Meet Richard Lawrence, Author of UFOs and the Extraterrestrial Message

A world-renowned UFO expert and spiritual investigator, Richard Lawrence was the first to bring declassified CIA and Pentagon UFO files to Britain in 1980. He is also one of the most respected names in the mind, body, spirit movement, with regular appearances on radio and TV around the world, including the Coast to Coast AM radio show, which is broadcast to millions of listeners across America. A workshop leader and speaker at the UK’s Mind Body Spirit festival, Richard has also lectured in the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland. His books include Prayer Energy (CICO), Contacts with Gods from Space, Realise Your Inner Potential, Unlock Your Psychic Powers, and the award-winning Guides, Gods and Guardian Angels.

How did you become interested in UFOs?
I was a drama and music student at Hull University in the North of England but my main interest was discovering the meaning of life, and studying many different philosophies. One of these was The Aetherius Society which had a group at the university studying contacts with extraterrestrial intelligences. Shortly after discovering the Society, I had a superb UFO sighting in Hull of a cigar-shaped object which was seen by hundreds of others in the area. This is how I became aware of the links between UFOs and spirituality.

What made you a believer?
You don’t have to see a UFO in order to believe in them. I believed in UFOs before this sighting and millions of others around the world do likewise. It was a study of the evidence from ancient records to the modern day that convinced me.

You are the Executive Secretary at The Aetherius Society, can you tell us about the organization?
The Aetherius Society is an international spiritual organisation based on the contacts between Dr George King, its late Founder/President, and beings from other worlds. It exists to propagate the teachings received by Dr King from the Cosmic Masters, and how to cooperate directly with extraterrestrial beings in spiritual activities and missions.

Why do you think the flying saucer phenomenon had such an enormous impact?
The implications of the existence of flying saucers or extraterrestrial spacecraft are vast. If more advanced and intelligent extraterrestrial beings can visit our Earth and contact us, which I believe they have, then potentially all the problems facing our world could be solved by direct cooperation with them. How could anything be more significant than this?

Have governments lied about UFOs and if so why?
Following the Second World War, governments lied for decades about UFOs and tried to cover up the truth. There is no doubt about this whatsoever, as my book demonstrates. There could be various reasons for this, but the main one, I believe, is that they have not wanted to admit their ignorance to the public at large, and thereby lose their authority with the people. Another reason often cited is to avoid mass panic. Yet another one is because the superpowers have each wanted to be the first to make contact for strategic, military reasons. It is likely that even leaders of nations have been kept in the dark by those mysterious figures who wield power behind the scenes. For example, based on a memo released under the Public Records Act, Sir Winston Churchill, the then Prime Minister of Great Britain, was misled about flying saucers by officials.

How old is the UFO phenomenon?

The UFO phenomenon is certainly as ancient as the oldest records on Earth and, I believe, pre-dates even these. The Sumerian records are said to go back hundreds of thousands of years and they refer to gods who descended from the sky. The Hindu scripts, which were passed down orally for, some say, many thousands of years, have an exact Sanskrit word for a celestial spacecraft, vimana. The Bible is comparatively recent but has several examples of UFOs within its pages.

Why is science embracing concepts which at one time would have been regarded as mystical?
Science is being forced to accept what would at one time have been regarded as metaphysical or mystical concepts. One factor is the discovery that there are huge quantities of invisible matter in the universe in order to create the gravity that exists there and holds the solar systems and galaxies together. Another is the enormous size of the electro-magnetic spectrum which includes undiscovered regions in which some cutting-edge scientists believe life exists, albeit, invisibly to the physical eye. It is estimated that if the electro-magnetic spectrum was 2,500 miles in length, we would be able to see some 2 inches of it. Another area is the investigation of out-of-body and near-death experiences, which some scientists believe have proven the existence of a super-physical or auric body. This is a very exciting area of research.

What made you write UFOs and the Extraterrestrial Message at this time?
This is the book I have always wanted to write, but have never found a commercial publisher who was open-minded enough to allow me to put down the full, undisclosed facts and their spiritual implications. I am very grateful to CICO Books for going with me on this, and I offer it as food for thought rather than an attempt to convert readers to a particular viewpoint. I could not possibly think of anything more important to write a book about than UFOs and the Extraterrestrial Message.

