Mr Boddington's Studio

Mr Boddington's Studio is another gift boutique that I'd not heard of - and again - I love their stuff. Everything they do is done in an illustrative style. Here's a picture of their 2014 calender... I wouldn't mind owning it myself! Would definatley recommend checking out their stuff.

http://shop.mrboddington.com/collections/calendars/products/criminals-calendar

Rosehip

Rosehip is a gift/stationary boutique that designs cards and gift wrap based on vintage designs. I'd not heard of them before, but I think their designs are lovely. It's all really fun and playful - I especially like the tape measure wrapping paper (02) - it proves that you can make a great design out of the simplest of things!

(01)
Greeting Card - £2.24

(02)
Double Sided Gift Wrap - £1.50

References:
(01) - http://www.rosehipcards.co.uk/greeting-cards-and-notecards/blank-cards/geometric-greeting-card-with-foiling-7.html
(02) - http://www.rosehipcards.co.uk/gift-wrap-gift-tags/double-sided-gift-wrap/double-sided-giftwrap-tape-measure-spots.html

Finished

Finished my Photoshop piece today. I don't think it's brilliant, but I don't think it's awful for a newbie. We had to choose 1 of 4 pieces from other artists to work from, so I chose Richard Hamilton's '$he'. (second picture)

Emma Bridgewater

Emma Bridgewater has a really distinctive style - she uses mostly reds and pinks and everything she designs is really feminine. I have some Emma Bridgewater cake tins at home and I absolutley love them. They are covered in her iconic little red hearts, just like the tea jar in (04). Her collection of home gifts are really pretty - I like that everything looks hand painted with a watercolour effect. I've picked a few of her iconic items so that you can see:

(01)
Small Lamp & Shade - £89.95
(02)
Milk Jug - £29.95
(03)
Cake Plate - £39.95
(04)
Tea Storage Jar - £29.95

(By the way, if you get a burning desire to buy me that tea jar, don't let me stop you)

References:
(01) - http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/lamps/sampler-small-lamp+shade/invt/1sam011405
(02) - http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/jugs/sampler-milk-jug/invt/1sam011432
(03) - http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/plates/sampler-cake-plate/invt/1sam010066
(04) - http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/pink-hearts/pink-hearts-1-pint-tea-storage-jar/invt/1pih010122
  

Week 5 - Sets

We're working especially on composition this week, and I've finished my A2 drawing set - now on to the sketchbook work!

Gift

This week in professional studies we are looking at gift - so where better to start than Paperchase?
I love looking around Paperchase. All of the designs they feature are so beautifully designed and put together. I've been mooching around on their Christmas section online (so appropriate in October, right?!), and I thought I'd share a few of my favourite bits.
What I've noticed about the designs that Paperchase feature is that they are mostly hand drawn or printed. I think this makes them feel more home-made, which is a lovely quality. It makes it seem that more time has been spent in the design, as a lot of completley computerized images or prints can often look too flat and less personal.

(01)
In With the New Polarbear Card - £3.00
(02)
Charity Christmas Pud Cards - £3.00
(03)
White Stags Roll Wrapping Paper - £3.50

References:
(01) - http://www.paperchase.co.uk/invt/00513887/
(02) - http://www.paperchase.co.uk/invt/00514833/
(03) - http://www.paperchase.co.uk/invt/00514698/

All Saints

All Saints is a high street fashion company around the top/middle market range. Their pieces have always inspired me - they're unique in the way that they use shape, as they are known for creating unusual looking pieces. They tend to stick with neutral colours - mainly blacks and greys, but do it in a way without it looking really dull and miserable.
They were a key source of research and inspiration when I was designing my AS Textiles final piece, where I designed a Victorian-shirt-meets-high-fashion sort of thing.
Another thing I love about All Saints is the way that they present things. You go into any of their stores, and you'll see something crazy within the decor. For example, I love the little All Saints shop in the middle of London with the wall completely covered in vintage sewing machines - it's very cool.

