Bad News: First of all a strained back following some decorating laid me low for a week in August so I lost time just when I was trying to get everything put right in the house before both sons went back to school. Plus of course I then had to spend quite some time helping them to get up and running with their new academic year; especially Steven with him starting at a new school in the 6th Form. Then of course this is one of the busiest times of year at work - but you can't expect anything less working in a university I guess! We're a member of staff down in my area as someone left a few weeks ago, and the new term starts next week for the freshers, so a number of us are working on Sunday to get enrolment, ID cards and so on sorted. There'll be long queues of students but it's a great feeling seeing the new ones come in to start the next phase of their lives, but hard work for us all.
Good News: I managed to get my finances sorted out so that I was able to enrol for City & Guilds Level 3 last week - hurrah! I know that adds to my work burden, but mentally I feel so much better as this may well be the last opportunity to do it locally. This has given me a new lease of life when it comes to completing my Textiles 2 Assignment 1 which can only be a good thing, so I'm doing odd hours here and there after work when it's nice and quiet sorting things out. Of course I can't do that with the sampling etc, but at least it gets things moving along Will have to confess to my tutor though and apologise that there's going to be a delay in submission which is something I hate doing ...
I've been busy putting together what the OCA notes describe as a 'book' - a bit of a frightening description! - from the observation I did back in May, adding in the photos available from work and taken by me, finding out original building plans and so on. I am totally someone who does not get on with drawing and sketching. I see whatever I do in that line as only for me and my use, and would never say that what I do is aimed at being useful to someone else. My Mother always says that I am extremely self critical, and she's right. I don't like drawing because I can never do it well enough to my own satisfaction, and so get more and more frustrated. Yes, if I had hours to spare I could practice more and get a bit better, but I could never become good at drawing, and in all honesty I have no inner desire to be so because it's just not my natural medium. It never ceases to amaze me that I've produced two sons who are extremely good and drawing and sketching and both are doing art subjects. Give me fibres/thread/fabric in preference any time!
But, that said, the sketches and scribbles I produce do mean something to me, which is what I think is important in the long run. When I looked back on what I'd done during the observation - the sketches, notes and photos - a few months ago now it all came back to me, and I remembered how positive I'd felt at the end. My emerging themes were keeping things simple, using small splashes of colour and developing the various curves that I came across in the area. Since I started looking at this once more I've become a bit obsessed with the curves, particularly the ones on the side of the paper coffee cups and again in the Liscio (coffee shop) logo. I keep seeing them everywhere now! One poor member of staff arrived yesterday wearing a tie with similar shapes in the pattern and I think he was totally bemused by my desire to have a closer look at it ;o) These themes will definitely be part of the essence of my 3 finished samples.
I also feel drawn to use the suggested living space theme of "a quiet refuge away from a noisy family". If I was creating a refuge it would be a textiles workshop away from the televisions and Playstations and Wii's and teenage boys and their visiting friends going backwards and forward. I have to work in the dining area of my house, which is open plan with the kitchen, and so a through route to food and drink and clearly not always as quiet as I would like! Still, I am lucky that it's an old house and a reasonable sized area, albeit packed with drawers and boxes of fabric, cutting out table, ironing board, sewing cabinet and machine etc. Beggars can't be choosers, and perhaps if I did have a totally quiet work area I might not like that either.
Anyway, here is a picture including the Liscio logo and the curved lines I like so much:
I really took a liking to the patterning around the mirror frame as well:
I couldn't help wondering who designed it and where they got their inspiration from! I tried doing rubbings of this and attempted to sketch the patterns too, so I must have liked it!
The coffee cup is a nightmare to copy/scan because it just doesn't show up the lovely curving ridges very well. Still here's the best attempt I've been able to make and hopefully this gives the gist:
Well, it's gone 8.30 pm now and I have to cycle home in the dark so I'd better leave things there and hopefully report back again on some progress soon.
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