Spring in Ravenna, Italy: City of Mosaics, part 2 - Micro Mosaics

 

Città Amica Delle Donne - City Friendly to Women

The practice of miniature mosaics originated in 18th century Rome and were created by artists of the time all within a stone’s a throw of the Vatican Mosaic Workshop. Themes were inspired by Italian art and nature. Along with mosaics, this technique became a means of preserving and restoring religious paintings that were deteriorating, as a result of age, or climatic damage.

The minute 2-3mm glass tesserae of a micro mosaic, meant that smaller more portable artworks and jewellery could be created as souvenirs. Popular as travel souvenirs for young gentlemen on The Grand Tour through Europe. . .

Continuing reading this post on my website:  Spring in Ravenna, Italy: City of Mosaics, part 2, - Micro Mosaics

Alison Day Designs

Spring in Ravenna, Italy: City of Mosaics, part 1

 

Basilica di Sant Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy

Spring is the time of plans and projects ―Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

My attention had been caught by a variety of mosaic courses, offered by the Mosaic Art School in Ravenna, in Italy. One in particular, on how to create micro mosaics was intriguing. This, however, was different to my usual forays into online study - this was in person and in Italy!

Well why not? Arrange a week’s trip to Ravenna, the absolute centre of 5th and 6th century, brightly coloured, Byzantine mosaics and enrol in a course on micro mosaics at the same time. . .

Continuing reading this post on my website:  Spring in Ravenna, Italy: City of Mosaics, part 1

Alison Day Designs

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Sketchbook to Product: Bringing Luxury Pattern Designs into Your Home

Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern - Alfred North Whitehead

Having completed two surface pattern design courses over the past year, I feel it is time to get some of my patterns out into the world. So, without further ado, here’s my NEW online shop! Alison Day Designs

Note book - Chinoiserie Blossom Blush

Here you can discover collections of unique designs, printed on high-quality products and have them shipped directly to your door.

Bring a little historical luxury into your home, with a Chinoiserie-inspired trailing floral design, in soft pinks and greens.  

Glasses Case - Chinoiserie Blossom Blush

Did you know that the word Chinoiserie comes from the French ”Chinoise”, which means Chinese. The style itself has Chinese or East Asian influences and became popular in 18 century Europe, and to the present day.

I’d love to hear what you think.

Alison 🌸

All designs ©️ Alison Day Designs: alisondaydesign.com

Alison Day Designs: THE SHOP

Finding Winter Wonder: Exploring Oxford’s Christmas Fair

 

Apart from the twinkling street lights and street vendor chalets, the Christmas fair in Oxford this year, with no snow, had a gigantic wooden Aprés Ski Bar, with tall (creepy) nutcracker dolls standing sentinel outside, an illuminated conical Christmas tree and an impressive carousel.

This carousel was not your usual kids only variety, but was a double decker, which included adult-sized rides too. A herd of brightly painted horses galloped to festive tunes, accompanied by carriages, sleighs and giant a couple of Rudolf the red nosed reindeers. 

Magnificent during the day, the carousel was a sight to behold as dusk approached. Walking past every day on my way to work, I couldn’t resist and took a spin on one of the horses!

If you’d like to see the carousel in action, visit my reels on instagram - @alisondaydesigns 

Alison Day Designs

About Me - Artist, Designer, Voiceover

 Alison Day Designs

Art & Design, Words, Voice
Welcome to my website and creative life!

An artist and designer, my journey into surface pattern design started 2024 and although I’ve been using Illustrator for many years, as a publications designer and illustrator, I’m still discovering new ways to use it.

Originally from Oxfordshire in the UK, I lived for many years in the Netherlands, but repatriated six years ago. In the Netherlands, I ran my own business, in design, translations and voiceover as Alison Day Designs.

Currently working towards my dream of  reviving my creative business. This time incorporating pattern design, amongst my other creative pursuits. Excited to see where this takes me! 

I am inspired by the world around me, through: travel, people watching, cat antics and a love of storytelling and my creations are a mix of analog and digital.

I have a passion for papiermache and my artworks include recycled 'waste' that would otherwise end up as landfill.

An experienced voiceover with almost 20 years experience, my voice can be heard on museum tours throughout Europe, in audio educational books, corporate films, small documentaries and the odd advert. 