For more information on Richard check out his website: www.richardlawrence.co.uk

Interview by Marny Smith, marny.smith@rylandpeters.com

An interview with author and jewellery designer Linda Jones

Author of Making Beautiful Bead & Wire Jewellery, Linda Jones, with some tips on making beautiful and original jewellery from everyday objects.

Your new book Making Beautiful Bead & Wire Jewellery has 30 completely new projects. Where do you find the inspiration for your designs?

This book was born out of the financial global recession – in fact, I wanted to call it ‘Bling on a Budget’– because the conception behind it all, was to create a project book that would provide inspiration on how to create fashionable, stylish jewellery using everyday objects: such as buttons, bolts, washers, pebbles, feathers, etc… creating jewellery for next to nothing. However, if you don’t want to recycle household objects into your pieces you can supplement semi-precious stones, crystals or lamp-worked beads … so, it’s up to you and your budget!

A gorgeous necklace made from sparkly vintage buttons

and assorted pearls beads

Bead and wire jewellery making is one of the fastest growing crafts. What is it about wire that makes it such a great material for jewellery making?

Wire is such a flexible, malleable material and once you know a few basic techniques, you can attach and link it together, create structures and shapes, coil, twist, spiral, hammer and wrap it … there are endless permutations and variations … that’s why I shall never stop learning and developing with it – and after 6 published books with CICO, I still haven’t run out of ideas! I also think its popularity stems from the fact that it’s extremely affordable to purchase and you only need to invest in a few simple tools to get started. Basically, if you can tie your own shoelaces, you can be taught to make wire jewellery!

Yin-yang earring made from jade beads and silver wire

The idea of make do and mend is very popular at the moment and the projects in Making Beautiful Bead & Wire Jewellery use lots of creative and inexpensive materials. What advice can you give for creating beautiful jewellery on a budget.

There is a current trend for mixed media jewellery at the moment – so, my advice to anyone wishing to create their own unique pieces, is before they source expensive handmade beads, designer clasps, etc… and purchase from suppliers, they should first look at their own jewellery at home and find pieces that they no longer wear, or are sitting, broken at the back of a drawer gathering dust … or possibly, check out second pieces in Charity shops, garage sales and markets and use these as a starting point to designing a new piece. An old brooch can be recyled into a necklace pendant or wired onto the front of a ring shank. Broken chains can be re-connected to form charm bracelets … You can take the old and mix and match it with the new, to refashion something totally unique that blends with your style and personality.

You founded The WireWorkers Guild. Can you tell us more about it?

This came about due to a recent surge in popularity in jewellery craft magazines in the U.K. When I started teaching and writing books for CICO, my market was mainly based in the U.S. but now, there are half a dozen jewellery magazines in the U.K. and a wealth of bead suppliers. These magazines have created clear catagories: such as ‘beading’, ‘wirework’, ‘precious metal clay’ and ‘lampworking’ and I have been aware that ‘wirework’ has drifted into a craft that incorporates clipping and connecting ready-made components together, straight from the suppliers shelves. You can purchase kits with ready-made jump rings, ear wires, clasps, chains, etc… which means that the real craftsmanship of making wire jewellery is slowly being lost. Therefore, the idea of the Guild is a forum to share and pass on ideas. Anyone can join, it is a totally free forum for promoting, exchanging knowledge and ideas and ultimately, helping to inspire and encourage personal artistic development, elevating wirework as an art form. Please see: www.wireworkersguild.blogspot.com for more information.

Crossed wires bracelet

How did you get started in jewellery making and design? Is it something you were always interested in?

As a small child, I was always creating and making things, as well as drawing and painting and following school, I went to art college, but veered off into catering and then secretarial and clerical work as a means of paying the rent! However, at the age of 30, married but without kids, I decided to do an Enamelling Jewellery course to get some creativity back into my life … and I was hooked! Following this, I studied traditional jewellery and silversmithing for 2 years and when I found myself pregnant with my first child, I continued experimenting with metalwork from home, designing and creating pieces for my friends and family. However, my career into wirework and beading came totally by accident and purely as a means of financial survival. Sadly, my marriage fell apart and I had to think of how to get regular income as a single mum of two small children. I realised I couldn’t make enough profit from selling my metal jewellery – the competition from mass production was too great – so I set my mind to teaching, as this was the only way I could charge for my time, plus materials. So I set my sights on running portable workshops teaching Wirework and Beading – my metal being transposed to wire and the beads became my colour palette. I applied for a grant from my local Arts Council to set my first classes, which later led to running workshops at the local Adult Education Centre … and the rest has just evolved from there!