My AS Textiles
Final Piece

(01)
Antique sewing machine
wall in London

(02)
Drina Dress, £158
(03)
Amei Long Sleeved Dress, £118
(04)
City Monument Coat, £278

References:

(01) - http://pompandcircumstance.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/a-broad-abroad-london-portobello-road-image-diary/
(02) - http://www.allsaints.com/women/uncategorised/allsaints-drina-dress/?colour=33&category=490
(03) - http://www.allsaints.com/women/dresses/allsaints-amei-long-sleeve-dress/?colour=5&category=22
(04) - http://www.allsaints.com/women/coats/allsaints-city-monument-coat/?colour=5&category=117

Jo Deeley

Although Jo isn't a fashion designer, I wanted to take the time to talk about her work and how it influences me.
Jo is a textile artist and graduate of Loughborough University who works with manipulating and sculpturing textiles. Her work is all visually really interesting and exciting, as she explores different ways and techniques to shape fabrics. I admire the way she experiments with different fabrics and methods to create a unique and unexpected pattern or texture. Her work reminds me that as a designer I should be experimental with my own work and explore ways of doing things that haven't been done before - that I shouldn't play it safe, as there is no point in simply re-using the works of other artists and designers.

(01-03) (04)

References:
(01-03) -  http://www.jodeeley.com/intro.htm
(04) -  http://www.jodeeley.com/exhibits2007.htm 

Hussein Chalayan

Hussein Chalayan's Spring 2007 RTW was one of the first catwalk videos that I remember being shown and leaving me completely gobsmacked. What you first thought was just an average high fashion catwalk with weird and wonderful shapes and colours turned out to be much more. The whole collection was incorporated with electronics, so the outfits would change form as the model wore it, completely by itself. I'd never seen anything like it. Chalayan's collections almost always incorporate something unusual - which is what inspires me most. Designers such as these who aren't afraid to experiment with new things and push the boundaries of fashion are the ones that I think we should be looking to the most - they are the leaders and changers of fashion.

You can watch the S2007RTW show here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae81FcczsI8 

Jenny Packham

I've only just discovered Jenny Packham - I was looking through some designer interpretations of disney princess dresses on http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/fashion/celebrity-fashion/2013/10/disney-designer-princess-dresses-full-collection-christies-auction#!image-number=14 (01) and Jenny's Rapunzel dress was by far the prettiest.
So, I looked on her website to see if the rest of her collections were up to the same standard, and now I'm in love. The level of detail and intricacy within her designs are amazing. You can easily see her knowledge of how shape and colour can work together and compliment the wearer. My favourite collection is definatley her RTW AW 13/14. Check it out: http://www.jennypackham.com/pages/aw-13-14-catwalk
I love the pastels mixed with the deep reds and blacks - not something that usually works together, yet is used brilliantly and skillfully within this collection.

(01)
Rapunzel Dress

(02)
RTW AW 13/14

References:
(02) - http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2013RTW-JPACKHAM

Spider Silk

In our professional studies lecture from last week, we were talking a bit more about the indicators of market levels - and one of them was about the quality of the fabric. This reminded me of spider silk. (I know right - who knew!?) It sounds kind of gross but it's actually incredible. I only heard about it for the first time a couple of years ago. There was an exhibition at the V&A last year that displayed a cloth made from spider silk. You can check it out over at http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/g/golden-spider-silk/.  Spider silk is super expensive, not only because it's rare, but because it's a bit of a crazy process to make. Basically, spinnerets are attached to these special spiders, who group together to make this really fine silk which is then transferred onto a massive bobbin to make it into a fabric. I think it's amazing - it has a natural golden/yellow colour that you'd think would have been dyed. It's really pretty. I'd think that if any designer/company were to use spider silk within their garments or products, (haven't heard of any yet!) they'd have to be right up there on the couture scale. 

Photoshop

Today we've been working on our mixed media techniques on Photoshop. This includes free hand drawing, (with a mouse, which I've discovered is actually a lot harder than it looks) cutting photos and composition.
Before I started uni I'd never used Photoshop before, so I was quite nervous when it came to learning how to use specific tools and finding my way around. Luckily, I have a few helpful friends who are much more expert than I am!
Below is a picture of the start I made today. I'll be working in to it a lot more, but I thought it would be interesting to see what I've begun with and how it ends up when I've finished.

Fashion

Last week I was looking at the designers and companies that worked specifically within the interiors market. This week I'll be looking at fashion, but unlike my last post where I told you about 5 different companies/designers in one post, I'll be sharing them one at a time.

