Helen O’Sullivan

@hosphdmuses

She/Her * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 PhD-er #SustainableFashion #Education * #DTMatters Design Educator | Community Engagement | Advisor * Activist

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Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir hosphdmuses.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· 15d

Round 2 of final thesis edits: Biggest contribution to knowledge? I now fully know that I will never, ever do a PhD again because it involves more than playing with fabric and encouraging tiny revolutionaries. @nikki-fairchild.bsky.social 🙏

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· 19d

Just found this note in my "don't forget to check" folder 👇 Makes sense to me! 😂

A screenshot of a list including:

Conceptual model 3.2.5

Weaving (7.3.2)

Cat fairies (8.3.1)

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· 22d

#AcademicSky: Can I finish a contribution to knowledge section of my #PhD thesis conclusion with: "....because it's awesome." 🤔 Because that's about all I can manage right now...😂 No? 😆 (View from my garden because I'm supposed to be in WOMAD festival running workshop right now 😭)

A photo of my laptop from my garden (office) under a canopy hiding from the sun. The image which shows blue sky in the background, and lots of beautiful flora. While I'm sat in front of a screen of 79k words of my thesis losing the will to live. (I'm an 80's child so allowed to be dramatic)

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Jul 7

Just had an insight to what much of August will involve. I've spent the last hour removing & adding commas to "et al" & replacing "and" with "&" to all parenthetical citations in my 324 pg working thesis. Good lord. 🫠 Bring back the "cat fairys" & other mythical creatures of justice! 😺 🧚 ✊

A child participant drawing of a cat fairy - one of the many mythical creatures the children imagined saving fashion waste and reducing exploitation of the industry. Obviously.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Jun 16

Never has a #Research quote been more applicable. This image only shows *key* transcription quotes* from 8 monthly workshops in 1 location (1 year). My original #PhD intention = workshops in 3 different locations over 3 academic years! 👀 But it was mega fun! 😅 🙏 @drhelenkara.bsky.social & co!

A screen shot of over 80 pages of colour coded transcription quotes including, codes, sub-themes and main themes in line with reflexive thematic analysis. This shows just one year of relevant quotes and no other creative data that was collected over 3 years. The screen shot has an overlaid text box with the following text:

"Data gathering through creative methods is exciting. But we do note that gathering data in creative ways can be so much fun that at times we can forget to stop, and so end up with too much data and a headache at the analysis stage."

Kara, H., Lemon, N., Mannay, D., & McPherson, M. (2021). Creative research methods in education. Bristol University Press.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Jun 12

Fancy a Friday giggle? Here's me, just me trying to crack on with my data analysis... How the hell I've managed to get this far, with this lot, I have no idea! 🤦‍♀️ Happy Friday 🙃 #WorkingFromHome #WorkingWithHens #RescueHens #RescueChickens @bhwt.bsky.social

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· May 14

It really was quite inspirational to see and hear from so many people championing a more sustainable option of consuming clothes, especially those at the “top”. We hope to do it all again soon! 🙌 #SCTCymru #SeneddWales #SustainableFashion @sustfashwales.bsky.social E/🧵

A image in the style of a scrap book.

The title in on torn green paper and reads:
"Who are SCTCymru" with an image of us from the Senedd event just under it.

Another text space (like torn green paper) reads:

We are a coaltion including:
SustFashWales * FoECymru * Repair Cafe Wales * Keep Wales Tidy/Eco Schools Wales * Young Danwinian * University of South Wales

The SustFashWales and SCTCymru logos are on the top and bottom right corners

A image in the style of a scrap book.

The title in on torn green paper and reads:
"What we do"

There is a second text area like torn green paper which says:
"We are a coaltion of charities, local businesses education providers and passionate individuals. As a collective we organise awareness raising events and campaigns to inspire changemakers and Showcase the brilliant and varied work that is making fashion more sustainable here in Wales!"

