I've got a new project on the go. I've had to do some reasearch into a) pirates and b) knitwear. Which is a strange coincidence given that my final degree show combined both pirates and knitwear. Whilst pondering the best course of research I remembered at art school my tutor, Simon Knowles, telling us to treasure our sketch books as they would sit on the book shelf as a reminder of our development, to be taken down and used in the future.
I was a good student and I've kept every sketch book (even the one with bits of decaying plants in) and yesterday off I went in search of my "Pirate Yarns" sketchbook. I spent some time looking through the shelves which house my sketchbooks and I had a lovely afternoon remembering my art diploma, my lovely classmates,, of being a fashion student living and studying in London. It's simply charming to have a glimpse of "before", and to see how I always wanted my own business and how excited I was at the prospect of being able to make a living as a designer. Simon Knowles was absolutely right; 20 years on and my sketchbooks served as a delight...and also a starting point for my new project.
I thought I'd post a couple of my "Pirate" pages to amuse. These are from my degree final show, a collection to be sold in Liberty's; 20 years ago I felt the world should be dressed in knee high socks, poncho's, shorts worn with high heels and hoodies...well shiver me timbers!
Images Copyright Natalie O'Donovan
