Wednesday 11 September 2013

Abstract Print

A while back posted an abstract print that I created while studying at the University of Bolton. I have since returned to the piece and toyed around with reworking the colourway used in the original. Here is the original alongside the 3 new colourways I've used. Feedback would be greatly appreciated, as always.





Friday 6 September 2013

Ideas For Rug Designs

Apologies for the lack of recent posts. Not really been very productive recently but that's all changed ... thankfully! I have used some of my favourite designs and applied them in an interiors setting and applied them to rugs. I really like these designs and intend to find out if any of these designs could be practically reproduced as rugs. I hope you like them. Feedback would be appreciated.










Tuesday 21 May 2013

Photoshop Tutorial For Creating Realistic Embroidered Text

I came upon this website recently. It's a fantastic tutorial and will come in very useful for all surface pattern designers. It teaches you step by step how to create textured and embroidered text in Photoshop.

The link is below. Enjoy!


http://www.obsidiandawn.com/creating-realistic-embroidered-text-or-designs-in-photoshop-tutorial

Saturday 18 May 2013

Photoshop Tutorial For Creating Repeat Patterns

I happened upon a website that has a fantastic tutorial which is a must for all surface pattern designers. It teaches you step by step how to create repeat patterns in Photoshop.

The link is below. Enjoy!

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/repeating-patterns-intro/

Friday 17 May 2013

Hand Embroidered Commission Pieces

I mentioned recently that I was commissioned to make two hand embroidered pieces. One was to celebrate a wedding and the other a christening. Unfortunately I was unable to get photographs of the completed pieces, however, below are photographs of the samples pieces I created prior to commencing the final embroidered commission pieces.

In the final pieces I used more decorative text that is used in these samples. The christening piece is completely hand embroidered, whereas in the wedding piece I used applique techniques to create the wedding rings using vibrant synthetic fabrics which where secured in position initially with bondaweb [an iron on adhesive sheet] before being machine satin stitched into position.

As you can see the text on these samples is a little uneven. I had used an embroidery hoop when embroidering the text on these pieces and this has pulled the fabric unevenly. When I embroidered on the final pieces I used an rectangular embroidery frame and this ensured that the text would be even.

I hope you like them.



Friday 10 May 2013

New Photoshop Samples

Below are a mixture of photoshopped photographs. I have used The image of Deborah Harry to give the viewer the perspective as to the scale of the wallpaper samples and the images of Diana Dors have been used to show my print designs in a fashion based context. I Hope you like them.









Wednesday 1 May 2013

Commission work

I am working on 2 commission pieces at the moment. Both are embroidered pieces, one for a Wedding and the other for a Christening. When they are completed I will post them so watch this space!

Tuesday 30 April 2013

New pattern from Jeri Shaw at Delicious Patterns

I recently received my newest purchase form Jeri Shaw at Delicious Patterns. Anyone out there who collects vintage patterns or are just looking for something unique or unusual, then Jeri Shaw is the lady for you. Her selection of patterns is vast and she has many many rare patterns. Added to this she is one of the friendliest and helpful seller you'll find anywhere. View her patterns at http://www.etsy.com/shop/deliciouspatterns and believe me you won't be disappointed.

Here is the newest pattern I've bought from her. Hope you like it.



Tuesday 9 April 2013

Label Designs for my craft stall

I have started designing some price labels to place on my stall at the monthly craft fair I attend. Here are the labels I have made so far. More to follow. Hope you like them.






Thursday 4 April 2013

Abstract Print

This abstract piece was created while I was initially learning Photoshop during my first year at the University of Bolton. I had drawn some illustrations that were inspired (maybe a little too literally) by Angie Lewin as well as some earlier floral illustrations I had already manipulated and simply experimented with repeats and composition. I still quite like it's quirkiness but think it's a little full on with the all the repeats. It is, however, one of my sister's favourites.

