SPECIAL DESIGN STUDIO

Happy Christmas and A Prosperous New Year!

As a design studio we feel that our Christmas message should be an exemplar. We should give it some proper thought and create something both clever and beautiful. However. After visiting the local barbers for a beard trim, Scott came across the best client to customer Christmas message probably ever created. Succinct and very ‘Christmassy’. So we thought we would simply reproduce it for you here, in our annual Happy Christmas email, as our thank you to you – for being a valued friend of Special Design Studio. (We have to thank Gary at GTS male hair design for letting us take the photograph. Both Scott and Clive recommend him. For more information visit www.gt-s.co.uk)

Special Design Studio, Gallery 95, 93-95 King Street, Norwich, NR1 1PH, UK. 01603 631107 info@specialdesignstudio.co.uk

TEST

  This is a test of your observation!!! Does anyone know what this picture

is depicting?

CHRISTMAS TREE

  I made this Christmas Tree using wet felting it was quite a challenge as I

had never attempted such a complicated 3D project before. Needless to say I

will not be making another one as it took such a long time to create.  It

was eventually put in a charity auction and raised a fair amount of money.

WOOL ANGELS

 Some festive decorations in the form of felted Merino wool angels. I make

these in many colours not just white so they can coordinate with colour

schemes. This picture was taken last year when we had some snow, wonder if

we will get any this year?

NEW SEASON

This photo of a Poinsettia plant was taken whilst travelling in India back

in March this year I thought it very appropriate for the time of year now,

so it comes to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas.

NEW SEASON

 The seasons provide us with a fascinating change in the colours and as a
result I have been  inspired by the stunning autumn colours in my garden
this week, I just had to create these two Nuno felted scarves along with a
fully lined shoulder bag.

 

  The Pumpkin is destined for the kitchen it's another bonus in the autumn.
I just love creating various dishes with it. I wish I had a larger freezer
as I would enjoy eating pumpkin throughout the year, though perhaps having
it seasonally is why it taste so good!!

 this is the starting piece of Silk fabric I used for the triangular scarf

NEXT EVENT - DESIGNED BROOCHES

This week I have been very busy

 in preparation for an up and coming event

 where I will be exhibiting at a

 Christmas Craft Fayre at Highbury Hall in Moseley, 

Birmingham. B13 8QG

 on

 Sunday 27^th November.

So when not felting scarves I have been creating individually designed brooches.

Using individually hand felted pieces roughly 4 x 6cm in size which I have made. 

I then embellished with a selection of beads, stitch and up- cycled jewellery, making each piece unique. In the past I have sold these little pieces and people have told me they have turned them into little works of art by putting them into a small frame and the displaying them on the wall either in a group or individually.

IN THE GARDEN

I have made felt work to enjoy in the garden over the years.

The butterfly lived happily out in all weathers for a few years, only fading slightly over time.

 Is another butterfly which is now flying in a ladies garden, in an attempt to frighten birds.

The same with the Sunflower so if the garden is lacking in colour then a few outdoor pieces could be the answer.

The tree panels also did well flapping in the rain and wind and were part of a sculpture exhibition held at the Jinny Ring. 

I just loved making these two cute little fluffy rabbits

BRENDA MARSHALL - TEXTILE ARTIST/DESIGNER

Brenda Marshall

Textile Artist/Designer.

The dictionary definition of ‘Metamorphose’ means ‘change’ so I have taken this literal meaning as the word that sums up my life of late. It has been a roller coaster since gaining my degree late in life in 2000. I hope this writing may be an inspiration to others to find the courage to turn their lives around and to see that it is never too late for ‘change’

Through innovative experimentation with fibres and fabric construction, I endeavour to satisfy my passion for tactile reward. I work intuitively through projects using colour, surface pattern and texture to achieve this, drawing on my artistic background and influenced by nature and world cultures. My aim has been to push boundaries, producing objects with intrinsic beauty and paying attention to detail.

