Introduction

Hi there!

I've decided to keep this blog as a record of my "Textile Adventure". A place where I can write down all of my thoughts, feelings, and ideas, etc. Nothing fancy, but something which I can hopefully look back on and think " Wow, how far have I come!? I'm so glad I made a blog blah blah" You get the idea!

About Me

My name is Sophie, although I prefer to be called Sophia because I think it sounds more posh! (Yes I can come across as a bit snobby - sorry! ) Carrying on..... Since Year 10, or rather since I was 14, I grew a strong passion with Textiles! Although I didn't really like it at the beginning - Loads of Drawing = major panic and lack of confidence!, my hunger and love for the subject started to grow as my ideas flowed more and more. Plus, I was actually getting some great comments about my work which made me feel good.. so I decided to carry on naturally!

Textiles, Textiles, Textiles

Now since Year 10, I've -

Gained a B in GCSE Textiles

Gained a A* in A Level Textiles

Received The Junior Textiles Award from Astor College for the Arts (Dover, Kent)

and

Received The Senior Textiles Award in 2011 and 2012  from Astor College for the Arts (Dover, Kent)

Sixth Form

So as you can tell, I couldn't be stopped with the Textiles and it soon became apparent to me that I really wanted it to be career. I pondered over the idea a lot throughout 6th Form. I had eventually come across a couple of Textile magazines purely focused on individual businesses - Mollie Makes, Pretty Nostalgic, Craft Sellers, etc and fell in love with them, as well as the whole idea of having my own business.

First Attempt of Own Business

It was actually during Year 12 where I decided to start a business - I had started a website (with help from a friend!), a rough, and I mean really rough, business plan, and a name. But because of A Levels and lack of business knowledge, the idea crumbled.

Despite this little knock to my confidence, It didn't change my love for Textiles and I still very much wanted my own business. I just really needed to invest my time into what ideas I had, how to even start planning the business and what kind of textiles I wanted to specialise in.

University for the Creative Arts

Soon enough, Sixth Form ended and I was starting at UCA! Despite having only been there just over 2 months (As I write on the 28th November 2012) I've learnt so much about myself. My work is sort of textile-fine arty, I can actually draw okay now!, and suddenly the second attempt of starting my own business has come around

Here and Now
I feel that this time around, I've got a lot more knowledge and understanding of what I'm doing!
- Got textile business career books, which I read pretty much ever night before bed,
- I've started my first collection of shoes made out of fabrics and paper which I love! (I haven't sold them yet - Making my 4th pair!)
- I've constructed a pretty good business plan which I wouldn't have been able to construct without the help of the Prince's Trust website & textile career books
- And! Applied for about a billion internships - My first internship starts in January with Zoe Murphy :D @ Margate.


So now you know my story, but of course this is only the start!

Who knows what 2013 will bring?

My Textile Adventure 2013 -

Sophia x