Instagram

Hi everyone!

Just a quick reminder that I also have an Instagram account. Give it a look! You can find it here www.instagram.com/bananadiva1/

Anyway until next time,

Cheers Then!

Emilio Pucci Inspired Surface Design Range

I've been working on a surface pattern design range for fashion over the last few weeks so I thought I'd give you a special sneak preview. My primary inspiration has been fashion prints of the Mod era. I've taken particular inspiration from one of my all time heroes, Emilio Pucci. His fantastic designs, especially those from the 1960s and 1970s, have always been some of my favourites. I love the fluidity of them (which have always reminded me of the flowing lines of Art Nouveau) and have always been in awe of his wonderful colour palettes.

I love these particular samples from the collection of more than a dozen design layouts. The swim suit surface design is definitely one of my personal favourites of all the designs for fashion that I've produced. I think it looks amazing on this plus size model. I'm very keen to design for plus size women because as Supremes siren Florence Ballard once said ... 'Thin may be in, but fat's where it's at! Personally I couldn't agree more. I love the idea of designing for real woman ... and not just putting them in black to hide their 'so called' figure flaws! Anyone who thinks only size zero girls can look amazing really need to think again!

 Anyway I hope you like these designs. Feedback is always welcomed.

Until next time,

Cheers Then!

New Designs For Kitchen Ware

I've recently been working on some designs for kitchen ware. Here is just a small sample of some of the designs.

The first placemat and coaster set is inspired by the Op Art designs from the 1960s that I love. Inspiration came from work by such artists and designers as Barbara Brown, Bridget Riley, Richard Anuszkiewicz, Janet Taylor and Peter Hall.

The second placemat and coaster set was inspired by my love for Art Nouveau. I've always had a passion for the astonishingly beautiful work of such artists as Alphonse Mucha, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Emile Galle. I was inspired by the beautiful fluidity of Art Nouveau architecture as well as illustrations. I was particularly inspired by the beautiful Metro Stations in Paris designed by Hector Guimard.

The final design is inspired by Celtic designs. It was originally conceived as a circular placemat and coaster set but now I'm leaning towards producing this design as ceramics and having plates, side plates and bowls created.

Anyway I hope you like these designs. Feedback is always welcomed.

Until next time,

Cheers Then!

Metropolis/Siobhan Fahey Inspired Catsuit Design

My original inspiration for this surface pattern design was strangely enough Brigitte Helm's character in the silent masterpiece Metropolis. This is because a reference point mentioned in the brief was science fiction. As the surface pattern design progressed and I decided upon a fashion based textile responce I was reminded of the fantastic costume Siobhan Fahey wore when I saw her perform. The theatrical monochrome catsuit really evoked the idea of the character of Maria in my mind and Siobhan seemed more like a sort of mechanical creature than a woman on stage. I could immediately see her wearing a catsuit with this surface design as she is well known for her fantastic edgy style. I think she'd look amazing in it.

This is the original catsuit worn by Siobhan on her 2010 tour which inspired me to use my surface pattern design on a catsuit.

This is how Siobhan would look if I was lucky enough to apply my surface design onto a catsuit which she wore.

I'm really pleased with how my Metropolis design would look. Although I would prefer my surface design added to a catsuit more like the original illustration.

I hope you like the design. As ever feedback is always welcomed.

Well until next time,

Cheers Then!

Baby Gifts

October brought a new arrival for my friend's daughter, her first baby Libby. I made a few hand made baby things as a gift for the new arrival. I've also made similiar gifts for my Nephew's latest arrival, Myla. My Niece in Australia will give birth to her first daughter in February so I'm curently making some gifts for her new arrival too.

Here are the gifts I made for Libby. I hope you like them.

By the way, Sorry the pictures aren't the best quality to my camera has been playing up so these were taken with my phone camera!

Until next time.

Cheers Then!