Sandstorm Kenya, who sponsors Ambeciles has confirmed that it will donate a prize for our raffle! This is a fabulous prize.

The Sandstorm Kenya Messenger Bag is made from Kenyan calf leather that is tanned using a pull-up technique which gives it a natural look that improves with age. The leather is hand-selected by our senior cutter, George, from a tannery in Limuru, a market town just north of Nairobi nestled amongst tea plantations at an altitude of 7,350 ft. The all-cotton lining is grown in Lamu on Kenya’s northern coast near the Somali border before being milled in Nairobi. The bag features two main exterior pockets underneath the main flap and there is a secure zipped pocket in the main compartment. On the back of the bag is a further zipped pocket that can comfortably take documents and an open pocket, dubbed the ‘Glock’ pocket by our designer, a man who knows more about guns than he should. The bag retails in the UK for £195.00

Basically any laptop or iPad is going to look and feel pretty awesome coming out of this thing.

More detail on Sandstorm philosophy here - http://sandstormkenya.com/blog/the-world-doesnt-need-another-bag.html

Big thanks to Mark Stephenson (@bagman) of Sandstorm!

It’s official! Spread the news! The Edinburgh Coffee Morning Beer Evening event would like to thank Stewart Brewing (@StewartBrewing) for their generous sponsorship of what is building up to be the social media gathering of the year!

Demijohn The Liquid Deli http://www.demijohn.co.uk is sponsoring the EdCMBE bake-off best baker prize - their gloriously delicious and beautiful looking Liqueur Tower. 3 stacking 250ml bottles filled with Organic Rhubarb Vodka Liqueur 22.9%, Seville Orange Gin 26% and Brammle Scotch Whisky Liqueur 23%. See a picture! http://www.demijohn.co.uk/product.php?product=GF0053DJL Thank you!

EdCMBE will be holding a raffle in support of The Ambeciles http://www.facebook.com/TheAmbeciles and we’re appealing for raffle prize donors.

The Ambeciles are four Canada and one Scotland based imbeciles doing the 2010 Mongol Rally http://mongolrally.theadventurists.com in a second hand S reg (1998) ambulance bought on E-Bay for £3,000. Starting at Goodwood Circuit, Kent on 24 July, The Ambeciles will drive 10,000 miles through Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan ending in Ulaan Baatar in Mongolia sometime in August.

Their mission is to raise as much money as possible for The Sick Kids Friends Foundation http://www.edinburghsickkids.org. Scotland based Ambecile Phil Adams (@Phil_Adams) is a parent whose child has been treated at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and has seen at first hand the amazing care that the the hospital provides.

You can also make a donation at http://www.justgiving.com/TheAmbeciles

If you’d like to donate a prize, send us a tweet @EdCMBE. See the great prizes donated already - may the list grow! Our thanks to prize donors so far.

moo cafeteria - meal for two
Fishers Bistro - meal for two
Ecco Vino - dinner for two
Stills - £50 voucher/s
Queens Hall - 4 tickets to one of the QH-promoted Festival shows - minimum value of £60
Filmhouse - cinema tickets
Mary Kings Close - a family pass

A new, permanent moving-image exhibition and resource space presenting changing programmes of artists’ film. Film Lounge presents a diverse range of historical and contemporary films by Scottish and International artists in a new and innovative screening environment.

Examining experimental approaches to filmmaking, Film Lounge is a series of eight programmes of moving image works per year, with each programme running for six to eight weeks. In addition to these programmes, Film Lounge also hosts special one-off screenings and discussion events focused on particular themes.

The films are projected on a large screen within an intimate, enclosed space, accommodating 2-3 people. From the comfort of the Film Lounge sofa, visitors are free to choose from a specifically curated selection of 5-6 films. The screening room is set within Stills’ lower ground space which includes a library, background information on the artists and their works, a free Internet work station, Wifi access, tea and coffee, plus film, photography and art magazines and journals.

Film Lounge has been initiated by Stills’ Programme Fellow, Debi Banerjee who will select the programmes in collaboration with invited guest curators, artists, archivists and commissioning agencies, offering a range of perspectives on moving image practice.
To coincide with the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the first programme will launch on the 18 June and run until 18 July 2010.

You’ll get the chance to experience Stills new Film Lounge first hand at EdCMBE on 15 July.

Illegal Jack’s http://www.illegaljacks.co.uk (@illegaljacks) is our latest sponsor, perfect for a beer evening. Thank you.

Attacat http://www.attacat.co.uk (@attacats) have pledged £200 towards EdCMBE! Thanks @timbarlow and team. More beer, hurrah!

Eden Scott http://www.edenscott.com have donated £200 towards the event. Many thanks! It will be put to very good use.