Knit and Stitch Show Harrogate

Show went really well and we all had fantastic responses from people. Lots of chatting about Bradford College and handing out leaflets for new part-time courses and our Degree Course. Only managed a very short look around but did manage to go see Dionne Swift's fabulous stand. Also met Kerry Mosley who left Bradford College in 2006 so just before my time! Check her blog out - her work was outstanding, lovely sketchbooks as well. Great to meet Louise Baldwin as I had heard so much about her. Too many other wonderful things to mention but I bought lots of postcards

It was lovely seeing friends there like Fiona Wilson and her mum Carol, a friend Jane (who lives in the Isle of Man!) and really just nice chatting to lots of lovely people who were having a good day out.

Re-think!

Its that strange point of a project where you have had an evaluation and you've gone slightly off course! It happened last week and I have been doing research to think about where "Blodeuwedd" and "Shreds of Evidence" are going as I appear to have hit a brick wall. Still haven't managed the life drawing classes (for one reason or another) but hope to do so on Monday. Also need to do alot more investigation with the "Shreds - Print".

On a good note Bradford School of Arts and Media have a stand at the Knit and Stitch show in Harrogate next week and I will be there on Thursday and Sunday. We also have a stand downstairs for fund raising and am really looking forward to it. The only slight problem is being away from college and having to catch up with work!

Re-Make

We have been given the above title and asked to choose an item which we take apart and put back together again in order to understand how it has been made. So I picked a shirt...... Silly girl! Anyway the challenge is there and I am rising to it! After visiting 7 charity shops I found a 100% cotton shirt as I want to print on it. Without realising the amount of work that goes into shirt making it has taken quite a long time to unpick, obviously recording the process as I went along. We will be making a pattern from our chosen item and then put it back together again. I hope to change it by adding extra fabric and pockets following my subject "Shreds of Evidence - Print & its machinery" so I am writing it now as proof that something will happen to change the appearance of said shirt here - it may take some time.

Progressing with Blodeuwedd

Did quite a lot of mark making, looking at meadows whilst visiting Harlow Carr gardens. Diverted off course a little, so back to looking at the growth of Blodeuwedd this week.

I layered some flower petals with sheer fabric over the top and ironed bondawebb to the back to hold in place. I then stitched over, adding paper to the piece and used Koh-i-noor dyes. The photograph shows the piece hanging in my window.

Progressing further I will shortly be attending some life drawing classes at college, arranged by my tutor Hannah Lamb. A little scary - so will post when this happens. In the meantime will continue with stitching on paper and printing with this.

First Week Over

Well its always a strange week the first one back. Briefs are handed out and it all seems very daunting, I think the key is to be as organised as possible - so I live in hope.

Crits were yesterday which we submitted mood boards for our summer project. My three subjects are "Blodeuwedd - The Mythical Flower Bride" who was made from oak and meadowsweet blossom (lots of chanting went on!), Shreds of Evidence I - Distressed Surfaces of an Old Textile Mill and Shreds of Evidence II - Print and its Machinery. I wanted my ideas to be conceptual and to investigate a story to tell and hopefully to interpret in my own way.

The photograph above is of Woven birds' nests sculptures by Jessica Travers at Newby Hall, Ripon. They are really beautiful and Jessica uses natural and recycled materials. Newby Hall does have alot of sculptures to see within the gardens and is well worth a visit www.newbyhall.co.uk.

Its a wonderful windy day so need to clear my head and get blown about outside - plus there are a lot of leaves to collect out there!

Work Placement with Dionne Swift

I have had the opportunity to spend a few days with Dionne Swift ( www.dionneswift.co.uk) at her studio in Huddersfield. Today she was printing using a Steam Roller - which you can view on her facebook page tomorrow. She made a print plate for a huge collographic print 8 x 4 ft, messy but fun - see how the story unfolds.

Its good experience to help out an established designer in their studio and to see just what hard work it is working for yourself. I am back on Friday helping Dionne prepare for HOST ( www.hoststudios.co.uk). Have really enjoyed my time with her.

On-going Summer Project

This is the linen that nails were pushed through then left in a tray to get wet / weather under a tree. Really pleased with the results. I particularly like the dark areas where the nails were pushed through.

The experiment with the paper didn't really weather at all, having re-buried it after the chicken fiasco!

Went to visit an old dis-used textile mill which has been empty for over 10 years, couldn't get inside but managed to take lots of photographs of the outside and its distressed state.

Still lots of work to do on this subject matter!