Compliments Slip & Disc Covers

Today I have designed a compliments slip and a disc cover to be included within my business pack.
Here are images.

Current Work For My Ballet Lace Collection

 I have been further developing the collection I started in semester 1. I am now trying to build up layers of my own drawings to create little scenes that will sit in the lid of my gift box. Along with this i need to create the artwork that will wrap around the outside of the boxes.

Helen Musselwhite

I purchased the book Paper Cutting - Contemporary Artists, Timeless Craft, as I wanted inspiration of contemporary Artist/Designers using paper cutwork as finished designs. Within the book I came across the Artist/Designer Helen Musselwhite. I instantly was attracted to her work and wanted to view more, I searched for her website in which there were plenty more images of work that she has completed for commissions. Helen's love for art sustained her through school studying graphic design and illustration, since then she has gained an affinity with paper and a love for the British country side which inspired her creations for the beautiful scenes that she creates. Below are images of her work.

Ghosts

The Ghosts collection was commissioned as part of the interiors for Chewton Glen Hotel's idyllic eco treehouses.

Owls

Giftware's Research

I have been building up a collection of research on giftware products that are currently on sale in the marketplace. This is to ensure I am aware of the competition and that i am gaining the knowledge to aim my products to be sold at the correct stores at the right price.

These images have been taken from my visits to see the giftware collection in John Lewis, Trafford Centre. I have enjoyed looking at their collection as I like the different shapes and designs that they use for their different products like gift bags and boxes that take you away from the standard ones you find elsewhere. 

The above image demonstrates this as you can see the variety in gift bags and boxes on sale. The left image has some of Orla Kiely giftware's on display. Her gift bags are made wider than the standard styles and deeper. Also the images show you a box has been made out of the shape of what looks like a Mc Donald's Happy Meal box, but it does look effective and nice. 

These are some gift wraps on display in John Lewis.

The above image is a gift wrap i seen in Clinton Cards, it was part of the wedding collection and i liked the flow of pattern printed onto it and the simple colour way. 

These below are all taken from paper chase at different times i have visited over the last couple of months 

As you can see they tend to display their gift wrap in colour ways. I don't really like how they are displayed on the ladder stand, you don't get to enjoy the vision on one, but commercially I understand why they do this, as displaying all these individually would take up too much space. Im not sure yet how i would like to display my gift wrap, i'm still looking and thinking of a quirky way.

Laser Cut Examples

It is now time to concentrate on my Ballet Lace Collection. I have been looking around the marketplace for different examples of laser cut paper products. My reason for this is for inspiration and ideas towards creating my own designs for my giftware products. Below are images that demonstrate this.

I really thought this was beautiful. I love the cut work and the 3D impression. I also think that the yellow/brown glow around the edges from the laser cutter leaves a nice effect.

I think this designs is simpler but still very effective. I also like that they have put a female and a male, this is something I could consider with my collection to make it look like a wedding collection. I also think that the bold background makes the laser cutting stand out very well and gives a dramatic feel. 

The above images are a selection of cards from John Lewis

This is a pop up card that has been made creatively and very well considered I think this is a lovely design and one that I would like to use as inspiration towards my own. I like that it's been made and built up with white card and then highlighted with a colour, some glitter and a few scattered gems.

The above cards are images of cards taken from Clintons

Additional Scarf Designs

I have been working hard over the weekend to expand my scarf collection. I would have liked to have six final scarves but i have only managed to design 5 to be printed. Time is now a concern as i need to focus on my other collection to design for final products for the giftware market.  However these are the two additional designs that i have created. I would like to have these printed at Citrus Rain again on Silk Satin this time. These designs are the same measurements 90 x 90 cm.

Business Materials

I had been struggling with the designing of my business materials as i hadn't any designs ready with starting new collections this semester, i have now however designed a business card that i am happy with, here are some images,

The top image is the design for the front of the card and the one below is for the back. I have chosen to have this printed on a gloss finish card with rounded edges. Below is the finished look. I will have these printed at moo.com

I have ordered white gloss finished presentation folders that will hold the contents of my business materials. I was inspired by an artist/designers press pack that was plain and had a sticker placed on the front with their name and logo on. I thought this was really nicely considered and professional looking as it was minimal and to the point. I wanted to use this idea so i have also ordered stickers with the design used for the front of my business card to go on the front of the pack.

I am also in the process of designing my creative c.v followed with a letter head, portfolio pages and instead of a postcard i would like to make a little pamphlet like one i had seen from a trade fair which showed images of the artist/designers work along with professional photography images and small paragraphs explaining about the collections.

These are some images of it.

This is the front of the pamphlet 

The top image is the opening page with a scarf design on the left and an introduction to the work and inspiration of the work included on the left page. Also you can see the Artist/Designers name and logo creeping up from the bottom of the page. 

The next pages through to the last all then show the collections and display them very beautifully on the pages as you can se. I think has been considered very well.

This is a postcard design that i have designed to match the rest of my business materials. This will be the front that is printed the same on all my postcards and the images below are the reverse sides showing different examples of my final designs so far.

Final Scarves

This week has been difficult, i have been working really hard to try to have at least three designs completed and ready to send off to Citrus Rain to be printed. I wanted to print with Citrus Rain because i really enjoyed my study visit there and appreciated how helpful they have been to me. Also it takes a bit of pressure of me in the process of  printing and then the steaming, washing and then finally edging them afterwards.  I have achieved this and i am really pleased with my designs. These are the finished ones below.

I would like to have another three designs finalised ready to send early next week. Then i will be relieved to concentrate on my other collection with the Ballerinas. 

Preparations for Citrus Rain Printing

I had to ensure that my design was made to a size they print at and saved in a format that they recognise. Here is a screen shot of the preparations

I also thought it was handy that they had templates to view that show you how to prepare a document ready for print considering the bleed line etc.. 

I had to set up a Dropbox account to send my files as they are too large to send within an email. Luckily i was able to do a trial for free. 

Citrus Rain received these files and are awaiting a slot to print them and they should be returned to me finished and edged by the end of the upcoming week. :) I have asked if they could edge the scarves in a colour that co-ordinates with the boarder.