Liberty of London

I recently went for a shopping trip to London and noticed the exterior of the back of Liberty. I love it.. it reminds me of a doll house.

and it begins...

Breif: Re-work a garment or advertisement to depict our identity, using a choice of fabrics, a vintage garment and a personal object.

I re-worked an image within Prada's Spring/Summer 08 collection (inspired by Prada's short film 'Trembled Blossom').

I think the re-worked image works well and in some ways shows what I am about and what my work is about. As I only had a day to work on this I was rushing, if I were to do it again I would spend much longer on making the whole image more realistic, the clothing in particular. It is not the best I can do on photoshop, but I like it.

Trembled Blossom

Prada's Spring/Summer 08 collection. Trembled Blossom was created to introduce and capture the essence of the new collection at the time. Created by illustrator James Jean, and based on his wallpapers which he designed for Prada, he used inked drawings to depict a mystical floral forest in an Art Nouveau style. The inked drawings were used as a theme throughout the collection and within the photoshoot for the advertising campaign.

I have always argued that fashion is a form of art, and I love the use of art as a major inspiration within fashion. Prada's campaign works with illustration and combines James Jean's work in the designing of the collection through the contours of the fabric, colours and print.

Film Film Film Film

Saville Row have collaborated with artist Quentin Jones to produce an animated film to accompany their S/S 10 collection.

The collection was inspired by a set of photographs taken back in 1930s of the The Duke of Windsor on holiday in Majorca. E.Tautz has given the collection a sense of humour- part of the concept is English men enjoying themselves in the Mediterranean.

The film communicates the quirky English eccentricity of the collection, and was showcased in the Saville Row offices along with

tea and cakes offered to the guests.

Follow link to watch the film: http://www.dazeddigital.com/Fashion/article/4987/1/E_Tautz_Does_Film

By creating a film to accompany a collection, it helps potential buyers and customers understand the concept of the collection and not just understand the 'image' of collection, but the mood of it too. Music and moving imagery can help 'set the scene' and make a collection much more than a collection, but a character with history and meaning.

Creativity and Commerce

Peter Jensen has collaborated with Tim Walker to create a unique installation for his Autumn/Winter 09 collection, to be showcased at Dover Street Market. The installation was inspired by Peter Jensen's journey to Greenland, where he travelled to carry out research for his collection.

Jensen's capsule range, consisting of beaded knitwear, panelled woollen dresses and faux-fur legginns, is exclusive to Dover Street Market and will be placed within the installation among the 'army of penguins'.

"Working with my friends at Dover Street Market, and with Tim has been a fantastic opportunity to bring creativity and commerce together in an interesting and unique way."

Patchwork Pillow

Since my nan taught me how to knit (a while back now!) I hadn't really put my new craft to use. So, I decided to knit a few squares and sew a patchwork pillow out some old fabrics I had lying around. Inner cushion £1 from Wilkos, you can't go wrong.

A Wild Squirrel

Excuse the randomosity of this post. I took my squirrel outside one day.. and then took this photo.

I heart Fleet Foxes

Mykonos from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

Mykonos making of from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

I was at Bestival, Isle of Wight at the weekend and was lucky enough to be front row (hardcore fan) at the Fleet Foxes set on the main stage. I loved it. Their music gives me a warm feeling like no other music, Fleet Foxes are like a Sunday afternoon, an unwinding ambience of soft harmonistic vocals and sounds. It makes me feel like drinking a mug of hot chocolate and unwind in front of wood fire, wrapped in a woollen blanket.

Their video for my favourite song Mykonos is an interesting inspiring piece of animation from a company called Grandchildren. It's a simple collaboration of paper and music forming an animated story. Geometric shapes of pallid colours imitating creatures within a forest and other mystical happenings.

Banksy vs Bristol Art Musuem

Definitely worth the 4 hour queue.

Banksy's art does provoke controversy, but he only says, in art form, what every one thinks. He has a playful, and in some ways immature approach within his artwork- a bong filled with cannibis placed amongst ornamental antique vases, and a vintage gypsy caravan with 'eviction notice' planted on the door.

