Printing Fabrics

Sketch Book

There are numerous possibilities within print making in terms of techniques. Screen printing is one of many processes .Screens are photographed using specific CAD equipment onto photo sensitive paint. When it has been photographed and left to try. The ink that has not been blocked by the image, which is printed onto paper and layed down on top of the machine.In the same way a photocopier works, can they be washed away. Leaving the screen ready to print, the following image is the image which has been hand drawn and then scanned in onto illustrator were it is then repeated to create a fabric pattern. Screens for fabric is slightly different than for paper, a different screen mesh is needed.

This pattern repeat is small in scale as I will be printing it onto Muslim to create a summer scarf.The image is a proto type of other images that can be used within the same scale and repeat with a structure colour scheme. Monotone been the type of colour way used.

Lino Cherub print.

Photograph manipulation using photoshop.

Calico fabric samples, traditional screen print process.
Fabric screen printing using a screen print and a screen print table. This process including's using your eyes to place and hold down screen print with fabric weights to keep it in place. The time scale is actually quicker than with paper.However you can print onto paper this way. I have started to print a muslim scarf as it would great for a light weight scarf.

Muslim is very tactile, light and very floaty. It has been determined that 4 repeats one way and 4 the other way, will be needed 4 prints taking approx 2 hours. Meaning 4 hours would finish the printing process, two scarfs could be printed together.Concluding that the pattern would face the right way on both sides. I will be adding embellishment on the ends.

Calico samples have been created for bags for live , tote bag in order to reduce global warming and pollution via plastic wastes. These accessories could be also used for promotional purposes to encourage sales within other areas of design. A number of designer lead stores and labels use T-shirt, tote bags, postcards etc as gives to promote certain world campaigns. The cherub print is a reference to sympathy linked to religion used sometimes on memorials in churches within frescoes. Cherubs are fashionable as statues within homes.

Refining my MA Proposal Plan.

MA Proposal Refinement Plan

My project is an exploration of the natural world, looking at how nature’s resources are depleting and how ecology is developing and where it should be going in order to create a better future. I will be integrating traditional and digital art to create new textiles and wall art.

Ocean Shells.

Antarctica melting ice cap Photographed by Christian Aslund-Green Peace 

Sketch book ideas Oceans.

A Proposal plan for an MA should have a number of elements , it should be easy to read and understand if it becomes too complex it might miss the main points of the brief. My proposal is more about what I want to be doing within the next 5 years it also suggests a customer base which my be difficult to meet. I have since changed my MA proposal to a short marketing plan to encourage consumers,customers and viewers to seek a deeper connection to ecology ,a visual  campaigning strategy for our futures and our children's futures.
I have chosen a number of campaigns to use as subject matter. Green Peace Antarctica Ocean Sanctuary, a leading campaign to create a globally acknowledged conservation area. The Queens Canopy- a conservation development plan of planting new trees. British based conservation strategies including the RSPCB and other needed approaches to conservation and ecology in the UK. 

 My ideas could then be packaged into varies product ideas from T-shirts,scarves,sarongs, key rings, bag trinkets, book marks and home accessories.

Chrisian Aslund Photographs of  Antarctica

My creative statement     Evolution V Heavenly Utopia needs to have a theory value that can be developed into a written project. I have unpacked the meaning of this creative statement to include ecology theory. Ecology Evolution V Heavenly Utopia Orthology.
 I will be pairing this down even more as its still to complicated.
Ecology issues explain evolution in terms of genes shared across species and molecular evolution (shared ancestry in the evolutionary history of life).

Ocean Mammal sketches.

I am currently reading up on how the earth developed and how global warming can be reversed within current analysis including information currently developed via an international coalition of leading researchers,scientists and policymakers who have come up with realistic and practical solutions to climate change. It is believed if all the techniques are utilized and deployed collectively across the world then over the next 30 years, they could not just slow global warming but reach what is being called drawdown. The point when green house gases peak and then begin to decline.

Therefore the main point of my MA proposal is to create visualizations within current campaigns to encourage ecology based awareness of global warming. I will be looking into ways of reversing global warming and I will be using and embracing and harnessing current digital art techniques to create hyper real luxurious print effects and mixing this with traditional print making. Using natural dyes and traditionalist values akin to the arts and craft movement of the 19th century to encourage viewers to think traditionally in regard to their current lifestyle choices.

My mindmap below, shows how I have progressed my thoughts to a point that know equals we’re I am at with my proposal for my Masters in Design.

 Mind Map of ideas.

Contemporary Practice Print making with embellishments :Proposal

                  From Knit to Print

                             Turkish Cotton Jumper with Pom Poms(Good housekeeping Promo)90's

MA Project Brief PRESENTATION.pptx 4.06.18 With Sound-2 by victoria meadows on Scribd

Stepping Out Business Documentary by the BBC early 90's

Newsreel Fashion Business O.S early 90's Footage

Arts and Craft Movement :Philosophy

   Arts and Craft Movement :Philosophy

Stones well, Copt Oak, Leicestershire, England.

Art and Craft furniture :Stoneywell.

Stoneywell,National Trust

Stoneywell: Desk and type writer.

Interior door bespoke craftsmanship.


Cut rock staircase traditional cave Arthurian tales.Stoneywell, National Trust.


Traditional deep window ledge, Stoneywell, Leicestershire.


