Hats may be involved

Sock binge

2012-02-17T13:26:00.001-08:00

I know its a bit weird but nothing cheers me up more than sock shopping at Cos.

Models walking up and down in dresses

2012-02-17T11:32:00.004-08:00

Antoni & Alison have reminded me why i love digital print. Even the cutest collage looks sophisticated when digitally printed onto a simple silk dress. Love the play in scale, the ric rac ribbon, the scribbles, the odd placements of squares of fabric... love most of it actually. Their first catwalk show since 2005 and its a beaut!

Edit - Hooray heres a video of the show!

Meadham Kirchoff Nails

2012-02-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

Hurray! I have a kitten on my nail!

My house

2012-02-06T10:05:00.000-08:00

Handmade cotton and linen cushion + vintage suitcase + hand painted mirror and vintage school table.
Vintage suitcase from Battlesbridge antiques centre (one of my favourite places). Love how it has the old sticker on it!

Rob Ryan card (will have to do till i can afford a print or paper cut!) + cute birthday card + adorable vintage card.

Happy days!

Sandra Erbacher

2012-02-06T09:33:00.001-08:00

Came across Sandra Erbacher's work on one of my favourite blogs I Love Sticky Tape. She creates lovely things with tape. I especially loved 'Second First Date' and 'When Family Fails' (shown above), then i found her drawings! The colours and placement is perfect, i even love the way they have been photographed. She did her BA at my uni too - go UAL!

Meadham Kirchoff Nails

2012-02-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

I need these. Not the vagina one though.

Snoooow!

2012-02-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

Behind the scenes...

2012-02-03T05:22:00.000-08:00

... at Latitude. Celebrated showing our collections, got covered in mud, saw Bombay Bicycle Club, got sunburnt and drenched in the rain.

Lilian at Latitude 2011

2012-02-03T04:58:00.000-08:00

Some photos of my graduate collection 'Lilian' on the catwalk at Latitude festival in July 2011. Was really pleased with the models for these looks, and the hair and makeup team were brilliant. Photography by Ella Jessel. Apart from the last photo, which i found on Latitude's Facebook page!

The Land of Lost Toys

2012-01-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

In love with this collection of photographs by Davina Zagury. Love how a picture of something so old and once well loved can look so modern and minimal. One day i will get round to photographing my collections properly!

"Among our deepest memories, where one stores the thoughts of one’s loved ones, where one cherishes one’s possessions, one hides one’s childhood, the childhood of old and lost toys.It happens, we don’t say our last word, we don’t whisper one last secret, and we don’t shed a tear and give a kiss good-bye. They do appear in the course of our lives more than once, in unknown streets, in the old markets, in abandoned backyards. They just stand there with no identity, with no name, with no child. The Land of Lost Toys was created between 2003 – 2007. I was drawn to work on this project when I came across a tricycle on a street in Jafa, Israel. The tricycle brought back memories of my childhood and I wondered about the child who had owned it and lost it, in time. I decided to look for other lost toys. Toys that have an interesting history, hold wonderful stories, and lived in far away places. I was attracted to toys that I sensed had memories worth being cherished, and I wanted to give something back to them."

2012-01-25T05:03:00.000-08:00

Latitude fashion show

2011-07-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

On Friday i showed my graduate collection at Latitude, on the catwalk next to the waterfront stage. It looked like there was a massive turn out, looking forward to seeing the photos of the show soon!

Lilian at Latitude

2011-07-13T00:37:00.000-07:00

Chelsea college of art is now featured on the Latitude website. I will be showing my collection, Lilian, along with some of my ex class mates, and graduates from LCF. Heres what they have said about us!

"Rowenna Wilcox showcases 'Lilian' - a bright and quirky collection focusing on colour and high quality fabrics, inspired by her Grandmothers sense of humour and love of block colour."

An exciting and prestigious addition to Latitude last year, the fashion graduate shows were a great success with large crowds gathering to witness the models gliding down the catwalk which hovered above the central lake. 2011 builds on this success with graduate shows from Chelsea College of Art and Design and London College of Fashion and will see the cream of the next generation of designers flaunting their exquisite and innovative designs on the special catwalk.

With a selection of 2011’s fashion graduates parading their wares, attendees will have a full display of the artistic and flourishing ambition of the future of the fashion industry in a unique and beautiful setting. Away from the city-fixated media, this will be a rare opportunity to fully appreciate the endeavours of our young talent and how they will dictate trends in the upcoming seasons.

The show will be styled by David Hawkins and produced by Deborah Britz who has been working on shows for designers, high street stores, colleges, and charities for the last 25 years and is delighted to be collaborating with Latitude again this year. The hair and make-up styling will be provided by the London Hair Academy for the Storm models taking part in the show.

Latitude 2011

2011-07-02T04:04:00.000-07:00

Final collection will be shown on the catwalk at Latitude festival on the 15th of July.

Lilian

2011-06-25T05:46:00.000-07:00

Final graduate collection - check my website to see more - www.rowenna.net

Lilian

2011-06-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

Final graduate collection - check my website to see more - www.rowenna.net

Custo Barcelona RTW SS11

2010-10-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

Remember i sold designs to Custo Barcelona when i went to Indigo in Paris? Well Custo have used one of them for their SS11 collection, shown at New York Fashion Week. So i have spent the last few days telling and showing ANYBODY who will listen!

Orkney

2010-09-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

More Curiosities from the Enchanted Palace

2010-08-11T12:16:00.001-07:00

Curiosities at the Enchanted Palace

2010-08-11T12:04:00.001-07:00

'Enchanted Palace' exhibition at Kensington Palace

2010-07-30T07:37:00.001-07:00

2010-07-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

2010-07-13T03:53:00.000-07:00

Peter Jensen i love you

2010-06-30T13:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favourites from the Spring Summer 2011 Resort collection. Gigantic presents, bright primary colours, granny cardigans, quirky prints, collars and hats!

