croshady lady

Why Having Two Pairs Of Hands Would Be Nice...

2010-10-25T15:34:00.004+01:00

Ok, random title I know, but I have just under an hour til my next train and nothing to do. I have just dyed some yarn (and very lovely yarn it is too) grey - finally!

However I can't use it just yet as its still in a hank, and everyone else is busy...

So, for your delectation I'm going to just put photos of my mood board and "drawings" :)

Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane?

2010-07-06T19:53:00.004+01:00

No, its just plain cuckoo :P

Residency: Day 2

2010-07-06T19:01:00.003+01:00

Introduction

I am currently volunteering at Gallery TS1, Middlesbrough, as an assistant on the Arts Apprenticeship scheme, whilst I am there I shall be helping the young NEET people with their arts awards, taking photos of work, assisting the artists with preparing and tidying the space, also making samples for workshops and overall try to ensure that the days run smoothly. Hopefully I shall deliver a knitting workshop also if theres time.

Day 2: Badge making and soft toys

Today I worked alongside Nicola Parkin, in the morning the young people were set the task of making badges using collage, as inspiration they were shown a postcard in which a mans head was replaced with a birds, there was a wide selection of magazines to choose - ranging from reptiles, bodybuilders, graphic design, gossip magazines. I feel this was successful as although they only had one piece as a starting point the young people came up with many different results, not one of them had similar outcomes.

From this they then went onto using the badge machine to discover how they can make a small, saleable object from their creations, they seem really impressed with how quick and easy it was to do, despite some minor problems with the machine its self. The badges they created should be in the gallery's shop relatively soon too, to show a rapid turn-around.

In the afternoon the focus was on making simple soft toys and seeing/developing what sewing skills the young people had, as I specialise in textiles I felt as though I could affectively help the young people and answer any queries they had about sewing. Unfortunately we ran out of time and they were unable to finish their toys, but they should be completed tomorrow.

Plastic Fantastic

2010-06-22T11:54:00.003+01:00

Bio-degradable installation - I think so.

BOOM! Explosive Taste In Your Mouth...

2010-05-26T21:43:00.003+01:00

POW!

Super Croshady Lady STRIKES!

Everywhere You Go, You Always Take The Weather With You

2010-05-16T20:01:00.005+01:00

Birmingham - my future city of residence (in 2012 - fingers crossed)

Here are just a few of my photo's;

Grateness Embodied

2010-05-07T15:40:00.003+01:00

Well just as I promised theres photos of my cheese grater!

Possibly the tidiest my work bay has ever been

It's ALIVE!

2010-05-05T18:03:00.002+01:00

My monster cheese grater is finished!

Unfortunately my camera is in my other bag :(

On the plus side I can sleep again!

It's Like 10,000 Spoons, When All You Need Is A Knife...

2010-04-20T17:06:00.004+01:00

Alanis Morrisette had it all wrong...

Y'know whats ironic - when you've spent the last few months obsessing over cheese graters and you now think you can't actually eat cheese any more, only just a tad more ironic than ra(y-eee-a)in on your wedding day, non?

Grate Expectations...

2010-04-18T11:35:00.004+01:00

Well I've been a bit naughty and did more knitting/crochet than my report and essay (seeing as my netbook's version of word is rather ghey) :S

But I think it was worth it...

Don't you?

STRESS!

2010-03-30T15:49:00.004+01:00

Everything seems to come at the same time!!!

Report and file - April 20th
Essay and file - April 27th
Work related studies - May 6th

And still no reply from Birmingham (how rude!), so I don't know where I'm going next year...

I can't do this.

Inspiration Sandwich (Part 1)

2010-03-25T11:36:00.003Z

Going back to my love of all things Japanese, crocheted and mundane objects roots I've decided I need an Inspiration Sandwich!

http://blog.livedoor.jp/m203gow/

Oh My Goodness!

2010-03-16T11:25:00.001Z

I've had an offer to have my lightbulbs in a magazine!!!

My head shall not swell, I swear!

Just Grate!

2010-03-09T09:35:00.006Z

Welcome to my new obsession!

Everyone needs a cheese grater, non?

A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action Please

2010-03-05T13:33:00.005Z

Organising myself as of today...

1) Middlesbroughian Yarn Graffiti aye?

2) Giant cheese grater for Shipley

3) Lightbulbs! (avec prices)

4) Arts award silver

5) Studio space

6) New Uni (Hereford?/Birmingham?)

7) Designer Makers questionnaire et report

I think thats enough for now...

Todays problem - Gigantic Yarn...

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things

2010-03-01T10:06:00.005Z

If you loved me, you'd get me one...

