will be a complimentary supper provided by the Bart Players. Tickets are £10 (£8 conc) and available online from the Crescent Arts Centre or by ringing 028 9024 2338. Tuesday 20 – Sat 24 May Ballyclare Ballyclare May Fair Festival, various locations Traditionally a horse trading event, the May Fair has grown into a five-day festival of family-friendly events, including the Mayor’s Parade, concerts, food exhibitions, and competitions. All of the details are up now on the website. Wednesday 21 May Belfast / Coleraine X-Men Double Bill – Movie House Cinema, 9.15pm A real treat for X-Men fans this Wednesday. Movie House Cinemas present a special double bill, beginning with X-Men: First Class (2D) at 9.15pm followed straight after by a screening of the latest film in the franchise, X-Men: Days of Future Past (2D) at 00.01. This is available in the Dublin Road and Cityside cinemas in Belfast and in Coleraine’s Movie House. Tickets are £10 per person and available online. Friday 23 May Lisburn ISLAND Music Club with Ronnie Greer – Island Arts Centre, 8pm Legendary jazz and blues guitarist Ronnie Greer hosts this special evening of music in Lisburn. He will be joined by singer songwriter Gráinne Duffy on guitar and vocals, and John McCullough on piano. Tickets are £10 and can be booked online or you can contact the box office on 028 9050 9254. Friday 23 May – Sunday 1 June Ballycastle / Rathlin Island Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival A celebration of the rich and diverse maritime culture of the area, the festival is centred on Rathlin Sound, the body of water that lies between Rathlin Island and Ballycastle. A sailing regatta, food, music, craft, exhibitions and family events make this a packed week plus of fun. Download the events programme and find out more on the website. Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 May Belfast 4th Northern Ireland Tattoo Convention – Ulster Hall Artists from all over Ireland and beyond will be in the Ulster Hall for two days of what organisers succinctly describe as “ink, drink, music, fun and great artists”. For tattoo admirers and collectors alike, admission is £12. The event runs on Saturday between 11am and 9pm and on Sunday between 10.30am and 8pm. These events and everything else happening this week can be found in the What’s On calendar Got an event you’d like to see here? Get in touch: #noelthompsonbbc #xmendaysoffuturepast #xmennorthernireland #islandmusicclublisburn #cinemanorthernireland #ballyclare #grainneduffy #Belfast #whatsoninlisburn #xmenfirstclass #africafest #ulsterhall #xmenfilm #northernirelandtattooconvention #rathlinisland #ronniegreer #af #bartplayers #africadaynorthernireland #islandartscentrelisburn #AfricanandCaribbeanCommunitySupportOrganisation #moviehousecinemas #johnmccullough #skainos #rathlinsoundmaritimefestival #ballyclaremayfairfestival #singforlifechoir #whatsoninbelfast #xmenmoviehouse #CrescentArtsCentre #africaweek2014 #xmendoublebill #whatsoninnorthernireland #acsoni

Another varied week of things to see and do in Northern Ireland. Celebrate the vibrancy of African culture, enjoy maritime merriment or settle in for a movie marathon. Read on to find out more! Monday 19 – Sun 25 May Belfast Africa Week 2014, various locations Coordinated by the African and Caribbean Community Support Organisation Northern Ireland (ACSONI), this is a festival celebrating the vibrant culture of one of NI’s biggest minority ethnic communities. There are exhibitions, workshops, literary events, cookery demonstrations and music. One of the highlights looks set to be the AfricaFest family cultural day at Skainos on Saturday. Magwere will perform, and there’s a Fashion Against Hate event in the Skainos Square in the afternoon. Contact ACSONI for more information. Monday 19 May Belfast Sing For Life choir with Bart Players – The Canon Lindsay Hall, 7.30pm The Sing for Life community choir, developed in partnership by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland and Crescent Arts Centre, is joining with one of Belfast’s leading amateur drama groups, Bart Players. Compered by the BBC’s Noel Thompson, the evening will feature songs, drama and comedy, with proceeds split between the choir and St Bartholomew’s Church roof fund. At the end of the evening there will be a complimentary supper provided by the Bart Players. Tickets are £10 (£8 conc) and available online from the Crescent Arts Centre or by ringing 028 9024 2338. Tuesday 20 – Sat 24 May Ballyclare Ballyclare May Fair Festival, various locations Traditionally a horse trading event, the May Fair has grown into a five-day festival of