2010-06-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

Goodbye desk!

2010-06-10T04:56:00.000-07:00

Had our assesments on monday, set our work up in our studio spaces and hung our garments on a rail. Have to wait until the end of June for grades though. Then on Tuesday we had to take all our work down, empty our lockers and clear the studios. Since then ive been helping 'my 3rd year', Lale get ready for the degree show. Cleaning screens, painting walls etc. She has kindly invited me to the private view of the degree show to say thank you for my help. The private view is on my birthday so its a nice treat! Will post pictures of her work on the blog. Anyway the picture is of my space set up for assessment. Im going to miss my desk! Had Catherine sitting one side of me, and Emily sitting the other side (she always brings in blueberrys). Next term will be in the 3rd year class room, and this time next year will be getting ready for my degree show, yikes!!

Look at me! Im in a magazine!

2010-06-08T13:28:00.001-07:00

When i was in Orkney over easter i was interviewed by Orkney Living magazine, and the article was published on Thursday. Just received my copy in the post yesterday morning. If you click on the photos to see them bigger you might just be able to read it!

Fashion show

2010-06-05T01:48:00.000-07:00

Once again, i cant believe how lazy i have been with the blog! Here are my favourite photos from the fashion show. Finally got a model sorted, Ruth Taylor, who is a friend of a friend. She looked absolutely perfect in my design, exactly how i imagined it to look!

Bruck

2010-05-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Cant believe how long its been since i last posted on here! Have been busy pattern drafting and cutting, and am well under way with my garments for the fashion show. As well as the skirt and t-shirt, im also gonig to make a little yellow cropped rain jacket, and a crochet and embellished hat. My need to name our outfit for the fashion show, so have been reading the Orcadian dictionary for some words relating to the beach/shoreline. Here are a few!

Bruck - beach rubbish
Ebb - shore
Facie - small cliff
Fankle - tangle or knot
Gimmer - scallop
Glessie - glass
Groatie Buckie - type of shell
Sholtie - creatures/ insects living under stones
Skelder - The noise a gull makes

I think my favourites are Bruck and Sholtie, but have a few days to decide. Have also been busy shopping - have been paid for the designs i sold to Kenzo and Custo Barcelona at Indigo in February. My little sister came to visit for a week as well so showed her round London as much as i could whilst still getting on with my work. Dyeing my wool fabric red for my skirt took a lot longer than expected - 3 days! Its more a coral colour than the vibrant red i was after, but it still works well with my other colours. Digital prints are back so looking forward to getting my t shirt made on Monday or Tuesday. Anyway, wanted to get a bit done on my skirt today so better go!

First screen print (about time!)

2010-05-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here it is. Had loads to write about, but im really tired and very stressed, so am going to wait until tommorow!

Buoys

2010-05-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

Mark has been busy today collecting buoys for me! Hes got the car with him, so will be easy enough to get them back to London. Not looknig forward to taking them on the tube though!! Hes also got some glass and bottlenecks for me, and some rope. Have to wait more than a week to get them back, so need to have everything else ready for then, not long till the fashion show, getting scary!

Zips

2010-05-09T10:47:00.000-07:00

Decided to go for really chunky, plastic, colourful zips. Found these on ebay, but undecided between bright red, pink and royal blue. Will need to get 2, one to fasten the back of my skirt, and one for the t-shirt. Claire recommended a few places in Soho to try, see if i have time on tuesday to go and have a look.

Phew!

2010-05-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

Its finally finished! Needed to have a calico mock up ready for interim review tommorow. Thought i would be sustainable by using scraps of fabric and recycling old calico mock ups, rather than going out and buying more calico. Pretty pleased with the results. Obviously its not a 'subtle tulip shape' as i mentioned before, its quite exaggerated. Think it needs it though, its just a plain top and skirt otherwise. Might try and taper the bottom of the skirt in slightly, i want most of the volume at the top of the hips. The top isnt perfect, will need to develop the pattern a but. Not used to making t-shirts from non stretchy material! Have decide to fasten the back with a zip, so it can still be slightly fitted at the top. When i do the top properly, i will add a contrasting bias trim on the collar, and also fake contrasting cuffs/ turn ups on the sleeves. Also will need to line the skirt.

Home alone

2010-05-08T03:39:00.000-07:00

Marks off up to Orkney for 2 weeks (work stuff), and ive given him a shopping list for stuff i need off the beach! Blue or stripy plastic bags, weathered beach glass, plastic buoys, lots of rope (especially blue or multicoloured) and some yellow oilskins! So this weekend i am going to be a complete recluse and get some work done. Tutorial with Claire yesterday went really well, she got us to talk through our ideas in groups of 6, so aswell as her ideas and suggestions, we got some from other students as well. Here is my most developed fashion illustration, minus some brightly coloured/ printed tights! Still no luck finding a model, have asked my best pal Becki, but she lives about 800 miles away so thats a no. Also asked Ashliegh, the girl who i showed round Chelsea when she had her interview a few weeks ago (she got in by the way - 2nd year!!), but its her fashion show at Cardonald so she cant do it. Also asked Ally, my muse for my Ally and Audrey project, but she doesnt think she can get time off work. 1 girl left to ask, i know shes really into modelling so hopefully she can do it! If not then its time to start asking random girls on the street!

Exposed screen!

2010-05-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

Got my screen coated and exposed today, just with the tiny repeat of those plastic can holder thingies, and the larger repeat of the net floats. Tried to dye my lovely textured chunky wool fabric bright red, but it is actually closer to peach! Thats the LAST time i go to Shepards bush for fabric, i can never get anything i buy there to dye properly! Will see how it dries, might print on it anyway for samples. Seeing Claire tomorrow between 2 and half 2, so hopefully will have a couple of samples to show her. Have been thinking about my hat (really want to make one!). Going to use my scraps of fabric (being sustainable!!), different colours and prints, bits of digital etc, and make a 'ruffley' sort of head piece thing, and thinking about painting a few of the net floats that arrived the other day and painting them in bright colours from my palette, and 'nestling' them between the layers of ruffles. Will have to mount it all on one of those felty circle things with the elastic that goes under your chin. Better go, need to go and vote!

