Constructing the Dress (Part 2)

After gluing the top half of the dress together I quickly began on the skirt. The last part of making the dress ment I had to fold my printed sheets into my desired structure and glue them along their edge (which wasn't easy to get perfect joins) into a thick chain of folds to be wrapped around the dummy. I got a bit stuck with how I'd fix the skirt on to the dummy as the skirt was too heavy for elastic tohold it on, so my only option was to glue it straight onto the top half. For this I needed to have a flat part on the inside of the skirt that would then be fixed together. I folded out some of the top folds to form a semi-flat surface, leaveing a pattern of folds still at the top to keep the skirt shape. This flat surface was then glued upon the top half, completing the dress.

Dress Construction (Part 1)

Monday and today I've been working on the construction of my paper dress. I started on my pile of printed sheets and folded some big squares into my chosen folded structure. I also began with the top half of the dress. I wanted to have folded top half but nothing too complicated that would pull away from the skirt. From my drawings I had designed a dress with vertical folds and have deside to replicate this for my dress. I'm finding making this dress really complicated to put together as paper doesn't want to mold to the human form as easily as hoped but I seem to be getting along alright with test pieces first to figure out the shape and then translate it onto my printed paper. I worked out that I am going to have to make this in two pieces. I am glad to say finished shaping it into the form for the fornt and back parts as I found them (especially the back) rather frustrating. The bottom part isn't very nice with slits to bend the paper but hopefully the skirt will cover that up. All I need to do now is glue the top half together. I'm a bit reluctant to fit it right now as once it's glued it's not going to come off till after assessment when I'll have to cut it off (which is a shame) and if Kate askes for the dummy back before assessment I'm screw and will have to break it apart to give it back and I'm not sure whether I could fix it back together, especially if i've already dont the skirt. So fingers crossed I don't need to give it back.

Tailors Dummy!

I got the tailors dummy today! I'm so happy because I can now start construction of my paper dress. I'm feeling a lot better now I have it as I was stressing out last night about how I'll make it and worrying about how much time I have left to pull it together, BUT now no worries I can get started straight away. My only worry is that they will want it back before my deadline.

Printing

This Morning I walked all the way to folly to buy the watercolour paper for printing. I wasn't sure how many prints I'll need, so I grabbed 15 A2 sheets, hoping I have enough. With everything I needed I signed into the textile workshop and began by mixing my paint (Pearl binder with a little bit of black and dark brown for an off white) All day I printed, printed and printed. I got all my sheets dont ready to form into folded structures. Some of my prints were a tiny bit faded in small areas due to something with the screen (I think it was something to do with an image that was previously exposed on the screen) that was causing the paint to not flow through as well but I think it's probably barely noticeable but even if it is I reckon it could look nice with tonal differences. Possibly a happy accident.

Glue Gun!

I got my new hot glue gun today! I'm going to try out how it sticks with my paper samples for my dress as I needed to find a stronger method of fixitive for my paper work.

Exposed Screen

Today I exposed a screen with one of the same designs I made previously on the ICP1 out of a paper cut out. This time I have enlarge it so I can make bigger prints on bigger paper to make bigger folded pieces to form my dress.

Tomorrow I need to go up to Folly lane to buy more water colour paper and Print, Print, Print! Hopefully I hear from Kate soon about getting to borrow the tailor's dummy to make my dress, Otherwise I'm not sure where else I can get one as there are no others around to use, but she did say today that they might not want to use it and she'll look into it, so fingers crossed!

Colour Choice

I have folded my printed papers into my folded structures to be able to make a more informed decision for which colour and paper I prefer. So far I've chosen to definately use the water colour paper and the pearl binder but I'm still not sure on the off white or the pale pink. The off white is subtly beautiful and delicate looking but I'm worried nobody would notice the print very well and the pale pink is also has quite elegant and vintage like tone but then i'm concerned that it would be too much all together and take away from the folds.

Sample Enlargement

After testing out some different sizes I've came to the decision that I'm going to have A2 sized sheets as I feel they look best in proportion to the body size and with bigger folds I think it would be easier to fix and shape around the form.

Tailors Dummy

I talked to karen about borrowing a tailors dummy and the only one they have is being borrowed by an older CAA and that I should talk to Kate about using it. I talked to Kate today and it seems that I could possibly borrow it but maybe not too long. I'm really hoping I get to as I'm thinking it will be really hard to get one otherwise.

Tutorial: Clive

My tutorial with Clive total was possibly a waste of time as I probably didn't need it. I basically sat there and explained to hime what I've got (samples of head pieces and print ideas), what I'm doing (preparing my printed papers) and what i'm planning to make (my returning idea of the paper dress) and he just disregarded that and went on about "how it's a shame that I wasn't following on with the neacklaces" and said I should do them as well as the dress after lecturing me about how much little time I have left to make something, which seems to me like an impossible task that I dont think I have time for. So I'm just going to carry on with my own plan and lists.

