Sneak Peak!

When life hands you lemons...make lemonade. 

I had a couple of sour lemons thrown at my face (the company I worked for collapsed with no notice and NO pay)and sure I sulked a little, but i realised this lemonade wasn't going to make itself! It's taken a couple of bad tasting bottles but I'm finally getting on my way to making a drinkable lemony beverage! 


Lucy's Lemonade: Bach one (August 2013)

A traditional vintage flavour- bitter sweet and still. Very refreshing and sets the taste buds alive with a proper lemony zing! Not the sweetest of lemonades so best to be drunk in smaller quantities.


I thought that was pretty clever, its not though is it? Its just lame. Anyways...I'm currently interning for Collectif, I'm in my 3rd week of 8 there and am really enjoying it. I was suuuuper shocked to find out that they wanted me to design a print for them for their SS14 collection, I'm only just getting my head around it. I thought I was gonna be the tea girl! I don't want to say too much but I think the photo gives a little glimpse into my world at the moment. It's nice to be inspired again, and drawing! It's a completely different vibe to be drawing for somebody else and for a brief that isn't your own. Of course, if the images I come up with don't work for Collectif they wont put it into production, so thats a tad scary, but as its an unpaid internship (hence the bitterness in the lemonade)it takes the pressure off. I'm enjoying learning the process of how designing works in industry, so if my design doesn't go all the way I've soaked up a lot along the way!

Along with designing, Ive also helped out on the AW13/14 photo shoot. Being part of the behind the scene crew made me fell 1) super fat and ugly because the models are just gorgeous and 2) really pumped to make something of myself. Ive been working closely with the creative director of Collectif, Nicole and seeing her direct a photo shoot made up of garments that she has designed is really inspiring- and she's heavily pregnant! 

And post uni life begins...

For the past two weeks i have, no joke, been getting up- scrap that, waking up- and putting on 'sex and city' and then going to back to sleep. 6 seasons in 2 weeks, world record?? Although my time in new York (almost)with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha was fabulous, i am over the moon to be getting up and out of bed for actual grown up reason, my life now has a purpose! 

After my job at Dwell went in the bin with the rest of company i wasn't feeling particularly inspired or motivated to do ANYTHING (except watch SATC of course. I applied for a few jobs, one of them being in new zealand (escape?) but to be completely honest i wasn't job hinting like i should have been, anyways an internship at 'Collectif' was advertised and found its way onto my computer screen so I decided to give it a go. Cut to the chase, I got one of the 2 positions. YAY! Collectif are a fashion wholesaler and retailer who specialise in vintage 40's and 50's reproduction clothing. They've already got 4 shops and a massive fan base but are growing and moving forward in a big way, so i'm really happy to be a part (if only a little part) of their story. 

I've only been their for 2 days but have already dabbled in loads of things and am getting insight of the behind the scenes production, I was even given the privilege to view the brand new A/W 13 collection. So, yeah it's going good, i just need to be careful not to embarrass myself too soon. :s 

NEW DESIGNERS 2013

WOOOOOW That was intimidating! There is so so so much talent in the current textile market. New designers is a celebration of fresh graduate skill and talent and it was so inspiring to see. The business design centre in Islington was set alive with colour and pattern and im proud that I had my part in that. I'm going to be honest, i wasn't happy with my display. I wish I wish I wish I had followed my instinct and presented my textiles in a more dynamic and stand out way- I understand the tutors wanted continuity within our stall but I dont agree that it showed my work in its full glory. As university our stand looked very flat and uninteresting which is a massive shame as we have some incredible work by some fantastic girls. Advice to next years exhibitors from UCA: really throw yourself into it, observe the other stalls think ahead!

Pretty much all of my business cards went :D and I have an interview on wednesday for a fantastic internship opportunity. I was also spotted by Watermark publishing for my illustration, however because of location im not able to follow this up. 

Busy Lucy

I've completed neglected this blog recently but I'm now back with a vengeance. So I got a job! I started the day after leaving uni which was a bit manic but it was great to feel secure and sorted. You know Dwell?  The contemporary interior retailler? Well I was working as there visual merchandiser and sales consultant in the Bluewater store. YAY! So I was working there for about 8 weeks and BOOM! the company went into administration so unfortunately I lost my job.

I'm trying to see this as an opportunity.

 

to fail is to learn.

It's been a week since I was officially a student (and a week since I've posted on here. I've received my marks back am I delighted to have got a a 1st for my combined dissertation. I took a big risk on it and clearly it payed off. I've realised since leaving uni that the last 3 years have been an absolute fantastic opportunity to fail. Yep. fail. In the 'real world' we can't fail, we're expected to succeed post uni. So how do we learn to do this...by taking risks, FAILING and learning...because if uni isn't for learning what is it for? I wish that I had had this epiphany sooner because I would have taken more risks to learn as many lessons I could have before failing is less accepted. To those students who didn't fail university...1. well done and 2. WHEN you do come across a failure (which you will do because everybody does..and its ok, its not a negative!)are you going to have the skills to pick yourself back up? With my history of failures, I know i will...and they have made me a stronger and more capable person.

This is an image of 'YOUniverse'- a project that started as a completely and utter meltdown. I learnt from this failure and ended up selling the final piece. For me, this was a real turning point to looking at failure as a positive and since then I've had more success than ever before. 

I started a new job the weekend after hand-in (and incidentally the day after I moved home-no rest for the wicked!). I now work for the contemporary and stylish interior products company 'Dwell'. I'm super excited about working for Dwell-I've learnt that they are a fantastic company to work for if your looking to improve and grow your individual skills. I am first and foremost a sales consultant-which happens to be rather easy as the products seem to sell themselves but I am also the stores visual merchandiser. I feel really lucky to have nabbed a job so quickly after uni, but Im really stocked that its this particular one. 

bye bye uni

time to hand in: 9 hours

Im finished, im actually finally finished. I thought I was more organised this project, and this proves im right...It's not yet 2 :30 and im FINISHED! Usually I have to pull an all nighter before a hand in!

I still cant really believe that I have no more uni ever. I have fully finished my course, im no longer a student. Never will I have to right a project proposal, get graded on my work or write an essay. Why im feeling sad about this i dont know. The past 3 years have felt like a life time and a split second all in one go. Im not ready to give it up, but i really can't wait at the same time. Stupid uni, I love you.

Anyways...I have finished my work. Its (nearly) all packed and ready to go. Im feeling very impartial to my work. I have worked incredibly hard this year- well lets face it I really needed to. There's nothing more that I could for this project, which is why im probably not panicing for feeling like im out of time, but i can't say Im entirely happy with it..but who ever is? I've done the absolute very the best I can, enjoyed it and Im proud of myself :)

mortified!

Here are some a selection of the scarfs I've visualised as garments. The foremost purpose of the fabrics have always been for a scarf, it has determined the scale, size and fabric that I chosen, however I've been open to the potential that have to become top or dresses, which is why I ended up printing onto an actual dress. I personally think they convert quite nicely when pinned onto a figure, what do you think? 

Thank goodness I have a fair amount of photographs of this because I've only gon and burnt a hole in with the iron. Unbelievable I know...im mortified with myself!