Finished Neck Pieces

Here are three examples of my neck pieces. I dyed the millinery tape using mixed Procion dyes and have attached it to the felt. I am very pleased with the acid lemon green colour that I was able to produce as I feel it really sets these pieces off, giving them the contemporary feel that I wanted to achieve. Placing it next to the charcoal grey of the felt it manages to pick out the blues and greens of my stitching. I am looking forward to seeing my pieces on the model at the photoshoot later on this week.

Embroidery samples.

Here are some images of how I have started to sample my embroidery designs into the shapes of neck pieces. It is interesting to see how they might look and how I could improve on the designs, as I want them to look professional and not craft like, however, I do think that they should remain one-off original pieces.

Embroidery Designs.

This week I have begun to create some embroidery designs for my jewellery neck pieces and I have started to sample some of them. I have taken my designs from drawings I have done from images of Art Deco/Nouveau ironworks. These fluid organic shapes and designs were used in several ways on stair cases, railings, screens, mirrors, tables and lamps and even on the entrances to the metro stations in Paris.

Contemporary inspiration.

As well as looking at the past I have also been looking at contemporary designers for inspiration. I particularly like Holly Fulton's work, like me she has a love of geometric patterns and Art Deco and has recently designed a collection that included some bold jewellery pieces.Visit www.hollyfulton.com to view more of Holly's work.
I have been inspired by Marni who have also designed some amazing accessories including neck pieces in their collection. Visit www.yoox.com to view this neck piece and more of Marni's collection.

Final Major Project.

I will design and make a collection of jewellery neck pieces that have been inspired by Ancient Egyptian imagery which I have collated through research and a visit to the British Museum.

The colour story will be taken from Marni's colour pallette.
I will use felt, dyed and embellished with embroidery and beading.

I anticipate my collection to be aimed at the sophisticated woman who would appreciate both the history behind the designs and the modern twist I will put on them.

A day out in London.

Yesterday I travelled into London and met up with my daughter. We had a great day and visited some interesting exhibitions. The first was a photographic exhibition at the Idea Generation Gallery, near to Liverpool Street station. The work was by Nat Finkelstein who was a photo journalist,who had taken iconic and intimate photos of people such as Andy Warhol in the 1960's. It was a great insight into the lives of the people he photographed, as well as the times in which they had been taken.
We then took a trip to Marylebone, to Alfies Antique Market, this is an interesting place , great to wander around and we are able to see lots of items from furniture, to textiles and jewellery.
Afterwards we went onto Oxford Circus, Regent St and Carnaby St, just off here I was able to buy some lovely beads that I hope to use in my final major project.
We then went to visit the amazing house of John Soames in Holborn, his vast collection sprawled through out the intire house and we didn't know where to look first!
Finally we went to the Hunterian Museum which was close by, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, at the Royal College of Surgeons. This museum housed a fascinating collection of animal and human anatomy and pathology, as well as art work and surgical instruments. We unfortunately didn't have very long in here but it was well worth the look and somewhere I would like to visit again.
Today I'm at home and although I feel exhausted I'm really glad we packed so much into our day yesterday.

Flapping with Felt.

I have made felt using various yarns which I have hand and machine knitted. I used an undyed 100% Mohair, a Merino/ Cashwool, and a 60% Mohair/40% Acrylic and I also used the 60% Mohair/40% Acrylic with a Merino yarn.
I am especially pleased with the felt that I made with the 100% Mohair that I hand knitted, which I am showing in this image, as it has felted well and has a soft fluffy texture. I will put the felt in the washing machine again to see what happens!