Mood Boards

This is my first mood board I have produced, I have took a previous drawing that I have done of an ocotopus and also added two pictures from textile designers: John Rhoda and Iris Van Herpen's dress designs which are ocean themed.

Live Brief: Moo

On Friday I was given a new project, we've been given a design brief from a shop in my town called Moo, they want me and the rest of my class to design a piece based around Invertebrate Sea Marine Creatures. This will be a competition and the person that wins will have they're piece made and sold in Moo.

Evaluation: Manmade VS Nature

This is my Evaluation for my Manmade VS Nature project I was unsure from the start whether I would look at Manmade or Nature.The first thing I needed to do like every other project was to buy a new sketchbook, as I didn't have much money at the time I decided to make my own sketchbook. After making a sketchbook I was informed to start collecting primary research as it vital when starting a new project, after starting this project I took photos of a set-up we did as part of our project, I also went to Sheffield for a shopping trip and whilst I was there I thought it would be a perfect time to take photos, I took photos of the buildings and some light fittings I had seen in a shop that looked very intricate.

After collecting my primary research images I decided to gather some secondary research, still unsure which path I should take with either Manmade or Nature I gathered images for both of theme, I also drew from the observational drawing we had in the middle of the room, I used a variety of different media for this like: chalk, ink and stick, white paint and drawing on an uneven surface whilst drawing the set up I moved around it so I had a different section to draw every time.

When doing my research I came across an artist called Patrick Dougherty and I found his work amazing, he would use crape myrtle tree cuttings, twigs and vines and create huge scaled pieces ranging up to 40 feet tall from looking at his work I thought that I would possibly look more into natural things. In my secondary research I had found photos of rust which made me think more about looking into metal things and already in my sketchbook there were images of clocks which then made me thing further and think about the cogs inside the clocks.

For my mood boards I did one on manmade and one on natural as I was still unsure, on my natural mood board I used leaves but over time they decayed, became dull and crispy which made it look a little weird over time but I still like it, on my manmade mood board I looked at lights at first but I also added some keys onto it. After doing my mood boards I started my visual sheets, I still was still unsure which theme to choose so I did one on each again. For my manmade I used keys and light bulbs that I had previously used on my mood board and after looking at clock cogs I decided to add those onto my sheet too I think they looked really good with the keys. For my natural I used the butterfly and drew some leaves I used on my previous sheet, I also drew some roses and feather onto it as I had a picture of roses on my mood board and I had drawn roses and feathers in my sketchbook. 

After sitting down and thinking I came up with the idea of combining manmade and natural together, I thought I would take my roses and feathers that were drawn on my visual sheets that are very subtle and delicate and then take something very heavy duty like my cogs and my old styled keys and combine the two together to show difference between the two. After finally deciding my combination of the two I then worked on my development sheets, I when on the internet and found patterns and images of leaves and roses and placed them inside my keys and cogs and on the other sheet vice versa.

During this project I have also learnt some more new textile techniques, I already knew how to wet felt but everything else like: weaving, knitting and needle felting were brand new to me. Knitting was the first thing on the list and I could not get to grips with it all to start off with, I could cast on and was hopeless at just knitting in general but now with a bit of practice I think I’m pretty good at it, they’re aren’t holes running through it from dropping stitches and I can now cast on and I’ve taught myself through YouTube how to cast off as well. Using the peg loom was my favourite thing as I loved creating different weaves and I would love to buy a peg loom and try and create my own blanket. Felting is the only thing I have done before I’m not a big fan of wet felting but I knew exactly what to do, after creating my felts I used them for needle felting I wish I had given myself more time to create a lot more needle felting samples as I enjoyed it, it’s something I’d use in the future.

Throughout this project I have had to problem solve and try and experiment a lot, in my samples I have used batik which I don’t really like using as its quite messy but it actually looks quite nice in some of my prints, a lot of my prints have puffbinder outline and I think it looks really nice. Whilst printing I’ve found out from trial and error to tape up my board to stop procion getting on my work. After creating my samples I got placed with two people and had to give a small presentation they then picked out 3 designs which they though could be combined together and worked into, after being told what would look best I did a sample and I think it is probably the best combination that they could have picked.

When going about my final piece I decided to get all of my outlines and roses done and then print my cogs and keys, as I explained earlier I had to restart my piece 3 times from forgetting to tape my screen up like the rest which set me back with time and resources. On my final print I had coloured all of my print and on the final print of my outline the screen moved and has doubled the image up and with me having no time left I had to leave it, I was going to cut it off but then I would not have a 1 metre wallpaper piece.

Time management during this project hasn’t been a huge issue and overall I think this project has gone better than I expected it go, my strengths have been managing 4 screens and working well to get my print done with so many screens but it’s just a shame my last print smudged. If I could do this project again and improve something it would definantly be my sketchbook.

Needle felting

Whilst learning new things, a few weeks ago I learned how to needle felt. Needle felting was a really simple process which just involved using a small needle this barbed bits on the end which helps the wool fibres stick on the felt. I enjoyed trying out needle felting and I would use it again in future projects.

Wet felting

During my new project I have to do wet felting, this is a process that I have used and practiced before. Its not one of my favourite things to do but this textile process was necessary to create a background to use for my needle felting piece.  

First of all you need to get your strands of wool and lay them across a piece of bubble wrap which in on top of  a towel. When layering up your wool your wool pieces will only need to be thin.

After you have layered up your wool you will need to take a piece of net and place it over the top of, after doing this you will need to completely cover all of this in water. Give it a good drench but make sure its not over flowing and water is absolutely everywhere.

After wetting your wool take the net off, if you don't take the net off it will bind to the wool whilst your felting. Roll all of the felt up in the bubble wrap and roll for 5 minutes after rolling for 5 minutes unroll your bubble wrap and pull the edges, keep rolling until no wool comes off.

How to use a peg loom

Using a peg loom has been my favourite task that we have done during this project and I am actually contemplating buying my own peg loom and creating weaves at home. If your a newbie to using a peg loom this is how to use one.

This is what my peg loom looked like, its a plastic peg loom with 14 pegs but this certain peg loom can have extra pieces added to the end on the jigsaw like piece to extend your weave and make it longer. 

First of all you will need to cut off 14 pieces of string, (I cut mine to about 40cm so they would be longer and its easier to tie your weave off at the end) after cutting off your pieces of string you will need to put your pegs in so that the holes are facing inwards not forwards. Put your string through the holes and tie 2 of the pieces of string together.

This is what your peg loom will look like when you have put all your string through and tied them together, your now ready to create your weave.

On this photo I have started my weave but all you need to do to make your weave look like this is just to zig zag your chosen wools and strings around the pegs. My weave looks very compact and tight because if your weave not tight then it will fall apart very easily and the end product won't look very good.

When you have filled your peg loom right to the top with all your chosen products you will need to all of your pegs out and pull them all the through but leave the end ones until last. When you have pulled all the pegs through cut the string where the hole is so you can tie it off and your finished weave will hopefully look like mine. Tada its a  fun and easy thing to do in your spare time and I will be looking forward to purchasing my own peg loom and hopefully creating wonderful things.