Zoology Museum in Cambridge

I've had a really exciting few weeks visiting galleries and archives as part of my research for my latest textile project and today was an excuse for another! 

I went to the Zoology Museum in Cambridge and had a really great day. I was booked into see the butterfly and moth collections that are in storage at the museum, which aren't normally open to the public so was extremely lucky to have the chance to see them.  Russell, the museums insect expert explained the stories behind how the collections came to the Zoology museum and also background information into just a tiny section of the 50,000+ different species of butterflies and moths that they own. The collection includes varieties of butterflies and moths from all over the world and many of them come from countries such as Malaysia and the far east, but are conserved so beautifully they look as if they have just emerged from their chrysalis!

In particular, I was interested in looking in moths with interesting markings and patterns and also with natural colour palettes and was really spoilt for choice. Overall, I had a really lovely morning looking around the collection and also the museum itself, and would really recommend the visit to anyone! http://www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk/

Some beautiful patterns and colours within the wings but would you believe these patterns are on the underside of the wings

I really love the natural colours in these moths, and also the speckled patterns within the smaller species

Exotic species 

The wings in this photograph have been stripped down using a very soft brush to remove the coloured 'scales' on top of the butterflies wings. I couldn't believe how translucent and delicate they were

Day working on the CAD embroiderer..

As part of my third year BA textile design practice, I have decided to incorporate new techniques into my printed fabric samples. So, yesterday I spent the morning working on the CAD embroiderer and learning how to use the 'Generations' program that develops the design ready for embroidering. 

I would really like to book more time using the embroiderer as I feel my designs could be developed further and would compliment my other work more if they were less chunky and had a finer line.

Here are some photographs of my final CAD embroidered design inspired by butterflies and moths.  Unfortunately the photographs aren't too great, but overall i'm really pleased with the final outcome.

Getting started

CAD embroiderer and only 35,596 stitches to go...

Generations program used to develop designs

More butterfly and moth inspired designs...

Here are some more of my butterfly and moth inspired designs. I'm still working on them, However, I think the interesting use of scale and shape would work really well as a printed fabric sample using layered screen printing processes such as foil and flock.  

Photoshopping crazy..

During the first few weeks of my butterfly and moth inspired project, I have been researching, drawing and visiting Museums and archives like crazy. As well as this, I have also been Photoshopping like crazy! 

Here are some of my initial designs using layering, changes in scale, interesting colour palettes and also introducing symmetry.

 

New year.. New project..

Unfortunately, I haven't been blogging as much as i'd like to as i'm back to uni and am super busy with my final year projects. However, I feel i've been producing some really interesting things so am back blogging again!

For this unit, I am taking my initial inspiration from butterflies and moths, taking influences from organic form, colour and also this seasons big colour trend.. Teal. My initial research has lead me also into symmetry and repeat pattern design, and is something that i'm really interested in as a textile designer. Recently I visited London's Natural History Museum to gather photographs which I have used to generate pattern designs intended for the high end interior furnishings market. 

To my ultimate surprise, the Natural History Museum also has sheep!

Within the Museum, they have the Darwin Centre which focuses on conservation of plant and animal species and also the science behind the museum. 

This part of the museum was amazing as I was able to get up really close to the butterflies and moths despite behind glass and get some great photographs. 

Enjoy!

Pinterest

After an absolute age I have finally rediscovered my love for Pinterest. It's a simple, easy way to upload images onto a mood board directly from the internet as well as your own photograph collections. I intend to use my updated boards for inspiration as part of my third year textile print projects, hopefully taking butterflies, birds and garden as my influences. 

http://pinterest.com/megan1603/

Enjoy!

Holiday to Guardamar

I have recently returned from my summer holiday to Guardamar, Spain. I had an amazing time seeing the sights, beautiful scenic views, soaking up the sunshine and taking lots of interesting snaps. Here are just some of the 341 I actually took!

During my time in Guardamar I saw so many decorative wall memorials, seats and also tiled buildings. They were so colourful and inspirational I just couldn't resist taking a photograph.

Pretty peacock in Queen Sofia Park, Guardamar

Tiny terrapins...

The local evening market that comes each night during the summer months, selling everything from handbags and jewellery, to traditional wooden crafts and also local food produce.

Sand sculptures on the beach...