My Evaluation

Well what a journey ! I have loved it, learnt a lot about the technicalities and the history of art and design but most of all learnt a lot about my own behaviour.

I know now that I am constantly seeking approval and this has held me back and stopped me from doing my work for fear of failure. I am much wiser than I was three years ago and have a better understanding of what makes me tick, I feel confident to move forward with my art and embrace my own issues and exploit them with in my work .

I have most definitely developed a style and my presentation has got better, I still need to push my ideas and not just keep them in my head , I appreciate that my work is as valid as the next persons and I actually like some of the work in my final project.

I have met some genuinely lovely people both my fellow students , teachers and professional and the experience at Stockport College has been one of the most enriching of my life. Don't get me wrong it has not all been plain sailing, the second year was very tough, self doubt took hold and I almost through the towel in, a lack of confidence is a painful thing and public speaking very nearly got the better of me!

I am so glad I faced my fears and listened to the tutors wise (but often harsh) evaluations of me ,because it made me see the truth and has helped me to move on in more ways than one !

I am sad that my University days are numbered but also very happy and proud that I got to the end!I have a much more open view of the world I see every thing through the eyes of a designer ! get me !!!!

FMP images

These collages are a mix of found paper and fabric, all hand produced and representing personal issues . I have used my own drawings and produced all the work by hand . I feel that this collection is about me but could be developed to include many more representations of people , places and issues the possibilities are endless. I would be happy to produce commissioned work for other people. For example if you feel you have the qualities of a lion and you have issues with your job.... example as a police officer I will interpret the two and trap it in a frame .

FMP images

The rabbit is the creature that reappears again and again in my work so is very significant ( when i researched its meaning the rabbit can signify anything from insanity and innocence to promiscuity and fertility ! ) I have used animals who represent people from my life and illustrated issues that have trapped me by placing them in frames , The winged cloth dog is my attempt to represent escape and freedom ( from a glassless frame and a cage !). I also left some of the large rabbit design fabric hanging out of the frame to indicated it is not entirely contained.I used black and white because of its simplicity and bold appearance . I have had fun and produced work that is very personal to me , My focus was no about how commercially viable the designs would be , I wanted to make a personal statement.

cost pricing and selling

Financial restraints have definitely impacted on my final major project , I did not have the funds to purchase expensive materials and so recycling was the best option, I used a couple picture frames that i already had and purchased the rest at a cost of £60, fabric I used was £2 and £4.50 per meter, the crockery was from ikea's seconds and cost £1 per item, it then cost £15 to have my art work transferred onto a printable sheet for ceramics. I spent around £50 on card and paper and used my children's old clothes for the fabric collages . It cost £30 for trimmings , buttons , threads , glue , tape etc. having researched the craft market i have found that items sell for prices of any where between £4 right up to £460 , you can charge for your time, the materials and the hand crafted bespoke element , your over heads , shipping cost , at the end of the day your work is worth what people are willing to pay for it, I paid I found some interesting websites with lots of information on them !

http://www.ohboydenterprises.com/HowToPriceHandmadeGoods.html

http://www.makeforbusiness.com/directory.php?directory=Pricing

http://ukhandmade.co.uk/content/business-pricing-your-handmade-goods

http://ukhandmade.ning.com/forum/topics/how-do-you-work-out-the-price

For my degree show i have some funds available from the last installment of the student loan, through my contact with Claire Worthington I have found a lady who is going to make me some black and white cup cakes for the show 6 cakes will cost £12 , she has found me a company who can transfer my art onto icing to make toppers for the cakes and the price is 85 p per item.

I want to get some high quality black and white fabrics to make more textile items for the show .The craft council and some other craft organisations have some funding opportunities available

http://www.craftanddesignmonth.net/proposal.pdf

http://www.startacraftbusiness.co.uk/small-business-grants-funding.html

http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/craft-directory/opportunities/list/?type_guid%5B%5D=16

http://www.aah.org.uk/post/491

Apart from Etsy and Folksy , I see my own website as a way of making sales , I have also been approached by a couple of retailers via twitter and have a meeting with a shop owner in early August to discuss business options.

FMP images

These images are ideas for products that could carry my design, I feel that the simple pattern repeat works on some items such as the curtain and the door draught excluder but the cushions would be more interesting and dynamic if different stitch techniques were employed. I feel that for the exhibition in June I would like to produce cushions using , patchwork, pleating and applique in order to make the collection more interesting. The tea cosy I feel is a successful design , I have used recycled fabric to make the clothes for the characters and appliqued them onto the quilted fabric, the scent bags are made from fabrics from my children's old clothes. Again with the t-shirts the addition of embellishments and different stitch techniques will add interest, although when making garments for young children and babies it is important to make sure health and safety guidelines are followed and all new materials are used and also all additions need to be machine washable .