A very long day has passed but I have managed to get things done that will help me decide on the finish of one of my final pieces.... It has been a full on day with lots of help and guidance and a lot of knowledge that will help me in the future. What I thought would take a couple of hours turned out to be a full working day starting just after 9 and leaving after 6. I seem to be working a lot later in the studios at the minute concentrating on my drawings, which is obviously a good thing, but once I get home I'm finding i'm not sitting down again till at least 8:30 to pick up my work again and this is reflecting in my other on going project. I have however set myself a list of tasks needed to be completed by the beginning of next week which will see me up to date with everything and an arrangement of a couple of visits out are on the list which need to be arranged by next week also. Best keep my head down for the next couple of days!!!

Today has been a day of talking about the development of my designs. One of my main designs will be made for a dress which will hopefully be the main focus of my final display. As mentioned a couple of days ago I went to visit a lady called Jane who was more than willing to hel me make up one of my final pieces. I had discussed about the style of the dress that I wanted to make, and have talked about making it in the style of a Vivienne Westwood corsetted design, which will be boned on the bodice and the skirt to come out which will either be hooped or boned also with a tulle underneath, and will be adapted by myself at the back. This was something that I had mentioned on my blog at the beginning of the year, that I had been inspired by a poster that I had seen. This was also a vivienne Westwood dress. I had also discussed that, the new motifs I had been working on were not only for developing my ideas from last semester, but they were to be the centre piece for a range of tableware and these were to be designed with the new florals I had painted in my sketchbook. I am now off to measure my mannequin for Jane so that she can use the measurements to make the pattern. Take a look at some of the Westwood styles I have just been looking at.

 

A day of painting, a dressmaker in place to help make my final pieces and an added bonus of a book illustration contact, all in one day.... Good day, even if I say so myself.

Today I have been looking through some of the sites of the  company names I had collected at Birminghams Spring fair visit yesterday. In such a short time spent at the exhibition I feel that I managed to get the inspiration I was looking for out of new designs available... Although, even though I am not working towards this area of design, I found the most inspiration within the Gift card and Stationary hall. The best of the range in my opinion was from a company called Prey. A family run business creating Surface design for Homewares, Stationary, Beauty and Bath products and Gifts, with their unique style of design, combine vintage themes with on trend contemporary design. Take a look at the link below to see what delights this site has to offer.... www.preyuk.com. I have also been working on a few ideas for my new business cards, featured above, with my favourite so far being the bird with paint splashes. I am just looking at new ways at the moment on how to present the lettering so that it doesn't look so formal.

Say Hello to Jade and Sascha Boltons answer to Britains next top model!!... No i've not gone mad, these are the two mannequins I picked up as mentioned yesterday to use for display of my final show... Ok so i've not actually made anything yet to go on them, but I just wanted to be ahead of myself.  

Today has been a very productive day.... I have managed to get an extensive range of research finished up to date and managed to work on some of my drawings and paintings, and tonight I am going to pick up a couple of mannequins I have managed to pick up ready to store away for my final show and hopefully work on some more business card ideas...  Please take a look at some of the illustrations i have been working on.

I have just been spending the morning in the library looking to bulk up my research, and I have been trying to thing of something new that I can incorporate into my designs. Whilst looking through numerous fashion and interior magazines for inspiration that will link into my garden theme I have picked up on a lot of designs including Floral art ( the type you see painted on Narrow boats), both in fashion and interiors. This is something that I am going to draw from so that i've got my florals I needed but painted in a very similar style to the ones found on boats. Luckily I live up the road from a canal that houses lots of narrow boats, so over the next couple of days I will take some images for my resarch to paint from.....

Stencil floral art for tablewear

Spring/Summer 2013 Holly Fulton dress taken from London fashion week and above Dolce & Gabbannas floral wedges 2013