Guess who is the new 'Art and Creative Writer' for Rachael Taylor?

I'm really honoured to have been chosen as a contributor on the fabulous blog of top British designer, Rachael Taylor.

My official title is, 'Art and Creative Writer'! Sounds posh - I like it!

I'll be posting reviews of whatever brilliant art work catches my eye starting next Tuesday 12th March at 7am.

I've just finished writing my first post about an artist that literally gets my heart palpitating - her work is so mesmerising, inspiring and lucshious! One of those that I can say, 'oh I wish I'd thought of that first' haha!

If you haven't seen Rachael's blog, it would be worth taking a look now and perhaps following it through Google or Bloglovin' ready for my first exciting post on Tuesday.

I'm really looking forward to hearing people's comments about my post and if you have any suggestions of artists you love and who you'd like to see featured (or if you're an inspiring artist yourself!) please leave me a link in the comments below x

p.s. Rachael has very kindly written an introductory feature about me and the other guest bloggers here! thanks Rachael x

today I am deep in avoidance!

I've got the next 9 months all planned out. I know what I want to do, I pretty much know how to do it but I've entered into the first phase of any creative project...

DAUNTED OVERWHELM

+

PURE AVOIDANCE

+

FEAR

Having a background in life coaching and personal development, I should know better by now but the tendency with all these modalities is to preach rather than practice (you'll notice that in most professions - the cobbler's children are the worst shod! isn't that the saying?)

So, not only am I deep in fear and avoidance but I have the added burden of self-judgement because I've trained in this stuff and know I shouldn't be fearing and avoiding! HaHa! got to laugh!

If I were to get rational for a moment, I'd realise that like any learning curve or new venture, it progresses through these four stages:

1. Unconsciously Incompetent - you don't even know what you don't know!
2. Consciously Incompetent - you've realised that you don't know something and feel really inadequate
3. Consciously Competent - you've learned something but have to try really hard to get it right
4. Unconsciously Competent - you've got it and it's easy

Do you remember learning to drive? When you were a kid you didn't care about the fact that you couldn't do it, you were unconsciously incompetent.

Then when you had your first lesson you very quickly realised what you didn't know, freaked out and felt consciously incompetent.

You learnt some more, got the reverse parking sorted but had to concentrate REALLY hard to do it - you were consciously competent.

Now, after years driving, you don't even remember how you got safely from A to B!!! Unconsciously competent : )

It helps me to realise that my freaking out today and unnecessary amount of time surfing social media (just waiting for someone to start my work for me) is a sign that I've already taken the first step on my new project's learning curve.

: )

want a peep in my sketchbook?... (and my life!)

want a little peep inside my latest sketchbook?

I've been playing about with a new app from Twitter called 'vine'. I'm still not sure if I think it has a certain charm or it if offends my already over-stimulated mind. Seems like a visual sound-byte for those with attention deficit and a little against my instinct to SLOW DOWN...

however, I like to try everything once!

So, about my new sketchbook... eventually and with a bit of background first!...

Background

As you may know, I've been on a bit of a delving-deep-creative-exploration during the last 2 years. At the end of 2010 I was a professional yoga teacher (still am) with about 15 classes in my 3 day week and the other 2 days for admin and housework!

I hit a roadblock and had to make a change. My creativity was lying dormant (I had previously been an art teacher) and demanding my attention to the point where I began to get physical (and psychological!)symptoms.

In brief, my journey has lead me to an MA in Illustration and I brought my textile design skills right up to date with the 'Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design' course amongst many others!

The Joy of iMac!

I have found the joy of iMac, Illustrator and Photoshop AND I have found the stagnation that results from sitting too long in front of  a buzzing, bright computer, devoid of fresh air and exercise. (During this time, I've also been assessed as dyslexic with hyper-sensory sensitivity syndrome?!) *N.B. apparently 95% of creatives have these 'learning differences'!*

I've almost given up teaching (and practicing I might add!) yoga! The very thing that re-ignited my creativity in the first place.

Almost...

I must be BOTH

I've been learning such a lot about myself and my creative practice and my conclusion of course, is that I MUST BE BOTH - an artist/designer AND a yogini.

The two are intrinsically linked and this is something I intend to prove in my MA dissertation which aims to discover whether a formula exists for creativity. If I said to you that I could show you a technique that would enable you to produce your best work right now, would you try it? That's what I'm exploring over the next few months and I may need your help but more about that in a later post...

In my practical work, this ethos of balance has reflected in my designs which are getting out of virtual reality and into my hands!

In my last collection, Folk Flora, this started with my cut-work, folk art style design work but I'm going deeper into the handmade and further back into my textile roots now by experimenting with narrative textiles, free motion embroidery and natural dyeing.

My latest sketchbook

So, this TEXTiles work (get it?) is part moodboard, part instruction booklet explaining the techniques and part super tactile sketchbook which folds up and opens out into one very long piece!

