norwich tracings.

i found an old book full of black and white photos of norwich. as i was looking at the shapes and forms a photo create i cut them up, and arranged them them into a clear photo album. then i could trace over the top, take the image out, insert another, and create interesting line drawings.

first week at uni.

after a very long, lovely summer, it was was a slight shock to be thrown back into education. in a new city. not knowing anyone or how to get anywhere. moving into my house. just everything changed within a week. but looking back now, it seems really strange. norwich feels like my home now and i've met some of the best people.

the first week at uni was standard. getting to know people, taking part in group activities and workshops on how to think laterally; solving problems through an indirect and creative approach. lateral thinking is about reasoning that is not immediately obvious and about ideas that may not be obtainable by using traditional step-by-step logic. from the beginning that made it clear that they encourage us to think outside the box, and we must apply this to our textile practise.

lateral thinking methods:
- random entry generating tool; choose an object at random, a noun from a dictionary, and then associate that with the area thought about.
- provocation idea generating tool; wishful thinking, exaggeration, reversal, escape. move your thinking forward with these for new ideas and inspiration.
- challenge an idea; WHY? WHY? WHY?
- concept fan idea; ideas carry out concepts - expand the range and number of concepts to end up with a broad range of ideas to consider.
- disproving; take anything that is obvious and generally accepted, question it, take an opposite view and try to convincingly disprove it.

the main things i've learnt this week;
- to study and document real world experiences to make whatever i'm doing personal and relevant to me as a person.
- i should focus on what i enjoy doing. i'm just wasting my time if i'm forcing myself to do something i'm not liking. make everything i do exciting for me, even if it's not to other people.
- i need to stop being impatient. textile processes are loooong, so if i rush my work, the outcome will be poor.
- i should extend and push my creative work through exploration and experimentation..

shirley craven and hull traders

Revolutionary Post War Fabrics and Furniture: Shirley Craven and Hull Traders @ Kings Lynn Arts Centre.

the exhibition today celebrated the career of textile designer shirley craven and her partnership with the hull trader, the visionary company that printed her textiles. the exhibition also included 'tom tom' furniture, also produced by hull traders - bright, playful and made from giant cardboard tubes. the fabrics and furniture encapsulate the exuberance of the swinging sixties with big bold abstract designs in eye popping colours.

'strongly graphic and visually inventive, Craven's designs are impossible to pigeonhole. more like paintings than conventional furnishing fabrics, their bold composition, gigantic repeats and inspired colourways are unique in the history of pattern design.'

'Launched in 1957, Hull Traders was co-founded by - and named after - Tristram Hull, a publisher and editor, in partnership with Stanley Coren. Initially acting as agents, hand screen-printed textiles soon became their main focus and so Time Present Fabrics was born.

In 1959 Peter Neubert took over the company and appointed Shirley Craven as art director.

Although modest in industrial terms, Hull Traders was a visionary enterprise where creativity flourished out of all proportion to its size. Artists and designers contributed in equal measure and on equal terms. The pool of freelance designers was constantly refreshed.

Sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi and photographer Nigel Henderson, collaborating under the name Hammer Prints, played a prominent role at the outset, along with textile designer John Drummond. Artist Ivon Hitchens was another notable early contributor.

The 1960s was a golden era for Hull Traders, with ambitious, ground-breaking designs by Shirley Craven and other gifted artist-designers, such as Peter McCulloch, Doreen Dyall, Roger Limbrick and Trinidadian-born Althea McNish (Britain’s first and most distinguished black textile designer).

Although Hull Traders closed in 1980, their fabrics still look as fresh and exciting today as when they first appeared.'

http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=289,608984&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL 

 margaret cannon and roger limbrick for hull traders.

possible theme exploration;
- design inspiration; looking at observational drawings from nature and the landscape as inspiration for fabric designs.
- pattern and print; looking at the relationship between fabric design and painting. particularly abstract expressionism, op art and pop art.
- design goes pop; looking at the sixties aesthetic and use of colour, pattern and shape in the home; fabrics and furniture.

(OP ART: is a style of visual art that makes use of optical illusions.)

st lawrence textile centre.

by exploring norwich, i came across this amazing church down st benedicts street that houses a variety of vintage and craft stools.

specialising in all things handmade; knitted scarfs, hats, gloves, dresses, jumpers, jewellary and accessories. each stool is owned by a different artist/designer, displaying a business card or using the space as an active studio. they also had a corner selling vintage clothing and objects. and the steps of coloured yarns!

i enquired about having a space to sell my earrings, and got offered a table! but i don't think it's very efficient to be doing anything like that just yet... maybe in the future :)