I would love this...

How cute is this neckwatch? I love the trashy bling look of it along with the Casio style digital numbers. Fab!

CREATE Restaurant

I also this week, had my first meeting with CREATE, our Marketing Strategy meeting for our fantastic new venture.

I have joined CREATE at a really exciting time at the minute too because we are near to launching our restaurant in August of this year, with the fabulous chef Richard Walton-Allen.

CREATE is a business that provides a place where people can rebuild life and hope, this place being work. CREATE runs a great business but with every penny made, this money goes right back into training, work experience and the creation of jobs for people who need them most. CREATE offer a great Employment Academy whereby a 12-week personalised work programme is given, in a safe, supportive environment to those who need it, those who may have lost motivation and confidence to get back into work after maybe a hard time in their lives.

The whole ethos of the CREATE brand is one that is honest, giving and truly caring to each and every person that walks through the CREATE doors. I worked for CREATE last summer and if you are a reader of my blog you might have seen some posts on FOUND- where I helped in all aspects, but specifically in merchandising the store, from the shop floor, to the window displays. I began working for CREATE because I am keen and confident in what the people at CREATE believe in, and I am a real supporter in helping others, and also working my socks off to enhance and build on a great company.

Our meeting this thursday went extremely well. In the meeting we looked at everything from our S.W.O.T. to our competition, to our commercial objectives and to our marketing and P.R, so as you can imagine the meeting was very informative, which I felt was very good for myself because then I could get a real insight into the whole process of marketing our restaurant from the word go. The restaurant sounds incredible and I'm extremely excited to see the end product, but I'm also very keen to watch the process unfold as to how to market, launch and open a restaurant. After the meeting, we all left with a job load of work to do but everyone is focused and excited about the next coming months. My task for the week is to really get under the skin of 'Corporates' and 'Bright Young Things'- these being key target segments in the City that we need to really understand for our restaurant. So this week I am going to try and organise some short interviews with these types of people to understand them that little more, to then really focus on where's best to showcase our restaurant.

Working with a great company is a real unique opportunity, in which I will grab with both hands and gain some real experience into marketing on a live event, to a nearing deadline. I'm looking forward to these coming months.

To see more about the CREATE Brand and it's new restaurant visit these webpages...


http://www.foodbycreate.co.uk/


http://www.createfoundation.co.uk/

'Red or Black' for ITV.

Yesterday was such an incredible day!

Working with the ITV team was brilliant. My producer, Catherine Ellis was very hard working, focused but very sweet too. If I needed help with anything she was there, our sound man, Steve was a real down to earth northern guy who I gelled with really well, and our camera guy, Chris was a fab character and truly well experienced- he had once interviewed Margaret Thatcher, whom he called maggie as though they were best buddies. He was a lovely and encouraging guy (specially about my degree results which we were given yesterday).

The day started at 8am and for the first couple of hours myself and my friend Steph got to know the crew a little more, with plenty of hand shaking and smiles shared :) I was introduced to my producer and briefed on the day ahead. I just loved and thrived off of how calm and collected Catherine was, which I later found out why, as she has been in the business for many years and has worked on big shows such as Big Brother, Come Dine with Me etc so this was second nature to Catherine. Her attitude kept me calm too because, although I have worked on live events before, I hadn't worked on something as big as ITV so the nerves were there, but like I say, Catherine's attitude influenced mine and I just easily did the job I needed to do.

At around 10am all the crew made there way to the first game location, I should point out that the shooting of 'Red or Black' was in beautiful Roundhay Park in Leeds, West Yorkshire. So our first location was set on the great green cricket field. We firstly walked down a huge hill towards a giant bingo set up and after watching Ant and Dec introduce the game (which was surreal in itself: they're usually on my TV set, not stood right in front of me!) the fun then began! The first game got the adrenaline flowing- there were parachute jumpers, a very energetic and animated crowd and real, massive excitement in the air. I won't give out any spoilers of the game (which will be aired in august) but I will tell you that this was the first time I had seen a parachute jump and it really was incredible. When you see a small body jump from a plane and come down that quickly it kinda blew my mind, it just looked like so much fun, and after seeing that, I would love to do it!