Linen with stitch resist tie-dye © Justine Aldersey-Williams 2013 

dyeing naturally with turmeric and blackberries © Justine Aldersey-Williams 2013 

stitch-resist turmeric and tie-dyed blackberries © Justine Aldersey-Williams 2013

I used turmeric to dye some linen and then raided my fridge, finding slightly mouldy blackberries which I promptly chucked in a pan with some more fabric to create the samples you see above.

Provenance

Provenance is my word of the moment. I'm SUPER EXCITED by art and design with a back story. For example, in my sketchbook, I used some very old pink buttons given to me by my mother-in-law. I guess she kept them just in case she ever had a daughter, when in fact she only ever had two sons. I LOVE that inanimate objects can carry emotional stories attached.

Do you think that objects carry an energy? Could synthetic chemicals jar with the human energy system? Could natural materials and hands-on processes have a healing effect? I've no idea but my intuition says maybe and it's something I'm interested in investigating in my final MA project.

Here's the rest of my little sketchbook which is preparatory work for my final MA collection which will be exhibited at New Designers 2013!!!

© Justine Aldersey-Williams 2013 

© Justine Aldersey-Williams 2013

© Justine Aldersey-Williams 2013

© Justine Aldersey-Williams 2013 

© Justine Aldersey-Williams 2013

So, I'm now balancing my creative work with regular 'yoga breaks' which I will be launching as an online resource for other designers and I'm enjoying my yoga and meditation practice a lot more now I'm teaching less. I'll be developing workshops to help creative people overcome their blocks and access their latent potential using yoga techniques during the latter part of this year, so remember to follow my blog for updates.

What about the surface pattern design, you ask? I still LOVE it, I just need hands-on, intuitive playtime with RAW materials to inspire and enliven my digital work - I can't wait to take some of these wobbly embroidered motifs into Illustrator!

BTW, if you're one of those smart, PR-style bloggers who write in brief punchy statements to keep their audience then what are you doing at the end of my post!!! Haha! I'm afraid that's not how I roll! ; ) Thanks for taking the time to stay til the end! for me, it's all about the story and the connection, so please leave me a comment below so I know that real human beings are reading this! x

some exciting news!...

I am very pleased to announce that I will be exhibiting at New Designers 2013 this June 26th - 29th on Stand: CAA20 and 20a at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.

From the New Designers website:
"New Designers is the UK’s most important graduate exhibition. Taking place over two weeks, with nine distinct design zones and two prestigious Awards Evenings, New Designers is an event full of innovation and fresh thinking." 

I hummed and hared about whether to join my University's stand or not as they are upstairs on the Applied Arts balcony (I'll be the only pattern and textile artist!) but I've decided that there in a corner is better than not there at all!

This is such an exciting, vibrant and prestigious opportunity that really inspired me last year when I visited. Why don't you come? Bring your friends, granny etc. You'll just have to pretend you're Indiana Jones in your quest to find me!

I've been digging deep into my creativity lately and you might be surprised to see the new direction I'm taking, sneak preview in next blog post!...

stay tuned or better yet why not follow my blog by clicking the 'bloglovin' or Google link in the right margin : )

a very exciting distraction!

OK, so I've been hanging around on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest all day just avoiding writing my academic report proposing my final dissertation research methodologies (see why I've been avoiding!!!?) but I had a legitimate reason to distract myself yesterday because my sample products arrived from my manufacturer!

Months and months in the design and development stage, these little beauties arrived on my doorstep with MUCH EXCITEMENT and skip-tastic JOY! I just had to have a go mocking up some room settings for them to be photographed in and since yesterday was my day to write afore mentioned report and I'm still wrestling my way through it, what better time than now to blog?! ; )

So, using only my little iPhone, I've taken some rather amateur but surprisingly effective pics showing my new printed textile products which feature my latest 'Folk Flora' designs. The shots were taken in my kitchen, living room and studio.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm didn't allow time for brushing the floor or cleaning the AGA before hand, so you'll have to just take it that the grease and crumbs add to the 'realness'! HaHa!!

Next on my agenda is getting some pictures in better lighting (as the iPhone camera is a bit blurry in this winter low light indoors) and it will then be all systems go updating my website.

I just have to get this MA viva voce (assessment) out of the way on Monday *sticks head in sand again*

If you'd like to help me get the word out about my new shop you might 'like' my page on Facebook, where you can then share these images and encourage further 'likingness' or you could join me over on Twitter to share the love OR if you know that you just have to have one of these aprons, oven gloves, tote bags, napkins or cushions then you can visit my Folksy store and get yourself a piece of the 'Joybringer'.

I am totally impressed with the gorgeous quality of the cotton, the rich depth of colour (which is so true to my original designs) and the perfect stitching.

