Lydia graduated from Manchester a few years ago and is starting to really astablish herself. So she was really good to speak to as this has been a recent transition for her. I love her work, and it is a perfect cross between illustration and textiles. I asked her about how she maganed the trasition between graduating and starting up her business. She bought her own print materials, so screens ect and made a makeshift exposer unit. she said that youtube is your best friend in this case, and she makes all the products such as the cushions herself, again youtube is your best friend. she has two part time jobs but one of which like Laura is working part time at manchester, but they are both for money and keep her balancing her buiness. Lydia said that the main thing is studio space. For print based work you need the space and its good to be able to leave the house and go to a place where you can work, makes it feel more like a job. She then told me a few good places to recurch into for graduate stuff. Craft councils hot house and design trust. I also asked how she deals with creative block. At uni it was worse but becuase now she is busy and has other things to foucus on it never really happens now. Also at uni you are slightly boxed in with what you can produce but once you leave you have complete creative freedom again. She also said similar to me that she found what she really wanted to do towards the end of her 3rd year and still wasnt complete sure when she left but she just kept making. Also it is a bit dauting coming out of education for the first time since the age of 4 but you find your feet soon enough. Pricing work too is somthing you learn whilst you go. Her advice for just after graduation was don't spend your student loan all at once , take advatage of graduate oppertuinites and keepmaking. I told her at the beginging that I was terrified about going freelance but she said dont be scared becuase you soon get to grips with it. We got on really well and I will be keeping in contact with her. I also bought one of her happy bug prints which I love!!!
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