The images I have taken are just a snippet of the work on display there, it was just incredible the amount of illustrations they had. I can't wait for next years festival.
I saw this festival advertised last year but at the time I lived in Newcastle and couldn't come, so this has been a year long dream to go. And let me tell you, I wasn't disappointed, I wanted to buy some of the illustrations for my future house I was that impressed so I have a list of the artists I really liked ready for when I'd like to kit out my home. The images I have taken are just a snippet of the work on display there, it was just incredible the amount of illustrations they had. I can't wait for next years festival.
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As a dedicated sewist ever since I can remember and with a consionous for the environment I have been plotting away for a few months now to start The Sewing Retreat. The Sewing Retreat is an online organic sewing shop with all the trimmings. I have sourced only organic sewing products from sewing threads to trimmings to fabrics.
Through a lot of research and my own peace of mind I really wanted to set up a sewing business which would also incorporate an understanding of the damage we are doing to the environment. Due to all the chemicals we use in the production of cotton, the textile industry is the number one polluter of water worldwide thus preventing water to be safe to drink. Organic cotton uses no chemicals during the growth and therefore water is safer to drink. To understand more about organic cotton check out the our story page. If you would like to hear more about us then sign up to the mailing list and you will also be entered into the monthly prize draw for a chance to win a £10 The Sewing Retreat gift voucher to spend on anything from The Sewing Retreat.
The growth . . .From drawings - - - to pattern cutting - - - to a toile - - - to the final jacket- - - and a photoshoot The flight . . .I can't wait for the weather to get a little warmer so I can wear this jacket for more than half an hour, not just when Anna my lovely friend is taking pictures of me for this post. Thank you for the inspirational fabric Hillarys next I'll be cutting up the curtains for my next piece or maybe the cushion covers.
So I know this isn't sewing but I couldn't resist showing you this amazing exhibition I went to see exhibiting Chihuly's work. The colours of his glass blown pieces are just stunning and I think an inspiration to anyone. I think the images say it all really . . .
Ever tried to sew something again and you can't remember what you did last time, well I have found the solution;. 110 Creations, by Beth Byrge, a notebook for all your sewing projects. A notebook with templates to note down everything you did, used and a little illustration for 110 projects.
I love to organise things (a little strange I know) so this find was amazing for me. I found it on this blog: http://goo.gl/coHOZW and off I went to: http://goo.gl/rYDGxW to buy the notebook. I was so excited when it arrived I had already thought of what to write up as my first project. I had also thought the post-it note idea from Tasia's review was great so I made sure I bought my post-it's before the book arrived. Once the book arrived I started writing up a coupe of projects as well as drawing potential projects to make. It feels like the notebook also gives me an aim, like a drawn list of clothes and patterns I'd like to have. Because I also make my own patterns it also provides a great way of remembering what patterns I have already made before making a new one the same. I have also stapled in a sample of fabric as I don't feel words can describe fabric really and I just love the feel of fabrics too. Below are two images showing garments I have made and then recored in this lovely notebook. There is also a small version of the notebook which I would love to try as I don't really fill the notes sections up, as you can probably see, but I have quite a few projects to do before I finish this book. A great idea for any sewist to record their projects. I stumbled upon these beautifully crocheted shawls in Loop knitting shop in Angel, London. I just think they're amazing, the patients and skill Sophie must have to makes such amazing patterns at such a tiny scale. To get an idea for scale each image represents around 4 inches square. I think they would also translate beautifully into quilt designs or fabric print designs (one to add to my image library).
Although you maybe thinking this doesn't have much to do with sewing, but all design disciplines consider colours, textures, and volumes. I think it can be more inspiring finding inspiration from somewhere completely (what can seem) unrelated to your design area so off I went to the Royal Academy. A playful exhibition, which prior to seeing, I thought was a little expensive at £14 a ticket, but having seen the exhibition I think it was well worth it. The exhibition displayed the work of 6 architects, each architect was given two rooms in the Royal Academy to use for their instillation. Each instillation was completely different, all we're very playful within the space and evoked different feelings. I must have gone from being high up, to feeling like a kid with all the coloured straws, to an autumnal feel and so on. Although some may think it's all just conceptual work and has no relevance, it really makes you consider the effects a design has on someones feelings whilst going through a space. (although this maybe the architecture person talking in me having studied architecture). This is the sort of exhibition any one can enjoy like a kids playground which tests all the senses and imagination of ones mind. (it's on until 6th April http://goo.gl/t0qAut) So as I was saying at the beginning, about inspiration from other design areas, I thought I'd explain why I've taken some of my pictures and how they have inspired me.
