Christmas time!

I'm looking forward to having slightly more of a life now after the last few days of trying to get all my Tailoring Processes handed in. I really did not enjoy that project and I think that was reflected in my mark. I only got 56% for it, which is pretty shoddy and maybe suggests that I really shouldn't do Menswear ever again. However, I wasn't over pleased with how it was marked. In my feedback tutorial Sue couldn't find my shop report, yet when I opened my folder it was right there, which makes me wonder on how thoroughly/seriously the work was marked. I am a bit bummed that she didn't say anything about the samples either, as I thought they were actually quite good and brief suggested that quite a few of the marks were for technical competence?

Moving on...

Not had much luck yet on the work experience front. I've sent out a fair few emails, but people don't seem to want to even reply, which is nice. Hopefully can send out some more over Christmas and maybe post my CV directly to some companies, so they don't have the trouble of opening an attachment.

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!

Went for a lovely dinner at LS6 to celebrate and after my last few shifts at work I shall be buggering off home for Christmas and hopefully be returning refreshed, motivated and no doubt significantly heavier. I've a bit to do over the break, new project! It sounds pretty good, 'Retro Revival' sounds my kinda thing. So I need to another shop report, fantastic. Then get hold of an interesting TAILORED, vintage garment. Yes. Tailored. Again. Sounds like an excuse to go shopping around the vintage shops though, so it can't be too bad.

Well, Merry Christmas folks!

7th December

WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK.

So a week until hand-in for tailoring practices and it's not nearly finished.. stress! I don't even want to do the work because i hate this project and don't think what i've done is very good. My samples are pretty good and the brief says that a good chunk of the marks are on 'technical competence' so maybe I won't do too badly, just cannot wait to go home for Christmas and to get the new brief that really has to be better than this one.

30th November

Well we've had the last taught session with Angie and from now we have two weeks to get everything done and handed in. I can't say that I'm enjoying the project, I am definitely not a Menswear designer and wont be designing Menswear again any time soon. I'm looking forward to just getting it done and handed in then I can focus on more important things, like going home for Christmas.

Enterprise is going significantly better. Although the lectures are still mind-numbing, my group's idea for Swapsie Daisy - an online swap shop, is coming together, we've got a presentation coming up to outline our pest and swot analyses. Critical studies is going well I'm enjoying the lectures and the seminars and enjoying it loads more than last year.

Out of Uni is not going cracking either. Just found out I'm losing my job because Borders has gone into administration and will most probably shut down before Christmas, so work's not great, everyone's miserable and the shop is full of vultures wanting a 'closing down' bargain. Then to top things off my uncle has just died at that grand old age of 57 so I've a funeral to go to.. great.

23rd November

This week we carried on learning more samples. I missed the piping session, but Kate quickly caught-me-up, so that i could get back to designing from my samples. I've decided to give Menswear a go for this project, not too sure as yet if its going to be a success, but i guess its best to get it out my system in second year, than to cock it up in third. I'm really struggling to be that inspired from the samples we've done so far. I'm trying to be as creative as possible with the samples and I think that some of them are really interesting, but I can't really do anything that outlandish with them, as I'm designing for Menswear and don't think that a tailoring collection for men is ever that radical.

What I am finding inspiring in the project, is the research into other designers, some of their work is really interesting and so is giving me a few ideas.

16th November

Tailoring!

So after getting the brief I did some shop report research and took about 200 photos of different pockets, piping, button holes and jacket linings (thrilling!). I'm not overly inspired by my research as yet, but let's see. In the session on Wednesday, I hadn't quite got my shop report together, which turned out well, as everyone who had done it seemed to have the wrong idea about what Angie was expecting from us. She said that she wants really technical and analytical drawings, instead of artistic interpretations. Better get on with that then!

The rest of the week we had workshops, with Hugo being taught how to use the machinery that can be used for tailoring techniques. If really enjoyed Andrew's workshop demonstrating how to set a jacket sleeve for menswear, tailoring and how to pad it. From both these workshops I have got some good samples, especially my set sleeve, which is rather good! However, doing a buttonhole by hand is something i hope never to do again... disaster.

We had a visit to the West Yorkshire Playhouse costume department on Thursday. I absolutely love it in there, there's so many shoes. Unfortunately the point of the trip was not to try on period shoes, but to take photos of and draw from the costumes that involved tailoring techniques.

I am looking forward to starting to design from some of our samples and to start making some more creative samples of tailoring techniques after learning the basic technique.

2nd November - hand in and presentation

Finally got everything handed in yaaaaaay! I'm pretty happy with what I've handed in and especially like my illustrations...

The presentation went well we decided to have live models show the garment with a mini catwalk at the start of the presentation to some music. Then the presentation involved a visual display on a power point of all our work and each member of the group commentated. we had practiced everything we were going to say without using que-cards, but when it came to the actually presentation nerves got the better of me and i had to use them.

I was glad that the photo shoot was so successful as it really added to our presentation and to all of our look books.

The first Critical Studies session was on the Tuesday before hand-in.. bad idea. luckily the lecture was cancelled, but i had to miss the seminar to make sure i got everything done.

Reading week - actually involves MORE work

This weeks reading week and as if i would'nt have enough work to do in what's meant to be a week off, but oh no its elective time, so im in uni monday-thursday 9-5! I've not quite finished my jacket yet and i've still to do my look book and illustrations eurrggghhh! I WANT A BREAK! My hat is progressing though in millinery. I decided to look at architechture to inspire my hat designs and ended up looking at shapes similar to The Sydney Opera House. I need to plan out the shapes in paper and then use these paper shapes like a pattern to cut the sinemay... oh god i can't escape pattern cutting!

So far I've got the shapes cut out, folded, ironed and the sides sewn on. I held them together to get an idea of how it would look when all the shapes were attached to the fascinator base. Here's what it looked like...

I've arranged a photoshoot for application of design and come up with an idea that can involve the whole group. Since the theme running through our collction is electricity. I have chosen to use this in the shoot. My idea is to have the model wearing the garment posing next to a car. From the car there will be jump leads coming out of the open bonet and the model will be holding the other ends. They will also be holding sparklers in each hand to give the impression of electricity, as if the model is being "Charge"(d) from the car. I think it will look especially bold as it will be shot in the dark.