Techniques

I've now learnt how to anneal, the process of heating a piece of metal so it is red hot, in order to relax the molecules inside, making it easier to work,

to quench, the cooling of the hot metal in water,

and to pickle. When the metal is heated, it produces an oxide which is black and flaky and sits on the surface of the metal. In a pickling bath, which is warm, you can remove all of the oxide, so its nice and clean!

I also used a doming cube, I will use this sort of technique to create the shape of my shoe.

for the bigger holes, you can use a round ended hammer, and for the smaller holes, there are doming punches.

 Here's my end result...

Here's the cube without my hand infront of it.

Another change of plan!

OK, for anyone that doesn't know what the foundation diploma is, the very nature of this stage of the course is determined by the student changing their mind. We are currently writing our 'statement of intent' which is our self imposed brief in which we detail what our objectives are, our research bases (gallery visits, books, periodicals and websites etc...), our techniques/processes and materials we will use, and our method of self evaluation (for me this is my blog). Because we have three weeks to decide all of this, and to decide what all of this will look like in our exhibition, we all have to change our minds according to what will be time efficient, financially viable and most importantly, how good it will look. Thus, I have changed my mind very many times in just a week because of new developments in my sketches, and more importantly in the workshop, where I have found time consuming but effective methods of using materials.

I have now decided to completely rule out the making of a male accessory, and to stick to making a pair of women's shoes, still based on the same theme. This will prove much more challenging, as I will have to make these shoes identical, but will look much more professional in the final exhibition, as there will be a pair, rather than one shoe and a belt... which would not complement each other at all.

I am however looking forward to working with a much more feminine inspiration and the outcome will hopefully be my best piece of work so far!

A bit of Fashion Research

This is Stephen Jones


The shoe hat is particularly irritatingly brilliant as a friend and I were only discussing this concept the other day! And now I've found out that its already been done.

I love his variety with the punk esque union flag hat and the chic paint palette one, and then the totally amazing acrylic one!!! Its totally wearable genius.

Madeleine Vionnet is, in my opinion, the creator of the 1920s free flowing fashion. She is the inventor of the bias cut (cutting the fabric at a 45 degree angle so it fits the body better) and the banisher of the corset!
She was heavily inspired by greek clothing, and the concept of greek beauty, and this is evident in her work, where she chose goddess-like models to wear her designs.



 



Elsa Schiaparelli is the inventor of quirky fashion. She spent a lot of time working with Salvador Dali and it shows! Yet another shoe hat that I never knew existed! Her designs are not at all bizarre compared to the designers of today, but for the times, her designs were chic enough to be worn by women in public, but just that little bit adventurous.





 This is the textile that Dali created for her.

Hussein Chalayan

I really love all of his work as it is so sculptural and beautiful at the same time, I cant really relate it to my project at all but I love it so I've put it in! Hes designed gaga's dress so that's got to be something, you know you're weird when she wears your stuff!


I'm going to say no more than 'omg a dress that is also a table'.



want one

Philip Treacy is my new hero. I found some of his work in a book I have and decided to research further... his hats have been worn by Lady Gaga, Cheryl Cole, Sarah J-P and Naomi Campbell! He's the artist you know but don't know the name of!!!

 This was what caught my eye

 Naomi and Campbell's soup... ha!







And Kate middleton!?!

FMP change of plan!

So, I said that I would make something for a limb and that it would be for a man. This has changed as I have decided to make a shoe. I have been advised to make a shoe for a woman as there would be a lot more scope for something very flamboyant, as opposed to a mens shoe which, on the 1920s theme would mean pretty much just making a brogue. I still want to make a male accessory however, so I will make a set of his and hers items based on a 1920s aesthetic. It would be awesome if I could make my items out of copper and glass, which would really bring them up to date, and would result in a sort of 'fashion forecast', as if there was a revival of the jazz age...

The Great Gatsby will still remain my main influence but I'm going to watch a few 1920's films in order to get a better feel for the era, rather than using the 1974 take on the 20s as a base for research. I've got a few films to watch but I''l post some mini reviews when I have.

As well as using the style to influence my work, I will, very pretentiously, use the language in the novel to determine some of the features of my work, such as the 'rich cream colour' of Gatsby's car, and the 'green light' at the end of Daisy's dock.

Here's my Illegible brainstorm!

 

Images

Here's some pictures from the Robert Redford, Mia Farrow adaptation. The costume for Daisy won an oscar, she was dressed by Theoni V Aldredge, and Gatsby by Ralph Lauren.

Also found this site, a fashion designer inspired by this style.

http://smfalittlesomething.blogspot.com/2010/09/contemporary-classic.html

Final Major Project!!!!

It is time!

So we've had the brief... which entails writing our own brief!

I'm going to set myself the task of making something wearable this time, but for a limb rather than the torso again. I'd love to make a shoe (out of wood metals plastics etc, rather than leather) but I've no idea how difficult that would be, so maybe a bag or a bracelet or an anklet...

I'd love to stick myself to a theme, which I'm thinking may have to be 'The Great Gatsby', it being one of, if not the, best novels ever written! So that's really summery stylish roaring twenties themed!

ok... was taking ages so I gave up!!!

Amsterdam Pictures!

Finally everyone... they are here!

'Collision' complete

Having finished my project I am very unsatisfied with the results. Not having a male manniquin has made the piece only fit a femenine frame, defeating the whole object of my work. It is so sharp aswell so I've sustained loads of injuries when struggling to lift it and carry it!

The worst thing is I have nothing to show for it, I completed it very hastily and at the same time as progressing with my portfolio, which has left my sketch book very skinny! I've done a few worksheets, the ones in my digital portfolio, and test pieces but altogether If I had a lot of sketches etc, I might consider excusing myself for the terrible final piece... but no!

Oh well, roll on Final Major Project!!!!!!

Coca-Cola

I made this necklace inspired by stuff made from other stuff!

Thank you Vicky Morgan for modelling for me!!

brief research

Here are the designers I had to research from the brief I was given. Its all about visual language and the expression of the word 'collision', we've been suggested these to help us consider this concept...

Annie Turner-
 





I'm not really sre of a purpose for these pieces of work but I think as sculptural items that they do look very effective, I think they are made of stoneware which is fantastic as they look like they are made of card or recycled wood! Its all quite samey though...

Future systems-







Maserati building based on the maserati below! Its so inkeeping with the context of the building and actually looks like a car!!!



 Selfridges in London

For more of this amazing architecture go to http://www.eikongraphia.com/!

I LOVE this stuff! It is so futuristic (its in the name i suppose!) and yet really contemporary at the same time, which is brilliant. Everything is really well designed and utterly cool.

Junko Mori-







All of these pieces are really great at communicating other materials. They are so unexpectedly silver (especially the first one) as they look really weightless and fluid... a bit like undersea creatures!

Nora Fok-











I really find Nora's work very intriguing as none of it looks real, by this I mean that it all looks like it has been animated and super imposed onto the model. I really enjoyed looking through her work as it is all made of nylon, not a paricularly conventional material used for jewellery making.

Ron Arad-







To start with, these chairs all appear to be outrageously uncomfortable, but they look gorgeous! I especially love this last copper one as it does just look like a sheet (a very thick one) of copper! very 60s orientated, the second on looking like a lava lamp! And also they actually have a use, contrary to a lot of things out there...

Will Alsop-







On many levels this is entirely wrong... it is sickeningly bright and I hate the fact that I somehow find myself liking it! The context is completely crazy, why put agiant thing on stilts half over another building? But I think thats why I like it! I do love the windows aswell... imagine fitting the curtains...