25.05.15

Today I had a breakdown. I called mum who listened to my sobs and gave me instructions to go and eat and chill out and call her back at about 10ish after writing a list of things to be confident about and things to be worried about. Im feeling a lot better about this exam now. Tomorrow I am going to do a few past papers and have an early night so I can be up bright and early for my exam. 

24.05.15

Revision went well and I finished the best part of two chapters worth of work. The stress is really starting to kick in now. When it all got a bit too much I just walked out the house for a bit, looking like a complete mess in sweats and flip flops. I walked down the road and sat on a bench at the green area and just enjoyed being out of the house for a bit. I took my sketchbook and did some one line drawings. One line drawings isn't really my style but that's why its so important to do it, its important to spice things up a but. The outcome doesn't have to be good because I'm just doing it for me. Its quite therapeutic. I did a little self portrait of me and Leeds which I think is quite cute.

This evening I sat down and watched Eurovision with Courtney and Ariana. Alice and Courtney got Indian takeout so Alice was around for a bit before going back upstairs to do more work. It was hilarious watching it with Courtney who was in-between loving it and having no idea what was going on, but then again that's just Eurovision isn't it. Personally we were fans of Israel, looking at you fit background dancer ;) My all time FAVE, who I think should have won, was the drum guy at the end! AMAZING.

Even though I was watching a day later I had no idea who was going to win

23.05.15

Today was a full revision day. I love this topic but it can often be quite challenging. Finally tackled Islamic star tiling. Although extremely frustrating the outcome of this modual's revision is lovely to look at! I'm feeling quite inspired - cant wait to go to Spain and go to the Alhambra Palace complex again to see examples of beautiful Islamic tiling. I'm such an art nerd haha. 

I defiantly feel like my biggest achievement today was finally uploading on this blog! As you may or may not have noticed it has been well over a week since I as uploaded and im sorry! with all these deadlines and revision it hasn't been on my mind. I'm turning it around today.

22.05.15

Alice and Courtney helped me collect my work from the studios today and we made a little trip out of it. Courtney had to stop by her work so we ate lunch there, sharing a sausage and red onion pizza and some chips. Helped Charlie out by taking her project back to mine too, as she was unable to collect it and it was in danger of being thrown out. When I got home, just like the past few days I got on with revision.

21.05.15

Not much to report, revised all day. I think its going pretty well. I wouldn't say I'm confident hut I still have time. In the evvning, I watched a film with Ariana and Courtney. Across the Universe was amazing! Its a musical using only re-worked Beatles songs and was just sooo goood! If you like musicals and you like the Beatles I cant recommend it enough!

20.05.15

The majority of my day was spent revising in my room. Not very exciting, But Alice sent me a text asking if I wanted to go to her schools showing of all the completed projects, including hers. Of course I wanted to go! The study of media holds a special place in my heart from doing it at A Level and I love to see what people create so we went along at 7ish, enjoyed some free wine and nibbles and some amazing work! I was very impressed. I knew Alice's work was going to be good but some of the others were fab too! It was nice to brake up my revision and get out the house. I have a really bad habit of not leaving the house during the exam season and its not very healthy. This was a really good motivator and a nice was of rewarding myself. I got another couple of hours work done when we got home so all in all a very productive day. 

19.05.15

I planned on today being my first day of revision, but things don't always go to plan. I need to go into town to pick up some revision equipment (paper, compass, protractor, etc) and some supplies I was running low on so asked if Amy and Courtney wanted to join me. It somehow became a full on shopping spree. We got clothes and accessories for her Dirty Jersey birthday party coming up, I got some bits and bobs for Spain and overall just stuff I didn't necessarily need to get today. Oh well that's the way life goes I suppose. We were going to have a film night but I desperately need to do work or I was going to stress out so I got a few hour done when we got home.

18.05.15

...I wanted to head straight to uni to hand in my work, knowing the school opened at 8 and I could meet my deadline and be done with it, but it was raining and my bed was so comfy and my eyes were itching for sleep. I slept for about an hour and a half before calling a taxi to help me take my project into uni. I only had two boxes to carry but my body was excused and I think I may have collapsed. I got my work in nice and early, went to the cafe with Laura and Amy, ate a sausage roll with them, went home and was dead to the world for about three hours. The advice I give Rory when he complains about all nighters messing up his sleep pattern is: commit to the all nighter. True all nighters are followed with all dayers. This means you can have a short nap (to make sure you don't die) but make sure you don't have a full nights sleep during the day because you will be unable to sleep at an appropriate time when the next night comes and may face another all nighter, entering a vicious, unforgiving cycle. In a zombie-like state I stayed up, playing FFX and watching stupid tv shows. I cant even remember most of the day. When I finally went to bed I felt like a curse had been lifted. 

