Website Portfolio Work

Featured are two projects I used as part of my 'British Theatre History' Modules. One is for a hypothetical performance of The Colleen Bawn by Dion Bouciault and the other accompanied a live exhibition at the University of Kent in the Special Collections Department:

This website (left) was designed for a hypothetical performance of The Colleen Bawn at the National theatre (Click the image to visit). This was the first website design project I embarked on. It was required of us to use Google Sites thanks to its easy navigation system and use of easy content management. The second website also used Google sites because of these functions. 

The design is deliberately simplistic in order to aid with easy navigation. For this project it was highly important that the content displayed a great deal of information and research and so this was the main focus of the webpage itself. Rather than being a webpage aiming to impress, this website is instead one that aims to inform the user, with as much information as is necessary.

This website (right) was designed as an accompaniment to a live exhibition at the University of Kent entitled 'Theatre and War' (Click the image to visit). Once again this design used Google sites web making tools and was deliberately designed with simplistic images in mind. 

For this website it was highly important that the design reflected the exhibition itself. The feature in the corner of the British flag bunting was actually something that was also featured in the layout of our exhibition. Again, the colour scheme followed through into the exhibition itself, with the patriotic colours of red, white and blue to represent some of the themes that were featured in wartime theatre.

Commitments.

There is no denying it.

When it comes to essays, I can be that one annoying person who just talks about how much I enjoy them. The only problem is, when it comes down to it I am just rubbish at bringing the focus to a level it should be at.

Normally this would be simply solved by quickly blocking Facebook and TV sites off my Chrome and blasting up the classical music. Only problem is that this time the distractions are coming in many more different forms.

Number one:

I dislike, no, despise people who write in library books.

Ok, don't get me wrong, when I own a book I can be a right old scribbler. There is nothing more I like than to add tabs everywhere and write down handy little notes in the corner. Makes me feel a bit more intellectual. Only thing is, they are my books.

When someone writes in a library book, it is not their book. Not only this, but usually the things they underline are unhelpful and distracting. Their notes also usually consist of the handy 'Good point'. They do not deserve to enter libraries. Ever.

Number two:

The idea that these are some pretty darn important essays.

These are my final essays of third year. I kind've need them to go well.

Because of this, I have proceeded to do extreme amounts of research. I am kind've going overboard... This means that I am developing more and more random arguments I should include and I think I have now overstepped the realm of making sense and gone into goo-goo land.

Lots of research doesn't mean great essay.

Number three:

I can't get the idea of the future out of my head.

Recently applied for a couple of internships. Got rejected.

Recently applied for job at uni. Rejected.

I have a whole year to go at uni I know, but because of this I cannot stop thinking of everything I intend to do with this following year. In fact, I think the thoughts of what I hope to do and achieve next year are renting far more space in the ol' brain than this silly essay malarky. Once again I am probably trying to go to the extremes.

There are so many different areas of work I am interested in heading into that I feel like I need to jam pack my CV with everything in the world. In fact, part of why I am even writing this is involved with future career aspirations so I have another thing to tick off the list, and I'm not exactly ashamed about it. I have even started to step up Twitter usage and am trying to buff up my Facebook. After the essays pass, this shall only go even more overboard, but hopefully, it will work.

So all in all, I kind've can't wait to get these essays over and done with for once.

I freaking love to read and I freaking love to research, but right now there are just so many other things I want to get done on top.

Guess I had better get down to it. Would probably help if I didn't sit and write a blog.

Christmas time..

I like mulled wine...

Probably too much.

The University household...

This year I am returning to University to live with three boys.

If I am going to be completely honest, the one thing I would like most of all?

The Xbox to go out the window. Even just COD would do.. and maybe HALO.


I've had to buy a playstation 2 just to get away from it!

I'm just hoping they won't smell too. Or use scrubbing brushes on my Tefal frying pan. One can dream.

the long (not so) hot summer

As much as I love a good break, twelve weeks away from university is far too long for me...

However, summer has given me a chance to fall in love with numerous new items for the new student house. I love to make a house really feel like a home. At University, student housing can often seem quite cold and bare and so it is really necessary to get some colour and homeliness into one's bedroom.

So what exactly have I got my eye on?

I managed to buy four great new cushions from a bargain store right around the corner from me for £2 each, which I considered a great buy as they were far cheaper than I could have made them for!

I've also discovered that Urban outfitters has some brilliant items, but you really need to be up for spending a little more money...
One of my particular favourites is this fantastic throw that can add a bit of warmth in winter whilst adding a splash of quirkiness to your bed, or in summer can even be used as a wall hanging to hide those boring walls, or even as a picnic blanket if you should so choose;

http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/tree-tapestry-throw/invt/5532038250100/&bklist=

Bunting is also a fantastic way to liven up your bedroom, however, from my experience, buying bunting really isn't worth it! There are some great ways of making your own bunting from scraps of fabrics that can be so much cheaper than buying it online or from the shops.
I discovered this little beauty on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58625483/banner-vintage-sheet-music-bird-burlap?ref=sr_gallery_19&ga_search_query=bird+bunting&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=GB&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

It is something that looks really great, but could easily be replicated with some old sheet music and lace. If you are really not up for drawing you could really easily print off the bird pictures onto the sheet music and even do some tea staining to alter the colouring. For another extra touch you could even buy some miniature pegs to attach the bunting to the string and would really make your room have that extra edge.
One final thing I am hoping to make myself is one of these book clocks I discovered again on Etsy. I must really give credit to the person whose etsy account I discovered this on:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77196454/one-fish-two-fish-red-fish-blue-fish?ref=sr_gallery_37&ga_search_query=clock+book&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=GB&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

These books look really great and are pretty easy to make. If you have some old books lying around (I am hoping to use an old disney Cinderella book) all you need to do is find a clock mechanism, which can easily be found in craft shops or online for practically nothing, and just attach it to the front of the book. You can also cut out some numbers to make the clock easier to read and if you really want to add something extra special, you could even find some fancier clock handles, again online or in a craft shop, for very little extra expense.