Graphic Design update

Right, this is an update for everyone to see what I do, a lot have asked what I do in my day job and when I say I'm a graphic designer, people have different opinions on what that entails. So recently I've been heavily involved in two magazines, mostly in the 'Livin IT' one as that involved a lot more design work.

The magazine has now been published and is being distributed to home sellers across 23 different postcodes as well as various retailers, for example anywhere that has seating/waiting area such as doctors, hair salons, dentists etc. The estimated readership for the magazine is 80,000 people so the exposure for my work is massive.

The work I've done for the magazine includes the layout designs for all the property pages and the design work for the company adverts.

I've included some images for you all to check out.

Textiles techniques

Update on what I did last week. Firstly I took the distressed fabric I'd previously created by exposing it to bleach - I then developed the sample and used different types of paper, pencil, oil pastel and water colour to re-create it.

I'm quite happy with how it ended up, and thought the use of different things in one piece really worked well.

Secondly I learnt a new technique called Batik, although I don't think it will help me with my final piece, I really enjoyed this style of art. The technique involved using hot wax to create a resist on the fabric. You then paint over it with dye layering from light to dark to create a really cool background - finally you sandwich the fabric between layers of newspaper and iron the wax off to leave behind the original fabric, this creates really nice effects (would make a really good space effect if done correctly).

Textile Project - Research

So, I've finally decided on an idea - it kind of links what I want to eventually do. The idea is a landscape made from computer components, been thinking of using metallic materials within the final piece but this is something I'll need to explore a little more. In the mean time I've been trying to find some examples and inspiration and these 3D models are amazing.

Fabric distressing

Just a quick update on the fabric distressing task - managed to try two things so far and ran out of ideas, firstly I took a chefs torch to one piece of fabric which resulted in it withering up and bubbling slightly, this created a cool effect.

The second I have placed in a glass of bleach, and will post a picture of the end result once it's done.

Any ideas on some more methods are welcome.

Applique & Suffolk Puffs

So, I thought I better bless you all with an update seen as I've been neglecting the blog slightly. 

So last week I learnt about two things, firstly was Suffolk Puffs - although at first it seemed very simple I quickly learnt that being a bit of a perfectionist with the stitching was not a good idea. My stitching was far too small and close together which resulted in the fabric not gathering into a "pouch". Second and third attempt at this did however prove a success but ultimately I wasn't sold on the technique. 

Second and by far my favourite technique of the night was the Applique - although we kind of cheated on the process and quickened it up using bondaweb instead of a stitch I found it really good. My borderline crazy obsession with triangles shone through again as I used different layers of fabric on top of each other to create a nice triangular piece, to finish it off I started to add a little running stitch round the edge of the fabric pieces. 

Update!

Getting stuck in with this printing today, found working on the foam board very good - came up with a cool grungy effect.

Wasn't as keen on the transfer printing but it did come up with some nice results - probably need to give it another go at some point.