family-friendly events, including the Mayor’s Parade, concerts, food exhibitions, and competitions. All of the details are up now on the website. Wednesday 21 May Belfast / Coleraine X-Men Double Bill – Movie House Cinema, 9.15pm A real treat for X-Men fans this Wednesday. Movie House Cinemas present a special double bill, beginning with X-Men: First Class (2D) at 9.15pm followed straight after by a screening of the latest film in the franchise, X-Men: Days of Future Past (2D) at 00.01. This is available in the Dublin Road and Cityside cinemas in Belfast and in Coleraine’s Movie House. Tickets are £10 per person and available online. Friday 23 May Lisburn ISLAND Music Club with Ronnie Greer – Island Arts Centre, 8pm Legendary jazz and blues guitarist Ronnie Greer hosts this special evening of music in Lisburn. He will be joined by singer songwriter Gráinne Duffy on guitar and vocals, and John McCullough on piano. Tickets are £10 and can be booked online or you can contact the box office on 028 9050 9254. Friday 23 May – Sunday 1 June Ballycastle / Rathlin Island Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival A celebration of the rich and diverse maritime culture of the area, the festival is centred on Rathlin Sound, the body of water that lies between Rathlin Island and Ballycastle. A sailing regatta, food, music, craft, exhibitions and family events make this a packed week plus of fun. Download the events programme and find out more on the website. Saturday 24 – Sunday 25 May Belfast 4th Northern Ireland Tattoo Convention – Ulster Hall Artists from all over Ireland and beyond will be in the Ulster Hall for two days of what organisers succinctly describe as “ink, drink, music, fun and great artists”. For tattoo admirers and collectors alike, admission is £12. The event runs on Saturday between 11am and 9pm and on Sunday between 10.30am and 8pm. These events and everything else happening this week can be found in the What’s On calendar Got an event you’d like to see here? Get in touch: #noelthompsonbbc #xmendaysoffuturepast #xmennorthernireland #islandmusicclublisburn #cinemanorthernireland #ballyclare #grainneduffy #Belfast #whatsoninlisburn #xmenfirstclass #africafest #ulsterhall #xmenfilm #northernirelandtattooconvention #rathlinisland #ronniegreer #af #bartplayers #africadaynorthernireland #islandartscentrelisburn #AfricanandCaribbeanCommunitySupportOrganisation #moviehousecinemas #johnmccullough #skainos #rathlinsoundmaritimefestival #ballyclaremayfairfestival #singforlifechoir #whatsoninbelfast #xmenmoviehouse #CrescentArtsCentre #africaweek2014 #xmendoublebill #whatsoninnorthernireland #acsoni

If you happened to stroll through Dublin’s Phoenix Park last Saturday afternoon, you may have found yourself a victim of the mischievous ‘Crank Set’. Dozens of innocent passersby were accosted by a group that came from nowhere and took over the park on their bicycles. Clad in black bomber jackets emblazoned with their gang logo, they swooped on unsuspecting members of the public. A far cry from the sophisticated sportsmen of the Giro d’Italia, these rowdy riders circled and chased people, sped down paths dragging sticks across railings, and created an unearthly racket wherever they went, thanks to playing cards jammed between the spokes of their wheels. This surreal scene was actually the culmination of a unique art project forming part of the Bealtaine Festival, an all-island Irish festival which celebrates creativity as we age. The Crank Set is a bike gang for over 50s, set up to welcome the Giro d’Italia and also to explore a new creative outlet for a group of people aged 50+. Led by artist James Ó hAodha, the project saw the group come together to explore the ideas and imagery of gangs, with a view to setting up their own and staging a ‘rally’ in the park. During a series of workshops, they came up with the name, designed a gang logo and cycled together. James specialises in work that involves creating encounters, in the form of interventions, performance, action and exchange. He explains, “I was invited by Age & Opportunity – who run the Bealtaine Festival – to put together a piece exploring the older person’s experience of cycling, as part of the Dublin City CouncilGiro D’Italia Cultural Programme. The idea was to bring people together through cycling and create a piece of art. “Whilst researching, I realised there were no cycling groups for people in this age group; plenty of sport-orientated groups, but nothing purely social. The idea of a gang came to me as a way of bringing the people together in a way that would create an artwork in and of itself, rather than just doing some cycling and then afterwards trying to create something about it.” The project, and the rally in the park aimed to explore ideas around visibility, territory and ‘acting out’. Older people often speak of feeling ‘invisible’ so the idea of confronting people as a gang is a bold statement. It also plays on our preconceptions of older people – how would you react to a gang of over 50s circling on bikes and making a racket? How would you feel about a group of teenagers doing the same? We may feel threatened by the latter and amused by the former – are over 50s being written off as benign and irrelevant? On the day, some gang members were joined by friends and family for a bit of moral support. Most of them ended up jumping on a bike, donning a jacket and joining in the mischief-making! This unplanned intergenerational fun added an extra depth to the day’s activities. I absolutely love the whole ethos of this project. A lighthearted, fun and social celebration of creativity – but a very meaningful one. It’s lovely to hear that the group have enjoyed their time together so much that one of James’ longterm aims for the project is going to be realised – the Crank Set are staying together. The group will continue meeting up to cycle together and socialise, so it’s possible some lasting friendships have been formed. James is happy for readers to get in touch if you want to find out more. The Bealtaine Festival continues until the end of May, so check out what’s happening in your county here. #ageampopportunity #bikegang #thecrankset #cyclinggroupsforolderpeople #bealtaine #dublincitycouncil #DublinCityCouncilGirodItaliaCulturalProgramme #JamesÓhAodha #ageandopportunity #celebratingcreativityasweage #Ireland #socialcyclinggroup #cyclinggroupforover50s #cycling

A really varied week of events – business, theatre, fashion, music, comedy and even Lego features in the guide this time! If I’ve missed anything, or you want to suggest something for a future guide, please get in touch. Keep checking the What’s On Calendar, as I add events here all the time. Monday 12 May Belfast International Business Women’s Conference (IBWC), various locations, 12 – 15 May Hosted by Women In Business NI (WIBNI) this is the very first IBWC, entitled Creating A New Economy. There will be networking events, business sessions and exhibitions throughout the four-day event, which is expected to welcome 750+ delegates from across the world. To find out more and register for the conference, visit the website. Wednesday 14 May Belfast AR Gurney’s The Dining Room – Bart Players Hall, 8-10pm (Charity fundraiser for Asha India) Set in an upper class American dining room, nine actors play 57 different roles; portraying characters from little boys to stern grandfathers, teenage girls to Irish housemaids. Tickets start at £8 and can be purchased online. Visit the Facebook event page for more. Thursday 15 May Dresses by David Henderson (L) and Kiera Ann Marie (R) Belfast Unify NI Fashion Showcase – Titanic Drawing Offices, 15 – 16 May, beginning 7pm each night The talented fashion designers of this eclectic collective showcase their latest work over two nights of fashion shows. The first night brings you the latest merchandise from local boutiques and friends of the Unify Collective. Friday’s show is dedicated to this season’s offerings from the Unify designers themselves, in addition to the work of the designers of the future – fashion students from Belfast Metropolitan College. Tickets start at £20 and can be purchased here. You can connect with Unify on Facebook or Twitter and the official hashtag for the event is #UnifyIsComing Friday 16 May Carnlough The John Hewitt Society Spring Festival – Londonderry Arms Hotel, 16 – 17 May The 12th annual John Hewitt Society Spring Festival promises a weekend of literature, culture and debate. Taking Hewitt’s views on regionalism as inspiration, this year’s theme is ‘Regionalism: The Last Chance? – Local identity in a shrinking world’. To find out more and purchase tickets, click here. Lisburn Lucy Porter: Northern Soul – Island Arts Centre, 8pm A well-known face from TV comedy panel shows such as Mock The Week, Lucy Porter comes to the Island Arts Centre for the first time. This show deals with birthplace and belonging and has been described by one critic as “Fizzing with inventive one–liners, a treat from start to finish.” Tickets are £14 (£12 conc.) and available online now. Belfast SONI Presents Class of 2014: Part 2 – Belfast Empire, 8.30pm Another stonking line-up from the SONI folks, with Smoking Tongue, Arkham Dispatch, Plague Artists and Surfhouse taking to this