My Hero - Inga Hamilton

2010-02-24T19:10:00.014Z

I am going to write about my arts hero - Inga Hamilton, a fibre activist living in Northern Ireland. Inga dyes, spins and crochets her own yarns, she was taught how to from a very young age by friends and family but only took it back up at the age 30, they've now taken over home and entire life (that I can relate to).

Besides her own yarns she also works with waste products recycling them to release their inner-beauty, challenging public views of what can be recycled - using yarns and laces found in charity shops, plastic, carrier bags, foam and bubble wrap.

A lot of her inspiration comes from nature;

"Mother Nature is the greatest artist, she matches and blends colours in the sky, uses mathematics her shapes and plants and sculpts stones and landscapes with seas and rains"

Alongside nature, laughter is also a great inspiration, both herself and her husband come up many a silly idea and decide to make them "our house is filled with huge monsters and paintings that we've made to make us laugh til we can hardly stand up".

All this can be seen in Inga's Hyperbolic Crochet Reefs, of which I saw myself in Harrogate in 2008, copious amounts of yarn, time and joy must have went into making of it.

When asked about being a good influence to young people she answered that she tries to share her skills as much as possible with young and old alike and tells people "don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something artsitically". I, personally, find Inga a good influence, I can look at her art and feel inspired, she seems like a very pleasant, friendly lady and I would love to meet her over a cup of tea and crochet.

All photos have been taken from www.rockpoolcandy.com

Completely...

2010-02-23T09:50:00.003Z

Stoked about this friday, saturday and sunday. All my fellow Middlesbroughians (and North-Easterners) get thyselves to town and follow the lightbulbs (should I get them all ready in time). It's gonna be amazing!

Don't actually follow the bulbs - you won't find them around town, but they'll be in a shop window! woop woop! The rest of the shop'll be most wonderous too! Live drawing of what should be in there, badges for sale, etc.

I'm A Little Yellow Fish In The Deep Blue Sea, Won't Somebody Help Me?

2010-02-19T20:47:00.008Z

Ventured to The Deep, Hull today with the family. Took photos-aplenty :)

I Really...

2010-02-02T09:56:00.005Z

Shoulda went to Hereford. I wanted to go to their art college, I'm stuck in a surface design, flat world up here. All because I was scared that I'd missed my family, my friends, I wouldn't be able to afford living somewhere else, I wouldn't make new friends.

I should've went there. I should've took that chance.

I barely enjoyed the bag project, I only liked the soft sculpture part of the last project, I feel like I can't be creative in this project. Everything that I'm suceeding in here I've taught myself, most of my work I'm enjoying has nothing to do with this course. I'm loving my arts award. I'm proud that I've already sold some work but I don't feel encouraged to do my best.

I check out the competitions/exhibitons board and found work that fits what I do alot better. Lacework for Sydney, Constructed Textiles for Bradford - this is where I want to enter my work for.

Well I'm going to their open day, I've decided.

Shenanigans

2010-01-30T19:58:00.004Z

Ok so today I've become the stationary queen, never again shall I buy £20 worth of paper, pens, scissors and glue in one shopping visit...

Also, in much greater news - Miki Tomo is a cake thief! I have proof!

Exhibit A: the stolen cake

Exhibit B: caught red handed!

Gonna Take My Time, I Have All The Time In The World

2010-01-26T15:10:00.004Z

Todays work:

I think out of all of them I prefer the sea urchin, sea cucumber and seaweed :D

If Theres Kingdom Beyond It All, Is There A God Who Loves Us All

2010-01-26T10:17:00.014Z

Well I'm sat here supping on tea, listening to the genius that is Dave Gahan, trying to wake myself up, thinking about to make for my next project. I know what I'd like to do but what to make it with and more importantly "the journey" to make it...

If anyone has a lot of plastic carrier bags it would be greatly appreciated - bright colours preferably.

No Sketchbooks - Again!

2010-01-19T07:45:00.003Z

I'm sorry, I need a rant...

Did you know that buying a folder is saving us all money? Especially when you add buying the plastic wallets, file dividers (which are too small for the leaver-arch files), printing out from the college network, photocopies, sheets to draw on. Then the fact theres nothing to work with. I've heard of blank canvas but empty folder?

I can't work in folders! I even said so. I was PROMISED sketchbooks. No, sorry, its research file again.

Did you know that I am more likely to have more research if it is actually in a book? It has a home in a book... Files it gets moved about, left on the side and then I forget about it.

How on earth are we supposed to do our own work well if we aren't allowed to work in the way thats best for us? Its stupid, even people who aren't on our course say so!

I'm getting a sketchbook, I don't care whats said, my work and I'm doing it my way.

Before and After

2010-01-15T15:10:00.003Z

Before...

After!

Hair-Brained Idea!

2010-01-15T14:15:00.002Z

I am not a textiles print person... Swear!