So, after this 1st game the real work began.

My job for the day was a logger for my PSC crew, which is quite an important role as I needed to be very observant at every interview (we did around 40 in the day). I had to write down a detailed but edited description of any fab thing that the interviewee says and at what time,exactly. That way when the editors edit this part of the show they can filter through the things that aren't needed and get the best bits. At the first couple of interviews, I was just really getting the hang of editing the interview, experiencing working with a PSC and taking direction, and obviously I was new so my first few interviews I might not have been at my best but towards the end of the day I really got the hang of TV- the technical words, the best positions to be in etc and by the end of the day I did the job without any questions and real confidence.

After these interviews we then watched the next game: this was the general set up for the day, with 4 games in total. So yes, there is a lot of waiting around but it really is so much fun and you meet some great people.

After spending the day with the crew at ITV, Catherine asked if I could do the manchester filming with her, which of course I can! I need to grab any opportunity I come across. The filming in manchester is in a weeks time, but yes, after yesterday's day, I really would love to work in TV, in fashion still as maybe a stylist to TV presenters, or a celebrity stylist. Talking of which I saw Ant and Dec's make up artist and stylist, prepping the guys for there camera shots, and I thought that would be great if that would be me one day! I going to be in touch with them ladies in the near future and I'm seeing them again at Manchester, so I better get my business cards at the ready :)

I don't want to bore you with what I did ALL day, because it was a very long day and this post would be longer than it already is (and no one wants that) but I just wanted to give you guys a snippet into working in TV and working as a logger, because when I was younger I found it great to read about peoples' experiences to learn from them and understand whether it would be something I would like to do.

So watch this space for 'Red or Black' on ITV in August: the games are insane and fun, the contestants are mad and the team behind the show are hard working and incredible.

If you want to see a little of yesterdays happenings see here.

See the twitter feed at RedOrBlack

Diary quickie...

I had my fab and fun meeting today with the Create team: the restaurant opening sounds like there's plenty of hard work to be done, but it's so very exciting! I love that i'm working with people who really do care about not only great food, but great people.

Over the weekend I will blog a little more about Create to let you guys know a little more about the company I'm interning with, but for now you can visit their websites @

http://www.foodbycreate.co.uk/

and...

http://www.createfoundation.co.uk/

Also very exciting news, I applied to work for the ITV entertainment show 'Red or Black' presented by the lovely geordie chappies, Ant and Dec, a couple of days ago and I got the job which is fab, so tomorrow I am a logger for the show. Again at the weekend I will fill you guys in on that as my day tomorrow is from 8am until 11:00pm so a long day ahead but again very, very exciting stuff!

speak to you guys soon and until then I will leave you with a fab image I came across today....

Diary Talk: catch up.

Wow! Sorry readers I haven't posted in such a long time, with me graduating in the next couple of weeks my head has been all over the place, let me give you a run down of what's happening.

Ok, the film I was supposed to be working on, unfortunately the job fell through, I was and am, extremely grateful that the role was given to myself but for unfortunate reasons I am unable to be the costume assistant for the film, 'Piercing Brightness'. The film is still in the running to be shot so I look forward to seeing the finished product and with regards to my film reviewing, since I last spoke to you guys I have seen a variety of films: 'Rubber', 'X-Men: First Class', 'Hangover 2' etc.. I'm still inlove with film, I REALLY love it when you go to the flicks and you hear the 20th Century Fox music intro: that lovely feeling that the next couple of hours I can escape, it's such a fab feeling!

