Alls well that ends well!

Well after 8 weeks of emotional ups and downs the Minor project is now officially handed in ! In the end I was very pleased with my final collection but all I can do now is wait to see how well I have done...for now here's my work displayed in my bay, and bring on the Final Major Project!

Development so far

So, after spending a little time getting into my most favourite part of the design process..the development, I now have a few of my initial idea to show! I really enjoy this part of the design process as it gives you an opportunity to really explore the limits of your drawings and bend and twist them to fit your purpose!

Stage complete!

Finally I can say that I've finished my drawing sheets and im happy that I have enough imagery to continue into development!
Let's see how it goes!

Drawing continued...

Steady as she goes...

We grow and we learn

Since my last post I have made some substantial changes to my overall concept and theme...these changes mostly occurred because as I started to draw (or at least attempted) I found myself stuck and decided to rethink the situation!
So here's the new plan...sticking with the fruit and vegetable theme, I will be looking at them more closely, focusing on pattern and texture and even how they look under a microscope (oooo) and I will be combining this with mechanical imagery, cogs, chains and other inner workings that you wouldn't ordinarily see!
Since the shift in direction I jar found it much easier to get going and have gotten underway with drawing sheets...I am very excited to see how this project flows and what I can come up with for development!

Start as you mean to go on...

This seems to be my new motto at the moment, start as you mean to go on, so here goes! Were at the beginning of a new academic year...the final year of the course. Theres so much to look forward to, but a lot of hard work and determination is required to get us there!
To get us started we have the minor project, I have chosen to go with fashion fabrics on this one and I am feeling quitetly confident about my theme of 60's geometric shapes combined with the circular imagery of fruits and vegetables...but only time will tell!
I will post back with visuals very soon!

They've Arrived!

Wahey, as if by the speed of light, the last few of my ebay purchases turned up on my doorstep this morning! I was so excited, like a small child at Christmas...quite sad I know when it was only old stamps and train tickets. Never the less they are very pretty and its made me feel more confident about this project.

So there we have it, one compass, nine old (used) rail tickets, nine vintage luggage labels, a boat load of old stamps, all that missing is my partridge in a pear tree!

All 'ebay'ed' out!

After spending the last few hours scouring the pages of a certain internet auction site, I have finally emerged, bank balance slightly lighter but happier in my new purchases (or would be purchases in some cases)! Just hope i win those auctions as time is fast running out for drawing, argh!

A Fresh Start

After my brief introduction a couple of weeks ago I appear to have neglected my blog, what sort of a mother am i!
So I think i'll take this opportunity to try again...since today has been a day to organise my uni work load as well as my head, I feel like its a good starting point to update and organise my blog too.

A few weeks ago we began our third project of the year, Surface Design for Gift, which is linked with a live assignment from Hallmark...all very official stuff. Since then i've been struggling to find my feet with it, but hopefully today ive had a breakthrough, but only time will tell!
I have chosen to challenge myself by going with a male trend, no girlie flowers for me this time! Instead i'll be drawing objects like binoculars, maps, tickets and stamps to go along with my theme of 'Well Travelled'
Images will be posted soon!

What else has happened recently? Well, there was a little trip to the continent and back, which although was very enjoyable, was not very productive, whoops!

I also have some images of the last project, Surface Design for Fashion, to upload.
The theme for this project was 'the 50's'

In The Beginning...

Hi there,
Ok, this is my first ever post on my first ever blog, so here goes...
Lets start with a bit about me, my name is Rachael Johnson and I am currently studying on a Textiles and Surface Design degree at Cleveland College of Art and Design. I returned to the second year of the course in September 2010, after taking a year out to have a baby. A little girl named Rose infact (any excuse to show her off !), and now that she's one year old, i feel im ready to get this show back on the road!
I have always loved art and design, but I suppose everyone would say that! Im not going to pretend that I live and breathe it, because like most things, it can do my head in from time to time, but I like to think it is what im good at (hopefully). I love to doodle and draw and can usually be found doing this on a regular basis.
As for my favourite area of textile/product design, I dont think I could really say just yet, I'm waiting until we have covered all the bases before I make my mind up on that one...so far though, I think I've enjoyed designing for furnishings the most.

Now we've got that out of the way, I can get on with the interesting stuff next time, but for now,
enjoy your day :)