University!

Hey Guys!

Time for an update as it's been a while since i've posted on here!

Over the past few months a lot of things have happened; Uni Interviews, Coursework, Work Experience and pure laziness.

I went to 2 interviews in January and 1 in February, the first one was at Arts University of Bournemouth, the second at Northbrook College and the third being Plymouth College of Arts.  I did apply for 5, the other two being Central Saint Martins and Falmouth but I declined both because I had made my mind and accepted an amazing offer at Plymouth!

21st January 

22nd January

2nd February

Declined Before Interview Date Given 

26th February Declined Before Interview

                                                                          *    *    *

   The interviews at bournemouth and northbrook made me super nervous, I'm not good at talking about myself and I doubt many can say that they can.

Literally how my interviewer was looking at my work... 

   Within 10 minutes of chatting to the Interviewer at Bournemouth, I knew it wasn't the right place to study... The aura of the sewing room and office was off putting, Even when she was describing what they'd be doing was the polar opposite to what I create! I can't go somewhere that'll change my style completely and turn me into a robot!

My face when I found out it was a sixth form...

   North brook College was a different story. The initial look of the place wasn't intriguing at all, unless you are into a school with a building site going on then its perfect for you! The constant idea that it isn't a university kept screaming in my mind. Personally, I want to go to a UNI... not a Sixth form that does UNI courses as there will be 'children' running around whilst I do my Degree. It may seem like an unreasonable opinion for not going but its a good enough reason for me! A 2 hour GROUP interview with a rather lovely Lead Lecturer was nice and seemed like a good course! Has enough equipment, lots of rooms.... Nice place to study and get stuff done! (If you liked that kind of site they were using too) BUT (and a big but for me, The Perfectionist) all the rooms are completely spaced out between 2 floors... I cannot deal without uniformity, it's like as if they put all the rooms in random order because they felt like it!! With the rooms the way they were spaced out through out the building just made me feel like as if i'm going back to secondary school. ALSO! The fact that they were hesitant about me not passing GCSE English wasn't helping with their persuasion of me studying there... So I had to explain the whole situation with that but that's a long story for another time!

                                                                           *    *    *

After that week... I just used those interviews as practise for when I had my other interviews as I knew I wasn't going to pick neither of them, even for an insurance place!

                                                                           *    *    *

   Plymouth College... Now this is somewhere I want to talk about! First of all, I had to travel down there by myself with an A2 Folder, Side bag full of stuff to do on the train and a Suit case with 2 outfits and making diaries. 2 Hours of going BACKWARDS later, finally arrived in Plymouth Station 40 minutes before my interview so I had time to walk from the station to the College (Relief!). As soon as I sat down on these comfy sofas, The course leader herself was there to escort me to the studio space (Thank goodness there was a lift), luckily everyone was either on a trip to London or out for lunch so I fortunately didn't have anyone staring at me whilst I'm nervously attempting to answer the questions.

My Fangirl moment !!! 

    First of all, she recognised me from the open day which I was and still am surprised about!! (she must of liked what I was saying!) Half way through the questions, she just straight up said 'well, just from this short  conversation and what you've shown me ... I want to give you an Unconditional offer!" .... Caught me completely off guard that I started to do 'The Fangirl'! Nearly hugged her but that might have been too much too soon!  That 30 minute interview... felt as if everything was coming together!!


  Of course had the mother and other parents crying down the phone from the news but hearing my mother say 'Im proud of you" just made me wanna cry with her! I kind of hope my dad did the same thing (cry down the phone that is) but didn't wanna show it ... would of been funny to remind him of it in the future but i'll never know (Damn!).

   After that day, I cancelled my Falmouth interview. Now I know lots of people would disagree with my choice of cancelling an interview before even going down there is completely wrong. But I know for a fact, Falmouth just isn't the city I would want to stay and study for 3-4 years. It's a very beautiful with its fresh sea air, quiet streets, small shops and pretty campus in comparison to a huge city I call my hometown.


UPDATE!

          Today is Sunday October 4th, 10:15pm. 

   I've been living in my flat for over a month (1st Sept), made amazing friends with the 7 flatmates and will be officially on my second week of attending PCA (Plymouth College of Art) doing a BA Fashion degree. These past few weeks have been so live changing for me, living by myself is of course a huge one in itself but I'd say... the biggest thing that has changed down here is my confidence!

