On The 10th Day Of Christmas..

..I realised I haven't been updating my blog.

Since the Snafu Craft Fayre I have been a very busy bee! Two weeks ago I headed down to London on the Wednesday night on the Megabus night coach to attend the cast and crew screening of The Lost Boy Film. I was only in London for 27 hours before heading home on the Friday morning. 24 hours of travelling for 40 minutes of the screening. Totally worth it to see the finished production, it also felt so lovely seeing what all my hard work looked like on film! Adam Hales Walker is epically talented and I can see him having a very bright future in whichever aspect of the film industry he choses to pursue.

Arriving back to Aberdeen on the Friday night, I was off back to London on the Sunday, however this time I was flying down which knocked off a good 11 hours of travelling if I had chosen the bus. This second London trip was for the fourth year fashion and textile students at Gray's to go down and see whats on offer. I was told that I could join them on the trip as I had personally never been fabric sourcing in London before and knew it was going to be beneficial to me. Alan Gallacher, the student mentor on the trip secured us some fantastic visits to design houses and post grad courses.

On the tuesday Alan met us and took us to visit Jonathan Saunders studio. This was most definitely the highlight of the visit to London. Jonathan seemed so laid back, and took us all into his meeting room with its walls covered in spec sheets and fabric samples for his next collection, very exciting to get a sneak peek. Whilst telling us his story of how he got here, giving us tips along the way, his dog zig zagged her way between all of us before settling upon Jonathan's lap/shoulder. It was great to see this rather homely feel to the fashion world. Since I've not yet completed a placement I had never been in a professional studio environment before and this was refreshing to see that it is not always as warehouse like as my presumptions were. Jonathan is an ex student of Alan's from when Alan worked at GSA.

We also saw the Tim Walker exhibition at Somerset House. Incredible photography, really inspiring and glad we went for a visit there. Whilst in Somerset House we went to see the Valentino exhibition and the attention to detail in the garments was insanely beautiful. Downstairs from the exhibit there was  a table with all the different techniques that Valentino uses and lots of smaller scaled samples of these techniques. Truly beautiful!

On the final evening a group of us went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and I was blown away by how shiny it was! I really felt like I was in wonderland, it was pretty. We went into a Fun House sort of thing and slipped and slided until we got to the end. Moving floors can be pretty scary!! But nonetheless it was a great end to a lovely trip away!

I am back to my own studio practice this week as most students will be heading home for christmas over the next week. I aim to finish my design work by the end of this year so I can begin making up toiles in January. I also have my first ever meeting with a client this thursday, and I am being commissioned to design and manufacture three bridesmaid dresses. Lucky for me, my favourite thing to design and make are dresses!

Winter Wonderland - Wiggly mirrors

Winter Wonderland

A group of us after lunch at Somerset House's outdoor ice rink

Aymee

Snafu Craft Sale

Today was the day I was taking part in the Christmas Craft Fair at Snafu, organized by Hero Next Door, an organization in aid of PAPYRUS (prevention of young suicide). This was my first ever one, so I felt rather rusty, but soon got into it and really enjoyed the day! I have been making lots of little accessories over the past two weeks which include collars, neck pieces, jewellery and my favourite of all, tights.
Below are some of the items that were being sold today.
My friend Hannah has been down working in London so I was also selling her hand printed scarves. They are very lovely! Check her out on her website Hannah Joy Scott. Her beautiful designs are influenced by landscapes, beaches and shores.
I also ought to spill that I have secured an internship in February time in Riga, Latvia at the design house QooQoo. Basically my favourite brand and te head designer Alyona already seems like such a lovely person. I really look forward to heading over there to work, I can't wait to experience and enjoy the different culture!

Aymee

The Lost Boy Trailer

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The trailer for the film I was working on in August

Aymee

Getting Down To Business

I have been extremely busy the past month with working a lot and organising my life. As a result havent updated this blog in a fair while. So I really ought to discuss what has been happening that I have been too busy to blog!

