Happy Sunday...

two achingly girlie shots from Randi Brookman online portfolio.

enjoy

x

placement perfection....

Another day, another task. I know that I should be painting and finishing up some final designs in my sketchbook but whilst doing research for lovely images for my blog I do find myself getting carried away. One great site leads to another, then another, until 2 hours later and I have an ambundance of lovely images to choose from but no new work infront of me.

I'm going to start timing myself I think, getting my research down to an hour or less.... very hopeful but I'm sure it can be done. And besides once I have some new jacquard lengths woven off in about a weeks time, I can blog about them which will take less time to do I imagine.

But today, I have been looking at my favourite interior stylists for inspiration, I really want a great collection of photographs taken of my final project, so looking over some stylists portfolios for inspiration on layout and lighting really helps a lot.

I thought I would share some images of two of my favourite stylists here.

These images are from the wonderful Rebecca Thuss, her work is so colourful and often centres around the use of flowers in her set ups. They always manage to look so considered and thought out whilst still maintaining a fun and naturally placed quality to the photographs.

Another favourite, Atlanta Bartlett. Her website is fantastic, showcasing such a high volume of imagery in her portfolio. My favourite shots are from the pale and interesting section, I think it takes real talent to make a room look atmospheric and interesting with hardly any use of colour. Even when only using a few objects, the shot still manages to create interest, often through the use of varied textures and surface finish.

Some of my other favourite stylists are listed below, I have resisted the temptation to put an image with each name, I have a degree to pass so I should spend some time on that now.

• Selina Lake
• Stella Nicolaisen
• Shana Faust
• Randi Brookman
• Lucyina Moodie
• Studio Too Good

I hope you find someone in the list that takes your interest.

Bye for now

x

hand art...

So today I have stepped away from doing my sketchbook work and have decided to do a little more contextual research, I'd like to class this as work, but really, trawling through blogs and websites to find pretty imagery really is a hobbie, if not a love of mine.

I've really launched myself into looking at more decorative patterns, after looking at traditional artists such as A.H Mackmurdo and Lindsay Butterfield I wanted to research ways inwhich new artists use traditional decorative patterns in a contemporary way. I thought ceramics would be a great area to look at, surface pattern in ceramics is as popular and stylish as ever and I have came across two brilliantly different, but equally talented ceramic artists.

First up is Lizzie Brown, a ceramic maker and designer who specialises in tiles. Her work is not decorative but I love the simplicity of her tiles, and the focus on colour combinations.

The second ceramic artist is someone I really admire... I think I may even have an art crush on this woman. Her name is Samantha Robinson. She has an amazing website which displays her beautiful work and really demonstrates the theme and concept of her brand and products.

Here are a few of my favourite pieces, but as you will see, her website and shop are jam packed with wonderful hand made pieces of porcelain.

After seeing such beautiful ceramics I think I am going to dedicate a whole area of research to this craft, I've always been interested in ceramic design so I think it's only natural that I carry on with my research into this subject area. With this I think I'm going to spend the next few hours collecting some more lovely images, which I will no doubt put up on here within a day or so.

For now, I bid you all farewell.

Happy Easter weekend.

x

onwards and upwards....

I have spent this evening doing some more contextual research. I thought it would be a good idea to look at recent graduates from textiles and fashion design to see how they record the progression of their work and how they explain their themes to a wider audience. I can at times fall into the trap of assuming people are going to understand my project straight away, the more familiar I get with my work and development the easier it is to become complacent. So I thought it was time for a little more research, time away from the comforts of my own work. Quickly into doing my research I came across a graduate from De Montfort Uni in 2009 - her name is Beatrice K Newman, and her work is amazing. Instantly I was drawn to her work through her use of decorative patterns and luxury fabric. It is really interesting for me to see how different students explore ideas, how one single idea can lead to a collection of fabrics or garments. Mostly it is down to me being nosey, but I really could look through sketchbooks and samples all day long.

Here are some images of the wonderful works of Beatrice Newman.

In regards to my own work things are going ok at the moment. I have just had another 3 metres of jacquards designs woven, they are sitting happily in a box, steamed, pressed and interlocked. Although I have got a fair bit of fabric for this project I still feel asthough there is a lot more to explore. I want to translate texture through my jacquard, just like I have done in my velvet digital prints. I think a stint in the sketchbook and another moodboard could trigger and few more ideas. So off I shall go, more prep is the key.

I will be posting photographsthis week, probably Friday. I think I'm going to lay everything out that I've done so far and see whether everything "flows", this should hopefully allow me to see major points that need addressing to make sure I am not over looking anything significant. So until Friday, bye for now.

x

magic...

Here are a couple of photographs, not of the best quality... but just a quick snap to show my fabric samples so far. I will be getting them cut, finished an stitched tomorrow, but here they are fresh off the loom.

The painting which has inspired the weave sample.

This image is of a design im working on at the moment, this sample is a metre long, I have used three different colours just to test how the structures turn out. My final piece - which I am getting woven off tomorrow and the following week will be one block in purple, and the other mixing olive green, damson and ecru.

I'm really happy with this sample, I usually work with decorative patterns so it's been nice working on a larger scale and with a much more linear effect.

This sample is 2 metres long, broken into 3 different samples, going from top to bottom using a navy wool, then onto a lighter blue cotton and the last strip (my favourite) in a stone coloured silk. Below is a close up of the pattern I have had woven. I think this has worked pretty well.

Overall, a good day.

enjoy

x

what a "carre" on....

Today was a relatively good day, I spent most of my time doing some sketches and pattern work in my sketchbook, ready to put into point carre. The sooner these designs are put into point carre the more relaxed I can feel as I know I'm one stage closer to seeing some fabrics.

Just a quick glimpse of what I have done today... going from my original pattern/painting work through to CAD work. I am getting this pattern woven off tomorrow, so I'll be sure to share some photographs of the sample once it's complete.

enjoy

x

Monday, Monday...

So, much to my surprise I have had a pretty pleasant Monday. A cliche it may be, but Monday's really are the bluest of all days... usually. But today, I have felt inspired, dare I say excited about my project at uni. Yes I am of course still filled with fright and fear about the time that is ticking away far faster than I had imagined, but I am excited to reach the end.

This is probably down to the fact that I have found a chair frame to use for my final piece in my degree show, I've managed to buy it for a great price, and with a lick of gold paint (tasteful not tacky...of course) and my own fabric upholstered onto it, it should work out pretty well.

Here is a picture of the chair I will be using - bare in mind the fabric is not my own. Im going to paint the frame an antique gold and possibly sand it down a little to really make it look a little aged. So hopefully with the addition of my own fabric and my devored velvet work it should look as pretty as a picture.

At the moment, I am designing some patterns to put into Point Carre so I can get tester strips woven off on the power loom. I am concentrating on decorative patterns, which I've found through my visual research into theatre interiors and decorative architecture. A company that has inspired me remarkably is Lewis & Wood. Directly inspired in many cases by the arts an crafts movement, many of their wallpapers and fabrics are a flury with patterns reminiscent of A.H Mackmurdo. They are however given an up to date twist through their colour combinations and styling. Lewis & Wood - a company that I will never bore of looking at. Here are some of the images that have inspired me lately....

enjoy

x