Origin - a grand day out!

I look forward to this show every year - I can't help myself - the world of the handmade is my world - real skill and craft, beautiful finishing and concrete proof that what we teach in terms of textiles can lead to some kind of profession! This year Origin has moved - historically it has been accomodated at Somerset House, but this year it was housed in Old Spitalfields market, an area that I love, so this was a double bonus! The atmosphere was very different this year, bar a couple of miseries - Alison willougby being one of them - the last time I design a project brief based on her work - the traders were charming, super friendly, inspiring and very keen to chat and share info, refreshing! One lovely exhibitor has even promised to come and chat to our guys, her work was simply beautiful and her lovely gentle nature was so nice to encounter. I got the impression that the majority of our girls felt inspired and it has been very encouraging to see a post on origin on their blog already! Sadly you have missed the show now, but the following shots might inspire you and of course you can check these talented folk out via their sites.....

My Gang - www.textilesrus2010.blogspot.com - how much more inspiring can you get?!

Beautiful knits from Row Pinto - http://www.rowpinto.com/.

Beautiful wire sculptures from cathy Miles - check out her book - Sculpting in wire (basics of sculpture), available from Amazon - http://www.cathymiles.com/.

Lovely use of line from Teresa Green - http://www.teresagreen.co.uk/.

I can't remember who the artist was, but eveything you see in the cases has been sculpted from sweet wrappers - very popular it would seem too as every piece had a red sticker next to it.....

Errr, note to self - make a note of who you are photographing!!!

Exquisite paper sculpture and engineering from Sarah Morpeth - http://www.sarahmorpeth.com/.

La, la,la....

Embroidered and printed textiles from Maxine Sutton - http://www.maxinesutton.com/.

Textile jewellery and art from Betty Pepper - http://www.bettypepper.co.uk/.

Brooke loving Thornback and Peel's printed lobster linens - http://www.thornbackandpeel.co.uk/.

I feel in love with these rather gorgeous birdy ceramics from Lowri Davies - http://www.lowridavies.com/.

Emily and Lora loving Claire Brewster - http://www.clairebrewster.co.uk/

I have been keeping my eye on Debbie Smyth since I saw her work at New Designers 2 years ago, she was very nice to chat to and has been doing very well since completing her degree - follow her on http://www.debbiesmyth.blogspot.com/.

Becky Adams was the delightful designer who has agreed to come and give a talk at Alton - I am looking forward to having a really good look at her work - it really was truly stunning and I know that seeing this work at such close quarters will have a very positive effect on my guys! http://www.beckyadams.co.uk/.

These hanging decorations from Anya Keeley had quite an impact, very simple, but very effective! http://www.anyakeeley.com/.

Of course it's always good to make new friends when you visit new places - Hannah and Ailie make a fuss of a local!

Of course a lot happens in London and it isn't unusual to see a news crew - we couldn't help but try and get in shot - so here is Charlotte doing her best - shame I'm such a rubbish camera woman!!!

More uni news, this time from Hazel.....

Here is Hazel - another very clever bunny, now studying fashion at Derby - I WISH more people would go there it is such a good course......But you never know, maybe hazel's updates will convince you all to apply, who knows!

So my fist week at university has been eventful to say the least. I’ve never thought of myself as an immature person but I have certainly had to do some growing up in a short space of time, and it really has nothing to do with my course. Getting on with my housemates has been really easy as they are all lovely people and I actually mean that, I did think an all girls flat was going to be a bit dull but in reality we have such a laugh and talk completely openly about everything (and let’s face it there are guys about everywhere). I really feel I’ve known them much longer than the 8 days I’ve been here at this point. The freedom of doing whatever, whenever is great too but that does include tiding up after yourself and making sure you eat at least some of the time.

I was given inductions all last week ranging from the boring event of being shown how to use a library to being told about trips and the things we’re be learning this year. This included being given our terms time table, which at first glance seemed amazing. Monday-9.30-12.30, Tuesday 12.00-3.00, Wednesday- All day, Thursday- Off, Friday- Off. However I’m pretty sure that when we actually get into our projects it will very well become the 9 to 5 course we’ve all been told about. So far I haven’t actually mentioned that I’m at Derby University studying fashion, it doesn’t sound as thought it would be anyone’s first choice but it was always mine. I just got ‘the feeling’ when I came to look around on the open day. The teachers really impressed me with their knowledge of, well everything and haven’t disappointed now I’m here. If anything it really makes me think how little I know about my chosen area of study and the world around me in general.

At this point I’m going to just warn you about the serious issue you’re going to have with accents. Ok I decided to go up north so what did I expect, understanding some people is hard like my friend mel but she’s got used to the blank look on my face meaning I didn’t understand a word she said. These strong accents do mean however I’ve been told many times how posh I sound, when all it is is that I’m from down south.

I had a funny coincidence happen on my first day here when I met this girl in my halls who not only it turns out lives about 5 minutes down the road from me at home in West Sussex, but is also good friend with a lot of people I had in my year at high school and to top it off she also went to Alton College for two years without me knowing her at all. That’s the thing about uni you really don’t know what’s going to happen, nothing has been predictable and boring, no two nights out are the same and I just can’t wait to get on and start learning.

