Felting my way across Kerry...

Blurry Picture in the Distance

2012-01-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

There are times in life when all seems muddy and unclear. It's really that time of year, isn't it? Time to wisely listen to the animals and hibernate a bit. Its the time of year when I drag out magazines to look at new projects, new fabrics, and to think about people I want to work with and skills I need to learn. I read a lot and cook and try to actively NOT think at times.

After a few weeks of this, something generally starts to emerge. I am a list maker, essential for anyone balancing too much in their life, and if I lay the lists out next to each other I generally start to see a pattern of interest. I can see now that there was no way I could sustain the amount of work that I was doing. I think less teaching, or at least more isolated teaching, is in my future. I love teaching, but I end up giving too much of myself and the transition between designing and teaching isn't as fluid for me right now. I think now is a time to concentrate on design ideas and working on selling.

I went up to Showcase on Monday, just to have a look around. I was nearly certain that it wasn't for me, but I wanted to get some feedback on designs. Not only did I get excellent feedback on my hats and scarves, but I really do think Showcase will be for me next year. I have a lot to do to get ready, including perfecting my begging face when I have to go to the bank and look for a small business loan, but it will be worth it for the exposure. The addition of the fashion show this year was really the clincher. I was told that my work would have been perfect in the fashion show the night before, that I was on track with the style and textures and colours.

And I took a good hard look at what the other knitwear and felt people were doing. There's no point replicating the same designs as we all look the same and it only creates a price war. So I now have a fair idea of what I will make that will stand out from the crowd. Now to just find the space to do it! I am also seeking advice from a mentor and I am toying with the idea of changing my company name and re-branding. It's a bit fussy, but I think the name I have hasn't been connecting at all and now is the time to do it. I have arrived at a name and mentor thinks it's good, too, so just have to think about it over the week and then order new business cards and labels for clothing.

Some progress is being made on sorting my house out. I made a space for my dyeing microwave and now just need to find a space for all my dyeing equipment. Not easy!! Hopefully some space will be made available in the near future. Meanwhile, I am working on samples to show a couple of shops who I am going to approach. I need to get all my details all organized so it looks like a cohesive package. The mist is lifting and I can see the blurry picture in the distance!

And I also need to get taking some pics because this is all I had this week!

A Bit Lost in the non-Winter

2012-01-22T06:03:00.000-08:00

New hat. I so wanted to bead the felt decor
after machine embroidery, but with sales
so low, I can't justify the work for the prices
I can getting. The new economy line, I think!

It's mid-January and we are in the middle of a very mild winter, especially compared to the last two years. My family in Seattle and friends in Boston are despairing the cold and snow and ice, but here in Ireland we are getting a reprieve from the nastiness. I hope to God it means that we might actually have a beautiful summer also, as the rain this year has been fairly unforgiving.

I closed my studio this week and it was hard work. Condensing another house into my small house is not easy and I found a place to store my felting tables until I can find another workspace. My house is like a bomb site. I look at the boxes and bags everywhere and I hardly know where to start, but I know I have to make a start of it or I will go nuts. There is space in the spare bedroom to store supplies and possibly sew, but there is only room on the kitchen table to lay out small felting projects. The full dye kitchen is much harder as there is so much STUFF to store and I think it will just have to go out to the shed and hope the weather doesn't ruin it. Mildew seems to be breeding with alacrity and as soon as I get the clutter under control, I need to wash walls with mildew killer and start painting.

Using a lot of gray to foil brighter colours.
Since most of my colours are hand-dyed,
it really makes the vibrant ones pop.

About 5 of my framed textile pieces were damaged with mold/mildew while in my studio. It must have happened over Christmas when I didn't have the heat on. I need to take them apart and do repairs so that I can get them up on the wall where they will be safer from children and accidents. They are certainly cheering my house up no end. I am so sad about failing and burned out that I haven't even picked up my crochet hook, but that's probably the thing that I need to do. Floundering is not good, but I am craving quiet and time alone to figure out what I will do with my felt. I need to get Internet sales going on Etsy or somewhere else, but I need to organize the house first so I can look clearly at designs. And I want to focus on design work as the newer designs are selling the best, so I know I am on the right track. In the meantime, I have a part-time job I started selling ads and I am hoping that this will bring in some much-needed income. Typically, it is mostly commission, so I will have to keep the head down and the Skype on to make some progress. It is about time for SOMETHING to succeed as I will also need funds for the next attempt at a studio or flogging my felt.

In the meantime, I am heading up to Showcase tomorrow to have a look around and meet a few people. I need feedback on my designs and time to look around and figure out where I am going next. Can't wait to see Pat Lawless' stand as he got a commendation from the Craft Council and the fabulous Garry Marcham will be up there also. If I can't succeed, then at least people I know and like should succeed!!

The mentor that I requested has finally arrived after three months wait and we need to put our heads together and see if we are agreed on what to do next. He is suggesting I change my business name and re-brand. I will have to be convinced!!!

My Dyeing Week

2012-01-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

One of the student's resist-dyed fabrics

I have spent the last three days dyeing cloth with over 60 primary school students. I realized over Christmas that if I wanted more students for the Craft Club then I needed to head out to the schools. So, I went to Lispole and Dingle primary schools and I offered to teach colour theory and dyeing to the kids to get them interested in making. They all definitely loved it, but it remains to be seen whether I will gain any students from it. I shall have to wait until Saturday and see what it brings.

