So a lot has happened since my last post. I've been working fulltime at Urban-hardcore,I know! I went back to my mums in Exeter for a few days and then to Southend to visit the rest of the ugly bunch! It was pleasant! I have to admit I've spent most of this holiday alone in the big student house...its been depressing at times. Its a real eye-opener, this is the real world you work Christmas Eve you go home for Christmas and you're back boxing day! Life is tough......but thats life I suppose! I wouldn't have done it if I didn't enjoy my job so much, but I really want to hold onto this one.
It was such a relief when people started coming back from home...finally I had friends again!

My visits back to the see the famille have been educational as well as fun. I went to the V+A and saw an exhibition recommended by Ian called Decode. It was all about the latest developments in digital creativity and had plenty of interactive pieces-which is always a hit with me! Although at the start I didn't understand how a lot of it worked, I felt it may help me with the next project and it was interesting and enjoyable anyway.
I also saw an exhibition on illustrator as well, I know we have to look into illustrators for the next project, "Digital Realisation Techniques" so I thought why not?!
This exhibition wasn't digital illustrators, but I feel its still useful to know any sort of illustrator fashion, digital whatever!
Here were my findings....





All the illustators are students and are all inspired by completely different things.
Tom Burns did pieces inspired by the City with a great use of colour. His work has a sense of speed, but also lonliness. Lots of the illustrators worked on Giclee print on somerset paper. Burns was an overall winner of 2009.
Swava Harasymovicz did illustrations for penguin classics and worked in pencil, her work was published in the Guardian Weekend magazine - "Putting Down Daisy"
Lydia Wang is a st martins student who addressed issues such as socialist, realism and propaganda. Her piece was called "Everything turns to Gold".
Kristina Marie Hofmann is a Royal Arts student, inspired by the "Ice" Novel.
The work was really good, but different to photograph due to the glass they were behind!Oh well!

Before I go back to College I want to send some more emails for placements and try and get on top of crit and enterprise notes! All in an ideal world!!

Oh and I just hope this snow stops...its driving me crazy




Oh and because I was so pleased with the return of Vickie Wallace we decided to take a little trip to York, (we had never been,I'm sure thats against the law!), it was beautiful!
We went to Bettys...we went to the Minster and had a general mooch! Delicious!

That's all for now....
x

HAND IN!

So todays the day for handing in Innovative Cut - how exciting!
I feel like since my last post have have really pushed myself to get more research/designs done. I've found this project inspiring and enjoyable. I feel like I've tried my best....so I'll just have to wait and see what the result is! It's been quite difficult at times just because I'm working quite a lot at Urban and I've had a lot of personal stresses, but I managed to get on with it ehich is the main thing!
I'm just glad its all done now!

Not enough effort....

I got my Jewellery elective mark back, which was a poor 56%....I'm a little disappointed with the grade but theres nothing I can do about it now!
As for innovative Cut-I've got a lot of research done I just need to do some more designing (i dislike designing A LOT) I will get it done eventually though. I've bought my fabrics for my final garment, I'm making a collar/hood piece that relates to the effects of smoking on the body...so basically I'm burning most of it!It should all work out fine,just fine!
Today, we managed to find a lovely house for next year so thats one worry out the way, and I also managed to get our enterprise presentation sorted for Monday...another weight off my mind!
I feel a little bit like I should be pushing myself more in second year, I eman I am working hard and I also have a part-time job, but when I see people making garments for their own stalls and already doing work placements it makes me feel rubbish. I should be working harder, but I just feel like I have no energy or time to do it. Thats just an excuse because if Jess and Nicole can manage it with jobs and work placements and stalls then why can't I?!
I think I've lost my love for Fashion....my passion is dead! I want to do more and really do well but I just can't be bothered.
I wish I was more motivated or just naturally good!
Oh well...life goes on

No woman, no cry

65% that was the result from application of design....I’m really chuffed because I know that I didn’t put my all into the research and spent far too much time on my garment! I’ve learnt though and that the main thing.
So we have started our new project innovative cut-mixed feelings on this, but it always takes me a while to settle into a project so hopefully it will all fall into place soon. I’ve started researching but I just feel something is missing- I don’t know what it is. I might try taking more of my own photos and have a look in the museum for a little more inspiration. There’s a lot of independent study with this project and it’s a real test....I just hope that I manage to keep up the pace!
So far so good...I just hope I can keep it up.
On the work placement front I have heard off another company but they just said they don’t keep CV’s on file, so I need to send them another nearer the time! Annoying! To be honest though I haven’t sent any more off-so I better get on that soon!
Right now we have:
Innovative Cut, PPD 2, Enterprise and finding work placements....right now the most important to me is innovative cut but I know I need to manage it so I’m doing a bit on everything. I find it quite difficult to think about more than one project at once, but I shall have to see how it all goes-otherwise I’ll fail and drop out....JOKING! It’ll be alright it always is in the end.
STRESS IS A FORM OF WEAKNESS that is what I always tell myself whenever things get tough! So, so true!

done done doneeeee!