   I have gone out clubbing for the first time down here WHILST wearing a skirt! And I have made a lot of friends/acquaintances throughout my building, classes and Uni. If I was to go back to what I was like 2-3 years ago, I'd still be finding my feet with getting friendships, going out or being by myself without my parents to lean on!

This may be my final post on this blog (if anyone reads this at all, sorry!)

I am rebranding (yet to be confirmed) and shall be posting things via coursework and if I feel like it; added extras!

Fingers crossed things keep on getting better the further i get into my course and life here in plymouth.

Thanks!

Alexander McQueen 2012 Collections

Lee Alexander McQueen

Sarah Burton

     I've chosen to look at the Spring/Summer 2012 and Autumn/Winter 2012 collections of the Alexander McQueen brand designed by their creative director Sarah Burton (designer of Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress). These were Sarah Burton’s third collection for this fashion house following the suicide of Lee Alexander McQueen in 2010.

Spring/Summer 2012

   In this collection Burton went for a very feminine look, focusing on the female physique with accent on the breasts, waist hips and leg length. The pieces are fitted around the torso of the model with soft fitting lines and no visible angles flowing down to circular cut skirts, peplums and gently billowing trapeze line skirts which elongate the legs. Underneath some of the garments were glimpses of caged, leather corsetry which gave the pieces a dramatic twist. Burton stated that she was inspired to design this collection while ‘Thinking about a woman as an object of desire ~ we go to such lengths to adorn ourselves that we almost become our clothes, or are taken over by them’.

   For some of the collection Burton chose to use pale pastels with gold and silver metallics which give an impression of goddess like gentleness and femininity. Others were created in the more dramatic reds and blacks which give the impression strength and sexuality - which on reflection are the opposing sides of the female personality.

   

   Burton chose to use copious amounts of embellishment techniques including ruching, pleating, water fall ruffles and frills as well as embellishing with materials such as silks, semi precious stones and metal encrusted embroidery this all gives the viewer an impression of the way women of all races and cultures adorn themselves. Head dresses were also included in some of the pieces - tight fitting helmets of intricate hand made lace, some of which covered the faces of the models.

   Make up was neutral and minimalistic, with hair braided and swept close to the head sometimes through the head dresses which carried on the fitted, feminine, embellished theme. 

   The design of the catwalk set itself was simplistic, bright and neutral with a futuristic twist using a huge chandelier made of white neon tube bulbs vertically suspended for the models to walk around. The music was dramatic, electronic rock with futuristic wind chime and bells sounds - carrying on the theme of the opposing sides of the softness and strength of femininity.

Catwalk Set

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2012 Catwalk

Autumn/Winter 2012

    I thoroughly enjoy this collection, it's one of my favourites so far. Futuristic and strong, the collection is described. It's inspiration from nature, the forest floor, mushrooms, light and shade. The pieces are strong as well as feminine using natural materials such as ostrich feathers, mohair, furs, Mongolian lambs wool and silks embellished with enamelled and felt flowers. Using shape, texture, print and embellishment the pieces flow and move in a three dimensional way seeming to have a life of their own. Fitted jackets, some with open backs and dramatic Mongolian lamb wool collars worn with bell shaped rolled skirts give a feminine but strong appearance.

   Burton used laser cutting to create the intricate pattern on some the jackets called ‘pony skin’ created in cream on a black under fabric for dramatic effect. ‘Jelly Fish’ dresses created using masses of over-sized ruffles and heavy pleating add to the drama with waists cinched in with wide metallic silver belts.

Footwear is futuristic - Burton likes to use the ‘heelless shoe’ adorned with furs and feathers linking them to the pieces being modelled. The models wore neutral make up but with dramatic red lipstick. Their short, bleached, swept back hair and space age wrap around ‘visor’ glasses continued the futuristic theme.

   The catwalk set was dark and dramatic with use of light and shade - spot lighting the models as they walked which helped highlight the movement in the natural materials used. A large chandelier of cascading light bulbs complemented the surreal look of the whole show. The music composed by John Gosling was futuristic and strong using synthesisers and surreal chimes and bells which continued the futuristic but beautiful, natural feminine theme.

