British Home Chic

I am very excited to announce that I now have a designer profile on the British Home Chic website! The website shows off the talents and portfolios of many designers as well as selling lovely homewares and gifts- everything from ceramics and wall art to jewellery and textiles. The lovely people approached me and offered to show my designs, which I jumped at the chance to do. For more info go the the site or follow them on Twitter @britshomechic Here's a little sneak preview of my page!

Trentham Gardens

I recently visited the beautiful Trentham Gardens in Stoke on Trent, a place I have visited several times living in the area. this was the first time I had managed to visit at the height of summer, and I was blown away by the gorgeously designed gardens, spectacular views and most of all the range of flowers and plants. Florals are something I only really discovered my love for a few years ago and now I can't get enough! Here are a few snap shots from my visit, I'm hoping to use them to inspire some doodling soon!

Printing- sneak peek!

So I've been very busy in the print room printing my repeated lengths- 3 in total of 4m each! After all the hard work of designing and kodatracing, it's great to see my vision come to life. Heres a few photos taken during printing...

Strike off- testing out my colours and checking the design

This length was printed on fabric I dyed myself- it took a while to get just the right shade of yellowy green! Really pleased with how it looks in repeat.

This length used the same yellow/green shade on a black cotton this time, with the second screen printed in glue, ready to be foiled.

and here's a close up of how it looks finished, it took a long time to cut out the pieces of foil and press by hand in a small heat press. I love this beautiful multicolour iridescent foil, I'm hoping it will catch the light well when it's hung.

There's also a rather lovely purple/pink silk length with a black flock print, but I'll save that to show you later!

Repeat

After all that test printing, I've been working hard on the layout of my design repeat. I've been looking at a range of inspirations from Joanna Basford to timorous beasties, and have resolved what will hopefully be a successful design. It's going to be a two colour print, with the majority of it in one colour and small highlight areas in a second.

Here is my kodatrace in progress, I can't wait to get printing!

Test Printing!

Last week I have been in the workshop, experimenting with my test screens and lots of exciting processes, here are some of the results...

Initial strike off in purple pigment print

Discharge print with overlaid foil highlights

Discharge print using pigment in the paste to replace colour

I had hoped to use discharge printing for my main printed length, but this would mean lifting the fabric off the table to steam and wash it to set the discharge paste, however I wouldn't then be able to register my second screen to add foil highlights. So instead I worked on alternative options for colour ways and experimented with more processes....

matte grey foil on yellow/green fabric with lasercut leather overlay

Iridescent foil on black fabric

My favourite samples, which will inform my colour palette and processes when printing my final fabric lengths in a couple of weeks time!

Drawing Pt.3

Since being allowed back in the studio after Easter this week (2 weeks was a long time away!) I've carried drawing all the weird and wonderful things I've been looking at, particularly carnivorous plants. Here are just a few examples of what I've been up to this week...

This striking carnivorous plant attracts bugs to its sticky fronds and then curls itself up to eat them...

I loved drawing these gorgeous succulents

Textural twisting branches/vines

Exotic pitcher plants... love the texture and pattern on these.
I have accumulated a lot of drawings now of a range of imagery with some interesting mark making and texture, so I'm forcing myself to stop for now and move on to the next stage. I have made a few test screens with my imagery to start trying out the processes, fabrics and colours I want to use, and I can't wait to to get in the workshop and start experimenting! I will post again next week to show what I've been up to.

Lasercut Loveliness

Something I'm hoping to incorporate into my designs is the use of leather that is lasercut and/or etched. My lovely friend offered me some time on the laser cutter, so I jumped at the chance to test out my drawings so far on the leather I had (I bought a whole purple leather hide for £49- bargain!) Here are some of the samples I produced.

Testing the speed and power to achieve the right depth for etching the leather...

Then I used my drawings so far to do etching experiment on some pieces from a book of leather samples I have been given...

I then moved on to pieces of the leather I will be actually using, using a slightly larger scale...

I experimented with cutting as well as etching...

This piece was etched first, then cut out

These pieces were just cuts, it took the laser a couple of goes to cut right through!

From these experiments I feel the etch may be better as a separate piece, perhaps I may take a section of my final repeat design and it it into a large piece that could work as a cushion or wall piece. I really like the cut outline style pieces, perhaps these could work as add on 3D elements of a repeat print. I can't wait to do some more drawing and work on combining it with this exciting technique!

More Drawing!

I have been continuing to draw the weird and wonderful forms I have been studying for 'Ornate Obscurity' thoroughly enjoying the drawing process. I thought it would be nice to show you all how my drawings progress, along with some more finished ones...

For these venus flytraps I began with laying out the basic outline...

before filling in with mark making to create depth and texture.

For this spotted Orchid I began with a pencil outline (I often start this way to get the shape right) then blocking in the solid areas...

before using dots to fill in the detail and add shading.

the completed spotted orchid.

Orchid with textured petals (does remind me a little of an alien or fly face!)

Another weird but interesting plant, I love the potential this has for creating a pattern with (though I have no idea what it actually is!)

I'm really excited to develop these drawings further and eventually use them in a repeat design, and possibly as cuts and etches on the laser cutter- come back soon to find out more about developments in leather!

Drawing

It's been a few months since I've had dedicated drawing time for a project as i have been working on (amongst other things) experimental textile samples, notebook designs and photographic cards as part of a live brief for The Art Group (more on that later).
So for the first time this year I have given myself time to enjoy drawing, immersing myself in the weird and wonderful imagery I've been collecting.

weird and wonderful plants...

using markmaking to create texture and depth...

alien orchids...

loving looking at bizarre plants like this venus flytrap

I'm thoroughly enjoying myself working with these strange forms and taking the time to get into drawing. More drawings coming soon!

New Project!

I have recently started my fourth (and final!) project of this term and in fact my final university project ever. Entitled 'Ornate Obscurity' this 7 week project will take me through to final deadline in May.
Here is my initial mood/theme board as a taster of things to come...