The only way is up.

Currently learning and drawing about vertical gardening. I love the idea of seeing flowers on the wall and admiring the craft of smocked and embellished little black vintage dress.

Lovely drowning sounds from Evi Vine, reminded me a little towards Hope Sandoval's mellow voice.

Lv T

White roses

Finally internet is back on regular (faster speed) and things are looking rosier in my side of the world.

This summer I have been spending my holiday season healing with my loved ones, gaining more advice from my textile tutor, drawing, sewing, and back to my old creative self.

The lady luck didn't go very far either in the past couple of weeks. I have given the opportunity to work part-time in a wonderful hand-made doll and Teddy bear shop 'Mary Shortle' Leeds.

I have a wonderful boss who let me have a day off to hold a stall in Saltaire Antiques fair on this month's bank holiday weekend. Twas a lovely day out to meet with other stall holder and chatting about which vintage product are sought after for next season. My aim is to raise money for my end of year show of my textile degree. Treasures that didn't find a lovely home on that fair will be on sale via Ebay next week.

It would be much appreciated if you could spread the news and follow Loading Darling's product updates via Facebook and Twitter.

Lv T.

Pursuit of optimism.

July is a special month for the creative industry. Impressive collections of hard work and new visionaries from freshly graduate designer were displayed in New designer show 2011, London. Talking and observing to one of the designers in 'One Year on' section allowed me to consider the best way to display your portfolio and sell able sample to gain new client and costumer for future work opportunity.

Today a little packet from Laura Olivia arrived. Her garish, and brightly coloured trademark is a joy to look at. I was kindly offered to select whichever pattern that I like directly on her lovely stands to go with my lavender pouch. Placing the lovely scented objects in my room reminded me on a lovely book that I picked up from the local library last year, Home is where the heart is by Ilse Crawford. It taught me a great deal on appreciating the space that we live. She explores the philosophy of putting the human element back into our homes, rather than just focusing on the aesthetics.

I thought I would share you one my favourite paragraph in the book on handmade.

We need the handmade to balance the mind-numbingly similar machine-made things around us, things that can only ever express the efficiency and speed with which they were produced. Craft makes our homes more human. We sense the time, care and skill that went into the making. Like life in its slow accumulation of experience, a crafted piece is an expression of the daily moods of the maker during its creation. It speaks of the concentration and love with which the object was made. It can be sensual, intricate, full of sentiment - and imperfect. It carries the imprint of the hands that made it.

Lv T.

Domestic Disturbance

Getting well means

Getting back to work.

Apologies for those whom I have disappointed by not receiving any updates sooner.

Moving forward to reach the end of a dark tunnel was probably the hardest battle that I've ever had to come across in the past few months. Not being able to have access to super speedy internet seemed to make the world even slower.

Luckily I have a very supportive family, friends and tutor who have been so patient and ever so supportive to pull me through the darkest, and most painful time to guide me through to a happier state of mind.

New routine, new weather, dancing along to Nina Simone again, and catching up with what you lovely Loading Darling's reader has been up to, is some of the few things that I'm looking forward to do this summer.

Soft white cotton dress and leather brown flat shoes is one of the few outfits that I tend to repeat summer after summer. How about yourself? I would love to hear what is one of your favourite summer look to wear this season?

Lv T

Tropical Wool

Tropical world in Leeds always takes me back to a nice warm, and sticky rainforest weather in South-East Asia. Ouhh the little family of Meerkats and butterfly also cheered me up with their funny body language.
All those fresh colours that I've seen, made me want to browse in 'Baa Ram Ewe'. Packed with deliciously soft yarns to knit and crochet that are mostly from Yorkshire. Do check out their British breed sourced yarns through their online store here.

I happily picked up this super fluffy Angora and a mixyarn of Silk Mohair in Candy Girl.

It will be interesting to see what it will become of them in the next couple weeks. ;)

Lv T

The bridge to optimism.

There are so many beautiful things in Snug Gallery. Usually I get really intimidated with snobby gallery waiter that really puts me off on enjoying the art that's inside. But here, the owner is genuinely friendly and just lets you enjoy on what's to offer within the space.

I was so proud to buy my first ceramic piece by Rebecca Callis, that's now sitting prettily in my dressing table to hold my Make-up brush.

And what do you know about 'one thing lead to another'. I was ever so lucky to visited Great Nothern Contemporary Craft Fair in Spinningfield Manchester (Fiuhh that was a long name :D ), and actually met the designer of my pretty pot and say hello to her.

The fair was just indescribable. There were so many high standard pieces from textiles, art, jewellery design, and illustration design. My brain was like a fireworks, filled with excitement just by browsing all the beautiful handmade things.

Below is Ingrid Wagner who kindly let me tried one her gigantic knit needles. I could stay forever in that stalls admiring her work, and also to continue my first rug knit.

