NoticeBoard DIY

Today i decide to create a basic noticeboard for my uni room. i have so many pieces of paper and notes everywhere that i need a place to store them!

I have made a few of these before, but only A3 size at the biggest. This one is A1 - 80cmx60cm (ish) so its pretty big!

I have a small uni room so i didnt want to get a big bold print. Just like the clutch bag sizing rule, a big noticeboard makes your room look even smaller, so i went for calico. I know most people turn their noses up at calico, and yes i used it from my stash which i make mock ups with, but i have a bit of a thing for calico at the moment.. its plain.. when im trying to think of designs this pin board wont confuse me.. i just sits on the wall subtlety :D Plus its going to get really colourful once i start stuffing bits of paper into it!

I chose grosgrain ribbon in white, to match the walls, and give the product a bit of texture. also the polyester ribbon can look abit tacky, especially with something as plain as calico! Then i got these lush natural wooden buttons from my local fabric store in felixstowe.

I also used command strips to attach it to my wall. I sometimes put a ribbon to hang it from then hammer a nail into the wall but i want all of my deposit back when we leave here in 7 months!

Im pretty happy with this! Might write a small tutorial. They are so easy and it only took me 45 minutes. 3M Craft Mount is also my new best friend :)

If i can do it then you can too :D

Tutorial will be written up for this one i think! So easy - and gets your papers off your desk :D

Finished Fabric Collection - Sewing Notions

My first fabric collection is complete!! I called it 'Sewing Notions' and it is made up of three prints.

One, a repeat tiny button which combines both a polka and a stripe. The second, thimbles and frames. And the third, lino cut button print placed randomly upon the fabric.

All fabrics are linens/cottons unbleached and natural.

I made a few large-makeup-case style bags just to show my fabrics on a 3D form. The project for me was not about the 3D design. These bags are something i make all the time for my Folksy, Etsy and Facebook page which i run alongside my degree.

I have also decided to brand my products as Louise Richardson Designs. This is finished nicely with a button printed label and also cotton ties on the labels themselves.

Im not overly happy with this at the moment i already run a business with my name in it and i think i would prefer one that is a bit more professional looking.. considering using a bird species in there somewhere but its a slow process!

Adding the selvedge to the bottom of the fabric.

The thimbles & frames print in black and white.

The makeup cases which i made! These are soon to be in a shop in Nottingham

The Button Prints

One run of the thimbles and frames fabric after printing. I only printed 50cm strips as i had five to do and not a great bank balance!

Fabrics all on display.

some of the branding

The branding on the cases.

Hand printed fabrics.. The samples!

Things are pushing too quickly at uni for my liking at the moment; I feel rushed into making a 'final piece' when really all I want to do is sit down and concentrate on making these digital pattern repeats much more interesting before I waste money burning a screen with a print that's pretty cool, but not my best work! Anyway - these are the samples for my first fabric collection.

For the next project I want to develop my frames print by printing without thimbles and also altering the sizes of the frames themselves! But I'm forgetting about that at the moment to concentrate on getting meters of these printed up and making some little creations :)

Here are my designs so far!

The start of a fabric print

Lino cut - block printing using Lino & ink

Buttons print onto a screen ready for screenprinted onto a fine linen fabric

My first fabric prints are coming together! I have burnt one screen so far; from a drawing from my sketchbook of Buttons, in a continuous line drawing. I like this design because it combines polkadot & stripe.

The repeat pattern took me a whole day in the digital labs to produce so that i was happy with it. then i printed it onto A3 acetate and made my screen from that!

I have been away from university for this whole week but im excited to go back and get screenmaking again! Hoping to have all four fabrics printed by the end of the week, and maybe some products made. I think ill just make a cushion and a lampshade or something c: 

Digital Sketchbook

Here are some of my drawings which i have created into digital drawings through the use of both photoshop and illustrator, through layers, opacity and also live trace. These are now in the repeat-pattern stage and i will post some pictures once designs are finalised of course! Im very excited about this.

Louise Richardson first four fabric collection - The back to basics range -sewing notions. February 2013!

Buttons which can work as both the stripe and the dot texture. Im thinking more fabric design in the sketch. Live traced on Illustrator.

Layered image of wax resist watercolour study of pinking shear line suitable for stripe, and my embroidery scissors and a thimble!

My mannequin and a small unusual button collection ive got going on..

This tape measure took me so long.. so so long..

thimbles! I like the different sizes :)