A dabble in the world of prop making.

For a few weeks in January, I took on some extra work, helping my classmate Sam walker in her new and exciting job as a prop maker. We were working on the set for a Channel 4 Period Drama that will be shown on television later in the year. I can not really give a lot of information away, but what I can say is that we were required to make three types of cotton bails. It was our job to make sure that we wrapped the bails correctly to represent which country they are supposed to be from, as well as make sure they look authentic, when in fact they are made internally of polystyrene (Real cotton bails would be extremely hard to manoeuver). We had to utilise the materials we were given, making sure we did not have any wastage, as well as constantly think about the time period in which the drama is set.

I was mainly helping Sam, who has in fact landed a job in prop making, but it still felt strange to be given so much responsibility in creating something we knew needed to be perfect. At first we were constantly wondering if what we were doing was 'right', but it was really just a case of trusting ourselves and thinking like the design students that we are; and the final bails looked great!

I also got to spend a day making some really dirty and old looking net curtains. I rolled fabric around in puddles, rubbed it in to the gravel with my shoes, and hacked at it with a pair of scissors. What better way to spend your day?! The weather stayed clear which was fortunate because we had to work outside, but the sun was shining and I had so much fun.

Learning from Lord Whitney.

Third image taken by Betty Lawless for Leeds Inspired. Check out her other amazing work on her website:http://www.bettylawless.co.uk/

I went to spend my last day working with Lord whitney on 'The old Clock shop' on the 22nd of February, I chauffeured the cardboard clocks over to The Nation of Shopkeepers, Applied some clock faces to the interior wall they had created, and went on the hunt for a lovely blue Military style jacket (in the most amazing shop I have ever stepped foot in!) with Kate, their fabulous assistant.
The jacket was for the performers, who would also wear a large headpiece made to look like bird. If you managed to walk past the window at the right time, you would have seen an actor dressed as a cuckoo, appear from the doors of a huge clock in the centre of the window display, with bird puppets in their hands.

Here I am in a world of costume. 

In my element!

It was really good to see the final stages of the installation, It made me realise how many small yet important things there are left to do when you hit the home run. Things like lighting, cleaning, wall fixtures, and maybe another lick of paint where needed.
Most of the work will also need to be done in a studio, so you have to produce all of the elements before you can actually go in to the window itself. That's why you must always have a plan and be constantly thinking about how everything is going to work when you move it in to the window space.

Amy Lord told me that the main thing you need to get used to when working in windows, is that you almost have to think backwards, because you are of course going to need to apply your elements to the glass and at the front of the window before working your way back. Otherwise you obstruct any entry back in to the space to make adjustments. It is also important to get all the DIY done too before you even begin to decorate the space. It is important to make sure that everything is secure and that you have all the wood, nails, bolts, lights etc in place before you can start thinking about all the 'fancy stuff'.

A fabulous photographer called Betty Lawless documented a lot of the work going on both at the LW studio and of the final installation. Here is the image she uploaded to instagram, it shows a perfect action shot of the final window display:

Check out BettyLawless on instagram @ https://instagr-am.appspot.com/u/bettylawless/

This monday evening Lord Whitney gathered all the volunteers together in a pub in leeds. We sat chatting over a bowl of chips, cheese and salsa (very tasty!) and a glass of rose wine. They thanked us for our help and handed over a card and some flyers for us to keep. It was really good to see everyone again, I have met some lovely people and I will look forward to seeing them again, which I'm sure I will-  a trip to the chinese buffet with a few of the other volunteers has already been mentioned.