Friday 29 March 2013

Peacock Cushion

While redecorating my house recently I made this embroidered cushion for my living room. I have a theme throughout the room of browns and creams and there is a strong natural feel to the other decor. I have hung curtains I hand made from sari fabric which has large sunflowers on it. I have also displayed two of my favourite felt samples and have a triptych of printed leaves I created while completing my Foundation Diploma.

Below is the Peacock Cushion. I hope you like it.





Below are the felt samples I have framed and have displayed in my living room.




Friday 22 March 2013

Surface Pattern Design Ideas

Below are some surface pattern design ideas for my newest purchase from Jeri at Delicious Patterns. These are just try out samples. Hope you like them. Feedback as always is much appreciated.


Saturday 16 March 2013

Final MC Squared Design Business Cards

As I'm trying to get some work together for sale I decided to rework business cards. Hope you like them. I like all of them so I'll just get the different designs printed when the mood takes me. I can NEVER make up my mind when it comes to design lay outs for business cards. Hope you like them.





Tuesday 12 March 2013

More from Jeri at Delicious Patterns

Below is one of the patterns that Jeri Shaw at Delicious Patterns has on reserve for me. I have photoshopped one of my surface designs into the illustration. This is how I intend to make up the garment for sale at a later date.

Hope you like it. I love it as it has a real 60s look. Anyone remember the GoJos? This hooded robe looks very like something they wore when they danced to Reflections on Top Of The Pops in 1967. Catch it on YouTube!


Sunday 10 March 2013

Surface Pattern Design Try Outs In A Fashion Based Context

I have been experimenting with various surface pattern designs to see how they appear as the print on dresses. This is because, as I have mentioned in a previous post, I am planning to make my garment from the Vogue pattern out of digitally printed fabric.

Below are a few test examples.  They are not complete by any means as I am continuing to experiment with different scales and positioning of the repeat pattern on the dress fronts.

Feedback would be appreciated.






As you will see two of the photographs have been repeated. In the first case this is because I have used the same surface pattern design in two differing scales and have also changed where the repeat is shown on the dress front and in the second case the surface pattern design has been inverted.

Saturday 9 March 2013

Delicious Patterns Purchase

I finally received my first purchase from Jeri Shaw at Delicious Patterns today. [it was the Vogue Fabiani evening gown] As I'm working on other design work at present I probably won't get around to making the garment for a while yet. I plan to make the garment in fabric digitally printed with one of my surface pattern designs. I am planning to get some samples from various digital print companies first to find the best supplier. Obviously I will post photos of the completed gown when it's made.

I certainly won't have to search for a pattern supplier now as I couldn't speak more highly of Jeri and will definitely become one of her regular customers. At present I have 2 more patterns on reserve and 1 still on it's way to me. I strongly advise everyone to check out her online shop [web address is given in my earlier post.] The selection of patterns she stocks are very diverse and many are very rare.

Friday 8 March 2013

Lark Lane Project

While studying for my Foundation Diploma in Art & Design I was allowed to complete a project of my own choosing. As I have a passion for architecture, I decided to focus my project on a quaint little street called Hadassah Grove, off Lark Lane in Liverpool. Lark Lane is a kind of 'trendy' area and Hadassah Grove is one of it's little side streets.

I focused on this street as I felt it was like a little time capsule. When I first walked into the street I felt like I'd stepped back into Edwardian times as the houses date from this period.

Below are some of the research photographs I took and the drawings I created from them. I have previously posted several of the Lino prints that I produced for this project.







From the drawings I initially created from these images and others, I replicated them using a graphics tablet to create the images below. As I'm not too confident with my drawing I prefer to draw very freely and much more graphically than conventionally.





I also played around with blocking in some colour and created several alternate colourways. Below are a sample of how they looked when coloured.






I'm not so keen one the first image when colour was added. I think it works much better as a black and white illustration. My favourite by far is the illustration of the Amorous Cat Book Shop. I'm planning to get some prints created of this illustration for sale at the upcoming craft fair in Lark Lane in a few weeks time.