Kirstie Williams Textile Design

Bring on 2012!

2011-12-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Since starting a new job I haven't had much time to concentrate on my own work for a few months, but now I'm in the swing of things again. I'm very excited about some upcoming projects I'm starting to work on for 2012 - so watch this space!

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO ONE AND ALL!

2011-12-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

mainmonkey Prints

2011-12-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

I've recently been working on some screen prints for London based designer mainmonkey. The designs are courtesy of mainmonkey and have been made up into cushions, wrapping paper and paper prints. I went to visit mainmonkey's stand at Battersea Arts Centre last weekend. The market really put me in the Christmassy mood.

2011-08-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

I will be exhibiting at the Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair 2011. 21st-23rd October at the Candid Galleries, Angel.
I haven't done any shows for a while so I'm excited to be making again.
Hope to see you there.

http://www.candidarts.net/islington_contemporary_art__and__design_fair.html

Stew spring workshop programme

2011-03-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

For more information on the workshops available and to book visit http://www.printtothepeople.com

Happy Fairtrade Fortnight

2011-03-01T16:06:00.000-08:00

As it's Fairtrade Fortnight I was asked to sew the message 'LOVE FAIR TRADE' onto bunting for Ganesha, the fairtrade shop where I work. The bunting is made from vintage sari silk by Calcutta Rescue. It looks great in the window and it is being sent to the Fairtrade Foundation so they can make the longest bunting in the world.

Batik Workshops

2011-02-25T13:02:00.001-08:00

In my last week in residence at Tooting Market I held some batik workshops, along side Jeni who was teaching bag making from recycled materials.

With it being half term this week I didn't manage to get much of my own work done and turned into a bit of a creche for the kids of the market traders! For me the residency was about involving the immediate community of market stall holders and local people in participatory workshops, skills sharing and understanding the market heritage. Although at times I felt that the market traders didn't understand our use of space, I really enjoyed getting to know the locals. Conversations around the techniques I was using jogged the memories of some of the locals, as they remembered using batik in Ghana and also in India before they came to England.

Natural Dyeing Workshops at Tooting

2011-02-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

I've had a fun week as artist in residence as part of the Tooting Market Project. The natural dyeing workshops were busy and gained lots of interest from passing trade. I get the impression that the market stall holders still have no idea what I'm doing in the space, but everyone is incredibly friendly and have welcomed me into the market. Next week: Batik Workshops on Thursday and Friday.

The Residency Begins

2011-02-16T11:39:00.000-08:00

I've begun my residency as part of the Tooting Market Project. I've spent the last two days settling into the space and creating some samples, dyed with madder, weld and turmeric.

I'm finding it interesting being involved with the market and meeting all the characters who work there. There are some great sculpture projects which have already come out of the space - I'm surrounded by giant men made from crates and life-size animals!

The natural dyeing workshops begin tomorrow - come along between 10am and 5pm to see how the work is progressing. Unit 32, Tooting Market, Tooting High Street, London.

Textile Recycling Workshop

2011-02-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I was running a textile recycling workshop along with the lovely Am at NICOLA (New International Company of Live Arts), Youth Talent Factory.
Participants in the workshop could learn to sew, design their own t-shirt or bag and create their own jewellery. It was a busy day with performances from those involved in NICOLA Youth, as well as stalls, workshops and an art exhibition.

Stew Print Rooms

2011-01-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I helped out with the printing of t-shirts at Stew Print Rooms in Norwich. The t-shirts are for an upcoming 24 hour pingpongathon!!
Stew are about to release an April workshop programme and I'll be holding some evening natural dyeing classes there. More information coming soon.

Workshop Dates - Tooting Market Project

2011-01-19T04:34:00.000-08:00

Thurs 17th & Fri 18th February - Natural Dyeing Workshops 10am-5pm

Thurs 24th & Fri 25th February - Batik & Resist Dyeing Workshops 10am-5pm

Workshops cost just £5 for the day to cover cost of materials

For more information contact Kirstie 07818464285 or email williams_kirstie@hotmail.com

For more information on the Tooting Market Project: www.tootingmarketproject.wordpress.com

Tooting Market Project

2011-01-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

Great News...I have a two week community artist residency in Feburary as part of the Tooting Market Project. A group of various artists are occupying an empty space in Tooting Market for three months and developing an arts and heritage project. I will be using the space as a studio to create new work and will also be holding some natural dyeing and batik workshops too.
For more information visit the Tooting Market Project blog http://tootingmarketproject.wordpress.com/
or Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tooting-Market-Arts-and-Heritage-Project/164398666934550

New Stockist!

2010-12-17T03:30:00.001-08:00

New stockist, Lovely and British near London Bridge are now stocking my corsages. It's a lovely shop of all things made by British designers and they also have an online store. They will also hopefully be selling my new cushions soon.
http://www.lovelyandbritish.com/home.php

Images of the Christmas Fair

2010-12-14T10:45:00.000-08:00

My stand at the Angel Christmas Fair. It was a busy and enjoyable weekend.

