Progress?

Hello again! Here's a little update on the design work I'm doing at the moment. Have a peek at previous posts to see what I've done before this. 

The patterns below are some of my favorite so far, I can see where they're heading now.

I've used the drawings of my dogs to create a more random pattern. This pattern below is a working repeat.

 Here's how it works when it is repeated.

I've done the same with the objects from my home that I drew. I like the tonal changes in colour, rather than making them grayscale and all the objects having the same tones.

 And here's how this one works as a repeat. I think I need to work on this one more so the repeat is not so obvious.

 I also used the hand drawn objects to create this busy random repeat pattern. I can see this on a thin, sheer fabric such as silk. 

Here I combined the objects with the dog lead pattern I created. I really like this, even as a stand alone piece.

This is the same as the pattern above but in a red and black colourway.

And here it is in a red and blue colourway.

I've made the above pattern into a repeating pattern. I like the busy-ness of it.

I've made the pattern a bit less busy here by using the red objects on their own in the middle of the pattern.

Here it is when it is repeated. I think it needs more work to make it look more continuous.

I originally started designing  for interior fabrics and wallpapers but now the patterns are developing I can see some of the simple black and white patterns on tiles. And some of the random repeats as gift wrap. 

As always, let me know what you think!!

BRING ON SUMMER!

So last week I booked my ticket for Kendal Calling. Kendal Calling is a music festival which has grown from very small beginnings in my home town of Kendal, year on year it's got bigger and booked more impressive acts, and now it's held in Lowther Park which is near Penrith, about 30 mins from Kendal.

Unbeknownst to me, and to each other, my two bezzy mates Amy and Becca had also booked their tickets on that same morning last week - total excitement!

This is the three of us on my birthday night out in Chester last year (me, Becca, Amy)

I have been to V Festival quite a few times, once with Becca which was 2 years ago. 

(Me and Becca at V Festival)

My original partner in crime for V Festival is my very best friend who I've grown up with since we were 3, Lucy. She is THE best moshing partner ever! The only time I've been without her is when I went with Becca, Lucy had a bun in the oven!

(My fave pic of Lucy and I in our lion & monkey hats at V)

I've also been to Kendal Calling the last 4 years. For two of those years I took my son Ollie. We had the most fun time ever, he was like a little celebrity, with strangers asking him for high 5's and to have their photos taken with him! But going with a child means you can't drink! 

(Ollie raving it up in Kiss makeup, with a group of my friends)

But the three of us, myself, Becca and Amy, have never had the festival experience together. I can't wait to go with these two girls because we always have the best times together. We're so comfortable in each others company and know each other inside out so I'm 100% sure the banter will flow all weekend and it will be full on fun!

Not to mention the amazing live music we'll be jumping around to! This year I'm really looking forward to seeing Feeder, Dizzee Rascal, and Shed Seven, and then raving until the early hours in the hot and sweaty Glow Tent. We also get to see someone we know in actual real life perform this year! Amy's lovely house mate Jim will be on stage as Bad Bad Me, he has the most amazing voice to make your knees wobble so make sure you don't miss him if you're going!

BRING ON SUMMER!

Kendal Calling's website is http://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/

"In My House..."

Sometimes I feel like I'm making loads of progress with my current design project, then I look at how many weeks I have left until the exhibition and I panic! 

In a previous blog post I showed you my initial ideas of line drawings of things that are important to me, composed in a similar way to tattoo designs. Since then I've decided to call the project "In my house...". So I've been doing lots of drawings of people and things in my house and now I'm at the stage of putting very simple and basic patterns together, these will be further developed into more complex and impressive designs in the next few weeks. These are surface pattern designs to be used on fabrics and wallpapers for interiors.

You've already seen my "doggy" composition and here is a composition I call "jumble". It's a collection of line drawings of my glasses, dog collars, and scissors.

I did some more drawings of my dogs, this time with their bodies, not just their heads! Here is a little repeat pattern I made up with them.

Here is a pattern I've created with many different drawings of dog leads, it reminds me of worms!

I combined the dog leads and the dogs to make this repeat pattern

I've used a photograph of my carpet to create a textured background, here is an enlarged section of this pattern

Let me know what you think so far!

