Sampling for backgrounds

Having realised that I needed a more subtle fabric length than the Glendurgan or the Magnolia for the Spring Summer part of the MA Show I have been sampling backgrounds for the Map and Hydrangea Turquoise fabric in digital print so that it fits in with the other fabrics on the stool and chair . Having sampled several colours I have finally found the one and have printed a length on linen jupiter,

Hanging shade

The new lamp and shade have arrived in the nick of time and look good . The lamp design is not completely cylindrical but was never going to be given the vertical lines running through the design but surprisingly hold the shape much better as a hanging shade . The manufacturer this time put a much lighter base on which works better . I havent had the time to photograph them but have the shade from the last delivery.I do love the shadows / shapes cast by the shades.

Ceramics

Finally found the time to photograph the ceramics . The decals work well with the main body integrating into the original decoration and create a beautiful up cycled product ready for the show.

Auction finds

I am thinking to wards the future looking for new ceramics to apply the decals to and visited the David Lay auction preview and found these items . Unfrotunately the auction date tied in with the dates for putting up the show but at least I know that there are more coming up and they are a good source for the future.

Parralels with Crysede

Parralels with Crysede have become more apparent as I have been mounting samples for the presentation next week .Although there are big differences in colour and subject matter there is an element of Cornwall and in the simplicity of the designs that somehow tie them together . The one on the right is one of my Euphorbia designs

New small screen and tray.

I have now constructed the new small screen in an "Oak" design that has been laser cut and the supports constructed in oak . It still needs oiling but works much better than the original although it doesn't fold flat as I wanted it to be more of a containing screen rather than a divider . The laser etched "Hydrangea "tray is also completed to display the ceramics on. This is customised from a new IKEA tray.

Why has everything already been done ?

Whilst researching for my essay I also discovered the work of Johan Carpner
Extract from the Design Blog 2007
"The next design is one of his latest creation. Glanta is a sheet metal and acrylic pendant lamp which he designed for Blond. The Glanta hangs proudly and presents a soothing sight to the beholder. The light sifts through a beautiful foliage pattern. Its like having a garden right inside your living room.
Ah well just as well I am not going to put my lamp into production.

Two books to look out for

Have got these two great books from the library as research and enjoyment . One by Bradley Quinn Textile Designers at the Cutting Edge 2009 Laurence King Publishing is split into two sections Body and Space and features 36 of the cutting edge designers of our time . In particular Natalie Chanin who recycles t shirts into high end fashion embellishing stitching and hand dyeing them and has moved from New York back to her home town and created a whole home industry in Alabama using local labour . The Project Alabama and her blog are fascinating reading . Something else to look into further after the MA.I do want to investigate the upcycling of unwanted or discarded table linens more . Also Hil Driesson ( there is such a lot of excellent Dutch Design around) who is a textile designer who also works with glass metal and ceramics. My favourite piece of hers is a wall mounted vinyl sheet with a raised stitch tree with a background shadow of real trees .

The other book is Chloe Colchesters Textiles Today Thames and Hudson 2007 " a global survey of trends and traditions" p126 has an Ely Kishimoto design that is the spitting image of a part of one of the Crysede designs .See below !!

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Chairs recovered

Winter Collection

I have had the Ercol chair and stool recovered in my Glendurgan Fox fabric (see first image for details)and they look great . I had the chair done in the Jaquard weave and the stool in the digital print but crossed over the piping to pull them together . This should look great with the rest of the products including the canvas which has now been framed .

Autumn/Winter and Spring /SummerCollection Space

A preview of the space where I will exhibit the two collections . The idea is to have the Spring /Summer by th window to provide more light
The stool will combined with a hanging lamp which I have tested at home and casts really lovely shadows .

The new Oak Screen

I have now collected the finished screen from Aaron Moore who has been framing it for me and putting it together and it is looking great . It is very heavy though as the frame is solid oak but that could be an advantage as it ir more stable also this one folds flat due to the Hafele Soss hinges .

The Fox Family

Part of my research for my fabrics has been on the Fox family who were Quakers and not only instrumental in the setting up of the local gardens around which my designs are based but also very influential in the development of the town of Falmouth and were known all over all over England from the 18th century onwards .
My Glendurgan Fox design has as a feature the stone fox seen on the gateposts of the Gardens and the house with plant references to the rhododendron collection ,rhododendrons are one of the main features of Cornish gardens, due to Cornwall's relatively mild climate and early spring and flower from late winter into spring .The gardens at the Tremough Campus also contain one of the first hybrids to be produced and have their own famous collection .
"The cultivation of the choicer types of rhododendrons really dates from Joseph Hooker's travels in Sikkim, when seedlings raised at Kew were sent for trial to some favoured gardens. At Tremough, Richard Gill, the Shilson family's gardener, produced 'Shilsonii' (R. barbatum x R. thomsonii) A.M. 1900, 'Duke of Cornwall' (R. arboreum x R. barbatum) A.M. 1907 and 'Ernest Gill' (R. arboreum x R. fortunei) A.M. 1918. His finest hybrid however has been 'Beauty of Tremough' (R. griffithianum x blood- red R. arboreum) made in 1893, which was awarded an F .C.C. at the Truro Show in 1902."
These flowers have significance for me from my childhood days of playing in the grounds of an old house in BenRhydding in Yorkshire that was full of rhododenron bushes and have proved a fascination ever since for the size of bloom and variety of colour and species .
The winter hellebores included in this design came from a drawing made at the tea rooms at Gweek but are a feature of most winter gardens and remind me of Silverdale where I lived for a few years .
Images shown are of the design in repeat on a white background the same with a turquise background and the lates design in greyscale for a repeatnow printed on hemp and ramie to be used on a cushion on my Ercol stool.