Do check out her lovely company here for more information and possibly join exciting studio program.

The graduate pavilion that was dedicated for fresh graduate was as highly competitive as the established UK craft makers next door.

Julia Snowdin's gentle art piece really struck me the most. The artist herself was generous enough to chat with me and my group of friends about her inspiration and how the materials evolved together with the initial ideas.

Visiting the event has helped me very much with getting more focus on the brief that I'm working on at the moment. The video below also inspired me to enjoy bright but slightly muted colours for my final design this term.

What inspiring things have you came across lately?

Lv T.

Wabi-Sabi

Hello :D.

Congratulations to Ms. LyddieGal from Chic on the cheap , for winning the freshwater pearl bracelet give away.




Exploring new textures, colours, stories, and mood are definately some of my favourite part on creating wonderful fabrics and print.
The mind get a little bit shocked with over excitement and extensive work load that needed to be put down on a blank sketchbook.
The body is paying the price for the lack of good posture that I've been doing for hand embroidery.
But the heart is so very glad since I recieved new brief in this new term.

So far I have been lost in the world of Leiko Ikemura paintings and sculpture.

Thank goodness for updated 'New books' shelf in the library.
Laura Owens beautiful palette just makes me a very very very
happy bunny.


Images are from Shugoarts; Artsjournal; Artnet; and Walker art.

Lv T.

Bee Gees

Woweeee

I was lucky enough to be invited for a lovely day trip with Nina to Ilkley Craft fair This morning.

With £2 entry fee. The crafty event was pretty good to boost acknowledgment for the local designer and crafter. Due to a lovely day and very tempting sunny weather. We manage to cool our walking feet while duck watching in the river.

After keeping a black and yellow leaflet of Cakewalk for sometimes now. We finally went it together and found fantastic collection of antiques, handmade cards and accessories, and love-able vintage goodies around the space.

All those walking and browsing almost made us forgotten our great early morning tea at Orangery Wakefield. Polka dot seem to be the theme on the event (which made me really happy to start the day). It was also good to know that the rich, and luscious cake was baked and sold for Cancer Research UK.

Interesting performance from local theatre group was held in the garden too. Thou we were more interested on these cardboard bee-hive hut just outside the tea-room's entrance.
In close up the textured wall kind of remind me of (1.) book shelf by Mostapha El Ouhlani; and (2.) well used placement of textile in architecture design by OFIS .

Check out Nina's great antiques find here.

And do come back on Monday to find out the winner of this month's give away.

Lv T

Honey B

I was very lucky to be invited to Nina Beresford's final degree fashion show. Her collection was like a trip to centre of Paris where carousel and old French music were played. Model was presenting sweet candy colour palette and vintage silhouette of garments. Curvaceous structure of her final collection was constructed with using Vintage fabrics and shiny taffeta in marshmallow colour.

Follow her Blog here and be a fan of her Facebook styling page here.

Lv T

Jolly good Bradford

Best bit from Bradford school of Art's degree Show ^_^.

1.Elegant design by Graham Preston.

His choice of luxury material such as cashmere yarns and silk really pushes his design into a very cohesive and futuristic take of the 'Art Deco' period. Check out more of his collection in detail here.

2. Playful colour pattern of print for children by Sue geldeard. Contact her through suegeldeard@googlemail.com for a full catalogue of her design and current children's wear collection.

3. Flattering jacquard upholstery fabric by Juliette Marie. Contact her through julietteh20@aol.com for the full range services that she offered.

4. Delicate textile art instalation by Aisha Agha. Contact her through

aisha.agha@live.co.uk.

5. Pretty knitted art textile by Bridget Hariis.

6. Subtle ceramic pieces by Ashley Bramley. Contact her through ashley.bram@hotmail.co.uk.

7. Organicly looking woven fabric by Jane Huws.

8. Gentle paintings made by reusing electronic components by Ross Reynolds.

The viewer of his art space were allowed to participate and have a go at Reynolds's cleverly made little machine . I think it was a very good way of engaging audience to reflect and expand the idea of human relationship with their dependancy on technology in an art form. Contact him through odd_pod@live.co.uk.

9. Interesting layout by the fashion design student.

10. Adorning printed fabric by CarolAnn J Allan. Visit her Blog here.

There were also some very interesting pieces of accessories that the visitor was wearing. I like Emma's combination of tough animal skin bag texture and the contrast of her pearl bracelet, worn with laid back printed dress in black fabric.

Lv T.

To dye for

Hannah Lamb is a Textile artist who is based in West Yorkshire.

I love her delicate and very patient process of fabric colouring and hand embroidery.

Catch up with her latest news in her Blog.

Lv T

Daddy day care

The kit:
Some spare old leather, cotton threads, needle, environmentally friendly paper card, scissors, and 0.8 fine liner.



45 minutes later.
Another card for Father's day this Sunday (*_*)

View my last year design here.


Lv T