Anchor Supplies visit

I paid a visit to Anchor supplies army surplus store in order to purchase some vintage supplies for my project, and with the hope of being inspired. I was accompanied on the trip by fellow juniour designer Faye Currie.
We both searched the dank and fusty warehouses for something to bring merit and personality to our projects. I found a large variety of different button, original uniform patches, maps and many interesting elements to incorperate in my project.
Here are a few snaps from my visit, and of some purchases:

Medals and Medal Ribbons

I found this topic to be most patriotic and the one which i could best express what the British empire meant to me, largely because I have a passion for history and I found that through this topic I could express many concepts and emotions important to me, Which was an important factor as I still felt a keeness to make the project very personal.

Here are some of my early studies of medals:

Tea and cake?

The topic of Tea cups, cake stands etc was probably the one which I found most challenging, as it can be difficult to be successfully creative with a kitsch subject, but I was rather pleased with some of my studies, here are some examples:

Birds & Fish

I began observing the different suggested themes within the project rather early in my sketchbook. Firstly I looked at the topic 'Birds & Fish, here are a few of the resulting studies:

History of Great Britain

For the third time in a row, my sketchbook is a book I am recycling. Previously I used an old music book, and then a diary, but this time I have opted for a historical book, quite aptly about Great Britain. I will admit that this was no coincidence, I spent numerous days early in the project searching for the right book to give a second life.
Although working in old books can be a controvertial point with some, I admit that I throughly enjoy it, as I am breathing a second life into an unloved, disgarded book, which otherwise would most likely be left to rot, but it all a matter of opinion!

Anyway! Here is my rather beaten sketchbook:

Soldier's Story

Here are some photographs I took of the medals on display at Derby Museum in the Regimental section of the museum. The permanant exhibition area is entitled 'Soldier's Story'. I felt that this first hand resource was very benifitial in my project and I took time to observe uniforms, flags and various items of historical significance.

A British Summer!

As summer has progressed so too has my summer project. Ive taken the time to regularly focus hard on what I think sums up Britishness and elements which I feel make me personally a Brit. So with a lot of attempting to embrace my heritage Ive been looking everywhere for quintessentially British things.
For the first part of the summer holiday I focused largely on existing products and market research, looking at fabrics, graphics, home and fashion goods and virtually anything I felt a personal appeal towards which revolved around the given topics and around britishness in general. I found many on trend prints and items, especially during the world cup (it seems the patriotic market was anticipated and cornered) and high end home furnishings seemed a wealthy resource of British textiles.

With a great glut of Strawberries and cream (largely due to picking a vast quantity at a PYO field in Derbyshire) and a hoard of papers, stamps, tickets and packaging ready to recycle in my collages. The project was forcing me to embrace my eclectic British nature somewhat this summer!

And heres a summer snap of me 'Picking my Own':

The results are in ...

Thats right! Year one is over! Im a second year textiles student! Scary stuff! And I am thoroughly happy with my results! All A-'s in Practical, written and visual studies modules! So a year of hard work and dedication has paid off! And all looks thoroughly promising on the print front, as my lecturers agree with my choices and support me with them :)

Rule Britannia!

Well the new project has arrived! What an exciting new project it is! The title of Summer project is 'Precious Paper' and is all about collage. As someone who rather enjoys working onto collaged surfaces and involving recycling within my work, this element interested me. The topic of the collages are 'The British Empire' and we have been asked to select from 3 specific areas (one or more can be chosen): 1. Cups, Saucers, Cake Stands. 2. Medals and Medal Ribbons. 3. Fish and Birds. All of the themes set my mind in motion and as a follower of print trends I began to form detailed ideas for each topic. With a sketchbook to start and several large pieces to complete I am working hard at market research and developing my own unique view of the project already!

Here comes the sun!

Summer is beginning to rear its head! And with creative freedom and a project to look forward to heres to the summer!

'It seems like years since its been here, Here comes the sun!' (and the Strawberries!)

Im currently embracing my favourite fruit, the strawberry! Anybody for strawberries and cream!? :D




(Just a few snaps) Enjoy your summer everyone x

End of Year One!

That's right, Friday was hand in day for all my work, so year one of my degree is officially over! How time flies! Naturally I have a lot of personal work which I want to complete over the summer, so my blog will still be as active as ever!

I have passed my context modules, Achieving an A on my final essay about challenging gender stereotypes within design so its just the waiting game for my practical grades.

Here's to a creative summer and the end of year one! Hopefully Ill achieve good grades and be accepted onto my chosen specialism, Print!

'Weave' been busy!

Sorry, I apologise, no more bad weave puns, although they were looming. Ill stop, I imagine your all yarning.
Yes, completing my weave and therefore virtually all my practical work for year one created that out-burst of poor humour.

After a tiring but worthwhile month my weave is complete, all that remains is to cut and mount my final samples and make my finished piece, a corset. Its taken 6 metres but my weaves are ready and raring for some finishing touches.

And in a reminiscent farewell I wave goodbye to my loom (for now):

Weaving History

On a trip to my hometown of Nottingham I visited the Medieval Market on the square. Immediately a rather large vertical Loom caught my eye and interested me:



I inquired about the loom and discussed it with the lady (in full medieval attire) who was giving demonstrations. I enquired if she was weaving linen as I had always wanted to see wet weaving. She was infact weaving a coarse wollen fabric suitable for a tunic. I asked if she carded and spun her own wool, it didnt surprise me to hear that she did (mostly because Id already spotted her basket of fleece.
She was also hand weaving a trim for a tunic as well as doing a tapesty.



