Today's the day I'm back to blogging!

The last two days I've been at a conference at the Midlands hotel, Bradford. There were talks on a range of textile topics that aimed to widen our views as to employment and how we perceive the industry from a range of speakers from workers and owners of textile companies from all over the UK  (The Pennine weavers, W. T. Johnson and Beryl Gibson a textile consultant are a few to name). To give an example fibres, yarn, colour, weaving and finishing were a few. I also visited Abraham and Moons mill which sent me into awe and increased my knowledge of further opportunities for my future work career.

The information shared with us over the last two days has taught me there are a lot more jobs out there than just the perceived 'textile designer', that I need to improve my networking skills especially on social media and to keep contacting companies I have an interest in, in the hope of forming bonds for future work placements and jobs!

I have had an incredible experience at the conference and  a real eye opener hence my return to blogging! 

I used to think of this blog as a platform to showcase all my crafting loves and school artworks in a place I could see them (rather than showing them little love as they get dusty in the backs of cupboards). I now after being inspired by the conference held by a host of companies within the textiles industry (The Clothworkers' Company, The Drapers company & The Weavers' Company) ffeel my blog can be successfully moved on as a base to show not only my love and obsession within textiles but to gain a professional position within the textile industry in the hope of creating further interest in who I am, what I do, all about my work. I hope this will increase my chances of gaining contacts and improving my likelihood to get the job of my dreams after graduating from university (I'm currently wanting to work in colour and perhaps colour in trends)!

Look forward to seeing future posts showcasing my inspiration, works and experiences

Celebrations - De Montford University Leicester, here I come

Hurrah, Yippee, Ta Daaaaaa.....

Dressed in my latest slub yarn knitted jumper this morning, I nervously dragged my self to school for A level results.

Fantastic News - when I opened the envelope I was thrilled to see  that I've been awarded an A* grade for GCE Art endorsed Textile.  Bubbles and Flowers rule OK.

It's still sinking in, but De Montford  have confirmed my University offer, and I'm off to Leicester for the next three years to study for a BA (Hons) in Textile Design at the School of Fashion and Design.

The School of Textiles was officially founded in 1885, with clothing manufacture developing in the 1930s - I hope they're ready for me.

To celebrate I made a new mouse, here being chased across the arm of the settee by my old  version.

Can't wait until September.

Costume and Textile Society of Wales - upcycling Headscarves

27th July - Vintage Village Bazaar - made some new friends at St Fagans at the end of July at an event to re-cycle patterns, fabrics, books and costume related items in the Village Hall.  Jill Salen was there with her books on Corsetry, lingerie and swimwear, as was Michelle Griffiths from the Resist Gallery/Studio, Llantrisant,  with her incredible Japanese vintage textiles, haori, kimono, obiage, obi, and fabric bolts suitable for soft furnishings and dressmaking.  Michelle explained how her wonderful shibori chrysanthemum creations can take a full day each to tie, amazing patience.  www.shibori.co.uk

After a conversation with one of the members selling liberty bodices (which my grandmother remembered wearing as a child) and lace pieces , I ended up buying a small selection of silk scarves and came home full of ideas on how to reuse these.

Here is the first experiment using one of these scarves (red with white bows and a white and red striped boarder) as the yoke of a top.  I added a contrasting white bias cut edging and white cotton gathered skirt with red machine embroidered hem.  Only took about 2 hours to make, and I'm really pleased with the finished result.

 

 To make it even better, my grandmother won the raffle and her prize was membership to the Society for the next 12 months.  They've got a great programme, and hopefully I will be able to attend some of the lectures on pattern cutting, early shoe construction, wedding dresses, traditional tribal weaving technique and Indian textiles .  More at www.costumeandtextilesocietyofwales.org.uk.

Mum's Homemade Birthday Present - Embellished Bag

Starting with a floral print fabric, this was embellished with Angelina fibres, French knots, stem stitch embroidery and satin stitch to enhance the design.  Contrasting handles and a sturdy hessian bottom to give added durability, and voila, a fully functioning work of art.  Mum loves it.

Prom Dress 2013

Well, what does a poor textile student do when she has nothing to wear to the ball? Resort to upcycling and re inventing a friend's old bridesmaid's dress of course.

Chop 50cm off the bottom and hem,  design a new top skirt and sew - two dresses in one for future use.

Art exhibition presenting my Iluminations final piece- 'The Bubble!'- July 2013

Suddenly, my photograph of a bubble in the sink grew and grew to a larger than life 3d model, bubbles inside bubbles, iridescence in fibres, moving and catching natural day light, but also lit internally with LED lights. Olafur Elliason  created the Weather Project, ever changing, this was my illumination inspired piece.

 

Rainbow colours, Kandinsky influenced circles, acrylic paint skins, paper quilling, weaving, hand painted back ground and beadwork, metallic embroidery, buttons and cut work.  Who would have thought that the base was formed with PVA glue on a Space Hopper?

 

Thank you to Miss Lamont and the rest of the Bishop of Llandaff Art Department for all their help with this project and displaying the final results. 

Harry's Hammock

Well, with all these circles going on, at least our hamster had fun with the end result - crocheted Kandinsky.