January 2016 started off slowly and nicely and I spent some quality time over Christmas with family and friends and even got to visit relatives down in Dun Chaoin in Kerry last month. February has been a tough month, due to a private circumstance. (All went well) But with that said I'm hoping 2016 will be good from here on in.
On the work front, because of the latest happenings I'm a bit behind schedule but I'll catch up. I've been reviewing my work and my stock and that of it stocked in stockists. As you might of noticed, low and behold four years later I designed and created my own logo earlier this month and it's replaced all the photos of me from that of on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, Instagram and oh and on here! I also designed gift vouchers and a new set of business cards all with same matching logo. See below.
Back to discussing my work.
When I was in Kerry in January I visited the Aquarium in Dingle and took many photos of the fish and other sea life at the aquarium. It was fun and the colours and patterns of some of the fish was truly beautiful.
I have used a seashore theme for my work for as long as I can remember, I do try to switch themes now and again but always end up coming back to the sea. And so it's kind of like my trademark, it's me, it suits me and I'll probably never stray from it. I'm completely obsessed with all things to do with the ocean. (My favourite fish strangely is that of a shark...seriously... and the aquarium had two of them!) It's also no surprise that my favorite colour is Turquoise followed by calm colours such as pale pinks, purples, taupes, cream and charcoal & soft greys with hints of metallic gold and copper. I also love green but a sea green. These colours seem to follow me everywhere too. I have tried to be bolder with colour and go outside my comfort zone and I have made some choices along the way and some worked and others not so much.
I am a handweaver, I know I may have strayed off the path a bit and yes I do a lot of mixed media textiles that I love. I specialized in this first before I ever chose and became engrossed with weaving. I love the option of having both. Both sit well alongside each other but I'm still searching for that link and I think I may have found it.
I'm currently on the loom, I'm threading at the moment and it's going well. It's a slow process but it's calming at the same time so long as I don't skip a thread or a heddle I'll be fine. I have a plain cream coloured warp on the loom with a very narrow strip of a pale green and grey through it. The finished product will be a hanging about a little over a meter long with a twist thrown in there too. Considering all goes according to plan.
Like I mentioned I've been reviewing my work.
Using the fish photos, recently I developed some of these into patterns using the computer and I got samples of the patterns that I created and got these digitally printed onto fabric. These arrived last week. I've done this before and it turned out really nice, for lampshades actually. I had developed the woven trim shades but found I was being asked for other designs and for patterns and all sorts. And so I did this. To be fair, I'm never going to please everyone. I don't want to have too many different things going on which to be fair is what had been happening. Plus the fact, remember that you never will please everyone either. Because I am a textile designer sometimes I think people expect that I can put my hand to anything and create what they want because I have the skills to weave and sew! I did start at creating lampshades sourcing unusual fabrics and developing my own ideas and created many a lampshade by using these methods and to be fair a lot of people like them.
That said, I had a customer in the studio looking for a lampshade last week and I had shown her the printed designs I used from my fish photos and she mentioned she preferred the trims and the more plainer approach fabrics and designs. She found them to be nice yet a bit structured or something along those lines, I can't remember her exact word. It's so difficult to know what people like. But it is good to get feedback from people too. I personally love creating the woven trim ones and creating my own designs. Below are a few designs from the fish photos taken in the aquarium. Left is the photo, right is the design.
I love some of them and I may get larger samples created and see what it looks like as a lampshade. (Not all shown above) But it is a fun process all the same. I do think some of these would make beautiful patterns for weaving or else using the colours and coming up with as close to a design that is in -keeping with the abstract print. I think I'll just have to experiment and see what works best for me to be honest.
At the moment for Spring/Summer a new collection of lampshades, woven hangings & cushions, framed seashore studies and something completely new is being developed, so watch this space! Each launching at different times between March - June. And an online shop is on the list and will follow later on in the year, if I can figure out how?
In keeping with the sea/fish theme, I'm also developing two further projects. One is mentioned above.
The other is launching end of March/beginning of April titled 'Underwater' using mixed media & weave (Hint:Can be worn) - all shall be revealed, however one step at a time!
Log onto Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest happenings and check website for updates and news!
Gráinne :) x
