I simply adore the soft sculpture Amigirumis from Melissa Sue Stanley Check out her naughty strawberries! :D

Find her on etsy or her blog

Right, I'm writing this in the hope that someone can give me some input :)


I'm writing my dissertation on the impact that latex (rubber) has on the wearer and how significant and desirable it is. I want to know what makes it so attractive to some people either in fetish or in day to day wear.

Would it possible for anyone reading this to write something which explains how you feel about the material?

It doesn't matter if you've not worn it...we all encounter rubber all the time so what do you think about it?

If possible I really wanna challenge your feeling about the material. If it makes you tick, why does it? If you slide it some on a night outto a club, a night in with your prospective partner or just love how its feels when you're on your own, I wanna know about it :D

The juicier the analysis about why it makes you feel the way it does the better! :D I really need a lot of different perspectives. Whether you like or dislike latex it doesn't matter, in fact it would help if some aren't into it because I'd like to know why :D

If you're uncomfortable posting something on here feel free to private message me :D
at gothdeviluk@hotmail.com
Just drop me a line either way, please :) Thank you so much for your time :D

Please note that any comments used in my dissertation will only be seen by the examiner and will not be handed to anyone else.

Also, I don't own any rights to the images unless otherwise stated

Image courtesy of See Eunny Knit
Since I've started talking about lace and I've been trying various things in the past few months, I thought I'd impart my sources of guidance and inspiration so that others may profit :) First of all I started with the basics.

This guide by Eunny is great for choosing yarn width and needle size, assessing gauge, explaining knitting terms like YO and there are amazingly simple diagrams which make reading a pattern a dream :D

See Eunny Knit tutorial

Heyya, its been awhile since I've updated and have landed on my new obsession: LACE :D

I'm obsessed with all the nuances and skills of lace making and will hopefully be enrolling on a lace making course shortly :D

In the mean time, I have enough knitting skill to start off some lace knitting so I've constucted some oriental inspired belts which I will update pictures :D and tried to follow

http://www.letsknit.co.uk/index.php/knitting_patterns/free_knitting_pattern/mura_pt._1/

but its not working all well as I'd hoped...the central stitch of the piece (ktbl) isn't staying in the centre so I may have to adapt the pattern to my own needs :)

I'm obsessed with starting this kit (above and below left)

http://www.knitpicks.com/kits/Featured_Lace_Yarn_Sampler_Kit-Deep_Sea__D40101.html?intmedid=HomeKit:300108

I'm trying desperately to get Knitpicks to send it to here in the UK as they only ship USA/Canada! >_<>

Also, I'd got it into my head that I was gonna knit it up for my mum's birthday in December and it'll be a huge let down to not be able to make it for her :(

Anyway, I've included the video of the designer of the Chinook lace shawl, Nina (don't know her surname :/ ) as its fascinating to see her design process for knitting lace. I love it :D If it doesn't load here the linky :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRJxBxMjuWY&eurl=http://www.knitpicks.com/kits/Featured_Lace_Yarn_Sampler_Kit-Deep_Sea__D40101.html%3Fintmedid%3DHomeKit:300108&feature=player_embedded

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity

Brand Awareness

This has previously been on my other blog (which usually focuses on my elective - Exploring Creative Business) but as its slightly off topic from my usual work on there, and fits more with my personal work, this is coming on here :) 

"I've been exploring variousopportunities for work I can do over the summer. One in particular is 

http://dearjanesample.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/fun-with-brands/

Its an interesting look at how brands interfere in our lives. I mean, we're bombarded with them 24 hours a day! even as I peer around my room as I lounge on my bed there's Wilkinson, Jinx clothing,Palmolive, Time computers, Carling and Primark glaring back at me. 

It sounds like a great social experiment to carry on over a period of weeks with any kind and patient helpers. Which I'd hopefully (with enough data) utilise in a fine art/textile commentary on the media and its involvement in our lives.  If anyone is interested (I'll be grabbing family and friends and begging and pleading them) please please please give me a shout on here or gothdeviluk@hotmail.com

Thanks ^_^"

Hope this can generate more attention here :)

Julie Arkel and a slight rant

To commemorate my first post on this blog how about a small rant? Here goes;

Jeez, how much work can you fit in a day? I've done more work this past week then I have in the entire year! :O Getting ready for 2 presentations, 2 major essays, 3 year long portfolios of work and an exhibition all to be completed in less than 2 weeks is not fun! 

Add to the fact that I'm still in major pain after the invasive surgery and subsequent major infection has reeeeally set me back so that I don't know how I'm gonna pull it all back with a passing grade...my word, as long as I pass *sighs*

OK, rant over, needed to get that out. I originally came on to see what people thought of Julie Arkel and this long babble stream comes out, as if someone cares how behind I am, ya know? 

right, Julie Arkel

http://www.earthangelstoys.com/html/julie_arkell_-_paper_mache.html

I'm doing a presentation on her next week and its next to impossible to find a decent critique of her work *grumbles* bloody contemporary artists *grumbles.* Now personally I don't like her work although its kinda growing on me, but I'm trying to work out why I was so put off by her work when I first came across her...does anyone else have any ideas?

Before next wednesday would be great! :D