Congratulations were given to Raphael Selbourne for winning the 2009 Costa First Novel Award and we came across The Music Quarter, a new music blog.

Hustle made the move to the Midlands, we had a giggle with Kipple and the Emerging Festivals Fund was announced, with some of the fruits of that being revealed towards the middle part of the year. Leftfoot started their 10th birthday celebrations and our most popular post of the year was published.

Ian joined the CiB team, we got the first glimpse of WeVee and plans were announced for the CiB shop

We also waved hello to Jane Anderson, Mark Wilkinson, Lucy Pryor, Phill Blake, Helen Flanagan, Sarah Lynch, Jade Sukiya, Jodi Ann Bickley, Leon Sparkes and Luke Halliley.

We also said farewell to Neil Farrington.

The Pavilions Pop-Up Arts Shop will be open from Friday 1 April to to Wednesday 7 April (excluding Easter Sunday). Here’s some info about what they’ll have in there:

Organiser Jamie, a contemporary feltmaker from Selly Park specialising in fashion and home accessories, will be offering his own range of items for sale, including clutch bags, satchels and trilby hats, many made with locally sourced wool from Worcestershire.

Other artists scheduled to showcase their work are Jan Bowman, architect turned painter, illustrator and author of the recent children’s book ‘This is Birmingham’; Dudley based glassmaker Ian MacDonald; jeweller Ettore Consorte (Smethwick) digital illustrator Jane Anderson (Bearwood) and Nisha Grover who produces various different artworks such as acrylic painting, textiles and murals.

As well as providing valuable retail space for the artists, the shop will also act as a gallery space, showcasing a wide selection of art from Midlands artists. Among the work on display and for sale will be the acrylics, oils and silkscreens of Emma Hardicker, who will also be compiling collections from eight fellow members of Birmingham Printmakers including Harborne based Anne Crews, Tim Southall and Phil Wilkinson.

I happened to walk past it earlier today – this is what it looks like:

Jane Anderson is a multi-skilled artist specialising in the production of original, cutting-edge, contemporary art for modern spaces. Working in paint, pencil and digital media, Jane skilfully draws and paints what she sees around her.

People are her main inspiration. Their interaction, emotions, behaviour, and body language are a constant source of information and provide a foundation to her work.

Below is one of Jane’s fine art pieces called ‘Little Barbarians’, but I suggest you check out more of her work on her website.

Past clients include: BBC, Ten4, Channel 4, NHS, Liverpool Capital of Culture, Connexions and University of Birmingham and exhibitions at the V&A and Selfridges. Her blog ‘Doodle & Waffle’ shows off her wide skill base and experimental, prolific work ethic. You can find Jane in person at the monthly Moseley Arts Market.

The exhibition is to celebrate the production of the ‘Girls who Draw’ book which was printed by Tuckey Print Limited in Birmingham.

The girls have chosen some of their favourite images from the book to exhibit alongside an eclectic mix of their illustrations and artwork.