'X-Men: First Class' was really great actually, I went with friends and I embarrassingly hadn't seen any of the other X-Men films, but as soon as this film finished I went home and watched the first X-Men and I am now working through the films. I found it better to see 'X-Men: First Class', before I watched the other X-Men movies: it unravelled and highlighted the key characters. I haven't chosen a favourite character just yet, I will let you know when I do :)

'Hangover 2' wasn't as good as the first, but still the movie does make me giggle, and the film 'Rubber', I just came across because I went to see some friends in Beverly, and my friend, Emma, teaches media and film and it was in fact one of her students who said that she should watch the movie, 'Rubber' and my oh my, that film was just crazy! I read the back of the dvd and it just sounded that insane that it made me want to see the film. The film is about a rubber tyre who kills people- I know! If you ever get the chance to watch the film, do so, because I know it sounds very strange but it's that bad that it's good.





So, what lies ahead for me over these next couple of weeks? Well at the minute I'm on a marketing internship with the fabulous company CREATE based in Leeds, I will be seeing the beginnings of a restaurant to it's opening. I will be involved in marketing the restaurant and the company over these next few months- this is something i'm very excited to be working on, I have my first meeting this thursday so I will let you know how that goes. As mentioned I'm graduating this july, and I get my final grade for my degree this friday!! All the four years I've been studying for, all the hard work, tears, giggles, commuting, everything comes down to this grade so wish me luck :) I'm still working as a visual merchandiser for UKGreetings and I am collaborating with creatives on photoshoots so I'm still busy which is good.

Anyway I hope I haven't bored you guys, I just know it's best to keep communication on a high to just let you know that i'm still here. How are you guys doing? Do you have anything nice planned for the summer?

....fashion postings to come :)

Yohji Yamamoto: Pure Genius

I am very excited to see this film.

This week in fact, I am in london attending Graduate Fashion week which will be fab! but whilst I'm in london, I might try and go see Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A, has anyone seen the exhibit? Thoughts?

Yohji Yamamoto: This Is My Dream from Hintmag.com on Vimeo.

Fashion Promotion with Styling: Class of 2011

As we have finished our university year, and also my university life, as a creative group we have a class of 2011 Tumblr with each of our contact details alongside our imagery, please visit it.

Donnie Darko

So my first film I watched for research purposes, was 2001's 'Donnie Darko' featuring a very young Jake Gyllenhaal, and my oh my was that film strange.Give it, it wasn't heavily sci-fi, but it did look at time travel and there was one main, highly odd, costume that run throughout the film.

Donnie is a very troubled teen, and he seems to find some crazy solace with his friend Frank, who appears from time to time in the film. Frank is a large bunny which only Donnie can see...see what I mean, a little odd. Donnie is a schizophrenic with a history of violence, and only recently has he stopped taking his medication and it's with this, that Frank appears in Donnie's life. Frank comes with news that the world is going to end soon and Donnie with this information, seems to begin to take a little control of his life, and the events that happen in his life, well not sane Donnie. When Frank visits Donnie he influences him to do certain things like flood his school, burn down buildings etc and it's all these events that seem to change and shape Donnie's future.

The film is quite a deep film, and with time travel as a key theme it can be confusing at times but I still quite enjoyed it, I would definitely recommend the film. It seems to be a classic, in fact, Donnie Darko is in the top 5 of Australia's My Favourite Film poll.

In terms of costume, as I've mentioned one key costume that ran throughout the film was Frank's bunny character, when you hear the word bunny, I think cute, soft small animal, not a grey, ghostly looking bunny with an evil face and grin. When I first saw Frank, my initial feeling was to laugh, maybe it was a nervous laughter because Frank is no cute bunny. Although the costume looks quite easy to create and seems like a simple idea, it's always those simple things that can really work. I went to see 'Insidious' at the cinema last week and although I did like the film, the constant shock, screaming and jumping did get a little tedious, I felt that the film would have been that little more creative by keeping those silences in the film, and playing with the viewers' mind. This is something I think Frank's character does, because it's such a simple costume but still eerily scary, it really works.

Diary Talk.

Although I have now finished my Fashion Promotion with Styling course, a little work has followed my exit, which is always fab!

