Weekly studio diary documenting my work as a fashion designer and maker.
Once again it's been a while. I'm finally free to concentrate on my own work for a while. The Joys of being self employed! It's not all bad, the distractions have been lovely.
I'm determined to stop the procrastination this time. I'm lost without a deadline so have come up with an ingenious plan. Each month I will send out a newsletter sharing the upcoming designs and dates that pieces will drop on the website.
Be sure to sign up to the newsletter on the home page to get sneak peeks and hold me to account! You also get a little treat too :)
July will be all about high summer, white cottons, sun hats and dreaming of living in Picnic at Hanging Rock or A Room with View.
If I can't get on with work I'm seriously considering booking myself into the dullest room in the dullest hotel in the dullest town so get some work done!
Farewell to David Hockney - I spent days reading his obituaries and watching interviews. I loved the cover of the Guardian, such a brilliant photograph and style with those fine stripes. I love how people used to talk about art on TV in a serious way, no scandal or drama, just art.
His love of life and wonder is inspiring. His commitment to doing the work, enlightening. Make art as seriously as a miner, mines.
What a difference a few weeks make in politics! I hope Andy is a decent as Kier with more ability to bring people along on policies.
Street Photography and skateboarders in Bristol - I'm a little rusty at photographing in the street and came home so pissed of with myself for missing the shots and conversations about peoples outfits I would have loved to have.
Bristol harbourside on a Tuesday night was a delight of people showing off their style. I'm loving the late 90s / 2000s style. Nostalgia for me, but when you look a little closer, its their way now not a repeat of mine. That gives me hope.
Now to get back out and photograph
Work Experience Week - What a joy, even with the intolerable heatwave cancelling two days.
It is something when a 14 year old shares her playlist with you and it's your mixtape from 2000. Very glad Doja Cat was there too and glad I didn't love it all. Wish more young people made new music but love that I was introduced to Le Tigre from 1999!
My taste has evolved over the years and that gave us something to debate and for my student to push against. Its good to disagree and find your own taste as a student.
I will share more about work experience and my students wonderful ideas in another post. I think I was left even more inspired than she was and if you have the opportunity to offer work placements to students, do. They are great at adding another perspective.
Abundance of flowers - The garden and my walks are overwhelming with flowers everywhere. Roses, jasmine, wild flowers, tiny flowers, massive blooms, lavender, fox and cubs, delicate grasses, everywhere flowers breezing around. I want to bring this beauty all around my into my work, ready for next years display.
Soon it will be time to harvest the small square of flax I sowed, its wonderful, pretty and so fast growing.
Haymaking - And then we made the hay, in the 40 degree heat. Just a small field that feeds the neighbours horses for the winter. It's a Summer ritual, a race against the possibility of rain and the evening dew dampening the crispy bales. For once I was able to be a little more useful with the sun lightening the bales to liftable weights.
The field is then a yellow bare page, ready for rain and the grass to grow again.
And whilst the sun shone, I bleached the antique cottons outside the studio. The little orange foxing marks caused my condensation in storage are nearly impossible to remove. But a little lemon juice and the blazing sun helped lighten these little rust marks significantly. I was so happy!
Coming up in July if you missed the newsletter ....
Vintage white cotton skirts, tops and dresses for high summer style, with sun hats and accessories.
New designs made at the studio for the From the Source collection and a new pieces in soft bamboo jersey.
This week I've been mostly .......
Doing .....
Photographing and making a dress with a student.
Watching -
Next Stop Greenwich Village - by Paul Mazursky 1976 The coats!
Corvette Summer by Matthew Robbins 1978 - Disco cinematography that would go well with TGI Friday. Forget the car, Annie Potts outfits are so good.
The Bear is back and I'm adoring it.
Listening -
Le Tigre - 1999
Reading -
Watching the Bear reminded me to finish Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
I love this attention to making joy for other people.
David Hockney by David Hockney
Learning -
How to paint stripes, it didn't work but I'll keep going on this idea. There's a bit of a theme with Hockney.
Wearing - Pyjamas as its been soo hot - super loose shirt and shorts.
My Blue Belle floral summer dress, I like to think Taggie or Lizzie would wear this dress in Rivals
Grateful for ... conversations with teenagers and remembering what it was like to be that age. Grown Ups have a duty to make things good for them.
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