Dysperse Dyes

I was advised to possibly look at dysperse dyes and how they looked using leaves. I collected a range of leaves to try disperse dyes with. The dysperse dye are used in dry layers under the heat press to transfer them onto the fabric. I created leaf shapes on different materials. I tried painting on leaves and printed with them onto the materials which created different effects in the print with the leaf textures that I really liked.

I really liked how the dysperse turned out with the layers I'd like to see what other techniques i could then layer on top of this like stitch or other print.

Tutorial: Simon

Another tutorial, for 3DSP this time where we discussed in a group individually what each of us wanted to look at. I was a bit worried as I hadn't created a great deal to begin with but once I started talking I remembered loads of ideas I had. It was good to have it all written down so I have record of what I was thinking about doing without forgetting again.

This is my list so far:

• Dyperse dyes
• Natural dyes
• Batik
• Experiment with heddle ridge loom
• Learn to use peddle loom and experiment with pattern
• What different stitches can be done on sewing machine
• Knitting machine?
• Digital stitch and print
• Emulsion printing

Tutorial: Kate

I really needed my tutorial for DD today as I have been stuck in a rut all of last week, I haven't been able to start making anything. I talked with Kate about what I've done so far and discussed what I had planned in my proposal. Because I'm stuck it was suggested that I should just start making stuff. I should do contextual research and collect interesting stuff to inspire making stuff. I was also set the challenge to create 10 textile samples for Friday to really motivate me getting stuff done. I'm feeling really doubtful about getting that done by Friday as I already have a busy week ahead of me.

Lecture: Claire Curneen

I can't say I was too excited to see Claire Curneen's lecture this afternoon as she is a ceramicist and I'm not a big fan of clay but there were still some things that I like about the way she works. I liked how she uses drawing as a way to work out ideas that may not be possible and to get a certain detail to do something. It keeps her ideas alive as they are not lost in thought. I need to draw more myself, as my mind is completely rattling with thoughts i just need to get them onto paper.

I also liked her source of inspiration. She would look at famous raphaelite paintings and Greek mythology for narratives to her work, which I find interesting to work in that way.

Workshop: Photoshop

This afternoon I had a workshop how to use photoshop in preparation for workshops in digital print and stitch. I found this to be a bit boring as I already knew the basics of photoshop from A level Media and Foundation. I'm hoping that the next workshop will be a bit more advanced.

Design Development Crit

I had my first group crit for Design Development today. It was certainly was a different experience I struggled to get involved and ask questions. I also found it difficult to think of questions for people working in a different material and I think people had the same issue when suggesting things for me. Maybe because I already have an idea in my head for where to go but I found what people were suggesting not to be entirely helpful as I certainly don't want to work in wire, glass or mosaics. I suppose the use of light to reveal secrete messages within the layers was an interesting idea but I'm rather pessimistic about it and the complications of getting a light for it. I also feel like I've done light before and I'm not sure I want to do it again. I think I'll just leave that idea for now any maybe come back to it later after I've worked more on making first.

Initial Drawing

This week I've been working on my sketchbook and starting to do some initial drawings expressing my ideas of quilting and segments I found in the samurai armor and natural life in the garden.

Tutorial: Claire

Hoping to start on my project following my first initial idea but I found myself to stuck with how to start. So to get myself out of this rut I ask Claire for a tutorial to start bouncing some ideas. We discussed my inial ideas I talked to Kate about and got some ideas flowing that I could look at the layers and trying to create these initially with collage and then moving to fabrics. Also to consider a torn and worn effect and including text referring to the samurai armor. This certainly has sparked my motivation and ideas to start flowing.

Workshop: Tapestry & Weave

Today I had an amazing tech workshop in tapestry and weave with Karren where I were shown gradually how to prepare and make tapestry and peg loom. After lunch I was taught how to thread a loom, that can be tedious, and how to weave. I certainly enjoyed it, I was thinking of working on weave a lot more for 3DSP, maybe work my way up to the more complicated looms and create fancy patterns.

Low-Relief Embossing and Clay & Print

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today was a busy day with two workshops in one day. My first workshop for embossing and print was good. I didn't know what I was expecting when I arrived but I enjoyed it. I got to use the vinyl cutter which was new. We decorated blocks of wood with vinyl cuttings, sand blasted them to give them definition and used them to emboss paper with Roger using the Albion press. Afterwards we added paint to our blocks to print with again giving this really awesome print.

After lunch I went to the clay and print workshop as well but once it was explained I realized it was certainly not what I wanted. I thought it was going to be screen printing onto clay, when actually it was pushing things into clay, slips and oxides, digital transfer and printing using object. I know for sure now for certain that I don't want to do this for 3DSP. I still have to write about it in my technical file and be done with it.

