Today I finished prepping the loom. Completing the hemstitch etc. And then weaving! However, it wasn’t that simple. At first the treadles were lifting correctly, however, some weren’t opening a big enough shed. So we decided to re-tie all of the treadles. I asked Rebecca for the pattern and followed it. However, when I started weaving again it was completely wrong. Despite double double cheking everything Rebecca went through it with me again. I asked if it was the pattern she gave me. However, she was adamant it was correct. Eventually, she double checked and realised it was the wrong one. At this point we had spent so much time trying to work it out. This showed how important it is to document all weaving. Having a good system at the beginning allows it to be easier in the future and prevents things like this happening.
06/02/ 2025
Weaving!
We have also had a lovely lady called Melanie completeing an 8 week workshop. It’s been so nice getting to know her so well. She has inspired me to try lace making… when I have a spare minute!
11/02/ 2025
Weaving! So far no mistakes! Phew.
13/02/2025
I was so so so close to finishing the weave off. I was aiming for 2m, however, soon before I was meant to leave Rebecca asked if I could add an extra 40cm. Unfortunately, I had to wait until the 25th to finish everything off due to working at home this next week.
18th and 20th half term….
Designing for Rebeccas new collection. Slightly worried… will she take our designs as her own or will she credit us… I am unsure how she will make this fair. She is against other businesses taking students ideas, so will be interesting how she goes around this. Part of me doesn’t want to create something too amazing as it’s not my own work. But then, also want to show off my best work.
25/02/2025
Finished off the fabric…
Started preping for a colourful warp used to help choose colours for the upcoming pieces.
27/02/2025
Prep day. Setting up frame looms etc. It’s so better working with another intern. Less overwhelming and fun with another pair of hands.
Action or process of a state withdrawing from a former colony leaving it independent.
In essay/reflection use 1st/3rd person.
Using ‘I’ is useful, helps explain your position.
24/01/2025
The Report and Presentation
Evidence:
Completion of 100 days/ 20 weeks of professional place,ent learning.
Online blog maintained throughout placements, recording thoughts, comments and activities
Individually written report of 5000 words describing and evaluating placments (+/- 10%)
20 minute audio/ visual presentation where you present analysis of your own personal development and learning during the placement
Assessed holistically (100% of the unit) No breakdown of grades for the different assessment evidence listed. Evidence is considered together. Tutors use their academic judgment to choose a grade for the unit as a whole. All components need to be submitted to pass the unit.
Marked by 2-4 people
When writing don’t assume your tutor knows everything.
REPORT
Reflection of placement year, providing industry context, describing and evaluating the placement experience within the context of the wider creative industries and speculative future. – AUTOERHNOGRAPHIC, will have specific examples of things you did demonstrating the development of your skills. – uses the researchers personal experiences to understand cultural, social, political phenomena. Qualitative research involving self reflection and analysis. You are the expert of your experience. – CRSJs principles
Story based.
Still academic, support with others academic essay. CRITICAL evaluation of the placement year, not a diary. – Record of Challenges and Successes. Not a Rant or unsupported reflection.
What is the report? – Reflections on your experience
An evaluation/ comparison of placements
An evaluation of your growth
Overview of your role(s) and how it aligns to your own goals and future ambitions
Overview of the industry
An insight into what you want to do next year
Speculative future (Final BA year and beyond)
Reference to your positionality
Reference to the creative attribute framework
Reference Intellectual Property
Reference to key arguments in your industry and its future. Eg. Paid enough, yarn, people understand the process behind cloth.
Opinions and theories from academics or people in industry eg… quite Ann Sutton and use the books on offer to me. Specific Examples:
Stories of specific tasks that highlight skills you have gained or developed.
Evidence of times your learnt something new. Eg, hard or soft skills
Achievements.
Comparisons of practice.
Images that support your written analysis.
Structure: Cohesive flow
Chronological order
Skills you have gains/ developed
Industry areas
Something else
Following a series of questions provided that prompt reflection (formative assessment Qs)
10 March- Skeleton map and discuss at your spring formative
21 March- 14th April- Easter Break
6 May- Submit a draft of report
May 2025- Presentation Workshop
2 June- Essay Submission 10am
9 June- presentation week
Chapters:
Title
Title page
Contents page
Introduction
Chapters and Headings
Conclusion
Bibliography HARVARD REFERENCING
PDF download of teams in file section
Presentation:
20 min audio and visual presentation where you present an analysis of your own personal development and learning during the placements.
Reflective of your personal experience
Own thoughts on the industry
Recorded and shown live at your assement
Live questions from the panel
Reflection of SIP
Recorded: On teams and press play, panel watches it live and still expected to answer questions.
Reflective responses to your placement experience and industry
What might you change about the industry
Ambitions and future plans
SIP
Putting your knowledge in action
NOT A READING OF YOUR REPORT
What you have discovered about the industry
Evaluation of your role/ ambitions ( in relation to UALs CRSJs)
Analysis of your professional development
Reference to key arguments happening in your industry (eg sustainability eg, wool too cheap. Not supporting local British) people expecting things to be a lot cheaper.
20 mins PowerPoint or PDF
Learning objectives:
Visit my CAF Teams on Files
Skeleton map of DPS experience so far. What do you want to talk about?
PEEL
My challenges: How have you grown from an experience? Deep reflections! How maturely and professionally do you deal with those situations. Can you understand why those challenges appeared.