Website: Alison Day Designs
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The Magnificence of Mosaics

Bracelet in Blue

Marmite

Pink Fish - Mosaic Jewel

Green Fish - Mosaic Jewel

Poppy Petal

Cartoon TV

Website: ©️ Alison Day Designs

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The Wonders of Creating Pictures using Paper

Caribbean Bus

 

Turban Lady

Bead Lady

Angel '9 Women'- See the other ladies HERE

Cat Mirror

Lion Water Fountain (Spilli, Crete, Greece)

Waterspout (Spilli, Crete, Greece)

Decorative Bowl

Chameleon Box

Website:©️ Alison Day Designs

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9 Women - A Series of Nine Portraits, Created Entirely from 'Trash'

 

Angel - Beautiful, Empathetic 9 Women was a personal project, highlighting womankind, recycling and the number 9. I refer to these artworks as 'papiermache-mosaics', which refers to the materials and process of their creation. Made from papiermache, the pictures are in relief and are decorated in a repetitive fashion, rather like mosaics, with recycled 'trash.      My choice of women as the central theme, stems from my interest in the adaptability of womankind.  In my opinion, unequalled in their creativity, multi-faceted and possessing an inherent chameleon-like diversity.  Why 9? The number 9 has magical, meditative and religious qualiities and is seen as a symbol of harmony, inspiration and perfection. In many cultures it is considered sacred, with a reference to eternity. 9 Women was exhibited at The Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, in the Netherlands, 01/05/11 - 31/07/11 Beatrice - Adaptable, Versatile  Candice - Crazy, Loving Lulu - Creative, Role-model Hannah - Nurturer, Supporter Medusa - Formidable, Wild Cleo - Diverse, Multi-tasker Scarlet - Colourful, Stylish Josephine - Adventurous, Funny Website: ©️Alison Day Designs Instagram

Nature's Cordial

A little later than last year, but it's that time again... 

Time to make elderflower cordial. A simple and satisfying process, from picking the blooms to bottling and makes a lovely gift for sharing.

INGREDIENTS 

1 kg white sugar, either granulated or caster

1 lemon

13 fresh elderflower heads trimmed

42g (10 tsp) citric acid

800 ml water 

Put the sugar and 800 ml water into a large saucepan. Gently heat, without boiling, until the sugar has dissolved, stirring occasionally. Pare the zest from the lemon using a potato peeler, then slice the lemon into rounds.

Once the sugar has dissolved, bring the pan of syrup to the boil, then turn off the heat. 

In a bowl of cold water, swish the flowers around to loosen any dirt or bugs. Gently shake off excess water before transferring to the syrup, along with the lemon slices zest and citric acid, then stir well. 

Cover the pan and infuse for 24 hrs.

Strain through a tea towel over a large bowl or pan. Discard the bits left in the towel. Use a funnel and a ladle to fill sterilised bottles that have been rinsed and dried in a low oven. 

The cordial is ready to drink straight away and will keep in the fridge for up to 6 weeks. 

Recipe makes 1400ml, approx 2 x 75cl bottles.

Website: Alison Day Designs

   

Stepping in to an Adventure

 

A quote by the Cheshire Cat, from Alice in Wonderland, added to an illustrative floral border of fuchsias, sourced from my garden 🌸

An assignment from Immersion, a Surface Pattern Design Course I’m taking. 

The quote was hand written, then stylised and digitised in Adobe Illustrator and the final colour choice reached by using playing with the recolour tool in Illustrator. 

Alice and the Cheshire Cat

Alice in Wonderland by John Tenniel

Website: Alison Day Designs

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Fuchsia Frolic

First pattern: Fuchsia Frolic - using the flower of a favourite garden plant for inspiration and one that I grow each year in my garden. 

Created as a result of following a 5-day pattern challenge, using Adobe Illustrator.

Quite a learning curve and it still needs tweaking, but that's all part of the fun. 

I love a challenge - the start of many more! 🌸

Website: Alison Day Designs 

Instagram 

Harnessing Autumnal Hues: Creating Vision Boards

 

Creating Vision Boards

February 2024, I took part in Immersion, a 12 week dive into surface pattern design given by Bonnie Christine. An eye opening course, that taught me the basics of designing patterns, added to my knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and provided inspiration for making new colour palettes and vision boards. 

My intention was to create a spring-themed vision board, but the result had an autumnal vibe. Featuring citrus slices from potpourri, dried Cosmos and Lisianthus blooms, Red Baron leaves and honesty seeds. The papery moult from the silver birch tree, at the end of the garden and a mini mosaic of a Blue Tit, my homage to these tiny birds, who appear all year round in the garden.

I also love the sea and am interested in marine life, shown by the addition of shells and fish. 🐚

Visit my website: Alison Day Designs

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