The wasp continues.......

So the wasp project has now reached week 3 and we are now making the little critters in 3D - I made this one last year, but the more I look at it, the more I think it looks like a pixar Fly...... So alongside my girlies, I will be making another - there, I've committed myself now, so watch this space.......

Sarah Lacey - The Greenhouse Girl - Super star in the making - first uni diary entry...

Sarah has already been mentioned an awful lot on this blog - she is VERY clever and makes beautiful things - she is also far more sophisticated than I can ever hope to be...... Just look at her here with her new BFF Sienna and Jude - honestly, she'll be too cool to talk to me soon! Sarah is next to Jude - had it been me I would have been standing much closer - anyway, enjoy her first thoughts......

University. Not something I was incredibly enthusiastic about last September but I can only ask myself one thing now. Why not? Bucks new university, High Wycombe; possibly one of the most vibrant and inspiring places to be a part of, situated in the red shed (a giant 3 story warehouse) I have my own desk which has already become very messy and full of initial ideas and photos. I also have the title of an official ‘red shedder’, along with the other 42 in my group, a nice number! Lecturers are constantly wondering around and you aren’t left with the feeling of ‘what am I supposed to be doing?’ although they understand that some individuals work better when freely left to make decisions without too much input.

I walked up to the 3rd level at 9.15am on Monday morning, nervous and anxious to find out where my desk would be and who I would be near. I find my table next to the window and alongside some lovely people. This is home for the next year. The room was bright, spacious and sectioned into small work spaces, all white; ready for each student to add their individual creativeness. It is great to have somewhere that is yours and only yours, somewhere to stick things up, personalise and work from.

This week we have been constructing small 3d pieces inspired from our photos and groups of ordinary mundane items, we have had many tours, they really cram everything in and not once did I feel lost, so many people around to help!! Tomorrow we are going to London for the day and I intend on visiting ‘tent’ exhibition. It’s only been a few days but we seemed to of crammed a lot in... and I am sure the weeks won’t get any quieter.

More from the lovely Sam...

So, here is instalment number 2 from the lovely Sam at Westminster - enjoy!

Monday 27th September

Throughout this first week, Ive found myself picking my mouth up from the floor on several occasions. We've been given a USB stick with all of our course information on: book lists as long as our arms for each module, and c.v.s that couldn't be achieved in a life time. Its all quite a lot to take in.

We've been allocated a time table for the next 6 weeks, comprised of 9-5 Monday Friday working days. Thursday was the first time we sat down as a group and presented our summer projects: mood boards presenting our likes and dislikes to the rest of the class. Whats very apparent is how different we all are. As far as I'm aware, there are just a few female students who are just 18 who studied fashion for 2 years, and everyone else has just completed Foundations. I am 1 of 5 men, and I'm not the oldest! The whole show and tell experience was really funny and at other times, quite controversial. Students come from a range of places, including: Italy, Germany, Sweden, a few from the South, and a lot of people from the North.

All the course tutors seem really down to earth, just like their students. I keep saying it to myself, but within this whole experience, I'm learning so much about myself and other people. We all feel really supported, and the tutors are there, together, each lesson we've had. We've had a few speakers in so far, and last Tuesday, we were sent to fashion week to take pictures of models/journalists/bloggers/designers. I pissed off a lot of models by asking them what they did, to which they replied, A model if that's not obvious. It made us laugh. So from then on, we just asked people if they were models so we didn't harm anyone else's ego.

The day was really fun and it was a good opportunity for students to pull together and help each other out. Our friend Gina got us in the Vauxhall fashion show, presenting Swedish fashion students work. And in the evening, my friend got us into see Lee Patons show at Conway Hall. All in all, I think we really enjoyed the experience.

Besides working and looking forward to our rigorous schedule, throwing up has been a regular occurrence, but the party must go on! Today we have been split into two groups for life drawing, and have a model coming in that has worked with Galliano on many occasions, apparently. Word on the street says that our first making project is a denim project and we've got a Vogue journalist coming in to talk with us tomorrow. Pattern cutting classes are regular, and each Wednesday we have sewing lessons, with two technicians on hand. What an absolute luxury! There are a few first year students from last year, repeating the year. One of which travels from Brighton! I also found out that one student hasn't ever made anything! Its great that we have such a mix of abilities, amongst everything else. Our course director said that we only have to get 40% to pass this year, and that doesn't go towards our final degree. In the second year, we have a placement tutor that helps us (hopefully) fulfil our ambitions. It seems that although, they assure us we are worked extremely hard, they do value that we have fun outside of our courses, and the tutors really want us to help each other.

Last Thursday, we all signed up to a fashion board to help get guest speakers to come and talk to us. Apparently Tom Ford is on the cards! We've all submitted who we'd like to come in (and I couldn't help but put in a dream list as well).

Here's to another fun filled week of fashion and stomach bile parties!

Poladroid - why has it taken me so long to find out about this????

