DJCAD Degree Show

Okay everyone, I'm sure that all you people out there that love art know but just incase...
The DJCAD Degree Show begins on May 18th! My sister, Nicola Coupe, is part of the Degree Show as a Fine Artist and is on the general course floor! Ofcourse, there are also loads of other students there who will be showcasing their work so I suggest that you all go along, there is going to be so much to see, no matter what kind of art your into!
So.. here is your invite...

Hope to see lots of you there! :)

kimono trend

So the kimono trend... I have to say, I really, really love this trend. The Japanese influences, beautiful prints, silk fabrics.. beautiful...(photos from asos)

However, being a student and admittedly a bit of a cheap skate, I customized an old kimono-like top I had to make it into a kimono cardi...

I simply cut it right down the middle and then folded the sides over and put in a little stitch to make a smooth edge. Its great the things you can create with an old top!

This whole thing reminded me of a wrap I made in one of my classes last semester...

My project for this wrap was based on Geisha's and their surroundings. So being in Japan, there would of been Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms, Japanese symbols, parasols.. ect. So this was my final peice which is about 150cm long by about 70cm wide. The circles creating the background I embroidered on which represent the Geishes parasols that they used to carry with them. The flowers obviously represent cherry blossoms and there are some Japanese symblos in there too meaning "Geisha", "woman" and "peace". There are some close-ups below..

The stitching on the above cherry blossom is deliberately untidy and off centre to make it more unique and look old, like the Geishas.

vintage cutie

name: Nicole

age: 20

occupation: Student studying fashion

favourite shop: Urban Outfitters

inspiration behind style: Vintage/Quirky

I love what Nicole is wearing in this photograph! for me its completely about the skirt. Vintage and totally cute with the pleats and minty colour. The little granny cardi also adds to the vintage look. The glasses and heeled boots complete the look, love it!
Check out Nicole's blog: Holy Craft

hot spot number 2

Our second hot spot visit was to a little, cute cafe on exchange street called T Ann Cake. This visit was very different to our first with Andy Rice, as Andy was very talkative and we hardly needed to ask any questions but at T Ann Cake we had to ask all the questions which was an interesting change.

The cafe is gorgeous with an american, quirky kind of vibe. I totally loved it! There were many different things to look at throughout the cafe which made me think of what Andy Rice had said "design is in everything". And it was true, all around there are so many little pieces of design that I suppose Ann hadn't thought of in that way.
We found out that Ann had worked in many places around the world, particularly in New York City, USA. She said that that is where her main inspiration had came from for her cafe and I think that it shows wonderfully. Again, a question I was interested in was "why Dundee?" she told us that because she lived near Dundee it was ideal and she wanted a premises on that specific street because of all the little things nearby that made it an ideal area for her and her cafe.
Ann also only really uses Facebook of her advertising and she says that using Facebook has been very successful for her. I think that the cafe is lovely and everyone should go down for T Ann Cake!