There are several images dated between 2019 to now placed around the text including us at BAFTA Cymru "Green Carpet Wales" events, and events at the Senedd and Pierhead

The SustFashWales and SCTCymru logos are on the top and bottom right corners

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· May 14

I particularly enjoyed finally meeting the super star @sarah4bridgend.bsky.social MS in person after 4 years! 🤩 And hearing from @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social (now Llywydd of the Senedd) who closed the event with his stories of secondhand fashion & hand me downs 🙌🙌 #SCTCymru #Senedd 4/🧵

Sarah Murphy MS and me at my SustFashWales stand 🤩

Me and SCTCymru members chatting with Huw Irranca-Davies (now Llywydd of the Senedd)

Huw Irranca-Davies standing on the stage of the Senedd give a fantastic closing speech showing support for our SCTCymru event 👏

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· May 14

We were so thankful for the MS’s who came along to support and chat to about the socio-environmental impacts of fashion. But as we all love a positive spin, we got to also discuss all the amazing organisations, educators, individuals and businesses doing good here in Wales! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙌 #SCTCymru 3/🧵

SCTCymru members including me with Huw Irranca-Davies (now Llywydd of the Senedd) holding a sign supporting sustainable fashion in Wales!

SCTCymru members including me with Eluned Morgan (sadly now, former First Minister of Wales) holding a sign supporting sustainable fashion in Wales!

SCTCymru member Phoebe (Repair Cafe Wales) with Carolyn Thomas (former) MS holding a sign supporting sustainable fashion in Wales!

SCTCymru members including me with Julie Morgan (former) MS (our event sponsor 💚) holding a sign supporting sustainable fashion in Wales!

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· May 14

We also had young designers sustainable fashion designs on display from my 6-9 y/old PhD participant, L3 Gower College & undergrads students from Cardiff Met! We hosted a panel discussion including Dr Stephanie Matthews, Play it Again Sport, Phoebe from Repair Cafe Wales, Claire Johns and me! 2/🧵

A photo of a patchwork dress made by my (6-9yr old) PhD participants learning about fast fashion. The dress patches have messages such as stitch it don't ditch it and make fashion sustainable. Its stood in front of the SustFashWales info stand and banner. Gower College Swansea students work are in the background.

A photo of the panel discussions on the stage in the Senedd with a backdrop of Cardiff Bay. Rows of seats are filled with audience members.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· May 14

#ThrowbackThursday to exactly 2 years ago today when myself and others from the #SCTCymru coalition took over the @senedd.wales Neuadd (main hall) for our huge #SustainableFashion event! The event included: 📢Panel discussion 🪡Workshops 📚Education KS2 - BA 🛍Local businesses 1/🧵

A collage of images of the SCTCymru members at an event in the senedd. One is a landscape photo of them standing in a row in front of the sign, while another shows the panel discussion on a stage in the main hall with a backdrop of Cardiff Bay.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· May 7

I have a feeling today will be the last day for a while that I wake up proud to be Welsh. I really hope I'm proved wrong, but it feels like Brexit again... Come on Cymru! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #SeneddElections 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #WelshElections

Result of Senedd voting intentions from ITV Cymru (May 2026)

The chart shows party support levels: Plaid Cymru 33% (+4)
Reform UK 29% (no change)
Labour 12% (−1)
Conservatives 9% (+1)
Greens 8% (+2)
Liberal Democrats 6% (no change)
Others 3% (−1)

Source noted as ITV Cymru Wales, YouGov, and Cardiff University.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· May 3

Today may be #InternationalDawnChorusDay (which I listened to from the camper) but here it's also buzzing bee day! 🐝🐝🐝 Hundreds of them absolutely loving the wysteria all day! 🐝🐝🐝 #ProtectThePollinators #ProtectTheBees (Sound ON!)

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Apr 22

Today I marked #FashionRevolutionWeek AND #EarthDay2026 (both every day/week for me!) by giving a presentation to the Sustainable Fashion Consumption Research (SFCN) network members about my use of #Practivism as an emerging pedagogical approach! #CollectiveAction is the medicine we all need!! ✊️✊️✊️

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Apr 18

My perfect friday evening... Beach sunset in the campervan 🌅 Two MASSIVE hedgehogs in the garden 🦔 Hot tub under the stars ✨️ The drama of a missing hen who decided she was going "camping" in the brambles at 9:45pm was not ideal though 😆 #Sunset #Hedgehog #WeekendVibes

A photo of a sunset over a bay taken from the campervan back doors. The sea is at full tide with loads of crashing waves. Thr sky is a mixture of orange and blue with light clouds while the sun sets in tbe distance on the right of the image.

A photo of a sunset over a beach taken from the rocks on the beach. The sea is at full tide with loads of crashing waves. The sky is a mixture of light orange and blue with light clouds following the sun setting in the distance on the right of the image.

