Moving From Word To Blog...Diary Of A Fashion Student

Before starting P&P Development classes

I am really glad I made the change from an English Lit degree to a Fashion one, even though it was probably one of the hardest things to do at the time as I was already established in Sheffield, settled with friends and had a house set up for the second year there was always some doubt in my mind that I was merely taking the easy option and not doing what I actually wanted to do. At christmas I had told my parents of my plans to change course, which meant doing a Foundation Diploma as I had no A level in any art based subject and meant moving back home for a year. Although I did stick out the year it only confirmed that I did not want to pursue English just because I found it easy and I officially left after my last exam.

I have been doing my work but not in a very well organised manner, instead favouring nights out and getting easily distracted by things like magazines and msn. I do think that I’ve done a fair bit of work in the evenings and on days off but its takes me ages to actually start working, once I start I’m fine (unless someone comes and distracts me.) I know I’m not working to the best of my ability but ive always found it hard to get motivation to work, even when its something I enjoy doing. I don't know why I've developed such a bad work ethic, its probably something to do with doing the start of an English Lit degree that I didn't care about and then doing a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design where we were poorly moderated and able to do pretty much what we wanted.

Over the weeks before half term I think I’ve learnt a lot on the technical side of fashion such as pattern cutting etc which is something I have not previously done. I find having the technical file to be a useful tool as I think I find it hard to remember things if I’m only told things once and like to be able to look back on things.

Week commencing 5th November

Been ill the all the weekend and the Monday so I feel like I have fallen behind with work, did a quiz on how we learn and most of my results were at a similar level, with aural just getting the highest score and logical learning being my weakest point of learning. Decided we could help develop logical learning skills by doing things such as working out thinks rationally and dealing with problems in a systematic way. All very technical talk but it does sound pretty useful, i think if I do more planning in the course of my work the outcome will be better in the long run. As my business teacher used to tell me, a failure to plan is a plan to fail. Pity its taken so many years to sink in.

Kept getting distracted on tues while trying to do work, mostly self distraction because I didn’t feel like it but I told myself reading fashion magazines counts as research…I did start working eventually though, again the aversion to work is a real problem, its not like im even doing anything particuarly exciting or anything, its just something to do instead of work.

I think weds are the days where we learn the most, missed last week as we were on a trip to Berlin (note, take us to paris or somewhere next time! I have a real hate for Berlin now, most depressing place in the world!!!) so we had to make our dress blocks and finalise the piece we wanted to make this week, I chose a dress from the moschino cheap and chic a/w collection 2007. Weds are quite tiring because its technical and you have to think a lot, because if you get it wrong then the whole pattern will be ruined. Plus the classroom was rammed, there were way too many people in for pattern cutting so we had to work outside in the corridor on our knees. However Angie told us after this week we’re going to be split into two which I think everyone is glad about. I enjoy having practical lessons like this as it feels like we're learing transferable skills, and you get to see a more 3d result which i find to be quite satisfying. I havent made a garment before so I think its going to be quite a challenge when its time to make it up.

Had a CAD lesson on the macs this morn (thurs) and it’s the first time I’ve used one since I did a level media 3 years ago so I may as well have never used one before. I found it to be quite an enjoyable lesson and I’ve learned some stuff that will come in useful for when I’m photographing my final piece, I enjoy using computers and my boyfriend brought me a (totally legal im sure) copy of Photoshop which should come in handy when I want to work at home.

Fri was an illustration class with Angie, again ive not done illustration in ages so it was good to start doing it again, I did feel a bit rusty though. Learnt some new techniques for things like textures, I don't think illustration is my strong point as I like to do drawings more detailed and slowly, I think i need to get out of this rut and be a bit more free.

Week commencing 12th November

Tom’s been here at the weekend so I haven’t done any work but did some sketchbook stuff before he arrived, i prefer working in sketchbooks to sheets, probably because its usually smaller, and i like to see all my work together in one place, however we've been advised in the future to use A3 so thats something to think about for future projects. Watched 2 presentations in critical studies today (mon) made us realise we had quite a bit to do on ours, since we've not really done anything yet except had the vague notion that we need to do it at some point in time. Went out on the fashion night out thingy which was really fun, 80s night with 80p drinks, you cant beat a bit of george michael, did end up with boyfriend being sick but i was fine so thats alright...

Tom went on weds morning, said bye to him on the way to coll on weds so was a bit sad in the morning, its quite weird having a long distance relationship, but worth it. I made the pattern for my dress from the dress blocks, which I found to be quite complicated, Hugo had to help me quite a lot with the technical bits like making sure the sleves etc were right and I was glad when the day was over with, it did seem to go fast though which I appreciate.

Thurs we had to go in and illustrate in our own time as the counting people were there, it was quite hard to keep motivated without a teacher and when we knew we shouldn’t really be in but I managed to stay longer than the vast majority of the people. Finished my top for creative approach in the evening, its quite simple but i like it that way.

Fri we did illustration with angie in the morning, I really enjoyed it and learnt some new techniques, I think I prefer working on easels. In the afternoon we did drawing from models with caroline, I think the male model was a bit rubbish and so did most of the people I spoke to, he kept moving! We did learn some good stuff about body shape and proportion, I especially liked the not leaving the paper technique and intend to try it again at home. I’m finding it a bit hard because I usually like to do things as neatly as possible and am not used to doing things so freely. I think this has helped me loosen up.


Week commencing 19th November 2007

On Monday we had to do the critical studies presentation that we had finished over the weekend. I think the summary of the presentation that we did was a lot better than the actual presentation, which was ok but we had a bit of trouble presenting it. There was a mistake in it which made edric and ami laugh then it started me laughing and lost my concentration. When we have to do another I’m defiantly going to make sure we practice more because I think we could have done it better although I do know that presentations are not my strong point because no matter how much I practice I do always get nervous anyway. I think it could have gone a lot better but then again it could have gone a lot worse as well, so I’m not going to worry about it.

On tues mum took me home because I was throwing up all day, then on weds I wasn’t going to go in but forgot to ring in, when I got a text from college I got really worked up and decided to go in anyway. I cut out my pattern pieces then sat down for the rest of the lesson because I wasn’t feeling upto going into the sewing room. I have written down what I need to do an intend to do the top part at home then go into college one of the coming Tuesdays to complete the lower part of my dress. Went home again after and came back thurs evening so I didn’t do any work.

Fri was illustration again with Angie and Caroline, we weren’t given anything specific to do but had to work on our illustration for the hand in next Friday. Had a tutorial thing with Angie where I showed her 10 of the illustrations I’d done so far, she said my proportion was good but I needed to work on the confidence of my lines, developing areas darker etc, and I seemed to work better on bigger paper. I also had a tutorial with Ian, had no problems and was told my attendance was 98% which at first I was shocked at but then thinking about it I haven’t actually missed many lessons, I was thinking about the Berlin ones that I had missed.
In the afternoon I went on the macs with Edric because I wasn’t really concentrating on the illustration I was doing in the morning, so I wanted to have a go at drawing on a tablet because we didn’t do that in cad training but
Edric told me they were good. Ended up working through break because I was enjoying doing it and I think I’m going to try and get one because I think it’d help my work. I also got out a book for critical studies to do my review on and did my photo essay.

To do list before end of term

Do a drawing of my final garment in my sketchbook.
Take the photo (already got the idea for it) and work on it on photoshop.
Complete the critical studies book analysis.
Complete making my final garment and ensure that my file is all in order. (creative design realisation)