For some unknown reason the latest posts haven't been publish-PAIN! Oh well, let me try and recap...I managed (despite all my worring) to complete application for fashion design and hand in ON TIME!Wahey. So, there was one huge stress over with. I also completed my Jewellery level 2 eletive and will be handing in on wednesday-thank god. And I have received the new project-inovative cut. It all sounds very exciting and believe it or not I have already started researching...someones clearly learnt from their mistakes!

I don't know if I have previously mentioned this-but a while back I started contacting companies/design teams etc about work placements...I must have already emailed about 10! I have had 1, yes 1 reply-RUDE or what! But I suppose thats what Fashion is like! This 1 reply was from a company called "fame will come later" and the woman said she would "pencil" me in for a placement and that I should contact her early next year. Obviously I'm chuffed, but at the same time I know what these people are like so I'm going to keep on looking and instead of just emailing them I'm going to send them all letters...they will be sick of me by the end!

So this was our group moodboard for app of design!This was our swing tag/invitation for our brand called "les garcons m'aiment" (boys like me)This was my final garment...I created a shirt fro matt satin!And this was my final jewellery piece (modelled by a not so happy Crystal)

THE BIG SMOKE!

During the summer I went to London to look at various fabrics shops and came across this little gem. "Cloth House"-I love it! The staff are so friendly and helpful and the fabrics are good quality and fairly priced. I'll have to remember to pop in if I'm about again.
They sell lovely vintage fabrics and buttons....there's just a good vibe about the place! I also went to the Royal College of Art's exhibtitons at the V&A-
Here are some of my personal favourites:

Loved the volume in this and the silhouette...

This was amazing...at first glance you think its a printed knit pattern. Once I've read up it became clear that in fact it is knited but instead of doing this pattern in the typical "3D" way they had kept it flat and obv used the right shade of wool to trick the human eye...very clever indeed!

The luggage was amazing too....really professonal and beautifully made.

I just loved the use of unconventional fabrics....I'm all about the unconventional!

Overall I saw/learnt a lot about fabric stores and interesting deigns while in the big smoke!

2nd Year Blues

Not the best of days but, boy oh boy, have I learnt a lot about patterns. We started making our final garment the beginning of this week and although I couldn’t (and maybe still can’t) see the finish line I was pleased to get on with making the garment! So, today I had basically finished my toile just needed to do the button holes, when Hugo made me realise that the my shirt wasn’t sitting on the body properly! SHOCK HORROR! I had to re-do my bodice block in order to achieve a more professional look. Although I was devastated that all my late nights at uni had all been for nothing I knew that deep down it was for the best and in the end, (hopefully) I’ll have a much better shirt. Despite all this I did cry a hell of a lot at the thought of being back where I started 3 days ago! But as Hugo wisely said “its sweat and tears that teach you” - and yes I have definitely learnt….the hard way! Today, I wanted to try the new pattern with added princess line and new collar out in calico first just to make sure I don’t cut anymore expensive fabric for no reason! I also updated my CV and have even started emailing some companies regarding work placements over summer/Easter…unfortunately I haven’t had any replies and its been about a week. Oh well, keep on at it!I feel like I’m really getting the most out of studio time and after college hours…I’ve stayed til about 8pm all week and come in on days we’re not in. I think its just because I’m worried about how little time there is to do SO MUCH work! That’s 2nd year for you! I’m just hoping I’ll get used to it and organise myself better for the next project.At least my enterprise is going alright at the moment, we have an idea, a website, an online survey and we’ve completed our presentation for Monday-Phew!Oh and I’m really loving working for Urban Outfitters the people are so nice and it doesn’t really feel like work, I’m hoping now I have some experience in clothing retail it will help me out with work placements. I could even ask for a transfer to head office if I can’t find anythingNow I have got all the tears out, I’m feeling a lot better about it…surely things can only get better?