More fashion illustrations

2010-05-06T02:18:00.000-07:00

Few more illustrations. Really want to use the digital print of the sea repeated but not sure where to use it! Liked the idea of some sort of jacket, but it wouldnt work with the props im thinking of using, and also dont know if i can afford that much digital printing! This works better. Tried thinking about an actual corest/bodice type thing, but like the idea of printing it to look like one on the loose t shirt rather than trying to make one. Think i will feel a bit better once i have started sampling. Need to go into uni today and check what days i can use the dye lab and print room. Getting worried about tutorial with Claire tommorow, i dont have any samples yet aaah! And also very nervous about interim review on monday. AND there is no way i can get my digital prints ready for tuesday if i dont see Mel first!

Toothbrush colours

2010-05-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

At last - dont know why these werent uploading. Anyway. Like the idea of printing the toothbrushes in different colours in a row like the top image, instead of stripes. Would work as a waistband or edging. Also looks quite good as an all over repeat, but might look better even smaller? Teeny tiny toothbrushes.

Colours?

2010-05-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

Havnt got any new designs, but have been playing around with different colours for the ones i have. Done the toothbrushes as well, but cant get the images up here?! PS - Made chocolate cake, yummy but now feel very sick.

Fashion illustrations

2010-05-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

This is what else i have been working on today. Need to have some to take into my tutorial with Claire on friday. Have pretty much decided that i want to make a mid length skirt with the textured wool i found at a shop in Shepards bush, dyed red with the net floats printed in pale green 'puff'. Also want to make a loosish t-shirt with a digital print of the photo of net floats i took at Orkney College. Not sure if i want it to have a background colour or pattern but whatever it is it will need to be quite subtle. Undecided on waistband. Have some lovely loosely woven beige fabric which is very 'beachy', but also thinking about using some of the really crispy, plasticy fabric i got last week. Also considering some sort of jacket, not sure where else i can fit my sea repeat digital print in! Thinking about a sheer layer over the skirt as well. Lots to think about before friday!

More prints

2010-05-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

Some more repeat prints, the top is lines and lines of the toothbrush drawing i just did. Quite like it like that, all in one colour but think it will also look really good as one row of th design, every toothbrush in a different colour. The bottom design is the beach glass i drew ages ago in block colour. Would work best as quite a large placement print. If i can 2 more of these done today i will be happy! But right now im going to make a great big yummy chocolate cake!

Toothbrush

2010-05-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

Love this photo i found on flickr of toothbrushes found on the beach. You do see rather a lot of them on sandy beaches, kind of strange. Did a line drawing then coloured them on photoshop. Like the idea of using them instead of a stripe, on a waistband or edging. Havent drawn he bristles on purpose, going to embroider them in with chunky white thread.

prints

2010-05-05T03:15:00.000-07:00

Have been getting some designs ready to expose onto screen (which is why these are boring in black and white!). So these are from the net floats i got on ebay, and those plastic things that hold cans of beer together! Also going to try some similar designs with toothbrushes, gloves and broken dolls.

Spot the difference

2010-05-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Got carried away touching up the photo i am using for one of my digital prints. Just wanted to get rid of the worm, but ended up getting rid of all the teeny tiny bits of seaweed too! Had an essay feedback tutorial with Caryn this morning. Feel a bit better about starting the dissertation now. Have done some fashion illustrations this afternoon, and had a think about what fabric to go where etc. Found out we might not be getting tutorials with Mel tommorow, which means no tutorials before the digital prints get sent of next tuesday, which means I DONT KNOW WHAT IM DOING! Having never done digital print before, i have no idea what size i need to make my images, do they need to printed straight onto fabric or into garment shapes, on a disk or in an email? Help!

Cakes and Crochet

2010-05-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Went to Emily's house on Friday night for a knitting night, we actually spent more time eating and chatting, but i did learn to crochet! Had a lovely time and looking forward to doing it again. Thinking about using a bit of hand knitting or crochet in my project, something similar to the yellow Charles Anastace outfit with the black sheer layer.

Mirror repeat

2010-05-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

Had a photoshop workshop on Thursday. Learnt different kinds of repeats, and a few other things. Did this during the class, repeated image by mirroring it, which means it doesnt have any noticeable seams. Want to try it again, once i have touched up the original photo. Need to get rid of the worm and little bit of seaweed, and also brighten up some areas. Mel is in on Wednesday for tutorials in the CAD room so will get some help with it then. Have my 2nd tutorial with Claire this Friday, and need to have my colour palette decided, some fashion sketches, and some print samples (yikes!).

Post

2010-05-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

Look what arrived in the post Friday morning! Found someone selling these on Ebay, and they are actually Orkney ones as well! A shame they arent on rope, but i can always get my mum to send me a bit from the beach if i need it. Looking forward to drawing these when im feeling a bit better. Some of them have really interesting textures and patterns on, love the one with the little dashes carved into it.

Ooops!

2010-05-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Havnt posted anything for ages! Have had a very hectic weekend. Set of on the back of my dads moterbike saturday morning to spend the weekend with my little sister who has just moved to Peterborough, but we crashed before we even left London! Have a very sore leg and elbow, and maybe a bit of whiplash, but otherwise im fine. Then last night when we drove back to London, it was pouring with rain and really windy so have also caught a chill. Was supposed to be working really hard today since i had the weekend of but have actually been in bed all day! Anyway, went up to Shepards bush last Thursday to have a hunt around for this wool fabric im obsessed with, and actually found it! And for only £20 a metre! Its a bit more heavyweight, not quite as stretchy, and a bit 'fluffier' but i actually prefer it for this project. Cant wait to start dyeing it this week!