My First Samples

After my tutorial with Kate I had so many ideas I needed to start making something so as a start I went to the textile workshop and looked at sandwiching wadding between fabric to make little hexagon quilt samples. I did two different thicknesses to see the difference as the first one seemed a tad flat. Next I'd like to add colour or different materials.

Tutorial: Kate

My first tutorial of the year, with Kate, which was helpful as I had my images and inspiration but didn't know where to go with it. After briefly saying about that I found the samurai armor and plants outside interesting and that I was thinking of combining this together. I mentioned that the armor reminded me of a quilt with its layers and that I was thinking something stitched. She referred me to quilt samples as being an art piece and that I should look at them as well as , surface pattern and print. That I should refer to my floral images for inspiration.

I also got to talk about my 3DSP proposal as I was worried about what to put and showed her my rough ideas. She looked through and pulled out what I probably didn't need.

After my tutorial I made a couple of quilt samples where I stitched hexagon grids into wadding sandwiched between cotton fabric.

Visit to Berrington Hall

The trip to Berrington Hall was described to us that there is something there that will inspire anyone, and that it did. Berrington Hall is a classic country house designed by Thomas Harly, with designed gardens, lake, orchard and a 18th century costume collection that we were invited to see. I was a bit anxious before we got there as I was worried I wouldn't be able to find something that will inspire me.

First we walked through the beautiful garden up the the front of the huge house for a briefing on the plan for the day, before shortly taking a tour of the house. The tour began in the first four rooms that were the entrance, library, dining room, stairway and business room where we had a brief story of the history and stories behind each room we visited with explanations on the detailing and features there were. It was highly fascinating to find out why and how they created this 30s Georgain styled house.

After the tour of the house I took it upon myself to venture around the gardens to look and take pictures of the vast range of plants and flowers they had. Over the summer I'd found an interest in natural forms like leaves and flowers etc. So I certainly wanted to capture the plant life of the grounds.

370 pictures later, we attended the viewing of the 18th century costume collection. We were shown piece by piece an extravagant and beautifully decorated range of costume that displayed the change of style over the year from wide hips to big butts, along with an informative explanation of each piece which gave you an understanding of the item for when it would be worn etc. My favorite pieces were the silver lace robbings and the men's extravagant court coats and waist coats. What I liked so much about these pieces was the intricate detailing of floral pattern they had created with either lace or stitch. They had used natural themes to create floral motifs that were then finely hand stitched into their garment.

Finally after everything I was free to roam the house to take pictures of inside. I noticed easily that like the costumes the house displayed even in the smallest details a transfer of floral motifs again into their design, from wallpaper to curtains, ceilings to carpets, door handles to furniture, everything had a natural style of pattern. I made sure to capture some of these things.

Also in the house there was a display of old samurai armor  Usually I wouldn't find these very interesting at all til I saw this one piece of amour showing the inside layer. I was all broken up and you could see the layers of the lining. Some of the layers had writing on them that read to ask for protection against harm, which I thought was beautifully sentimental. This reminds me of the embroidered servicemen uniforms by Paddy Hartley. The wiring looked like stitches making it look to me very much like a quilt, which instantly sparked an idea. I'm thinking something definitely stitched with layers but i'm not sure what I'd be making yet. This item is my biggest inspiration yet and will hopefully be the starting point of my DD project.

New Start, New Beginnings

On my first day back at uni I had all the introductions for my new modules for my second year at Hereford College of Arts.

For my Design Development module we are allocated a location and we are to base the project to make something in response to the location. Tomorrow we are visiting Berrington Hall, to look around the architecture, interior and gardens to be inspired by an aspect that we find to focus on.

3D Specialist Process is carrying on with our technical file and create a range of samples in a specialist area of our choosing. We have to create a proposal explaining where we'd like to specialize by the 19th. I'm really not sure what I'm going to produce for this proposal as I know I like textiles but only stitch and print, I'd be willing to learn weave. I need to find out what textile based workshops I can do. I'm worried I'm being too specific with textiles that I am not going to be able to produce a great deal of samples than I would testing ceramic glazing or metal enameling  I'm going to need a tutorial or talk to Kate. I'm going to do research by looking through embroidery magazines as I'm very fond of these magazines. I can always find something interesting in these.

In the Design Craft Discourse 2 It was explained to us that for our first assignment we will need to create a 6 page critique comparing two craft fairs that we will attend to take notes and pictures and ask questions. Our second assignment is a lot more important where we'd need to decide and plan what we do after our degree whether that's looking into further education or planning out a personal workshop. This has already got me thinking about what I'd want to do and where. I know that I'd like to be in the south east or specifically Surrey.