Graduate in Residence is going great! The second year students I have been working with are all really lovely. I have been helping out on Tuesdays whilst they are in the studio, and so far have been supporting them with pattern cutting for their skirt designs. I admit that pattern cutting is definitely not my strongest skill, infact it would most likely be what I am weakest at when it comes to fashion design. I have just had to accept I am not a natural pattern cutter. However having been in the studio and looking at so many skirt designs, I think my pattern cutting knowledge is increasing - I could be the queen of skirts at least? Perhaps not.

I am also taking part in my first craft fair on 17th of November at Snafu in Aberdeen. There will be a lot of talented folks selling handmade goods which is exciting, I really can't wait to see what other people are selling. I've been cracking on with hand painting tights again, and still have a fair few from summer that I beaded. I have make more collar cage shapes, lots of little handmade jewellery pieces and perhaps if I get a spare moment, I can decorate some t-shirts so that the guys are not left out. My boyfriend (Paul) has designed a lovely logo for my collars. I would love to keep on manufacturing these as I adore the silhouette and they go with any outfit!

There is another event I am taking part in, which is even more exciting! Teach Me How To..'s page was requested to me by a friend on facebook. I checked it out and found out that she had this amazing idea of an event solely on learning new things from sports and dance to arts and crafts. I contacted her straight away and am now going to be doing a workshop (on what I am yet to decide, but it will be fashion based). It will be on 26th January down in Edinburgh, thats about all I know just now, but will update more once I know more. After the workshop I am being given a stall again to sell and promote my work. I have offered to help out with logo's and posters for this event, so hopefully I can get involved with that too.

Very busy and exciting times ahead!

Aymee

Back to School

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been back at Gray's settling into my residency. I have been helping out a lot of the time in classes with second year students, not only helping them with pattern cutting but refreshing my own pattern skills also. 

I am going to be using this blog as a journal for the next years residency at Gray's. I am going to be writing about my own projects and how they develop, working with the students and influences. 

Right now I just need to create a plan of action for the next year, about what I want to achieve within this years residency. 

Aymee

Website

My website is almost complete, and I am finally happy with its layout. I still have to include illustration and more items for selling, but other than that I am done!
Have a nosey: www.aymeecharlton.co.uk
I am now a graduate in residence GiR back at Grays School of Art, which is exciting as I get my own studio space and use of all facilities any time! Meaning proper quality industrial machines and more space to make then sell. Super exciting times ahead. Starting Monday so will keep my progress updated via here.
Aymee

QooQoo

This brand are from Latvia and have been a major inspiration in my own design for the past year. Their super fun and quirky prints really do liven up any outfit! I got a pair of their leggings last year for my birthday as a present from my mum. Her judgment is valued muchly as she used to have the most amazing wardrobe from looking at old photographs! Why she never kept it all for me, I will never forgive her for. Her most favourite thing to say when I show her something fashiony is, 'Oh I had one just like that.' Cheers Mo. Anyway these leggings I got had little anonymous bears on the knees. Super cute! 

QooQoo Anonymous Bear Leggings - 40 Euros

QooQoo's design are very simplistic, in which they can easily experiment, however bold bright or colourfully they desire the garment to be. I am a big fan of print, and therefor am a HUGE fan of these guys. 

My favourite look by them has to be the fat cat print. PUSS. 

PURRFECT!

Aymee

White Chicks

I saw this top on the Asos site today and couldn't help feel reminded of the fashion show in the movie White Chicks! I had to post this!

Aymee

"Chromat!"

In around April time I came across this image of a model wearing a really cool sculptural neckpiece and it really inspired me in my studio practice at Gray's. I could not for the life of me find the name of the designer and it has been killing me slowly inside ever since. Until yesterday I had a eureka moment! 'Why don't I just mail the model wearing it and ask?' So I did and within a few hours I had a reply with the name 'Chromat!'. 

I am in awe at every single one of their pieces. I say pieces because truly each structural cage design is such an art piece. Based in the US, the creator of the Brand Becca McCharen takes inspirations from architecture and scaffolding structures and creates these beautifully intricate exoskeleton undergarments. Her most recent collection I can really relate to, as she looks at disney characters, and for the Minnie Mouse inspired designs I can almost see the character deconstructed back to the initial sketched outline of the character. 

Disney Illustrations

Chromat Designs

Some of Chromat's designs are very exaggerated, aside from the cutesy feminine Disney inspired, and often resemble burlesque style. 

I just contacted Becca on Twitter and found out her new collection will be available for pre order in two weeks, which is very exciting! I will be taking a whole lot of overtime at work to make sure I can get my paws on something!

Aymee

Back to reailty

Home now from working down in London the past few weeks and just getting used to being not so busy and hectic as the past few weeks have been pretty full on long hours!
I loved every minute of it and would do it again and again, working on a film set was really interesting. Met some really sweet people too!
Here are some of my most favourite moments from the shoot:

Wendy and Peter on our first night shoot (Mat Staton and Jordon Stevens)

Dream sequence Peter and Wendy

Disco ball lighting on set

On set party scene

Tink and Jim Hook (Rebecca Birch and Scott Ironside)

Sophie, Momo and Adam (Director/Writer of The Lost Boy)

Sj and myself wearing the feather headdresses I made

Wendy wearing my favourite of all the outfits - Edwardian top and fringed skirt

Now that all this is over and I am back up in Aberdeen (After an AWESOME four hour flight delay, thanks BA), I have to begin working to earn enough to make more tights and get started on the next collection inspired by crazy cat ladies. Off to buy a cat magazine. Shall post again very soon!

Aymee

The Lost Boy Film

I have been down in London since Saturday morning, and so far we have shot two days filming. London is way warmer than Aberdeen and on the first day here I barely wore anything. Me and my friend Sarah Jane Pirie (Sj), a make up artist with whom I am staying with and working alongside in the film, went along Portobello Road Market and found some amazing things! I found a stall that had original prints from old Mickey Mouse cartoons in the 1940's. They also had prints of Tin Tin, Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland. I bought a print, because I thought it would look lovely in my newly decorated bedroom and I kind of like old quirky stuff like that.
The main highlight from this day was finding a shop that housed a black cat duo. Two adorable little fluff balls sleeping on selves on top of tshirt piles. I instantly HAD to go in! And we played. And I took photographs.

The first shooting was a night shot which began around 7pm and finished around 3.30am. It was quite exciting to be out working at this time as it was very quiet and ambient with all the street lighting. I was pretty shattered by the end of it, but really enjoyed it!
Just finished day two today and it was a great day. The actress playing Wendy Darling wore this beautiful edwardian styled blouse that I found in a shop on Portobello Road. Teamed with a fringed skirt, it looked pretty adorable.

Actress Jordon Stevens playing Wendy Darling

Headdresses I made for the Red Indian themed night club event

The cat in the shop on Portobello Road

I will be updating again after a few more days on set!

Exciting!

Aymee

I Did Not Fall Down A Well

I have been neglecting this for a fair while now as I have been a super busy bee! I have been working on costume for The Lost Boy film, which successfully met its target of funding last friday! Been sourcing a lot of outfits and now is the time to buy everything in. It's great for me because shopping is something I adore, and this time its not putting me in debt for once!

I have also been doing a lot of tights this past month. The website still isn't ready but it will be running soon.

I have exciting news regarding a studio! I have miraculously been accepted by Wasps studios in Aberdeen onto their waiting list for a studio to hire. So happy! It could be a long wait till one comes up, but really happy that I am now in line to eventually get some space to make arts!

I will keep this updated when I am working on the film over the next few weeks including looks I put together for the actors/actresses and hair and make up by my beautifully talented friend and co-worker on the film Sarah Jane Pirie!

Aymee

Another shoot with a brilliant photographer

A local photographer contacted me last week and asked to borrow my collection for a photo shoot that will be published in a magazine in the near future. How could I decline this awesome opportunity! I got the photo's back last night and just have to share how beautiful they are!

The photographer, Louise Carnegie, is definitely one to watch as she has only been focusing on fashion photography since November last year and is already creating images that are adorning web pages such as Vogue Italia! I feel lucky enough to have worked with her to get these stunning images of model Lynsey Scott wearing my collection.

