Thou Shalt..

Its time to get my act together.. new vows!

1. Thou shalt update my blog at LEAST once a week
2. Thou shalt keep up with all coursework just like thou has been doing… horray!
3. Thou shalt get more followers!

So now that’s sorted, let’s have a catch up. In my time away i have traveled to the wondrous Istanbul, got my first fully deserved distinction and have the best university news!! Now then, lets start from the top…

ISTANBUL

On the 9th of February me, 44 other college students and 5 tutors spent 5 of the most amazing days in Istantbul, Turkey. I cant even begin to describe the amount of fun we all had or even how it was once of the best experiences of my life! I’ll let the pictures explain…

That was the land of mosques, apple tea, water pipes, perverts, kebabs and cheap booze! One memory never to be lost!!

Yesterday was my one and only university interview for Writing Fashion and Culture for Southampton Solent. After a week of sick to the stomach nerves, panic attacks and tears yesterday was the day i dreading. Not only the fact that it was where i really wanted to go… but it was my ONLY option!! Anyway, after prepping for ‘trick you out’ questions and all things fashion i neednt have! They just basically wanted to know what your about as a person. How passionate you are about the course and how you write. In the interviewers words ‘it’s one of the best personal statements i’ve ever seen’ and ‘We’d be idiots not to give you an offer’! I could have screamed there and then!! I, with the final result of a Merit (easy  ) will be attending university at Southampton Solent! HORRAAAY! I can honestly say i am so proud of myself! I didnt shy away from hiding my personality and i just felt t ease. Its the only place i wanted to be and i’m almost there! IM SO EXCITED!!

To keep you up to date with college, we are currently doing a Brighton based project with interior. We are to create a spaced including a piece of seating, wall art and a form of light designed around a theme associated with brighton. Exciting, aye? My chosen theme is Bringing A Vintage Summer To The 21st Century. You’rll just have to wait for my next post to now more!

Til then xxx

Book making and Glastonbury reminiscing!

Okay, so this week we shall be creating our books! Horraaay! Time to put all this Amsterdam research into action! Only problem I'm finding is that all this research is longing me to go there for a weekend away! One day. Maybe:)
Anyway, so my book will include - a map of the red light district and where to avoid, a stoners handguide to know when your 'too high' and beer mats for those special cages. Aswell as many other fun things plus room for pictures and notes! Take note - this is a fun jokey thing - NOT my way of living haha!
Soo we found out today that my passport shall be with us Tuesday or Wednesday! THANK GOODNESS! Ive been stressing out soo much lately about being able to get it in time so my teacher can officially book the plane tickets. No more angry emails at me - as if I control the post! Honestly some people haha! So anyway this means that's yes- in the 9th of february I shall be going to ISTANBUL!! Yaaaay! Soo excited :) I shall be sharing with the gorgeous Viki and spending most of my time with the bestir Pip! It's going to be amaaaaze!
Speaking of Pip, after months of nagging I finally got round to getting our Glastonbury pictures developed :) it was such an epic experience and seeing all the photos just reminded me of all the happiness, laughter and alcohol abuse we endured haha!

So this is my Glastonbury wall...



This is me relaxing after hours of telling to get to the tent...


And this is me and the gorge Pip - how I love that boy :)...



Speak soon :) Rachel xxxxx

Really need to get better at this!

RAWWWWWR! Okay, so im rubbish! I rarely blog and hardly think about it i know, however its a new year so without too much of a cliche - a new start. So a little catch up, the umbrella project was a bit of a flop. I didn't have the right work in my sketchbook and my umbrella was stolen.So, in all absolutely pants! But we shall say no more and never bring it up! Anyway, after that disaster we moved onto a more crucial point. Our portfolios! The first official grade of the two years and something which has made the past 18 months completely worthwhile! Just looking back at all our work laid out professionally fills me with pride even if i do say so myself. Before portfolios most of my second year projects were not successful by any standards but on alot of my work i was also putting myself down as i didnt realise how much of my work i could say i was proud of!

Here are a few of my pages :

So there you have it! My current pride and joy.

Anyway, Christmas has been and gone and it was lovely! We didn't do alot but it was just lovely with the family and was blessed with gorgeous presents! And New Years was extra special. It short - me, the best friend, tacky TV, wine and cheesecake! Heaven!
And finally this term has started off brilliantly. I have simply stuck in and got on with my work. No messing about but got all my ideas in process and ready. We are currently doing a project where we are to create and whole book (cover and contents) based around an unusual object found in a charity shop... and look what I found!

 How cute!

So 'how do you convert a pair of porcelain clogs into a book?' i hear you ask. Well, initially i hadn't a clue! I didnt want to go completely obvious with The Sound Of Music dance display or even a Holland countryside travel book, however i rethought and realised - maybe the obvious isn't always the obvious! I started the process off by experimenting with the patterns on the clogs. I then twisted, pulled and played with colour to come up with a crazy kaleidoscope pattern.And very naughtily, both my tutor and I realised how this could be associated with Holland. Amsterdam's famous Cafes sell a certain substance which, along with others, create different kinds of hallucinogenics. Whether its that somethings absolutly hilarious or your in a world of fairies, it can be best described in crazy wild patterns. Anyway, no, the book wont be inspired by hardcore drugs, but on Amsterdam cliches! A fun fill-in-yourself tourist book which takes the mick out of stereotypical Holland with funny facts thrown in. It may be a bit tongue-and-cheek but i have a plan! Your'll just have to wait to admire the final product. In the mean-time, i shall let you in on a few of my processes during.

So heres the process of my inspiration for my final book theme:

 Step 1...

Step 2...

Step 3!

(PS - I can happily promise you I really wouldnt know what these 'hallucinogenics really look like! Haha!)

Speak soon and peace out, 

        

                         Rachel xxxxx

Development

These are just a few of my developments and ideas for my umberella...

A little painting...

A development of a spirograph...

Turn your head to the right and you can just make out a panel. Showing a map (representing a 'journey) and the top of the brolly...

And a birdseye veiw of one of my ideas!

Christian Dior Fall 2010 Couture Collection

Checking out Style.com and looking up various collections and what could inspire me for my Sunflower Umbrella, I stumbled upon the Christian Dior's Fall 2010 Couture Collection. Isn't it stunning?!

This collection has inspired me deeply with the bold colours such as the purples and the shapes of the clothes. Particually in the skirts of the dresses, you can see curves and volume as if it were a child of mother nature and not a treasure of fashion design!

Frilly is a term often used to describe grandma's date-night undies and not a glamorous couture collection. However, Mr Dior has bought 'frills back to life with these beauties! Sit back and be inspired!

STUNNING! Say no more.