I just want to make beautiful things, photograph said beautiful things in beautiful places, and for people to just to admire it. Is it too much to ask for?

Summer Project: Self Portrait.

Heavy Procrastination

Deciding to take a break mid-way into my coursework-devoted-day, yet wondering how long my procrastination will continue to abuse my chilled approach to my course. Problem is, I wouldn't necessarily say I'm chilled - I'm stressed beyond belief even though things have been explained more than enough times for me to get my head round...Complicating things much? Those of you who know me know how I do!!

It doesn't really help that we have four modules running alongside each other - two of them are continuing through to the end of the year, but the others are due in at the end of January. Not really a big issue, might I add, but the two modules due in are research, exploration and designing modules, which is ridiculous because I don't feel like I'm saying what I want to. Hell, I was expecting to go through the same boring rhetoric as I had at A Levels, but this just isn't pushing people to the best of their abilities: it's diminishing and feels like once again we're being processed into a channeled affair.

I don't want to give up hope on Plymouth. I'm already thanking myself for heading down to the South West purely for the joys of realizing I don't  want to have to adhere to the world's 'problems'. I want to be selfish with what I do. Not to say I'm against the idea of going where they feel everyone will be successful. I'd quite gladly take the opportunity to better myself. I'm just saying that I don't think, that with the concept I would like to bring to mainstream, I'd be accepted widely within the industry; yet equally don't want mainstream to trash or overuse the beauty I feel that the world in my head possesses.

So what to do?

Return to my coursework will be a start!

Maddening Wishes xxx

Devoted Contradictions

Tell me to shut up. Be quiet. To stop being annoying. A self confessed contradictor to the max and realising it to the max when I pour over fashion magazines. Let's face it, I love mainstream just as much as the next person. I have, in a way, thought about the processes in why I am like this - perhaps just an overload and total awe in such an array of trends, paths and fabrications.

Do I love it so much that I turned to hate it, or is it that I hate it so much that I secretly love it? Too mad, in my opinion! I'm setting myself a challenge: instead of rejecting these things I 'hate', I'm going to embrace them with open arms. Let's wipe the slate clean and start afresh with good intentions. Go with the flow. Because the more I keep complaining and moaning and groaning about everything the more I'm not really going to end up doing what I want to do (no, I'm not telling you what I want to do, just yet!).

So, first thing's first:

1. Embrace all trends.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/439734351090741112/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/439734351090751058/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/439734351090740915/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/439734351090741164/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/439734351090741146/

For some reason I have 'hated' these trends for so long - but what is ridiculous is that I have been object of these trends... I embraced them when I was younger, and in fact was one of the reasons (along with Megan Nicolay's Generation T) why I decided to study Fashion at degree level.  Sometimes, I care far too much what people think. I looked to deeply into things that I'm starting to sound bored of my own opinions. Sucks, eh?   

2. I have loathed drum/base/dance/techno/electronic music since day 1. But until recent months, my eyes have been opened and it just all makes much more sense. I want to thank my younger brother, founder and creator of Zekond Music, who has completely changed my perspective of things. 

Although I still favour Folk and World artists, I have to say my tastes are changing, and the whole concept of this type of music just allows you to forget everything. You get caught up in the moment of things. I love it.

 https://plus.google.com/104573534155911163269/posts/ERjmBkdfizR


Finding my inner peace?

Maddening Wishes xxx

Wasted Wanderings

It's not until you return to education that you really appreciate how much fun being lazy is. It's practically been a year since my last blog post, (I know, I know; I've let things slip for ages...), and I've finally started my new journey to changing my whole life. Well, sort of.

Why sort of? Because it's not really a change but more of what I feel is a step in a backwards direction. I'm back in education. I'm back to procrastinating. I'm back to feeling trapped and having to adhere to certain directions (even though we've been told we have freedom within our grasp). In a way, I'm still stuck in my angered mindset because I'm fed up of trying to make people happy all the time. It is draining.

"I want to be free to do what I want, be what I want any old time, and to be free to be who I choose."

Is that too much to ask for?

But then again I suppose freedom comes at a cost according to the power-induced leaders of the world. Sometimes, in order to make ourselves free, our minds need to be so free that our very existence is an act of rebellion. 

Yes, but this is my own choice - I was not forced into choosing this. But you know what annoys me so much more? How it feels like being a rebellion doesn't count. It feels like it has to be mainstream, or nothing. A channelled rebel. Shaped to not upset the rest of society. And that, my fellow followers, is why I feel like the world is against me: because I don't fit into a certain criteria, because I'm quiet, and most annoyingly, because they allow me to contradict myself to a 'T'. 

ramble away,

maddening wishes xxx

Chillin' with the Knittin'

 

Good afternoon to all!!

 

I'm chilling with my knitting on a well-deserved day off. The image above? Of that said knitting, which is based on the pattern 'Brownie' from Rowan's Kidsilk Dream pattern book. The book consists of a variety of woodland-like knitting and crochet patterns using Rowan's awesomely beautiful fine yarn. Sadly it is expensive at £8.99 per 50g ball, but I'm thinking of making this a last sort of knitting project for the year (academically speaking).

