Tutorial: Lisa Porche

Today I had my last tutorial with Lisa Porche. We discuss my final pieces so far, my colour combination and what i plan on doing. she gave me some suggestions on laser cutting some patterns out on the plastic and molding it together with the clear or printing on the plastic. I'm a bit skeptical that they could work as I know they won't let me put plastic in the laser cutting without knowing exactly what its made of and that whether printing on it will stick to material and not smudge and be blotchy. Also with the time I have left I don't think I have the time to test these ideas. During this time I run by her my idea of having some samples with my final piece display for the viewers to be able to touch the material and see how it feels. She suggested to me some ideas for displaying the samples. I will possibly do this if I have the time once the important parts of my work is done.

Tutorial: James

Today I had a tutorial with James to talk about how my display is to work. From talking to Lisa Porche last I had decided to use flat cut out plastic to display my work on. Now I need to work out how I am to have the  cut out bodies at a display level. Lisa was suggesting having them suspended from the ceiling but in the hall I don't think that is possible and keeping them in the right place would be troublesome. I though of making them a stand for them to sit on plinths but It was suggested by James that it would probably look bulky and unappealing. James suggested the great idea of having them stuck to the wall but sitting away from it leaving a gap between the wall and the plastic. I weren't sure how that would work but he worked out that we could use dowels glued to the back of the plastic to slot into holes made in the wall.

Tutorial: Lisa Porche

My first tutorial after the Easter holidays was with Lisa Porche and I had a lot of things to discuss. We first went over my materials that I was using for my folded formed strings. I was able to identify which materials I liked most and thought worked best. These were:

• shiny black
• geometric textured grey
• matt grey
• clear shiny
• matt white

Through these we talked about my idea to combine come of the different textured or coloured materials together. We both agreed that depending on whether they complement each other then it would be very good as two type of necklace things that are worn together

I had also recently explored varying widths of the chains. I informed her that from my finding that the larger ones are floppy and possibly too large. I'm thinking I would go slightly bigger than the usual size i've been doing possibly a centimeter before it starts looking weak. I had also tried making smaller sized the samples going as small as half of my usual size. I liked these and the changing of size and had decided to test a changing size of the strips to see how that works or consider combining loops of chains into sets of two or three with different thicknesses.

We went into depth about my collection/s for the upcoming final show. It was decided that I could fit three items in my space and that these items will be similar styled items being long chains that loop around the neck like necklaces but with vast quantities. It was advised that to make these different that I should explore different patterns in order to show development and express a variety of skills. I'm thinking that I will have three different patterned adorning items and that because how they are is similar I could change the colours of the materials like black, grey and white to show that they are different patterned as if they were in the same coloured material it could be missed that they are all actually different.

For my final show I need to consider how I am to display my items. I was first considering buying mannequins which means I would have to purchase them now in order for them to arrive on time. Lisa suggested a better idea of displaying by cutting out a human figure from perspex and using that instead of a bulky mannequin. I think this is a better form of display as a mannequin can seem very heavy to look at and is very typical form to think of displaying and when going to New Designers there will be loads of people using mannequins for display. However using a shaped perspex form to display will be different and will not only match my plastic material use but also blend and not distract from the pieces. My only consideration with this now is how the flat sheet of perspex with stand and I will have to explore how to solve this problem.

Tutorial: Anna Lewis

Anna Lewis gave me some interesting suggestions in my tutorial. With my problem using woven materials and that they are fraying she told me that when using synthetic fabrics if I were to cut them on the laser cutter the heat would melt the plastic content and seal the edges. This is another process for me to try.  

She gave me a list of suppliers of materials for which I should look at. Also recommending that I could look at Tyvek as a material, apparently it’s a mix between plastic and paper where it will have the qualities of paper but does not tear and can be stitched, folded, cut and dyed. She was insistent on me trying leather and helpful with with how I should handle the leather and the types of needles I would need to sew into leather and that I possibly need thinner leather to create a crisp fold.

Formative

Today I had my formative assessment on my current project. We discussed that I need to strongly progress with sampling. For my sampling I need to consider a range of materials. So far I've found problems looking at regular woven materials. As I want to use strips of fabric using ways of fixing the edges through over locking or folding will make it look poor and scruffy. It was suggested to me to use ribbon like materials where the edges of the woven material are woven within the sides. However I think ribbon like materials that I've seen looks a bit tacky and unappealing. I need to find a non-woven fabric meaning there is no weft for it to fray. I've been considering materials like leather and pvc. After talking to the textile tutors and doing some exploring it would be better to work in a plastic material. I can try a range of different plastic materials. I've struggled to find any decent suppliers online for pvc. It has been recommended to look at a shop in London. This shop is said to have a bigger range of plastic materials and are of a high fashion quality. To explore these types of fabrics I would have to make a special trip to London to go to the shop to purchase plastic materials for me to use.

Tutorial: Lisa Porch

I had a tutorial with Lisa Porch, we began by looking at my artist research. She was able to distinguish between my choices of folded forms and strips of shape. We discussed the progression of samples that I could take with my project. By looking at my artist research we brainstormed some ideas for samples to make. We focused on samples that involved using strips of patterns and combining them into a finished piece. I'm going to look at fabric manipulation books and see how they can transform strips into shapes and form. I’m going to look at Ruth Singer's fabric manipulation book focuses on ribbon folding. I will return to Paul Jackson’s folding techniques for paper and enquire how I can translate these techniques into a fabric like material. We briefly discussed materials as I was unsure about how to handle leather. I'm not scared to use it now as I am aware that I can leave the edges clean cut and seams out.

Tutorial: Lisa Porch

I had an amazing tutorial with Lisa Porch today. I've completely changed some of my ideas for my works. We both weren't feeling the blue was working on my samples and worked out that it was because it was really bright and took away from the texture. She described it that to really enphasize the texture you need to limit the colour. So from looking at my source images of architecture it seemed obvious to use both Black and white tones. Also she suggested a better way for me to add the colour parts. Instead of printing the colour onto the white, I could piece the coloured parts in like patch work. This would be much easier than trying to get a perfect print and wasting a lot of fabric if it were to go wrong.

Tutorial with James

I had another tutorial with James today. We talked about what my plans were for the rest of the time before summative and what I can achieve within the time. We also discussed the problems I've been having with documenting my work and designing. I was recommended to take lots of photos. I should pin my samples onto a mannequin in places to spark ideas of where they could go and this will feed into my designing. I showed him my new samples and it seems like I'm really on the right tracks to something good.

Tutorial: James

I had a tutorial with James today where I got to show my first creative samples. He seemed impressed with my cubed samples and could see a lot of potential with my subject of working, saying that they are "visually playful". I agreed with him as we both could see them working while placing them upon a body form. On the other hand we also discussed about what I was to make with them, whether I need to make a garment or not. I personally have my mind set on making a garment piece over something adorning, but it is something i have considered and may reconsider on my next project.

Tutorial with James

My tutorial with James today pushed me into sourcing some answers to some problems I;m having. I'm having problems with my pattern drafting with finishing the edges and holding it in place with pins to stitch. James has pointed me in the direction of Nancy in seeking help and reminded me that I could use bondaweb as a glue to hold down the edges while I sew. I shown him my drawings and to continue with these and use them as patterns for material samples and structures, as I was planning on doing. He's also referred me to look a Martin Margiela exhibition at Somerset House.

Tutorial with James

My tutorial Today has given me a push for more research but into designers. I need to find the trends and colours of Spring/Summer 14 as this is when my work shall be finished for. I had been planning on doing this but it has made me think about it more and to get me into the mind set of fashion designers. James also mentioned about a maximum of three colours theory. That you should wear no more than 3 colours. I think this is important for when I'm choosing colours. I certainly feel like I like white and pale colours, maybe gradients between the two or even a splash of something bright within the light colours. From looking at last year's S/S trends, pale and white colours were certainly important.

Tutorial with Mel

Another tutorial with Mel and I have shown great progress already since I last saw her. I've made my first attempt at pattern drafting and I now have a better understanding of the process and how I can adapt it. Once I am fully confident with the making of a bodice I need to revisit my samples from previous work and see how I can combine them. I am also planning on working my way through the Pattern Magic books to assist and create new kinds of forms with the bodice pattern.

Tutorial with Mel

I had my first tutorial this morning with Mel for the beginning thoughts where I shall be leading this project. Mel confirmed my thoughts of starting this project by learning to pattern draft on the top area of the body and then continue my exploration by working through the pattern magic books. In addition I need to find different ways of fixing a fabric form and to test a huge range of fabric so I know for sure that it will hold when I make a piece. I can also work on learning new folding patterns to help me create my own folding variations.

Tutorial: Simon

My tutorial with Simon today was really good. I showed him my samples with colour additions and stitch and evaluated the better working ones. I talked about my thoughts of displaying and looking at mannequins. I now need to focus on refining my samples in final ideas and making mock up. I can start by making some mock ups in paper to start planning my finished piece

Tutorial: Mel

My tutorial with Mel today was helpful. She made me feel at ease about the worries I was having about making a wearable piece from my folded fabrics. She reminded me that if I want to do something I just need to try and make it, instead of resisting and doubting myself. It's just like last year when I wanted to make a paper dress she told me to just get on with it and do it anyway and it worked out. I realized as She started saying it that that was going to come up. She helped me out with some diagrams for starting ideas for my skirt or shoulder piece. She also mentioned that I can try to combine my folded forms and tuck lines together in the item. This is great because I was worried they had been lost and left out by me concentrating on the folded forms. what I need to do now is draw and design wearable objects with the samples.

Tutorial: Simon

My tutorial with Simon was challenging as the discussion of what I want to make is difficult at the stage I am at. Simon was slightly directing me to make wall pieces or installation stuff from looking at my research but I don't feel like I can make an installation due to lack of space and that as interesting as my pieces are I think they might look boring on their own on a wall. I need to do something with them which is why I was considering making a wearable item. Simon was very persuasive with them being wall mounted objects and I think it could work or have them suspended like Richard Sweeney's paper pieces. It's a totally do-able idea but I'd have to work out how to fix the edge of the fabric from fraying and make a structure for it to hang from. Simon did help me with how to present my samples. Ideally I'd want to have my samples in my sketchbook along with my research and inspiration but because they are three-dimensional they can't go in. So i have  to take pictures instead but I still needed to display my samples somehow. Simon suggested that I mount them on boards which is so much better than having them all stuffed into a box. He also agreed with me wanting to make my folds on a larger scale and that that is where my next steps are.

I've started stitching my samples on to dark grey mount board. This has helped to show the process and development of my samples.

Tutorial: James

First thing back and I have had a tutorial with James. It was good to have a recap and going over my work as over the time off I've lost my way a bit. We discussed what my next steps could be and to start working towards designing and making what I want to make. I was considering making something wearable and adorning as most of my research has come from vogue and designers looking at clothing. I also think my folds would look great on the body as they would flex and move with movement of the body. I need to do some drawing of ideas. He gave me a good idea of taking an image of someone wearing something and an image of my folded patterns, Cut out the clothing and replace it with the image of my pattern to get some ideas rolling.

Group Tutorial: Kate

Today I had group tutorials with Kate and four jewelers  With each tutorial we all came to the same conclusion that neither of us know what we want to do or like what we got. I am frustrated. I've hardly even started and made much but i'm already stuck and in a rut. I'm finding it hard to know what i'm doing and what i'm making. I find it so much easier when I know my outcome or can jump into experimenting but I am lost in it. After making my folded fabrics I've kinda accomplished what I was thinking about in terms of samples and I came to it so easily. Now I just don't know what to do with them or how to expand. I think I need colour or stitch or something as I have just lost my passion at the moment and I just need something that will excite me. As I don't know what to do with my sample I am going to try to make it on a larger scale in order to inspire and challenge.

Tutorial with Kate

After panicking and being on the verge of tears from not knowing what to do with my ideas and how to start I thought best to seek out help with a tutorial. I got a tutorial with Kate to get me on the right tracks with my work. After discussing we figured that I need to get myself into the workshop and sample instead of obsessing over doing drawings. It's not that I need to be drawing with pen on paper, I need to be sampling and making with my ideas and not thinking that I need to put a tick next to "initial drawings". It was suggested that I could use some of my images to print and combine it with my idea to create folds in fabrics like I did with paper. Also that I can draw with stitch instead of with pencil. So obvious why didn't I think of it sooner.

Tutorial with James

My tutorial with James today was very insightful. He looked at my proposal and picked up on some points that I shouldn't pin myself down with my outcome and leave myself room to wiggle and explore different ways of producing my ideas instead of just making a flat quilt. My trip to the first cut exhibition could open up a range of ideas that contrast to my proposal.

I really need to develop some imagery from my images I've collected. I need to go out and draw things related to my themes. From these images I can then continue to sample. I'm going to attend a workshop with him tomorrow for drawing with images.

I will continue to research ad look at magazines like Vogue and Elle to look at current trends that relate to my themes. Apparently folds in clothing is really fashionable right now so it's a great opportunity to find some great research from fashion designers. I was recommended to look at designers like Maison Martin Margiela  and Issey miyake.