Everyday visuals

I finally took the plunge and got a new camera this week.  Nothing fancy, just something that I can carry around in my handbag or pocket. Previously, I had no equilibrium between my dodgy iphone camera and precious/expensive digital SLR.  It just feels wrong to chuck such an awesome piece of technology in my bag with along with a potentially leaky drink bottle.

It's nice to be recording everyday visuals again.

Thompson and Worth

One of my designs from Full Drop Collective's latest zine, 'Shape and Staple', translated into three lively, digitally printed colourways to feature as lining in 'Thompson and Worth' handbags:

Designed in Melbourne by Naomi Thompson, 'Thompson and Worth' handbags and satchels have an emphasis on local manufacturing and materials. Sourcing leathers from local tanners and suppliers, the bags have a simple and elegant aesthetic.

Seeds, Sydney Road and Yarns

New plants in the garden this week- including some seeds! I had little confidence in my ability to grow from seeds last year, but my bravery has been rewarded with a heap of sprouts after only 3 weeks.  There have been some really awesome weather days in Melbourne recently and it's been a welcome change to spend more time outside.

Since outdoors has been so much more appealing of late I have been doing a lot more wandering around and taking photos.  Some of the shops on the corner of Sydney Road and Blyth St caught my eye, and it has been enjoyable to translate them into drawings, (in my very wonky drawing style!).

This 'Schoppel Wolle' space dyed yarn is my new love.  Such beautiful colours and most importantly, it has a cute little picture of a cat on the tag.

Scribbled Beginnings

  Something I have learnt over the past two years is that projects often start with the intention of being grand, meaningful endeavours.  Slowly but surely as the process of physically making something in a restricted timeframe plods along, some ideas that really add meaning to a project get forgotten or left out.  This is something I really resent about quick projects, so I cherish looking over original ideas and remind myself that they could be achieved in a more reasonable time-frame.  

 

 

Although indecipherable, some of these bits and pieces are representative of real ideas that will be happening in the near future.

A year ago, I would have never considered posting something like this on my blog.  Mostly for the fear of my ideas being 'stolen'.  I couldn't care less about critical eyes looking at these concepts which are not yet a reality.  I like to share ideas and talk about them.  I don't want to hide away my inspiration.  In my experience, sharing leads to bigger, better and real concepts/collaborations that would be impossible to reach if ideas are overprotected.  If one of your ideas ends up having a few more peoples names on it, but is made with enhanced perspective and skill, so what?  

Kyenton

Last post I talked about making business cards and other professional things.  I realised I had a little problem.  You see, I go by two names - Yoki (Nickname which gets used most of the time/people introduce me as this) and Yolanda (My real name).  In terms of printing business cards/Folio, of course, I would go with my real name.  My problem is that I don't want to leave my nickname behind!  I am quite attached to it, and rarely get called Yolanda, which has become a name I am somewhat disconnected from.  This name debacle has caused quite a bit of confusion, even into the realms of blog/websites.  URL's state 'yolanda', while blog titles say 'yoki'. This little identity crisis has been toddling along for quite some time.   I always knew the day would come where I would have to grow up and use my proper name.  It seems the time is nigh…

In less whingey happenings, this week has been a GLORIOUS mid-semester break.   I took the opportunity to have afternoon coffee/beers with friends and get out to Kyenton to see one of my awesomest pals, Mel.  To get to Kyenton, you need to catch the Bendigo train from Spencer St.  I caught a service at 9:15; prime time for getting-to-work hustle and bustle, which made it even more satisfying to get away, watching the Melbourne skyline slowly recede through the train window as I escaped.

I looked out the window most of the time, and the rest of the time read 'The Language of Flowers, A Miscellany' by Mandy Kirkby. For someone who spends a lot of time drawing flowers, it was a really interesting read.  I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but this one is so pretty:

 Some Kyenton shots while heading to lunch:

In my last days of freedom, I'll be heading over to Dagmar Rousset to get my hands on some Ayame socks before they run out, and have a peek at Full Drop's latest product now stocked in the store; printed tea towels featuring designs from our latest zine!

Identity

This week, I have been coming to grips with the idea of getting a bit serious about trying to find a textile design job and doing things like creating an identity/brand for self promotion.  The thing I am finding most difficult at the moment is trying to convey creativity, while still looking trustworthy and professional.  Resources such as IdN magazines, creative peoples websites and blogs have been helpful in starting this process.  Noticing that even the more colourful, far-out designers have a slightly pared-back, corporate look when it comes to identity…  I suppose their work and folios can speak for itself!  As a graduate, I am not entirely sure who my target audience is going to be when applying for jobs.  Is it going to be an agency?  Head designer of a commercial company?  A client for freelance work?     All images below are from artist/designer websites.