However, with the recent release of her amazing book Woodland Knits, Stephanie has given me reason (and other knitters alike) to keep giving different projects a go. I don't own the book yet, but I think I will be in due course, purely because she's managed to turn gorgeous faery-things into a reality through an interesting craft. I think I've been overlooking the fact that she truly is my inspiration in creative things and wondrous dwellings (of course alongside the likes of Brian and Wendy Froud, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Karen Kay (Editor of FAE Magazine and Faery Events Coordinator) ).

 

Stephanie's book Woodland Knits, and creator of site 'Tiny Owl Knits'

Currently, I would love to get my hands on the pattern 'Seedpod Purse' as I just think it's so adorable and would fit with my eccentric ways.

'Seedpod Purse'

Until the next time,

maddening wishes xxx

 

I have been dragged from the pits of earth to start afresh

Ok, it' a bit later than intended but I've been busy finding work and fitting in exercise. And now for the continuation of my wonderfully odd blog and ramblings of my Sudden Madness.

Well, I did it people! I succeeded in passing through A Levels successfully, gaining some very good grades in Textiles, Photography and Business Studies. Watch this space - you could see the next best fashion/ textiles entrepreneur to blow your minds!!! But until that happens, I'd like to share several things that I've been doing since I last left you all.

If you aren't aware that I work for a soft furnishings and Haberdashery shop, well, now you do; and in the first image you can see a sample of a Jane Churchill furnishing fabric usually used for children's curtains (which I bought as an off-cut). Now, I adore Winnie The Pooh, and have done since I was a year old, and thought that a child-hood memory would sooth the stress of the A Levels I was undertaking.

Original Jane Churchill sample.

So, I drew from eye an image from the sample I had onto a plain white cotton square, and went around the pencil lines with black embroidery thread using back-stitch. I filled in the characters with according colours using satin stitch as this gave the best coverage of colour.

This was just the start. I enjoyed doing this so much that I ended up doing the same thing with the other characters. Not all of the book's characters are on the sample as you can see, but I decided to use images online to fill in the gaps (based around the original drawings, of course!).

 Once I had completed 6 squares, I opted to sew them together, with right sides facing, in a patchwork format, which resulted in the composition below.



 

But I didn't want to stop there.....

 

 I traced over leaf patterns onto strips of fabric the double the length of the width of the embroidered patchwork, and used a satin stitch on the sewing machine to go around the edges. I used embroidery scissors to cut away sections to leave the following patterns; which for those who don't know is a technique called Cut-Work Embroidery. 

 

 Sadly, I wasn't too keen on the way the maple leaf had turned out, as I wanted a more curved line. So, I ignored those and carried on with the other leaves all the way down the fabric strip. I then put gathering stitches along one edge, pulled them up, and attached each panel to the main panel on either side.

 

 Although you can't see it, (purely because I was lazy and forgot to take pictures of the last steps as I was so excited that it was almost complete!), I created another panel for the back, which ultimately allowed it to transform into a cushion cover.





 The above photo is its finished self, unfortunately without the cushion as I haven't got one in its size! I am considering to stuff it with toy stuffing to fill it out and then secure it shut so it doesn't come out; but that is a task yet to do.

 

What do you think? I was so proud of making this despite revising for exams and finish off my tedious coursework that took priority *cough* *cough*.

 

And so my quest shall continue, as I have many more projects tucked away down my sleeve. Please keep visiting to see what happens next in my crazy and unexplained mind!!

 

 

Until the next time,

maddening wishes xxx

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Give me a break

In the sun? In the snow? In the woods? OK, the latter does sound creepy if you're looking at it from the WRONG perspective. I want a holiday. The major exam for textiles is looming around the corner and I'm just so damn tired!  But to help with this tiredness I've been listening to music, as you do. No, not making anything - I haven't got the energy to do that at the moment!

Anyhow, back to the music: Did anyone see Eurovision on Saturday (18th may) ? I think by far this year has been the best - it was all so modern and appealed to a younger audience much better than it has in the past. Denmark won, and quite rightly so in my opinion, as the combination of song, performance and outfit were just beautiful! I felt at home when their track came on, as the melodic tune that Ireland would put through - obviously not and their hard luck!
However, aside from this, I was also captivated by Robin Stjernberg's entry for Sweden. My heart just melts every time I hear the song 'You' that he performed on the Eurovision evening; of which the song below is of a guitar-acoustic version of 'You', but listen to the piano version too. Taking a look at his other songs 'Scars' and 'Beautiful' you just can't argue that this guy is amazing (despite being a participant of a singing talent contest in Sweden. Clearly Britain just hasn't got it right).

 

 

Aside from beautiful music, I will be taking a few months off of blogging to reconnect myself with what I really want to do. A.K.A, go out, have a bit of fun, and chill out. I will be back in September to share my Gap Year with you all and the fun projects I'll be looking forward to doing.

 

Until then,

 

happy blogging to all! xxx