WYTHNOS PEDWAR DEG SAITH - week fourty seven

14/07/25

This week started with a lovely trip down to Kenilworth to pick up a spinning wheel from a lady I found on Facebook Marketplace. I’d been searching for one since meeting with Cathy last week, as I realised I need to practise more frequently, once a week isn’t enough. I haven’t had a proper chance to explore it yet because it’s been such a busy week in one way or another, but I know it’s going to help me get to grips with spinning and progress much faster.

On Tuesday, we had our final progress review with Kayla and Paul. It had been a while since Paul had seen our work, and even Kayla hadn’t seen mine properly in a few weeks. I felt nervous going into it because I’m always working, but often feel like I don’t have much to show. I voiced this during the session, and both tutors reassured me (and the others) that we all have more than enough material, we just need to dig deeper into what’s already there.

It was a relief to hear that I'm not alone in feeling like I'm falling behind, and that the work I’ve already done has value. I also felt inspired (and a bit envious, in a motivating way) seeing how Megan and Robyn had presented their work. Mine was scattered across multiple documents, and I hadn’t been thinking much about the final format. Seeing their approaches helped me realise I need to start pulling everything together more cohesively.

Megan’s website layout with separate tabs is similar to what I’ve already set up, so it makes sense to build on that structure. Robyn had used InDesign, which is another tool I’m comfortable with, I think I’ll compile everything in InDesign and export it for my website later. At the moment, my business proposal is almost complete but needs refining. The funding application template is still sitting in a Word document, so that’s something I’ll need to return to soon.

The portfolio aspect of my project is currently spread across PowerPoint, InDesign, Illustrator, and Pinterest boards and I know I need to bring this all together into one clean InDesign document. I often find myself getting stuck after the research phase; development isn’t my strongest area, nor is it something I naturally enjoy. I have clear inspiration for my branding, logo, Stiwdio space, and workshops but turning that into visuals myself hasn’t quite clicked yet.

Robyn’s use of AI to create visualisations has been really effective, and although our projects are quite similar, I’ve been hesitant to go down the same path. I’m not against giving it a try, especially after Kayla and Paul encouraged us to explore it, but it doesn’t quite feel like my work. I’ve found myself questioning how it's considered acceptable to use AI for images but not text. That said, I understand how it can be a useful tool for mock-ups and presentation, so I’ll experiment with it, but I know I’d prefer to hire creatives to do this kind of visualisation in the future if I were really launching the business.

Another unexpected piece of feedback was to reconnect my project with fashion. This surprised me a bit, as I’ve been consciously moving toward the business side, and it doesn’t feel particularly natural to now "add in" a fashion element just for the sake of it. However, I’m staying open. One idea is to build in a collaborative element, I remembered being really inspired at the start of the MA by how Sarah Burton worked with Ffasiwn Stiwdio to co-create a collection for Alexander McQueen. Perhaps a similar partnership could be developed as part of Stiwdio Bach, either as a workshop or a student-led collaboration leading to a fashion show.

After the review, I spent time in the Henry Cotton building coating more cyanotype. This time, I worked on both paper and fabric, I’m thinking about making my own calico tote bag using cyanotype prints. I’ve also booked into the photography studio in a few weeks to get high-quality shots of my work ready for submission, and I’ve scheduled time with the 3D printer to finally produce my Welsh Love Spoon.

I started wondering whether this jewellery idea, something I talked about back in Semester One could be the "fashion" aspect that’s currently missing from my project. Since my new job gives me access to 3D printing, it could be a way to continue working on personal projects and small-scale fashion-inspired pieces like accessories.

On Wednesday, I travelled to Halifax with colleagues to visit Boxford for training on the lathes and laser cutters. I was a bit nervous beforehand because I didn’t know who else was attending, but the teachers were really lovely, and I think I’m going to enjoy working with them. It was a great opportunity to see the kind of equipment I’ll have access to, and again, it got me thinking about continuing my own creative practice alongside the job.

From Thursday to Sunday, I took a much-needed break from having a strict schedule, which felt like a welcome contrast to my usual hectic pace. Now that I've finished working part-time at Bryntysilio, I’ve reclaimed my evenings for uni work, quality time with loved ones, and enjoying the summer. I spent Thursday and Friday cat-sitting, which gave me space to focus on compiling my work into an InDesign document. Over the weekend, I stepped away from my computer and spent time learning how to use my new spinning wheel.

It felt good to slow down and reset, especially after juggling multiple responsibilities. I was grateful for the quiet time, but also had moments of frustration and self-doubt about the progress I’ve made. Seeing everything laid out in InDesign showed me how much research I’ve done, but also highlighted gaps in the development stage. That realisation made me feel a little overwhelmed, but also helped bring clarity. Working on the spinning wheel brought a sense of calm and pride, it reminded me of the joy of learning something completely new.

This week highlighted the contrast between where I currently am and where I expected to be. I’m still very much in the early stages of development, but that makes sense considering I'm building something from the ground up and moving away from my BA discipline. Conversations with peers across the MA made me realise that many of them have been honing their craft for years, while I'm essentially starting over. That perspective helped me accept that my progress is valid, even if I don’t have a polished, physical outcome yet. I also had an inspiring conversation with Liang, which helped me reflect on my long-term vision and feel more secure in my direction.

These experiences connect directly to my MA journey and beyond. The reflective process has reinforced my decision to pursue a PhD where I can continue to refine my craft and community engagement practice. The idea of organising a collaborative project inspired by Sarah Burton’s Welsh Summer for Alexander McQueen (but shaped by my local community and craft circles) feels like a meaningful evolution of my work. It also ties into my new job as an Art & Design Technician at Denbigh High School, where I’ll support and inspire the next generation. The spinning wheel connects beautifully to my research into Welsh craft and heritage, and opens up opportunities for further skill development and future workshop ideas for the CIC.

Action Plan

• Spin at home: Dedicate an hour or two this weekend to setting up and trying the spinning wheel.

• Compile your portfolio: Begin gathering all project visuals into a single InDesign document, starting with branding and studio visuals.

• Refine Business Content: Finalise the business proposal, funding application, and workshop outlines. These form the core of my submission.

• Try AI visuals cautiously: Experiment with AI image generation for mock-ups (e.g. your studio layout)

• Explore fashion integration: Revisit the jewellery/3D printed accessory idea or consider a collaborative workshop model inspired by Sarah Burton’s project.

• Prepare for hand-in: Keep studio bookings and build a photography/print plan to ensure my final submission is visually strong and professional.

• Development Focus: Spend the next 2–3 weeks moving beyond research into design development, even if the outcomes are conceptual or in-progress.

• Seek Mentorship: Reach out to the spinner/weaver Lynne recommended for lessons to deepen my craft skills.

• Future Planning: Begin sketching out my PhD vision and how my current work feeds into that longer-term goal.

• Self-Compassion: Accept that my final MA outcome might not be a finished, tangible object, but instead a strong foundation for what’s next.