Mimaki Printing

The printing of my mimaki backgrounds is now complete! This week Ill be in the print room screen printing onto the mimaki prints, but here are my prints, in the making!:

Jacquard Weaving

I have had my first attempt at weaving designs using our Jacquard facility at university. I familiarised myself with software I have never used before (Jacquard Designer and Apos Digital Assistant) and used it to create a design from my paperwork. I felt that the first weave was such a success I proceeded to change the design and weave a second variation the next day.

Here are my results as they were created, the Jacquard in action:

Anchor Supplies visit

I paid a visit to Anchor supplies army surplus store in order to purchase some vintage supplies for my project, and with the hope of being inspired. I was accompanied on the trip by fellow juniour designer Faye Currie.
We both searched the dank and fusty warehouses for something to bring merit and personality to our projects. I found a large variety of different button, original uniform patches, maps and many interesting elements to incorperate in my project.
Here are a few snaps from my visit, and of some purchases:

Medals and Medal Ribbons

I found this topic to be most patriotic and the one which i could best express what the British empire meant to me, largely because I have a passion for history and I found that through this topic I could express many concepts and emotions important to me, Which was an important factor as I still felt a keeness to make the project very personal.

Here are some of my early studies of medals:

Tea and cake?

The topic of Tea cups, cake stands etc was probably the one which I found most challenging, as it can be difficult to be successfully creative with a kitsch subject, but I was rather pleased with some of my studies, here are some examples:

Birds & Fish

I began observing the different suggested themes within the project rather early in my sketchbook. Firstly I looked at the topic 'Birds & Fish, here are a few of the resulting studies:

History of Great Britain

For the third time in a row, my sketchbook is a book I am recycling. Previously I used an old music book, and then a diary, but this time I have opted for a historical book, quite aptly about Great Britain. I will admit that this was no coincidence, I spent numerous days early in the project searching for the right book to give a second life.
Although working in old books can be a controvertial point with some, I admit that I throughly enjoy it, as I am breathing a second life into an unloved, disgarded book, which otherwise would most likely be left to rot, but it all a matter of opinion!

Anyway! Here is my rather beaten sketchbook: