It's FMP time...Final Major Project!!!! Eeeek.

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post and sometimes life just gets in the way but I've still been a busy bee at college. I've got plenty to show you (If you will stick around!)

I've been trying to further develop my bacteria concept and decided to experiment further with my eva foam moulds I had made down in 3D. In my sketchbook I had highlighted 'LAYERS' but didn't want this incorporated into my silhouette...Hmmmm I had to get my thinking cap on. Had a mooch around at home and found some Oasis floristry moss and some organza scraps along with some spare merino fibres. Whipped out my sewing machine and free machine foot and had a go at creating a layered, filled foam mould..I was very leased with the outcome and I think I could push it further, if I were to develop this textile concept...I could pull the merino strands through the organza.

After developing my sublimation print samples, I had another textile concept idea as I was very keen for my textiles to take on the visual of a living organism/mouldy petri-dish/Microscopic slide.....I felted the loose merino fibres and some of the Oasis floristry moss into my sub print poly satin instead of using the puff binder to really bring it to life. I forgot to use an embroidery hoop to hold the tension when using the free machine foot and If I take this further I will need to look into supporting the satin with some kind of interfacing...Watch this space.

I'm really pleased to be finally showing you my final concept, colour and customer profile boards....These boards I really struggle to produce but in essence they are actually very simple. I take the  simplicity away by completely over-thinking it and making them into a bigger ordeal than what they are. Forward thinking into Year 2...Overthinking is something I really need to work on if I'm going to cope and manage, and to help combat this and calm this trait down, I've been practicing Mindfulness. I think it's working but perhaps ask me next year! lol.

Concept board

Customer profile

Colour board

I've named my collection-Colonies as its been inspired by science (bacteria, microscopic organisms, mould and fungus) To bring my final boards together, I took into consideration how to bring them together and look cohesive, like they belong together...That they all link and you an see the connection. The name of my collection was alo chosen with consideration as it had to be science and bacteria related. Colonies definition- Several individual organisms (especially of the same species) living together in close association.

And last but not least.......Starting my range plan. I'll talk mor about thi in a later blog post in the week. Thanks for reading my loves. Portrait artist of the year is on TV and I want to fnally put my feet up. Abi xxx

Bathtime Blog!

Round 2 of this weeks blog post and I'm living it up dressed as the Hulk with my weekly facemask treat. It's usually Sundays  but It's been one of those weeks!

Yesterday I had my 1-2-1 feedback, I was nervous to say the least but I was really pleased with what my tutors had to say about me and my work so far! I've still got so much to learn and didn't hit some of the unit requirements (I'm very good at reading the brief and keeping check) but I'm not too worried. I'm doing so much better than I anticipated.

 So....I wanted to quickly show you how I came about making my interpretation of enlarged science bateria/mould inspired petri dishes. Using clay from the ceramics department, I made these moulds....Fashioned them into some sort of 3D, textural petri dishes (left image) and from these I was able to create my foam 3D dishes (middle image) and then to complete my sample and bring it to life (well the idea I had in my brain) I used the felting machine and 100% Merino wool and felted, very lightly into the 3D parts to make it look like furry, fuzzy mouldy areas. I'm so pleased that I've been able to create my vision and bring it to the table. At this moment I'm thinking they might make awesome pocket openings! Watch this space!

Anyway...I have a glass of wine in the bath. *CHIN-CHIN. Abi x

Bacteria baby....Bacteria!!!

Would you say I was nuts if I told you that I'm incorporating bacteria into my garment design for my new brief?......I think I'm flipping bonkers!!! Last week saw me in a creative block...Absolutely nothing was coming from my creative brain, It was like somebody has disconnected the plug and I just didn't work anymore. Well I'm pleased to say I'M BACK IN FULL WORKING MODE 🙌🙌🙌 Whoop Whoop.

I really must Thank my studio buddy, Chelsea. She sat down with me, took my work and wrote down all the things I couldn't see and helped me to look at my development pages differently, expanding on what I had already got and thus..Unblocking me (to  a certain degree!)...I've been kinda flowing ever since.

So Yeah, Bacteria!

There's a little bit more to it and some extra processes involved but in a nutshell..I'm not going to be using 'Live' bacteria but It's been the catalyst of inspiration for me. Today I got my hands dirty in Ceramics and did some hand building. On a side note...Is anybody watching The Great Pottery Throw Down? It's so bloody good, even Ryan stays up to watch it and I've taken an interest in learning that craft. My tutor Jo has her own studio so I'm hoping to get involved there over the summer. I'll be throwing jugs in no time. 

In my research development I had highlighted and identified magnify bacteria, enlarging bacteria so with clay I created my own magnified bacteria colony on a petri dish (It may not be scientifically correct but It's all my own work) Take a look:- 

In the first instance they don't really look like anything but I made these clay moulds to use down in the 3D department (I'm really enjoying collaborating with the other departments) on the heat form Vacuum machine thingy (Can't quite remember its correct name)...I'm made a slow motion video of it in action.

And Heres the finished press....

I'll be working into these a lot more to really bring them to life! I'll reveal in a blog later on in the week. I'd love to know what you think so far? 

Abi xxx