Graduation day tomorrow, I am pretty excited! Fingers crossed I don't fall off the stage in my heels!

Aymee

Busy bee

I have only been back from London a few days and already I am planning projects and trying to find a studio to set up camp in. Although the fashion course was hellish at times (pretty much all of the time), I still enjoy designing and really want to carry on with this! I never got round to uploading images of the fashion show, or my favourite image from the photoshoot with Michal Wachucik. I will include the images below.

                                 

Photo's from the fashion show at Gray's School of Art

Michal Wachucik Photography

Just now I have to organise my life a bit. With graduation THIS Friday (It's friday the 13th and I better not fall) I will soon have zero ties with uni and be completely independent. Terrifying but also so exciting!!

I have already had one collaboration with a photographer and make up artist since finishing, but cannot show the photo's yet as they are being published in a magazine!! But once its released I will share them on this blog. I also am going to London for August to work on set of a film called The Lost boy by Adam Hales, as the costume designer. But I will tell all nearer the time!! I am in the midst of setting up a website for selling garments, and also designing my next collection. Busy exciting times!

Aymee

Damien Hirst Exhibition

New Designers is now over and everyone has gone back up to Aberdeen, however I decided to stay a few extra days to venture around London and see cool things.
Myself and my friend Natalie went to see the Damien Hirst exhibition at the Tate Modern. I really wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard little previews of what to expect but was still very curious to see it for myself. Having previously known Hirst only for his most famous works such as the diamond encrusted skull and the formaldehyde tanks with various animals inside, I really wanted to see more.
From entering the Tate I immediately had low expectations. The most unsightly art gallery entrance interior I have ever seen. I felt like I was in a warehouse. However once in the exhibition i forgot about the downstairs ugliness and was finding myself staring at a collective of brightly coloured sauce pans hung on the wall. Conceptual? But next to this was a photograph of Hirst himself with the head of a cadaver he had been studying when he used to visit anatomy departments. I enjoyed this piece as it showed even as a young budding artist he was not afraid to work with unusual subjects, in this case a human head. Another art piece I saw, but did not particularly have an opinion on was the cows head piece, A Thousand Years. It really did give me the heebie jeebies. Though I found myself unable to look away at the flies surrounding the head. Tucking into it. I could swear I smelt it through the glass case, but that was probably just my brain and even Hirst playing mind games with me. I did enjoy the exhibit, I have never been to one like it before, and I am glad I went. Even if it did make me slightly nauseous.
Aymee

New Designers in London

Down at New Designers in London with seven class mates exhibiting our final year work just now. London is beautiful right now, the weather is much warmer than Aberdeen, even when it's slightly overcast, though my hay fever is starting up. So this exhibition is an exciting experience for us to meet contacts and network with people in the fashion industry. We have been setting up our exhibition space over these past two days and now we are ready for it all to begin tomorrow with the press coming to look at everyone's stalls. Our friends at Grays in the textiles course are also exhibiting and are only a few stalls down. It has been fun having a snoop around everyone else's exhibits, and I have noticed that most courses showing are mainly textiles based degrees courses. I am looking forward to seeing what the creative bunch at Central Saint Martins are showing as I never got a change to look today. Tomorrow is going to be one hell of a long day and I cannot wait! Aymee

Fashion show

So the fashion show is done, which is a relief as it means I now am pretty much free from Grays! These past four years have been beautiful though and I've met some super talented and über brilliant people. I will miss thee Grays building, not so much the workload.
Anyways enough of the heartfelt teary eyed talk. Here is a quick photo I got on my iPhone when working backstage on the Monday night show. Oh how exciting it was to see my collection standing before me as a whole. Also I have my thanks to give to the multi talented Jamie Johnstone, who not only had his own collection showing, but he kindly stepped in for one of my male models who was unfortunate enough to have been concussed the night before the events began. You can have a look at what Jamie is doing on his blog www.jaimecj.blogspot.com

Aymee

Goodbye Grays!

Model: Fiona Lamont

I will continue more on the past few weeks in the next post as I now have a busy day ahead of me.

Aymee