A photo of the back of a huge hedgehog on my garden stepping stone surrounded by grass.

A photo of the back of another hedgehog which has been munching on slugs in the flower bed. He is surrounded by nettle, bulbs and flowers.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Apr 12

Bit late for #Caturday but I was going through all my old pics last night and found this. The first and most recent photo of Alfie - 15 years apart. 🥰 He's just too cute, then and now 🥹 #CatsofBluesky #FurBaby

Two side by side photos of my cat Alfie, taken 15 years apart:

Photo 1 (on the left) is a close-up photo of him when he was a tiny kitten. He’s looking straight into the camera with huge round eyes and fluffy ginger-and-white fur.

Photo 2 (on the right) is of Alfie a couple of days ago as an adult, sitting on the grass in my garden under a striped parasol. His ginger-and-white fur looks bright in the sunlight, and he’s sitting upright calmly looking at me becuase he wants cuddles.

You can clearly see the same but expanded markings in each photo such as his fluffy white socks and ginger patterns on this head.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Apr 11

I've been quote poorly recently so have been distracting my noisy mind from not being able to work on the thesis, by working on this... 😍🧶😍 At 130cm across it's the largest crochet creation I've ever made! Just a couple of rows left 😅 #CrochetSky #Crochet #CraftSky #MindfulMaking #MandalaCrochet

A collage showing my round crochet mandala creation laid flat on the floor. It measures 130 wide and made using an ombre/blended colours of pink, lilac, and pale blue cotton yarn. The full lacy circle is shown in the top left square photo, and the close-ups highlight the openwork mesh, textured stitches, and scalloped edging. The colour changes and details of my stitches are clearly visible in the close shots.

A photograph of my round crochet mandala creation laid flat on the floor. It measures 130 wide and made using an ombre/blended colours of pink, lilac, and pale blue cotton yarn. Its a larger version of the top left image in my collage pic in this post.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Apr 8

NHS Appreciation Post... 🕗 8:15am: GP appointment request (4 week chest infection/pneumonia) 🕘 9am: GP appointment Given more antibiotics & x-ray referral at local hospital (walk in) 🕚 11am: X-ray done and back home! And none of it cost me a penny. Thank you #NHS! 🌈🏥🌈

A photo I have taken on myself in the mirror wearing a hospital gown about to have an x-ray

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 31

Buying measured items in the UK 👇 👀🤔 = 🍳🧠 The struggle is real... #MetricVsImperial

A screenshot of 4 product selection options for chicken wire on eBay which features:
Width/height in *FEET*
Hole size in *INCHES*
Length in *METERS*
Thickness in *MILLIMETERS*

Brain fried!

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 30

After waking up in a panic about a thesis writing dream (yep, those are a thing now) and feeling well for the first time in over 2 weeks I thought I'd start my annual leave with a sunrise kettlebell & hot tub sesh! Recharged & ready for the thesis - yep, annual leave for thesis is also a thing now!

A photo taken from a hot tub which is bubbling and releasing lots of steam into the cold spring air. There is a cup of tea positioned on the side of the hot tub. In the background the sun is rising above a garden fence houses in the distance, and about to go behind a large pine tree. There is also a camper van in the background.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 29

Hearing about the potential 8% inflation on food costs (thanks to the mad orange king) on the news earlier, I thought it would be a great reminder to start prepping some veggies for the polytunnel. Perfect #BST (typically raining) activity too 🌱🌞🌿

A photo of 25 small biodegradable pots filled with soil and various seeds including varieties of kale, chard, courgettes, beans and others. The pots are on a black tray on a windowsill. Outside the window, the grass is soaking wet from a full day of typical BST rain!

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 28

Sending solidarity to my American friends and those protesting #NoKings / #NoTyrants across the globe today ✊️ Find a protest near you... share.google/2Yq45h1dad3o...

A selfie of me smiling while holding a grey sign that reads..

NO KINGS

NO TYRANTS

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 27

Join me in calling for UK supermarkets to stop using fast-growing Frankenchickens, who are bred to suffer. PS - No chickens should live like that, they should live like these little ladies 🐔🥰🐔 actnow.thehumaneleague.org.uk/page/173985/...

