Getting stuck in!

Getting stuck in!

This week is when the real stuff starts to begin; Friday we started using the industrial machinery that we have in the studio. Just using paper, we had to sew along the lines, keeping it straight or following the lines of the shapes that were on the paper. It was different from using a normal sewing machine, it was a lot more aggressive and a lot faster than what I was used to, so it took quite a lot of trying to get the lines straight.
We were shown all the machinery that was available and had demonstrations on some of them, showing how they work and what their purpose is. It was quite confusing seeing all the different machinery as there were so many different machines for specific things, some machines were only to be used on certain types of fabrics or certain pieces of a garment.
I’m looking forward to being able to use this specialist machinery so that I know that when I produce a garment it will be of a high quality and it will then be something I can be proud of.

It was my birthday at the weekend, so my sister came up to stay with me for the weekend which was really good. We went shopping both days at the weekend and spent all of my money on clothes! Whoops!

Today I started Critical studies, it was pretty much what I expected, a bit confusing, but I suppose that will be something that I will get used to.
I started to read through the text ‘Blue is in Fashion this year’ it’s really hard to understand and I am struggling with it quite a bit, but hopefully we will be going through it in the next session.

Manchester & Matthew Williamson

Manchester meets Matthew Williamson

These photos are from the Matthew Williamson exhibition that was at the Urbis. I found his designs very inspirational and would most definitely consider him as one of my favourite designers.

Some of his designs reminded me of dancing costumes that I have seen or worn. I like the very theatrical and Latin American salsa style. The cut away leg, and one strap shoulders, along with the bright colours and heavily beaded and sequined fabrics was what reminded me of this.

Manchester -Buildings

Manchester

I really enjoyed my time on the Manchester trip that we went on earlier last week, I've got a few photos that I took whilst I was up there. The photos I have chosen I think really reflect my perspective of what the town is like.

These photos show the contrast in buildings and the culture that surrounds the Manchester area.

It was really strange to see such different types of architecture in such a small space, even though most of the buildings were of different styles and built in different time periods, the mysteriously fitted together to look like part of the same town. As there were so many different buildings, the contrast in matter of fact made them the same.

LCAD - Freshers week

Fresher’s Week
Half seven in the morning, haven't been up that early in about 4 months, so that was so hard to get up, and I didn't realise how long a walk it is from our halls to uni! So I have had to make sure that I'm leaving enough time to be there on time. I really hate to be late so I will be running to college if I'm ever a bit late.
I was really excited to get stuck into college, we haven’t done much stuff this week, just all the normal sort of form filing out and the boring but necessary stuff.
The trip to Manchester was amazing though, it was such an interesting place and such a different sort of town to what I’m used to.
I'm looking forward to going to the vintage fashion fair in town, it will be something to use for inspiration.
today we started looking at our first module and brief, which was quite daunting but looking forward to getting started.
Also we started looking at the way that we learn, I thought I was a visual and solitary worker but when I actually did the test it turned out as something completely opposite.
My highest score was Aural, showing that I like to work with music and listening to sound as I’m working. Certain music evokes strong emotions and you are very influenced by music and this changes the way in which you do things.
After seeing this description I know that it fit’s me exactly, another common feature was bursting into random tunes or songs without prompt or listening to it, and that’s something I’m always doing.
My next highest score was only one mark down which was visual. This style of working means that images, pictures and the use of spatial awareness are very key factors in helping develop skills and progress in different work areas. I would also agree with this description of me for the type of learner that I am.
It was really interesting to find out these results, as I would have thought that I was something completely different to what I turned out to be, so hopefully now I can use these styles of learning on this course and this will benefit the work that I do.

London to Leeds

London to Leeds
I moved up to Leeds on the 12th of September this year, at first I was so excited to be moving up to Leeds, then when I came to it, I was beyond scared and didn't know if I would even like it up here.
Well after the train journey and the annoying walk from the station with the suitcase that just wouldn't roll straight I arrived at Liberty Park, and met my dad with the truck load of stuff that I had bought with me.
After the thrilling un-packing and furniture moving, my new flat mates arrived back from college. I'd met the girls before at the mixing day that we had in the summer, so I knew who I was going to be living with, which was really nice, otherwise I think that I would have been even more nervous than I was.
I'd spoke to some people that i met over the summer just on facebook and msn, just to get to know people a little bit before i got, that was something really good as it felt like you knew some people that were there and you weren't just being thrown in at the deep end.

When I first got here it was a really strange feeling, being away from things that you knew and people that you knew was quite hard to get to grips with at first, but after a while i settled and felt more comfortable living away from my family and being in a new place.

My first food shop I went with my parents while they were still up in the area, I wouldnt have had a clue what to buy if they hadn't have been there. I was really lazy at home, so cooking, cleaning and doing my own shopping and ironing did not come naturally. I think iv'e got the hang of most of them now though, although I did shrink my jumper in the tumble dryer!

I think that I wanted to go to uni so much was so that I could get the qualifications that I need to get a good job and hopefully one that I will enjoy. I can't stand doing nothing with my time and I wouldn't want to waste it doing something pointless or that I don't want to be doing.

Well i've been up here for just over a week now and i'm absolutely loving it, I've loved meeting new people and have had such a great time making new friends and getting to know a new place.