New Year's Greetings

With the New Year 2016 looming bright on the horizon, it is time to rekindle by creativity and what better way to start than by designing a stitched mixed media new year card.

Wishing all my followers the happiest of Happy New Years ! :-)

Inspiration Matters

I haven't found time to update this blog for ages as I have been directing my creativity in other areas but, perhaps it is the approach of spring, or maybe my recent visit to a design studio, or more likely sorting through my stash, but I feel pretty stitchy at the moment.

Stitching will be a good contrast to thye digging an planting I have been doing on my allotment.  

I have spent a lot of time editing an allotment blog for the Eastbourne Allotments and Gardens Society and researching this has meant that I have learnt a lot about growing and cooking produce. 

The visit to the design studio has inspired me to get out my colour book and start toying with some colour ideas and revisiting some of my designs in progress.

I've been playing with organza flower shapes with a view to layering and stitching into them - not sure where that will lead.  I also desperately need to update my wardrobe, so I will be playing with some designs over the next couple of weeks.

I have even dusted off my knitting machine.  I thought it would be good to refresh my skills and perhaps knit some trims / edges that I could add to tops.

Oh, and I almost forgot - as I have recently taken up Salsa dancing classes, I need to think about suitable shapes for tops to wear that will move with the beat.  I am thinking asymmetric low waisted dress or perhaps a peplum over jeggings.

Browsing on my friend Mr Amazon (as you do) I found loads of books to add to my wish list and one that I have ordered.  I'll do a review when it arrives.

Serpentine creativity

I have been directing my creativity into different areas since my last post: as a facilitator running creative classes, as a project manager for creative projects, as a writer and editor.  I have also gone back to making, designing and sewing for myself.  Oh, yes!  And I have taken on an allotment garden and am learning to dance!  Sooooo busy keeping lots of ball in the air, I haven't had much time to keep up my blog.

Yay!

Having accidentally locked myself out of my blog (don't ask) I have FINALLY managed to reactivate it.  Phew! Not easy when Google sends you round in ever decreasing circles without letting you reset the password.  Soooo my friends, watch this space because lots has been happening in the silence.

Post Card

I have been asked to submit a post card for a forthcoming exhibtion in Bristol.  I decided to do use mixed media techniques with stitch to produce a balaclava themed fashion drawing based on a fashion illustration I did for my final major project at Northbrook College.  Here it is!

I love alliums!

I couldn't resist photographing the amazing seedheads from my spectacular alliums. I am going to save the seeds and distribute among my fellow allotmenteers not to mention the Guerilla Gardeners. These beautiful natural forms will no doubt creep into my design work.

Which reminds me, I really MUST finish off my fashionista scarecrow. The experience I gained pattern cutting my fashionista balaclavas will put me in good stead for making a fabric head for her.

The Girls - The Class of 2011 with Tom Embleton

Well New Designers is over and the girls are all going their separate ways. There are lots of exciting projects going on, not to mention holidays and wonderful job opportunities. Check out Artsthread to learn more. We have all agreed to meet up from time to time to catch up on all the news and gossip.

My Final Show

Well the final show at Northbrook has been a great success and now its time to think about getting ready for New Designers at the end of the month. For those of you who didn't manage to get to the show, here are some pictures. All designs copywrite Lynn Openshaw 2011. I will be pleased to receive comments and enquiries.

INVITATION

Exciting times as we received a large box from the printers containing our individual post cards and invitations to our Degree Show. See my work and that of the other students in my group - we call ourselves the Northbrook Eleven 2011 - or see our work at New Designers 2011 at the Design Centre in London.

Degree Show at Northbrook College: Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th June 2011.

Degree Show on Stand T34 at New Designers, Design Centre, Islington Thursday 30 June to Saturday 2nd July 2001. www.newdesigners.com

Getting there slowly

My Final Major Project is almost at an end although there is still MUCH to do! I finished another length today and am very pleased with it as I used a tricky process. Having dyed some silk a beautiful shade of midnight blue using my own dye recipe from a range of direct dyes I started printing the geometric elements with a very dark navy. I then switched to discharge paste and selected some of the florals which would eventually become white. I wanted to stretch my printing skills so I opted to use basic dyes with discharge paste although these are very volatile dyes with unpredictable outcomes. After a LOT of colour testing with varying degrees of success I chose several colours from my colour story and selected the floral elements to create a colour "flow" around the design. I mixed a lime green, a turquoise and a bright firey orange. After an unbelievable amount of stencil cutting and screen washing the printing was finished last night. The length went into the steamer this morning and then during the washing out process the colours started to develop before my eyes. All the hard work and anxiety about the colour stability was worth it. I am delighted with the design! See the finished article at my Degree Show at Northbrook or at New Designers show in July.