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 26

On a scale of 1-9 of Alfie looking after me yesterday, how are you feeling today? #CatNurse #Caturday #CatsOfBluesky

A 3×3 collage of Alfie, a ginger and white fluffy long‑haired cat relaxing, sleeping, and sitting while "looking after" me while I'm ill. Each image is numbered 1 through 9.

Individual Numbered Pics from left to right, top to bottom:

1 - Alfie sits curled on a sofa, looking to the side with his tail wrapped around his body.

2 - A close‑up of Alfie resting his head on a blanket, eyes half‑closed and sleepy.

3 - Alfie is curled tightly in a ball, napping with its nose tucked into its fur.

4 - A close‑up of Alfie sleeping peacefully, eyes closed and paws tucked into his face. He has a big smile.

5 - Alfie sitting upright on a blanket‑covered surface, looking toward the camera with a relaxed expression. (Ready for snuggles)

6 - Alfie passed out with his face completely buried in a purple fleece blanket. As if to say, no, not today!

7 - An extreme close‑up of Alfies face as he lies down, eyes almost closed. Maximum contented chill!

8 - Alfie fast asleep on a soft
surface, nose and whiskers prominent in the foreground.

9 - Alfie sitting on a blanket on my lap, looking gently toward the camera. Also ready for cuddles.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 22

Sunday Vibes 🥰 Thanks for the tunes @cerysmatthews.bsky.social

A selfie of me laying on a hammock with a large fluffy ginger car planted for cwtches/hugs.

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 21

After 9 days of a chest infection, this👇 is exactly what I need! Hello spring!🌞😎

A photo from my back garden of my feet while laying in a hammock. The hammock is a combination of reds and orange and my feet are in the sun which is directly above the hammock and the skybis blue with only whispers of clouds. In the background is my campervan which is playing 6music and boiling a kettle for a cuppa in the sun 🌞

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 11

Wooohooo! This September (once the PhD is finally done) I’ll be heading back to the classroom as Head of Design & Technology at a fantastic Cardiff school! 🥳 I can’t wait to put my #CriticalPedagogy research into practice and help show the real-world impact of #DTEducation, #Sustainability & #CfW 🙌

A selfie of me holding up a visitor badge toward the camera from my recent school interview. The badge has been hilariously defaced by my husband with handwritten text crossing out the word “visitor” replacing it with "BOSS".

I am beaming with excitement!

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 6

A screenshot of text to support the animated cartoon in the original post:

Title Slide:
An intro to fast fashion waste, delivered by Ani...

Scene 1:
The central character ani is standing in front of an animated huge pile of clothes saying:
“People buy so many clothes millions and millions every single year. In fact we actually have too many to wear. Also lots of people don't look after them very well: if they get stains or holes most people just throw them away. But where do they actually go?”

Scene 2:
Ani is now standing in front of an animated world map. As she talks about different places images appear shown in [text] as follows:
“Well, they end up in big piles in other countries all around the world. Some of them go to countries like Kenya, in Africa and others end up here in Chile which is in South America [Red pin appears on the map]. This is the beautiful Atacama Desert in Chile [a photo of the desert covered in dumped clothes appears in the background]. But it's being destroyed because it's full of clothes that people don't want anymore. But when the clothes rot away or get burned, they cause lots of pollution, which is really bad for the environment, wildlife and people too.”

Scene 3:
Ani is now standing in an animated living room. The screen is split showing Ani to the left and a photograph of a white t-shirt on a hanger to the right. She has a lightbulb bouncing next to her head and explains:
“Luckily because you are all amazing eco-fashion superheroes, you will learn some fun ways to make your clothes last longer so you don't have to throw them away. Today we will be learning how to decorate our clothes so they will be just like new again…”

Closing Slide:
Helen O’Sullivan
up2028364@myport.ac.uk

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Mar 6

I've had a lot of interest in the animated cartoons I create for my PhD practice (primary #DTEducation) so I thought I'd share a teeny sneak preview of one focusing on #FastFashion waste. As usual introduced by Ani, with a new & improved voice - she's so cute! Enjoy! AltText in comments 👇

Helen O’Sullivan@hosphdmuses· Feb 26

Above are some pics from today and this is the current state of my nails. When my hands look like this, it's always been a fun day! 🙌 #CfW #CriticalPedagogy #SustainableFashion #ThisIsWhyINeverHaveMannicures!!