Wrapping Up For Christmas

Listening to: Christmas Mix

So the year is beginning to come to an end, and Christmas is on its way!

Besançon town centre is beautiful, the streets are all lit up and little roast chestnut stalls are popping up everywhere. 

We've got a very busy few weeks coming up, what with the girls' exhibition and lots of Christmassy events! We've had trips to local Christmas markets, and sampled just a few *ahem* cups of hot spiced wine. 

We visited Dijon the other day with Alison and Emma. So strange to see it all dressed for winter! I've visited Dijon so many times throughout my life, its now become a family favourite! But I've never been in the winter before. Still beautiful though!

We were invited by Rosalind to have a tour of another collage she teaches at. It's actually a cheese making collage, where some study to make cheese, and others the scientific research.

It was so interesting to see such a different kind of collage. The students were all friendly and hospitable and we've made some good friends there. Plus were were given free samples of Comte, so I aint complaining!

In our last week we had a big Raclette party at the Beaux Art, and invited all our friends. It was so interesting to have a room full of international students all sharing a meal and wine together.Perfect

Attached are the photos from the girls' exhibition.

Joyeux Noël and have a Bonne Année!

x

Sana

Steph

Sana

Kim

Week 8 - An Update!

Listening to: Elbow


I thought it about time I gave an update of life at Uni!

Our photography lessons are still fun, we've been learning how to produce our photos. Before the holiday, we were sent into the centre ville to take photographs of the monuments and statues around town. Which would have been much more enjoyable for Emily and I, if there hadn't been a protest taking place in the city centre, and therefore no buses going back out!

That was one looooooong walk home!

So this week we've been producing the black and white photographs we took, and learning how to take things apart and back together in complete darkness. That was one funny lesson.

I'm really enjoying our photography lessons; I think it's going to be something really nice to look back on. That's one advantage of studying something creative while living somewhere new. You get the chance to create things about where you are, your experiences and the sights you're seeing. 

It’s something nice to take away with you, and to look back on years later.

  

This week we started book binding, nothing really to show yet as we've only just begun, but it’s good to do create with your hands; physically putting something together. It should be interesting to use in our final exhibition at Beaux Arts.

Also, this week I finally had a breakthrough with my personal project! Thank the Lord!

I'm doing a project on Besançon, which may sound a little lacking in thought, but hear me out. I wanted to make a collection, and experiment with what Besançon is, what it is made up of. Obviously I looked at the sights, the views and the buildings. But I was also thinking about how Besançon was made up to me, personally. What I saw and come into contact in my day to day life; signs, tickets, my address.

At the moment I'm working with my original sketches and photographs, and experimenting with engraving, stamps and cut-work.

Uni Work Samples

   Listening to: Ocean Colour Scene

  

The Last Time I Saw Paris..

Listening to: Hits From The Blitz

♫ The last time I saw Paris, her heart was warm and gay,

I heard the laughter of her heart in every street café ♪

Well, I have just arrived back in Besançon, after a few days in Paris with my sisters Nina and Luisa, and of course dearest Emily!

After all the doom and gloom about strikes, protests and no petrol, it actually all turned out fine! No Problems getting there and back at all.

tsk

 So, Emily and I set off bright and early and got the train to Gare de Lyon with our American chums, who were going to London for the week. We were able to meet my sisters there, lots of hugs all round. Once we got to the hostel, Nina and Lu emptied their bags to present the vast amount of goodies they'd brought for us from home! (My room is now full of chocolate, custard, veggie gravy and trashy magazines lol)

Over the next few days we went everywhere, and I mean everywhere! I hadn't been to Paris for about 10 years now, and had forgotten how much I love it. Along the streets with fancy shops, under the Arc de Triomphe, over to the Sacré-Coeur, inside the Notre Dame and I was even brave enough to go up the Eiffel Tower!

... when I say up, I mean to the 2nd floor... but still very brave for me!

Well, now that I'm home and resting... eating English food, reading English newspapers and looking around my room FULL of tacky souvenirs. I can safely say, I am a happy bunny.

x

  

Life in France so far

Listening to: The Stone Roses

Well, here we are.

The start of week 5 here in Besançon!

So far, so good.

Emily and I travelled down with our parents (joy) in the car, and got the ferry across from Dover.

With a couple of stops at our favourite places, we managed to get to Besançon in just 3 days.

The city itself is beautiful, and we know our way around town pretty well.

Last week, Emily and trekked up to the Citadel. Absolutely knackering, but well worth it for the view!

Up until this past week, we've had beautiful weather. Its felt a little bit like we're in limbo, not really sure what time of the year it is. While the rest of Europe plummeted into winter, we went back to summer!

But finally Autumn has caught up with us, making the landscape all the more beautiful.

  

We've made a few good friends here and at the Uni, especially with the American girls on our floor - our new best friends!

(sorry Andrea!)

Uni work is going okay, if a little slowly. But nothing we can do about that until all the classes start.

I've taken up Photography, Engraving and Bookbinding. I'm hoping to pick up as many skills as possible, to really push what I can do with my designs. 

...

Until next week then

x

The History

Listening to: Reef

Week 4:

I have just started my year of studying abroad.

There have been ups and downs, and sometimes I feel its best to look at where we've come from, to know how we got to where we are now.

So, for a better understanding, here is...

A History

I was brought up in the small, historical town of Knutsford, Cheshire.

Everybody knows everybody, and it is almost like one big family. Nothing can be done or said without it being common knowledge of the town.

But after living there your whole life, there can only be two results. Either you fall in line, get comfortable and do as expected. OR, you try harder. Gain new experiences, learn something new and push yourself to be better.


Throughout my school years I was always told
'You should do fine art, paint pictures to hang in galleries!'
But I felt that I was more than that.

Well, after 5 years of school and 2 years of sixth-form I went to study Contemporary Decorative Crafts, at Lincoln University.

After learning 6 specialisms; Wood, Glass, Stone, Ceramics, Paper and Metal

I ended up specialising in glass and metal.

It was good, hard work. A small community, and a close relationship with our tutors.

A shame I didn't get on with my fellow students though.. to say the least!

After a while I came to realise that I couldn't continue living there, and had to get out.

So, I started again.

New portfolio, New interviews, New friends, New home.

And so, I fell in love with Huddersfield. 

My family are all from Yorkshire and returning there felt good.

Two years there, and I was worked off my feet!

I'd built up a good network of friends, and a pattern of work that I enjoyed.

Well.. not everything, but then I wouldn't be me if I agreed with everything!

If we were all the same, what a boring life we'd lead!

And so, with the dooming prospect of yet another year of uni life, I decided to take a year out.
I'm going to go and study in France for the year, in hope that I'll gain something new to bring to my work when I return to Huddersfield. It's scary stuff when you thinking about it, new place, new language, new people and a whole new way of working, or at least how to think about my work. So off I go,

While I can

Just do it 

Feet first

x