The first company that I want to talk about is Free People. I've been dying to talk about them since I started this blog, and now I have a great excuse to do so.
Free people are a design boutique that works closely with Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. It originated in the 1970's in Philadelphia, and is widely known for it's bohemian/hippie feel. It probably falls under the top/middle market range as an average item will cost between £50-£2000, and everything is made to the highest standard. I spend a lot of time on their website (http://www.freepeople.co.uk/) just drooling over their clothes and wishing that I could afford to buy everything they sell.
If I were to describe my own personal fashion sense, Free People would sum it up completely. Unfortunately, I don't actually wear clothes like these, as being a student, I can't really afford to be buying new clothes at all, let alone from FP! Everything that they design and sell is elegant, classy and earthy, as you can see from the pictures below. They tend not to use really bright colours - it's all quite soft and chic, and pay a lot of attention to small detail in regards of decoration and embellishment.

(01)
Blu Moon Mermaid
Sequin Skirt
£228

(02)
Mara Hoffman Beaded
Silk Chiffon Gown
£1,042

(03)
Long Winded
Tapestry Coat
£298

(04)
Hendrix Yarn
Fringe Poncho
£298

*sigh of despair at all the beautiful clothes I can't afford*

 References:
(01) - http://www.freepeople.co.uk/mermaid-sequin-skirt/ 
(02) - http://www.freepeople.co.uk/clothes-dresses/beaded-silk-chiffon-gown/
(03) - http://www.freepeople.co.uk/october-13-collection-items/long-winded-tapestry-coat/ 
(04) - http://www.freepeople.com/july-13-catalog-items/hendrix-yarn-fringe-poncho/

Floral Study

This is one of the A2 pieces that I've been working on this week whilst we were looking at florals. I did the background wash using dyes and bleach, and did the actual paintings using gouache. It's not at all finished yet, but I thought I would share it with you anyway. I'm feeling very rusty with my drawing and painting at the moment, and I'm hoping that practice will make perfect!

Getting Organised

Over the past few weeks, we've been focusing on observational drawing techniques in the studio using both wet and dry media. This has included foliage, feathers and floral studies. We've also looked at a few alternative drawing techniques using mono, carbon and screen wash printing - and a bit of drawing with Photoshop too. Next week we're heading over to Hartlepool museum to do some drawing there.
Up until today, my sketch book was all over the place, with a mixture of leaves, drawings, prints and research all squashed in to the back of my book. Today I've been working on my presentation and piecing bits together (two pages in the photo below). I haven't done loads yet, but I'll be sure to post some finished pages as they happen!

The Designers and the Companies

This week we were told to research at least 5 different Textile Surface designers or companies that work with interiors. I've tried to choose the ones that I already know a little about, and that inspire my own work.

1. Timorous Beasties
I absolutely love Timorous Beasties - they were the first to jump to my head when we were given the task. I first stumbled across them when I received a book called 'Patterns' by Drusilla Cole for Christmas one year.
Timorous Beasties was founded in Glasgow in 1990 by Alistair and Paul Simmons, and you could probably see some of their designs in and around London, in John Lewis and at the Edinburgh National Portrait Gallery. (http://www.timorousbeasties.com/about)
The wallpaper design (01) is one of many ink blot designs by Timorous Beasties, and what I love about them are the fact that they must all start out being very experimental, as there's no way to predict what's going to happen, yet as they're worked in to they all turn out looking really carefully crafted.
I think that the fabric design (02) is fantastic. Toile patterns are my favourite - they're delicate, intricate and always interesting. I especially like this one because it's totally original. Normally toile patterns consist of Japanese florals or birds, but this design has an industrial, London theme to it too - I've never seen that done before.

(01)
Timorous Beasties Wallcoverings -
Grand Blotch Damask Solid Wallcovering

Inspired

As part of my course at university, we were told to make a blog to use as a research tool, so that both you, (the reader) and I could see how my work changes and develops over time, and to see what my work is being inspired by.
I came across these series of images when I was researching for my drawing and foliage module, and although they didn't quite fit in to what I was doing, I just loved them. They reminded me a lot of my A2 Textiles final piece, where I made a dress from leaves.
I love to see designers/stylists use unconventional materials within their work - it makes it original and interesting.
Works like these remind me that I need to be constantly thinking outside the box when it comes to my own designs - just as you see here. This is a beautiful example of how something as simple as cabbage can be used in a wonderful way when thinking outside of the guidelines. 

My A2 Textiles Final Piece

Bloom Issue 18 - Cabbage Luck - Beth Evans + Graham Hollick