In London this weekend? Catch us at Comica Festival’s Comiket at Central Saint Martin’s College, where we will be have super advance copies of Dan Berry’s The Suitcase and Oliver East’s Swear Down on sale! For information on how to get to the venue and get more information on the event, see the Comica website.

We’ll be on table 43, right next to that free-wheelin’, podcastin’ son of a gun Dan Berry. Come and say hello! Both Dan and Oliver will be taking part in the drawing parade at the event, so make sure to check out two of the UK’s best talents at work.

This mysterious looking envelope contained the Felt Ticket which was going to enable the lucky recipient to recieve the joy of an original Felt Mistress creation of their very own. It has been waiting for the day when it would fulfill its destiny…

…and now it has! The opener of the envelope, the lucky, lucky winner and new flatmate of Elspeth Frond, is none other than Donna Spencer, who looks pretty happy with this result! And who wouldn’t be? We think that any body who owns not one but both Tippy variants has to be in the topmost of the toppest FM fans and thus richly deserves the prize. We hope to bring Donna and Elspeth together next week. We’ll let you know how it goes!

We forgot to tell you that we had a great time at the Northern FM:CC launch, courtesy of fab shop Colours May Vary.

You can see dynamite editor Bridget Hannigan checking out the stock there while the queue for Jonathan’s drawings extends behind her.

Lots of BSB friends came out to meet and greet Team FM, including comics luminaries Kristyna Baczyinski, Ian Carney and, above, John Allison and Darryl Cunningham deep in conversation.

Here’s Jonathan sketching. Note the Jelly Belly sodas and the bowl of Jelly Belly jellybeans on the desk, which Woodrow did his best to push on every single person who came within range of his sugary grasp! We’d like to apologise to all the parents whose hyped-up children ran them ragged after the event but it would have been selfish not to share!

Andy and Becky of CMV queued up to get their personalised copy too. And here’s Becky realising that she’s going to have to say goodbye to Tippy and Demetri at the end of the day. They had to go home with L and J. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us and buy books and drink sodas!

Thanks once again to Jelly Belly UK for being such great supporters of Felt-based Couturiers and their friends.

Our dazzling 400-page art book celebrating the work of Louise Evans and Jonathan Edwards has been making some waves since its Foyles debut, but Louise and Jonathan live 200 miles from London and they really wanted to celebrate their book a little closer to home.

We hope you can join us between 2.30 and 6pm, to meet the team behind this amazing book. Felt Mistress herself, her partner, illustrator and toy designer Jonathan Edwards and the book’s editor and designer Woodrow Phoenix will be hosting an afternoon of creature-based creative celebration, which may include some live chat about the making of the book.

Various creatures featured in FM:CC, including those shaggy rockers The Furry Mayhem, Demetri the yeti and Goth heartthrob Edwin will be displayed around the shop in their felt majesty. Anyone buying a copy of the book on the day will get a wonderful and unique ‘creaturized’ portrait of themselves drawn by Jonathan. Also available will be limited edition prints by Jonathan Edwards and BSB’s gold vinyl toy of the strangely perky Tippy Winkles!

Early birds also get to sample tasty drinks and jelly beans courtesy of Jelly Belly Sodas. Sound good? See you there!

Join us on Friday 15^th February at Soho’s Gosh! Comics for an evening to celebrate the launch of Will Morris’ debut graphic novel and Blank Slate Book’s first official release of the year, The Silver Darlings.

Will will be signing and sketching your books throughout the evening and many of the original ink-washed pages from the book will be on show in the shop. The evening will be lent a salty air by Hackney’s own City Shanty Band and given a Scottish flavour by Tunnocks, who will kindly supply everyone with a delicious Caramel Log.

Find more details on the Facebook event page – we’re looking forward to sharing a wee swally (drink) with you on the night. Slange!

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed The Silver Darlings creeping into harbour late in 2012, available in a very select number of comic stores. Will Morris’ debut graphic novel charts a week aboard a herring fishing boat for a young man with big ideas and scant experience and has already gathered praise from many quarters, including Nottingham’s excellent Page 45.

The book launches officially on 15th February (more of that shortly), but those of you who can’t wait until then the book is available at our shop. What’s more, everyone that buys the book through our shop before the launch date, including all the eager fans who have already picked it up, will have the chance to win an original piece of artwork from Will (pictured above). Painted in watercolour on hot-pressed paper, it would be the perfect addition to any room, wheelhouse or cabin.The winner will be drawn at random on 22nd February.