This massive boost of confidence and acknowledgment of my skills and supreme encouragement from my family, gave me the courage to start out in a new direction. So taking a massive leap of faith, for the past three and a half years I have been running a very successful business as a self employed textile artist in my studio. I was working in house alongside selling to the public and building up a loyal client base many of whom became friends. I also ran numerous workshops and exhibited in the local sculpture exhibitions.

I recommend studio based working to artists starting out in their career as an excellent confidence booster situation, especially good, if like me, you can find a situation where there is an opportunity to work in close proximity to other artists. Interaction with them means ideas bounce around and the support is there when any difficulties arise.  

It is an excellent training ground for running a business and for interacting with the public. Some of the public come up with some brilliant ideas if you are open to listening and are up for taking some of the challenges on board that they are expressing. I had no business experience at all prior to opening my studio. I remember on my first day when thirteen people all came in to the studio at the same time. My heart was going nineteen to the dozen and I literally felt like crawling under the table. With a lot of sales on my first day I was encouraged. They were so enthusiastic and over time I was able to learn so much about valuing my work and myself. I was someone who had so little confidence in what I did in life in general so this was a huge step for me.

 Recently I have decided to have another change of direction in my life and after a lot of deliberation, decided to leave the studio based at the Jinney Ring mainly because it meant I had to be there six days a week and as a sole trader left me little or no time for any social life or personal development. I missed doing things with friends and family. I still continue to teach workshops as I really enjoy the pleasure the students get out of making stunning objects from a few fibres rubbed together. Even if they have no design skills etc. each and every one has always created fantastic results.

Formally a successful watercolourist, mixed media artist and tutor of textiles, fashion and art, I say at the moment my medium now is painting with fibres.

I try and create inspirational contemporary designs which are described as bold, dramatic, artistic, organic, flamboyant, exotic, colourful.... All individual, one-off pieces are inspired by the textures and colours found in the natural landscape and life. I work using a modern twist on ancient felting techniques to blend merino fibres together with other luxury fibres including silks, bamboo, soya bean, banana and Alpaca and anything else I can get to felt in, together with fabrics.

My creations also include one off sumptuous wraps, scarves, bags, jewellery, accessories, mobiles, wall art & sculptural forms etc. Customers are overwhelmed by the fantastic range of articles which have been created using just fibre as the starting point. Felting skills, patience and a very vivid imagination are brought into play in this therapeutic craft.

I always welcome commissions and use my knowledge of colour mixing and blending to colour match to customer’s requirements both in fashion and interiors.

WORK STUDIO

ME AT WORK IN THE STUDIO

TEACHING SESSION

I just love sharing skills and seeing the results students achieve. This was a teaching session with a group of children who visited the studio regularly and were being home tutored.

LAMINATED BAG DESIGN

Here is an example of the laminated bag design I make.

The construction is felted Marino fibres incorporating fabric and various

yarns. There are no seams but it is has a lining which is felted inside at

the same time as the outer shell. Where possible I try to use Vintage

buttons to compliment the finished bag. They are very strong and very light

weight perfect for carrying your I pad or phone as well as all the other

necessary 'clutter' we carry around.

Again I make these in a variety of colours and sizes.

MERINO WRAP

You will find here an example of a Merino Wrap.

It is created using Merino wool fibres, finely felted and decorated

differently on each side using silks and other luxury fibres.

The resulting creation can also be used as a throw, it is colourful, light

weight, cosy and warm, can be made to order in any colours to clients

requirements. Perfect to compliment the bride or bridesmaid at a wedding,

for concert goer, or, for taking on a cruise for those chilly evenings. A

perfect gift with minimum posting cost.

WASHING LINE

This is the kind of washing I like on my washing line, as you can see I am

excited by colour and texture. Here you can see a selection of some of the

scarf designs I create, everyone is an exclusive design, never creating two

the same.

WELCOME

I am a textile artist and this is my blog