Detail of Fallen Tree Bark

Evolution Natures Armour and Patternation.

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application. Natures: Evolution Armour and Patternation While considering a new professional working practice within Art and Design parameters I have always considered print making an exciting and interesting skill to wish for moving forward. Within new technologies the arena of print making has increased considerably. New photographic industrial machines means that peoples choices can be fine tuned towards a more personal approach. Bespoke designs are becoming more and more accessible to the majority of people who are interested in gaining a more personal shopping experience. Since becoming a designer some 20 or so years ago I have noted an interest in printed fabrics, I however choose to study knitwear design as I was interested in textiles as well as fashion and knitwear bridged a cap for me. However I believe since becoming a parent, I stopped running my fashion business to concentrate on my family and took to teaching originally Art and Design however I know teach a number of subjects across a wide range of learners age group and skill sets. It is a very interesting and fulfilling job role. However I am still a keen designer and have set my mind at learning and creating printed textiles with extra hardware(haberdashery) for interiors and fashion. While considering this new skill it has become apparent that dissecting in detail all my different influences and processes a new and immensely structured way of following a pathway of designer directions for the viewer to consider as an interesting look inside the mind of a creator. Therefore I will be discussing in a lot more detail the why and reasons for my particular methodology this will include various links to previous work, life experiences and family history. I will start with a deeply paired down approach to my type of working practice skills set. The main research within what I look for in order to create are Colour ,texture and Patternation. When designing I am always considering ranges of designs and in this case it is fabrics using tradition and modern technologies. Colour is a key aspect to my work, it doesn't have to have any colour however precise colour and fabric use are exclusively selected for the best outcome. Secondly texture which is necessary for a tactile approach, it doesn't however have to be 3d it's purely its functionality and purpose that links to exacting directions of importance for the consumer, that is the viewer the appreciator that is important to consider in great detail. Patternation follows which can in fact be an detail an embellishment a finishing technique or a pattern. The pattern could be placed , all over or motifed. Patternation can however be limited to another area of design i.e it could be separate from the design itself. Within these three areas of choice one main criteria is an absolute must and that is mood and affinity to embrace a feeling of romanticism, organic, historical morphing into contemporary is also I must do within each creative element I choose to create. What has been interesting for me over the last couple of months is that I have changed my medium (material chooses and it has made it even more clearer why I design and the purpose of what I create no matter what the end product becomes. Creating has always included for me a lot of juxtaposing of detailing within complex modernity's, in order to create new evoking cutting edge directional designs, there is however a need to be simplistic at the same time. I will be looking at all of my previous skill knowledge and adding them into a new why of creating fabrics for interiors and fashion. Mixing contemporary design concepts with historical reflections and the reasons why will be one of my key discussions and research while print making and hardware designing for interiors and fashion. The reasons for choices are much more detailed than one might of thought. I will be analysing key points in terms of Psychology, anthropology and ancient philosophy.

Prototype :Natures Evolution Pattern- nation and Armour

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application. MA Major Project Brief ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Term1 @ 2 Autumn/Spring Natures Armour– Scheme of Work ‘Natures Evolution’: Patter-nation and Armour Project Brief Research into the eco conscious values and design principles including Psychology based interests. Colour Blue. Heritage and Artisan beliefs are a continuing aspect of my working practice in corpora ting Art and Design Philosophy akin to Arts and Crafts movements of the 19th and 20th century. Vintage retro/romantic fusion inspired, deconstructed weathered patented faded ancient archeology hybrid mixed traditional and modern technology creative textile and haberdashery concepts. Researching artefacts within curated collections within Ancient historical stately homes and castles. Time-Scale/ Duration - Two Terms for initial developments , followed by capsule collections of fabric development including illustrations to show there possible uses within selected themes and contextual research. Resources • Sketchbooks • Adobe Cloud applications • Print room, lino printing, screen printing, photographic printing • Examples of metal work, Lazer cutting (wood metallic sheets.) • Examples of decoupage and layering. • Reference material research, mood boards. Materials • Sketchbooks • Pencils, pens, water colour and gauche • Cartridge paper • Printing inks • fabric Design methodology Week 1-4 • Introduction to the project; concepts of design, including changing scale, surface and context • drawing exercises; cut out screen printing , lino printing , photographic printing • Create a series of finished art work, using hand techniques and CAD. Week 1-4 Spring/Term • Complete mini capsule collection in lino including up to date log book work. • Consolidate images taken for processes and photo graph work achieved for look book (final project portfolio digitized) Week 5-8 • Continuation professional practice development inside research and project themes created through project developments. • Add to blog and reflect practice. Evaluate.

Natures Armour : Evolution , Patternation and Texture

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application. I am currently researching ways in which to add Natures evolution and patter nation into a print project I am currently perusing at Lincoln University Lincoln England. It's an interesting subject especially since the series Blue Planet has been running and my special friend David Attenbourgh who has been a great influence on my life from my early years. I have decided to pay homage to him and also to the world at large and even the Universe. Eco conscious values are key to the future of Fashion and textiles we all want to save our planet from unnecessary want'nt distruction. I will be sharing my thoughts with you on this subject.

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application. While looking at the environment around me, I can see the natural patterns and forms that become textile images, fine art pieces , in sculpture etc. I have decided to create a subject to study in more detail and the name of my new Collection development in drawing and sample format is Natures Armour, incorporating all aspects of natures casings and inner structure

The landscape and dwelling for annotation work

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application.

Photographs from nature to Annotate/mark making techniques

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application.

The Pret a Porte Show, 90's Les halles

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application. Click on the Link to check out the statement piece.

Stella and Dot Stylist

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application.

