Globalisation is happening now. Many wish it would just go away, and we can all see some possible down sides to this. Change is inevitable and hardly anyone likes it. Evolution has taught us that those who are most adaptable to change are those who succeed through these challenging times. As politicians on all sides of all the oceans sign up to take part in the TTIP contract deal, and nations are begging for multinational interests to sweep away their cobwebs in the easily corruptible public sector, the global market is a tidal wave which is hitting everyone. Standardising the way we do business is making things a lot easier for some and a lot harder for others. For those of us with traditions to uphold and with ways of life that we do not wish to be disturbed, tomorrow is always a scary prospect. Protests against and hold ups of life changing politics are always needed, we must make ourselves heard in any situation in which we will be unheard otherwise, and yet perhaps the time is also ripe for preparing for what is about to happen. Maybe not as quickly as some would like, but the globalisation of the international markets will affect us all at some point in the not too distant future. It has already affected and even inspired many people already. Preparation is vital to survival, and if survival is what is on your mind then educate yourself now as to be able to swim when that wave hits. The best tool for swimming this wave, our surfboard, is our computing knowledge. Once we are able to address the internet marketplace with our products and skills, in an effective and time efficient way, our business will be automatically globalised by nature of the way the internet works. The language of the internet is universal, it is fair and non-biassed. Gaining a knowledge of

• World Wide Markets,
• ​Budgeting,
• Financial Concepts,
• Effective web design
• IT and networking, and of course
• Old fashioned business management,

Building an effective presence online is not easy, it is not even the same as doing it on the high street. Our methods must be clear, short and precise. The work is not the same as giving speeches, rolling up a crowd and offering free bites of the new thing. This gets us no-where on the internet as is fast becoming an out dated practice, especially on the global scene. When the crowd is so large, offering free bits just results in a free for all and we get very little return. To get involved online but also stay savvy, it's vital we get to grips with

• Health and fitness
• Photography
• Content and blogging
• Digital Marketing

So that's about it, the world is changing and we need to address it with our best efforts. Resist the bad bits and jump on the good bits, let's get going.

Textiles and needlework keep us busy, improve focus, concentration and produce results we can keep to show. Whether we love to make, fix, and decorate clothes, stitch a tapestry or make something to snuggle up to, there're many applications for the traditional needle and thread.


Weaving is one of those crafts that gives brilliant results and yet allows the artist to really experiment with their designs. Unlike clothing or tapestries, where a pattern is vital to the quality of the final piece, with weaving, the colours and textile choices are really at the whim of the weaver. Provided the quality is good, anything goes.


For patterns, which can be customised after by all means, we are given an outlay of the exact shape and design required. Once the skeleton is made, and the shapes are cut, placed in the correct order, what we do next is our call. A simple item can be transformed into a luxury designer showcase with a simple artistic touch.


Designers may be interested to read this ebook on Totes and Bags, or to find out about how to make urban hats with a knook. Even embroider them all with old style cross stitch lettering once they're complete. If you don't know what a knook is, then this may be what you need.


Oh and if it was tattoos you were thinking of, then I haven't forgotten you. This book looks like a talking point for life.


Enjoy!

For those of us who write the date the other way around, March the 14th is Pi day. A day set aside out of the yearly circle, a 1/365th of the time given to us, is dedicated to the mysterious number that is represented by Pi, or Π as it is otherwise written, being the Greek notation of the sound. Now calculated to millions of decimal places, at first by hand but now by super computers, this never ending number has been instrumental in the discovery of some of the universe's most well kept secrets. When we thought up the method of mathematics, probably to represent some kind of trade, is it possible that these early people had any concept of the extent to which their little analogy for life was capable of going? Did they realise that their method of representing actual transactions with symbols and formulae would spur the growth of civilization to the point of travelling to other worlds? Without mathematics, space travel would be impossible, nautical travel would be a deadly gamble, and computing would simply not exist.


No-one knows who first invented numbers and no-one knows who first discovered a Pi like number, and yet the Babylonians and the Ancient Greeks have been discovered to have known its approximate value. The Egyptians are extremely likely to have known it too, seeing how they placed their Pyramids in the right place to align with the cosmic clock of the Milky Way. A pure understanding of the geometry of a circle would be required to accurately map such a thing.

Pi, combined with other principles such as Pythagoras, Newtonian formulae and the principles of trigonometry allow us to map the universe around us with the notion that what works on paper in a diagram can be translated into any sized distances. By plotting distances to the Sun, and then to other stars by using these principles, astronomers have discovered how vast our home truly is.


Geometrics find their way into art all the time, the divine ratio which is related to Phi, another Greek notation representing a fixed value, has been used to establish a feeling of visual beauty and conformity for centuries. Circles, squares, and triangles make up nearly every aspect of material design, as their surfaces and vertices can be easily predicted, rescaled and computed to produce a vast array of structures. These are perhaps primary shapes, like colours, where in others can be formed from the basic ingredients.  
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The importance of number and its application is significant to all of us. If we do not understand it, have trouble grasping the basics, then we are losing out. It is worth giving it a go, learn how numbers are related to the world around us, how the formula of science and algebra can be used to allow human beings to do incredible things. Advanced mathematics is not for all, and yet, a small knowledge on this huge subject is within the grasp of all. 

I have been promoting online education a lot in the past few days, because it is one of those things in the world that I find truly worthwhile investing my time in. An online education is for all and so it's important to spread the word as far as we can, each of us. After concentrating on online education for adults, now I am finally turning to the perhaps more important share of the people pool; Children. Online education for children is a growing industry as more kids are finding themselves with a computer at home. Supervised online access is a vital element to any online learning, and parents need to be able to trust their sources.


Here's some trustworthy, child orientated learning resources for teachers, mums and dads to introduce to their children.


ABCMouse offer a full curriculum of activities for children aged 2 – 7 years. Their service is based on subscriptions and they offer a generous discount for a longer contract. They have glowing reviews on their site so all seems to be well here.


Scholastic Teacher Express are for educators and they specialise in classroom prompts, materials and learning activities.


Curiosity Pack serve up a great portion of helpful learning aids, toys and materials for helping children find their passion.


Lil' Bear Book Club provide regular children's books to your doorstep.


National Autism Resources provide all manner of helpful toys and educational materials for children with autism or similar learning difficulties.


Music Wizard Group provide an online music education for children and adults.

Making Jewellery At Home


Home made crafts require practice, from cutting paper man chains to building kits cars, making jewellery is no different. However, there is a great deal of pleasure to be had from the trying, failing, adjusting the technique and eventual success. Ask any artist, and they will tell you the journey to the final piece is what defines their job the most. What the customer sees is the tip of a very large iceberg.


With expert crafts like silversmithing, and the setting of precious stones, the fingers of a well rehearsed artisan are required and yet the array of items that anyone can use is growing all the time. It's a great way to spend the evenings, bond with the family and maybe make a little something on the side once the quality is right. Making little presents for the children, for the parents or for friend is just as great as setting up shop, and so there's no reason to not give it a go. Fashion is wide and extensive, so what ever the tastes of the individual, with custom building jewellery, no-one can possibly be left without.


To get started, here's some useful links.


Panda Hall supply wholesale bargains of all sorts of Jewellery fixings and making supplies.


The Bead Room offer beautiful beading supplies and they try to leave the tat outside.


Here's a short course in how to run your own business, something for the next step.


If you're ready to take the next step, it's really simple and easy to begin selling on Shopify.