Kate Lynch: ArtsThread Graduate Portfolio

My Graduate Portfolio on ArtsThread is now live! Go take a look on http://www.artsthread.com/p/katel 

QR code below for access to the portfolio on mobile phones.

Bucks EYeS: Buckinghamshire New University Degree Show

Bucks EYeS: Buckinghamshire New University Degree Show.


Creative and Visual Communications
Design and Craft
Furniture


Private Show: Friday 8th June


Public Show: Saturday 9th June - Thursday 14th June

Stylesite Trendboard: Material Innovation: Material and Print Explorations S/S 13

I was priviledged enough in my third year of university to have a live project with Stylesite. After looking at their four S/S 13 Megatrends, we applied the trends to our final major projects.

"Drawing inspiration from Stylesightʼs S/S 13 Megatrends Ashen, Nutopia, Subnation and Clarity third-year students at the UKʼs Buckinghamshire Textile College set out to design a series of exciting materials, surfaces and patterns. Mixing flock printing, knitting, dip dyeing, devoré and mark making, these soon-to-be graduating students showcased their innate innovation and wealth of learned techniques. Run as a competition, this report details the four themes, featuring the competitionʼs best fabrics, print explorations and textile manipulations. A second report will soon follow, highlighting the winning students." - Stylesite.

Although I was not amongst the winning students, a small part of the very beginning of my project was featured in the Clarity: Colourbleed trend.

The two vibrant and spotty materials (right of the title and bottom left) are both mine. Although this particular piece of work never made it past this initial stage for it did not fit in with my project as much as I'd have liked it to, it's lovely to see Stylesite liked it!

Wolf & Badger: Phoebe Richardson and James Ward

I first came across Wolf & Badger in a feature in the Evening Standard (Mon 27th May 2012).  A trends feature by Barbara Chandler showed me the beautiful work of Phoebe Richardson and her amazing Skeleton plates and stacking cups. 

As soon as I got home I researched a little into Pheoebe Richardson and found her work was being sold at a London shop named Wolf & Badger. After looking around the entire website, I can honestly say it sells some of the best items I have ever seen, from womenswear to menswear, accessories to homeware, all of it screams out class and innovation.

During my search I found Phoebe Richardsons brilliant 'Bone China' collection and fell in love with it all over again. I love how creative it is.

 I also found a new designer to fall in love with! Meet James Ward, or 'Jimbob Art'. His quirky designs of animals saying lovely quotes about food are to die for.

 Go and take a look for yourself at some of the most amazing designers and new designers out there at: http://www.wolfandbadger.com/

The Struts - I Just Know (Official Video)

Please watch this new promo video for the new up and coming band signed to Mercury Records alongside Arcade Fire, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Maverick Sabre, Noah and the Whale, and other huge artists such as Razorlight, Paul McCartney, Stereophonics and The Killers.

Please welcome into the music scene, The Struts. 

Visit them on facebook and get a free download of their song I Just Know.

https://www.facebook.com/thestruts/app_190322544333196

Visit them on twitter too: https://twitter.com/#!/strutsofficial

These guys are deemed to be the next big thing!

Ombre Trend Part Two: Hair

I personally adore the ombre hair trend, so much so I had the style put in my own hair! It doesn't look quite as beautiful as these next few pictures do, but I hope to get it there one day! I've chosen some of my favourite ombre hair styles, both natural and colourful! Have fun having a look :)

Ombre Trend Part One: Fashion

The 'Ombre' trend has always interested me and played a big part in the initial part of my research for my final major project at university. I found many gorgeous dip-dyed garment, so I thought I'd share the great trend on my blog. 

Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2010 mixed both extreme and abrubt ombre transitions with pale and subtle transitions with the use of heavy colour and pale shades. Also, the use of faded print within the dip-dye is a wonderful twist on the trend.

 Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2012      

                                   

 Dries Van Noten Spring/Summer 2012 - Jonathan Saunders Spring/Summer 2012

Jonathan Saunders had one amazing piece of dip-dye in his Spring/Summer 2012 collection with a beautiful pastel blue and yellow mix for a simple summer dress.

