Afternoon Tea

For the Afternoon Tea session, I was asked to design a flyer to advertise the event. Using my new Wacom Bamboo graphics tablet (an early Christmas present) I produced this illustration based on a cup of tea I once had. The poster went down really well, and I hope to do more of these in the future!

121212

On the 12th of the 12th in the year 2012 our studio unit took part in a collaborative event to spark questioning and encourage humanity. My group organised an afternoon tea session for people in the Withington, South Manchester but throughout the week I was involved in teaching craft to 8 year olds at a local primary school, creating a Blind Brunch to create awareness for partially sighted and blind people in urban spaces and a flashmob through the canal network of Manchester.

Being involved in different engagement events in Manchester has really allowed me to get to know the area in which I'm living and the people for whom I'm creating an architectural project.

Crazy Town

On Saturday lunchtime I arrived in Wales to catch up with my university unit for a study visit to Portmeirion. It was designed and built by the somewhat eccentric architect Clough William-Ellis, and for us was a surreal backdrop to create films about perception, imagination and form. It has really got me thinking/stretching my brain but through the creative process I think we have come up with incredibly interesting outcomes.

Slice of Knowing

I'm going to be a first year teaching assistant again this year. Part of the application was to create an image, my interpretation of what I'd bring to the role. I suppose I'm the Spoon of Instruction!

Drawing Architecture

I've been neglectful. Over the past few weeks, I've finished my dissertation (on Participation in Urban Agriculture) and then been thinking about my plans for summer, so the blog has taken a back seat. I need to get together a cv and have been thinking about the best way to produce something snappy for some work over the summer that can be updated when I finish for good next year (!). I came across Drawing Architecture this morning and it's a feed of beautiful architectural drawings that spark some great ideas for my final year, next year. These, above, are too beautiful examples.

Images by Neuronville and Draftworks via Drawing Architecture

Luxury?

Yesterday, the girls and I went up to New Islington to check out one of the two sites which we will be using to investigate our architectural ideas this semester. The one here in North Manchester is the quasi-urban site. It has been the subject of much debate in relation to the regeneration of this part of the city. I don't really understand the place in itself; as you step further and further away from the bustling city centre you are met by a quiet graveyard of red brick warehouses. Past is this developing wasteland, which, though full of potential, I don't see quite working in its current state. Where are the small shops and businesses, the village heart? Anyway, let's see what our investigations bring up. Here's our unit blog: Architecture as Urban Catalyst.

Food Futures

So I'm supposed to be packing. After work tomorrow, I'm heading back up to Manchester for the next semester of study. I really need to get back into my dissertation reading, so this distraction is valid. I've just received the current issue of Icon magazine and it's called 'The Future of Food'. Just up my street and they have an article on my favourite architects, Work AC. I must keep packing, but I'm looking forward to sitting down and having a read of this when I get back up north!

Image from Icon

Let's Build

Wow. It's 2012 already! December flew by in a flash, I barely had time to look back over the end of term. It was all pretty hectic but one day was spent with the great gang of first years that I teach on a Wednesday morning. This day, however, was much more hands on creating 1:1 models. It was a really fun day, getting away from the computer and doing what we're supposed to be - building!

Glorious Grub

I've really enjoyed getting back into cooking since moving into the flat. I baked honey cake and Emma made us a delicious vegetable and noodle soup. Don't worry mothers, we're eating well!

Winding Souk

It's incredible how much we rely on the internet. Since moving up to Manchester we've only been able to get online here and there, but today we got connected! 

It's been a busy week since our course has started. I picked a unit where I can continue studying my interest in housing by looking at courtyard housing around the world. There'll also be a study trip to Fez in a few weeks, so I can go and discover another North African city.

Image by tkarty

How Retro

I've joined the real world... and got me an iPhone! Gone are the days of the camera-less brick (having said that, this phone is certainly bigger!) Here are some snaps from my Hipstamatic, including my newly completed cushion covers!

Snug Rug

The jet setting is over and now it's all hands onto move to Manchester. I mean, who doesn't love an impromptu trip to Ikea? I spotted this rug by Barefoot Kitchen in the Telegraph magazine, and it's just £20! Made from wool offcuts, I definitely want to make a purchase. It'll be great for those cold, rainy, Mancunian winters!

Image from Barefoot Kitchen

Ding Ding

...is the sound my bicycle will make as a peddle around town. This morning I went for a cycle with Dad and Brother Dowle and the latter definitely was like my personal trainer. When I was so ready to give up, he said NO! Once you get up to the Downs there are some great views of London: Wembley, Canary Wharf and the Shard. So I'm thinking of what bike to get when I go to uni - something town bike-like but also practical for these family outings. Any ideas? I seem to be drawn to black bikes with wire baskets and bells - ding ding!
P.S. So true!
Images: 1. Anna Yausheva via Miss Moss  2. The Sartorialist 3. Shannen Norman via Cup of Jo + Wiksten 4. Cup of Jo

Food Facts

I don't often post up my work (although that was the original idea behind the blog!) but I have been working on my portfolio for university applications for the past few months. I've been thinking of ways in which to improve it, having learnt a lot at work.

Also I have become more and more interested in graphical presentation. I read my cousin's copy of Information is Beautiful and it gave me some further ideas of how to present information. Below is an improved version of a visualisation I originally did with pen and watercolour. Having populated the drawing a bit more, I drew it with ink on trace, scanned it in and converted the lines. To further improve, I'll get me a graphics tablet so it's easier to colour in!

Sources: wrap.org.uk, lovefoodhatewaste.com, meinfo.com, wasteonline.org.uk

Mini Sartorialist

My (not so) little brother started at Cambridge this academic year and he has got involved with the student newspaper by doing the Varsartorialist, snappy his peers around the university and cataloguing their stylish ways. He's just popped them onto his Flickr - which has other great stuff - I can't wait to see more soon!

Insatiable

Apart from going abroad on holiday, this has been my longest non-blogging stint. I'm very ashamed!! Uni has well and truly started and our architecture school has thrown us straight into the deep end: designing a studio flat in a week; reading the deepest theories on modernism... my poor little brain is working very hard!

On another note my new camera has arrived! A brand new Sony a230, it's just fab! This afternoon I got baking again and so have put my new beauty to use, plus I now have all my knitty bit with me! There's a new craft society starting up here so I definitely want to get involved there.
So even this afternoon with a little spare time, I most definitely have this insatiable need to be making and doing something... I'll never change!