A wish list as long as my arm!

I'm sure of you have been there - I'm a student and I'm skint!
I spend a lot of my time daydreaming about things I want to buy, I'm going to try and get it out of my system by showing you a few of the gorgeous items I'd buy if I could...


BooBoo Kitty Couture has some of the most gorgeous clothes, they're handmade to your measurements, the fabric prints are really exciting, and you wouldn't find such original buys on the high street. There's several items on her etsy store I'd love but this is my favourite dress and my favourite bandana

Visit here Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/boobookittycouture

If you don't already own a Rockalily London lippy YOU SHOULD! I only have one, in Pompodour Pink but it is my absolute fave. It smells good, glides on easily, comes in cool packaging, and most importantly it lasts for hours. The next shades on my list are Rockette Red and ZOMG!

Take a look at the lippys (and her interesting blog!) at http://www.rockalily.com/

I am a speccy-4-eyes, but I love my glasses as an accessory. There is a lot of vintage, and vintage-style frames I have on my mental shopping list but here are two pairs from http://www.deadmensspex.com/default/ that I really love.

The shape of these black ones are awesome

This pretty green colour is lush

Now wish me luck in finding a fancy graduate job so I can start buying!

A few of my favorite things...

So today I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite items from around my home, and tell you the story behind them and why I love them so!

I keep this bottle of Babycham and this mini bottle of damson gin as a reminder of a brilliant day. The little bottle of damson gin and the gold heart-shaped chocolates were the favor at my best friends wedding. I was bridesmaid and the bottle of Babycham, all wrapped up with the pink bow, straw and hand-written label were left by the bride & groom in my room at the hotel. What a lovely touch!

This was my favorite Christmas present this year! Not only did my boyfriend buy me my beloved COCO Chanel perfume but he bought it in the refillable spray which makes me love it even more!

As all mothers do I have many photos of my son around the house but this one is definitely my favorite one. It was taken when he was 3 on the day of my sisters wedding. At that time whenever you asked him to smile he would pull the most ridiculous face! So we had to deliberately ask him not to smile for the photograph which resulted in this "James Bond" like pose!

My son and I went on holiday to Turkey 2 years ago and on the last day we went on an amazing excursion, sightseeing ancient tombs, mud baths, and giant turtles. We stopped off at a carpet factory which would be a nightmare for most holiday makers but as a textile students I loved watching the old ladies using the traditional techniques. I even had a go myself and bought this amazing silk rug which I use as a wall hanging.

My little canine critters

A few posts ago I did promise to show you some more current photos of my beautiful dogs, and as my doggies are a big inspiration for my current project I thought I thought it'd be ideal timing to post some snapshots!

This is the baby of the bunch, Frank. My best guess at his breed is a staffy X greyhound, and he's about 10 months now. He has the most loving nature, he thinks he's the size of a small cat and always tries to sit on your knee!

Here is Zeus, he's about 2 and a half years old. I never thought I'd be a big jack russell fan but this beautiful boy has definitely won me over, he's so cute and cuddly and extremely good looking!

This is Pug (the most stupid name for a jack russell in my opinion) He's about 9 years old and he just loves his toy! He'll obsess over one toy and no one else is allowed it!

If you've read my blog before you should recognise my gorgeous Roger-dog (springer spaniel). He is the original and the best! He's about 12 years old now, he's extremely smelly and falling to bits but I couldn't love him more!

Here are a few more of the best shots I've taken that I love and that sum up my lovable canine pals!

Drawing, drawing, and more drawing!

So I've now started my next project which will be my final project for my degree. It will lead to an exhibition at the university in June where I'll show some of my best work.
Like the last project's work (some of which I showed you on here) it is based around line drawing. As I'm just 2 weeks in to the project I'm just at the stage of finishing up researching, and producing sketches and images to work with, which include observational drawings and mark making of people I love and that surround me in my home.
I want to use a composition similar to that, that tattoo artists use, grouping together a number of different images and making them into one, cohesive design. To illustrate what I am aiming for I have done a rough design using sketches of some of my dogs.

Let me know what you think of my idea!