Themes and styles I am feeling good about at the moment include:
-stand alone fonts in distinct hand writings with interesting personalities.
-simple text set below a thumbnail design or illustration
-indication to what the person does - eg textile designer.

To Blog or not to blog? That has been my question of late.  During my uni semester, I have to write a reflective blog (not public, to my relief) as part of my assessment.  This is a weekly task, so I know I am quite capable of committing to something like this, but never get around to it…  This is a fairly common complaint/apology in blogger land, with many a post starting with the familiar cry of 'it's been so long!'.

Since I'm finishing uni soon (feels so amazing to say that… comparable emotion to being in love), I am going to make a leap of faith and start posting my weekly 'private' blogs here and a few snippets from earlier posts. 
It is really distracting being so close to the finish line with study.  Often, I trail off into daydreams about what I am going to be doing next year.  Many of these things are quite normal to most people - You see, against what most people believe, being a student is an extremely consuming, life restricting experience and seriously lacking of the constant partying of this demographic portrayed on films and Today Tonight. For the most part of my 3 years doing this course, I have been studying 5-6 days a week and working as a waitress in a few Melbourne cafes the other days.  This has meant no weekends.  I have developed a little 'to do' list for when I graduate which includes 'go to Camberwell markets'.  What a joyous day that will be!

There will definitely be things I miss eg, hanging out with an awesome/creative bunch of people who have become good friends every day; getting to take my time in the mornings reading blogs with a cup of tea and cat on my lap; being as ridiculously conceptual and somewhat full of crap in dreaming up/ creating projects that don't have to please anyone; getting student discounts and CENTRELINK! Centrelink, oh Centrelink/free government money.  We have had our ups and downs but I shall love and miss you forever. 
In my daydream state, 'Pinterest' has become my greatest friend.  I see it as 'visually planning for the future', plus, it sounds more productive in this context than what it really is.  This week I have been particularly consumed with the idea of holographic stationary, image shopping in anticipation for Full Drop Collectives Harvest Residency (happening in February 2013!) and delicious knit swatches.

 

via Sheila Hicks

 

via Knitloop

 

via Tin and Ed

Besides my constant pottering about, I have been doing some real life work and fabric swatching.  I really, really love the project I'm working on a the moment- It's for interior knitted outcomes.  I'm thinking blankets at the moment, all jacquard knitted with beautiful space dyed yarn.

 

Of Late

Many, many knitted swatches for a fun project I have been documenting here...

Winter, oh winter.  I love winter, but it seriously has the habit of sucking me dry of enthusiasm and burning me out!  I think its somewhat normal to feel a little weary approaching the half way point of your final year of uni.  Similar to the feeling of running cross country.  It is exhausting, but you are nearly at the finish line where much hydration exists.  Analogies.

I have to write a reflective blog for a subject uni and will say that it has really made me look at what a design blog actually is.  In a recent entry, I admitted to this blog being a bit of a 'brag book' where I would post pretty pictures of my most favoured work and write somewhat shallow insights/my day.  Is this a negative thing? For people that do it well and create an enchanting world of design beauty on their blogs, no.  They are a means to my hours of internet joy.  On the other hand, I do it quite badly and think I have made a recipe for tedium.  But really, what else can you do on a 'design blog'? Is it about posting things you make that just aren't right? eg; a geometric pattern which for some reason has a very obvious swastika shape in the negative space…  Maybe not a good option.  Until I figure it out, I'll keep attempting to post pretty pictures. 

I started back at school this week.  Four new briefs and plenty of research to do.  This is never a problem for me with the amount of amazing people and projects that I get to look at and write about.  At the moment, I'm looking at 'the digital craftsperson' and just had to share some of my findings.

1.  Chloe McCormick's warped tapestries (image courtesy of i-d online)
McCormick's structures are made with traditional tapestry techniques using 3D thermoplastic moulds.  The prototypes have possibilities for furniture, jewellery and numerous other forms.

2. SUGRU! Seriously, if you haven't already, please look at how crazy this putty is.  Their website explains everything and will make you want to attach it to everything. 

3. Piet Hein Eek's scrap wood wallpaper (images courtesy of designboom.com)
I first saw Hein Eek's mastering of scrap wood materials in Vogue Living a few months back and fell in love with the colours and texture.  How excited I am to see he has now made digitally printed wallpaper:

I can safely say I am feeling excited and inspired.  Asides from getting back into typing and photoshopping this week, I have been planning what to put in the veggie garden next.  I just got off the phone from my Nan who has an incredible garden and really knows her stuff, so I got some solid suggestions from her way!  Some gardening stallholders at the Sydney Road festival gave Laz and I some parsley seed today.  Here's hoping that winter gardening will be as successful as the rampant summer tomato crop.