Colour Prints

Colour print samples

Busy day today. I have been in the textile workshop all morning which always means it's been a great day. I've been testing new colours and binders for the print on my dress. As I'm looking at a lace type theme I want more eligant soft colours. When discussed with karren we both agreed that I'll mix up (My first time mixing print paint with pigments, whoo! exciting :D) an off white and a pale greyish pink (unfortunatly the pale greyish pink looked more of a blackcurrent yogurt color but was still nice). I printed with these plain colours and thought about what kind of binders would work best for my eligant look. I was first thinking of a gloss but decided that the pearl binder would be the nicest and printed the same colours with this pearl effect.

I also got to test out the new water colour. I wanted to see how the paper would react to the print and also see how it'd look with the print and then folded, just to check that they are not too overwhelming with different things but it's blends right in together. They look very swarve!

Just need to consider how big I want my folds to be as I need to think about how big i'm going to need my paper and how much I'm going to want to enlarge my print by.

Paper Tests

I've visited the college library to see what different types of papers they have there to see what I could possibly use as I think I should see if there are any better types of paper to use for my dress, maybe with an interesting texture rather than just the plain smooth look. I found that most of the papers were quick thick gsm's but I did find a nice water colour paper with an interesting texture that I quite liked so I bought a couple of sheets to play with. It was thicker than my usual paper but noot too thick that it'd be impossible to get a nice clean fold.

I found when I made my folded structure with it it was a bit stiffer to use but still good and also had a much nicer and desirable texture and feel to it in comparison with my plain smooth paper.

Paper Print Tests

After my feedback I felt like I knew exactly what I am doing and that I can completely flow with my ideas. I began with ideas of what to print on the papers to fold and considered the shapes I've produced with the structure. I thought that if I could covered the top of one of my paper samples with paint and I'd be able to print the zig-zaggy crosses onto the paper but as it is quite a flexible sample I struggled to get a clean print of the pattern so I recieved this scattered marks. I folded this up into the folded structure and I dont think this works as it I think it takes away from the folds.

When I applied the paint to the sample to print with it left black lines along the folded parts that I thought it could be interesting to see the lines more straightly painted on a sample. I folded a structure and unfolded it and painted black lines along the folds to see the outcome and I think It looks quite classic but I'm not sure it really gives the feel of delicacey or a lace like quality.

I looked back at my ICP module and considered the print patterns I made during this section of work. I thought about that I could use the paper cut out pictured prints as these were lace inspired print and would be best fitting with my current work showing a natural elegance to add to the structures of the dress. I dug out some old prints I had and folded them to fully picture the outcome. I felt these best linked to my work, combining something I previously made in print with my paper structures.

At the time I was thinking between the cut out prints and the painted folds. I liked them both that thought that I should see what they'd look like if I combined the print and the lines. When I finished I found that these really don't go well together and I definately wont be using this.

Formative Assessment Feedback

I got my Formative feedback today from Mel and it went amazing. Everything she was going to suggest that I do like work on making headpieces and more samples I had already covered over the week. I have came to the decision to return to my paper dress idea now, which Mel agreed that I should persue this idea and that I should take on the challenge and that by taking on the challenge and to not fear any problems and give up will be more of an achievement and learning possibility. I also discussed my idea of printing papers to fold into my structures so it's not just plain white and to expand on the the decoration of the structures.

Paper Headpieces Samples

I started making head pieces with my samples. I made sure to use nicer paper than the basic paper i was using for sampling. I started simple to begin with and attatched a clip to one side of my folded piece. It wasn't as easy as I hoped to glue together. I had to glue the folded piece into the shape, glue a paper tab around the top part of the clip and then glue the paper attached to the clip onto the top part of the piece. I found while making these that I'm going to need a stronger adhesive, I'm thinking about looking into a hot glue gun.

Here is a nice picture of me wearing my first head piece attempt: 

After making one I looked at different variations I could do with this one piece. I layered two of them, one on top of another and glued them together before attaching the clip. I also tried layering three different sizes.

I also used one of my "fan" like samples I made with my Doilies into a head piece but instead of a simple clip I attached it to a piece of ribbon that was fixed to a piece of elastic ribbon that I measured to perfectly loop nicely around the head. I positioned it nicely to sit on the right side slightly off centre from the top of the head, creating a nice folded paper decorated headband.

