Liberty Open Call - Last Chance to Vote

Today is the last chance to vote for me if you like my design.  Please vote here:

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/features/design-and-living/liberty-open-call-voting.html

Thanks for all the support received so far :-)

Pantone Colour of the Year 2018 - Ultra VIolet

What do you think of this?  I love it.  It seems as though this end of the spectrum continues - we had Radiant Orchid in 2016 and now Ultra Violet.  Both pinky purple shades, although strong and defined this year.  2017 was of course Greenery, but I'm rather taken with this year's colour ... 

Make It In Design

Another reason for being quiet on the blogging front is that I've been following Make It In Design, Module 2, 'Creating Your Professional Identity'.  I've loved doing this course and am still creating my logo and business stationery for it.  It's made me do a bit of soul searching about where I want to go with my designing ...  It's a fabulous course for helping you get to the nitty gritty of who you really are as an individual.  I've been able to take up where I left off at art school years ago ... it was all about drawing and creating then, which is ok but not so hot for preparing you for the business world! This course and the preceding one 'Designing Your Way' which I took last year are great for this.  I am planning to do the next instalment, Module 3, 'Monetising Your Designs' next year.  In the meantime, I have lots of time to practice, get proficient with Photoshop and organise my portfolios. I'm glad that I've kept all the art I've every done over the years ...  This photobook was created using some of it as well as more recent work. I've learned how to mock up my ideas on to products which really brings the work to life and shows how it can be used commercially.  The company that made the book is Saal Digital. I took advantage of an Instagram offer to create the book and thought it would be a good way of having a go at making a 'Look Book'.  I'm really pleased with the quality of it and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Sarah Campbell Fabric Painting Day

A grey start to the day....  I was unfortunately going to be a bit late for my class at The Fashion and Textile Museum and had already made my apologies in advance but there was a further delay at Moorgate tube and I had to walk down to London Bridge. Not a bad walk but I was then lost at Monument and Pudding Lane … I then realised I was also on the wrong side of The Thames!

Doubling back on myself, I found a stairway to the top of a bridge and was able to head towards The Shard at Bermondsey where I knew the Museum was located. 

I made my apologies at reception and was then able to join Sarah Campbell’s class who were just about to have a lunch break.  I took the opportunity to photograph everything and anything I could in the Josef Frank exhibition.  What impressed me was a riot of colour and blooms on lengths of fabric suspended from the ceiling.  

There was also a beautiful room set up with painted furniture, prints and glassware, where you could see the fabric in context.  

The Museum shop had Sarah Campbell scarves and cushions printed in mouthwatering colours ...  

Some from the past and newer designs such as this hand painted birds and nest.

I enjoyed browsing through the books and cards, particularly a Zandra Rhodes cut out and colour paper doll complete with outfits!  

I also came away with a Fashionary book – like a dictionary of fashion styles and faint templates of figures for drawing over.

It was a pleasure to meet Sarah Campbell, who I’ve blogged about before: Start to Finish - The Collier Campbell/Sarah Campbell Story UPDATED , when I saw her exhibition in 2014, again at The Fashion and Textile Museum.  

Although I was late, she made me feel at ease and I went straight into painting on calico.  I was inspired by the sunflowers I’d seen in the Frank exhibition.  I learned about auto-fade pens and lightly sketched out my pattern on the fabric. 

Auto fade pens are like felt pens but the outline disappears after a short length of time and doesn't spoil a painted design.  It’s been a while since I handled paint but I took to it again immediately and loved the way the fabric paints blended and bled on the cloth.  

I only had a couple of hours to do anything in and made the most of it while I could.  

The end of the class came round too quickly and I felt I should head off home in good time considering the journey I had in.  Delays on the way home too!  I didn’t arrive home until 9 in the evening which meant for an exhausting day.  Enjoyable though and of course, I met a heroine of mine  ....  A grey day ended up full of colour ...

I've since bought a set of fabric paints of my own and I'm now looking forward to finishing my design.  So glad to be back painting again! 

Wedding Plans ...

I've been busy making 'Save The Date' cards.  They reflect my love of textiles, in that I've used a silver grey crochet trim and velvet ribbon as a simple decoration on a white ground.  The invites themselves will be similar in design but will also incorporate a satin rose.  More to come ...

Project Progress

Well, I've finished the first side of my patchwork project bag.  I work at it while I'm watching television - I have a bag full of scraps at the side of me and attach a patch here and there ...  I'm enjoying the process and the way it's turning out.  There are about 50 patches in this piece - on to the second side now ...

