more possible final ideas

This is only just the start, just wait until I add the beads and hand embroidery!

This is only just the start, just wait until I add the beads and hand embroidery!

Still have'nt learned how to turn image. Plan for next week.

I know this may also look like nothing at the minute, but  just wait until I apply my splendour.

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The collar is all hand embroidery and beads. Im still in shock that I did this. Its amazing what you can achieve when you just let yourself go.

here's a close up . 30 hours worth of work.

This was a print I came up with last week. Im pretty proud of it since my screen printint is usually pretty messy. Finally my ideas are starting to come together

 My next piece of learning is to find out how to turn my images the right way.

Newcastle vintage fashion fair

Iwhat can I say apart from AMAZING. I know it may not be everyones cup of tea but I loved it. I've never been to a vintage fashion fair before, but will definitely be on the lookout for future events. For me, this was pure inspiration and indulgence in being able to buy items that otherwise I would have to search the net. I was able to source items I know I will use for my FMP as well as for future projects. The quality of the stalls and sellers had clearly been sourced for this specific event. Cant wait to see what the future holds on the vintage fair front.For more information on future events you should visit http://www.threadandthrift.blogspot.com/
  

possible final design?

I finally got around to getting a mannequin at college, whcih I immediately decorated withsome of my embroidered and print samples. I placed three different samples randomly around the neck and shoulder mainly to prevent them getting dirty or lost. However, after steping back from the mannequin I thought they looked pretty good as a whole piece, which was confirmed by another student who entered the room and saw my creation. Thanks Ingrid you made my day.

This was further confirmed by both my tutors Lianne and Claire who suggested keeping the samples on the mannequin but adding more to them, possibly with the intention of this becoming a long evening dress and a final design. Lets just say my head was full to its capacity of ideas.

I had always visioned a long evening dress  as part of my collection but thought the task too daugnting and since I'm not a  tailoress I thought this would be impossible. But as one who loves a challenge I am going to give it a go. My major task is  figuring out how I will continue to embroider the samples currently on the mannequin and how new samples will be applied and if I willl be able to continue to create an atmospheric mood in the final design.

Watch this space to see how this design develops or does'nt. If you have any comments I would love to hear them.   

break through dye week

If you have read my previous blog you will know I have sepnt the last few weeks trying to dye a variety of silk fabric black.  Unfortunately, all I seemed to get was a teal blue, which was beautiful and I think I will use but for now I really needed a black.
As you can see from my title, I had a breakthrough, finally I got a black, not from adding or omitting certain dyes but simply by dying my fabric in a warm dye bath rather than a cold one. Im pretty ashamed to admit to this naive flaw, but in order to help anyone out there who has/ does shy away from using warm dye baths, I whole heartedly recommend them for acid dyes. The colours are more vibrant and absorb the dye quicker than cold dye baths .  Let me know your experiences in the dye lab. 

excellent blog

I have just come across this blog, http://anothershadeofgrey.blogspot.com/ although I havent had time to fully research the contents I love it already. Its clean, sharp and very professional looking with lots of interesting visuals. Very inspiring.

development in the dye lab

Last  week I focussed on  adding a variety of silk fabrics to two dye baths: red and black. I had expected these samples to be the same tone since they were all silk, but  found they all had variations of tone and colour, with some fabrics picking up a deep red, or black whilst others took on a more pink or teal appearance.

Nonetheless the colours worked for me, suddenly midnight blue became more of a seductive mood and atmoshphere than that of a hard black.  

 This is a before and after sample. The top sample  was placed into a black dye bath, then hand printed using discharge paste before finally being placed into the red dye bath. I prefer the final sample myself, it has a historical feel almost vampirish. 

collar of letters

This is another one of my drawings with a needle and thread. The idea was based on  around Queen Elizabeth 1, from 'The Virgin Lover' by Phillipa Gregory. Words have been sewn onto pleated fabric to highlight restraint. The Virgin white of the silk represents innocence, from ewhich then emenated passionate blood red,  painful red into deathly black bad blood.  The words are my interpretation of the loss of inhibition QE1 had due to her being in love, which was then turned to bitterness, feeling betrayed and finally treason.  I was hoping to achieve a mood of pain but I would appreciate  what you think. Perhaps it does not evoke anything perhaps it comes across more like a pattern  than a drawing. Let me know your thoughts.

treacherous collar

This is another one of my original drawings, but as soon as I placed it on a mannequin it came alive. I began playing around with words, placing them side by side, mirror image, or upside down, developed further by the use of embroidery. The top embroidery was on organza which enabled me to pull threads through horizontally resulting in the writing becomming stretched, I then placed this between a channel of organza which I had randomly sliced allowing some of the lettering to be pulled out. I think this is my favourite drawing so far.

white gold collar

Its amazing how a flat piece of embroidery can be transformed into a piece of beauty just by being placed on a mannequin. This was originally one of my drawings, thought I would try drawing on fabric with a needle rahter than just on paper. Although I did like the effect I think this has truly come to life now that it looks like a collar or possibly a necklace.

finally I have managed to put an image onto my blog.

I know this is an easy task for everyone but for me it has taken ages to achieve. Problems at college prevented images being uploaded and since I did not have photoshop at the time I could not upload images from home. Ahhh but all I need to do now is learn how to use photoshop to ensure my images are a decent size. Watch this space. If you havent heard from me for a while its because Ive become obsessed with photoshop and jpegs.

I am

Today my thought is 'I am' proud of my improving computer achievements.
However I cannot claim this as my own original idea, it comes from the wonderful world of Claire Baker and her endless innovative  pieces of jewellery, seen at the design eventat the Baltic, Gateshead last weekend. Dont just take my word for it though, have a look at her work and the other designers yourself by following the link below.
http://www.design-event.co.uk/FestivalEvents.php
For those of you who are not necessarily into design based products its still worth a look, I took my parents along who are so far removed from anything with a design tag but my Dad was taken with the wooden clocks designed by Ellen Thomas, whilst my Mam was thoroughly impressed with Hannah Wales' silicone knitted sleeves and a coffee table designed by Afid design.
Who knows one of these days I may have people of all walks of life admiring my work and acknoweldging the work and effort that has gone into it. 

my first post

Hi everyone,  just to let you all know I am up and running on my first proper blog site. Its taken a couple of attempts to get started but finally im here.
I will start designing and fine tuning my blog this weekend so look out for samples of my designs, ideas and interesting things I have been up to.