Hello hello hello! Hope everyone's having a lovely New Year and lots of decent weather! Spring's definitely here in the sunny Midlands!

I've just been offered a place on a BA Archaeology and History degree course at the University of Southampton... I'M SO EXCITED! These guys really are some of the top archaeologists in the world; they're leading the way in some of the biggest research projects - and the Arch facility and labs at Southampton are rated as being in the top 5 in the country. I can't believe I've managed to get a place! I'm tempted to switch onto the BSc Arch course rather than the joint honours, but I guess I'll see how it goes. Woooo!

On a completely different note, I'm fundraising some cash for my little summer project (because let's face it - this is the first summer where I'll be COMPLETELY FREE from coursework!). After three years of saying 'WE'RE GONNA GO TO A CONVENTION' and never actually going, Vision61, a few others and myself have taken a pledge to finally unleash our inner nerds and go to the MCM Expo in London. Steven (not on DA) is going all-out Trekkie as a part human, part robot thing (borg? I don't get this sort of stuff!), and I think Vision61 has a human character in mind. I've decided to put what I learnt in my two or three years with the 405th to use, and I'm going to be scratch-building Giger's Alien suit (because I'm cool like that.)

I had intended on finishing a hand-sewn Clopin costume, but I figured I should probably be a bit more Sci-Fi-ish than that for a Nerdfest. And, seeing as all xenomorphs are female anyway (as far as I've heard), it works out great! I'll be sculpting the hard parts from oil-based clay (head, chest, scaly bits etc) and then moulding and casting these pieces in resin. I'm planning on creating life-like skin from latex, particularly on the jaw, and adding some simple animatronics to the jaw and lips to get that creepy snarling effect. Everything is drawn out, scaled and planned, its just a case of getting the materials (feeling SUPER PLEASED because I've managed to budget it really well!) and actually building the damn thing. I'm definitely intending on casting several kits (or heads at least) which I hope I can make available to the hardcore Alien fans. I know there aren't many of these costumes out there!

I think the same method is going to work quite nicely for Steven's borg stuff too; which is great because we can use the left overs from the Alien build. Vision61's is a little easier as it's more clothing based (unless he changes his mind for something more sci-fi?!), but even still, its going to be a busy summer of awesome!

So, just a reminder that I'M SUPER HAPPY to take commissions, and if you see anything in my gallery that catches your eye, please feel free to note me about the original. All proceeds will go to the 'Alien fund'

Also, just another little reminder to all those into history - the petition to turn Maximilien Robespierre's house in Arras into a museum for the French Revolution is still going strong!  Sign if you get a chance!

Sign the petition here!