The Angel Christmas Fair

2010-12-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

I'm exhibiting this weekend at the Angel Christmas Fair, Candid Arts Trust in Islington. Tomorrow is the last day so pop along from 12-6pm to enjoy free entry and a glass of mulled wine with every flyer!

http://www.candidarts.net/events/profile/20

Natural dyeing with madder and weld

2010-11-21T10:35:00.001-08:00

New photos from a natural dyeing day at Vauxhall City Farm. It was a lovely atmosphere dyeing along with ladies spinning. This dye session was working with madder and weld, and trying to find variations in colour.

Chelsea MA Textiles website

2010-11-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

The Chelsea MA Textiles website has finally gone live with the 2010 graduates profiles. Click the link below to see the work of my MA classmates.

www.chelseamatextiles.com

In the Christmas Spirit

2010-11-08T04:51:00.001-08:00

I'm getting in the Christmas spirit already, in preparation for the Angel Christmas Fair at Candid Arts Trust, 11th-12th December.
Hope to see you there!

Inspired by Kirsty!

2010-11-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a one-one mentoring session with Kirsty Anne Powell. I met Kirsty whilst working at the Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair and was very impressed by what she was offering. Kirsty has not only launched her own successful design company Oromono but she has also established a creative consultancy. She offers a mentoring programme and a range of courses to give creative graduates the direction they need to start their careers.
I've been very inspired since our session last week, not only in terms of knowing the direction I want to take with my career isn't a waste of my time but also just in keeping me motivated with what I want to achieve. Kirsty took time to find out about my background and offered advice on what I can do to achieve my goals. I have been able to think about my goal of teaching within Higher Education as well as continuing with my practice and set myself smaller goals along the way to the top.
I would really recommend a session with Kirsty. Information on her creative consultancy can be found at www.kirstyannepowell.com.

The Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair

2010-10-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

After enjoying a few weeks of relaxing after finishing my MA I have started working for Candid Arts Trust. I have been helping out with the Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair which continues throughout four weekends in October. The show is free and boasts a wide range of art and design specialisms.
http://www.candidarts.com/candid_arts_trust.htm

Final MA show at Chelsea

2010-08-19T01:51:00.000-07:00

With only two weeks until the MA final show at Chelsea I organised a photoshoot of some of my final work. These are my favourites.
Come and see the MA show at Chelsea College of Art and Design.
Private View Wednesday 1st September 6-9pm.
Show Open: Thurs 2nd and Fri 3rd 10am-8pm. Sat 4th 11am-5pm. Sun 5th 10am-4pm.

TED's Summer Debate

2010-07-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended a debate held at Chelsea by TED. The motion of the debate was "Sustainable design in the real world is just an educators fantasy...".
Having studied at Chelsea for nearly a year I have been involved in constant debate and conversation around the subject and am of the opinion that sustainable design isn't just an educators fantasy but that it will take some time before sustainable design will be a reality in industry. If design education didn't concern itself with sustainable strategies then no knowledge will be fed into industry. With thousands of design graduates every year entering into industry there is a need to encourage future design thinking. TED, the research cluster at Chelsea are pioneering in sustainable design education. There is a real need to reach more students and audiences with these ideas.
The debate made an amusing afternoon with speakers Otto Von Busch, Sandy MacLennan, Clare Brass and Kieren Jones all arguing their points for and against the motion.
Ultimately there needs to be more investment in research and education of design students in order for sustainable design to become a reality in the real world as currently I don't believe it is an reality.

http://textilesenvironmentdesign.blogspot.com/2010/07/teds-summer-debate-friday-16th-july.html

'Unravel' MA Textiles preview show

2010-05-29T08:56:00.001-07:00

So the hard work paid off! Our interim show entitled 'Unravel' opened on Thursday. The private view was packed and we had some great feedback. The show continues this weekend.

Lighting Tests!

2010-05-02T07:55:00.000-07:00

Soundwaves and Music Visualizations

2010-05-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

A brief return to primary visual research: I spent the day with music producer Mike Foyle using his computer programs to create patterns from soundwaves and music visualizations. Here are some of the results.

Google Moon!

2010-04-19T13:13:00.001-07:00

Three metre shibori length on habotai silk. The unpredictable marks and patterns are incorporated into my design.
My focus for the last few weeks has been on my theory paper. Can Slow Design philosophies explore the identity of batik and shibori in Western society?
New images to be posted once I'm back on top with practical work.

African Print Collaboration

2010-03-10T03:28:00.000-08:00

This a project I have been working on in collaboration with a CSM student on MA Narrative Environments. I was asked to design and produce a fabric length based on my own interpretation of African culture. She is questioning how the interaction of two cultures can effect cultural identity. As a Westerner living in Peckham my own perception of a unique hybrid culture is of value to her research and the commission is to test the idea of cultural translation.

The fabric length is a hand drawn and hand painted batik design on cotton and will make up part of her final show.

Bags Galore!

2010-02-24T10:28:00.000-08:00

Finished tote bags for the MA Textiles fundraising stalls! Print designs courtesy of Marina Nesi. Come and buy one on Thursday 4th March at Chelsea College.