Designing Your Way

A few posts ago, I documented my creative journey so far in life.  I had just finished City & Guilds and was enjoying a rest and a look back over achievements so far.  I thought a retrospective might provide a pointer for the next leg of the journey and it has in a way.  I really enjoyed the creative design elements of C & G and have been taking this aspect further in 'Designing Your Way', the first module of a series of 4 run by Rachel Taylor and Beth Kempton of the Make It In Design School.  I am re-discovering drawing and the design process, along with how to look at the world from a designers perspective once again.  Module 1 only lasts for 5 weeks and I am in Week 4 already.  It's entirely manageable alongside my full-time job and very enjoyable.  More news soon!

His 'n' Hers - Patchwork Mugs

Continuing the patchwork theme, me and my other half found these great china mugs - give a lovely pop of colour to the kitchen and the shape is elegant too.  Tea always tastes best out of a china mug don't you think?

The one on the far side looks like Cathedral Window...

First Sew of the Year

What nicer way to start the year than to make what I hope to be a much loved project bag to hold all my supplies while sitting and crafting ...

I've attempted patchwork before and love the look of it.  It's such a calming and therapeutic thing to do while sitting cosy indoors.  I've tried squares, Dresden Plate and hexagon designs - all in varying states of progress - though the hexagon cushion cover is near completion and I finished a pincushion for an international swap some time ago.

For the bag, I'm using scraps of all my favourite projects over the past few years.  I've made 50 hexagons so far.  Seeing and using it will remind me of all the fun I've had taking part in sewalongs as well as the various outings I've been to in my creations.

I've been inspired to try patchwork by all kinds of sources, including places visited in the past and books read.

This crazy patchwork teacosy appears in a Milly Molly Mandy episode by Joyce Lancaster Brisley. One of my past projects was based on these stories - she always had outfits of pink and white stripes and I made a chevron skirt as homage!  I'll be sure to add some pink and white stripes to my bag ...

There are some wonderful illustrations in the books, a particular favourite of mine being the endpapers showing a map of the village where she fictionally lived.  This reminds me of patchwork too ...

Another inspiration is this covering, supposedly made by the three Bronte sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily from dress scraps.  It used to be on display in the 70's and early 80's at the Parsonage in Haworth where they lived and I remember seeing it there.  I believe it was out on display again for a short time just before this Christmas according to the wonderful blog http://kleurrijkbrontesisters.blogspot.co.uk/ where I found this illustration.

When I lived in the North, there always used to be trips to places such as York in the school holidays. This crazy patchwork covering is in the Castle Museum.

Have you any favourite patchwork examples you can tell me about?  Would love to hear about them ...

Spoonflower 12 Days of Design

I had hoped to take part in this but I only got as far as day 3 before I was struck down with fluey cold ...  The 12 days had a task to complete each day and ended in a finished design.  For day 1 I chose 'Botanical' as a theme to create a textile design with.  I have hundreds of photos from walks around the botanic gardens next door to where I work.

    
Day 2 consisted of creating a moodboard, which I made on Pinterest.  You can see it here:

https://www.pinterest.com/dianehudson9216/spoonflower-12-days-of-design/


The task for Day 3 was the creation of a colour palette.  I did this at www.colourlovers.com and was quite proud to have created an entirely new colour there, which I could name.  It's the 4th one along ...



I've named it BOTANICAL and you can see it here:

http://www.colourlovers.com/palette/3972574/BOTANICAL

Well, I may get to post again before Christmas, but if I don't I wish everyone peace and joy and a well deserved rest!

Oh Christmas Tree ...

I'm really proud of my tree this year.  It has a mixture of home made and shop bought ornaments, along with some that have been in my family for ages ...  I'm particularly fond of the felt decorations I made last year, which I've scattered among the collection.  I have some owl ornaments too that are new, along with a few chocolates.  Apart from that, I don't really go overboard with decorations - this will be it apart from cards and a bit of tinsel.  How about you?

Christmas is coming ...

I keep having to remind myself that Christmas is only 3 and a bit weeks away!  I've been so busy re-arranging my home - time is flying ...   Well, I did manage to finish sewing Aster completely and some pics are coming up next but in the meantime, I had a seasonal time at the Christmas Market on the South Bank in London.  There weren't many stalls but along with a friend, I made the most of what was there and also enjoyed a wander around Borough Market and other sights along the way.  I'm looking forward to this Christmas, especially a week off to recharge batteries and make some new plans for the New Year.  What crafty plans do you have for next year?