Print rooming...

After spending all afternoon in the print room, I'm pretty pleased with my samples. I wanted to do some basic ones to make sure my screens were okay before I start experimenting more. I struggled with the size of the screen with it only being be second shot at screen printing, but I'm excited to get creative now...

Before layering the next part of my design I used string to help me line it up. Below is a sample I tried using two colors of pigment on the screen pulled through at the same time, not sure it works but it definitely gies more texture than one colour alone.

Producing kodatraces...

Heres a few process photos from last week. They are two of my load traces for my screens that I will print my cushions with-once iv done some sampling of course :) ...

Back to the drawing board...

Here's my latest 3d drawings. Taking inspiration from vintage monopoly pieces I found in spitalfields market, I recreated them in paper. The hat is a little 'crinklier' than I'd have liked, I'm really pleased with my ship though. These drawings will now inspire my current module which is two cushions...

Shop report research

So this week I spent a day in York visiting the Imaginarium to complete research for my shop report. It was nice to visit at a quiet time, I went Tuesday morning, which meant I could have a really good look and soak up as much info as possible. It was fairly hard work trying to be discreet about it as they have a no pictures policy so I was trying to remember as much info in my head as possible. Looking forward to putting the report together now...

Here's a few pics from outside, (mums clearly enjoying herself.)...

 

More from the V and A...

I adore these intricate boxes I snapped at the V and A whilst in London in Feb, Unfortunately i don't seem to have the historical details to go with them, but I'll definitely be using them for inspiration. I can imagine them intricately hand embroidered using lovely silks ans threads to recreate their gorgeousness. 

IRONWORK ENVY...

I am really inspired by this gorgeous ironwork i set my eyes on in the V and A whilst in London last month. I can imagine creating some really interesting print based around the scrolls and fluid lines.

All own images taken at V and A museum London 06/02/14

My mind is blown...

WOW! 

I've just returned to my desk after a lecture from textile designer Karen Nicol. I can honestly say I've never been so inspired! 

I love how genuine she seems and her work is utterly amazing. It was really eye opening to hear how she likes to use her inspiration quite literally. 

It was also really fab to hear how she always strives to be different, and enjoys collaborations for the fact that it constantly pushes you- I imagine relating to this. 

The fact that she was always driven to sell her own work meant that she developed her initial training to find her own way and make it commercial, this is really great to hear and really motivating as that's always something that has concerned me about making my career from embroidery. 

So from now on I'll be experimenting with media, freeing up my work and thinking JUST DO IT.

:) www.karennicol.co.uk