Alexander McQueen Autumn/Winter 2012 Catwalk

Summary

Overall, I feel both collections are powerful and inspiring. Sarah Burton has looked at Femininity and Strength and combined these two to create two stunning and breathtaking collections. Natural materials such as feathers, fur, silk and leather are used together to create a flowing, organic look. However she puts a twist on this theme by including futuristic designs using metallic's and three dimensional structured shapes. Her use of dramatic pleating and ruffling inspires me as these are techniques I enjoy using in my work. Both collections have some similarities showcasing Burton’s trademark embellished heelless shoes and the overall futuristic look.

Industrial Revolution Design Work

  So these are the designs I came up with! It was hard at first to come up with the initial designs but after the first 2 or 3, it was easier to get some inspiration. 

I had to keep a slight strict theme through the entirety of designs:

1.  A colour scheme of  Maroon, Black and White

2.  Has have an added texture e.g. knit, patchwork, crochet e.t.c

My final design which I chose to make was number 16 as its complex as well as simple.  However,  I shall make adjustments to the design to make it fit the brief better and to quench my thirst for my crazy, eccentric and outlandish twist!

New School Year, New Project!

Hey!

Sorry it's been a while since I've updated!

Frankly throughout the whole holidays, I have been procrastinating a lot with Tumblr, hanging out with friends and working with cookies to earn some money.

The project I'm working on at the moment is called 'Industrial Revolution'

We had to research the basic history of the Industrial Revolution, then a brief paragraph or so about the textile industry (Which was interesting to know how much things has changed since then). Knowing what I do with my designs that are usually on the 'bazaar' side of things, Structure seems to be a main element which I could use to my advantage.

So buildings, Cranes, Shapes, Patterns were my focus point on research. Primary research for the Industrial Revolution is easy to come by when you live in a town full of cranes, buildings and a harbour side that was used in the same era.

We also had to make samples of texture; Knit, Crochet, Patchwork and Quilting were my base textures

I've used architect Zaha Hadid, Paco Rabanne and Chromat as some designer influence towards my designs.

Chromat 

Zaha Hadid Architecture 

Paco Rabanne Catwalk 2011

After looking at the research i've collected, designing 16 garments front and back shouldn't be as hard as it has in the past. Previously in other projects, I was terribly lazy about the research side of the design projects where I wouldn't analyse in depth or make any attempt of presenting it nicely. Because of that, actually coming up with the designs were a struggle as I didn't have a straight forward collection idea in mind. 

Facebook Page

Hey Guys! 

I have a Facebook page, so feel free to check it out and give it a like! And I've added a couple more photos of the garments I have ever successfully made. 

www.facebook.com/emmaturnerfashion                                     www.emmaturnerfashion.weebly.com

My First (Kind Of) 'Commission'

       A friend of mine writes 2 fan fictions about an American TV show called Supernatural! Supernatural is about two brothers named Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) who are 'hunters' fighting evil supernatural beings like; Demons, Gods and Monsters that roam earth. There are angels as well and everyone's favourite is called Castiel (Misha Collins). 

      From the TV programme, my favourite has got to be Crowley (Mark Shepard), The king of Crossroads at first to then become the King of Hell in season 5 plus... he is a bad ass, red eyed demon! 

   Her first and most acknowledged story "Babysitting- A Dean Winchester Love Story" has received over 80k reads and 1.8k votes in the space of 9 months!! 



"This is the story of Cora Jenkins who gave up hunting 4 years ago, only to be thrown back into the deep end by the unexpected arrival of the Winchester brothers."

     She made her own cover for that story, so she asked me if I could design and create one for her new one "Collision". 

  The plot for this story is that Dean and Sam Winchester are on the hunt for Crowley as he created the portal into our universe which is parallel to his and taking humans.  

  I found the image via Google so I don't actually own it. All I did was added text on top and formatted it to Wattpad's size requirements which was a massive struggle as I got the width and length mixed up. 

Go check out and read her stories on Wattpad!! 

http://www.wattpad.com/user/orangefish340

My Website

   For the end of year project, we were asked to create a website! I was so thrilled to be able to have a blog let alone an website with my name on it. We used a free website builder 'Weebly' which is quite user friendly and easy to upload, edit and change images and text.

                         Would definitely recommend it for anyone wanting a website!!

www.emmaturnerfashion.weebly.com 

- Home Page -

  I created a logo using some of the photoshopping skills I've gained over the past few months, hopefully I'll have a better and improved one in the future!

  Just because I've finished the units for this blog and website, doesn't mean I won't keep up with posting content or adding things to the site! I'm beginning to like blogging and updating my website, which I never thought I would enjoy doing.