Rosie - an insight into Leeds - AT LAST!

Hello, hello,

My name is Rosey Stride and I’m a fresher student at Leeds College of Art, studying Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design...one word sum up so far....AWESOME :) So my rebirth as a northerner started in September, seemingly early to others on the 13th(which woefully meant missing Bestival festival), however this was long forgotten oncecaught up in the wild and hype of not only being a student, but an art student. Thus translating as a license to getting away with it all!

As with everyone I was all nerves when meeting my fellow flat mates of the penthouse suite (top floor 10). However I genuinely don’t think I could have been luckier with my givings,living with Coley (18) studying photography, Jo (18) studying graphics and Chris (19) studying Fine Art....who all, hands down are seriously talented kids.

Absolutely LOVING city life, more so I think having come from small town Winchester. As a top floor tenant, I have the most fabulous view over the city. At night it really is like looking over a mini New York, as everything here is high rise and on blocks, most confusing when trying to learn your way about! The shopping here is such a tease with shops like Harvey Nichols and Louis Vuitton lining the high street. People here have the most amazing style of dress in every which way, era, colour and print....the vintage scene here in particular is in its majority, with markets, travelling clothes fairs and clothes exchanges making regular and sometimes weekly appearances. You can’t miss it, or help becoming a moneyless victim to it all!

Leeds is VAST and sprawling...and populated it would appear wholly by students....to see an older person or child is a rarity that only really occurs on the weekends! To name but a few educational institutes here, Leeds City College, Notre Dame Catholic College, Leeds University, Leeds Metropolitan University, the Dentistry Institute, the University of Nursing...I could go on. The College of Art is comparably insignificant in size and is non campus based. It can’t be any bigger than Alton College, however as a specialized art

institute, I guess their student intake is dramatically smallerI myself am on a course with 63 GIRLS (the largest course),the only testosterone we have about is in the form of our very tall, very scottish tutor! And again, everyone on my course is just lovely.

Our first project was group based to ‘encourage mingling!’ We were split into groups of 6/7 and drafted off around the city for the day, armed with a sketchpad and basic drawing equipment, capturing whatever we liked. From this, over the next couple of weeks, we developed these sketches and drawings through the use of cutting, paper and shapes. I found this concept hard to grasp initially, as the brief was almost so broad, I was finding it hard to pin point ideas to develop. Nevertheless wise words and wisdom from the tutors

helped the project to flow just fine! The outcome to this project was a 5.5 meter length of printed fabric per group. Printed using a two tone (two screens) repeat design, created in our groups through process of a koda trace. Instead of opting to use acetates to expose our screens with, we had to cut our designs out and place them on a large sheet of tracing paper, which is a slightly more tedious way of going about it, especially when having to cut an intricate design out many times over! Something about good practice?! Anyway we made it, and having learnt the process of screen preparation (exposure etc), our fabric was printed, and if totally honest we all felt like proud mums! All of the groups hangings are now displayed in the college

entrance looking fab :)



Moving straight on, we are almost at the end of our 2nd project, which is self led. The outcome for this will be 6 or 7 designs that could hypothetically be used for fashion garments. These images are based and derived from the Bauhaus and Art Deco era...with the shadowing theme of floral imagery. I am totally enjoying myself and have just completed week 3 of 3 of workshops in use of CAD (illustrator), repeat design and drawing and dye dispersal. Next week, we are off on a trip to Amsterdam, which I am totally and utterly stoked for :) The tutors use it as an excuse to immerse us in ‘culture and museums’, but word on the street is that it’s really an indulged week of secret danish scoffing!

So, an insight of Leeds! I’m sure Amsterdam will entail a blog of it’s own, but I hope I’ve enlighten you a little on Leeds life and maybe even inspired you a little. I cannot rave enough about the city and the college. The print course itself boasts a fantastic department of staff, and I’ve been told one of the best equipped and largest print room/ facilities in the country!



These are a couple of things I’ve created on the side, (the hearts) for a friends birthday, and the bunting was used as decoration for the 2nd and 3rd year exhibits with the theme of recycling. All good fun!

Peace to art lovers,

xXx Rosey xXx

Oh goodness, it was touch and go......

I HATE the snow when it interferes with my life, it's O.K. when you are off for the holidays, have stocked up the fridge and the freezer and the irresponsible gas company have delivered your order so that you can actually umm, you know, cook and heat your house - but oh no, it has to come at the most inconvenient time doesn't it! And not being able to get to work? well, you may think it mad, but it drives me mad, I am a real control freak (I know, you had no idea!), and not being able to be on hand to help (code for being bossy)) as my students are composing their folios is hideous! But, the wonders of modern technology have done us proud and I have been able to communicate with my lot on a daily, if not hourly basis, although the desperate nature of their emails has been hard to bear, but hopefully life will return to normal tomorrow........

Remote access portfolio tutorials for Tedi! Err, swap the image on the top left with the second one in on the right, on the bottom row, then take the middle one on the bottom row and swap it with middle one on the second row down and then.......Nightmare!  



This weekend was also the Selborne Christmas Fayre.

