dream diaries

Weaving Whimsy from Dreams…

- Symbolism in Design: Explore the cultural meaning behind dream catchers and how they influence artistic expression.
- Creative Reflection: Discover how dreams and subconscious thoughts can inspire personal and imaginative design.
- Turning Ideas into Art: Learn how to translate abstract dream imagery into tangible, meaningful textile pieces.
- Textile Traditions: Understand the significance and evolution of crochet and embroidery in both traditional and modern contexts.
- Personal Growth: Reflect on your artistic and emotional journey through journaling and mindful making.
- Dream Journaling: Develop techniques to record and interpret dreams as a foundation for design.
- Moodboarding & Research: Build visual research skills by exploring symbolism and creating design concepts.
- Crochet Techniques: Learn the basics of crochet to craft a bag inspired by dream catchers.
- Embroidery: Practice simple embroidery to create a keyring that represents a personal dream.
- Material Exploration: Experiment with textures, colours, and patterns using different textile materials.
- Storytelling & Presentation: Strengthen your ability to narrate your creative process and present your final work.
- Self-Directed Creativity: Gain confidence in managing a project from concept to completion.
- Jennifer Barrett (Founder, TICE): Jen is the Founder and Managing Director of TICE, with 20+ years experience in the fashion industry. She’s also an Assistant Professor in Fashion Communication at Northumbria University.
- Melanie Kyles (Textiles Artist): Melanie is a contemporary textiles artist and designer specialising in hand embellishment and visible mending. Her work bridges art, fashion and craft with an emphasis on sustainable and ethical practice, and she is currently studying my MA Fashion Design (Sustainable and Ethical) at Northumbria University. With over 10 years of experience working in the creative industries, Melanie’s clients range from educational organisations and community groups to established brands such as Heal’s and Snow Peak, as well as leading on the first DesignLab Nation based in Gateshead with the V&A Museum and The Shipley Art Gallery in 2023/24.
- Matilda Sutton (Artist): Matilda is an artist working between painting, drawing, sculpture and textiles. Graduating from Newcastle University in 2019, she participated in The NewBridge Project Collective Programme 2020/21 and has shown across the UK including group shows at Turner Contemporary, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Quench - Margate, Newcastle Contemporary Art and in the British Art Fair, London Art Fair and Manchester Contemporary. She was awarded an A-N Bursary in 2021 and is part of the artist collective ‘Hypha'.

Dream Diaries invites students to merge the timeless craft of crochet with the surreal world of dreams. In this project, participants will design and create a whimsical crochet bag inspired by the symbolism of dream catchers. To personalize their creation, they’ll also craft an embroidered keyring that represents a dream or meaningful memory to hang from the bag.

This hands-on project encourages students to explore the relationship between creativity and self-reflection, using textile art as a tool for storytelling and emotional expression. The final outcome is more than just a handmade accessory - it’s a unique expression of the student’s inner world, designed to nurture both artistic growth and personal well-being.