much-loved Belfast stage tonight. Admission is £5, doors at 8.30pm. Check out the Facebook event page for more. Saturday 17 May Belfast Brick City – Titanic Belfast, 17 May – 13 July An exciting start to the weekend whether you have kids or you’re an overgrown child – or perhaps both apply to you! This amazing exhibition features 72 architectural scale models, made by independent LEGO® artist Warren Elsmore  – scaled-down versions of iconic buildings and landmarks from across the globe, including London’s Olympic Park and Westminster Abbey. Exhibition opening hours: 9am-7pm daily. Allocated hourly time-slots cost £5 per adult, £4 per child and £15 per family – book your place here. Lisburn Micky Bartlett & Colin Geddis + guests – R-Space Gallery, 8.30pm The first offering from new events company Extravaga, this is a double headliner of comedy not to be missed. Micky Bartlett is a well known face on the local stand-up scene, as well as from TV appearances on The Blame Game and Monumental. Colin Geddis is also popular for his stand-up shows and his comedy characters such as Barry ‘The Blender’ Henderson (I Am Fighter). Check out the Facebook page for details of other entertainment on the night and how to book tickets. Get in quick, as ticket numbers are strictly limited. Sunday 18 May Ballymena Frock Around the Clock Vintage Fair – Rosspark Hotel, Kells, 12 – 5pm The popular travelling fair of vintage and handmade goodies has arrived in Ballymena. There is, as usual, a huge and varied list of traders selling homewares, jewellery, clothes, fabrics and knick-knacks. Admission is £3 and you can find directions and a list of sellers on the website. #legoexhibitionbelfast #titanicbelfast #warrenelsmore #wibni #legoexhibition #internationalbusinesswomensconference #comedian #lucyporter #Unifyfashionshowcase #argurneysdiningroom #northernirelanddesigners #islandartscentre #ibwc2014 #womeninbusinessni #diamonddolls #bartplayers #northernirelandfashiondesign #legoshowtitanic #NorthernSoul #legoshowbelfast #UnifyNI #brickcity #johnhewittspringfestival #rossparkhotel #lego #fashiondesigners #comedienne #frockaroundtheclock #carnlough #londonderryarms #unify

A really varied week of events – business, theatre, fashion, music, comedy and even Lego features in the guide this time! If I’ve missed anything, or you want to suggest something for a future guide, please get in touch. Keep checking the What’s On Calendar, as I add events here all the time. Monday 12 May Belfast International Business Women’s Conference (IBWC), various locations, 12 – 15 May Hosted by Women In Business NI (WIBNI) this is the very first IBWC, entitled Creating A New Economy. There will be networking events, business sessions and exhibitions throughout the four-day event, which is expected to welcome 750+ delegates from across the world. To find out more and register for the conference, visit the website. Wednesday 14 May Belfast AR Gurney’s The Dining Room – Bart Players Hall, 8-10pm (Charity fundraiser for Asha India) Set in an upper class American dining room, nine actors play 57 different roles; portraying characters from little boys to stern grandfathers, teenage girls to Irish housemaids. Tickets start at £8 and can be purchased online. Visit the Facebook event page for more. Thursday 15 May Belfast Unify NI Fashion Showcase – Titanic Drawing Offices, 15 – 16 May, beginning 7pm each night The talented fashion designers of this eclectic collective showcase their latest work over two nights of fashion shows. The first night brings you the latest merchandise from local boutiques and friends of the Unify Collective. Friday’s show is dedicated to this season’s offerings from the Unify designers themselves, in addition to the work of the designers of the future – fashion students from Belfast Metropolitan College. Tickets start at £20 and can be purchased here. You can connect with Unify on Facebook or Twitter and the official hashtag for the event is #UnifyIsComing Friday 16 May Carnlough The John Hewitt Society Spring Festival – Londonderry Arms Hotel, 16 – 17 May The 12th annual John Hewitt Society Spring Festival promises a weekend of literature, culture and debate. Taking Hewitt’s views on regionalism as inspiration, this year’s theme is ‘Regionalism: The Last Chance? – Local identity in a shrinking world’. To find out more and purchase tickets, click here. Lisburn Lucy Porter: Northern Soul – Island Arts Centre, 8pm A well-known face from TV comedy panel shows such as Mock The Week, Lucy Porter comes to the Island Arts Centre for the first time. This show deals with birthplace and belonging and has been described