The market was in abundance with textiles, including; leather mugs, rag weaves, recycled textiles, felt and many more crafty things!
The market was just one of the events celebrating Robin Hood month. Celebrate medieval history with fun events for all the family throughout may, visit the website for more details:

http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/robinhoodmonth

Get Weaving!

Well, its been a busy few weeks, what with making my warp. This was a new challenge and I had heard tell of the soul destroying process of making a warp from other students. I was eager to begin my weave so jumped at the chance to start my warp. Winding the yarns onto the warping mill was easy enough, even if it was dizzying at times. Winding the yarn onto the Loom was time consuming (with over 6 metres of yarn to wind and having decided to have a double warp it was bound to take time) but not incredibly trying. Threading the loom however was a different matter. Threading almost 200 needles in sequence was frustrating to say the least. And when the hard work was over, my warp broke several times, needing to be mended on various occasions.

Despite a few little hiccups I got into the swing of weave very easily and I'm currently enjoying producing my samples, here are some quick snaps of my progress so far:




'We sleep, but the loom of life never stops, and the pattern which was weaving when the sun went down is weaving when it comes up in the morning.' - Henry Ward Beecher.

Bradford Textile Society Award Ceremony

Today was the day of the Bradford Textile Society design seminar and Award presentation! The long, busy day left me somewhat exhausted, but it was rewarding to see my work on display and to have achieved something.

As I rather foolishly forgot to photograph my entry before it was posted, here I finally bring you a photograph of my board!
Here is my 2nd prize entry in the Clothworkers' Foundation award for First Year Students for a Knitted Fabric in any Fibre or Blend (quite a mouth full I know!):



The day began at around 6.20 for me, travelling to Derby and walking to university, something I do every day (although never in a dress!). Unable to catch the election results before I began my journey I bought a paper on the way, only to see my strong support of Labour had not been enough to win them the election. We left on a University of Derby mini-bus for Bradford at 9am, managing the journey at a fair pace until we arrived at Bradford and got lost attempting to find the 'Rio Grande', our first port of call for registration. Eventually we arrived and were then taken on a tour of the 'Bombay Stores, which boasts the title of the 'UK's Largest Asian Department Store'. In a word the place was incredible. Everything seemed to shimmer or sparkle or glint, and the rolls and rolls of fabric and ribbon got me snapping away madly:






As usual I could see inspiration and ideas everywhere, so a few close ups were rather tempting too:







After the tour of 'Bombay Stores' we returned to Rio Grande for lunch. I decided this was the perfect time to take some photos and fly the flag for the University of Derby, and here are all the UoD prize winners (I'm far left lol):



And Jackie and Kay:



After lunch we walked to the National Media Museum to view all the winning entries on display and then have our design seminar and award presentation. The seminar was given by Sabine Le Chatelier of Premiere Vision. Then everyone received their awards from President John Dyson.
Congratulations to all the designers who entered into the Bradford Textile Society Design Competition, well done to everyone and thank you to the society and its sponsors for an enjoyable day. Best of luck for next year everyone! :)

Bradford Awards Nearing ...

A week today is the Bradford Textiles Society Awards ceremony. I must admit to being very excited at the prospect of meeting other Junior designers from all over the country. The occasion has arose for me to wear a dress! Something uncommon for me but I am eagerly awaiting the event and the formal chance to congratulate all fellow Derby Uni winners. Naturally you can expect some photos to emerge next weekend, so watch this space! And now I return to work on my final project of year one, Weave.

The great outdoors ...

As a faint trace of the English summer begins to slowly emerge any reason to photograph out in the sunshine is a good reason. And what better cause than displaying my Curious skirts. Inspired partially by Alison Willoughby's skirt photographs and by the themes of Alice in Wonderland I ventured out into my garden one sunny afternoon to photography my finished skirts:

Closer & Closer ...

Once again I couldnt resist taking a few arty photographs of my 'Text Styles' project. As I mount up my samples and get ready to display for Crit photographing some of my favourite elements is just too much of a temptation (I even got slightly carried away and started involving my treasured 1970s copy of Alice in Wonderland!):

Illustration Experimentation ...

During my 'Text Styles' project I experimented with Illustration.
Illustration is something Ive never really done specifically, so I found it an enjoyable experience.
Here are a few of my illustrations:






I attempted to incorporate the modern slant of illustrators such as Sara Fanelli within my work.

Second Prize in Bradford Textile Society Competition ...

Well, it was certainly a shock to say the least when I was given my mail last week! Thinking nothing of the brown envelope and expecting nothing more than more election propaganda I tore it open. Much to my amazement my eyes immediately focused on the words '2nd Prize in section K3'. In utter shock I read the letter thoroughly. Well, in my previous post I had commented 'just in case I'm in luck' but never imagined I would be!



Congratulations to the 6 other students from the University of Derby who also won prizes or commendations. A full list of all winners can be seen here:

http://www.bradfordtextilesociety.org.uk/dc10wnrs.html

Many thanks to the Society for looking kindly upon my designs and Jackie and Kay for putting me forward for the competition.