Amazed...

2010-01-14T09:25:00.007Z

I'm so amazed. I'm doing a bronze art award and I didn't even know it :)

Also, also, also I'm comissioned to do more lightbulbs woop woop! Its a bit exciting, only a bit. Don't know what to call the series... Now to photocopy some *actual* lights onto acetate! :D

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out... (Parts 2 and 3 of 3)

2010-01-08T14:23:00.012Z

I'm rather proud of this, I think if I were to make another I'd probably not increase as much so it'd reflect the shape of the bulb a little more.

Even though when I finished my third lightbulb I wasn't entirely happy with it (in fact I said it looks rather shroomy :)), when its next to the actual bulb its not too bad...

I'm still not 100% with it - perhaps an energy efficient one with a little french knitting would be best...

In other recent news: I'm considering hibernation - wake me up in spring!

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out... (Part 1 of 3)

2010-01-04T20:58:00.007Z

Soft sculpture today at college, I had an idea... Lightbulbs! Ironic? Perhaps... Sweetness? Most definately :D

I'd Like To Be Under The Sea...

2009-12-29T20:56:00.004Z

Crocheted octopus anyone?

Last Night

2009-12-19T19:33:00.007Z

Words Of Violence,
Break The Silence,
And Come Crashing In,
Into My Little World.

Painful To Me,
Pierce Right Through Me,
Can't You Understand,
Oh My Little Girl.

All I Ever Wanted,
All I Ever Needed,
Is Here In My Arms,
Words Are Very Unnescessary,
They Can Only Do Harm.

Went to Manchester MEN Arena last night to see Depeche Mode - Immense. The coach ride was a bit of a nightmare, four and a half hours, the driver got lost, we past the same shops in Bradford about seven times. When me and Jerusalem finally got there we made our way straight to the front :D

The support act, SoulSavers, weren't too bad - the singers voice was extremely gravelly, apart from that the actual band were good. They just need a new vocalist.

But the Mode - greatness embodied! I need to go see them again :)

Well at least I have photos...

2009-12-10T09:20:00.003Z

My really old work :) Apparently it looks like a face.

The Pin Cushion Queen as inspired by Tim Burton's poem from 'The Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy'.

Also, also, also... TOP SECRET ART PROJECT!

All everyone is getting is two words - Yarn and Newcastle!

Seriously...

2009-12-09T18:47:00.002Z

this needs overhauling...

Over The Past Weekend...

2009-11-30T16:40:00.005Z

Theres been a whole lotta changes on my part.

First of all twisting newspaper into yarn is really quite difficult! I know I have until march to get it done and done it will be I'll just have to go back to the ol' drawing board as to how I'm going to make my textiles/art piece for the competition.

I ventured to both CCAD - Green Lane's craft fair and the Designers Marketplace, both equally lush! It is officially confirmed that I am a gob on legs, I talked to everyone there and left rather inspired. I'm thinking of making my own wares to sell for the next one (fingers crossed).

Thinking of going to the "Art Factory" in Middlesbrough on Wednesdays - could be fun :)

Found out my style of drawing! Photoshop! :D And I would have proof but its being blah... :( Watch this space...

Also, also, also! Found out my grade for my bag project - 65%, higher than I imagined.

I'm chuffed!

Competition Time!

2009-11-26T13:25:00.004Z

I've decided to enter my first competion, I can't wait! It's all about recycling - great! :)

http://metrorecreate.co.uk/

So, here's the plan, cutting the newspaper into shreds and crocheting with it. Hopefully that'll work and look half decent... I mananged to take a copy of it off the train this evening so I may just have to have a little play with it :D

Not exactly sure what I'm going to make, or how inky my hands will get (I'm guessing very) but its worth a try.

Lost My...

2009-11-23T09:27:00.002Z

...Fascinator on Linthorpe Road.

I want to cry.

MMS - Making Middlesbrough Sexy

2009-11-17T09:32:00.020Z

Friday was a fun day, went out to take those 50 photos after meeting with Jerome and I think we did a better job of capturing an interesting town than the council have. Yes we could've spent all day at the green taking photos of MiMa, the town hall and the bottle of notes to death but we ventured further than that! I started the day uninspired and doubtful and finished with these - enjoy :)

Oh-kay, so I did take a few of the bottle but this was at the very beginning of the day and I do like the way the sky goes from a very dark blue down to a lighter shade - similar to dip-dyeing :)

On the road to Jerome :)

I like the two differing stones together, the smoothness of the pillar alongside the textural brick, it felt quite nice too... can you see that I was getting a little more excited about it yet?

I like the pattern - basically.

This picture started the real adventure "Oooh! I like the look of that building there! Lets go find it :)" What I like about this is how it frames the building, the diagonal slats of the fence with the horizontal railway lines and Albert Bridge.

