more mark making



Im thinking tie? collar? cuffs?



Small but still relevant

As promised I did some embroidery. I know its only small but once I have phoocopied it, cut it out and then placed into onto fabric it will be something else. But this will take a while.

Im on the ARTS Thread blog !

First of all I'm so surprised they put me on there after I scared the journalist half to death. I was so emotionally overcome when I heard someone with a camera at ND ask for me, I jumped into the air and asked if I could hug the girl standing infront of me . The look on her  face quietly screamed 'mad woman' but  I am emotional and it had been a long, long, long week, with little - no interest in my work. ( I need to just reign myself a little, not everyone can handle me, I am overpowering at times). If your not interested in embroidery you too would walk right past it. It looks nothing from a distance, its all in the close up. I guess this is a major learning curve for me. My work needs to attract atention from a distance, it needs to draw the viewer in otherwise it will be overlooked.
Anyway here's a link to my blog interview. http://blog.artsthread.com/?s=Pauline+Easby
Excuse the photo, Im not a pretty sight in reality but photographs make me look even worse.

never got through to Hand and Lock

OH disappointment. Its just not my year. Anyway will try again this year as soon as the brief comes out. At least I can structure my work around the brief rather than trying to structure their brief around mine. God what did I expect, really?

Im not emotionally overwhelmed Im passionate about life

Yesterday after walking home from the shop I began a little rant in my head regarding  where I want to be in life and how much it had changed since I began my six year degreeathon. I had forgotten all about how initially I had only wanted to learn how to relax, no expectation of changing careers etc, but I got so involved in the creative process I just fell in love with each module, continually pushing my ideas and creativity mentally and physically. Then I got an internship in Copenhagen which resulted in freelance work, (which I have now returned to after the hectic final year) and thought this was as good as it gets for me. Then my minor project, Indigo and interest from an exclusive boutique began to raise my hopes. I began to think on a completely different level, maybe I could make it as a top designer, and get paid for the time I actually put into my designs. But alas this fell through and lets just say rocked my confidence, and made me devalue my First class honours, making me question where I wanted to be and what I wanted from life. After talking to Ingrid I began to realise where I want to be, I want to be with a company that likes me for who I am, someone who accepts my emotional overwhelmingness. Hey I'm passionate about life and everything in it . So this is a big shout out for  family, friends, lecturers and Fusion for believing in me. I'm finally coming to terms with the fact that just because you want something for a year doesnt mean you deserve it. I guess you have to want it from being a babes in arms.

I'M BACk

Ok, finally got my fears of my chest now its time to work. So as promised I began a few sketches, not yet with a needle but as Im not working at the minute I will try to get on with these. (health reasons and  the freelance work I had expected to be carrying out fell through, unfortunately). But I will be back on track soon, I dont stay down too long. Anyway started with a few blind mark makings, looking at my photos of Paris rather than looking at what I was drawing. I think some of them have potential .


inspiration for a brooch perhaps ?




I like this as it reminds me of twisted barbed wire and railway lines, which  worries me as this is not the route |I want to go down for moral and humanity  reasons.  



Im liking this if photocopied and mirror images etc it could lead to something beautiful

and this I love the thick / thin lines and dots, all created using my new pens from CASS Art in Islington.  

where's my head at?

I can't believe its been a week since I returned home from New Designers. I remember going there  six years ago when I first began my Part time marathon degree and leaving  with both a headache and heartache at the awe inspiring work and creativity within the building. I aspired to be like these students and hoped beyond belief that in six years time I too would be there at New Designers with my fellow students. AND I got there AND it was as daunting as it was the first time Only now I had nothing to aspire to, I couldnt re-do another six years, I was no longer an eternal student, I had made it to ND which in theory meant I was in the real world, which leaves me with a bit of a dilema. WHAT DO I DO NOW? Every time I went to ND I would walk away thinking how can I compete against the new emerging talent and competition year in year out,  but this time it was all the more real because I was up against them for real. How did it make me feel? invisible, unworthy, uncreative but also imensley sad as this was the finale to my passionate dreams. I would no longer be going to college, talking with my mates and lecturers and feeling part of something exciting or discussing how our ideas where developing or not. For me it was the end of an era, but I'm hoping its the start of a new one.