For example, you may have noticed I take a lot of textural/ close up photos, when I do this I'm often imaging the picture as a print or sewing pattern or a detail on a garment. Sometimes I take a photo to focus in on colour combinations, other times to consider the balance of volumes.. I'm a very visual person so I gather a lot of images taken/done in a variety of mediums to remember all my thoughts. I don't use a lot of them but sometimes it happens that I remember an image I took or drew a few years ago and it then becomes relevant to me. I see it like a library of images rather than books. That's how my brain seems to work so I record everything even if it's for that rainy day 2 years later. I didn't really know what to expect before going to this exhibition, but I'm so glad I went. The main exhibition, containing the exhibition Artist textiles: From picasso to Warhol, displayed such an array of textiles using all different methods. The main surprise from the exhibition was the last room, a mini exhibition displaying the work of Sarah Campbell (http://goo.gl/XBYkXM). The work of her and her sister is so colourful and daring but it works so well. There is also such variation in the work, making repeats work which you just wouldn't imagine to work. I thought this was a lovely exhibition, put together very well, although I have never been disappointed with an exhibition and the Fashion and Textile Museum, on until May. I think the images speak for themselves. What can you do with a meter of Gudrun Sjoden fabric . . .To see my previous blog post before I made this skirt have a little look here:: http://goo.gl/3gAuwt
What a fun down to earth talk! Last night I attended Paul Smiths talk for the Design Museum of London's 25th Anniversary with my friend. The theme of the talk was about the future of design. Mr Smith's approach to this talk was as fun as his design come across. These are the ideas he was trying he discussed amidst the jokes:
One of my aims this year was to make more things and finish them. The all important part I never get to do for myself when I'm making so many other things for other people. So to help me do this I am going to post after each month what I have finished and what needs to be finished. My Completed January Makes Projects to be completed in February, and more to come . . .
I found this on : http://moarrr.com/post/74045869936 called pin cushion sofa, I wish I could have one where all my sewing thoughts would happen. What do you think?
To wrap the present I decided to do a 'G' (for George) in the denim fabric on the front of a nice brown wrapping paper. I'm quite pleased with the shirt, I like the composition of fabrics and the fit was good too. I always worry commercial patterns won't fit well but this one seemed to work. I have dug out a few patterns for me to try for myself. I find it interesting working from the commercial patterns rather than my own to see how they do them and how they make up the garments as well. Obviously with my patterns I make them in the order I think is best but it's interesting to see the order the commercial patterns say. These lovely wrist warmer were form a Roman Magazine of my Mums. I often end up looking through old magazines and books when I go home for inspiration and thus came across these wrist warmers. I just love the pattern on them, so colourful. So I set to making them and learning the process of intarsia on the way. The second one worked a little better than the first once I had realised you have to twist the colour wool you weren't using every few stitches to make sure the tension was right. They were a present for my Mum at Christmas, perfect for her colourful style.
Recently I have been building on my pattern cutting skills using less conventional ideas. Some ideas That I have tried will be developed further and others used as a processes of understanding. The cross over top here is an example of one that I have learnt from but wont be developing. On the other hand I shall develop the tie top.
My aim with this work is also to develop my sewing skills as regarding speed and method but whilst maintaining the standard. Although I am continually sewing it is normally for others so this seems an ideal opportunity to use a bit of trial and error. I believe the more practice I undertake, no matter how simple or difficult, the more fluent the process will be.. There are a few additional garments I have been pattern cutting which I shall add to this post once the toiles are completed. A glamorous exhibition to provide inspiration for todays design.. I found it very inspirational for my style with ideas which could be adapted to everyday clothes. The embellishments were beautiful and done with such precision and class. These images are just a snippet of what I took.
I thought I would have a little play with some drawings I have done to help decide colours and patterns. The fashion collection illustration began with me experimenting with the new figure I had been developing, I was quite pleased with it so i thought I'd try and develop first ideas for a collection. They still need work, but from last month to this month i am please with the progress.
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