weighing in at 8lb2oz (of average weight) exactly a year after the build began on 2a, measuring 22.5 inches (way above average - 95th percentile + for you yanks) and a just above average head circumference (what?) little miss rêve elvis xavier cortizo-burgess was born at 8.41pm.

on 20th july 2010. her due date.

everyone is doing fantastically.

oh and in the year spain won the world cup!

almost a year ago we began the refurbishment of the main residence behind the gift shop, completing in february 2010. and we’re finally getting round to sharing the finished product, courtesy of Interiors Photography by Gary Dickinson

click here and you can see some before, during and after pictures, and find out who helped us with the project, as well as where we got hold of some of our bits and bobs.

a book swap was held in the gift shop before moving into the main space for introductions, discussion of the project values and people’s motivations for participation.

it ended with a brainstorm inspired by the whitechapel / tower hamlets area, the space and the heritage of 826.

wishing the project (needs a name!) the best of luck in their search for a home in london. if you think you can help with that check here to find out more about the sort of space they’re looking for.

photos of the evening courtesy of andrew hinton who will be putting together a documentary of the process. you can see the full photostream here.

826 valencia was first set up in san francisco by the novelist dave eggers in the mission district of the city.

eggers’ teacher friends told him that the one thing lacking with their english students, particularly those with literacy issues and those for whom english was a second language, was one-on-one time. eggers’ guess was that there would be enough people among his writer friends who would be willing to volunteer some of their time to help out.  the idea gathered support. however, the city authorities told him that the space he wanted to use at 826 Valencia Street in the city was zoned for retail: he couldn’t just open it as a ’school’.

so, inspired by the place’s ship-like interior he opened it as ‘a pirate supply store’: where you could buy everything a self-respecting pirate might need - from replacement peg-legs to bird-seed for your parrot. the ‘shop’ serves as a front for the writing centre, where young people go to work with writers, improve their writing and language skills, and put together anthologies which then go on to be published. behind each is an imaginative space where local young people can learn through writing and get help with their homework with the help of a team of volunteer writers. young people can also attend writing workshops and get involved in publishing projects. all of these services are free.

watch dave eggers speak about the project here.

826 valencia has since set up shop in seven cities around the us - the one in la caters to time travelers, and the one in new york to superheroes. recently roddy doyle opened up fighting words in dublin inspired by the 826 model.

‘826 london’ are a group of writers, educators, designers and interested people, aiming to set up a pilot centre in London, with the intention of it becoming permanent (with the blessing of the umbrella organisation of 826 National in the US).

tuesday’s meeting is a chance to meet up with people who’ve volunteered to help in some way, and get started on some of the founding principles.

please rsvp if you’d like to come by leaving a comment on the project blog or to info@thewhitechapelgiftshop.com.

one of the products sold at the time travel store in la. very apropos