" The beliefs that a well designed environment -fashioned with beautiful and well crafted buildings,furniture,tapestries and well crafted buildings-would serve to improve the fabric of society for both producers and consumers. Together with the idea that the material and moral fabric of society were connected" (Arts& craft movement by Steven Adams, Apple press 1989)


Arts and Crafts artists and designers philosophy links to contemporary fair trade consumer interest that a product was also the result of contented labour disregarding the manor of production created by the industrial revolution.
The Arts and craft movement started half way through the 19th century incorporating a variety of different art practices including , artists, crafts people, writers and poets.
They were interested in the revival of medieval-ism and christian values.
In the late 1870's Arts and Crafts were being exported across the globe.
In America, the Arts and Crafts movement and it's homespun appeal was inspirational for the infinity of the american population who were pioneers, building and making,cutting out their new lives within a new landscape full of Nature and idyllic live styles of simple living.

Shaker communities in the USA were creating simple furniture and buildings which echoed many of the creative and social ideas of the Arts and Craft movement. It's interesting to note the link between social and religious beliefs that run parallel with social and religious values.
Ideas resonated through the material and moral fabric of society were connected and linked to societies harmony and moral framework.  
Thomas Carlisle (1795-1881) and Ruskin wrote about the horrors of the industrialism and the romanticism of medieval rural idyllic England.
William Morris wrote that Art is Man's expression of his joy of labour, an expression that the industrial factory life removed.
Ruskins values of a crafted medieval society which had none of the engine turned precision of modern industry retain a sense of humanity.As Ruskin says "Men were not intended to work with accuracy of tools , to be precise and perfect in all their actions.If you will have that precision out of them and their fingers measure degrees like cog-wheels and their arms strike curves like compasses, you must unhumanize them". 
Pre-industrial society retained an understanding and element of humanity that the industrial revolution removed.
Similar to shaker values arts and crafts activities occurred inside of communities were their was a shared passion within a community.

Retrospective Research of Personal Practice.

Retrospective 

research of personal practice.

I am a textile designer/accessories designer who has previously worked with yarns to create knitted fashion accessories for the upper end fashion industry including supplying to designer lead stores.This is the job role I since leaving University with an honors degree in Knitwear design. I have since freelanced for a number of years and have spent the last 5 years teaching on a supply basis in order to raise my daughter and enjoy my family life a bit more.

                 1989-2003 Designer Director Original Sample Ltd                                                                         Nottingham                  London                               

·         Designing and selling designer lead knitwear to a World Market.

·         Customer base- Paul Smith Ltd. Harrod’s Ltd, Selfridges Ltd, French Connection, Oasis Stores Ltd, Japanese Department Stores, United Arrows Ltd, Hanku Department Stores, Small independent designer Stores, U.S.A Macy’s Stores, Sax  5^th Avenue, Barney’s Stores, Parisian designer Stores, Gucci Stores, Et Vous, Rue Rennie Stores. Celebrity Customers-   

·         Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith, Christian Lacroise

I started my previous business using a Princes trust award and I won best small business award in the 1990's for all the business's sponsored by the Prince's trust. The price was a top trade show stand in London which started my lucrative wholesale business selling my products across the globe.
The following news reel and business documentary shows the early phase of my previous business which  gives a glimpse of previous working practice.

Career Achievements

·         Awards.Uk Business Award Princess Youth Business Trust. Courtauld’s UK Competition Runner up.

·         British Fashion Awards-Winner as a Freelancer designer manufacturer for Paul Smith special emphasis on Knitwear Accessories. French connection –Special emphasis on knitwear Accessories.

·         Bespoke knitted hat designs for Prince William and Prince Harry

·         Freelance work. Window Display Design-Selfridges London. High Street Windows.9-17

·         Freelance Costume design consultant-Rolling Stones Concerts 1995

·         Freelance Costume designs- Play house Nottingham. Freelance Costume designs-Spice Girls.

·         Showing Globally at international trade Fairs. Pret-a-Porter Paris.Sehm Paris. New York Coterie,London Show, Birmingham Menswear Trade fair,Harogate fashion fair.London knitwear Show.The London Show.

·         Overseas Marketing Missions-Osaka,Tokyo Hilton hotel .Japan

·         Overseas Trips Forecasting and buying Shows Fabrics yarns and forward trends Florence Italy.

·         Market Stall Camden Market London 1990-1997 Retail Sales knitwear -Mens, Ladies and Children

·         Retail Storesx2 Nottingham. Designer Clothing and gifts- Mansfield Road and City centre 1990-1993

·         Handle all merchandising, inventory control, ordering, cash control, and maintenance functions.

·         Coordinate special promotions and events. Hire, train, and co-ordinate a staff of 12,

I am currently studying a Master’s Degree at University Lincoln England where I am studying Design. My interest is in print making for home with some hardware detailing using different technique’s incorporating CAD, my theme is Natures Armour (outer protective casing, inner protective castings). This area would be hardware and I would attach metal and wood detail to fabric and paper to add uniqueness and tactile artisan detailing.
The name Natures Armour is feeling a bit too limiting some how. I looked online and there are sites that link to herbal remedies and this is not what I want the range to seem to be about.Also I have had a number of people ask me what Natures Armour means? .The hardware elements of the project to add elaboration links better to the title natures armour as it is fitting to use this theme for 3d or haberdashery detailing onto surface design to add detailing.
I have a broader themed title which may fit better and that is Evolution. It links to a development of design practice from fashion knit to print for home. It also still links to nature which is however a broader statement that links to natures glorious splendor through time and genetic developments scientifically explained in the meaning of the word Evolution: with a sub heading of :Patter-nation, Armour and Embellishments.