by one critic as “Fizzing with inventive one–liners, a treat from start to finish.” Tickets are £14 (£12 conc.) and available online now. Belfast SONI Presents Class of 2014: Part 2 – Belfast Empire, 8.30pm Another stonking line-up from the SONI folks, with Smoking Tongue, Arkham Dispatch, Plague Artists and Surfhouse taking to this much-loved Belfast stage tonight. Admission is £5, doors at 8.30pm. Check out the Facebook event page for more. Saturday 17 May Belfast Brick City – Titanic Belfast, 17 May – 13 July An exciting start to the weekend whether you have kids or you’re an overgrown child – or perhaps both apply to you! This amazing exhibitionfeatures 72 architectural scale models, made by independent LEGO® artist Warren Elsmore – scaled-down versions of iconic buildings and landmarks from across the globe, including London’s Olympic Park and Westminster Abbey. Exhibition opening hours: 9am-7pm daily. Allocated hourly time-slots cost £5 per adult, £4 per child and £15 per family – book your place here. Lisburn Micky Bartlett & Colin Geddis + guests – R-Space Gallery, 8.30pm The first offering from new events company Extravaga, this is a double headliner of comedy not to be missed. Micky Bartlett is a well known face on the local stand-up scene, as well as from TV appearances on The Blame Game and Monumental. Colin Geddis is also popular for his stand-up shows and his comedy characters such as Barry ‘The Blender’ Henderson (I Am Fighter). Check out the Facebook page for details of other entertainment on the night and how to book tickets. Get in quick, as ticket numbers are strictly limited. Sunday 18 May Ballymena Frock Around the Clock Vintage Fair – Rosspark Hotel, Kells, 12 – 5pm The popular travelling fair of vintage and handmade goodies has arrived in Ballymena. There is, as usual, a huge and varied list of traders selling homewares, jewellery, clothes, fabrics and knick-knacks. Admission is £3 and you can find directions and a list of sellers on the website. #legoexhibitionbelfast #titanicbelfast #warrenelsmore #wibni #legoexhibition #internationalbusinesswomensconference #comedian #lucyporter #Unifyfashionshowcase #argurneysdiningroom #northernirelanddesigners #islandartscentre #ibwc2014 #womeninbusinessni #diamonddolls #bartplayers #northernirelandfashiondesign #legoshowtitanic #NorthernSoul #legoshowbelfast #UnifyNI #brickcity #johnhewittspringfestival #rossparkhotel #lego #fashiondesigners #comedienne #frockaroundtheclock #carnlough #londonderryarms #unify

AGR Moore, reading at this year’s Belfast Book Festival Family Fun Day. AGR Moore is a Belfast author who has self-published his first two books, both in electronic and paperback formats. The Unseen Chronicles of Amelia Black was released in August 2011 and A Boy Named Hogg followed in December 2012. He also writes short stories and earlier this year published A Gurumapa in the Wood, which is still available for free download. Moore has also hosted children’s literary events and performed readings from his books and stories. 1. You have an Archaeology degree and also studied journalism – what made you take the leap into writing children’s books? Well, after university, I had my degree but still wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my life and fell into a rut. So I scaled things back and thought about what made me happy, and it was movies – talking about them and watching them so I started writing a film blog. As I started to take it seriously, I decided to get a qualification in journalism to realise the ambition properly. Like a lot of people, I always wanted to write a book and tried and miserably failed a couple of times, but when Gillian (illustrator of The Unseen Chronicles of Amelia Black) approached me with the idea of doing a children’s book – and said she would illustrate it if I ever finished it  – that excited me. So I came up with a simple story which spiralled out of control in my head into Amelia Black’s first adventure. I’d like to attempt more adult stories but truthfully, writing for children and especially in fantastical realms seems to suit me, not least because I’m a big kid at heart. I think of all the literary, cartoon and movie characters from my youth I adored – I’ve fallen in love with the idea and the responsibility of creating new characters children can look up to. 2. Your two main protagonists so far are Amelia Black and Sebastian Hogg – are theirs similar stories or did you deliberately write two very different books? Do you have a favourite of the two? Amelia Black has been out for a couple of years now, and been received extremely well by anyone who has taken