I finally Graduated!

On the 23rd November I graduated Leeds Arts University (formerly Leeds College of Art) with a 2.1 in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern design! I feel so proud of myself after struggling with severe mental health problems in my last few months of university. I did not think I was going to finish, even though I had come so far. Luckily after starting medication and with help from family members (especially my Auntie Sue, Mum and Rob) I completed my degree. I still feel sad now that I missed the last few months at uni with my friends whilst recovering at home.  I even missed an amazing lecture by Orla Kiely's assistant designer and also The Printed Peanut- I could of cried!! 

I couldn't have done it if I wasn't so passionate about my degree, so I just want to say do whatever you love as you will get there in the end. And to reach out to the people around you if you struggle with mental health yourself as i'm sure they will be super supportive. So heres to the future!

My lovely uni pals

My dad and brother

My lovely Mum

My favourite human - Roberto

My lovely Auntie Sue and Mum

The Hepworth Christmas Market

This weekend I went to The Hepworth in Wakefield to visit the Christmas Market. I managed to buy a few Christmas presents from there and some treats for myself too! It was filled with lovely independent makers so it felt good to buy from them.

Treats from The Printed Peanut & Colours May Vary!

Notebooks by Bobbie Print

Lovely stand by The Printed Peanut

Knitwear by Hilary Grant

Necklaces by Revel Jewellery

Ceramics by What Kate Loves

Hope you all have a lovely week!

Life Update

Lovely Latte at Two Gingers 

Rob at Two Gingers Cafe

Hello! It's been over a month since my last post. Since leaving university I have felt a bit uninspired and demotivated to post anything. However, I have some good news! Since my last post of telling you I have had job interviews, I have now got a job as a Trainee Designer at The Card Factory! I am so excited to start, I don't start until the 23rd October so have a bit of time to relax and enjoy my freedom before I start. I have been looking at houses in Wakefield as I will be moving there, and living with Nadia the other trainee designer. 

Hopefully I will have lots to share with you all when I start my new job, as I have missed blogging. 

Snapshots of my week

Latte and a Brownie @ Theiving Harrys 

Hepworths Arcade

Hello! It has been nearly a whole month since my last blog post! I have been resting since finishing university and having a well deserved break so I haven't really got a whole lot to blog about.

I took a trip into town on the weekend to visit my favourite cafe Thieving Harrys and go around Fruit Market, my new favourite place now that it has been renovated. I have started to drink coffee again now so I enjoyed a Latte whilst I was there.

I recently got sent these print samples from Oasis Graphic Co. I met them at New Designers and they seemed really keen on my work so wanted to show me what they could do with it. I especially love the print on wood - I gave it to my "sister in law" (if I was married) for her baby's room that is due in November. 

I have also been to two job interviews since my last post and have another one next week, so fingers crossed I hear some good news!

New Designers

Hello! I got back from a super busy week in London on Sunday. We had a great time, lots of companies were interested in my work including Wilko, Mothercare, Tesco F&F, George Asda, Next and Meri Meri. It was a successful event and has made me motivated to keep going and applying for jobs. I have a job interview next week which is also super exciting, fingers crossed!

Print & Pattern blog

Hello! I thought I would share my recent feature on the wonderful Print and Pattern blog. I have long admired this blog so super chuffed to have my work featured on there. Go and read the interview here.

LCA Surface Pattern Degree Show 'Extra-Ordinary'

Myself and fellow students exhibited our work at the Leeds College of Art degree show this week. It finished today but if you missed the chance to see the it you can visit New Designers part one in London at the end of the month (from the 28th June until the 1st July!) to see the lovely work in real life as pictures really do not do it justice, it is all even more fabulous in *person*!

My space!

Below are just a few of my personal favourites:

@BethanDobbie

Hannah Doyle/@Hanprint

Ellie Green/@elliegreen.design

Francesca Wardle @francescawardle

Charlotte Bellingham @charbellsdesigns 

Jamie Shackleton/ @Studiojmie

Amy Hodkin / @amyhodkin

Poppy Almond/@poppy_almond

Charlotte Bolton/@Chazzyb.design

I hope you've enjoyed looking at a snippet of the show! Don't forget if you are in London from the 28th June to 1st July to come and visit us!

Lucienne Day & Barbara Brown at The Whitworth

Last week me and Rob visited The Whitworth in Manchester to see the Barbara Brown & Lucienne Day exhibition.

Taking a break

Hello! I have been taking a break recently from university as things got a bit too stressful. I managed to get a one week extension, so still have a lot of work to do. Instead I have been napping a lot, eating a lot of chocolate, having puppy cuddles and at the end of last week got to spend a night in my Aunties adorable cottage in Pickering. It was surrounded by cute traditional brick cottages. The weather was so lovely too. It was nice to have a change of scenery!

Snapshots of my week

Hello! I hope you have all had a lovely Easter break. I spent my Easter weekend in Scarborough at the scooter rally. It was nice to spend some time at the seaside.

Sarah Campbell Designs

Hello! A couple of weeks ago we had the delightful Sarah Campbell come into university to chat to us about life as a textile designer. It was such an inspiring talk, and she showed us her fabrics and sketchbooks full of lovely colour palettes and beautiful drawings. I will write a few key points that she made, such an inspiration.

Hornsea Pottery

Hello! Recently I visited Hornsea to go to the seaside as a bit of a break and to look at the Hornsea Pottery Museum. Me and Rob started our collection a few years ago and we still love finding bits and bobs in charity shops. We plan on visiting some events and car boots too to scope out some bargains.

Three inspiring children's picture book illustrators

Hello! I thought I would share a few of my favourite children's picture books at the minute, seen as it was world book day this week.  

Life Lately - Dissertation results, Final Major Project, Job Interviews and Puppies

Hello! It has been a while since I did a life lately post, and I have lots to catch you all up on. 

Dissertation module hand-in

Josef Frank at the Fashion and Textile Museum

This week I went on a very long (nearly 24 hour) day trip to London with some of my lovely friends from uni mainly for a very exciting design job interview, but also to squeeze in a visit to the Fashion and Textiles Museum to see the Josef Frank exhibition.