At the end of last year we became Umbraco certified - high five!

One of the few organisations in the UK to be so. Oh yeah! Another high five! But enough with the self-congratulatory enthusiasm, let’s get down to the gritty.

Umbraco for those not in the know is a Web Content Management System, one of the fastest growing platforms for building websites. With companies such as Vogue, Heinz and Microsoft using the system.

Just last month Crumpled Dog launched websites for MA Assist and Box Nation both built in Umbraco.*

*There will be more about these in a later post.

I like this.

The basics: They are a new online company that sources "designer-quality" clothing, accessories etc. directly from the factories and offer it to their customers at a fraction of the cost from what they would normally pay for branded items of the same quality.

The clever bits:

• As a member "exclusive" access is granted to their monthly collection.
• Every 30 days a new collection in a new product category is launched.
• You can't actually shop until you are granted access under the premise that they cap their members.
• Don't fear you can '"accelerate" your access by telling your friends, acquaintances and total strangers about the site. The more you tell and the more who sign up, the higher level of access you are granted. If you get enough new members on board, benefits are achieved. - I can see this working, as a member you'll want 'in' so people will tweet, email and Facebook to get in.
• They produce less than they need, meaning customers are encouraged to buy when they can

www.everlane.com

"In a grave yard, late at night… Ooooooh, aaaaaaaaaah!"

Well no surprises here for the theme for this weeks mood board. Lots of great illustrations and of course orange and red. Oh and the owl lampshade is particularly scary…

I'm all over the mash ghosts! How brilliant are they?

Everything, probably, starts somewhere and invariably will inspire someone maybe many and become a movement.

The real start is a mystery, but for one, it was...

From a story imagined by Federico Moccia... 'I Want you'...

Ponte Milvio - inspired by the book, people began to leave padlocks fixed to a lamp post on the bridge as a symbol of love, throwing the key into the Tiber. The sheer weight of love caused the laden lamp post to partially collapse, undeterred the padlocks spread all over and around the bridge.

Love Locks can be found in global locations:

Pont des Arts bridge - blogged by Garance Dore (the imagery is hers). 

Other love locations...

Pécs...Ponte Vecchio...Mount Huang...Luzhkov bridge...Hohenzollern Bridge...Ucluelet...Montevideo...Mount Namsam

At 25 Canonbury Lane in Islington, north London sits the very cosy bar Four Sisters where on the 20th they had their spectacular launch of Canonbury Cabaret, a night of fiery burlesque performances from the 'Four Sisters' on the celling floor and bar.

Oh the fun that was had...

Photography by Emli Bendixen

Find the Four Sisters Bar at: www.thefoursistersbar.co.uk

Promotional material by Crumpled Dog

Nude Espresso is telling you all their news, the comings, goings and happenings in and around Brick Lane and Soho (the location of Nude Espresso's coffee shops). So whilst sipping on a coffee roasted to perfection, you can browse the Nude newsletter, conveniently hung on a nail on the wall. Pluck off and read my friends, a slower pace is needed at least once a week I feel.

The playful wall mural is by artist Macarena Yanez.

Newsletter designed by Crumpled Dog.

http://www.nudeespresso.com/

It's a funny old world. Today it has been drawn to my attention that there is a need for knitted jumpers* for oil soaked penguins in New Zealand. Whilst the sodden little birds are in the process of being cleaned they lack the natural means to keep themselves cosy so jumpers are required to keep them warm.

Click here for details on how to knit your own little jumper.

*pure wool naturally

Through You Tube, none creative marketing types have been accidently creating viral videos that capture the public imagination, making stars of those featured on the videos... this recent video of an 8 year old and her brilliant dancing littler cousin went viral in a matter of hours after being posted on You Tube.

A viral campaign that works is down to talent, innovation, pluck, knowing what makes people tick and also it seems, chance.