the time to read her story. It’s a tale which is heavily influenced by the stories I grew up with, like Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and the works of Roald Dahl, as well as movies of the time such as Labyrinth, Indiana Jones and even a bit of Batman thrown in; full of magic, adventure, colourful characters, plot twists and devious, memorable villains. Amelia’s core traits are things I believe in and feel deserve to be championed again and again. Someone who encourages children to be brave. To be curious of the wonders the world can offer. To be kind and just. To know they can be heroes and that their potential is infinite. The Unseen Chronicles of Amelia Black – artwork by Gillian Reid A Boy Named Hogg was almost the other side of the coin to Amelia’s tale. It’s about a boy named Sebastian Hogg, who didn’t get a life like Amelia’s and has to deal with a lot of very horrid people. When I came to write it, I knew I didn’t want to do something as heavily magical as Amelia’s story, but still wanted to allude to the mysteries of that sort of world. At its heart, A Boy Named Hogg is a story about friendship. It’s about having one person in your life who genuinely cares which road you go down, and the immensely positive impact that can have on your life – and also a glimpse into the troubled world you may find yourself in if you don’t. The funny thing about Hogg is that he’s not even the hero of his own story, in a strange sense! It’s the rest of the characters in the book – good, bad and somewhere in between – who are trapped in a subconscious battle for his soul. It attempts at some bigger things, like life and death and friendship and love. Some of it came off, some of it I look back upon and think maybe I rushed a bit, but you learn and move on. A Boy Named Hogg – artwork by Anna Henderson It would be awful to say I have a favourite, as both stories and characters mean different things to me. Amelia Black is like the ‘first child’, she’s the example everyone else has to follow and because I’m now creating sequels to her first adventure, I’m enjoying watching her grow, along with the characters which populate her world. Whilst A Boy Named Hogg is much more personal, it’s a darker tale, associated with a harder time in my life. A lot of the peripheral characters are based on people in my life and it also possibly features the one character that was the most fun to write so far. 3. You have been vocal on the merits of self publishing. How have you used self publishing and would you recommend it to an aspiring writer? After I finished Amelia Black’s first story, I was a man who had a book but no knowledge of how the publishing industry worked – over two years on, I’m still not much wiser! So it was really a case of circumstance made me look into self publishing the first time. I was overwhelmed by the support I then received, which opened me up to new contacts and opportunities. Marketing yourself and keeping your expectations in check – those are the biggest challenges. Very few self-published authors will emulate the phenomenal success of EL James or Amanda Hocking or even be able to make a living out of it. Everyone has their own reasons; for me it was as much to see what sort of reaction the book would get, which thankfully has been mostly positive. For A Boy Named Hogg, I decided to go down the same route, but was maybe so scared of being forgotten too quickly, I rushed it more than I should have and (in my opinion anyway) the book suffered because of it. This is the main drawback when self-publishing; everything falls on you so you have no excuses if it doesn’t go the way you originally imagined. It’s a very long process; the writing, the proofreading, editing, the presentation, then sourcing, working with and paying an illustrator – and once you get through all of that, there’s the marketing, which is virtually a full-time job. You have to be mentally prepared to shamelessly put your work out there. 