NEVER. AGAIN. 

17.05.15

Nursing a minor hangover I once again tried to try to do work. I couldn't bring myself to do it, is wrong with me! Why wasn't I stressed!? I realise now I need to feel unbearable stress to function. Me, Amy and Courtney decided to have a late night library sesh and went to the shop to guy snacks, deciding to head down at 9-10ish. I am ashamed to say I pulled an all nighter. I watched the sun set and the rise from the library window. Courtney and Amy joined me until 4am at which point they headed home. I wanted to join them but with my deadline looming ever closer I was forced to stay until 8am....

16.05.15

I tried to try today. I have so much work to do in such little time and have dome exactly NOTHING. but Courtney's friend made it so yay. Obviously we went out again tonight. The plan was to prink at Alex's house and go bar hopping for his birthday, probably meeting up with his friends along the way. However he had been heavily day drinking and was is a weird mood which made him decide to abandon us. twice. By the second time we were just like 'fuck it' and had our own amazing night out. The music was amazing, the drinks were flowing, we were all dancing and basically having a lush time. All three of us won at life tonight; I found free mini bottled shots under a table in Revs, Courtney nicked a cool tiki glass from Call Lane Social and Brian got offered free drugs! Winning!

15.05.15

My filing box came in the post today! It feels so good to be this organized! The tutors want us to hand in our projects in files (mounted on A1 or A2 pages) or in sketchbooks, however I didn't feel like this was appropriate for my work as it was not how my pieces were designed to be viewed. Rather than having my work swallowed up by a big white sheet I have organized my work into five categories based on the materials used; mixed media, paint, ink, wax and print and embossing. Within these categories works produced by the same method are grouped together. Each section is ordered chronologically. I enjoyed putting this together. like a lot.

I haven't talked to Rory in days so when we talked today it was lovely! I walked into town, first stopping off at uni to collect my books which were on display. I needed to buy a box which I could use to hand in my books and found a perfectly suitable one in Wilkos. Me and Rory talked all the way there, continued as I made my purchases and some of the way back too. Like always most of our conversation was utter nonsense but that just made it more fun!

Even though I need to be getting on with my research file, now that I have completed all my practical work, I went out with Courtney. Courtney's friend is visiting and was getting into Leeds via bus at about 4am. The plan was to meet him at the bus stop after our night out. Me, Courtney and Ariana met up with Alex and a couple of his mates in a bar in town. We proceeded to bar hop and do many many disgusting shots of sambuca, vodka and whisky. I have decided I don't like shots. I can safely say me and Ariana had a awesome night, drinking, chatting and dancing on the tables. Alex's friends were really nice and were fun to hang out with. Courtney however somehow got really drunk and disappeared. Not like we couldn't find her and gave up looking, like she vanished off the face of the earth. At about 3am, when we got a taxi home we were stressing because we couldn't find or get in touch with Courtney AT ALL. As soon as we got home and saw the uneaten McDonalds by her door we knew she was fine and had headed to bed. Needless to say, she had not picked up her friend from the bus stop but that was clearly tomorrows problem.

14.05.15

Spend a good portion of the day in the print workshop with Sinaed embossing. I managed to make another book and bound it as soon as I got home. 

13.05.15

I have officially finished and bound all my books. Although this is a big step in the right direction I don't feel any closer to meeting my deadline on Monday. I still need to sort out all the lose bits of paper I have floating about and finish off my research and analyses file. I'm not stressed but that's not I good thing: I need that panic to actually get things done! Tomorrow I will be trying my hand at embossing and hopefully, if all goes well, will be making another book. 

12.05.15

Typical. Just as revision season kicks in the weather becomes beautiful. I popped to uni to pick up some art supplies. Came home and actually got loads of work done! At 6ish Amy knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to watch a film and the evening turned into a little film night. We first watched Babadook which was aright, then Oculus which was a solid ok and finally The 6th Sense which was amazing! We made a list of films to watch when we have our annual floor bed. Overall I feel quite accomplished as I completed a whole book and started two more. Good 

11.05.15

Because exhibition day is a little bit special I have decided to include lost of photos in todays post. Everyone's work looked really good and it was nice to see what everyone elce was creating and how they chose to display it.