Please let me know what you think!

now I just need to eat some biscuits before I can possibly finish this report! xxx

crackin christmas crafty course

well it was an evening workshop actually but I did't want to spoil the alliteration! 

I thought it would be a nice treat for me and my daughter to go to a pre-christmas craft workshop as she is developing a great eye for design and loves to make pretty things! She's even started her own design blog (but isn't quite ready to share it with the world!)

We attended a Craft Creative event called, 'Hand-printed Christmas Gift Wrap, Cards and Gift Tags'.

It's been years since I did any printing, despite having done my degree in 'Printed Textiles' and having taught kids how to print in one of my other lives as a secondary art teacher! What is it they say about the cobbler's kids again!?

I'm feeling a strong urge to get away from the computer and get back to 'hands-on' design and this workshop gave me the opportunity to do it. 

We were taught about a really clever printing method using foam and acetate with simple ink stamps and had great fun creating Christmas motifs before printing them (quite messily in my case - bit out of practice!) on to cards, tags and bags.

I started by sketching some motifs, which I then quickly simplified when I tried to cut them out of foam! They looked better simplified anyway and I deliberately left the ends of the antlers square to add to the cut-out effect.

We were also introduced to a cool alphabet stamper. It took a bit of getting used to and as I'm quite 'gung-ho' my lettering wasn't exactly perfect BUT I've found one on the internet and will have hours of fun perfecting my lettering when it arrives from Hong Kong! : )

Sadly, the bigger reindeer suffered the amputation of his back leg while I was trying to cut him out and I couldn't quite figure out how it was meant to go when I stuck it back on - can you see it's a bit wonky?

The printing technique added a style to the motifs which I really liked, it's quite similar in effect to the cut-work motifs I used for my latest pattern collection 'folk flora' where I cut my motifs out of black paper with a scalpel. You can see the results in my folksy store on aprons, cushions, totes etc.

Ella had a great time too. There may have been a bit of surprise when a teenager turned up and some worries about serving mulled wine but I'm glad we were allowed to attend together. It also gave her an introduction to where her Mum used to hang out back in the 90s! If those cobbles could speak!!!

The event took place in the very funky 'Percy Gulliver's Print Shop' above 'The Shipping Forecast' on Slater Street in Liverpool. Last time I was there was to see Jack Savoretti - if you haven't heard of him, have a look at this video I took on the night... poor guy had to fight off all us middle-aged Mums afterwards! ; ) *young man!*

I'll be using these motifs on my Christmas cards this year (I know, I should have done them already) and they might even make an appearance in a new Christmas gift wrap collection I'm planning.

Thanks to the teacher on the night Karen Edwards and to Craft Creative for hosting the event.

pinnies galore in my new folksy store! new collection launches today

Today's the day I unleash my new collection 'folk flora' on the world - although the observant amongst you will have seen the link to Folksy on the top right of this page which appeared yesterday!

but as with everything, there's a story...

it all started with a bunny...

btw, the other thing was made by my kids and is a funky loo-roll model of me!

my bunny from when I was a baby! My parents moved house and cleared their loft, meanwhile I reluctantly had to empty our loft to get it insulated and in amongst all that clearing of the past was one of my first toys.

Now, detectives, guess what decade it's from with those funky psychedelic flower power ears and frock - it has to be the 70s. I started to get a warm fuzzy feeling of nostalgia for this era and began remembering the oversized flowers that adorned my childhood bed - and since there have been more and more of these retro textiles flying around on Pinterest lately, I managed to find the exact fabric I grew up in!...

although it has since been made into a bag ; )

As I also love folk art and design, I threw all these ingredients into a great big design melting pot and came up with 'folk flora'

as with yesterday's font, I created all the motifs using a scalpel blade and black paper before scanning and manipulating in Illustrator. 

The collection has lots of textures included and simple, folk style flora. I wish I could show you larger images which are much more JUICY and if everyone out there were committed to commissioning rather than copying, I would! : )

I did two colour ways and think I almost prefer the second - it's hard, I can't decide!

The 'cups of joy' design (I'm noticing a theme here!) above, bottom left, went by the wayside for some reason when I was designing products for these prints. 

But, after weeks of technical work getting these designs on to various kitchen textiles, tote bags and cushions, I'm pleased to say I have over 50 items for sale in my new Folksy store.

I have ten different oven gloves (see below)- it might look like fourteen but four of the designs have different backs so these have been included too! This shows how the two collections above vary.

These are two images I've been planning on using on my website or just for Facebook promotion.

I have produced napkins with these designs too but I'm waiting for the real, in-my-hand products which are arriving next week *excited* when I will then do so origami style folding to create new promo photos.

I'm not so happy with this last image, I just know it's going to get tweaked but I just have to finish this post coz I'm sooooo tired and hungry!!!

each of the images links to my NEW FOLKSY STORE - did you get that I've got a new online store???!!

please go and have a look x