Mastering the Arts!
28th January 2019
Hilary Edwards-Malam, MA! Proof that we should never rule anything out!
Last Thursday my Masters degree was conferred at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King and it was a wonderful day, closing two years of study and creative practice at Liverpool Hope University.
The day started early at 6.30 to catch the train to Liverpool, followed by a taxi ride to Liverpool Hope’s main campus, Hope Park, to collect our tickets and my gown. The robing took place in the Chapel and I now know my hat size is 6 5/8! The Chapel’s architecture has a flavour of the Cathedral where my graduation was to take place.
Another taxi ride took us to the Metropolitan Cathedral, affectionately known locally as Paddy’s Wigwam. It was built in the 1960s and is circular in design. The red carpet was in place and I felt a little nervous tingle of excitement on walking in.
High above, the lantern tower represents a crown and the colours used in the stained glass represent the three persons of the Trinity of God. Below is another crown, a reminder of the one in the Chapel.
And this is me!
It seemed a very fitting place to hold the ceremony, in a place of worship and thanksgiving. It fitted so well with the ethos of the university and with my final pieces of work. It was a formal occasion, full of pomp and ceremony, but for all its grandeur it also felt personal and joyful.
There were LOTS of photographs afterwards! They captured the essence of the day, celebrating with family, fellow MA graduates and university staff.
You could be forgiven for thinking this post is about me blowing my own trumpet, and I really am thrilled to bits that I completed the course and earned my degree. But also, I hope I can encourage others who are currently ‘considering’ or ‘mulling over’ an opportunity. What are you waiting for?!!!
Two years ago, I attended the university Open Day to “rule out” doing an MA. I thought it was something that would be beyond my reach. I thought my work might not be good enough. I thought I might not be able to express my ideas. I wasn’t even entirely sure what my ideas were. Funnily enough, I didn’t think I was too old, though I was the oldest on my course (by quite a way!).
On the train to Liverpool I prayed for God to open the door if this was the right thing for me to do. Be careful what you wish for! The rest of the day saw doors being flung wide, from stepping through an archway of bible verses when I arrived at the campus, to being told, quite out of the blue, by a student. “Give your fear to the Lord!”.
The first term saw me feeling very out of my depth. The learning curve was steep and every day I discovered something new. It was exhilarating! My creative practice went through a massive series of developments and until eventually, I knew what I wanted to make for my final pieces. The outcome was way beyond what I imagined at the start!
So if you’re wondering whether to rule out doing something so you won’t be forever thinking, “What if…?” just give the door a little push. It’s the only way to know whether it will open for you or not, and you never know where it might lead!
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Blanket Love
11th January 2019
Wanting to reduce waste, and inspired by a friend who did something similar, I asked for a ball of yarn instead of a card for my birthday, hoping to receive enough to make a double bedspread. I received almost 90 balls! That was 18 months ago and because I was heavily immersed in my master’s the bedspread was put on hold, but now it’s time for blanket love again.
The only stipulation made was that people should choose heir own colour, either their favourite or something they thought I’d like. Mostly, I was given Stylecraft DK solid colour yarns with some additional variegated balls. The variety is amazing! Just look at the Stylecraft Special DK alone!
This was not something I could rush into if I was to incorporate as many colours as possible. I scoured the internet for a suitable design and didn’t find anything that leapt out at me. I began to put tgether some ideas in my head for a blanket that was a little like a persian rug with lots of joined motifs and some large rounds. I even got as far as making up some of the motifs, mostly on the train to uni.
I liked my design but I was’t enjoying the making. I think maybe I’m not a motif kind of girl - the blankets I’ve enjoyed making the most have been in rows. So back to the drawing board, or more accurately, the internet.
This time I was more successful as I stumbled upon two possible blankets (Ross Blanket designed by Catherine Bligh, and Cosmic by Helen Shrimpton) on the Stylecraft Yarns website. After a bit of dithering I chose Cosmic. Obviously I am going to have a LOT of colour changes as I try to include many more colours. So here’s my start. A sweet little motif that has won me over. It uses Stylecraft Special DK in White (from R&S) and Denim (from D), thank you very much!
The whole design is one little motif that gets bigger and bigger, changing stitch and colour along the way. It’s more or less square and I may find that I’ll want to add a border of some sort at the top and bottom to make it more rectangular.
I’ve already realised how much my crochet skills have been neglected of late but helpfully Helen Shrimpton has uploaded video tutorials of all stitches and stages here. A word of warning, on the videos she uses US terms, though the printable instructions are available in UK terms too. A great refresher, and how many of us know how to make a ‘standing dc’? I do now!
I’m going to decide on colours as I go, which may or may not work out! I’ll keep you posted. ;)
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Happy New Today!
4th January 2019
Happy new year! I feel I can say that on 4th January as much as on January 1st. Surely every day is the start of a new year? How many of us make resolutions on January 1st that we’ve broken after a few weeks, or even days? We get disheartened and give up. But every day is new, a new year beginning, a new start. So here’s to starting afresh every day, a new date on the calendar, a new page in the diary.
The last few months of 2018 were a bit of a blur as I finished my master’s degree, exhibited my work, then bowled straight into Christmas. It’s only now that it’s all sinking in and I’m looking at the things I’ve been neglecting to do of late. There’s a list.
But first, what did you get for Christmas? My lovely family and friends know me well and I was lucky enough to be given an electric cooking ring so I can dye outside in the garden. Useful for al fresco stir fries too.
Ladles, slotted spoon and tongs, also for dyeing.
Edibles, nom nom! Including Afternoon Tea at a swanky hotel in Chester.
The prettiest gardening tools. Ever.
Plastic-container-free body butter.
Liberty tape measure. Beautiful AND useful, William Morris would be proud :)
Practical, useful, beautiful and delicious gifts that have delighted me. What more could I ask for?
Most of the decorations are down now, with just the tree and outside lights to pack away. Back to real life again. And here’s a bible verse to inspire our journey onward.
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8.
Wishing you all a happy, peaceful, prosperous and creative year ahead.
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