The Chance Experiments: An Exploration Of Chance and Fate 

Rosie Stronach

Celestial Body

Laura Owen

Harriet Laman

Skin Landscape 

Zoe James 

Slipping into the Background
Phoebe Rolls

The Head Series: Whole, Hole, Fragile, Scream and No Face
Elys Kent

 Translucent Memory
Daisy Petley

 Lucy Davison

WOODWORM

Taylor Bull

Bronte

Amy Gregory

Tetrahedra

Kate Brady

Charlie Sykes 

Mapping through Space

Lauran Goldthorpe

 Fallout
Georgina Baker

 Erin Whittaker

We all had to be in the studios by 9am (for some reason). The day was very relaxed and by 11 me, Amy, Laura and Elys had all set up and were ready for 4pm! We decided to go somewhere for lunch and I suggested the Libertine (the bar Courtney works at). They have a deal in which a small pizza, chips and a drink is only £6! Bargain! It was delicious and would defiantly recommend, I cant wait to take Rory there for either food or cocktails (or both!).

Mum arrived at 3:30 and because the weather was quite nice we sat outside the terrace bar drinking J20. I told her about uni and she told me about the her course and the job she has been offered. I am so excited for her, it sounds really good! At 4 we went back to the school of design and met up with Ariana, Alice and Courtney. I felt really supported and was really happy they came.

After the exhibition me and mum chilled out in the living room drinking tea, waiting for the rush hour trafic to subside. She came from the caravan and is spending tonight there too so the drive is not as far as it is to Newcastle. When she left I got a bit down, but it was absolutely wonderful to see her, even if it was only for a few hours. She also bought us a M&S chocolate fudge cake because it was marked down to a quid so I cant be that upset! We agreed I should have the rest of the day off so I played FFX and called Rory and had a very chill earning.

10.05.15

After spending all morning (and a good chunk of the afternoon) playing Tetris I felt a bit shit about not doing any work, especially because my exhibition is tomorrow! At 10ish I finally got my but into gear and added titles to my books and even created and bound a new book! I feel really good about tomorrow and cant wait to exhibit! I love exhibition days! 

08.05.15

07.05.15

Because I stayed up ridiculously late watching the election results come in I gave myself a lie in. All my lectures are finished, so I didn't have Design Theory or any other commitments today so it was not big deal. or so I though when I saw the time was 4 o'clock and I had a heart attack! I needed to go into the studio and sort out my plinth in time for Monday. The studios are not open during weekends and the workshop closes at 4:30! I ran into uni! The weather is disgusting and I was soaking by the time I arrived! Luckily I found a plinth I could use and used some of Amy's emulsion to tidy it up. I am feeling so lucky right now, this could so easily have taken a turn for the worse. Bring on the Monday exhibition!

06.05.15

This image describes a feeling of amazement and excitement immediately being crushed. Almost all semester I have been trying to find an anoalouge projector to create a camera-less animation with however it has been almost impossible to source one! Finally this one shows up, in seemingly working order ...without a power cable. I am gutted. I am giving up on the idea of exhibiting a film which I am really disappointed about. 

05.05.15

I wasn't so much hungover today as I was completely knackered! Got a couple hours sleep before heading to a lecture and dissertation proposal hand in at 10. Charlie didn't even show up! hahah

Me, Snead and Amy garbed some much needed food at terrace and chilled out, chatting about how fun last night was. That was going to be my photo today but when I got home Rory called and mentioned something about his postal vote - I almost forgot to vote! I practically ran downstairs and sorted through the enormous pile of letters we have in the living room and found my letter! After filling it in I called mum, to ask if I could fold my ballots because the wouldn't fit properly in the envelope. She said it was fine and she stayed on the phone as I walked down the street and dropped the letter in the postbox. So exciting! I feel so grown up! I texted dad straight away and he seemed almost as excited as I was! 

