St Valentine - patron saint of people with epilepsy

Today is one of my favourite days of the year.  St Valentines Day.

St Valentine is the patron saint of people with epilepsy, so he's my patron saint...

... and I love him.

So lets celebrate some epilepsy things...

First... the amazing Epilepsy Society who do so much work raising awareness and researching epilepsy.  Finding ways to make living with epilepsy better.

This week River Island are supporting Epilepsy Society by sending out a purple "Everyone Knows Someone" wrist band with all orders placed on their website, helping to spread awareness about the condition and support the fantastic work of Epilepsy Society.

Second... awareness.  I talk about my epilepsy a lot.  I think I get pretty boring about it, but my theory (and I'm sticking to it!) is that the more people who know someone who has epilepsy and isn't ashamed of it or what people might think, but who proudly talks about it and shares it, the more understood it will become.  

Also it is for practical reasons.  My seizures are triggered mostly by a line up of usual suspects - stress, not getting enough sleep, low blood sugar, nerves, alcohol, anxiety, maths/numbers, filling in forms... but sometimes they just happen for no good reason whatsoever.  The more people that know I live with the condition and what to do if I have a seizure, the more people can help me if I have one.  But more importantly, with 1 in every 20 people in the UK having a seizure of some sort during their lives, the people that I talk to will also be able to help other people in their time of need.

So today lets celebrate love, life and epilepsy.

http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/

Photo Diary of our Spring Fair set up

I am exhibiting at Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham this week.   Creature Clothes haven't exhibited here for at least 8 - 10 years so it's very exciting to be back.

We will be at Spring Fair (a trade only show) until Thursday 7th Feb.

Here is my camera phone diary of set up...

Our very basic, very tiny space in the Design Lab.
Stage 1 - picket fence is in place!

my trade show box of tricks...

mountains of samples to squeeze into our space

"Our" issue of Vanity Fair... the highlight of our 2012 media coverage

The electrics go in...

The Easy Dogs get bandana'd up with our new Slip on Bandana designs

I always start with the central focal point of the stand - for this show it was the top shelf, Vanity Fair and new product

The Easy Dogs get tethered to the fence by their lovely stripey fabric leads

Our new Slip on Bandana packaging gets pride of place at the front of the stand alongside Emergency Treats Pouch & Valentines Key Tags

Bone Babies and Fur Friend Fleecy Blankets go in (top tip for a show: classic Oscar The Grouch style trash can or drums with lids make a great display plinth and are essential for storing coats in!)

And we're done!  Somehow, this took until 10pm on Saturday night...
The grey walls weren't ideal for us, there isn't enough light and the positioning of our sign isn't ideal (I tried to pull the sign off and place it higher, but it wasn't shifting...) but this was part of the package for the Design Lab and creates an excellent over all look and feel of continuity between the Design Lab exhibitors.  I love the half width side walls and the white display plinths and was thrilled to be using our picket fencing again - it creates a fun, doggy, outsidey kind of look.
Overall, I'm very pleased!