For a chance to win this exclusive Silver Darlings painting, just buy a copy of the book from our store before 15th February 2013.

Chances are that by now you’ll have seen some of the images from the Felt Mistress: Creature Couture launch on your social network of choice (OK, maybe not Friendster), but we had so much fun we’re going to post some here, too. A huge thanks goes out to every single person who came to party and watch the conversation between Louise Evans, Jonathan Edwards and editor/book designer Woodrow Phoenix. Yet more gratitude goes to literary legends (and huge comics and graphic novels supporters) Foyles for hosting.

And, of course, how could we forgot the wonderful people of Jelly Belly UK and the equally lovely team at Tunnock’s for sponsoring the launch with their wonderful goodies:

Jelly Belly Gourmet Soda! The French Vanilla was our fave.

It took about 10 minutes for the Tunnock’s Teacakes to be decimated. This platter was initially twice the height!

Wish you could have been there? That gallant chap, Woodrow Phoenix, captured the exhibition part of the show via iPhone before the crowds poured in (with Lightt, you can click, hold and scrub forwards/back along the timeline at your own speed). Don’t forget that if you want to lean a few secrets of Felt Mistress’ craft, Foyles are also hosting a workshop with Louise this very weekend.

Can’t get to a Foyles and want the book? Grab one in our webstore! We’ve also got a limited edition pack with a golden Tippy (Felt Mistress’ signature creature) designer toy and all purchases before 31st December get entered into a prize draw to win the book’s cover star, Elspeth!

PS) As always, Sarah McIntyre was on the scene to deliver one of her always-amazing reports on events. Check it out!

Felt Mistress fans! We’ve just been told that there are still a few more spots available at the official launch of FELT MISTRESS: CREATURE COUTURE  at Foyles Charing Cross on Tuesday night!

Near London? Come meet the team behind the book, Louise Evans, Jonathan Edwards and editor Woodrow Phoenix are hosting a night of creature-based fun to celebrate the realise of this 400-page monster artbook. Anyone buying a copy of the book on the night will be able to get a great creature caricature of themselves by Jonathan Edwards. Woodrow will also be chatting to Louise and Jonathan as well as hosting a Q&A with the duo.

Come meet some of the creatures face to face and partake in some glorious refreshments. By order of Felt Mistress’ motley crew of creatures, the good people at Jelly Belly UK are providing their brilliant Gourmet Jelly Belly Soda for the event and Tunnocks will be dropping off a truckload of G’goob’s favourite treats!
All you have to do is reserve a spot on the Foyles website by clicking here! See you there? 

Also, Louise  will be running two workshops at Foyles throughout December. Want to know more? Visit the even page here!

Last Saturday at The Royal Armouries in Leeds, the first British Comics Awards Ceremony was held, after day one of the Thought Bubble Comic Festival. We are delighted to report that Nelson was voted the Book of The Year!

Editors Rob Davis and Woodrow Phoenix gave a very short, sharp thank-you speech and although Woodrow tried to prise the trophy out of Rob’s hands, there was no chance of breaking Rob’s iron grip. Congratulations to them and to all of the contributors whose combined efforts made Nelson the triumph that it is.

Blank Slate would like to thank the judges of the BCA for selecting Nelson as winner of the debut award as well as the committee for their original nomination of it. Also, we thank each and every reader and retailer out there for supporting the book; it’s a real honour. Our most sincere hope for the book is that it continues to do what the editors intended, show people the vast and diverse range of talent existing and emerging the UK scene.

And judging by Thought Bubble, that talent just continues to grow and grow. Here’s to  everyone making more great comics in 2013!

Also, be sure to check out Kenny talking about the awards and comics in the UK in general over on the Bookseller website. Does your local bookstore stock comics? Be sure to show them this if not!

Here’s a shot of our Blank Slate special edition Golden Tippy, the way he is going to be going out into the world, with his scarf in place. Pretty sharp looking, don’t you think? Our friends at Crazylabel have got him fully dressed now, and very soon he’ll be ready to make the trip from our warehouse to your house!

There will only ever be 250 of these vinyl visions made. Once they’re all gone, that’s it. So to be part of a highly select club order a Golden Tippy of your very own right here along with your copy of Felt Mistress: Creature Couture. Orders will be dispatched to you after December 1.