Photographs of Work

"The Crochet Collection"

As most of you already know I have been hard at it developing a new collection of lighting since joining The Malthouse Design Studio. Although I have had lights hanging in the Light Fantastic Exhibition since May, these models were just prototypes and mock ups of what was to come. I have finally got my finished "Crochet Collection" designed,made and currently on sale in The Malthouse Showroom in Distillery Court, North Circular Road.

The lighting collection was developed through my interest in how flat sheet material can be constructed into three dimensional form through a variety of techniques. The collection of pendant lights achieve their form through a technique of slotting 12 identical two dimensional modules together which have been sliced in a specific manner to create an overall sphere form. This form is create as a result of geometric mathematical systems. To add texture and pattern to the form, a photograph of Irish crochet has been digitally printed and transferred onto the plastic in variety of different colours. The story of my conceptual development can been seen here from a previous post.

Further to the printed crochet pendant lights, a selection of one off lace pendants have been developed as part of the collection also. Using recycled offcuts of lace from Siopa Rince, the same form has been repeat but using physical pieces of lace on plastic rather than a print. Sizes range from 200mm to 400mm for both printed crochet and lace pendants. Printed crochet pendant available in purple,teal,lime,black and grey. Other colours can be ordered and commissions for bespoke pieces are also available.
Hope you all like,
Gráinne




"Crochet Collection" on display in the Malthouse Design Centre



White Lace Commissioned Piece





Conceptual Development

Iv been very busy over the last couple of weeks pushing towards a solid concept for my new lighting design. After spending hours playing with paper and other flat sheet material to create a 3dimensional form that I was satisfied would work well and be pleasing to the eye I have found it. Taking influence from the mathematical geometric systems and sculpture by George Hart with an addition of sliceform, the finalised form I have produced contains 12 identical modules that are sliced at particular points which slot and interlock with each other to create a 3 dimensional sphere.

Now that I have the form I want to work with, I wanted to take it to another level.
"The language of visual expression defines various morphilogical agents of differentiation"
A combination of many aspects including form,composition and texture make up these agents.Now to introduce a surface texture through specifically choosen materials.
As a lover of fashion and fabrics which was influenced by my time working at Siopa Rince in my teens, fabric is my choosen material. I decided instead of choosing just any fabric I would choose a specific kind of fabric that had a meaning,a story, some nostalga behind it.
My first memory of working creatively with fabric was as a young child staying with my grandmother. Each night before bed we had the same routine, after the 9o'clock news, we would say the rosary together with my grandad then off up to bed. As I lay in bed my granny would sit on the chair next to me and together,everynight we would stitch a new line of crochet to the scarf I was making. From there I was crocheting anything from doilys to cardigans with her.
As crochet is a traditional fabric I am currently in the middle of experimenting with diffrent approches and techniques inorder to make it work within todays contemporary settings and to create fluidity betweeen the form I am working with and the crochet fabric.

Other influential designers that have worked with and been inspired by crochet fabric include Marcel Wanders and Louise Campbell.

Crochet Chair designed by Marcel Wanders

Felt Chairs Designed by Louise Campell

Hope you are all as excited as I am about whats to come :). Will keep you all posted.
Grainne.