Colour??

2010-04-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Struggling to finalise my colour palette, there are to many to choose from! Got it narrowed down to these 8 but still unsure. Are they too 'pretty'?

Plastic hoop things that hold tins together!

2010-04-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Not sure what they are called, but thought they would make a nice repeat! Need to work on it a bit more though. Get loads of these on the beach in orkney, and probably everywhere. Horrible things, fish and birds are always getting stuck in them.

Beach glass

2010-04-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

Beach glass drawing with and without outlines! Trying to come up with as many quick designs like this as i can so i have plenty to choose from. Think the ones with out outlines will work better for this project, will be abale to print them with puff and foil.

Stolen flotsam and jetsam

2010-04-28T05:24:00.000-07:00

Have been looking on flickr at other peoples beach finds. Especially love the toothbrushes and gloves! Trying to find some sculpture and art on the internet made of flotsam and jetsam but not having much luck. Try drawing from these pictures later today.

Fabric shopping

2010-04-28T03:17:00.001-07:00

Met Emily yesterday morning on Berwick street for some fabric shopping. First stop was the cloth house. I am still obsessed with the lovely wool i used for my muse project, but the girls at the Cloth House said they wouldnt be getting it in again, and tried everywhere else on Berwick street! Louise recommended i try a shop in Lewisham, maybe tommorow. Anyway, i only have a tiny tiny square of this wool left, wondering if i can make a little panel or something?!?

Got 3 different plasticy textured fabrics. One is really thin, almost like a lining fabric but its lovely and crispy. Also got a coated linen type stuff, not sure about it now though, i think its to thick. Got a lovely coated cotton which is perfect, exactly what i imagined when i thought of a plasticy fabric. Also picked up the beigey/peachy colour loose weave fabric, its really 'beachy', like old netting or something. Will make a really nice ruffle round the waist i think!

Not sure what to get if i cant find this wool anywhere - think it will have to be a thick jersey. So my digital prints will be on silky, floaty fabrics, and im seeing the skirt part in the wool im after (or jersey). The plasticy fabrics will probably be used for accessories and details. Need to go and do some more drawings so im ready to expose screen soon!

Lots of tutorials

2010-04-28T03:07:00.000-07:00

On monday we had a research review. First was a tutorial with Mel and Kathy together, which was really helpful. They were really pleased with the new direction of this project so feel 're-inspired', and really excited to start printing. Tommorow im going to a photoshop workshop with Kenny to find out more about putting images into repeat. Going to try repeating this photo, and also need to ask about 'the mask tool' to try and brighten certain areas of it. Thinking of printing it onto a crepe de chine, or silk. Something floaty, to add to the shimmery effect. Going to add a yellow to my colour palette to brighten it up a bit, and also some 'plastic bag blue'. Also need to do some more line drawings of beach finds. Kathy preferred the things i tried on photoshop without the outlines. Lots of block colour. Had a chat about fabric too. Theb in the afternoon, ahd a quick chat with Claire Angel, who is helping us with the fashion side of things. See her next week again, and she has asked me to have some print samples ready (obviously my digital prints wont be back by then, but hopefully will have exposed screen by beginning of next week and started sampling. She also wants some fashion illustrations so she can see the shapes im thinking of, and of course need to finalise my colour palette and fabric choices.

Rock textures

2010-04-25T12:24:00.001-07:00

Continuous line drawing of texture on this rock (think it was on a beach in Stromness?). Scanned it into computer and filled in with colour on photoshop.

another repeat

2010-04-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

Thought i might as well show this one repeated too. Starting to feel really tired and fed up, but have loads more i should do for tommorow - havnt really done anything from the list i wrote during my tutorial with Kathy! Tried some fashion illustrations and also tried filling pattern into gaps in photos of rocks etc but not really getting anywhere with that.

Imagine this in puff

2010-04-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

Dyed red fabric, maybe some sort of wool printed with pale green puff, in repeat. So much more interesting that a plain polka dot!

jammy dodgers in repeat

2010-04-25T06:07:00.000-07:00

Quickly tried a repeat in photoshop. Need to draw more of these before it will work i think.

You look like jammy dodgers

2010-04-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Just filled some colour into my drawing of net floats - really pleased with it! They do look like biscuits, but i dont think thats a bad thing! Love the colours even more now that i have seen them used for something. Off for a cup of tea and to draw more floats!

New and imrpoved colour palette

2010-04-25T05:04:00.000-07:00

Chose the colours from the photo i took of the beach glass collected near the old life boat slip on Stronsay, and from the life ring on the Earl Thorfinn. Still have the pretty pastels i love so much, but the bright orangey red and the grey really make it interesting. Who knows i will probably change my mind again after tommorows research review (which i am completely unprepared for!)

Antoni and Alison

2010-04-25T04:51:00.000-07:00

Have always liked their stuff - check out the website, i want to buy everything! Anyway, i really like the oversized buttons and ribbon. Want to try something like this, but mixing hand drawn and photographic digital prints along with screen printing.

Alexa Ball - Holiday memories

2010-04-25T04:48:00.000-07:00

This is featured in Mels book (digital textile design), i think its by a Chelsea student. Its too 'seasidey' for my project, but i love the contrast of the candy stripes along with the photographic print. Colours are beautiful as well.

Charles Anastace A/W 10-11

2010-04-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

Had already looked at the headwear and collars in this collection, but now that my project is focusing more on beach finds and texture rather than waves, this feels a lot more relevant. I love the black sheer fabric with pockets over the yellow. Everythings really simple but fun, colourful and quirky at the same time.

Louise Gray S/S 10

2010-04-25T04:38:00.000-07:00

Love the mismatched feel of this collection. Its really textural, lots of unusual materials and found objects. Especially love the blue plastic carrier bags!

