Tuesday 22 September 2015

Classes a go-go

September is always a crazy month if you're a teacher - organization overload, all the formalities, and then eventually you can actually get down the REAL stuff - the knowledge, and the imparting of such!!!

There is quite a lot, (am I kidding myself?!), actually loads of technical stuff involved in pattern cutting teaching, but the aim of it all should be (in my humble opinion) to give others the means by which creativity can happen. I call it the 'transformation' :-) Ideas on paper or in the head, transformed by means of technical stuff (the making if patterns and toiles), into amazing garments, or parts of garments. If you know these methods, your creativity knows no bounds and you also have the respect of others around you in the business. I guess that's a bit like trying to write a song, but not knowing any of the technical stuff that enables you to play it to other people, i.e. playing and instrument, singing, writing music, using programmes on the computer.....OK it IS possible, but not easy.
So, it's a means to an end....
My means to an end right now is to get organised for tomorrow (first day teaching out this academic year), so less blathering.....
I'm using the plastic sheet for blocks now, which means no more dog ears and wiggly edges, however many students have to copy them, so more to make today as well as all the paperwork :-)
Speak soon!
Bobbie 
Picture
Love this pic of 'old style' blocks...

Thursday 3 September 2015

Tomoko Nakamichi

Tomoko Nakamichi is the author of those wonderful pattern cutting books, 'Pattern Magic' of which there are now 3 in the series...

It's hard to find out much more about her personally on the net - there don't seem to be any Youtube videos - but I did find a post on someone's blog, (link above) which, if you scroll nearly to the end has some photos of the lady herself giving a lecture / workshop at the Bunka School in Japan where she taught in a regular basis. How I would have loved to be at one of those, really to see the kind of person who has dedicated herself to her craft in such a way, and how she communicates her information.
                                It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it! 

A little preview: