Saturday 31 October 2009

Steampunk

A few months ago I started hearing about "steampunk" because I followed a link to a gown someone made from a parachute. I found the idea very fascinating because I have actually been reading books that come under the genre of "Steampunk" but didn't know it was called that.
I found out alot more by going to the blog called the Steampunk Workshop. Basically, it is sort of an imagination based concept of what would things look like if some of the Victorian ideas like steam still worked to run modern technology. They look back at some of the ideas from classics like Jules Verne and science like the Babbage engine. It is also a bit of recycling and reworking thrown away things like typewriters.
Anyway, I think some of the items are cool! and I love the scifi "historical" adventure feel to the whole thing. We recently watched the film "City of Ember", which also falls into this genre.

Well, since it was half-term and I had also heard about an exhibition at the Bodlean in Oxford about bookbinding which has a book that Elizabeth the first had translated and embroidered and bound for Katherine Parr. It was to finish today. Then I heard the Museum of the History of Science was to have the first ever exhibition of Steampunk! So, my husband and I went up to Oxford today and saw them both! no photos of the bookbinding, but here are a few of the Steampunk items. There is a slideshow of some of the gadgets at Wired.
mechanical arm contraption

wings

I also took several of the types of gadgets like astrolabes which inspire the ideas for Steampunk. I will show some of those tomorrow. I discovered I missed a talk on Tuesday about Steampunk and fashion!

Additional info on the exhibition: I just found out that there is a video about the exhibition and an explanation by the curator about Steampunk and some of the gadgets.

Friday 30 October 2009

Christmas Gift Box Workshop

Today we had a great time making boxes at the Northern Parishes Arts Week Exhibition held at Brownlow Hall in Warfield. The art at the exhibition was pretty wonderful, as well. Janice and her team have done a very good job of setting everything up.

Here are some of the boxes the students made. I missed getting photos of some of them. And I missed getting the names of the couple. We had all ages, from 3 on up!

Harriet - 3 y.o.

Charlotte - 6 y.o.

Sue

Elizabeth

Norman and IreneKelly

Thursday 29 October 2009

Cow Girls at Sunflower Branch - 2

Today I cut card and wrapping paper for the workshop at Brownlow Memorial Hall in Warfield tomorrow.
If you are in the area, stop by between 10:00 and 12:00 and make a gift box!

I also started the machine trapunto on the Cow Girls. Here is the back. The sunflower is done, and I am just starting the cows. All those random scraps of batting come in handy!

For the raw edge applique, I am trying a stitch like I have seen here and there. It is a Free Machined zigzag. Here is a detail.I am using bright variegated thread. I think it works well for this piece because it is more cartoon like. I am not sure about the zigzag for other things. Surprisingly enough, it actually is less noticeable...if you look at the stem, even though there are some bright colours going on, the thread actually blends into the background more.

If you want to see a bit more about machine trapunto and the free machine zigzag, you can look at this great tutorial by Patsy Thompson. After you have seen Part 1, go and have a look at Part 2.

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Spicy Hot Mats

Here are some of the Spicy Hot Mats the students made who come to Crafts @the Library. It was a lovely scented time! not much individuality, but they all enjoyed making them. We had some new people this time.
These are made so you can place a hot dish on them at the table. The heat from the dish releases the scent of the cloves and cinnamon sticks. The rice absorbs the heat. There is a separate sachet inside with the rice and spices mixture. That way the cover can be removed if it needs washing.
I finished off the rest of the loosely woven linen and made 2 when I got home. I will put them in the Christmas gift pile.

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Cow Girls at Sunflower Branch

I got the top finished from what started happening on the worktable the other day. Now to get to stitching it! oh, and grow a few tails, etc. I hope to bring out a bit more colour using bright threads.

My original idea just had the cow girls in poses, but then all the sudden I remembered a piece by Kathy York, and the girls decided to hang out at the Sunflower Branch.

Today was Crafts @the Library, and tomorrow will be, too. And then a drop in workshop at Northern Parishes Arts Week - Arts & Crafts Exhibition on Friday. but I hope to get a bit done to this piece before Saturday, as it is for the current challenge for the Fast Friday blog.

Monday 26 October 2009

Inspiration Monday

Stars in the pineapple!
Any surprises in your kitchen?

Sunday 25 October 2009

a teaser

Here is a bit of a teaser about what is starting to happen on my work table.

It's gonna be fun!

Saturday 24 October 2009

Printer!

For sometime now (well over a year) the printer I used for printing on fabric has not been working. Today, my husband got a new one! It is a bit posh looking! He wants to print on DVD's and it has that facility.It also has the pigment inks which means I don't have to pretreat the fabric. Now to think just what I want to print!

Friday 23 October 2009

new challenge

The new challenge is up at the Fast Friday Fabric blog. I have an idea that is fun and that I can go with quickly and get done fast. (I hope!) Here is a glimpse of what I am thinking for fabrics.
But today was a bit odd. I didn't sleep well, so was up for hours tidying my studio. Well, it needed it. And then when I got up properly, I did some more tidying. I think it will help with the frustration of not getting much made. I haven't had much time for freely creating things. It has mostly been for courses and the like. You have seen photos of my studio before. I actually did something about piles of books! There is still plenty to do, but perhaps next week while I have off I will be more inspired to get something major started, or some WIP's finished.

Then I seemed to spend most of the afternoon in traffic, since I had to hand deliver my pay claim, due to the postal strike. I was out looking for something specific for my husband's up coming birthday, and thought I could get it in the Reading version of the store we have in Bracknell, but no. So, I had to come to Bracknell in rush hour and go to the shop before coming home. But, at least it is done.

Thursday 22 October 2009

Deep Space - advice?

Here is Deep Space. It is not finished. I am finding it very difficult to go further with this. It is okay, but not wonderful. I know how I want to quilt the sun, but the planets?

Any advice on how to quilt the planets?
Any advice on how to get it to be alive and not flat looking?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

Wednesday 21 October 2009

NOT a good idea

Not a good idea to use sequined and beaded fabric for a background...You spend more time taking beads and sequins OFF than you would to put them ON! And then you get more fall off than you want, and have to put them back on...

So, I am doing facings for this because you just can't put a border on space...
and the scrap of lining is just the right colour.
But because I was fed up of removing beads, still broke 3 needles even though I sewed the facing on carefully.

I hope to finish this tomorrow. I am liking the look, though. Well that's a good thing! LOL

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Threads and Needles

Yesterday in the C+G Fashion course, we talked about threads and needles. Sometimes the numbering system is a bit confusing. For needles, the smaller the size number, the smaller the needle. But for threads, the smaller the size number, the larger the thickness.

and then you see ball point, embroidery, metallic, jeans, twin and all sorts of other needles. What thread goes with what needle? and what about hand needles? So, we had an activity. I gathered all sorts of threads, and all sorts of packs of needles - machine and hand - and the students sorted through them matching sizes and needles. While they did, we talked about types of threads or needles they hadn't come across before. I think they made some interesting discoveries... "This thread is about as fine as a hair!" (invisible thread). "This is varigated, it must go in the embroidery pile...oh, it says cotton!" (I had used it to show them topstitching samples.)

If you want to find out a bit more about needles and threads you can go to these sites. Sewing machine needle chart and Selecting thread

Monday 19 October 2009

Inspiration Monday

If you follow many British blogs, you may have seen their photos of this sunset last week. I hung on to mine to show you today.

Awesome! What else can you say!

Sunday 18 October 2009

fund raiser - 1

"Reflections" And here is the finished postcard for the fund raiser for the Thames Hospice Care in Windsor.
I am showing you 2 versions. one shows it more shiny, but the other lets you see a bit more detail because there is not so much glare.

It was made from little strips like selvedge edges and frayed edges and leftover bits that were too special to throw away!

I think it will be for the tombola.

Saturday 17 October 2009

Doodle 8

It has been a while since I did a doodle. So, while I am working on what to do for the fund raiser, I will show you a doodle I did this week. (while at a boring meeting!)
I used a sepia pen that my son gave me for my Birthday. I am kind of surprised that it is so dark. But when you compare it, it is more brown looking.

Friday 16 October 2009

fund raiser

The other day I had a phone call from a lady who plans to do a fund raiser Christmas Boutique at the Community Centre. Vendors will pay for a table and can sell items for Christmas. There will also be a tombola. The money raised in the tombola and from the hire of the tables will go to support the Thames Hospice Care in Windsor. It is a lovely respite for those going through difficult times with cancer.

The lady asked if I would like a table or if I'd be willing to donate anything to the tombola. She had been given my name from someone I know locally. Normally I don't do fundraisers. However, in the summer, I did donate several Journal Quilts to the Little Gems project which helped to raise just over £10,000 for the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York.
I decided the least I could do for a cancer charity is to donate something (s) to the tombola.

So, anyway, the above postcard was started well over a year ago. But after making about 2 others, I decided I am not really into doing small postcards. They take as much time as something bigger, so I may as well make something bigger! But, I can finish this one. So, I hope to do that tomorrow.

I am not sure I have enough items to sell on a table. But I intend to have a think. The date is early December, and I don't have time to make loads of things, but there may be something I can do.

Oh, so, why would I do this, which is not my norm?
Well, I lost one sister to cancer last Christmas. My brother has been having problems with skin cancer due to side affects from a kidney transplant 18 years ago, and just finished radiation treatment after having a large lump removed under his arm. And another relative is going through similar problems at present. I also had an aunt who died of cancer when I was small...So, yes, I will do this. I hope she raises quite a bit of money.

Thursday 15 October 2009

Flower Dragon Done!

Here is the Flower Dragon complete. I had fun stitching into this. It was great to do something that only took 2 days to finish. I wanted to do something to make the snout area more dragon-like, but in the end, it seemed fine to leave it as it. I highlighted it with yellow Sharpie. In the photo, the colours all blend a bit too much together, but he does stand out more in reality. It was a good exercise though. I think if I do the patchwork type background I will make it more pastel or the appliqued image brighter so the image will stand out more.

I quilted the background with a vine and flowers. Not too easy to see, but I just wanted to add to the atmosphere of it being a Flower Dragon.

Wednesday 14 October 2009

Flower Dragon

Today I took time out from college things. Although I have the space piece laid out on the table, I needed to do something that was a bit more motivating.

I need to do a dragon for the Contemporary Quilt Journal Project. Since I haven't done a dragon for a while, I thought I would start one. I had an idea, but when I opened the cupboard looking for fabric, the batik type flower fabric jumped out and said "Make me! I'm a Flower Dragon!" So, here is the start.

I fussy cut bits and pieces and laid them out in a dragon shape. The background is purples with green. I think inspired by one of the colour block samples one of my students did. The purple and green really buzzed together. I think they pick up the colours in the dragon fabrics. I have been wanting to try the idea of using a patchworky type background. Of course this is a cheaters version, because it is stripes cut up and fused to fusible vilene.

I am going to work into the patterned fabric now, to bring out the details of the dragon. That should be fun. I am also going to quilt the background.

Tuesday 13 October 2009

Resources

Another training afternoon, so I will share some recent purchases.

Over the past few weeks, several quilters have been off loading books on a swap list I am on. Several of the books I have snapped up will be useful resources for students. Here is a selection of them.Some of them will never get near the students! I intend to use them first! The one at the top on the Book of Kells, and the Celtic one next to it! And I intend to have a go at something from the bags book...and try to soak in some of the theory in the fashion drawing book so I can see if I can apply some of it for the students.

But it is fun to have new books! Even if they are someone else's old ones!
Editor's comment:Slight overuse of exclamation marks to say the least...

Monday 12 October 2009

Inspiration Monday

Harvest Decorations
Photos by Pat Beattie
Our Sunday School class helped to arrange the fruit and veg for our Harvest at church.
Don't you love the colours?

Sunday 11 October 2009

Knitting and Stitching Show - Swishing

So, I said I would talk about the "Swishing" at the Knitting and Stitching Show.

By the time I went to see what was going on, the main event had already happened. However, that gave me a chance to talk with the ladies from Sewing World Magazine who had organised it. They said it had been quite popular. People brought their things in the morning and were given a card with stamps for what they had brought. Then they came back at 1pm to exchange. They also had people who were set up to do a bit of altering or refashioning to your items if you wished.

Apparently for the most part, what was donated was pretty good. But they were a bit disappointed with the quality of stuff some of the school groups brought. Some of it was rather scrappy and poorly made, and yet the people who brought it went away with quality stuff. However, some of the lower quality things were snapped up by people who were actually looking for random t-shirt type things because they wanted to refashion them.

When I went, there was not much left, but the remaining items were on rails for £5 or £10 or jumble type stuff for £1. I had a look and found this linen jacket which is a great colour for me and pretty much my size. The length and cut are good or me, as well. Another lady found a very nice short olive coloured wool jacket that suited her colour and shape perfectly. The minute she held it up, I said that is perfect for you! She was afraid it wouldn't fit, but went off to try and came back round to tell me it did. She was very pleased.

However, I do realise the jacket I bought definitely doesn't want the white bias trim. We decided that someone must have put that on thinking it would make it better...it doesn't. Also, the shoulders need taking in about 2 inches! Honestly! Even if wide shoulders are back, I don't think I want them that wide!

a bit crumpled from being in the bag

But, even with the alterations I will make, to get a Linen Jacket in my colour and style of cut for only £10. Not too shabby, I say. I couldn't buy the fabric for that.

Most of the other tutors and students were going up to the show today on a coach. It will be interesting to hear what they thought of "Swishing".

Saturday 10 October 2009

Knitting and Stitching Show - treasures

Here is a tantalising glimpse of the treasures I got at the show.

Among the treasures,
-a portable loom for making braid

- some Japanese braiding kits. (you can make these yourself, but I thought if I had a proper kit with instructions, I can make some up for the students. They have to do samples of applying braid, so they may as well have a go with making some of their own so they won't be limited by choice in the future.)

-a free bag of bumph from Anchor for tutors!

-an extreme crochet hook

-a variety of wire bullion. I am collecting for a "real plan" (as opposed to the imaginary ones I get all too frequently!) I got nearly one of each colour. You already got one free if you got 5, so that was fine with me...the price was good, but when I put them all on the table for the man to count up, he decided just to add a selection of 4 different wire jewellery kits free as well!

-some non-toxic spray fabric paint. They were actually demoing the spray dyes, which I may get in the future, but I decided on the metallic, which has more of a paint effect. I want to use it when we talk about texture.

-the booklet for the art of the stitch exhibit...a very good exhibit - no photos. I am usually reluctant to buy the books, but this was a reasonable price and there were more than a few pieces I want to remember.

-and a lovely bag full of dyed natural pearls and semi-precious stone chips.

This is a busy weekend as we are doing our Harvest events at church as well. So, the posting is late.

Friday 9 October 2009

Knitting and Stitching Show

Very tired after a long and inspirational day...and a long wait on the A10 taking 1 hour to go 1 mile and that doesn't count the time to do the rest of that stretch.

So, here is a photo of what greeted visitors walking into the Knitting and Stitching show.
A boat knitted from wool, fabric strips and all sorts! Done by various groups of people, but organised by Extreme Knitting.
Tomorrow I will show you some of my purchases and talk about what I saw. But I did buy a large crochet hook from Extreme Knitting (I don't knit). We shall see what develops... as you know, I have enough ideas for more than one lifetime!

Thursday 8 October 2009

Knitting and Stitching Show

Tomorrow I am going to the Knitting and Stitching Show with my friend. This is one of the most exciting shows I have ever been to. (and also, that is where I get my semi-precious stone chips from Ilona Biggins!) I love all the forward thinking ideas happening, the new techniques, the very different ways of people working with textiles that broadens my mind.

For instance: a knitted car...of course! I took this photo one time when I went. The lady who knitted it was being photographed with the car.
Here is a link to some views of the shows in the past.

One of the thing that I want to have a look at, (but probably won't participate in) is a new thing called "Swishing".
From the Twisted Threads Website:

"Swishing! Presented by Sewing World Magazine and Brother
Swishing - the free exchange of quality clothes between friends – is fast becoming the most fun and ethical way to keep up with the fashion seasons. We invite you to The Knitting and Stitching Show’s very own Swishing Studio, and ask you to bring along wearable clothes and/or fashion accessories that you have made, customised or cleverly recycled to exchange with other creative people!

· Everything you bring should be cleaned, labelled with a size guide and ready to swap.

· We will take in clothes in the morning between 10am and 12pm

· Bring up to 5 items to exchange for the same number

· Swishing costs £5 and all proceeds will be donated to Bliss, the special care baby charity that support premature and sick babies and their families.

· Under 18’s can ‘swish’ for free!

· If you don't have anything to swap, you can still take part, but you will have to pay £15 and can select up to 2 items to take home.

· Swishing exchange will begin at 1pm, and those wanting to ‘buy’ can do so from 3pm

· Anything left over after 3pm on Sunday 22nd November in Harrogate will be in a clearance sale!"

This idea comes from a programme Twiggy (yes, that Twiggy) did last year called "Twiggy's Frock Shop" where people brought frocks to exchange. Sometimes, when something suited someone, but was too outdated, they had an area where they chopped and changed it and made it something quite up to date. I am not sure how this will work with the wider public, but it will be interesting to have a look.

Some of my students are going. We are planning on having a discussion about the Swishing on Monday! What do you think of the idea?

Wednesday 7 October 2009

Staffordshire Hoard

Although I am still trying to get a spare moment to get the last Connect-Disconnect piece done for our EquilARTeral group, we have already decided what to do next.

I am very excited! We are each going to do a piece based on the Staffordshire Hoard! Then we will mount them on Artist canvas which will be painted earthy brown, and so tie the 3 pieces together.

What is the Staffordshire Hoard? From the Flicker site from the Birmingham Museum and Gallery "The Staffordshire Hoard is an unparalleled treasure find dating from Anglo-Saxon times.The quality and the quantity of this unique treasure is remarkable. The hoard was first discovered in July 2009. It has sparked enormous interest from archaeologists, historians, press and public since the news about the find was released on September 24th."

I saw one or two photos on the newspaper and telly, but here is the link to photos of the pieces.
I am also going to try to embed a video of the archaeological dig where they found more of the pieces.

Staffordshire hoard excavation from Dan Pett on Vimeo.

This is so up my street! I have done a few pieces based on the Middle Ages, so this will be quite exciting. Besides, it gives plenty of scope for bling!

Trouble is When? %-}

Tuesday 6 October 2009

a bit of a head day

The other day on one of the e-lists I am on, they talked about Googling your name to see what you discover. I have done it before but on a whim, I did it again. Other than finding some other Sandy/Sandra Snowdens with quite different life experiences, I came across a site with some of my work. I remember finding it before, but forgot.

Some people get annoyed to have their work pinched for another site. In this instance, I actually felt honoured. The site is for the Migraine Aura Foundation who has found my work "Colours of a Migraine" and used as one of their illustrations of artists who have tried to depict their migraines visually. They have linked to the image on my old website. So, they are giving credit. I see I am also listed as one of a list of "Self-reported migraineurs". Hmmm. Look who is also on the list of migraine artists!

Colours of a Migraine

Anyway, why am I telling you this? Well, some days I have a very bad head...not quite a migraine, but you live in fear of it becoming one. Some days it is my own fault. I have had several neck injuries in the past and I know I will probably get a bad head the next day if I -lift heavy things - move furniture around - carry the laundry basket upstairs (WHY?) - and some other random things I have not been able to connect. Well, yesterday I did all of the above, except the laundry basket... but probably the equivalent of.

Okay, so you may say, stop doing it. Yeah, maybe I am too reticent...I don't want to bother someone so just get on with it. Maybe I am too proud...I don't want to come across as a weakling. and sometimes it is just not convenient to get an assistant. Like when you are trying to set up your classroom and lug in all your bumph including 2 boxes with jars of mixed dye, a sewing machine, an overlocker, and various soft briefcase-type bags of notebooks, books and papers. (not all at once.)

So, today I had a bad head. It didn't become a migraine (which sometimes looks a bit like this)...for which I thank God. But with a head that felt like the detail below, I also didn't get anything remarkable achieved.

Colours of a Migraine
Actually when I was trying to find the link again, I came across this image by my friend Irene MacWilliam, who it seems was on the same wavelength! The Migraine Aura Foundation has her work there as well on this page...scroll quite the way down.

Monday 5 October 2009

Inspiration Monday

I love the idea that people are welcome to make their way through this field from here to there.

Got any ideas for a title for the photo?

Sunday 4 October 2009

grey scale dyeing experiments


Today I have been trying to work out the best way to do an activity with my class that will result in a grey scale...which they have to do for their requirements. The question is, what makes the best use of the time we have, while giving acceptable results.

Yes, we could do the paint thing, but I would like them to be able to apply it to fabric. So, I mixed up black dye.

At the top you see the experiment of diluting the mixture by the same amount of water each time. So, you start off full strength - say 200 mls. Pour half into a cup - 100mls, then add 100 mls water back to the original amount of 200 mls. Pour half into a cup...and so on. By cup 11, it basically looked like slightly grey water.

I put a little square of white cotton in each cup. I am not sure how long this will take to work. I am leaving it over night, but it may not need that long. I will do another lot in the morning. To see how it will work in a 2 hour period of time... alotting time for rinsing out.

For the second experiment, I thought I would try putting a strip in the black dye, and pulling it out at 10 min intervals. I divided the strip into sections and marked it with permanent pen. Straight away, I saw this meant the lightest one was still too dark... the equivilent of starting with black paint and trying to add white to it. And as well, I couldn't see my marks!

So, I started a 3rd experiment. I started with 200 mls of water, then I added a pipette full of black dye (30mls). After 10 min, I pulled the strip up so the portion above the first mark was out of the solution...then I added another pipette of black dye. I carried on doing this. It was MUCH more effective. I had about 12 sections, and I did not end up with black. However, I think if I leave it longer each time it will be better. It at least shows gradiations better. I am not convinced that dye makes a true black anyway.

I am not sure which method I will use for class. I think I will save it for another day, since it does take alot of fuss, and I already have too much fuss planned in tomorrow's lesson.

I am learning! Too much fuss = too much stress!

Saturday 3 October 2009

Auditioning - Deep Space

Further auditioning going on here in the studio. I thought I would do a series of shots for you to see the process. I have left some bits out, like slight adjustments to positioning, but for the most part this shows the process. It really helps to look at the step in the camera, and then see what wants changing. At the end, I can keep it as a reference when I go to sew it all together.

It looks a bit like dominoes, but it isn't!

In the first 3 I was working out sizes. I didn't use the fabric, but coloured paper that was similar in colour. The green wanted smaller and the yellow larger... and a bit of repositioning once that was settled.
In the next 2 I tried to see if that cotton fabric would work somewhere. It is still paper, but I used a reddish one. It decided to be a ring of moons round the purpley one. The pink at the top really needed a bit of blue so it would be more like the real fabric. I also had a deep purple with very dark spot I hoped to use for sunspots, so I darkened a scrap of the purple paper and played with it.

Now I was happy with the layout so far, so the last 3 shows I fused and cut the circles in the main fabric. Looking good, but a bit static, so I used an extra red circle which was a bit more orange off in top right corner. It helped to give space some depth. You can't see so well, but I couldn't decide on the position of the green...it has some darker spots that remind you of continents...did I want Europe with not quite Africa or the Americas? Okay, maybe no one else will spot it, but it is one of those things that helps it work when you look close. So, I decided Europe.

The layout was fine now, but the sun had lost the focus. So, a bit more playing and Voila! I may move the flares around a bit, but that can happen on the actual fuse stage. I have to take them all off now, fuse, and sew. I will refer to this photo to get it right, but use intuition as well.

The scary thing is... the background. It is from a sequined dress from a charity shop. A couple of us bought it when doing city and guilds fashion part 2 so we could do our sequined fabric samples! It has been in the cupboard since then. So, do I fuse over the sequins on the background or remove them? Okay, I know the answer, but it takes time and they are chain or tambour stitched on, so I have to be careful not to lose them all!

And now I know why I enjoyed doing the 6 x 12 in size. I actually had to contain my enthusiasm and get things done.

Friday 2 October 2009

Decorator Candles

I must admit, sometimes I get to the end of one day and haven't got time to put up a photo of the days work...especially when it has been full of paperwork. So, I will be honest. I worked out how to change the date on the create post page before it is published. so, this is Friday published on Saturday morning.

Anyhow, now that I have made that confession. Here is the craft we will do in November at Crafts @the Library.

As you can guess, it is quite easy. But sometimes that appeals. I am thinking that it might give the students something quick to make for friends and hard-to-gift people for Christmas. The images are photocopied from an antique German dictionary I rescued from the outside in the rain bookcases at the Castle bookshop in Hay-on-Wye. So, I can't read it and the definitions may be out of date, but it is already having value a second time in its life. Oh, and the image on the short, fat candle is one of a few I got from an old flower arranging book...again from some secondhand bookshop.

I used acrylic wax to adhere the images.

Thursday 1 October 2009

presenting colour

Some of the work we are doing in the C+G Fashion course have to do with design. I showed you the accessories colour wheel.

I am also going to have the students select different colour schemes and use dye to drop the colours onto fabric with a pipette. one of the focuses of the new version of the course is how to blend the design exercises with the techniques and garments the students are making. So, we are colouring the fabric with dye, rather than painting paper. This teaches a technique which is easier to apply to sewing and designing garments.



When I was at C+G headquarters in London on the training day, they also stressed that they want to see presentation methods which are relative to what is being taught. So, as we are focusing on skirts this year, here is a method to showcase the dyed fabrics the students have made. The cut out sections can be used in other ways as well.

In this photo, I am actually using hand dyes I already have, but it works for showing the students.
Actually, this is another reason for samples. You can use them for illustrating a point.

PS I got the aperture idea from Sue Jarman who taught my C+G design. But these are from my own drawing.