2010-04-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

As usual, my project has completely changed direction half way through. Im not going to be taking inspiration from my crashing wave photos, and Orkney folklore so much now - instead i am going to be concentrating on close up photos of textures in the sand and rocks, and the sparkly, bubbly photos of the sea taken at St Catherines Bay and also things you find on the shore line, like the net floats. Have been thinking about what else you find washed up on the beach, what else did i see a lot of when i was a little girl, and on my visit to Orkney during easter? I picked up these pretty pieces of beach glass, and think im going to use them for my colour palette. Other things you see a lot of in Orkney are plastic carrier bags (especially the bright blue ones, and the stripy ones), buoys, rope (every colour and weight you can imagine), drift wood, broken toys (strange amount of dolls heads, legs etc!) and plastic bottles. Time for dinner - post new fashion research tomorrow!

herrings

2010-04-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

Found out what these little things were actually used for - they are net floats, mainly used for herring fishing. Stronsay, the island i grew up on used to be famous for its herring fishing, about a hundred years ago. I think they will look really nice printed using puff or flock.

Tutorial with Kathy

2010-04-22T13:09:00.001-07:00

Here are my notes from my tutorial - fashion sketches, colour palette, collage with photos and bright colour, cut away sections, huge oversized accessories, drawings of rope, buoys, floats etc, abstract drawings in bright colour, 'pop art water', watercolour washes from sunset photos, glitter, clear foil, frothy bubbles, zoom in on photos for drawings, pastel colours from beach glass, bright colours from ropes, bright stripes and spots filled into gaps in textural photos of rocks and sand, head pieces, collars, necklaces, chunky edges, hats, print of bigger photos for wall, flotsam and jetsam, what else is washed up on the beach?

Found some of these things for sale on ebay - actually from Orkney! That explains why i couldnt find any on the beach, this guy had them all! Going to ask Mark nicely to get some buoys for me next time hes up in Orkney for work as well.

quick drawing

2010-04-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Quick continuous line drawing with fine liner. Imagine this screen printed as a placement print over a photographic digital print of a landscape, or close up of the sea.

Closer look at Comme Des Garcon

2010-04-21T09:08:00.000-07:00

If you look closely at these designs, you can see that photos of dresses have been printed onto the dresses! Mel was speaking about this sort of thing to me yesterday, constructing fabrics - ruffles or textures, then photographing them and printing them digitally onto a garment. Wasn't sure, but after having a closer look at these it seems really interesting. Mixing prints like this in, with actual textural panels or details could work.

Oh yeah...

2010-04-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

...Mel recommended i look at this collection by Prada, as it was inspired by the sea. I found most of the designs a bit dark, and kind of plain to be honest! The designs featuring these prints are nice, although they are a bit more 'seaside' than crashing waves and folklore. Am starting to think about using some of my photos as the background for over prints though.

Tutorial with Mel

2010-04-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Had a quick tutorial with Mel yesterday afternoon. Didn't go as well as i had hoped, mainly because my stupid old laptop broke so i couldn't show her any research! She saw about 20 photos i think before it crashed, but out of about 400, so not many really. She wants me to do some more fashion and print research for our research review on Monday, and to start some drawings and maybe paintings. Because this is going to be the first time i have printed digitally, im going to need lots of advice from Mel, so need to be able to get across what i am imagining in my head, so have spent the day looking through my print books and on the vogue website.

Colour

2010-04-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

So many beautiful colours in this photo. Think i want to choose colours from here for my palette. It has a really mystical feel which i want to show in my designs. The 6 colours are just ones i chose at random, really nice though!

Orkney College

2010-04-18T08:51:00.001-07:00

...where it all started! I did a foundation course in art, design and textiles, and then a portfolio preparation course here. Went in to say hello to my old tutors, Morag, Helga and Stuart, and to do a presentation to the current students and show them my portfolio.

While i was there Morag let me take some quick photos or the drawing objects they have there. Spent hours hunting the beach for this sort of stuff, but obviously the locals beat me to it! Hopefully can still get good drawings from photos. All these objects are old fishing things.

Had a nice chat with a young girl who has applied to Cardonald College (where i did my HND) and had a look through her portfolio. Was very impressed. She has the sort of quirky pieces and odd drawings in her portfolio that i didnt start to do till the end of my course at Cardonald, so im sure she will get a place!

Viktor and Rolf - Blacklight

2010-04-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Have been looking at all the different voluminous shapes and ruffles in Viktor and Rolf's 1999 collection. I am actually in love with their website, its like a fairy tale!

Comme Des Garcons AW 5/6

2010-04-18T08:31:00.001-07:00

Looking back at some old Comme Des Garcons. Love all the different textures and layers. Also really like the headwear, and occasional splashes of colour. Feels quite 'mermaidy' to me, which i like!

Orkney sunsets

2010-04-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

Ok so the focus of these photos is the sky, not the sea, but they are so beautiful, i couldnt not post them! Might help to give you more of an idea how stunning Orkney really is. The top sunset is from Marks parents garden, in Orphir. They have an amazing view over Stromness and the hills of hoy. The middle photo is of Hoy. Its quite possibly one of my favourite photos ever! I love the colours, and how it almost looks like a watercolour painting rather than a photo. The mist, and the different lilac and grey shades give a really mystical feeling. Want to use this in my project. The bottom photo was taken at a party at my friend Sudd's house. Was sitting on an armchair next to the window, and had to stop chatting to take the picture. Can you imagine getting views like this ta parties every weekend?! The view from his house is of the Kirkwall harbour and marina, with Wideford hill in the distance. Oh yeah, thought i should mention, none of the pictures i have posted in this blog have been changed in photoshop at all (normally i fiddle around with the exposure and colour balance), so these are the real colours!

Stromness

2010-04-18T07:01:00.000-07:00

Some photos i took from the beaches around Stromness (the smaller of Orkney's 2 towns). The wave picture shows something to do with EMEC, who generate energy from the sea. Dont know a lot about it, but my boyfriend does their website so might look into it a bit more. Also saw lots of interesting rock textures and lines which will make nice line drawings and maybe prints.

