Masters Project

After months of research sampling visiting listening speaking drawing and ofcourse dyeing the final project, the important one has arrived on my calendar!
Reflecting on the work and my practice I am more confident and have a clearer vision of my Practice however a trip to France gave me an opportunity to read through all the material I have collected over the last 18 months and to research further for my final project. This was really useful how many times do you search copy paste but never actually read the whole article. I know how easily hours pass just following pathways but from the initial documents I found some really exciting artists and dyers which all made me realise that my knowledge is a drop in the ocean compared to people like Sarah at weariing Woad has really understood the plant the process the history in fact the complete package of knowledge by doing it learning failing and discovering about woad. She is a true advocate for sustainability and has Scottish ancestors I love this poem in one of her Blogs:

Its time to stop the insanity.  Say no to toxic clothing and yes to sustainable, local clothing.  Wearing Woad, harkens back to the defiance of the Picts when they were threatened by the Roman government and economic system.  Wearing Woad also reminds us of the old Brit song:

The Ode to Woad

by William Hope-Jones, a housemaster at Eton,

1.

What’s the use of wearing braces?

Spats and hats and boots with laces?

Vests and pants you buy in places

Down on Brompton Road?

What’s the use of shirts of cotton?

Studs that always get forgotten?

These affairs are simply rotten,

Better far is woad.

Woad’s the stuff to clothe men.

Woad to scare your foemen.

Boil it to a brilliant hue

And rub it on your back and your abdomen.

Ancient Britons never hit on

Anything as good as woad to fit on

Necks or knees or where you sit on.

Tailors you be blowed!!

2.

Romans came across the channel

All wrapped up in tin and flannel

Half a pint of woad per man’ll

Clothe us more than these.

Saxons used to waste their stitches

Building beds for bugs in britches

We have woad to clothe us which is

Not a nest for fleas

Romans keep your armours.

Saxons your pyjamas.

Hairy coats were meant for goats,

Gorillas, yaks, retriever dogs and llamas.

Tramp up Snowdon with your woad on,

Never mind if you get rained or snowed on

Never need a button sewed on.

Woad for us today.

The time in France allowed me to reflect from a distance, research and read, discuss ideas with a friend and try to clarify outcome/s I want from this Masters :

A Business

Selling

Recognition for knowledge eg teaching lectures etc

A personal journey for myself?

Further research/PhD?

I do know that sustainability and Natural Dyes is the right area but I really want to develop and challenge my creativity and design.