In preparation

I've been a bit worried as I look through other students blogs about purchasing too many new craft items as I already have a bit of a hoarders treasure cave. I've also been a bit worried about time constraints and time-flow (i.e. I have lots of spare time one minute but I'll be sure to have no time at all when assignments are due in). So I've gathered a few links and done a bit of thinking to de-stress and prepare as fully as I can.

Weaving without a loom

Screen printing on the cheap

62 Textile Artists ...and ones I particularly love:

• Michael Brennand-Wood (3d wire, pins, water)
• Sian Martin (cockles, stitched photo mosaics, stitched plastic)
• Mary-Anne Morrison (repeated circles, abacus, japanese writing)
• Emily Jo Gibbs (ginger nut, conker plushie, silver on bark)
• Al Johnson (WWII and women, fabric ceiling, veils)
• Tilleke Schwarz (doodley embroidery that just works)
• Hannah Streefkerk (jellyfish, stitched nature, crochet rock)

Other artists found that I like (so far):

• Rebecca Sower (more mainstream, pincushions, journals, scrap flowers)

Reading the course sample I looked at the 'before you start' section. It says:

If you haven’t already done so, please write a paragraph or two about your experience to date. Add background information about anything that you think may be relevant for your tutor to know about you (your profile) – for example your experience of working with textiles so far, your reasons for starting this course and what you hope to achieve from it.

So here is my intro paragraph (edited 11 May) [Some bits I've taken out as I don't want the info online!] :


 

Hello, my name is Kim Bishopp. I’m studying Textiles 1: A Creative Approach and have set up a learning blog at http://kimstextiles.blogspot.co.uk. I studied Internet Computer Science at St Andrews, as well as Maths and Psychology. I specialised in Artificial Intelligence!

In my spare time I’ve always liked to be creative. I’ve sewn since I was young – mainly cross stitch then trying to design my own patterns. I then became fascinated with all types of embroidery. I like to look at things and work out how they are made. In 2009 I tried to spend no money on clothes as I wanted to make anything I needed (I ended up spending around £40, all in ‘emergencies’). The most complicated thing I’ve made was an inner-corseted ball gown with patchwork corset. I’m now sewing my own wedding dress as well as making my bridesmaid dresses, handmade flowers and other bits and bobs for my wedding. I own a miniature version of a Hobbycraft superstore stuffed into a triple wardrobe. The ‘contents’ of this wardrobe are also stacked on top of the wardrobe, under the bed, on some shelves, in a chest of drawers and in various other places in the house. I go through phases of obsessions. One month I might want to crochet a granny square blanket, one month I might design lots of patterns for ColourLovers.com and to enter into Spoonflower.com competitions. Other months I get obsessed by bookbinding, or sewing Steiner dolls. I have had a very irregularly updated crafts blog http://kimberlyanncrafts.blogspot.com/ and a craft tutorials youTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/kimberlyanncrafts. I’ve been a member of the V&A for a few years and love to go to the exhibitions.

Perhaps one expectation (or wish) is to have a little bit of focus in my creative pursuits and to perhaps find a ‘style’ that I can call my own – or at least work towards one. I hope that one day I’ll be able to create the sorts of artwork that I love to look at online when I think ‘that’s beautiful’. I’d be happy if I can get through the course and NOT expand my ‘stash’. I’d also be wonderfully happy if I get through the course with enough enthusiasm and motivation to sign up for the next Textiles course, because I’d love to work towards the degree.