cant wait to start sketching with my needle

These are some images I took whilst in Paris in February. Hopefully if time allows I may have some sketches next week  either with a pencil/ pen or if I'm lucky with a needle and thread. I just love the detail within them, I am truly inspired. I hadnt fortgotten about them just never had the time to look at them. But now with college finished and what looks like time on my hands I can start sketching and designing and do what I do best embroidery.

new project 39-45

Here are some of my primary and secondary reserch for my next project 39-45.
I chose this because I began my degree when I was 39 complketing it age 45, but as I love concepts and stories I hope to include inspiration from the years 1939-45. However I am aware this will need to be done with the utmost sincerity.
The type of things I want to take from that time are personal stories and testomonies such as remebering their homes or objects they loved, their wallpaper or painted walls, their furniture, clothes and accessories, even uniforms. Rather than focusing on the painful memories of war and detrimental loss.

As a student 39-45 I had a specific birthday, I remeber certain clothes I wore and even completed my dissertation on objects within my home and their meaning to me. As a result of contextual studies I now look at architecture and design with fresh eyes. I look forward to any comments you feel willing to give me.

Student of the Year for BA (hons) Textiles and Surface Design

Thought I would add this since I have uploaded a photograph of myself on the very night I received my award. I am not photogenic but this photo will always hold such happy memories for me.

what a weekend

well this weekend has been rather strange. I found out it is extremely important to ask people if you can mention them if ever you are featured in a newpaper article. Life is a learning curve and this is something I had not thought about, but will never forget if it happens again.
The second thing I found out was I am featured in mewspaper articles in Australia, America and London. This was a complete shock. Although it is the same story nonetheless its bizarre to see my name come up on google. Something else I have found interesting is many people have viewed my blog over the last month but have not left any comments. I value any feedback I can get
My final finding is no surprise that nothing comes easy in life, we all have to work through the bad times but that family, friends, collegues and evaluations are essential for discussing things through to get to the bottom of them.
Ymay also have noticed I HAVE FINALLY TAKEN THE PLUNGE and posted a photo of myself. I am not photogenic as this images proves but yes this is me. Look out for me at New Designers. After six long years of hoping and wishing I could one day get there, I did. I set off tomorrow with nine fellow students. Good luck to all of us.

where have I been?

First of all apologies to anyone who has looked on my blog since march and found it has not been updated. As student of the year for BA (Hons) textiles and surface design  2012, I have spent most of my time completing my final major project, going for an interview with Fitriani and setting up my degree show, which I now have images of. Let me know what you think.

The Queens of the screen

 I can see this becoming a regular feature. 'The Queens of the screens', all those femmes out there who are truly, existentially (if thats the right word) beyond belief are amazing with a screen, but for me at the minute my award goes to Joy Herman, Ingrid Hudson and  Phillippa Copping but check out  Jennifer, Helen and Carley their work is amazing. I have to go now and since I dont know how to set my blogs for later days or times I will show you their work  possibly tomorrow. 

Joy Herman. Just look at the clean clarity of those lines . cxheck her out on



joyherman.blogspot.co.uk/

 



I watchd Joy in the print room a few years ago ans was amazed by her planning and preparation that went into printing 

Ingrid 
check her out on ingprinting.blogspot.co.uk
I love how she achieves layers of colour .


Phillippas koda trace
I'm just waiting for her to put images of her coloured print onto her blog. Check her out at seeing is believing.

 phillippalovesdesign.blogspot.co.uk/





Could I take the easy option?

Lying in bed on Thursday night, way past midnight when I should be fast asleep (a) I need to  sleep because I have not got to bed before 1.30 - 2pm for every night for the past three weeks and Im up at 7.45am to take Ella to school and (b) when I am in bed all I think about is designing, development, dyeing fabric, embroidery stitches I could apply, changing my whole idea for a design, etc etc, Basically my mind does not stop
but I know I am not alone. After speaking to Jen and Wy Ting I felt reasssured I wasnt going mad, just under pressure. If I didnt put as much effort and thought into my work I could make things a lot easier for myself , but as I always like to put the best of my ability into everything I guess I will never take the easy route. So the answer is obviously no!

