End of Web Design

So today was the final lesson on web design, my website is nearly finished, apart from my projects I am yet to finish. Now all I need is to upload it! Which will hopefully happen very soon so watch this space...

Frances Dixon

Been having a look at lots of my friends websites, as I'm currently designing and building my own, and came across a few of my friends blogs who I think are worth a mention and could be big one day....

Frances Dixon

http://frhd.blogspot.com/

Anne Kyyro Quinn

Anne Kyyro Quinn, a London-based Finnish designer, sculpts industrial felt into a stylish array of home accessories, including throws, pillows, wall panels and lighting. While her signature style is raised-relief detailing, she is also known for unconventional material combinations, such as blending sailcloth, fine linen and wool.

progress report

For my personal project I am focusing on using felt and steel for my hangers, using these two materials and experiments with forms. At present I am thinking that this would be a hanger for either an office or restaurant environment.

My final major project is still the same but I have decided to aim the chair and dressing of it for kids. I had originally tried to stay away from designing a kids chair, but now this seems like the most practical and best suited to the project.

Personal Project

Now we have started on our personal projects while still making the final developments on our FMP. For my personal project I am looking into the area of hanging, looking into people's behaviour, how we hang things on certain items not designed for that use. I haven't decided on a definite outcome as of yet.

For my FMP I am working along the lines of dressing furniture, I have designed my own chair that would be the standard to be dressed, and now just working on the logistics and final details.

The Magnificance of the Tzars

Currently showing at the V&A, this exhibition illustrates Russia’s relationship with her past and with Europe through two centuries of men’s court dress.

It is curated and mounted by the Moscow Kremlin Museums. Together with the Armoury Chamber, they form Russia’s oldest national treasury, founded in 1806. Their collections include the dress and regalia worn by the emperors and the Russian court from the 1720s to 1917. This exhibition focuses on men’s dress, particularly the coronation dress of the emperor and other participants in ceremonies at court.

Until the reign of Peter the Great (Peter I, ruled 1682–1725) Russia was isolated from Europe. Peter then introduced many western institutions and practices. His dress reforms replaced traditional Russian clothing with European fashions, or ‘Saxon and French’ fashion as it was called in Russia.

Red wool suit worn by Peter II, 1727-1730

The Decorative Fair

"The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair is one of the most important antiques fairs for interiors with over 130 exhibitors. The Fair has an international reputation amongst private buyers, antique dealers, and design professionals as an excellent source of high quality, competitively priced antiques and 20th century design. With strong roots in the design world the Fair provides inspiration of how old and new can blend together as a background for modern living.It takes place three times a year in January, April and October at the marquee, Battersea Park."

I quite enjoyed walking around this fair, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had hoped that there might have been a stronger emphasis on textiles to help inspire me with my current project. There were some funny little stand with curious antiques, with looking glasses, and general knick nacks. I did however feel very young, most of the people there were middle aged, unlike other fairs I have attended.

Super Christmas Market

I really wasn't very impressed with this event. I expected it to have a lot more products on offer and a lot more variety. There were a couple of items I liked, such as Tim Parsons half pint pint cups, but I've seen those many times before. A lot of the hand made jewellery looked like it should have been on a stall in a festival. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I had hoped to buy some presents here, but just came away feeling like I had just wasted my £2 entry fee.

Work in Progress...

...At the RCA

Knitting

I have been learning to knit as part of my final major project.

I can already crochet, but have never taken the time to learn knitting, but have recently taken it up as part of my major project.

I'm finding that it seems to have become increasingly popular with lots more of my age group learning, so much so that there are social events for young people to attend and discuss knitting. Although I am still very much a beginner, I'm finding it quite enjoyable, and finding youtube very useful with understanding certain stitches.