4. Are you working towards a deal with a publishing house and if so, can you tell us about it? Are traditional ‘book deals’ as important as they once were, do you think? I think every writer should have a goal. Getting traditionally published in most cases is that goal (after writing the book of course) and if the right publishing house ever wants to take a chance on my work, I’d be forever grateful. In terms of realising the dream of writing full time, it certainly goes a long way but for me personally it’s as much about gaining more exposure. I know my own personal limits when it comes to marketing and pushing my books on the social media platforms and I feel that has taken me as far as it has gone. This might sound overly whimsical but if there’s one thing I’ve taken from this period of my life and the entire process of writing books for children, it’s witnessing the sheer joy of seeing a child read and love the stories you’re creating, more than you ever could have imagined. Just recently, the mother of a girl who attended my first reading in Ryan’s Bar in October 2012, sent me a photo from the girl’s birthday. She made her daughter an Amelia Black birthday cake because it was her favourite book. I couldn’t find the words at the time to express how overwhelmed that made me feel. Forget the financial side, all I want from a publishing house is to give me the opportunity to make that sort of impact again. Little moments like that only reaffirm to me why I want to do this with my life. All I can hope is that someone out there will also think I’m good enough to do so. 5. Writer’s block and personal isolation are probably the most talked-about ‘writer’s problems’. Do these ever affect you and if so, how do you deal with them? I think writer’s block is something every writer goes through, but I think it’s how you deal with it is where it varies. Some people wait for it to pass and carry on, others will start a new project and come back to the one causing you problems later, others might just read, or if they’re like myself, they’ll probably do all of these things at once. I think the isolation is a man-made concept. Certainly writing should be a private and personal thing, but it’s okay to talk things out with people whose opinion you trust or even engage with other writers. I certainly felt that, when I got to chat to fellow children’s authors Brian Gogarty, Derek Keilty and Aine Robles, after reading alongside them at this year’s Belfast Book Festival. Each had their own unique experiences and explaining my own situation, being the only self published author on the panel, gave me a new sense of perspective on goals and future ambitions. It was a very reassuring day. I was really thankful for being part of it. 6. What are you working on at the moment and what can we expect next from AGR Moore? Well I just finished the first draft of my second story in my Amelia Black series, The Unseen Trials of Amelia Black and started researching my untitled fourth book – it feels strange to say that out loud for the first time. I’m pretty excited to let people read the next Amelia Black story; it’s brought up new challenges I didn’t expect when I embarked on writing it. It’s been a joy returning to characters I fell in love with from the first one, but fun opening up the Unseen Universe, introducing new characters and seeing past characters grow and develop. I won’t give away any essential plot details, all I will say is that it deals with the fallout from the events and escalates the dangers realised in the first one. Bit darker, bit more serious but it’s going to be fun. I hope. It should hopefully see the light mid-2014, all being well. In the immediate future, I have another book reading coming up. Ryan’s Bar have very kindly asked me back for another event at this year’s Belfast Restaurant Week on Saturday October 6th, 2013. Books and food, two of my favourite things – it should be fun. I’ll be reading from my free short bedtime fable I released earlier in the year titled A Gurumapa in the Wood and, for the first time, be giving away free editions of it in paperback. Should be a fun day! A Gurumapa in the Wood – artwork by Carl Rothwell In the far future? I just hope I’m writing and still taking joy in it. ~ COMPETITION AGR Moore has kindly signed a paperback copy of The Unseen Chronicles of Amelia Black for a giveaway on The Patchwork Quill. If you would like to win this, just enter your details below! Competition open until 23.59 Thursday 19th September 2013. (Only open to entrants in the UK and Ireland). You can check out The Unseen Chronicles of Amelia Black on Amazon Kindle here, and the paperback version here. A Boy Named Hogg is available for purchase on Kindle here and in paperback here. You can also download A Gurumpa in the Wood free of charge here. Happy reading! #freeebook #ABoyNamedHogg #epublishing #AmandaHocking #TheAdventuresofAliceinWonderland #literaryfestival #WizardofOz #readingfestival #belfastbookfestival #literarybelfast #RoaldDahl #IndianaJones #Batman #AmeliaBlack #ELJames #literaryeventbelfast #Labyrinth #AliceinWonderland #belfastauthor #books #TheUnseenChroniclesofAmeliaBlack #selfpublishing #howtoselfpublish #NorthernIreland #AGRMoore #selfpublishedauthors #SebastianHogg #TheUnseenUniverse #AGurumapaintheWood