ba2a: week 3

Monday

Today I worked on the stand having a look at how I can drape woollen fabrics to give a more fluid blend, I had been struggling to visualise the ideas in my head but this helped me understand how I could get the fabrics to move the way that I wanted it to.
I also had my group tutorial with Ike today, I found this very beneficial as it helped me to see my work in a different way, I had started to fell a bit unconfident with it after really struggling with my research, as every time I thought I had a lead it would come back and hit me like a brick wall, it was helpful to have someone look at my work that hasn’t seen it yet and see what they have to say. My main point was that I needed more drawings and sampling, which I already knew from my tutorial on Friday. But it was really nice to hear some of the positives especially about my eye for colour, this week I am going to work on my design development ready for my individual tutorial on Friday. 

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tuesday

Today I spent the morning doing research trying to build up my own archive about the Royal Navy, I made it my goal to actually get some answers today so that I am not still stuck in my rut of having nothing, so I emailed the castle study centre and the Royal Naval Association of Norwich. Both got back to me which was very helpful, the NRA are going to ask around in their branch meeting tonight to see if anyone has their old uniforms that I might be allowed to go and have a look at and take pictures, so hopefully this might be a lead, the man who I have been in contact with has also suggested that I go to the Royal Navy careers centre or the RAF base at Marham as they also have a Navy contingent there, but I will wait to hear from him after the meeting. ​

The castle have a few items which will be in their Armistice exhibition which is available from the 20th October so I will have to wait till them, but I am happy that today I have finally found some answers.

We also had a technical session today where we put the sleeve into hour half jacket, I am really enjoying this half jacket that we are making as  it is quite technical and a little bit fiddly but its interesting seeing how it comes together as well as how many different pieces are needed to make a jacket, we also began stitching the lining together, I had forgotten quite how much linings move when you are trying to stitch them so that was quite fun trying to make sure that it was as neat as possible.  ​

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Wednesday

I also began my rust dyeing sampling today I look forward to it drying so that I can see how it all looks, if this works out I am thinking that I might use this process for my lining, or I will go down to textiles to see if they have any processes that are very similar.

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Thursday

Today I had a technical session where we began lining the half jacket that we have been sampling, I found this quite difficult as it was really fiddly and although it looked easy to watch as soon as I started I found myself struggling to work out what section connected where and how, but I finished it and I am very happy with the end result, as soon as you can visualise what you are doing it becomes a lot easier.
We then had a lecture session on Craftivism (the art of activism with crafts), this was quite interesting and it has got me thinking about my essay I have to write. It was a different kind of session than I have had at uni this year, and allowed us to think of other things not just tailoring, which I feel might be taking over my brain at the moment.
We then had an industry lecture from Francis Dove from Inside Out, it was really interesting to see how they had made their name in the fashion industry.
Unfortunately it looks like I won’t be getting any help from the Royal Naval Association of Norwich as they are all over 70 and the man in charge said that it is quite hard to get them together at short notice, and the Castle also have two pieces that I can look at however they are going to be in an exhibition. Although I will not be able to use this now I think I will still follow up with  my research from these different places to help my research file so that I have some first hand research.

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Friday

​Todays individual tutorial was really helpful, although I think I am going to have to change my ideas a bit I found it helpful to be given some direction, it also helped me to understand what I am already thinking but can’t explain. I was recommended a few designers to look at as well as how I can visualise the ideas in my head. I have found myself focussing too much on the military feel and moving away from the sculptural ideas that I prefer and enjoy, I need to do a lot of sampling into the way I can make these ideas. I like to work very sculpturally and I feel that I haven’t been doing it, which could be why I haven’t felt very passionate about what I have created, I think the more I work on the sculptural side the more interesting my design will come and it will help with my sketchbook.