Peek at My Week!

Sorry! I've been a bit distracted lately... So here's a cheeky look at what I got up to last week!

MONDAY

So the week started of smashingly... I'd been feeling crappy all weekend- but I'd put it down purely to a mega-hangover from Friday night...  But no, Monday I decided to take myself off to the doctors, only to discover I had one hell of a viral throat infection- which explains why I still felt rubbish! I KNEW IT WASN'T A HANGOVER!

Anyway, ill I decided to take myself home home for a few days been as there was no way I'd be up to a days knitting on Tuesday... And been as I don't have a decent picture to reflect Monday's illness, have a lil' pic from Friday night!

TUESDAY

I was right, I wasn't up to a day of knitting. So naturally I spent the day on the sofa with Dump, our resident house bunny!

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday I felt a million times better! Not right but ok, ok enough to go into uni for our careers/placement talk... In which I discovered I was no where near finding a placement!

I also got a few cheeky fair isle knits done, making me feel a little better about missing out on a Tuesday knit day!

THURSDAY

Thursday I was at work- nothing special just work. In fact the highlight of my day was delivery of elastic! I bloody love the stuff! Its definitely becoming my thing!

FRIDAY

Friday was my favourite day of the week! I was lucky enough to get to go on a trip to Shima Seiki! The Shima's the type of industrial knitting machine at uni, and every time I use it, I become kind of obsessed with it for a few days. It's literally all I think off! It may sound geeky to you, but it's my jam. I LOVES IT I DO! 

Anyway, we got to have a nose around their show room- some of the knitwear they produce is amazing! Its mad to think how they were made...

Back at uni, I had a good knit day- I got some good stuff! Oh, and to top it all off- CURRY FOR TEA! WEYYYYY

SATURDAY

Saturday was a busy one. I started by cooking for my house mates (well I don't actually live with them, but they've very kindly adopted me in!) to celebrate Zi's birthday! It was only Chilli Con Carne- I'm not going to claim to be a culinary genius!

After a quick costume change ( a 2 hour process including washing, drying and curling my hair, and shaving my long, gorilla like legs..) I was off into town with my partner in crime, Claud, to meet my main men. Once a year my dad and his mates have a lads day out to Uttoxeter races, and each year they call for a pint or 6 in Derby. These mates, they're like family. They are family. I've grew up with them filling an uncle-like roll, some of them I'd even consider to be more of a father figure. And then there's Chico. He's just, well, Chico.... I'm lucky to have them- I know they'd beat up anyone who screwed me over! We'd make a good team! Haha

FT. My dads double chin...

Anyway, me and Claudia went for a couple of pints with them, and I can honestly say I've never laughed so much!

I'll never look at these jackets the same again...

So pre-drinks over, and we were off to Zi's house par-tayyyyyy  

SUNDAY

Sunday hangover day, right? WRONG! I made my moms Mothers Day present! Quite proud of it to be honest! (Not the best photo though...)

So yeah, there's my week!

Bethan Rose x

Competition Chaos!

David Neiper. Never heard of him, or his brand? Neither had I 6 weeks ago. His brand had been up and running for over 40 years, and all the clothes are designed, produced and distributed in Derby. I know- saying I live hear you’d have thought I’d heard of him, or the brand? But no. No I hadn’t. Mainly because the clothing produced are aimed at the older generation of women- the over 50’s to be precise. So apart from being about 31 years younger than their target market, the other reason I hadn’t heard of them was because their clothing’s a little out of my price range. Just a little. Well, you know, as a student, a lot…

Anyway! Back to the point! We were introduced the brand at uni, and given this fab opportunity to design 4 pieces of clothing to debut the company!

Along the way, me and the other knit gals were learning the ropes on the Dubied- a more industrial knitting machine than we’d been used to. (not a power machine, but one up from your bog standard domestic machine!) I’ll admit, me and the dubied didn’t get along for many weeks- trust me my language was fowl at more than one point- but eventually I got there. Dubied knitting machines allow you to knit using a double bed, making a thicker, nicer knit. Anyway, I got knitting and produced some great things!