04.05.15

Today has been lush! I wasn't planning on doing anything today and so was playing Final Fantasy for most of the morning until Courtney came into my room. We talked for a bit and she then asked if I wanted to go on an adventure to find some world foodstuffs for the Mexican meal she was cooking for us all. I don't think I have ever walked around Leeds so much in one day! We walked from Woodhouse, through Hyde Park to Headingly, from Headingly into uni then into town then back home again. My feet were killing me! So worth it though for the top notch banter. In Morrisons Courtney accidentally stole a big bag of limes while buying the tequila #freethelimes. 

I spent so much money! At uni I bought Leeds Ball tickets for me Courtney and Ariana, bought the tequila and got cash out for tonight. Today is Charlie's birthday night out, so as soon as me and Courtney got in at 6ish I started prinking and getting ready. I discovered drinking cocktails in the shower is always a good idea and is now the lifestyle I have chosen. While I was getting ready Courtney and her friend Vicky were in the kitchen creating the most delicious food possibly ever. In America today is celebrated as the day the last colony of the Americas was given independence (or something) and it was somewhere around Mexico so Mexican food is necessary. For the first time ever I had a real taco! 

At around 8 I got a taxi to Charlie's place. Its really not that far but there was no way I was walking at night with that dress and those shoes. We were told to go all out so I wore my red Iron Fist wedges and a black bodycon. We all looked fab! When I arrived Amy, Laura and Sinead were already there and Elys arrived shortly after. We started of at a chain pub, where pitches are cheap and the noise is quiet enough for conversation. The conversation was hilarious so we all got on the bater bus to Revs for more cocktails. Me and Charlie were shearing pitches and got the legendary Jammy Bastard. The music was on point and we all were on the dance floor making complete fools of ourselves! Once sufficiently drunk we made our was to call lane before a cheeky McDonalds and a taxi home. 

(Not too sure when this photo happened but photo credit to Amy!)

04.05.15

I think I have finally finished my dissertation proposal! Spent most of the day on the laptop in bed researching videogames to make sure I can explore the issues I am interested in. Apart from that I cant say I did much. I am defiantly getting ill! Im all blocked up, just in time for all my deadlines and exams. Oh well, at leas I met this deadline in good health. There is always a bright side.  

03.05.15

The quality of this photo isn't very good, but today I went to the bar Courtney works at. After a very uneventful Sunday, Me, Alice and Amy headed down to The Libertine at about 10pm. Its the first time I had ever set foot in the place and I really really like it. Its quite cute and the cocktail menu is so good! It kinda reminds me of Bar Loco back in Newcastle. I will definitely be coming back, especially for all the open mic nights and events they host. Alice also recommended going during the day because a pizza, chips and a drink is only £6!

Courtney spent all night behind the bar but still managed to sneak us a few discount drinks. I think it was the shots that pushed us over the edge. Me and Amy were quite happily tipsy but Alice was something else! I. Love. Drunk. Alice. She is too funny. Me and Amy held her hand in the way home before she immediately disappeared to bed to sleep it off. Courtney asked us to wait up for her and order food so Amy, being Amy, ordered like 4 portions of chips and chicken and onion rings and a sandwich. That is far too many chips for three people. Went to bed at about half three. All in all a good day.

02.05.15

Its a trap! This game is a curse! Woke up early and got work done until three when I went down stairs to make some popcorn for a snack and thought I might have a brake and play some FFX. I got comfy on the sofa and chilled out ...and I was still there eleven hours later!!! I cant believe what my life is right now. At least we have made plans to go to the bar tomorrow so I can actually be sociable. 

01.05.15

All aboard the struggle bus! I haven't had a hangover this unforgiving for a long time. Still I got some work done and was only in uni for an hour. I cant really complain to be honest.

30.04.15

I gave my presentation for studio today which seemed to go well. I got lots of good feedback and comments which is always nice. Then after an unconventional day in the studio, in which we attended a talk and me and Amy wandered around the school looking for places to exhibit. 

When I got home I got a little bit of work done and started getting ready for a night out at Mission. Last time  went to a Mission Full Moon party t was awesome because, like me, Mission loves a good strobe light. After getting ready I played some prinks in the living room with Amy, Aaron and Courtney. Courtney got in really late so rushed to get ready and made herself a trash can to make sure she was getting wasted. After a few games all together, I played Caddywhompus (the game Rory and Weeksy made up) with Courtney. We were so drunk at the club! There are gross photos of me and Courtney on the podium cage thing, and  blame Caddywhompus.