MA in Textile Design - a mature student's journey

On Monday I went to North Leamington School to continue helping with Year 12 textile students. We experimented with nail varnish marbling and shaving foam with food colouring marbling. Mixed results but my best work came from the foam and food colouring! Who knew! To see the results check out my instagram page, karrenmeggitt . On Tuesday I was back in Uni to discuss my progress on my research project due in mid February. I produced a gant chart of where I see my business growing and going to in 2017 and 2018. I may not follow it verbatim but it will give me some sort of focus of how I want to grow my business and where I want to take it.  I also started working on my scales/skin lino cuts, photos below.  On Wednesday I stayed at home to teach in the morning and then print some more lino cuts, again photos below. I also started my dreaded tax return, every year I promise to be more organised, but to be fair its never as bad as you think its going to be. Today, Thurs...

Today as part of my role as student rep I attended the Student Advisory Board. On Tuesday we had a brief meeting (students only) to discuss any issues we might be having. I can't really go into what was discussed, I don't think that would be appropriate, however I hope some of the issues brought up can be resolved easily. After that I looked in on the print room, it was too busy to stay, so I mixed up some procion dyes to take home and work on some ideas I've been having with regards to my next steps. I'm going to work on two ideas. 1. Weave. I pick up my new loom tomorrow! I'm going to weave to sell products but also to weave designs. I figured I can trial designs out on paper and on the table looms they have at Uni then crate at home. 2. Print. Lino and screen. Camo and animal inspired prints. I'm going to work on the idea of having a hidden message in UV and then print a design on top of it. Stick to something and do it well. I'm on my way home...

It has been a while since I last wrote because I've been enjoying Christmas and the New Year. So just before Xmas (sorry for the abbreviation) I had my viva. I never know if you should pronounce it Viva or Veva. I want to say Veva, as in the Spice Girls song Veva (Viva) Forever!. Anyway, it started off well then went a bit pear shaped. I can't remember exactly the question they asked, but it was something like "tell us what you've been doing and what has worked well for you". And by 'they' I mean two lecturers and the head of the MA course. At the time I wasn't feeling particularly positive about my work or that I hadn't found my way yet. I remember saying I found it frustrating that the BA course seemed to have first refusal on the machines and workshops. I mentioned that I'd asked to be shown how the computerised looms worked but I was told that it wouldn't be until February. The conversation then went round in circles in my mind f...

Fish design on neoprene Lots of fishies on neoprene  Camo and macrame mood board Geometrics and stars mood board Far East mood board

Happened last week, Thursday to be precise. Here's what I did well: Didn't fall over on the way to the front of the class Cracked a few jokes Started the talk off well Engaged with the audience - asked them questions The powerpoint presentation worked well Here's what didn't go that brilliantly - and I realised this straight away after: Talked too quickly, started of well, dipped down in the middle, but I think I pulled it back at the end Had too much text on the screen - should be points and then I elaborate on them Didn't make that much eye contact with the audience - well I tried but when I looked up the majority of the audience were on their phones :-) All in all, I'm glad its over, but part of me would like to do it again only better. Today, Monday, I went to North Leamington High School to start my teaching experience with Kati Nelson (teacher) and 4 year 12 Textile A-Level students. I took in my large sketchbook, a quilt I'...

Yesterday I asked to be shown how to use one of the looms and I spent nearly the whole day there working out different designs. I'm here again today, trying to mix in some macrame into it. Its great to be here when its quiet. Only me and a guy doing rug tufting - that's next on my list of things to try.

I have to tell you about the Li Edelkoort talk we went to last Wednesday in London - I've started to write the notes up but I've left my book at home so I can't right now. So here's what I got up to last week. Foils in the print room, silver and gold grids, first and second picture. I also did the same grids in the embroidery room, third picture. And then finally I stitched a star design on top of the foil squares, last picture. I wasn't particularly happy with the foil because it was a bit untidy, but you live and learn, or as I say 'everyday is a school day'. Embroidery, once I got the hang of the machine was a dream in comparison and the technician was super helpful.