Visit my new website for Stella and dot at www.stelladot.co.uk/sites/victorialmeadows

MA Textile Innovation via registered project.

The project will be based on improving illustrator and photo shop technique, therefore will be predominately sketch book based art work with small swatch development. Emphasis on design detail and unique theme development.

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application.

Sketching illustrations

I am presently sketching new illustrations as I am developing my illustrator CAD photoshop skills

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application.

Working in fashion.

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application.

I have just decided to join a fashion site which helps fashion people network.
http://www.workinfashion.com/network/ViewProfile.aspx

Fashion Portfolio A blog showing the work and philosophy of my work.Showing a history of design work over my career and including a new body of work for my MA application.
Fashion forcasting information from pantone.

patternscolorsdesign.wordpress.com

Vintage Fashion Illustrations

Swatch ideas for Winter.

Promotional image knitted Accessories Original Sample

Summer knit Postcard .

Summer knits

Knit swatches.

1/4 scale fashion swatches.

One way to make money tyhese days is to design little single fabric 3/4 scale designs for sale via agents.I am presently looking for agents to sell my design work.The last agent I used worked from the USA.

Vintage fashion illustration.

Summer fairisle knit shot in Malta

Pret a Porter Fashion show image late 90's

Proposal for body of work MA textiles

The MA Textiles course at Nottingham Trent University" is a place to explore all aspects of textile Art in its broadest sense encompassing art and design and craft practice gaining new knowledge using critical debate with other students from different Art and design backgrounds"(http://www.artdes.mmu.ac.uk/textiles/ma/). Developing a far broader and more technical understanding of modern technology, using up to date photographic printing practice, CAD and illustrator, Shima Seiki knitting machinery and industrial embroidery machines would be my main practice and intention.


My proposal for completed art work would be expressing and proving copyright via sketch book, story boards and illustrations. To develop a cohesive range of artisan products and fashion illustration development and resource materials and present at a Masters of Art level to achieve the credited certification.

Heritage and Artisan believes would be a continuing practice theme entwining each piece within an ever expanding body of work to become a working professional. Looking deeply at the deconstruction of fashion and its' directional style and mood development through the understanding of globalization of the next decade and beyond. Vintage inspired developments of embroidered /patch work detailing using organic fabrics up cycled materials for an eco conscious clothing range. Developing new and contemporary techniques including leather and metal work incorporating organic materials/ rock crystals/and up cycled materials. I will be exploring contemporary aspects of my continuing practice gaining new knowledge using critical debate with other students and exploring a deeper awareness of the technologies of illustration, portfolio development and working drawing exploration within the soft ware packages of Illustrator and photo shop.

My working practice is part of a new generation of eco friendly designer Artisan based product range which is becoming increasingly popular with many people wishing to save the planet from unnecessary pollution. My fabrics and buttons will be vintage were possible or retro vintage. My yarns would be natural fibres recycled from my previously run designer studio space or other resources of an eco conscious basis. I would be developing an ethical fashion collection from fibre production to the finishing stitches using sustainable fabrics and fibres, vintage buttons and fabric to be used to create artisan pieces of fashionable desirable choices for a consumer market. Ethical fashion philosophy is simple. The people involved in this inspiring eco sound fabric and fashion industry believe that fashion should be ethical and not just beautiful. Ethical fashion philosophy embraces the concept of creating beautiful designs with ethical production practices.

The outcomes and critical evaluations of completed works will be reflective of eco conscious values within the construction and ethos and contextual and theoretical constraints of the projects undertaken.

My aspirations are to develop from my prêt-a-porter ready to wear career and transcend into a haute couture level of product design encompassing more theoretical Art and Design influences to increase the level of design standard for my own working practice. In order to create new woven embellished fabrics and knit/crochet/lace beadwork/print and weave. My intention is to gain a more coherent identity as a working designer exploring other Art and Design disciplines and combining these into my work, adding more interest and uniqueness. Working within other disciplines and within small Artist based groups to engage within the Arts world and possible Gallery pursuits to encourage an awareness of the creative arts within the local and far reaching communities within the UK and abroad. I would like to follow on from my MA course to a Research Course to develop my illustration techniques within the Computer aided design soft ware packages and technical developments with the technology side of illustration and design development including my ability to illustrate within classic media. My inspirations are to apply to the Royal College of Art via the Arts and Humanity funding schemes and to study illustration through fine Arts based research course.

Winter 2010

A new an inspiring season is upon us.It will be interesting to be working with recycled yarns and materials to create organic vintage inspired collections of accessories.Taking influences from Native American Crafts and fusing this with a contemporary edge to give reason and understanding to the world around us.Serenity.........

Asymetrical knit dress coat.

www.etsy.com/shop/originalsampleA beautiful asymetrical femmine long knit coat with a geargian style neckline and 3/4 short bell sleeve.This coat wraps around and ties or can be worn loose.It is made from pure new wool and is a navy with a fleck running through it.The size of the sample is med/large.It is available in a number of colours and sizes.Please convo me at the top of the page for more details.It can be worn as a knit dress as well as a long cardigan over dresses or trousers.

Sketches

Theme boards

http:bespokefashionnews.blogspot.com

Sketch ideas

www.etsy.com/shop/originalsample

Fashion sketches in water colour and ink

Ma Application.

I have just been informed that I have an interview for an MA which is a Masters degree in Textiles.I will be pleased to go for an interview to explore the idea of working on new creative approaches to Art within a Textiles medium.

Swatches in 3/4 scale

                       Swatch sold to Calvien Klien                       Felt bag design

Paul Smith Accessories by Victoria Meadows.