Mill placements
Wallace Sewell
03/01/2025
Reflective Evaluations
DPS, Self initiated practice developing ideas
6 of my values task:
hard working
ambitions
empathetic
organised
personable
humour
How my family describes my values:
Hard working
Personable
Determined x3
Thoughtful x2
Enthusiastic
Proactive x2
Attentive
Responsible
Considerate
Respectful
Courageous
Fair
Creative
Loyal
Kind
Punctual
Organised
Creative
Intelligent
Inventive
Driven
Persistent
Prompt
Effective
Tenacious
Vigilant
I was really nice reading what people wrote about me. I think my values are very similar to what people view as my values which is nice and shows that not only am I seeing it, others are too. It made me feel quite emotional seeing all of the nice comments.
14/02/2025
Reflective evaluations
Looking back to get ahead. How do I differentiate myself then and now? Have I progressed personally, professionally, creatively? How do I understand that change? How will others perceive that change?
Understanding the difference…. Reflective practice asks ‘what’ and reflexive practice asks ‘why’
After having the last week off due to it being half term and Rebecca being off with her children I returned to threading up the countermarch to make two lampshades. Rebecca had already tied up the loom so unfortunately I did png get the opportunity to do that. She has said that she will teach me as soon as the Christmas rush is over.
While I was threading up Rebecca was teaching a morning session of basic weaving. I have listened in one time before this and found it so useful just refreshing my memory on all of the key information. Today I helped out a little when any of them had a question. I always enjoy chatting afterwards as I learn a lot.
I then started weaving… was a lot of fun. I had to really keep an eye on threads not lifting as one of the feet didn’t lift up the highest. There were multiple times I would have to go back because it would have skipped slightly. This was time consuming, however, I felt much better once it was done. It was have really frustrated me knowing there were a few mistakes.
07/11/2024
Today I continued weaving. I told myself I needed to be a lot quicker. I do worry I am a little slow when weaving. I think it’s because I am constantly checking the quality etc. I compare myself to how quick Rebecca is, she could have woven what I did in half a day in an hour. I don’t want to be a hinderance as opposed to help! I finished both lampshades by 11:45. So around 2 1/2 hours for a just over a metre of fabric…
I then had the task of getting yarn wound for the loom kits to be sold at the next few weeks Christmas events.
Rebecca was so pleased with the quality of the cloth and said I had been super productive which was nice to hear.
12/11/2024
Threading up the loom for a commission lampshade. While I was doing this Rebecca was teaching a hand loom workshop. It was so useful listening. I’m trying to learn how to create a smooth sailing workshop so picked up some good tricks.
After this I continued winding samples of yarn for the kits.
14/11/2024
Today my tasks were to get the weaving kits ready and make the baubles. Rebecca and I sat listening to Christmas music and chatted all day while getting the endless list of tasks done. It was really nice just being able to speak for a while. I really really like Rebecca, we just get on so well. I can see myself in her when I am older, we just have very similar views on life and what is important to us.
19/11/2024
Mor bauble making… although quite a monotonous task it’s Ben really fun choosing what colours and patterns go together etc. It’s nice that Rebecca feels as though she can trust me to choose the colour combinations
21/11/2024
Today I travelled to The Maltings in Farnham. Rebecca was there for the Christmas Fair. I was joining her for the second and last day of the event. My task was to weave and speak to potential customers. I felt a lot more confident than last time as I knew the kind of questions I would be asked. I do really enjoy speaking to people at these events, it’s always really interesting hearing people’s experiences with weaving and their creative journey. I also started taking orders and helping with pricing. I felt proud of this as the last time I was at the Maltings I was worried to be left alone in case of a potential customer. Growth! I then stayed an hour later (despite Rebecca saying I really didn’t need to stay) to help pack up the car and transfer everything down the stairs. She was so great fun for my help. I then received a message in the evening saying she has sent me £70. It was very sweet as it’s an unpaid internship.
This event was really successful, it was so nice to see how busy it can be at the Maltings. Definitely a big change from the Festival of craft.
26/11/2024
Today we were prepping for the next event that Rebecca is completing at Guildford Cathedral. I completed some more baubles; took scanes and turned them into balls of wool; then wrapped them into smaller sizes. Today was quite monotonous, however, was useful to get done.
A lady also collected her made to order lampshade today. It was interesting chatting to them. Previously, she had sent a harsh email, asking to change the colours after the fabric had been made up.
Rebecca kindly explained that she had already spent 10 hours on the lampshade, she was happy to remake it for an extra cost of the yarn.
It was interesting to see how you deal with tricky customers. I realised how important it is to sleep on a response. You then don’t become defensive and work with the customer, meaning everyone feels happy in the end.
28/11/2024
More baubles today. The last day I shall be completing this…
I have realised how repetitive some tasks can be, and how little time the creator can actually be doing the things they want to be doing.
For example, weaving. Because there are so many other things to do, it gets pushed to the bottom of the list.
During August I was lucky enough to attend the Graduate Week led by Rebecca from Dobby & Rose.
I met 3 graduate weavers that were mostly local. We all rubbed along really well, sharing our experiences from university etc.
We all set up a loom and completed patterns that Rebecca had planned for future products. I felt a lot slower than the others, however, I had to keep reminding myself they had a year on me! They were always offering to help me and give tips which was helpful.
From this experience Rebecca asked if I would like to join her for the whole year for 2 days a week. Although the role isn’t paid, I am learning so much weaving knowledge, so am extremely happy with this placement.