Hildaland, Hether Blether and Eynhallow

2010-04-18T05:06:00.000-07:00

Didnt get the most exciting photos of Eynhallow, but the story surrounding the island is such an interesting one that i couldn't not post about it. This photo was taken from the village of Evie on the mainland. The island you can just see on the right is Rousay. Eynhallow is uninhabited (up until 1841 it had a population of 26) so you cant get to it unless you have a boat. All that remains on the island is an old church. The tides can be very strong so it is very difficult to get access to the island, even with a boat! Theres an interesting story on the Orkneyjar website about a visit to Eynhallow in 1990. Most of the folk stories about Eynhallow consist of a young, beautiful woman being stolen by the Finmen and being forced to marry one. They then live on a small island that can only be seen by human eyes on misty days, or certain days of the year. The island they lived was known as Hildaland, or Hether Blether. It was stolen by the Finfolk, by humans which is why it can be seen today. Finfolk cant enter a place if it has a cross, or bible on the door, and i wonder if this is why there is a church on Eynhallow - so that the Finfolk cant steal it back? One theory on the stories about women being stolen by Finfolk, is that the women actually died, and their families were told that they had been taken by the Finfolk, to make it easier to deal with.

Call me Nonenna

2010-04-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

Oops! Havnt posted anything for ages. Have been busy seeing all my friends and stuff. Spent a lovely weekend with my best pals Paul and Becki, and their little boy Callum (who calls me Nonenna!). They recently moved to Finstown, a village on the mainland of Orkney, and this is the view from their back garden. They almost always have seals (or selkies) there, and apparently on Callums 2nd birthday there was 22 of them!

There are so many Orkney stories about the selkies. Folklore has it that when its sunny they come up to the beach and take their skins of and become selkie folk. Selkie folk are beautiful women, who sun themselves and play on the beach. They have lovely singing voices, and pale white skin. There are lots of stories of Orkney men snatching a selkie skin as the selkie folk play, and the selkie then becoming the mans wife, as they cant return to the sea without their skin. They fall in love, have lots of 'bonnie bairns' but then one day the selkie woman finds her old skin and returns to her home in the sea never to be seen again.

Hats may be involved - Charles Anastase

2010-04-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

Charles Anastase AW 10/11. Loved how these hats and neck peices made quite a minimalist collection seem really fun and quirky. I think bringing a hat or head peice into my project will make it a bit more eccentric, which is what i like!

Rodarte AW 10/11

2010-04-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

Have been a fan of the Mulleavy sisters work since Keira Nightly wore one of their dresses a few years ago, but have never thought i would want to work in a similar way. Their designs are always so textural whereas my work always tends to be more conversational and image based. I love the torn, frayed edges in this collection, and the contrast of chunky strands of wool with thin chiffon and lace. Can imagine the wool as strands of seaweed and rope washed up on the beach. Might have a closer look at some of their older collections aswell. The mermaids in Orkney apparently didnt have fish tails, they wore long embroidered skirts, which wrapped round their ankles as they swam to look like tails, and the long, uneven edges on these dresses are what i imagine they would have worn.

2010-04-08T05:01:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah...you can buy 'The Mermaid Bride and other Orkney Folk Tales' from the Orcadian bookshop online for £9.99.

The Mermaid Bride and other Orkney Folk Tales

2010-04-08T04:52:00.000-07:00

Dug out my old Orkney folk lore book from the attic and read it yesterday. Concentrated mostly on the stories from the sea. Read about the finfolk, mermaids, selkies, and the mester stoorworm. Im quite interested in the finfolks homes, Hether Blether and Hildaland which are islands that only appear to the human eye when its very misty. One of the islands was taken over by humans, and is now called Eynhallow. Its situated between the mainland and Rousay but unfortunately you cant get their unless you have your own boat. Also read about the finfolks home under the sea where they live during the winter - Finfolkaheem. The houses are built of coral, bright seaweed is planted instead of flowers, and there is always merry dancers (northern lights, arora borealis). Will write more about the creatures of the sea another day, might post some stories up.

Brough Sounds

2010-04-07T14:57:00.001-07:00

Even more pictures from about Birsay. The titles of these posts are place names from around the cliffs that i was at. Tommorow im going to try Warbeth beach and The look out post at Ness, near Stromness (which is the smaller of the 2 towns on the mainland of Orkney). Today i also went to the Ring of Brodgar (for the first time!) and took a couple of photos. Its not anything to do with the sea or waves, but i was reading my Orkney Folk Tales book lastnight and read a really nice tale about the stones at the Ring of Brodgar. Might post it Tommorow.

Point of Buckquoy

2010-04-07T14:51:00.001-07:00

Still around the cliffs in Birsay. You can see what people mean when they describe being 'hemmed in by the raging sea' in Orkney. This is a summers day, imagine what its like in the stormy winter!

Skipi Geo

2010-04-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

Back on the mainland now, staying in Orphir. Went for a drive to Birsay, then a long walk to the Brough of Birsay and Skipi Geo. You cant really see the scale of the waves in the pictures, quite scary! Perfect day for photos, took over a hundred. Really sunny, but windy enough for some big waves.

Last day on Stronsay

2010-04-05T12:18:00.000-07:00

Rope and seaweed on St Catherines Bay. Back to the mainland tommorow, if the wind dies down a bit!

Rocks

2010-04-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

Weather has been wild today so havnt got out to take any photos. These pictures were taken on St Cathrines Bay yesterday. Really interesting textures in the rocks. Dont know what has happened to the rock in the middle, never seen anything like it before. The other two have been worn away by the sea. Could make some really nice textural drawings and prints.