The concept of the art exhibition was graffiti, vandalism of the art museum, regular displays that had been 'altered' and tampered with: a display of the formation of icicles but with a model of a penis mimicking an icicle, a pleasant landscape painting invaded by aliens. After wandering through the museum, his artwork becomes irregular and inconstant, it seems to blend in and you have to search for it amongst the authentic art pieces.

Many of Banksy's work was most probably missed by most people, thinking that there was no more to the exhibition, I was almost one of them!

I did find it shocking however, during the 4 hours of queue people-watching, to see 2 little old ladies barely un-able to stand, various little children, mums tagging along with their teenagers, and plenty of old men, what seemed to be the type to look down upon graffiti as a "disgusting act of vandalism". Banksy definitely has the most varied fan base I have ever seen.

An Interesting Cover Letter...

Lust Project

I have just discovered the company Lust Project whilst having a little read through my weekly Vice email newsletter.

Created by a dutch Anne-Margreet, (who actually once worked as a photographer for Vice magazine in NYC) she produces odd, unique and fun lifestyle items, including: ben linen, cushions, clothing, jewellery, and also works within interior design.

I love it.. I also love the website: http://www.lust-project.com  

NYC Drawings

The beginnings of my New York diary/blog that I have decided to create. I am going to incorporate illustration with photography, along with text- I will produce it within Indesign and hopefully get it printed as a book when I have the money to spare!

Quirky Furnishings

I was sheltering in Borders the other day to escape the rainy weather, and whilst browsing through interior magazines I came across a feature on textile designer Donna Wilson. I was attracted to her quirky light-hearted style, especially her cute bird cushions. Her work is playful and uncomplicated, created with a sense of humor and a large imagination.

She has inspired me to design furnishing fabrics and cushions with an exuberant and flippant approach and concept.

http://www.donnawilson.com

Florence + The Machine

The album artwork, produced for music artist Florence + The Machine's single 'Dog Days', reminds me of an English country village fete: jam, cakes, bunting, face painting, bouncy castles, petting zoo, competitions, coconut shy. It also reminded me of the woodland animal illustrations which I did.

Incorporating illustrations and photography can work well in some cases. I want to try and discover who produced this artwork and view their other work, it will be interesting to see what else the artist has done.

Adorned Caravans

I came across this feature the other day, amongst lots of other tear outs that I had stashed away. It's from a past issue of Vogue, I'm not sure exactly how long ago. I remember thinking "I need to do this!", it was the same reaction as when I watched the 1963 classic film Summer Holiday, where they decorate the interior of a red London double-decker bus and travel through Europe.

I have always been interested in interiors and I love this feature, however, I can't even afford a little car let alone a caravan... 

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

When I found out there was going to be a re-make of Disney's Alice in Wonderland I couldn't have been anymore excited! Alice in Wonderland has to be my favourite Disney classic, and to find out that Tim Burton was re-creating the film and Johnny Depp cast as the Mad Hatter, was even better.

I love how twisted and odd the story is, like a dream creeping into reality, everything is not how it seems. I really enjoy watching Burton's films, they are like dark fairytales and daydreams, written filled with imagination, inventions and fantasy.

Out March 5 2010. Click on the title to watch the trailer.

NEW YORK CITY

I absolutely love New York. I need to live there one day, it's such an awe-inspiring city, and it felt very homely to me.

I visited New York with Steve, and as it was our first visit to the city obviously we did the typical tourist things, but what I enjoyed about it was that we went away from some of the main tourist spots. We shopped in Soho, ate in East Village and wandered through Alphabet City. East Village reminded me of a high street back at home, I couldn't see any of the high-rise buildings and it was very residential, but there were lots of small but busy friendly bars and places to eat filled with locals.

I like New York because I saw different things that I found very peculiar, for example: shoe-shiners, hot dog stands on every street corner, and a pair of shoes in Central Park with a note left lovingly inside with the words "God Bless You".

I have decided to produce a personal book about my trip to New York in the form of a diary, filled with my photographs and illustrations. Watch this space...  

MIAMI

I have recently returned from a holiday to America, visiting Palm Beach and Miami, before going onto New York.

We stayed in Miami for 3 days, most of which was spent on South Beach and Ocean Drive, which is renowned for it's 1930s Art Deco architecture.