I got experimenting with a bit of bright yellow shearing elastic. I know- not very over 50. But the whole point of the comp was to introduce the company to new ideas… Well, fast forward to a few experiments later, and a i ended up with a design!

Next came my fave design! I love it! My mom doesn’t like it- mainly because the sample I had to cut up to fit on the board I had promised her for a cushion… #sorrysue . Nah, she does really! I just love the patterns and think the bright yellow is fab!

The next 2 designs are pretty cute too! The grey cardigan was made on the Shima, with the sleeves being a simple Dubied stripe. The other sample, is a combo of both a domestic sample combined with a Dubied rib! Here's my final 4 design boards!

So how did it go? I GOT SHORTLISTED!!! I didn’t get any further than that in the competition, but having been the kid who never even won a race at sports day- I’ll take that! To be honest, I’m just proud a well-known company (that’s up to popular debate) have seen my designs!

So chill yeah there’s a deadline and competition over? WRONG! Next up- Bradford Textiles Society Competition!

This one’s an annual comp for anyone who does textiles really. I love it. They like designs that are a little ‘out there’. So naturally, that’s what I did.

THESE SAMPLES ARE LITERALLY SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING KNITS I'VE EVER DONE! I LOVE THEM! I THINK THEY'RE GREAT!

Seriously I need to calm down…

Yet again the yellow elastic made an appearance, but in my opinion, its fab! I love the lil’ fringing thing I’ve done too. Very proud of it, if I do say so myself…

So yeah, that’s about all that’s been happening with me lately- BUSY BUSY BUSY! Oh that, and I brought a knitting machine! Not bad for someone who didn’t even want to be a knitter!

Bethan Rose x

An extra cheeky Nandos...

It's not what you know, it's who you know. And I happen to know Emily Webb. The girl who writes the University of Derby blog. Very well infact. So well, that I'm living with her next year. So well, that she makes me paella (her fav that she's not always the best at sharing!). And so well that when she got invited to the grand re-opening of Nandos in intu (in Derby obvs...), she asked me to tag along!

It was the grand re-opening event, for loyal customers and invited guests only. And we we're invited (well, Em was- I was a plus one!).  And this Nandos was extra cheeky- it was a freebee!!

I have to say, I'm a massive fan of Nandos, but I'm even more of a fan of their new interior! The store's a lot brighter now! And the colour pallettes used are fab!

I even learnt something new. Nandos actually support a lot of small designers- which as a textile designer I was dead chuffed with! For example the hand blown glass lamp shades were made by a Czech designer! And the cupcake style shades, a South African community group! They're ace! And whats even better, is that they are each individually hand crafted by independent designers!

So yeah, all in all, an inspirational night! Of which I went home from and curled up in bed due to my food baby!

Bethan Rose x

PS- Sorry about the crappy quality of photos... I managed to break by phone with the good camera!

Back to bussiness...

What am I doing right now? Right now I'm sat in bed, far to tipsy considering I've only had a jug from Spoons, feeling far to full from my mixed grill, having had one of my most stressful days as a 'knit designer' so far... Having been in uni from half 9 this morning, the sample below was one of the only things I managed to produce today... at half 4. Which is kind of frustrating. Well- very frustrating. Which is why the cocktail pitcher was necessary...

But anyway, keeping to my new years resolution of writing a new blog each week (I'm trying my best here!), here I am...

My stressful day makes me realise what's important. Last week I went back to work, having had nearly 2 weeks off because it was the beginning of semester 2. I love my job- I really do- but working away can be a little stressful. Especially when I'm not at home having Mom at home reminding me to take toothpaste (I forget it too often...). But a little stress at work, like getting stressed today always make me think what really matters.

Throw back to Edinburgh in the summer (I took no photos on my travels last week...)

