This is the current project I am working on in my second year of Textile Design.  We had to look at the art periods from the 1800's upwards and use motifs in those styles, we then had to update the design period we chose to give it a modern feel.  This could be by bringing the colours up to date and revitalising them, or modernising the motifs so they could be used in garments or interiors today and wouldn't look out of place.

I chose to base my project on the Baroque time period and the Arts and crafts movement.  Joining together the large, bold baroque motifs with the floral detailed arts and crafts motifs.

I started by drawing  simple motifs, then moved onto putting these into a repeat.  These designs below will be worked on top of with a more intricate design.  I am in the experimental part at the moment, where I am finding what works best and what looks asthetically pleasing.  I went on to colour block patterns in black and use this against other motifs which are just outlines.

The most recent drawings are the ones at the bottom, the vine drawings are where i have begun to add tone and shading, then the template one right at the bottom I have tried distrassing the paper with coffee to give it a different colour and texture (and smell, which definatly wouldn't be part of the design if it went to print).

With this project we also need to use the laser cutter on part or all of our designs to eventually produce two end collections, with four designs in each.

I've looked at putting dry embossing, candle wax, inks and calligraphy into my designs to still give them a feel of the 1800's.  I will upload some of these experiments soon.