Ayre of the Myers take 2

2010-04-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

Went for another walk to Ayre of the Myers this eveining as its been really sunny. The first time i have seen big waves since i got here so took a few. When i got home im looking forward to zooming in on photoshop and posting some of the details of the splashes on the waves. Thats enough posting for one evening i think, more tommorow.

Paddling at St Catherines Bay

2010-04-04T12:18:00.001-07:00

Spent ages splashing around in my wellies, forgot how much i love paddling! Took some photos of the sun shining into the shallow water that i think are quite interesting. Also at St Catherines took lots more pictures of rope and stuff washed up on the shoreline, and collected lots of little smooth stones and glass.

Sand

2010-04-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

Spent a few hours on St Catherines Bay this afternoon, the sun came out so got loads of photos - will post sets of 3! There are some amazing textures in the sand at this beach, left by the waves (and one from some really sweet little birds - they wouldnt stop for a photo though!)

Old Lifeboat slip

2010-04-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

Early this morning went for a walk to the old life boat slip but was freezing cold so didnt stay long! Was quite dark and overcast so the photos didnt come out very well.

Ayre of the Myers

2010-04-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

Went for a walk today to the sandy beach behind mum and dads, the Ayre of the Myers. Once the rain stopped today, it was a flat calm day so no waves! Collected some nice stones though, and took photos of bits of rope washed up with the seaweed. Also saw some new lambs in a feild and went to visit a nice lady who gave me lots of old fabric which i am posting about on my other blog. Hopefully get some better photos tommorow.

photos from the ferry

2010-04-03T13:05:00.001-07:00

Took lots of these pictures over the side of the Earl Thorfinn on the way out to Stronsay last night.

Home sweet home!

2010-04-03T06:48:00.001-07:00

Finally home, unfortunately its torrential rain here so cant get out to take any photos today. Got some from the ferry though on the way from the Orkney mainland to Stronsay - here are a few. One is from the ferry just leaving Kirkwall, you can see almost the entire town in the photo! Another is of the boat coming into Stronsay. Thats my mum and dads house in the middle. Also a picture of a life ring on the boat - The Earl Thorfinn. Also got some good photos of the waves over the side of the ferry. Will post some this evening.

Travelling

2010-03-30T13:35:00.000-07:00

Setting of first thing tommorow, got a long journey back to Stronsay! We dont arrive until 6pm on Friday, and thats provided all the snow and gale force winds forecasted dont get in our way! Stopping of in Glasgow overnight, spending some time with my little sister and Ally (my muse from 'Ally and Audrey') then setting of again first thing Thursday morning, staying the night on mainland Orkney then out to Stronsay on Friday. So hopefully i will actually have some decent research to post about starting at the weekend.

Bora Aksu A W 10/11

2010-03-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

In a strange way this really really reminds me of the sea! Especially the shore line. The delicate chiffon ruffles make me think of gentle foamy waves, the puffy layers of sheer fabrics remind me of the water swelling, and the knitted knots and strands remind me of seaweed and ropes washed up on the beach. Some of the dresses also have a sort of ;fairy tale' feel which i really like. The subtle colours are beautiful. Its worth clicking on the images to see the bigger versions, the detail is amazing.

The selkie that deud no' forget

2010-03-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

Ae time langsine, Mansie Meur wus pickan' lempeds i' the ebb, on the wast side o' Hacksness i' Sanday, whin he wus stunned tae hear some wey amang the rocks a unco' ceurious soond.

Sometimes hid wus like a bothy i' terrable pain, makin' meen; an' dan hid wad mak' a lood soond like the root o' a deean' coo. An' dan again de soond wad dee awa' tae a laich an' maist peetiful meen, as gin hid been a bothy ootmucht i' a bought o' the wark.

The soond wus sae awfu' peetifu', hid meed Mansie think lang tae hear hid. Mansie could see naethin' for a peedie while, bit a muckle selkie doss in at the rocks, rakin' his heed abeun de skreuf o' the water, an leukan' wi' baith his een i'tae a geo a peedie bit awa'. An' Mansie noticed that the selkie wus no f'aer'd, niver dookid, an' niver teuk his e'e aff o' that geo.

Mansie geed ower a muckle rock 'at lay atween him an' that geo; an' theret i' a cunyo o' the geo, he saw a mither selkie lyan' i' a' the trouble o' her callowin'-pains. An' hid wus her that meed a' the sair meen an' lood yowlin'; an' the faither selkie lay i' the sea watchin' his marrow i' her trouble. Mansie steud an' watched her teu, an' said it wus peetifu' tae see what the peur dumb animal suffered. An' there he steud, a bit aff, till sheu callowed twa bonnie selkie calves, that wur nee seuner on the rock or dey grippid for de pap. Mansie t'ought tae himsel' the calf hides wad mak' a bonnie waistco't tae him; an' he ran tae whar dey wur a' t'ree lyan. The peur mither selkie rowed hersel' ower the face o' de rock i'tae the sea; bit her twa birds hed no' wit tae flee. Sae Mansie grippid dem baith. An' dan hid wus sae winderful' tae see the atfares o' the mither selkie. She teuk sic' t'ought for her young. Sheu rowed aboot an' aboot i' the sea, an' baeted hersel' wi' her megs, like a t'ing distracted. An' dan sheu wad climmer ap wi' her fore megs on de face o' de rock, an' glower'd i' Mansie's face, wi' a luck sae terrably peetifu', hid wad hae melted a he'rt o' steen tae seen her. The faither selkie was ga'n the sam' wey, only he wad no' come sae near Mansie.

