mary-tod

[mary-tod]

FMP EXHIBITION

[mary-tod]

The End of Year Fashion Show This is Georgy my model who was wearing my neck piece down the catwalk. I styled her with a high, slick ponytail and natural makeup with red lipstick. I was very happy with the end of year fashion show.

[mary-tod]

SIXTH SAMPLE

[mary-tod]

FIFTH SAMPLE

[mary-tod]

FOURTH SAMPLE

[mary-tod]

THIRD SAMPLE

[mary-tod]

SECOND SAMPLE

[mary-tod]

FIRST SAMPLE

[mary-tod]

FINAL EVALUATION

“The Secret Garden” was the chosen novel for my project and to meet the brief, I had to produce a sketchbook, a blog and six A3 finalised fabric samples. In my project proposal I wanted to portray the theme of nature by showing “the full bloom of flowers” that were mentioned in the novel. However, this concept changed as I developed my work, to the “strength and secrets through flowers” which had a stronger relationship to my samples. For my final six samples I have used a variety of techniques to portray my new concept. For example, I have included free-hand machine embroidery, hand embroidery, fabric manipulation, vanishing muslin, melting plastic and embellishments – these techniques in my samples correlate to the themes in the novel. I portrayed my theme of strength by enlarging the scale of the embroidered flowers so that they stood out. In addition, I illustrated the theme of secrets by using transparent mesh and pale fabrics so that the flowers were not easily identifiable. In all of my samples I have depicted the theme of flowers and nature. In my project proposal I highlighted that I wanted to develop my fabric manipulation and embroidery. I have met this aim as I have manipulated fabric by melting, cutting and gathering to create flowers and ruffles, as well as developing my use of machine embroidery and using fabric and ribbon to embroider with. Finally, I have created my samples to be in a Woman’s Spring/Summer collection. For my project I have carried out extensive research using secondary sources such as: Pinterest, YouTube, magazines and the internet to find current trends and artists/designers that have inspired me. This is a quick and easy way to develop my work and to carry out research tasks. I have also attended shows and visited areas of interest that supported my theme such as: Beth Chatto Gardens, The National Flower Show and my garden as part of my primary research. This helped my understanding of the shapes and colours in the garden that I could use and mimic in my final samples. Throughout this project I have had to resolve arising issues such as experimenting before I carry out the final samples and analyzing these experiments to decide whether they are on target with my concept. Furthermore, to ensure that I am completing my work I have made timetables to remind myself of what to do and when they need to be done so that I stay on track. For example, I made an initial timetable and a calendar to balance my college work and extra-curricular activities when I was closer to the hand-in date. This was useful as it reminded me what was left to do in the time-scale I had left as well as my check-lists and to-do-lists which outlined my progress step-by-step. To refine and improve my work and sketchbook, I had support from my peers and from my tutor who offered constructive criticism and either new ideas or the development of ideas I had already had. This allowed other opinions to influence my work as they gave a different perspective. For a personal tracking of my own development, I submitted regular blog entries illustrating the improvements made on my work through the annotation of some of my samples. Overall, I have enjoyed this project and I am pleased with the presentation of my work with my concepts being clearly highlighted throughout. My sketchbook also gives a chronological outline of the thoughts and processes in which have led me to my final six fabric samples.

[mary-tod]

PRESENTATION BOARD

My presentation board is a summary of my collection on one board. It illustrates my colour palette of dusty pink, purple and red as well as pale greens and violet. These colours remind me of roses, flowers, greenery and ivy. The images below are the main pictures that have influenced me for this project. For example the ruffles have influenced me from my trend research into the current spring trends. The peonies reminded me of larges scale flowers as well as the roses mentioned in the novel. The image of Georgia Jagger influenced me to use dusty and pale colours in my colour palette. The ivy is to portray the key part in the novel of finding the secret garden. Finally the Chanel S/S collection is to illustrate the use of fabric manipulation, embellishment and delicate fabric which were some of the techniques which I have used in my samples.

The line-up on this presentation board really ties in with the rest of the images and has matched my colour palette perfectly.

[mary-tod]

FINAL LINE-UP

This is my final line-up illustrating what my Woman's S/S collection would look like with my samples. I have added flower headpieces on the models to highlight my theme of nature and floral, in addition it emphasizes the theme of strength by enlarging flowers and the theme of secrets by covering their faces. In the line-up I have changed the colours of the models clothes to match my colour palette. I have chosen loose fitted and simple clothing so that my designs and samples stand out.

In addition, I have added my embroidered sample onto the shoes of the models to make the outfits look as a collection. I am really proud how my samples are looking on my models as it clearly relates to my theme of floral and its hidden meaning of strength and secrets.   

[mary-tod]

PRIMARY RESEARCH. I visited the National Flower Show in Chelmsford over the weekend as it supported my theme of floral. Although it is late in my project to visit places I thought it was a great opportunity to go and take a visit. It was a lovely show at a beautiful venue with a variety of flowers which was great to take pictures of. This research really supported my theme of flowers and was a great chance to see the variety of shapes and colours that flowers have. My favourite place in the show was the rose stall as they had a wide range of roses in different colours and this really relates to my novel as roses are constantly mentioned and have a significance in the story. By going to the National Flower Show I had a great time and it was a good opportunity to reflect on my project.

[mary-tod]

MY FINAL DESIGNS Previously in my sketchbook I made some initial designs that I wanted to do including embroidering onto pictures and appliqueing. However my work has really developed from that and now I have my final six designs. I roughly sketched out my designs to give an idea of what I want to create. I have decided to make an embroidered sample using fabric and ribbon, a sample using plastic flowers, a ruffled sample that relates to my trend research, an ivy sample using vanishing muslin, another embroidered sample onto netting and finally a sample of fabric flowers. I am also planning on embellishing all of these samples too. I am linking this collection together by using the nature/floral theme in all of them.

[mary-tod]

MY GARDEN These are some of the images from my back garden. It is the perfect time to take photos of the flowers as the are just blooming. I really like all of these images as they all relate to my novel; the roses , daisies, blossom and ivy are all the typical flowers to spot in the english garden. All of these pictures reminded me of ‘The Secret Garden’ as they are the colours and flowers that were mentioned in the novel. By having these flowers just outside my house it is a great way to always get inspiration and ideas to develop my work.

[mary-tod]

Making Flowers

To make the flowers for my samples this was one of the techniques I used. This was a quick, easy and effective way to make flowers that had texture with a variety of shapes.

[mary-tod]

The Chelsea Flower Show 2017

As part of my theme I am looking into flowers and gardens. Currently the Chelsea Flower Show has just chosen its award winning gardens so I thought this would be a great opportunity to see what the best garden looks like.

The Gold Award Winner for the best show garden was James Basson who wanted to illustrate the stern message about the vulnerability of Malta’s natural landscapes and resources. He has done this by planting cliff top habitats, steppe, garrigue, maquis and using limestone to create his vision. 

The overall message that James is portraying is that all humans should take action to preserve the life of the environment.

In some way, this message that James is portraying of the vulnerability of the environment relates to my theme, as throughout the novel of ‘The Secret Garden’ people are trying to find the strength to re-new the abandoned garden.

[mary-tod]

FINAL MOODBOARD This is my final mood board which I have refined to relate to my project. On the moodboard I have put on my final colour palette which includes dusty pinks, purples and greens. The images I have chosen on my moodboard have influenced my ideas throughout the project. For example Georgia Jagger captures the secret garden theme in her Vogue 2013 photoshoot. In addition, I included the artist Rocio Montoya and designer Alexander McQueen’s S/S collection. The images relate to my theme as they are floral images and the ruffles relate to my trend research.