I'll be honest, I am not a massive fan of holding parties cos I tend to get a bit stressed about whether anyone will turn up, and it's especially hard when promoting the very thing that I have put my heart and soul into... hence I am loathe to organize my own parties these days and it has been some time since I last had one. But when Pure Groove approached me to put a joint party on I thought what the heck... they are a great record shop and I've had a good relationship with them for awhile – they like the same sort of music as me and their new shop in Farringdon is a great space for both an exhibition and some live music.

We got there early – me by bike and the interns by tube. Pure Groove have these amazing magnetic display boards that can be hung from the rafters pretty much anywhere you fancy – and the magnets are so damn strong that it takes a sharp and strong pair of nails to separate them. So we had a bit of fun arranging the Positive Future prints... with text alongside by each artist to explain what they have done.

the magnetic display boards

Before long the linen-clad boys from O Fracas turned up to do a soundcheck, and I got to thank them for making the mission down to do the party (turns out I did have to get somewhat involved in the preparation after all – always the way)

O Fracas

The drummer's parents were also in attendance and were grateful to hear that my dad would also be coming "so we won't be the only old people then!" I thought this a very impressive sign of dedication, but turns out that they were in London anyway (O Fracas came down from Leeds)

diamond Cindy, who helped me out in China for issue 06, and my dad

I also discovered that said drummer is studying art and has produced a very cool little zine that he gave me to take a look at – you can ask him for one yourself if you contact him via their website.
The start of a party is always the most painful part – in this instance a bunch of very young boys loitering around early for the Tokyo Police Club performance did not do much to put my mind at ease. Definitely not fans of Amelia's Magazine. This was also the first time that I have put such a general invite out over the internet so I didn't really have a clue who would turn up.

the fab Abi, one of my favourite ex-interns, now designing for a christian mag!

Gradually more girls started arriving, surely a good sign... and so there was a very strange mix by the time we lugged the Brahma beers upstairs (who's idea was it to empty the ice into the buckets in the cellar?!) and we were worried we might have to ID some of the younger creatures, but I think in the eventuality they stayed away from the freebies...

me with Hannah Perkins, who was an intern several years ago and is now a stylist

Matt and Sophie in the middle. Matt now designs for a famous tv magazine, and Sophie came to RUSSIA with me, but now works at a children's charity, which she loves

Brahma were very kind to have donated a few beers at the last minute (although I would have prefered an advert, hello, 100 pages of modern Brasilian culture?! what more could possibly fit better a cool Brasilian beer brand!) and they sure went down a treat, if a bit fast.

Charles and Tanya serving Brahma

We also had Alibi, a pretox drink that allegedly prevents a hangover if drunk before the booze. Well, I was very perky the next morning although I had a few beers to be sure, so maybe it works, but more importantly it was actually very tasty – a bit like Purdeys, full of yummy healthy ingredients, including milkthistle and artichoke – it was easily swigged. To be recommended.
One of the members of Tokyo Police Club played a heartfelt acoustic set of covers on his own, which wasn't quite what I was expecting but it seemed to go down well. I have to admit that by this point I was stuck outside with a considerable amount of my guests because the store was by then rammed. I was quite alarmed to realise that my dad was trapped inside because he's not good with loud music, but he was out like a greyhound from the traps as soon as the noise stopped. O Fracas were up next and they were a joy – really really ace, and lots of people commented to me on their way out how impressed they were. Check out the track they made for my USB stick; what all round lovely lads. Theoretical Girl also put in an appearance with two of the girls from her new band, all with very good eye make-up.

Theoretical Girl

Kotki Dwa were also there with daddy Kotki who doubles as their manager – both bands are featured in my new issue too, and wrote for the USB, so it was great to have them make it down.

Me with the Kotki boys

By this point lots and lots of people had arrived – my gang are always notorious for being fashionably late, and by jove they were... a significant amount of them managing to miss both bands, and the advance copies of the magazine too.

me with one of my best friends Craig

I only had 25 copies of the mag to sell with advance versions of the USB stick, and they swiftly went... it was really nice to meet a few avid fans of the mag, and at one point I swear there was a queue of people wanting to talk to me, mainly about getting work experience or contributing to the mag in some way. I actually felt quite overwhelmed by it all and couldn't quite remember everything that was being said to me – it's really flattering though and I am really grateful that people like what I do.

James and Matt, both ex interns. (Matt isn't really that small, honest)

Jenny, Charlotte and Lauren, who were interns on issue 09

the lovely Jojo, who was a joy to work with!

James really is very tall!

Lots of my old interns turned up which was ace – some I am now really good friends with, and I love getting a chance to catch up. They are all doing very well (and earning alot more than me, maybe I should be an intern of me and then leave and get a better job?!) and it makes me very proud to hear what they are up to. There were also lots of contributors there – lots of the illustrators featured in the exhibition of course, many of whom I met for the first time, and lots of others too, including Fred Butler, looking as amazing as usual (I see she is featured in Time Out as an up and coming jewelery designer: she was wearing a fabulous necklace customised with a fuzzy felt bird that first appeared in one of my issues – my dad was transfixed by it!)

Fred is looking fab in the orange!

Illustrator Andy Macgregor – one of my cohorts on the Illustrators in Nature weekend and erstwhile designer of the Pure Groove calendar – was there with James Hatt who designed the treehouse. Oxana Korsun, who is a wicked stylist was also there, looking fab as ever.

Oxana outside Pure Groove

Annie Collinge and Louise Harries of Prick Your Finger, who put together the ace How To Make A Crochet Moustache were there, but I am not sure they actually got to meet each other.

Annie Collinge on the left

me in a fab fluffy jumper with the lovely Louise

Julia Kennedy made an appearance; she shot the fashion shoot in this issue that was covered in that hideous Class Of 2008, we're-a-bunch-of-posh-kids-largin-it programme shown on the BBC recently, because the model was Portia, one of the featured kids. The shoot looks amazing though and also comes with a message, so don't be fooled by the vacuousness of the coverage (AND they called the mag Amelia Magazine. Don't they know that is a run of the mill women's mag in Sweden?!)

reading issue 09

By 8.30pm it was time to leave and head to the pub around the corner – this was only ever destined to be a short early evening event, but maybe I should pull all the stops out next time, it will be my 10th issue after all. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves though... Any sponsors interested?!