Design and Communication

This year for our Design and Communication module we can chose which production we want to design for. I have chosen Merlin, basing it on the BBC version. I'm setting it around the middle of the 1400s between 1440-1460 in England. Gaius, Merlin, Guinevere, Arthur and Morgana will be designed for. Medieval is a new time period to me so I am excited to look into it. Here are some image of 1400s costumes that I took on my trip to London

These images were taken at the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

Tapestry, 1430-1440 

Tapestry, 1430-1440

  Armour   

These images were taken at the National Gallery.

The Magdalen Reading, Rogier van der Weyden, 1438     

Portrait of a Lady, Rogier van der Weyden, 1460 

  

Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife, Jan van Eyck, 1434

                                       
            

                                                   

Juice Festival

Since the start of my Millinery Module I have been working on a live project where I have designed and made a Willy Wonka hat for the Juice Festival in Newcastle. This is my first hat and it was made from a wool felt hood and blocked. The lollypops and candy canes were made from pipe cleaners and the sweets in wrappers were made from cellophane, foil and pompoms

Visit the Juice Festival blog at
www.juicefestivalblog.com 

Willy Wonka Hat- Front View

Willy Wonka Hat- Side View

Willy Wonka Hat- Side View

Willy Wonka Hat- Back View

Willy Wonka Hat- Close up

Millinery

We have started our millinery project and I have decided to produce the hats from the 2006 film Maria Antoinette which is set in the 1700s. Here is an image of my first blocked hat from felt made blocked for the Juice Festival.

 

Felt Blocking, Alysha Rankine, 2016

Festival of Thrift

Today I visited the Festival of Thrift in Redcar, Kirkleathem. It was a really good event, it had numerous craft workshops and live music. There was also an oxfam fashion show and loads of stalls selling hand crafted and vintage items. Cleveland Collage of Art and Design's costume course also had a stall there doing a workshop on how to contruct a fascinator which was fun to take part in. I was also able to visit Kirtleathem museum where I saw some information on Medieval costume that will be helpful on my Costume Design module this year as well as Saxon jewellery. I defiantly recommend this festival to people of all ages since it had activities for both children and adults.

Saxon Beads

This image shows some beads that were found in a grave made from glass.

Medieval Statue

Medieval Statue

These statues were created by George Evelyn Pallant in 1994. The first statue shows Sir Peter IV and the second statue shows Sir Marmaduke II from 1323. Their Coat of Arms was also displayed with them.

1400s Armour

This image shows a reproduction of medieval metal armour from the 1400s.

1400s Womens Costume

This image shows a reproduction of a Burgundian dress seen in England after the middle of the 1400s. A hennin is also being worn with a veil over it.

Here is an image of my fascinator

Fascinator

This fascinator is built on a sinamay base with netting, buttons and velvet ribbon.

Visit their website at: http://www.festivalofthrift.co.uk 

Kirkleatham Museum: http://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/accommodation.nsf/TouristList/12AAA9A52D192358802579CF004AB033?OpenDocument

Sister Act

Today I visited The Grand in Leeds to watch the production of Sister Act. I really enjoyed this production. Unfortunately, since I watched the matinee, Alexandra Burke did play the part of Deloris but Joanna Francis, who played Deloris instead, did an amazing job. The costumes reflected the setting of the production, which was the 1970s, well so I was quickly able to identify the year through the use of platform heels, short skirts, flared jeans and pointed shirt collars. The Nuns costume were also correct and I could easily identify them as Nuns clothing. In the final scene, when the Nun were singing to the pope, I liked the fact that Deloris was still wearing something that identified as a nun costume but reflected her personality. This was done through making the costume tightly fitted and covered in sequins. The used of black and white and its placement also made her dress relate to Nun's clothing. I also liked the set since it worked and flowed well with the scenes through the use of disco balls, jail bars and lit signs. I also enjoyed the moveable element of it.

Visit their website at: http://sisteractuktour.co.uk