Ann Demeulemeester opted for a darker ombre look with deep, misty charcoal tones of black, brown, grey and white using a beautiful sheer fabric. The Spring/Summer 2012 collection was all in all a really gorgeous look.

Ann Demeulemeester Spring/Summer 2012

Even online shop ASOS have some great, more affordable dip-dye items! I personally adore the ombre blazer/trouser combo with the white to acid green fade. Also, the ombre fringing trend looks gorgeous, as seen on the t-shirt below.

ASOS Ombre Trouser with Elastic Cuff - £32

ASOS Ombre Blazer - £50

ASOS Top with Ombre Fringing - £45

Etsy: Great Finds

I always love to look on Etsy and see if there are any great original finds on there. I love the fact that a lot of the products are one offs or specially made. It's so very different to the huge chains that sell thousands upon thousands of the same item. 

I've always said that when I finally own a house I'd love to decorate it with vintage objects and some pieces off Etsy.

I've had a quick look through the home furnishings section of Etsy and here are some items that really caught my eye:

Chess Pieces Vinyl Wall Art

$28 USD by loladecor

http://www.etsy.com/shop/loladecor?ref=seller_info

Decorative Designer Pillow Cover - Thomas Paul - Oceania

$45 USD by nenavon

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nenavon?ref=seller_info

Unbleached Flour Sack Kitchen Towels - 6 Styles

$18 USD by lilbasketcase

http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilbasketcase?ref=seller_info

Vintage French Pillow

$18 USD by gracioushome

http://www.etsy.com/shop/gracioushome?ref=seller_info

Modern Owl Wall Clock - Bamboo

$78 USD by decoylab

http://www.etsy.com/shop/decoylab?ref=seller_info

 Personalised Vintage Regentone Record Clock

£99 GBP by Vyconic

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Vyconic?ref=seller_info

On Trend: Nail Art

Recently I have noticed how much nail art is becoming so popular. I first noticed the trend when the Barry M nail varnishes started popping up on my friends nails, the ones with the cracked and snakeskin look. I wasn't so keen on the look, so my nails were left to their bare state. 


Though now, the more colourful styles of nail art are making an appearance. In the May 2012 issue of Glamour magazine, their Glamour Promotion section focused on nail artist Zarra Celik for Max Factor. 

Here's the instructions to create the above colour-pop stripe look:

1. First, choose your two colours. Try mixing a pretty pastel with bright.

2. Alternating between a different shade for each finger, paint on two coats of each colour. This look is all about breaking the rules, so it doesn't matter if you paint one nail in one shade and the rest in the other!

3. Now it's time to get created. Using a toothpick or nail art brush, draw diagonal stripes in each contrasting shade onto the tip of each nail.

On a separate section in Glamour Magazine, an article on the statement looks for nails this summer shows two different styles of nail art, the first being 'Fishnet Chic'. The Nails Inc Magnetic Polish is a new polish with a magnet on the top of the bottle. When the magnet is held over the wet polish it rises to create an interesting fishnet look, as seen in the image below. 

The second nail polish shown in the article is the Nails Inc Nail Jewellery. After painting your nails in a base coat colour, apply two coats of the Nail Jewellery and you have some gorgeous sparkling nails.

After finding so much inspiration, I've been trying out some styles of my own. Below is my attempt of a bright pink base and yellow diagonal stripe. I'm not the neatest nail artist, but I've tried my best!

I hope you've enjoyed reading a little bit about nail art! Go and try some new looks yourself too :)

Pinterest

I've only just discovered this great website named Pinterest and I'm already hooked! It's basically an online folder of images you love. You can make many different 'pinboards' with different catorgories so all the images you pin are in a lovely, neat order. 


I've added my Pinterest page to my links list, so you can have a look at the many other beautiful things that catch my eye or interest me that don't make it onto my blog! 

http://pinterest.com/cupsofteaforme/

Enjoy!