[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-friendly-squid-attack":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Another big happy birthday wish to my fab studio matey, \u003Ca href=\"http://whodunnknit.com\">Lauren O'Farrell\u003C/a> (aka \u003Ca href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/deadlyknitshade\">Deadlyknitshade\u003C/a>)! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/lauren_squidbday-670c116355.jpg\">\\r\n\\r\nThis is Lauren's giant squid, Plarchie, knitted (or plarched?) from loads of shredded orange shopping bags and on display in London's Natural History Museum. \u003Ca href=\"http://plarchie.tumblr.com/\">Plarchie even has his own squidsy blog!\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nGosh, I am SOOO rubbish at birthdays. I knew it was Gary's birthday yesterday, but I forgot and missed it by today. Then I spent today wishing him happy birthday when it was already Lauren's birthday. AND I bought Gary a six-pack of alcohol-free beer by accident. So if it's anyone else's birthday and I have missed it or given you some totally inappropriate object which you take to be a birthday gift, please, please don't take it personally! \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ca href=\"http://www.alternativepress.org.uk/Stripburger.html\">\u003Cimg src=\"https://images.jabberworks.co.uk/lj/intlaltcomicsfair-3400ad4e6e.jpg\">\u003C/a>\\r\n\\r\nAnd while we're discussing studio mates, our other studio matey \u003Ca href=\"http://www.littlewhitebird.com\">Ellen Lindner\u003C/a> has been planning a comics event for \u003Cb>this Monday\u003C/b> at Orbital Comics in London, as part of the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.alternativepress.org.uk/Stripburger.html\">International Alternative Comics Festival\u003C/a>. Come at 7pm to hear \u003Ca href=\"http://www.paulgravett.com\">Paul Gravett\u003C/a> talk about \u003Cb>Stripburger\u003C/b>, one of Europe's most influential comics collective, based in Slovenia.  \\r\nAnd then on \u003Cb>Thurs the 9th\u003C/b>, our excellent friend \u003Ca href=\"http://www.scribblehound.com\">David O'Connell\u003C/a> (and my co-writer/co-illustrator on my current picture book) will give an amusing look at his Queen Mum comics, not to be missed! 6:30-8... Actually, there's so much going on that you really should just go \u003Ca href=\"http://www.alternativepress.org.uk/Stripburger.html\">visit the International Alternative Comics Festival website\u003C/a>.\\r\n\\r\nI might try to stop by the \u003Ca href=\"http://www.thevintagefair.com/\">The Vintage Fair\u003C/a> tomorrow (Saturday) after I finish my events in Birmingham; could be good. (Thanks, comics creator \u003Ca href=\"http://www.lizzlizz.com/\">Lizz Lunney\u003C/a>, for the tip!)","2011-06-03T20:29:00.000Z","friendly-squid-attack",[],"friendly squid attack",1776628720268]