Paper Tube Necklace Idea

I started another of Clive's paper jewellery ideas for the folded paper tube necklace. I looked at my sample and thought that if I elongated the paper length and repeated the folds along it that it would make one long part of the necklace. I did so and found that because it was longer it was harder to fold and form but eventually got one part made, unfortunately that because it was longer it struggled to get the folds as smooth and straight as previously.

Metal Covers for Paper Neclaces

Today I did what Clive told me to do and went into the metal workshop to make metal sleaves for over the top part of my one favorite sample. I measured out some aluminium, cut it, marked a center line, partly bent it on the press brake and used my paper sample to the to complete fold it over under the steel press. My first one was just a square cover, but then I started to experiment with different shapes like a triangle as I wanted it to link with the triangular pattern of my paper sample. I also made a little rectangle cover but I found this to be the least interesting of the three.

Tutorial: Clive & Pressed Metal Bar

which he convinced me it'd be too complicated and "jumping in at the deep end" and told him that I'd like to start making head pieces from my samples or sholder pieces. While disregarding what I said went on and on about making necklaces out of them, which I dont want to make, and adding metal to the paper pieces. He picked up one of my samples and described how if I repeated this one sample and fixed them together that i could make this chunky folded tube into a necklace. I don't think he got the idea that i was totally disinterested in this idea but was very persistant that I do what he says. On the other hand it was an interesting idea with the combination of paper and metal and i'me sure if i did want to use metal and make jewellery it'd look nice. He then took me into the metal workshop with Rich and went on explaining what I should do and picked up this metal alluminium bar that was pressed under the steel press to make indents along it saying that I could make this to use as the part that goes round the neck and then insisted that I go into the workshop after the tutorial to make this, which I did.

Today I also went into town to purchase some metal hair clips so I can fix my paper samples to for head pieces. I also bought ribbon and elastic ribbin to make head bands for my head pieces that I find won't be fixable to clips.

New Paper Samples

After my Formative assessment I went straight back to work and carried on sampling, I'm still looking for new and interesting 3D structures I can fold and make out of paper.

Last week I found a book in the library 'Folding Techniques for Designers' containing loads of nets and instructions for creating interest folded pieces. I took it upon myself to flick through every page and anything that looked challenging I attempted, Leaving me with a pile of new and exciting samples to add to my others. These samples are different to my first lot as with these I created them using only one sheet of paper, whereas my previous bunch used a few sheets and were glued together to form structures. There are certainly some good ones in here and maybe even my most favorite.

My next plan is to start making head pieces looking at all of my samples. not completely sure that I should do my initial dress idea as it may be too much of a challenge that I can't complete in time.

Tutorial: Mel

My tutorial with Mel was more informative with how I could think of assembling my samples into the skirt shape. We also discussed other options With what I can make from my samples like a collar or head piece that I really like the sound of and I'm thinking I may try to construct a head piece first before I decide to make the dress. She also helped me with my sketchbook with how to display my ideas and drawings that are important.

Tutorial: Clive

My tutorial today with Clive was alright I spose. Good thing he reminded me about the formative assessment this Monday otherwise I would have forgot (which means I need to get up to date on that sketchbook). Seeing as I'd just brought all my paper samples over in a box they were all layered out on the table which led to him suggesting that I display it all up on my space's walls, as it wasn't showing anything in a pile and you couldn't really see the woods through the trees, which I agreed. But after doing that, which really helped, all I got from him to work on is to pick out my favorites and work from them. What was an interesting suggestion was that I could try adding patterns to one side of paper and then folding it to see how  that works out, which could look good. After thinking about that I realised I could screen print some patterns on to paper to use, which could introduce my screen printing back that I love. After playing a little more I need to think of what to make as a final piece. Not sure what yet as I'm now worried that making a dress could become troublesome and not work out as I hope. My other ideas that I've thought of or have been suggested are a headpiece, a wall piece or a lamp shade. Just totally unsure at the moment what i'm going to finish with but hopefully I know after the formative assessment, I need to talk to Mel.

Paper Samples

This week other than finishing writing my cultural studies essay I have been playing with paper and sampling. There are already some that are showing potential and that I am becoming drawn to than the others.
For most of my samples I have played with the Lotus fold Becky Adams showed us, which I have repeated, twisted and modified to create these grids of folds.

 

I found that by even turning them around and seeing them from different angles some of the samples can give a look so much different and give a different pattern.

After just playing with normal paper I moved onto making similar and new patterns using paper doilies. I think the paper doilies give it a more feminine delicate look compared to the sharp straigh patterns made with the normal plain paper. I think now I'd like to play with different papers, with different patters and textures.

I've also briefly used patterned papers to sample with to discover their outcome. I was interested to see if the technique would be lost if the paper was printed. I used graph paper for it's web like print and wallpaper to find out how the sample would look with pattern on one side of the paper and to also see if it was a usable material for this process.