Making Beautiful Bead & Wire Jewellery (£12.99) by Linda Jones, photography by Geoff Dann, David Munns and Stuart West, published by CICO Books

Talking with Cupcake Queen, Lily Vanilli.

Lily Vanilli, aka Lily Jones, is a baker and cake designer. Originally a graphic designer, she began baking as a hobby and then started selling her cakes at Swanfield market near Brick Lane. Her cakes are made by hand in her own kitchen in East London, and are available online at www.lilyvanilli.com.

She is known for her unusual recipes and designs spectacular cakes and other edible treats, such as the marzipan insects she made for an Alexander McQueen film project, or the blood and gore cupcakes created for Maaike Meeking’s show at London Fashion Week. A Zombie Ate My Cupcake! is her first book.

Your new book, A Zombie Ate My Cupcake! includes recipes with names like Undead Gingerbread, Zombie Hands and Ghastly Ghouls. How did you come up with the idea of making grotesque desserts?
I have always had a fascination with horror and love comic book illustration. This book was a combination of that love and a backlash against all the pretty pink style over substance cupcakes that look glittery, but tasteless. None of the desserts in the book are so gross that they would turn your stomach (I hope!) - its just my dark and twisted humour combined with some really good cake recipes.

Can you talk about the process of putting the book together and testing recipes?

The recipes are some of my tried and tested favourite recipes and a couple of new ones just for the book - then the cake designs were just the result of brainstorming, experimenting and choosing the ones that came out well. I read a lot of food history and science news so I got a few ideas from there (eg: the raspberry space cakes). But then a lot of the designs I actually made for the first time for the photo shoot for the book - I just used the ones I liked in practise - its funny because now when I get an order for them I use the book to remind me how to make them!

You take basic cupcakes and make them into amazing edible sculptures that are true works of art. How did you learn to bake?

I'm a self taught baker and I've only just learnt how to make things with gumpaste and marzipan, etc. in the last year and a half - as soon as I realised the potential there is in terms of creativity! There are so many amazing edible materials that I got excited by the possibility that you could make anything - and make it very realistic. I think baking can be very artistic - in terms of flavour and developing recipes as much as appearance - its a combination of science and art - and when you consider cake design it also becomes about architecture, painting and sculpture.

You recently worked on an art installation for which you baked 5,000 cupcakes, each cake making up a pixel in a giant image. How did you handle baking so many cupcakes?

I had help! I hired an army of four of my friends (two of whom are talented bakers - the other two helping with printing the pixels and logistics) we hired in extra ovens, equipment and hit the cash and carry hard! Our car was sagging with flour and eggs. The real challenge was time - we had 6 days to source & hire everything & then bake & print the pixels & deliver - I didn't sleep for 3 days and 3 nights straight.

What has been the most creative or fun commission you've been approached to do?

I can't choose! I like a challenge and I like doing something new each time. I'm working on a very special event at the moment for the launch of the book here (in Harrods). It's an installation of a feast of zombies - with cakes from the book as the food. Paul Parker, who illustrated the book, is designing a setting of a haunted house and we are going to have some really fun surprises.

Where will you be on Halloween?

There will be a very macabre extra special dark tea party at Viktor Wynds Little Shop of Horrors here in London. I will also be selling cakes from the book exclusively in Harrods for the Halloween season.

For more on Lily, check out http://lily-vanilli.blogspot.com/ Become a fan on Facebook here.

A Zombie Ate My Cupcake! and will be featured in the Harrods Stationery Department on October 29th from 1-2pm as LilyVanilli delivers a book signing with a difference supported by Punchdrunk Theatre Group and set designer Mark Connell. The scene will be set with a feast of zombies, played by members of Punchdrunk,seated at a table designed by set designer Mark Connell, featuring all the cakes from the book laid out in a feast style.

Open to the public - visitors will be served by a realistic a spooky zombie waiter in coat and tails and can have their picture taken seated at the dinner table having a tea party with zombies. A huge image of a haunted house interior will provide the backdrop – designed by Paul Parker who illustrated the book. The feast event will launch the book but will also celebrate the new Lily Vanilli counter in the Harrods Food Hall patisserie, where Lily Vanilli cakes and will now be exclusively

available all year round – cake from the book will also be available at the counter from Oct 24th – 31st.

Interview by Marny Smith, marny.smith@rylandpeters.com