I am attending Graduate Fashion Week on the 5th June, I have my exhibition private view on the 10th June, on the 11th June and the 12th June I am involved in 'The Stylist's Closet' at the Trafford Centre where I will offer personal style advise to the male customer and then to finish off, I am a costume assistant for London based artist & filmmaker, Shezad Dawood's new feature length science fiction film, Piercing Brightness, so over these next couple of months i'm busy busy busy which is really great, after my last hand in yesterday I didn't want my schedule to become stale, and with all this ahead it looks like it's getting busier.

I will keep you guys updated of my whereabouts over these two months, I will try and post as many photos as possible to show you a glimpse into my world right now.

So with all this ahead of me something tells me I need to brush up a little on my sci fi film knowledge, I might start with Blade Runner or 1930's classic Metropolis: i'm planning on posting my ideas and thoughts of each film I watch into the run up on here, kind of giving a little review. I'm excited about these next couple of months, meeting new people, making new contacts and getting into the industry.

Relax...

In my days of madness with me finishing my exhibition stand, I can get a little repose from this gorgeous image.

'Get It Loud in Libraries' collages

I wanted to share with you lovely readers, my collage work I have developed for my 'Get it Loud in Libraries' brief we did earlier this year, to better my portfolio. I did have a sketchblog running alongside this brief you can see that here.

Here's my final images. (all on A3, portrait)

Global Cool: Fancy having a Traincation?

If your a reader of my blog you might remember back to my post I wrote, after a fab evening out at the Global Cool: Turn up the style, turn down the heat, event held in Leeds back in January. That event was simply amazing, not only did we refashion clothing, eat yummy cupcakes and meet new faces, we were also blissfully being taught how to keep green. Global Cool's ethic and campaign of one that encourages people to think differently about greener lifestyles is a real trend at the minute within consumer thinking, yet Global Cool is a company that doesn't want to keep this as a trend alone, but is one that wants to make this idea become a real lifestyle.

Head to there website to see some fab articles looking at fashion, sport, entertainment, travel and some extra greenery. Oh and don't forget to check out their fab competitions too!

At the minute Global Cool is running such a great competition where you can win two tickets for a Traincation to Bern, in Switzerland, to the Gurten Music Festival from July 13-18th where you could see bands such as Kasabian, Plan B, Arctic Monkeys and plenty more. For an entry all you have to do is (via facebook) tell Global Cool which artist and song you would love to listen to on the Traincation (personally mine would have to be James Blake, 'Limit to your Love' or maybe Zero 7 'In the Waiting Line') then get all your friends to vote for your suggestion…simple.

Get yourself over to facebook.com now to get involved! Good luck everyone.

Collage is the medium

Here's some lovely collage's I'm working on at the minute for my portfolio.

Exciting Type (Update)

I did a couple more experiments with my letter 'n' for my university type brief. I started playing with past photo-shoots I have done by working on top of my fashion imagery.






Also, here's my imagery for my number '1' , what do you think?

Exciting Type

For a last, small brief at university, each of us from class have been given two letters to stylishly create for promotional pieces for our course and the university. The two letters come from the words 'Fashion Promotion with Styling, Class of 2011': my letters I picked were lower case 'n' and the number '1' which will be used twice.

Today I have been experimenting with my letter 'n' as I know exactly what I will be doing with my number '1'.

I have done some research to influence my thinking for this mini brief, and as it's the last brief I will do for university i really wanted to create something thats traditionally me, to show what I'm about as a creative person, yet influenced with fashion. If you follow my blog you may notice I absolutely love collage, this is a real medium I wanted to try when thinking about this project, and I figured as my letter 'n' is that little more interesting of a shape, I wanted to use this for my collage idea. When answering this brief I want to construct, work onto/into and to collage: all my three loves when creating visual imagery.

Here's some pieces from today....which do you prefer?

(scanned in image of denim shirt, overlaid with text/font)



(The stencil of the 'n' I cut out myself, all the background images are pages from my past sketchbooks and earlier photo-shoots I have done throughout the course)