Here we are at the end of quarter one, twenty twenty one. I am writing from the comfort of my sofa in a new room in a new city. It’s a grey and windy day in York and I am happily tucked away in a thick jumper behind closed windows. The city is teaming with colour slowly emerging from the ground up; tulips, daffodils and cherry blossoms are growing bigger by the day. I love a UK spring!
I am about to start week 3 of my historical costume making course and am enjoying it immensely. The college itself is bright and beautiful, located in the center of town just steps away from the Shambles market (the inspo for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley). In my short time I have already completed a set of drawers, a chemise, a corset circa 1844 and a corded petticoat. Next week I will start on my second petticoat and afterwards my gown. All in all I feel like I am learning new techniques and have a new appreciation for embellishment; more is MORE. To think only a couple hundred years ago women were wearing multiple petticoats and being held together with steel boning…
Here are some photos of York, my work at the college and some shots from Cat & the Queen’s new video. I will do my best to keep showing off my progress as the weeks move foward.
What a wild ride of a year. One of my housemates fell ill with Covid over Christmas and our house has been in lockdown since. Like everyone else around the world, NYE celebrations were conducted safely over facetime. My boyfriend and I shared toasts and live radio to keep us feeling connected. While it wasn’t ideal we made the best of the situation we’re in.
I’ll be honest I’ve been far from motivated these last weeks as we close off one of the most disruptive years in recent history. Finally enjoying a break after a busy couple months of working two freelance gigs; window dressing, sewing up display pieces, and various side projects for colleagues. It goes without saying that I’m grateful to have managed consistent work in a foreign country during these times. Of course, this short pause won’t last long as I’ll be embarking on an intensive historical costume making course in a couple weeks time. I’ll be moving North to study contemporary and period menswear, as well as, period womenswear. Coming from a fashion background, developing myself in this niche arena will be quite fun. Trust that there will be photos of the journey!
I’m using this time in self-isolation to contemplate my goals for ‘21. More graditude, more embracing the unknown future and accepting that I cannot figure it all out in one go. I’m making “consistency” my mantra for the year. Whatever goal you’re working towards doesn’t have to be perfect, you just need to show up regularly.
Not much else to report so I’ll let the photos do the talking. Here’s a selection of images that sum up the final months of 2020. Happy New Year to everyone! Here’s to our collective health in 2021.
Yes, it’s been an aeon since I last put word to digital paper. We are lucky to live in a time when technology grants us the gift of connection well beyond distance and time zones. I was privileged enough to spend lock down at home; abundant in time and projects.
Some of these projects included textile design. I spent hours in Greenwich Park watching the flowers bloom over the spring months. The temperate climate makes for the most gorgeous of blossoms. Every colour imaginable and so many flowers my Canadian eyes had never seen. For weeks I took close-ups of the ever changing buds and created a layered print; a memento from the global pandemic that made us all take a minute to re-evaluate what matters most.
Another print I created was inspired by the Cockney slang of East London. This jargon began in the 1840s and continues to morph and change to this day. My favourite, taught to me by the twins who I used to serve at the pub, is cream crackered aka completely knackered. I loved the imagery presented within bees & honey (money) and thus, my print was born. I have yet to decide what to make it into.
End of May, I got hired on with a company that creates high-end window displays locally and internationally. For a month and a half I patterned and constructed dressings for these whimsical machines now sat in a prominent luxury window (I signed an NDA) on Bond Street. Was an absolute pleasure to be back in a busy workroom. Now that work has thinned, I continue to sew up clothing for my own brand and create garments for the summer months.
August 1st I helped launch my friend’s theatre company 2m Theatre with the distanced production of Bottom’s Dream. The event was held in our private garden and a great success. I came to meet my neighbours from around the circus and reconnected with the many I already knew from my building. Who would’ve dreamed that I’d move to a massive city like London and gain a community. I feel very much at home and connected to the people around me.
Lastly, here is a collection of photos from the summer now dwindling into fall. I count myself very fortunate to be working minimally and enjoying every ounce of sun. The summers are temperate here, with the exception of a couple notable heat waves. I have also been fortunate to discover the joys of foraging. Just this last week I picked blackberries, apples, elderberries and rose hips. Again, this city never fails to amaze me.