Walking along Ocean Drive the atmosphere was energetic and vibrant, with a very elite aura within many of the bars.

It was interesting to see the vast difference in the quality of life when driving out of the cities main tourist roads. All of the houses seemed very run down, they were small shacks that looked shabby and wouldn't stand a chance if a hurricane hit it.

I loved the amount of Art Deco. So many different colours and styles, some with colour co-ordinating vintage cars parked outside. We also spotted the Versache Mansion (photograph above) where Gianni Versache was shot and killed.

We did a bit of shopping in Urban Outfitters and Kid Robot, and Steve bought a Cuban cigar hand made on the street.

I shall definitely return!

I am employed!

As I have decided to spend my summer by the beach in Bournemouth, I realised I would need a little income to and found a part-time job at british tea merchants Whittard of Chelsea.

I work four hours a day, roughly three days a week, serving customers tea, coffee, biscuits, china and chocolate in my royal blue apron, which I have 'Hannahed up' with a striped blue and white bow.

Definition: 'Hannahed up'. Hannah is my name and to 'Hannah up' is to simply make something look more pretty by adding decoration or detail by any means necessary.

Since working at Whittard I have preferred drawing the teapots surrounding me, rather than focusing on customer service. More productively, I have been asked to do window displays and table top displays within store, which is obviously great POS experience and allows me to still be creative within my job.

Working with teapots, tea leaves and coffee beans is very different to my previous part-time job in John Lewis, womenswear, but it is still enjoyable.. to some extent. 

Woodland Animals

I came over all british one day and decided to draw woodland animals out of boredom. Using pen and water I created these very fine line drawings of a fox, owl and squirrel. I want to develop on them one day but I'm not entirely sure what to do just yet.

Postcards

For Part 1 of my Negotiated Studies project I created a pack of 20 postcards as an alternative 'out of the typical tourist trail' 2009 shopping guide for Milan. The concept of the guide is 'inspirational shops'. I researched shops in Milan that inspired me. I produced a guide that recommends shops/stalls/boutiques/events/galleries/markets that I discovered, and drew an illustration of a particular interesting and inspiring product or feature within each of the places.

The idea of the postcards is that readers can use the postcards as a guide but also contribute to the postcard by sending in illustrations of their inspirational places to be featured in the up and coming pack.

10 Corso Como

10 Corso Como is a 'unique combination of fashion, art, music and design'. Corso Como is an example of an innovative, compelling, creative and modern store layout. Eye-catching displays, interesting decor, and a modern/futuristic appearance. Selling products such as music, high fashion, home ware, accessories, and jewelry from up-market, stylish brands. With it's own bookstore, cafe and small hotel, it is definitely the most inspiring store that I have visited. Maybe too expensive for students however...

http://www.10corsocomo.com

MILAN

I visited Milan as part of my Negotiated Studies project. I carried out research on side street shops for a shopping guide which I'm going to create - 'off the beaten track' will be a guide that takes the reader away from the typical tourist trail to gain inspiration and discover a 'different' Milan.

My research led me off onto various pathways, down roads which I may not have walked down if it wasn't for my research, and I came across various interesting independent little boutiques, and markets stalls- not necessarily fashion related. They contained objects that were nice to look at or functional and were very inspiring. This taught me that anything you stumble across can be used for inspiration no matter what it is, if you like it use it.

Spektacle

I attended a lecture with John Noi, the editor of Spektacle magazine. His unique selling point was QR codes. QR codes are the latest technology in gaining information, only usable if the reader owns a Kaywa supported mobile phone, mainly found in iPhones and Blackberrys. They're used by 'snapping' the codes- which means scanning the code using the phone's integrated camera, this then automatically connects to the internet on the phone and links the reader up to further information. It's innovative, and a quick source to information. This idea has turned a magazine into an interactive magazine. Readers have the opportunity to gain further information quickly, literally within the touch of a button. What inspired me about the lecture was that John Noi has created a magazine that has a USP that can not be found in any other magazine, and he has cleverly continued a concept throughout the magazine within the images that are used and also the lexicon that is used. It made me realise how important unique selling points are, what makes my product better? http://www.spektacle.com -for a free PDF download of Spektacle.