Drew - a helping hand...

Our lovely Fine art lecturer Drew has recently gone down to a fractional post here at college, so that he can spend a bit more time pursuing his personal endeavours such as portraiture and script writing - a man of considerable talent you see. So I was pleased to see that he had put some provisions in place for the students for when he isn't actually in.......



New project is go....

So all the coloured badges, wires, buttons, bits of wool, pencils and stickers got grouped together and put into envelopes, each envelope was given a name and placed in a brown paper bag....You might remember this from last year actually - yeah, yeah, I knwo, same old, same old!

They came to college, got tipped out onto a table and then the fun began.....

Smiles and confused faces followed...

So moodboards and skirts, and tears and tantrums, here we come.......

Meanwhile the book project has been coming to an end - lovely pics to follow - Maddie's book is all about dipping oils and vinegars, and today a little impromptu tasting took place - the staff were on it like a rash, what with us all being terribly cosmopolitan and all that, but it didn't take long for the students to get stuck in! I love the fact that our students are capable of making efforts beyond the necessary requirements of a brief and the fact that little things like this can bring people together so effortlessly. Well done Maddie!



The plot thickens.......

So it's about colour, it's about the students, it's about a project, a rainbow coloured project, and am I maybe skirting around the issue.......

Ohhhhh exciting!



I have been nominated...

I'm not really sure about this - how do they know? But it's nice to think that people like what you do.....



Weekly round-up - have given-up trying to stay on top of this on a daily basis!

So it was a busy old week last week - firmly back in the swing of things now and Christmas really is but a distant memory - never mind, we have lots to look forward to - a trip to Istanbul, a trip to Nepal (yes really!), parenting classes, a possible trip to Africa and getting to know our social worker really well! College will see a whole new load of graduates and mock interviews for uni are about to take place - God help me!

My week last week started with flowers and heart shaped biscuits - a bit of an old tradition in the Bicknell household - I often get flowers because a) I'm very lucky and b) I'm very spoilt!

This is Alfie - he is horrid and doesn't deserve a write up, but he is a Worldham fixture and was happily munching away when I passed him on my way home one day - he is comedy miserable and I couldn't help but take a snap - Bobby (next door's dog) and I had a very close shave with Alfie once - blimey he can run fast!!!

I finished Belle's cushion - I really enjoyed doing this - it reminded me of designing children's textiles in a former life!

I had to shoot it "in situ" of course but the cushion that usually resides on our spare bed was actually made by Sammi, our current textile technician - she gave it to me when she was one of my students, and I love it! The reason that it does not live on our bed is because the cats would sleep all over it and ruin it!

I have also been printing some new cushions to sell - I always like them as polaroids - makes them look much groovier than they really are!

Not a good Sudoku week for Ivan (Mr Bicknell), HA HA - I got him this book as a stocking filler - a brilliant buy - keeps him quite for hours!!

We went to London town with 50 first years to look at cool modern buildings for their new project - it didn't rain and we most certainly did not drink delicious hot chocolate at Carluccio's on Canary Wharf!!

Synchronisation of watches..

Oh isn't he handsome!

Having a bit of a polaroid moment still - here are some of my rubbish photos from the day!

Installation at the British Museum

The Great Court

Clever poster

On Friday night I went out with the aerobic girls - The  pub was formerly best avoided, but now it has new owners, a very nice interior and pretty goof food - I feel bad though because the ladies wouldn't leave a tip - BEN! I'm sorry.......



Saturday night we had CHRISTMAS - yes really! Lynda and family finally came back from Oz - so it was a belated celebration.

We ate Guinea Fowl (- great recipe below - try it), and my Mum's Christmas pudding - soooo good!

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8012/guinea-fowl-with-roast-chestnuts

We drank proper fizz

We had crackers.....

.......and sparkles.....

......and we got presents!

Sunday Mum and I went to spend money we don't have at Gun Wharf....

 Yeah I know I'm a grown woman, but aren't they cute? Besides my Mummy bought them for me!!!

I baked another Herman!

And what could this all be about?

You'll have to wait and see, but I'll tell you this - it has something to do with this lot! The textile class of 2012 - aren't they cheery!!

And tonight I enjoyed some good old Sunday night telly!

Sleep tight XXX