Don't get me wrong, I love a nice handbag or designer watch, but I'm not a materialistic person. Moneys not everything. I want to do well at uni, of course I do, but an average grad in my contextual module? I'm not gonna get to caught u about it... (writing was never my forte) Maybe I've got a different perspective on stuff to everyone else, but I'm a big believer in Living Life Whilst You Can. Having good friends and family. And doing what makes you happy! (Looking at old photos always cheers me up!)

So although knitting may have not gone my way, I'm gonna have that cocktail pitcher and a giggle with my mates. Because on a Tuesday that's felt like a Monday, that's what makes me happy!

Bethan Rose x

Knit knit knit...

I chose knit. To specialize in. Last Monday. With a small portfolio of print work on the side to compliment. A whole 7 days have passed and I'm not still A) over the shock that I (who previously hated knit with a passion) have chosen it to specialize in for the next year and a half, and B) sure it was the right decision... 

Well, I am. I enjoy knit. I've got loads of ideas how I can incorporate my designs into knit designs. I've been researching designers and careers and have even began to look at buying my own machine. The only reason I'm not sure it was the right choice was because, well, the only reason I'm currently sat writing the world's shortest blog, is to get away from the Dubied machine I've been struggling to use all afternoon.

I've been told it takes practice, perseverance and patience... all of which is beginning to run out at quarter to 6 on a Monday! Oh well, tomorrows another day! (Hopefully it might weork for me!)

Bethan Rose x

What a week...

So we're on the 15th of Jan, and here I am keeping a new years resolution, writing another blog post...
MIGHT AS WELL THROW A PARTY, 2 POSTS WITHIN 2 WEEKS- AREN'T YOU LUCKY?! 🎉🎉 Anyway, thought I'd tell yall about me week...

MONDAY
No one's keen on Mondays. I don't mind them. I do mind early mornings. And long days. This Monday was one of them... I started my day at home in Tamworth, then popped to work in Manchester (I work in recruitment when I'm not at uni, so travel about quite a bit). Oh and after that, I ran for a train or 2, and ended up in Glasgow... Busy busy busy!
Bit of an ordinary day really at work really, UNTIL I HAD ROOM SERVICE FOR THE FIRST TIME! WEYYYY

TUESDAY
Should just add, that although Glasgow's one of my fav cities, I was there for work purposes, and don't get time to roam around exploring BOO! Had a good day though, met some lovely people through work. And I did get to fly home, on one of those small planes, through turbulance and a storm #notokay

WEDNESDAY
Wednesday I drove back over to uni, to take my work down from last week, found out it had already been taking down, and was being used for moderation, and I couldn't take it home. Didn't waste my time though, did a bit of photoshop and sketchbook work.

Oh and the entire hand brake system in my car packed in.. YAY

THURSDAY ✏
All I did on Thursday was sketchbook work, been as I didn't have a car to go out like... But luckily my dad's a mechanic, so by tea time it was fixed! And by 9 I was back in good old Debados, lying in bed binge watching shitty TV... BACK TO UNI LIFE

FRIDAY
At several points this week I thought my day couldn't get any worse... (when my hand brake broke, being stuck in traffic thinking I was gonna miss my flight, when my brand new sat nav wouldn't turn on (the battery was dead lol)). But Friday tops it all. I was convinced I was going to specialise in Print. But my lectures reckon I'd be good in Knit. I was given the weekend to decide. It's now Sunday. I still don't know...

Anyway, to help me decide, I went on a night out in Notts- obviously...

SATURDAY
Naturally, Saturday was spent less hungover than originally anticipated, yet still watching all the TV I'm behind on.
Oh, and re-watching Sherlock...

SUNDAY
And today, well we had a little family outing to Matlock. Not been before, but it's so cute! My fav part was my chip butty, where Claudia cried over the thought of going the zoo because she was so excited. I'm so glad I've got such a good bunch of friends at uni #blessed
SO there you go... my week. Back at uni, having no idea what I'm specialising in, and being eternally grateful that I don't have lectures on a Monday morning anymore!

Bethan Rose x