Urban Outfitters in York (where Habitat used to be -sniff sniff!) commissioned 2 artists from Germany to design and install a similar influenced mural on the back wall using paper cut outs. While being inspired and giddy in the shop, I was asked to leave because I was getting a little over zealous with the camera! Having explained who I was and why I was interested in the image they didn’t thankfully confiscate my camera! However, this really prompted me to think of possible ways to include this technique into a workshop when teaching at college.

So, with a few like minded colleagues we set a competition for our 1st year Art & Design students to come up with a maximum of 6 images based on URBAN : JUNGLE : HUMAN : ANIMAL. Some of the images were brilliant and the students had really put a lot of effort into their outcomes. For the effect we wanted one image would not work alone and so I put together a collaborative digital illustration with the help of our fine art lecturer Elaine Whitehead, [who has just completed her Masters - how brilliant is that?].

I knew it was going to be tricky to make it work but we made a plan and as you all know – a failure to plan is a plan for failure! So we set tasks all week and the students were up for it!

Monday’s tasks were to paint the wall and draw out and begin cutting the image. The image was projected onto a wall, students then took turns to trace the image and the arduous task of scalpelling out every little mark, while other students had great fun with Paul and the paint; brushes, hands and feet were all used to create visually exciting marks covering the whole wall.

On Tuesday, with Sam’s help students then used various transfer techniques to distress the wall adding layers of images and type, which added depth to the image. The paper cut out image was then put up, with great care, great wall papering technique and awesome finger rubbing – a messy and sticky job but very rewarding.

The pure energy, hard work and dedication that has gone into producing this image from the students is truly inspiring and a joy to see! Let’s hope people are impressed on the Selby College Open Morning on Saturday 20th October!

“To underscore the use of local produce in the kitchens and restaurants of York Racecourse Lemon Zest have staged a number of successful PR stunts that range from fanciful hats made of seasonal fruit and veg, an enormous mural of a horse and now to top it all a live size horse made entirely from food produced in Yorkshire.”

Anyway I was going to the races at York for the August Bank Holiday meeting, where on the Wednesday the unbeaten Frankel enhanced his reputation as one of the greatest horses in history by easily taking the Juddmonte International race. I didn’t have a hat to wear, I was tight on time and so asked Jane, who is a lecturer at Selby College and teaches millinery and has her won bespoke millinery business, if she could possible make me something in 3 days!

What a service Jane provided! I text her a photo of my dress and left it up to her judgement as to what she designed and created!  1 day later I went to collect this absolutely fantastic creation!. The skill and ability that Jane has is phenomenal and I would always recommend her - so  if you ladies out there need anything to do with head attire then look no further than – Jane – Ann, Bespoke Millinery.

Jane-Ann’s hats were also paraded down the catwalk at Selby College Fashion Show this year and she also has a range of hats and fascinators in Fenwicks in York.

Jane was also at the races on the Wednesday, as she had just won a prize for the competition organised by York’s newest visitor attraction the York Chocolate Story.

Jane’s chocolate challenge was to create a chapeau that depicts a piece of confectionery that has been produced in York over the years. Her inspiration was one of chocolate’s Christmas classics – the purple-wrapped sweetie from the Quality Street tin. Selby Times covered the story. What a great hat and it’s going into the museum for all to see!

Sat in the garden taking 10 minutes out of a busy day I was overjoyed to see the sun shining only to be overwhelmed with a large black cloud. Rain threatened but then the sun shone out from behind and all was saved! Promise this has not been Photoshop-ed just iPhone camera – stunning isn’t it?

I looked up the meaning from “phrase finder” and this is what it said, ” Every bad situation has some good aspects to it”. This proverb is usually said as an encouragement to a person who is overcome. So for every pessimist out there this could be a new way of thinking. Generally I think it is a good way to look at things and keep you moving forward rather than looking back!

Origin

John Milton coined the phrase ‘silver lining’ in Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634

I see ye visibly, and now believe
That he, the Supreme Good, to whom all things ill
Are but as slavish officers of vengeance,
Would send a glistering guardian, if need were
To keep my life and honour unassailed.
Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?
I did not err; there does a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night,
And casts a gleam over this tufted grove.

‘Clouds’ and ‘silver linings’ were referred to often in literature from then onward, usually citing Milton and frequently referring to them as Milton’s clouds. It isn’t until the days of the uplifting language of Victori’s England that we begin to hear the proverbial form that we are now familiar with – ‘every cloud has a silver lining’. The first occurrence that is unequivocally expressing that notion comes in The Dublin Magazine, Volume 1, 1840, in a review of the novel Marian; or, a Young Maid’s Fortunes, by Mrs S. Hall, which was published in 1840:

As Katty Macane has it, “there’s a silver lining to every cloud that sails about the heavens if we could only see it.”

‘There’s a silver lining to every cloud’ was the form that the proverb was usually expressed in the Victorian era. The currently used ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ did appear, in another literary review, in 1849. The New monthly belle assemblée, Volume 31 include what purported to be a quotation from Mrs Hall’s book – “Every cloud has a silver lining”, but which didn’t in fact appear in Marian, which merely reproduced Milton’s original text.

The students had to show off their work and really think how they were best to display it. We wanted a little bit of drama, excitement and to make it visually stimulating and enjoyable for all to see. They were fantastic; choosing their own particular pieces, making business cards and even bringing props in, it was a very steep learning curve and I have to give credit to them – they stepped up and should be very proud of themselves as I am.

The results were simply stunning, considering the students have all had the same projects, were taught the same skills, processes and techniques – each student’s exhibition was individual and unique and what a wide breadth of work they have produced.  We teach a wide range to enable to students to progress onto different pathways; various printing techniques, a wide range of visual recording skills, digital design & image manipulation, sculpture, photography the list goes on – as well as professional practice – where proper hand shakes are a must!

It was also great to see students from the past – with a few texts – they came in droves and what a joy to catch up with them all and find out what they have all been up to at university. With a little bit of persuasion they’ve even promised to come in and chat to the first year students and show some of their work.

So a great week was had by all. Proud tutors, proud and relieved students and hopefully proud parents and family too!

Working with Stephen at Orange Crush Design is always a pleasure and this is our latest collaboration working for Sazaad, Best Meal Deal offering a fresh approach to voucher deals, exclusively serving the restaurant industry. Though there are many voucher websites, there are few that exclusively offer dining experiences and this is a fantastic opportunity to be a part of the exciting new venture.

There’s a very funny video and a catchy tune – so if you want to find out more and get the best meal deals… register here www.bestmealdeal.co.uk or call Jenni 08435 236 046.

Take a look at the beautiful grounds and interiors and if you can give yourself a 5-star luxury treat or even for a group, wedding party is ideal – it is worth it!

Her clients love it too!

I have always been inspired by the fantastic Swiss Style Movement, also know as the International Typographic Style that developed in Switzerland in the 1950s. Joseph Müller-Brockmann was one of the famous graphic designers linked to the movement and a great inspiration. The style is known for it cleanliness, readability and primarily used sans serif typography. You will have seen many inspired designs from this style and here are mine.

The exhibition is an opportunity to come and be inspired yourself. The students are from a wide range of courses, A level Media Studies, Art & Design, Diploma in Art & Design, Extended Diploma in Fashion & Clothing, Art & Design, Creative Media Production, Theatre Studies and this year for the first time Music Technology – so it’s a great evening to see what we have been up to!

Please do come along 14th June 2012, 6-8pm Renaissance Building, Selby College.

Always topical – this one has now been spotted on the streets of London and is said to be Banksy’s latest piece!