No Guts No Glory

Handmade Arcade and Give Up Your Day Job!

Thursday 10th May

Last week No Guts No Glory was very happy to be part of not one, but two awesome Art Fairs! First up, we packed up some things and took ourselves to the first Give Up Your Day Job in Plymouth, and just a couple days later we held the second of our very own Handmade Arcade fairs right outside the NGNG Shop!...

We’ll start with the latter…







After the huge success of the first Handmade Arcade last month, the second would always have a lot to live up to, and didn’t it just!

The atmosphere on the day was incredible! Every one was so friendly and full of good spirit and it wasn’t long before all the lovely Artists & Makers we’re chatting away as if they were old buddies. The Arcade got even busier than it did last time, and pretty soon there was a steady bustle and excitement around the place - only helped by the smell of great home-cooked food from McCoys Café, the wonderful acoustic sounds of Laura Dugmore and Paper Anchor, and Hayley’s Vegan Cupcakes (keep an eye out for her recipes at next month’s event)!

For a very much more in-depth review of May’s edition of Handmade Arcade, head over to the Handmade Arcade Blog to read Hayley’s words and see more of Nath’s photographs from the day!

We’ve decided to use the Handmade Arcade events to launch the latest products in the NGNG shop each month as well. This time round we had a selection of new books, mags and zines, as well as Philip Harris’ amazing Hold Fast T-Shirts – these will be available online tomorrow!









Two days before Handmade Arcade, we set off Plymouth bound for the first Give Up Your Day Job at the brilliant Jack Chams pub.

Firstly, let us begin by describing the setting for this most D.I.Y of events. If we lived in Plymouth, Jack Chams would be our local. A bold statement, but we live 45 miles away, and are still keen to pop over for a pint. The walls are well covered in posters from local punk rock shows from years gone by and there’s a great sense of nostalgia and a coming together of the underground community. From the second we arrived every one was so friendly and keen to find out more about us and NGNG, and to tell us all about what they’d been up too. On to the event itself…

Last time we visited Plymouth we spent some time with a group of illustrators and artists who were saying that they wanted to see more Art Fairs and outlets for their work in the area. A short two months later and we’re back again for the first Give Up Your Day Job. An event put together simply for the love of creativity and the mutual recognition that the outlet is much needed in the area, the event is 100% free for everyone – stall holders and browsers alike. With vegan cupcakes being handed out, punk rock anthems providing a soundtrack, and people keen to display their creations – but keener to simply enjoy the atmosphere and meet some new friends, the fair reminded us of our intentions with Handmade Arcade, which are simply to have a great time and celebrate a community of local creativity.

A big Thanks to Dan Hamlyn, Ben Turner and Ross Bennellick for putting the fair together, we’re looking forward to seeing you guys soon! Thanks also to the lovely guys at Heartstitch, we hope you don't mind us using your photos and we'll see you soon when you bring your creations to Handmade Arcade.


So, what else is in store for No Guts No Glory this week?

Well, tomorrow we’ll be putting Hold Fast up on the online shop, and telling you a bit more about Butterscoth Sunday – a really inspiring charity fundraising event happening this Sunday at The Bike Shed Theatre.

We’ve also been confirmed a stall at ELCAF (which we’re so excited about!), but more on that soon!

Oh, and Jack Teagle is working on his Second T-Shirt design for No Guts No Glory :)

Ohhhh, almost forgot! We met Seasick Steve this week too - Fore Street really is where it all happens :)



Until tomorrow,

Nath and Hayley

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