Here's the after photos

I think I have managed to keep the original design aswell as letting the needle go its own way.



on the screen before I removed it




Up close but badly photographed. Perhaps my next degree will be photography?



what am I up against?

Went to college today feeling organised, efficient and on top of things but came home feeling lost amongst a whirlwind of talent. Not sure where I fit in to it all but all I can say is CCAD surely has some great textiles designers in the making. With being part time I have only been in groups of five at the most and that was for only two years, this year I am with thirty students with a high percentage of those being exceptional. Dont want to mention any names but Phillipa, Abbie, Helen, Jennifer, Ambreen, Emma S, Sarah and Holly what am I up against? I should just walk away now but you know me I will use downer and turn it into a positive, pushing me forward. Everyone needs a bit of competition if only to keep the mind working. Wish me luck.

Before pictures, reflection and confidence

Check me out I said the next area I needed to focus on was getting before and after photos so I could show you and myself how my work developed. These following images were taken from believe it or not, my  reflection book, where I have kept a truthful account of my thoughts and feelings throughout  this project.  I knew where they were:  under my desk at college or thrown into a bag, but as a result of cleaning out  my bay at college, in preparation for photos of our work,  I decided to go through them. I am so glad I did!  it made me realise how much I have developed and grown in confidence. It is so easy to beat ourselves up that we often forget where we came from and how much we have grown. So Today I going to say out loud I am very proud of myself.

This is the original drawwing or mark making. I sketched  a section from a piece of jewellery without looking at the paper I was drawing onto. I have used this approach a number of times and find it works pretty well for converting into embroidery.  I would rather allow my ideas to develop organically with media even a needle, rather than creating  a beautiful drawing and converting it into stitch. Although this has its place at the moment this is where my designs have gone.



This particular sketch was of a corset that I had taken a photo of at Bowes museum. Once agian I sketched the image by looking at the photo rather than the paper. I liked the image first time around but looking at it quite a few months after I like it more. The various thickness of lines is almost a design initself.
Im sure I will come back to this. In fact I have a whole body of work I can use after I leave college. 



Its amzing what you can achieve when you ask for help

This is my latest embroidered design. The shoulder pieces were originally just going to be shoulder pieces but after pinning them  to the mannequin I think I should develop them into a collar  piece. Perhaps



The title for this post  refers (if you haven't noticed already) to more more professional looking blog
as well as my images being the right way up. I have so many people to thank for this, Ingrid, Phillippa and Abbie ,
Julie, Robyn and Jess for helping me with photoshop. Im finally getting more confident, which I think shows as I have even found out all by myself that I can add a caption under an image rather than typing sentences, and finding them becoming one letter per line around an image once I publish the post. Secondaly I have also  realised  I can preview posts before I publish them. If this is what I am achieving in the last week I wonder what I will learn next week.

The essence of Dorothy

I know this is a professional blog buy I am rather pleased with the outcome of the Dorothy costume, however I must confirm in terms of professional standards the seams are not finished off or even overlocked, some  threads still need cutting and it really needs a good iron, but considering Dorothy has been to the land of Oz and back I think its held together pretty well.
So any one out there who is a bit creative, likes the concept  of 'make do and mend', recycling etc etc I hope I have inspired you.



I think Ella makes a superb Dorothy.




Needed to show the shoes once again.  I'm still shocked they turned out the way they did.
Red acrylic paint and glitter !!!! Come on girls next time you need a new pair of shoes head to the
works,  buy a tube of acrylic paint and a couple of tubes of glitter. and you will rock the dance floor.





Thought I should add the remains of the two dresses that I cut up to make one.
And no I wont be throwing this lot out, I'm sure I will use the collars, the skirt part
 the buttons and sleeves in some other project or costume.