Another project which I’ve been working on the last few days is a fabric pattern design for Clothkits and their current Goodwood vintage competition. I’ve had a bit of a thing about buttons for a long time, so I’ve put together design featuring my current favourites from the button jar. I think the title of Make do and Mend fits in with this rather nicely.
Oh the woes of a pattern that won’t repeat. I thought I’d put V.1 online though as I want to start showing more of my handrawn stuff on the website also, I’ve wanted to do some work with hot air balloons for a while but kept faffing about how to do it. I’ve learnt a few things, I drew my image on A4 paper, cut it in half both ways and stuck it back together again, then filled in the middle of the design. The theory is the repeats are then sorted out for you (if you’re accurate). I know now to do any cross hatching, BEFORE the image in split in half (duh) and also trying to accurately scan an image which must be A4 on an A4 maximum scanner is likely to be difficult, so maybe a smaller piece of paper would be better in the long run. I like the design so it’s on to V.2 today.
I’ve been doing a short screen printing evening class over the past few weeks at Hereford college of Arts (where I completed my foundation year). It finished last week but I wanted to put some of the most interesting experiments to come out of the 5 week course online. It was really good to take some of my granny square cut outs to the next level and hopefully if I sign up for the next course starting in September I can develop this idea further. It would be lovely to develop a range of decorative items made out of the fabric I’ve printed by hand, so watch this space!
A quick birthday card I’ve whipped up for my little brother’s 20th birthday on Friday.
I recently entered the Transport for London cycling competition which they held in association with the AOI. Since this I’ve become really interested in the possibilities of including crocheted elements in my work especially in a scene such as this. I based my idea around the concept of a bicycle made for two and going off and adventures together. Hopefully this has resulted in something quite playful.
These were my entries to the 2010 Frinton Press repeat pattern competition, all along a craft based theme. I have to say I am particularly fond of the bottom image showing crocheting hands. I wasn’t selected this year but the winning entries will be posted on their blog shortly.
While in Paris we stumbled across a small shop in Montmatre which specialized in restoring old perfume atomizers. I couldn’t resist taking some photos of their window display. My absolute favorites are the cat bottles. unfortunately I don’t know the address of this shop, but I can tell you it was called ‘Belle du Jour’ and it was on a road leading to the main steps of Sacre Coeur.
Sacre Coeur itself was absolutely beautiful. Although I wouldn’t consider myself to follow any formal religion, I can always appreciate the beauty and tranquility of churches and I have a particular soft spot for stained glass and murals. Sacre Coeur didn’t disappoint, although it wasn’t possible to take photos inside the church, I did pick up a postcard showing the fresco which dominates the building as you walk though the doors. Imagine seeing this as a procession of choir boys begin to walk along the central aisle of the church accompanied by a nun singing choral songs and you can begin to understand the appeal of religious ceremony for some people.
I’ve just recently returned from a lovely few days in Paris with two close friends. At the top of the Eiffel Tower we happened across a rather interesting exhibition showing some examples of the tower souvenirs which have been available to buy through time. My particular favourites are the Eiffel tower scissors. A slightly more modern note was struck by the Eiffel tower condoms and Paris thongs currently to be found in the gift shop, unfortunately I don’t have a photo of these.
(Apologies for the dodgy photos)
Tour Eiffel