Mansie turned tae gang awa' wi' the twa selkie birds i' his erms - dey wur sookin' at his co't as gin dey been at the mither's breest - whin he heard the selkie mither gae a groan sae dismal an' how, an' sae human like, that hid geed stra'cht tae his h'ert, an' fairly owercam' him. He luckid about an' saw the mither selkie lyan' on her side, wi' her heed on the rock; an' he saw - as seur as iver he saw a t'ing on earth - the tares feeman' fae baith her e'en. Tae see nater wirkan' sae sair i' the peur dumb aater, he could nae bide hid mair. Sae he looted doon an' passed baith the peerie selkies on the rock. The mither teuk dem i' her megs, an' clespid dem tae her bosom, as gin sheu been a bothy wi' a bairn. An' sheu luckid i' Mansie's face; O! sic' a blithe luck the selkie gae him. Sheu deud Mansie geud tae see her. For dat day the selkie deud ivery t'ing but speak.

Mansie wus dan a young man; an' a while efter dat he merried.

An' a lang while efter he merried, whin his bairns wur groun-ap folk, he geed tae bide on the wast side o' Eday. Ae bonnie e'enin', Mansie geed tae fish sillos aff o' an oot-lyan' rock. He wus a ootflow rock, that ye could only gang tae dry shod wi' low water. The fish wad no' tak' ava' for a peedie while; bit whin be begood tae flou, sheu set on an' teuk brawly, sae that Mansie steud an' hauled whill he filled his sea-cubbie. The fish teuk sae bonnie, that i' his feurcness tae fish he forgot the gate he hed tae gang. An' whin he cam' tae gang heem, he was sairly stunned tae see the trink atween him an' the land fairly flou'd ower, an' the sea sae deep he wad taen him abeun de heed. Mansie cried an' better cried; bit he wus far fae ony hoose, and nee bothy heard his cries.

The water raise an' raise, cam' ap abeun his knees, abeun his henches, ap tae his oxters; an' miny a sair sich gae he, as de water cam' aye hicher an' nearer tae his chin. He cried whill he wus trapple-hers', an' he could cry nee mair. An' dan he gae ap; a' hup' o' life, an' saw naething afore him bit dismal daeth. An' dan, as de sea wus comin' roond his hass, an' comin' noos and dans i' peedie lippers tae his mooth, jeust as he f'and the sea beginnan' tae lift him fae the rock, - summin' grippid him bae thc neck o' the co't an' whippid him aff o' his feet. He kent no' what hid wus, or whar he wus, till he f'and his feet at the boddam whar he could wad ashore i' safety. An' whin de craeter 'at hed haud o' him passed him, he wadded tae the dry land.

He luckid whar he cam' fae, an' saw a muckle selkie swiman' tae the rock whar sheu dookid, teuk ap his cubbie o' fish, an' swam wi'd tae the land. He wadded oot an' teuk the cubbie fu' o' fish oot o' her mooth; an' he said wi' a' his he'rt, "Geud bliss the selkie that deus no' forget."

An' sheu luckid tae him, as gin, if sheu could hae spoken, sheu wad hae said, "Ae geud turn meets anither."

Sheu wus the sam' selkie that he saw callowan' on Hacksness forty years afore.

He said he wad hae kent her mitherly luck amang a thoosan'. Bit she wus groun a arkmae. Sae that wus the selkie that deud no' forget.

I wiss' a'bothy may mind on what's geud, as weel as that selkie.

By Walter Traill Dennison, published 1880

Hildaland and Hether Blether

2010-03-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

"Given the mystical, almost dreamlike landscape of the Orkney Islands, with standing stones, ancient ruins, burial mounds and spectacular scenery, all hemmed in by the invisible walls of a raging sea, it is not surprising that the islands have such a rich and varied folklore."

Love this quote from the 'OrkneyJar' website. Really want to incorporate some of Orkneys folklore into my project some how. Theres fairies and trolls, witches and giants, but i want to concentrate more on the finmen and selkies, the islands that dissapear in the mist, the sea monsters and serpants. Stronsay, 'my island' actually has its own story - 'The Stronsay Beast'. Im going to look at the poems and stories of George Mackay, and other Orkney verses, perhaps i could print some of these onto my designs?

Interested in finding out more about Orkneys 2 'dissapearing islands', Hildaland and Hether Blether, and the folk lore and tradition surrounding them.

Amos Photography

2010-03-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Have been asking my pal Kat (Amos Photography) for some tips about where to get good photos of the sea and waves on the mainland of Orkney (being a 'Stronsay girl' i only really know the best places on Stronsay). She has suggested i try Yesnaby, Brough of Birsay, Skaill, Marwick and the barriers. Need to concinve Mark to take some time of work while we are in Orkney to drive me everywhere! Have been looking at some of Kats photos, they are really really good! Loads of lovely ones in Orkney, lots of sunsets and beaches! Her website is being updated so have a look at her work here. This photo is taken at the Brough of Birsay.

More thoughts...

2010-03-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Right, so until i arrive in Orkney (leave on the 31st, arrive late on the 1st but dont actually get to Stronsay until the 2nd...yes it takes me 3 whole days to get home) im going to do some fashion research. I have a few ideas of the kind of fabrics i want to create to represent the crashing waves etc (lots of oversized ruffles and texture), but am not sure how to incorporate my usual quirky images. Perhaps line drawings of Orkney scenes subtly printed on somehow? Orkney has a lot of folkloric history, so could perhaps use that somehow? Stronsay apparently had fairies and trolls, who managed to travel accross the sea to Kirkwall, on the mainland. Cant remember how, need to dig out my old Orkney story book. Wonder if the standing stones that move around on certain nights of the year count as 'movement in nature'?!?Yeah, so back to the fashion research. Here are some designs i came up with when i was at Cardonald college. I was set a very strict breif, that i wont go into right now (recycled wedding dress, only use white bla bla), but the sort of textures in them is kind of what im thinking. Probably more delicate, and obvioulsey better made, i only had 3 days to finish to design at the top, and about 2 weeks for the other 2. When i was working on these i was looking at japanese designers like Commes Des Garcons and Junya Watanabe, and also at Viktor and Rolfs blacklight collection. Am thinking about them again, but also more delicate designers like Bora Aksu. To the vogue website!