Research and Development

In the middle of second and third week the group got together and we had a guest designer in to show us a variety of skins. This was something that the whole group was really enthusiastic about as it was something that on the whole as a group we hadn't looked into before. He taught us a variety of processes and techniques that would be used with the skins. Although this unit is primarily working with leather the information we had learn't will be very useful in our further studies if we choose to work with other skins.
Over the Easter holidays I decided to look more into bag design, I created some quick sketches of different bag designs

I knew I wanted to incorporate a textile technique within it somehow whether it be through weave, knit or patchwork, my eye was caught by the twisting patterns on some candy floss sticks as well as the heltaskelta iIhad seen at the mosi museum and photographed. I wanted to somehow bring this into my final bag as it linked back to the theme of fairground. I began researching some textile artists who create bags and came across Llane Alexis a self taught artist who creates bags by plaiting different fabrics together adding leather straps and forming a bag.

the idea of the soft slouchy bag really interested me and as I had previously stated about wanting to work with soft leather, researching this designer just confirmed my choice of creating a soft leather slouchy bag. Although the materials Llane uses to plait aren't leather the textured feel to the bag as well as the blue colour scheme is some that interests me and would like to take further in my process of constructing my bag

WEEK 2- Leather and Sheep-Skin

This week we were introduced into working with leather. We were set into small groups, due to the stitching being visible when working with leather it was vital that we learnt techniques of different decrotive stitches, as well as how to attach a zip and other different fastening technieques.

We used a curved needle and waxed thread to join two small rectangular peices of leather together, i had previously used these stitching technieques and so found this process fairly simple. Creating these samples will allow me to choose suitable stitches for my bag.

We worked in groups and were taught how to encorperate zips as fastenings and how to make a handle for our designs.

when creating the handle in our groups i took the leadership role and created the handle amongst the group. I found this process very interesting and i realised how much goes into makeing a handle which to me before seemed like such a simple thing and i never gave it a second thought as to how much effort it takes to be made.

The processes i learnt this week will be very useful in the process of making my bag however if i do intend on changing my final design idea into a 3 dimentional sculpture these processes will still be helpful. All of what i have learnt this week, how to use; a mallet, curved needle, waxed thread, chisel, scalpal and other leather tools will be helpfull in my further practice as a textile designer.