Thanks to the lovely Sarah Lacey (The Greenhouse), I have now discovered a great programme which allows you to turn any image into a "polaroid" - oh how I miss polaroid cameras - so now I can nearly create the photos again - what is really fab is that you can control the level of exposure too so you can get more from one initial image - brill huh?! Our very lovely head of IT downloaded it onto the computer in our textile studio yesterday, so now they are all going mad for it - only trouble is that I can't get a look in now, so perhaps when he finds the time he'll be so kind as to put it onto my laptop......! The programme is called Poladroid and you can download it for free!

Brooke is making her mark.....

Now that Brooke has got used to NOT knocking on the art office door before she enters and remembers that she is now a member of staff (!), she is beginning to put her own stamp on things. She seems to be enjoying organising us all and today spent some time finding and displaying lots of inspiring material based on the recent fashion weeks - it is fab having a graduate amongst us oldies as she genuinely has her finger on the pulse and can point us in the right direction in terms of who we should be keeping an eye out for in the future! Hmmmm, I think that the textile department is going to get a face lift - hooray! Watch this space......

Izzy - A new life up North

I LOVE my ex students, not only did one come to visit me today - Lucinda Harris - with a view to help with the second year BTEC's next project (she has an amazing job with Aspinal of London so knows all about REAL design and branding which is what we are about to embark upon), but I got another diary entry - so here is the lovely Izzy's...... oh, and this is what she looks like.....

Go north

When I first found out I was going so far north to Huddersfield university to study fashion, I was nervous about going so far away and to somewhere which some people have said gets the most rain in England.It has been cold and it has been rainy but the countryside is amazing and all the different northern accents are funny and endearing. The phrases "t'internet" and "off t'shop t' get some spice,"(in southern "i'm going to the shop to get some sweets")make me laugh every time and it stops any awkward silences when you can just make fun of each others accents.

Starting university wasn't like I'd thought it would be. I was thinking that we would be straight into work with no days wasted but instead, although there is work we only start at the earliest ten in the morning, so nights out till four in the morning are just bearable. Every one is so friendly and starting up a conversation is easy. I've already been ableto visit Leeds and I am going to Manchester this week,it's so exciting seeing new cities, being able to investigate new museums, galleries, shops. There are also so many different personalities which makes everything more interesting. It's only the start of university but I know it's going to be amazing living in Huddersfield, and who knows? I might even stay up north after university. I'll just have to practice being able to understand northerners. Also, I get to wear hats and scarves more!

love izzy xxx

The first years.

The first year BTEC group that I get to teach this year appear to be very nice - all impressively hard working and producing the goods left right and centre! They are in the middle of a project that I wrote, which is based on creating a whole range of images based on a single hand tool - anything from a wrench to an egg whisk! As a demo I chose a pair of scissors - well I would wouldn't I?! I am so used to teaching the older students that I forget that when a student has no previous experience of a certain technique it can be like I am talking martian (some would say that is just normal for me, which is quite rude, but also quite true!), so it is easier to do what you are hoping they might do yourself first - I know that I have confused the hell out of them about PhotoShop, but hopefully our version of relief printing (gold card printing) has sunk in.....

Firstly a simple collage which has been drawn upon and then manipulated through PhotoShop with a) the curve tool, and then the gradient map tool (both found in image adjustment).

Now for the gold card printing - you will need, some gold card (ours is the unethically sourced remnant's from a well know cigarette brand), tracing paper, pencil and some tape to keep things in place - oh yes, and your object - the one you are going to draw....

Draw your image onto tracing paper and then transfer it down onto your gold card...

Using a scalpel start to etch in your image - when you score/damage the top layer of the card the shiny part can be removed, leaving a rough layer - this is what will absorb the ink and allow you to create an image - you'll see.... I have taken both large sections of the card away and used the tip of the scalpel to scratch in finer areas to create the illustration of shading.

Next, using the thick black printing ink that you would use for monoprinting (looks like tar), squish this into the exposed areas of your plate (the gold card) with some scrim mesh. Where the white shows the ink will permanently sit, where the gold card is still intact the ink will slide around and may then be removed in order to develop a nice crisp print, although it is worth considering the fact that this excess ink can be used to create some shadow around your image.

A clean piece of scrim is used to remove the excess ink and then a piece of tracing paper can be used to really define areas of reflection/shine etc.

Cleaned up plate ready to print...

So you will need to locate a piece of paper to print it on! This needs to be damp so that it is super receptive to the ink - we have (a rather grubby) paint tray filled with water for this job - just dunk your paper in and then give it a quick blot between some newspaper to take the excess moisture away.

The press - ta daaa! Mark's pride and joy, hence the padlock - actually there is a serious reason for this - the actual plate if it fell out due to a bit of carelessness, could chop your foot off during its decent to earth, so we will always be supervising you!

face up - put your damp paper down on top and place the top layer of blanket and paper back down on top of the plate is a pile of blanket and paper - find the middle and pop your print plate down .

Turn the wheel so as to travel the base plate back and forth - the rollers top and bottom are what apply the pressure and transfer the ink from your plate to your paper, and then hopefully......

You will have a beautiful print! Peel the paper off the blanket as it often gets stuck and away you go to show off your wonderful piece of work!