"I'm craving reality"

"I'm craving reality". This was said by one of the Big Brother house mates last week. It was then said again by me today...

Today I also spent the longest stint of my life so far in the gym. Ok ok, so maybe there was a summer, say when I was seventeen, and had finally been let in on the knowledge that the gym played second home to some of my tiny towns hottest men. Again, total lie! In hindsight they were actually rather chunky and not muscley at all, but I am in no position to judge since I was not there to tone...

I happened to really enjoy my three hours (yes, THREE!) playing on the cross trainer, treadmill and even the bike with the hideously uncomfortable seat, but I would be lying if I claimed this was down to exercise and not arguably one of the most well known reality TV shows to date. Now let me reassure you that despite being an active lover of the trashy television genre, my feelings don't usually extend to Big Brother. I wouldn't dare sit at home for three hours watching BB in the middle of the day. Don't get me wrong, I see no shame in watching it at 10pm, after the run of hilariously dramatic soaps, but to me, during the light of day when you should be working, watching three hours straight of Big Brother is so very nearly as bad as laying on the sofa dazed by Jezza. Just sayin'

But I bloody loved it! I am usually more of a sucker for structured reality, but this series has had me hooked. Why? WHY? Why Amy? Because it actually shows us some REAL human emotion. That's why.

These poor buggers cooped up in that house don't always have the sweet deal their (maybe slightly naive) brains lead them to think they will get. A few things have come to my attention. What if the production company choose to vicitmise a housemate? Big Brother has control of what the housemates do, and what we as the viewers see. They have the ability to control their actions to cause friction and arguments, which although makes for fantastic watching, raises some serious questions on human rights and discrimination. We are then only able to see what they want us to see, exaggerating certain personality traits and provoking strong reactions of love or hate. Then there is all this bitching! The words two-faced gets tossed about more than some of them change their clothes, okay not the best example, but when you think about it, who else do they have to talk to? In a concentrated group of people you only have each other to talk to, or you vent to Big Brother. This is then built up with music and a clever commentary and voila! Shouting, screaming, laughing, crying and a few hours later... Gossip galore! Ayayayaaaa.

It really is, or in my opinion, just might be the most real reality TV out there right now. And tonight is THE night, the finale. There is exactly forty two minutes until we find out whether Sam, the peoples favourite or Dexter, this season's biggest game player wins the dollar and life long glory that rolls on with it. I am also leaving for holiday with the fam in three and a half hours. So I do apologise if this little ramble of thoughts hasn't tickled your taste buds for a bit of the BB hype, but I really must go and finish squeezing my too many shoes into my impractically small suitcase, and be off to get my tan on.

Adois Amigos!

P.S. If you are even remotely disappointed that you read this too late to catch the final, do not fear! Celebrity Big Brother starts this week again too!

P.P.S. Big Brother you probably now owe me money for promoting you to every dick and harry I come across and yes I know I sound like I watch too much TV. Whoooooops!

The work behind the illustrations.

You may remember (and if you don't gogogo and scroll down the page), a few months back I posted you a little teaser of my Chloe competition illustrations. I cannot lie, third year definitely made being a new-be blogger a little tricky for Miss Perfectionist over here, and at crunch time I may have chosen a couple of hours sleep over updating you with my work, doodles or random ramblings. But, finally! Here it is in full, my first of three portfolio competitions for my final year work. A complete contrast to my second competition work shown below, with a clean, simple and feminine style from start to finish.

Future Optimism

"We declare that the splendor of the world has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed"

- The Manifesto of Futurism

Transformers is debuting the Spring/Summer collection, glorifying future optimism for this years FAD competition and my third year portfolio work. The design brief stated the need for a forward looking focus, embracing both the advances and the pressures of modern life. My inspiration comes from The Futurists, last summer's Thomas Heatherwick exhibition and the hit film, The Transformers. It's all about a love of speed and a need for change. We used to be content with loving men with fast cars, now we women want in on the action. We need everything now. We should have been there ten minutes ago. Or we need to be in two places at once. We don't just need one handbag for the day, and lets be honest, it's naive to think even two would suffice. We need to be adaptable, transformable, and beyond all else, damn right HOT! This is a luxury capsule collection of evening wear with a Sports Lux feel combining fun, beauty and practicality.

All the work featured is my own and I welcome any enquires.

Sex on Legs.

Unoriginal caption, but shoes like that really don't need any explanation. They just need drawing.

Everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we're 22... Uh oh!!

Yes all credit to my main gurrrl Taylor Swift. She is one hell of a woman. A woman who does not deserve the slating she gets for falling in love as often as Londoners catch the tube, and I for one am all for her attitude to life. She is 22, so am I, and now I have officially graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a high 2:1 in Fashion Design I have every intention of falling in love. ALOT. However, while she's out falling in love with billionaire strangers, I will be and admittedly have already started, falling in love with almost everyone and everything my eyes flicker upon. The main objects of my affections being, in no particular order, shoes, white shoes, cocktails, of the strong, strawberry kind and bunnies. I really, really want a bunny. 

So here are an array of snaps by the Duffin family and I, all showcasing a love of life, from designs, graduation, life long friends, furry creatures and tourist fun.

"Love the life you live and live the life you love"

Translucent B

Well, well, well... Today is THE day.

First I think it right to tell you "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" and now that is out of my system it is probably best to follow that up with, it's hand in day, I've had less than five hours sleep in the last two days and some minor tantrums, like every other fashion slave, but we made it. And I am loving life!

So to minimise the risk of 'ify' sentences and spelling mistakes galore, I'll keep it short and sweet. As follows is one of three of my projects being handed in in my swanky white portfolio today. My Fashion Product work/final major project to you non Trent goers. Translucent B is the brand I have created that represents the changes undergone for a caterpillar to become a butterfly, in form, texture and behaviour and is also a metaphor for the development of a girl into a strong, sassy woman blooming with confidence. A capsule collection of three high end dresses were designed, pattern cut (I type those words shuddering), and manufactured, by Moi, before shot in an incredibly fun, real photoshoot in London town, and then combined with my own illustrations, some super soft pig suede, and an encapsulated dead butterfly to become an illustrated novel. Voila! Blood, sweat, tears, laughs, swear words, and one of the most fantastically ridiculous experiences of life later, we have all systems go.

This is the first day of the rest of our lives (slight cringe and grin all rolled into one)... So with a few hours to spare before the deadline, I'm going to get a sunbed!

Progress. Progress. Progress.

One of my paintings for my Illustrated Book for the Degree Show.

Thursday 23rd of May.
Nottingham Trent Fashion Design Degree Catwalk and Exhibition.
Newton Building.
Come Along! Employ me!!!