Finishing the length

2010-01-30T07:37:00.000-08:00

To be hung floor to ceiling in my studio!

Work in Progress

2010-01-30T07:33:00.000-08:00

3 metre length, slow textile, shibori, hand sewn technique

Progress Review

2010-01-20T08:40:00.000-08:00

Feedback to follow in the next couple of weeks. I am continuing by working on two 3 metres lengths of hand stitch resist.

Harmonographs

2009-11-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

On a trip to the Science Museum I found some interesting old equipment in the Maths dept. A harmonograph works on a pendulum and creates a geometric image, similar to that of the spirograph. By varying the frequency of the pendulum different patterns can be created. I want to attempt to make a harmonograph, even if a simple pendulum system to record the unexpected mark making.

Round and Round We Go!!

2009-11-24T09:05:00.001-08:00

I've been having fun with the old Spirograph set and looking at an artist who creates her work using the spirograph. Next stop is the Science Museum Mathematics department!

Fractals

2009-11-24T08:54:00.000-08:00

My ideas have spread out rather rapidly lately, changing and incorporating different sources. Through a lot of research into Chaos Theory I have begun to look at Fractals. These are mathematical shapes which look the same no matter how far you zoom in. Their shape is repeated over and over again. I'm looking at fractals which can be found in the environment, there are some examples of these such as the way a cauliflower grows, clouds and coastlines. This image was created using Chaos Pro, a program which creates a fractal according to the data you enter. I'm having fun playing with this program which doens't make a huge amount of sense to me!

First metal stencil tests

2009-11-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

In attempts to speed up the batik process I have created a metal stencil with a simple design and have applied the wax quickly. The wax application can be controlled to this extent but even so there are still slight blemishes, just as well I have a willingness to accept the unexpected.

'Vlisco: The True Original'

2009-11-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

I read about Vlisco in the current issue of Crafts magazine and think their African designs are stunning. Although the design isn't linked to my practise, their methods of production are. Vlisco are a company who produce their fabrics using a batik block printing method and pride themselves on this, avoiding cheaper imitation screen printed batik effect. 'Vlisco: The True Original'.

Revival of a Traditional Craft

2009-11-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

The ideas I am developing throughout the MA stem from previous interests working with wax, along with hand dyeing and fabric manipulation methods. I love the fluidity of working with wax, and the elements of it which I can't control. I have a willingness to accept the unexpected in my design. I am developing imagery and designs from an interest in Chaos Theory and linking this to the unexpected outcomes of batik.
I will be looking at the origins, history and modern influence in batik and looking at ways the process can be sped up by creating printing blocks and stencils to work with. I want to challenge people's perceptions of batik by reinventing its use in a more contemporary way and research whether it holds limitations to be mass produced. Imitations of batik through screen printing can be and are produced but the craft of batik itself will be lost.

Anniversary of Berlin Wall collapse

2009-11-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

It is the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall this week. Berlin is celebrating with a 'Festival of Freedom', I am posting up a picture I took of a part of the Berlin Wall which is currently standing outside the Imperial War Museum. Pause for thought...

Designers studio visit

2009-11-07T11:14:00.000-08:00

Ikat weaver and designer Mary Restieaux in her studio in Herne Hill. A really informative and useful visit and a lovely lady.

View from my studio

2009-11-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

The view from my studio at Chelsea, looking over to the Tate Britain . The permanent installation is constantly changing colour in the dark

Womens suffering, sustainable design and the loss of the dead fox

2009-10-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

I've finished reading 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', a wonderful read which got me thinking about womens suffering in Afganistan during the late 20th Century. I've a new appreciation of growing up in England in a free and liberal society, especially as a woman. I'm so glad to have not been born into a faith which treats women as second class citizens.
Onto heavier theories I'm now reading 'Cradle to Cradle', looking at the way we design things and how we can change our everyday approach to sustainabilty. Even trying to get my partner to put his beer can in the right bin bag is proving difficult so re-making the way we design in industry is one whole mammoth task! These ethics should have been installed in us right from the time of the industrial revolution but it was never thought of then, when materials seemed a never-ending source.
Last week I built a relationship with a dead fox everyday on my daily commute to college, today it was gone.

Less of a Twit

2009-10-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hi
This being my first blog I shall have to see how I get on with it. I did sign up to Twitter, felt a bit like a twit and then deleted my account so we shall see! I suppose with this blog I don't have to some up my feelings/days findings/inspirations in one vowelless sentence.
So, I am a textile designer-maker embarking on an MA at Chelsea College of Art and Design. Having recently moved to Peckham I discovered the delights of Peckham Rye Lane, a wonderful array of poundlands and run-down shopping centres, it does have a certain charm.
I've also signed up to Peckham Library, a strange looking cage of a building, built on stilts. I can only imagine the residents of Peckham wanted a better view! I have started reading 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'. I read 'The Kite Runner' and was gripped so I hoping this next book of his will be just as impelling.
Tomorrow I am meeting with some girls on my course to discuss our MA proposals, I hope I'll soon be able to explain my intentions, right now it's scribbed notes on various bits of paper. Ta ra for now.