The amazing building we sought after :)

The door to nowhere - where it leads nobody knows! May have to check it out sometime soon :)

I just really like this one :)

There are a lot of things that make this in my opinion the best from the day, I like the perspective of how its getting smaller, how the Transporter Bridge is reflected in the windows, it works really nicely.

Again I just really like this photo...

Anyway, thats enough of me blah-ing on about what photos I took, I still don't think I'll be picking up a camera instead of a crochet hook anytime soon.

Out Of The Frying Pan...

2009-11-12T13:13:00.007Z

Well, Textiles Techniques is handed in. Really proud of it, I may have been a bit modest but I'd rather be modest than blow my own horn. I don't have any photos of it, may ask Jayne on monday if its possible to take a couple and put them on here.

Now I've got Visual Language... Is it bad to say I thought it'd be doing calligraphy?

I have a little idea of what I could do.

We get to do soft sculpture (yey!) and I thought that I could possibly make some carrot earrings, they'd be cool. Embroidered and made out of satin perhaps with some angelina fibres attached to make it glisten and capture the light, that'd be gorgeous. Really nice, long, dangly earrings :) Just make sure you don't have a pet bunny near by or you'll have no more ears hehe!

I'm supposed to be taking photos of interesting buildings, about 50 of them for monday but I'm just having a little time to chill for a bit. I'd really like to go to Helmsley, I love the castle and all the little shops and pubs. Don't think the bus is still running there this time of year, it stopped halfway through october. Newcastle has some nice architecture but I prefer the countryside.

I've decided to crochet a little amigurumi desk friend for when I'm on my own on SDS, maybe a rabbit or a cat, the real work can start tomorrow.

This Time Tomorrow...

2009-11-10T19:02:00.003Z

My bag should be finished! Finito! :)

Don't get me wrong I've enjoyed making it but its been non-stop since last monday. A labour of love can be quite draining, non? Theres been a whole load of emotions going into this; anger, frustration, joy, laughter, tears and many more...

It'll be a shame to be done with it. When you've put so much time into something it can sometimes be depressing to no longer to have it to occupy you. The spare time I'll have, like on the trains on the morning when I used to sit and crochet-away, what am I going to do then? I'll have to talk to my train buddy Adam I suppose :P

I had a really good idea actually earlier on where I could make my own mini-project - "The Daily Commute", I could fashion little trinkets only in the time that I'm travelling/waiting for the train/bus (whilst I don't have any major projects of course). I'm not good with spare-time, anyone can tell you that, I have to be doing something. Anything. Could make a matching purse perhaps?

Or something a bit more fun... :D

Dying In The Dye Labs!

2009-11-09T15:04:00.007Z

I GIVE UP!

Since when does Dark Brown = PINK!

Twenty minutes later - panic over! Wrong dye, little amount... :S

Just switching my colour scheme... :)

From Matisse to Nicholson to Degas... Just you wait tomorrow it'll be Waterhouse! FULL HOUSE!

A Bag Project (For Life?)

2009-11-04T20:01:00.009Z

So I've finally, after not having to frog and re-frog my bag (like I have been for the past two days) back to the third row, made progress! :)

11 rows! :D I'm gonna be up until 2 o'clock the day of the hand in sat on my bed like a little pixie crocheting away with shopping bags under my eyes, let alone the one I'm making... It's gonna be mammoth! 12" by 16" - how much shopping can one girl do?

Kept taking it out because Jayne said she can't wait to show Tricia (the course LEADER) my work - I can... The amount of mistakes I made after that, I've never met Tricia but apparently shes really good at knit and crochet and if I can spot a mistake I've made I'm sure she can see them from a mile off :S she makes patterns for Rowan people, my pathetic attempts to try and cover up mistakes will never do...

But its all sorted now and looking fabulous for it, so far so good. I still think a 6" by 6" bag would look better :P

Another Day, Another Blogger

2009-11-03T14:50:00.005Z

I am currently a first year FDA Contemporary Textiles student, I taken up textiles as its a passion of mine, if I were to say that I always wanted to go art college I would be lying, I never really knew what I wanted to do but when my mother showed me the basics of knitting I knew I was hooked. Since then I taught myself how to crochet and have been learning ever since.

My main reason for studying art is that I would like to be an art therapist helping young adults with "learning difficulties" to express themselves, I myself have only recently been diagonosed with dyslexia and understand how hard it can be to go through an academic schooling system.

However I would also like to sell my own pieces of work on the side (who doesn't?). I love to make 3D/textural work which is a little on the crafty-side, for example dolls, and keep myself upto-date with contemporary artists.

I hope you enjoy looking at my work as much as I'm going to making it.