Honestly, given the state of the weather and the fact that Ivan (Mr Bicknell) and I live right at the bottom of a really hideous hill - tricky at the best of times without the added complication of a ton of snow, I was doubtful that I would be able to run my stall - typical - all that hard work for nothing, but at least, looking on the bright side, it would take care of a few Christmas presents instead I thought! However, I have AMAZING neighbours who all helped to trudge my goodies up the hill to their cars (I am going to have to drop the ethics and get a 4x4 next!), the local farmer, Will, also lent a hand with his tractor and on Friday night off we all went. I could KICK myself for leaving my camera at home because the village was breath takingly beautiful - the snow provided that chocolate box look and the whole village was swathed in fairly lights and steeped in the spicy smell of freshly warmed mulled wine - it truly was magical. Far too much homemade lemon drizzle cake and hearty soup later I am home safe and sound and incredibly, quite a few products lighter. So, same time next year!

 Hmmm, I suppose that snow can be quite pretty..,..

Brrrrrrr, now why would anyone take 50 students to London on a day like this?????

Who knows? But I'm afraid that, that was what Ivan (Mr Bicknell), Annie, Brooke and myself had pencilled in for today! Remind me not to do it again - the snow was too, too, much, especially when you have to risk your life willing your (fabulous) car up a super steep, super slippery hill at stupid O'Clock in the morning, because someone (Mr Bicknell)told you with some authority (generally the case)that it was very unlikely that it would snow during the night, and that we need not move our cars to the top to avoid said life threatening manoeuvres.....!

However, being made of tough stuff and fuelled by the knowledge that I had all the tickets for the day in my bag, I made it! It was quite nice to actually be somewhere early too - very, very, rare in my case - as we got to have breakfast at the station cafe!

The day was cold, but productive, and I have to hand it to the first years, aside from a couple of wimps and a couple left victim of a rubbish bus service, they all rocked up! So off to the Barbican for the 30 years of Japanese Fashion exhibition we went, followed by a quick strut over to the design Museum for the Drawing Fashion and the John Pawson shows. I LOVED the Japanese stuff - you HAVE to go - being so close to Junya Watanabe and Rei kawakubu creations was breathtaking - pure genius stuff and I defy anyone NOT to be blown away! Enjoyed the gift hops too - well I am a woman after all!!!

Be amazed, be very amazed - 30 years of Japanese Fashion at the Barbican

Camilla and Jess - cold but cheery!

Hannah - this picture will certainly be prettier than hers!

Ivan (Mr Bicknell) - the ultimate snow-bunny - me, not so happy about the cold wet stuff!

A bit of fabulous fashion illustration at the Design museum - less is always more....

John Pawson architecture - look and learn kids, look and learn - this is how you work in cardboard!

Now you see them..

Now you don't - know what I prefer........!

And a fine day was had by all!

But the snow keeps on coming - our deck at midnight!

Really should have brought that geranium inside - ooops.

Or maybe I will master the Poladroid....

Presenting the Bicknell Christmas card 2010.

I have become lazy over the years - well over-worked actually, both school wise and with my own work, so I have developed a kind of collage theme which I can reinvent yearly for our card - little extras get added like mini blowing bubbles or real touchy-feely additions, but we do have a house style going on! So I present to you - our card 2010 - it might change a little, and now I have ruined the surprise, but this is what you will be getting this year!!



Baby it's cold outside!

I don't know about you guys but I am cold. Cold, cold, cold!But.....I am hoping that it stays like this as a couple of weeks ago I took it upon myself to make hot water bottle covers - with birds on OF COURSE, and well, I am rather proud of these little creations! If you don't get snowed in next week and feel like you can face a little bit more Christmas shopping,or are feeling generally rather chilly, come and see my stall at the Selborne Christmas Fayre - Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December - I have lots of goodies for sale - all of which will make super wonderful pressies and stocking fillers and would be most pleased to sell them to you!!

Some more of my creations - just to whet your appetite!

Can you hear that? They are saying buy us, buy us, buy us!!!



The mysterious Miss Arati.....

Arati was a student with us last year, she is phenomenally talented and one of the sweetest yet shadiest characters I have taught - originally from Nepal, she has had to cope with a great deal in her bid to adjust to life in Blighty and it has to be said that it has been something of a bumpy ride. However this girl is made of tough stuff - she is resourceful, clever and ambitious - keep your eyes peeled she'll go a long way......

"Having started at the Winchester school of art only last week, I think I will begin the world of blogging by posting work form induction week. Brief : create a paper dress in your groups using only paper, however you may use staples, tape and pins to hold the garment together.

Working in a group makes me 'iffy' as its hard to get every body's idea into one garment that would essentially satisfy all. However working with people you haven't even exchanged a word with takes it to another level. Found it as a good ice breaker as I could figure who was good and who I could label as "competition" and "potential enemy". Anyway here is what our group created in the space of two working days in the studio. We worked with the idea of nature in mind. Whilst playing and experimenting with the texture and feel of the paper, we decided to make snowflakes. We developed the small snowflakes and worked at a larger scale to create the garment. Great messy fun I must say not to mention it made me feel 8yrs old again!!"