toiling a blouse...

i decided to overlap my rsa and my final collection ideas by creating a blouse shape that i want to use for my final collection. The blouse works well with my rsa final garment so i decided to toile it up. I created the pattern and toile yesterday at uni. I found the pattern quite easy to do, but making was quite different. I feel confident with making but this throw me a little because of the fabric. The fabric i want to use has no stretch and this was the only fabric i could find with the same quality. SORRY ITS SO LOUD!!! hurts your eyes abit doesn't it! after a couple of attempts i finished my toile. i will make the real one on Thursday, I'll post that on my blog and you'll see how nice the shape really is instead of looking at the loud print on my toile!!! oops!

findings and thoughts of the week...

here are some examples from my sketchbook. These pages show how i want to mix the influences of Russian opulence with 50's house hold fashion and prints. I think i want to create a range of dresses and blouses for my collection that are unusual in the way each will be similar but worn completely different. This is where my Russian dollies come in tot he equation. I want to create a collection that consists of the similar garments but are constructed slightly differently and therefore all have a unique different look. (honestly it makes sense in my head!!!) My collection will look quite vintage but have a very contemporary twist. I will post some of my sketches in a couple of days, i may even present them on a video.

EVERY THING ON MY PAGE HAS A COPY RIGHT!

final collection thoughts...

after having my tutorial with ann last monday, i've really been thinking about my final collection direction. Ann asked me if I was going to develop my rsa to my final collection. I said no of course because I have my thoughts and visions already of what its going to look like. I do however think that I may focus it down slightly. for example I may have my main pieces being based on or look like dolly dresses, with weird contemporary twists.
One thing in particular that has got me thinking of this is the new Christmas adverts for BOOTS, The ' have a glamorous Christmas'. The adverts are of house wives dressed extra glamorous with hair and make up looking gorgeous, but they are doing household chores, like hoovering in high heels and long evening gown, stuffing the turkey after just painting her nails. Its about them looking gorgeous. I'll have to try and get some pics on here to illustrate my point. to get to the point I think I want my cloths to have or give the wearer this kind of confidence/ arrogance about them feeling so gorgeous and glamorous. I also want to have a degree of innocence to my clothing, whether this is done through shape or colour.
I'll try and find that ad!

COPY RIGHT

EVERYTHING ON THIS PAGE HAS A COPY RIGHT ON IT, SO DO NOT REPRODUCE OR USE ANYTHING FOUND ON THIS PAGE WITH OUT THE OWNERS CONSENT. thank you x

toiling toiling toiling...

introducing.......half of my toil! wahey! On Monday I stayed in the studio after my tutorial to carry on with my toile. I created one toile and had to take out a dart from the bust. This is the end result. Dart out, looking much better. This is my second toile for the top half of my pinafore dress for my capsule collection. I am going to make the skirt half on Thursday night, then create the real thing. I am also going to create the blouse which sits underneath the pinafore.

Tutorial with Ann on rsa...

My tutorial went so well! I was feeling really torn with all my ideas and what to do about them. Ann sorted me out though! She gave me such a confidence boost about my designs and work in general. I also spoke to her about my final collection. She really liked my ideas and thoughts for how my final collection will be shaped and styled. I'm quite excited to actually start it!

from my tutorial my aims are to; sort my ideas out and smarten up my sketches for my sketch book/ board 1, draw my final capsule collection up from my ideas noting details in construction, fabrics, etc, continue with my toiling....But most of all STOP WORRYING and get on with it!! (I seriously cant help it!)
all in all a good day!

Thoughts of the day...

I've really been getting on with my rsa so much that I must admit I've been neglecting my context quite abit! Oops! But after my tutorial and change of subject I feel much better! My tutorial went really well and Janet just told me to get on and write it now! How scary!!!!
I do love my rsa work though, am excited for my next tutorial with Ann on Monday. I really want some feed back on my work so far, as haven't really had a tutorial since the first Monday! I've brought lots of fabrics for my collection, but didn't realize we have only got to make one garment, not even an outfit, how disappointing!!!

Information exchange - the day after...

The information exchange went really well I thought! I must admit I was really quite nervous because I did my placements at not very known companies, i.e I had no big names on my stand! I know that sounds really sad but I suppose its what attracts people. The first and second years are very good though, they were very open, asked lots of questions and it gave me a massive confidence boost. Once I started talking about my placements, I realized I had done actually quite a lot! From pattern cutting to garment technologist roles, visual merchandising to teaching! Wow! How big headed do I feel! I hope it all helps in the long run of job hunting.

Designs and toiling

I started to toile up one of my designs last night with fiona. I didn't realise we only has to toil up one garment but I'm going to do an out fit and an extra pair of trousers that I've designed - I know I've got my work cut out but this is what I want to do! I also want to use some sort of print, I think that it would add a personal touch to my designs, instead of using already printed fabrics.
I plan to finalize my designs this weekend and start thinking about my boards.
My design that I'm toiling is my favorite design. I have developed it so that is more unusual and will be a slight challenge in the pattern cutting department. I also bought lots of fabrics yesterday before I found out we only need to toile up on garment. I love the fabrics that I've brought, they are both business suited and daring to fit in with my butterfly theme. I'll get them put on my blog asap! I also bought some absolutely fab buttons, girls honestly its a fabric shop in stoke, well worth a trip!

printing on fabrics

For my garments i would like to use some form of print. I bought this piece of fabric off ebay. It has the right colours and print i was looking for, but i would much rather create my own. I've emailed ann to see if she can hook me up with some one from textiles so i can have a go.

just a couple of pages from my RSA sketchbook to show my thoght process and development to design stage. I have cut up butterflies to create outfits and all cut out silhouettes and placemed them over mini mood boards that i created in my sketchbook. The shapes and patterns created are very inspiring and i've started to draw some designs from them.
Can i put a copy right on this please. C.

information exchange

what a lovely evening! it was so good to talk to the other students from the other years. It gave me a little confidence boost too. I did feel alittle big headed talking about myself as though i new loads, but i think it sounded good what was coming out of my mouth! tehe! it has given me a little scar as well though. just thinking about getting a job when i finish, with all that competition. I would really love to get myself on a graduate training sceme for a big company like George or Tescos ranges, but on the other hand i'd love to go and work for really small company or designer who would give me praps so much more time and experiences hands on. SOMEONE COME AND GUIDE ME PLEASE!!! oh if only! better make my CV cracking!