Adding their resists before dyeing

If it all goes pear-shaped, then I will have the hard decision of closing my studio. People are just not buying and I can't fund it without income coming in. The students are buying me some time to build up clientele and work on new design ideas, but if I can't get the students then I just have to move as much as I can back home. It would be both a blow and a relief. I would only have space to make small items as my house won't accommodate all the materials I have acquired, but the financial pressure has been immense. It would be nice to just go to bed and be able to sleep the whole night through.

All dressed up and no place to go

There has been a lot of talk about using public buildings to provide arts space/studio areas, but nothing seems to be rising to the surface, certainly not in Kerry. With many talented people abandoning their craft right now, the Craft Council of Ireland or the Department of Arts should really do something to help artisans to continue their work. It will come to a stage where emerging artisans will not be able to afford to develop their work because the resources to assist them just aren't there.

The state of Ireland is just bad right now. I am usually a glass half full kind of person, but the lack of direction and jobs, unbelievable amount of taxation, and extreme corporate greed has left almost all of us a bit deflated. Even if I wanted to abandon all my training and get another job, where do I go? My cost of living would be much higher somewhere else. Where are jobs better? It's a miracle I can get out of bed every day with all this swirling around my brain.

Is it too much to ask that my work sells and I make a modest living?

The great texture of dyeing your
own work

A Rather Damp & Windy Start

2012-01-06T04:52:00.000-08:00

Crocheted & felted hat, with hand-dyed trim
and flower. Machine embroidery!

Well, it's January, and as usual I have a couple of goals. Trying to stay in business is one of them. I keep hearing on the news how the retail receipts are up and it was improved on Christmas 2010, but I did far worse. Is it possible that they are lying to keep us all going??? Tralee was deadly quiet until the 4-5 days before Christmas. I think everyone is waiting until the last minute now to get the best deals. Understandable, but hard to take. I heard that people in Dublin at the Gift Show in December returned items that weren't made in Ireland and were almost patriotic about it. That did not happen in rural areas. I did not have much to spend this year, but I did try to buy as much as possible locally and Irish so that at least it was money staying in Ireland. I saw people doing that last year, but this year it fizzled out. It is rather hard to go chirpy into the New Year with financial disaster looming. I know I am not alone, but somehow that is rather poor consolation.

I did get a nice shared feature in the Irish Examiner in an article called "The Life Changers" written by Sharon Ni Chonchuir, so many thanks to her for that! The photo turned out great, so much try and get a copy. All publicity is good!

Merino bainín and hand-dyed merino.
Felt/silk/angelina flower, hand-dyed with
beads. Scarf: 19 micron merino, resist-dyed.

Other goals: Christmas is over, so off the sugar and carbs again. All the good progress of November & December was probably undone by simply eating bread. Must get tough and focus now. I quit smoking the last year and a half, so now its time to tackle that. I would like to do more creative embroidery and must figure out a way to present them less expensively. They look fab custom framed, but it's just too expensive when they aren't selling yet. I am really hoping that www.swoop.ie gets going as I have a good feeling that this will be a much better on-line selling venture than ETSY. While it's true that I could spend more time marketing my ETSY page, I really have never had any return on the time and money I have put into it so far (over a year). Hard to plan on spending more time there with no positive outcome. I think switching over to another online venture is going to work out better as you could spend your life trying to set yourself apart from the pack and not get one thing made! Final goal: I really want to get raised beds done and do a decent vegetable garden this year. I must also rescue herb garden as its choked with weeks, but its been such a wet year and time was against me with starting a new business. I'll start with the low maintainence stuff and see how I get on...

Curious response to my samples sent to Boston. When they came back, the buyer was complimentary but said that my hats and scarves were "too upscale" for them and "possibly in another economy they would consider it." Now this is a person specialising in handmade Irish craft for 40 years or more and they sell in an affluent area. The only thing I could take from that is that Irish Americans want the same design the Failte Ireland has sold them all along: tweed, muted colours, and traditional design. The only problem with that is it isn't modern Ireland. Does anyone have any thoughts on this???

Must get into the studio now as its time to start producing work again. I had a much-needed break, but it's time to start keeping the wolf from the door!

Can you find my little cutie in this pic? Love the
school plays at Christmas!!

In the Gloaming Between

2011-12-30T04:13:00.000-08:00

Bernadette Bohan's fabulously decorated Christmas cakes.

The Kerry Christmas Market was a big success. Lots of work and I made very little money out of it, but the vendors were all very happy. I have to think about whether I would do two days next year and I would certainly move it up a week so it wasn't the weekend right before Christmas. Too many people had finished their shopping. You certainly see the recession on the craft fair/Christmas market level. Last year, most vendors agreed that they made 2-3 times as much in sales, but all were realistic this year and didn't seem upset as they did better that they expected. I had two excellent Santy's and it was a shame to see that there weren't many people there for them as I thought they were better than any Santy Fionn has even seen. Thankfully there were people there for sales. I have to rethink the top floor as people don't seem to want to go upstairs, even with a lift. All part of the strange psychology of selling.

Christmas Day came and went and it was as relaxing and chaotic as it should have been. By the time I get to Christmas, I am usually so tired that I am longing for my stack of new books and new pj's to just relax and completely unwind. This year was no exception as I was going and going for what felt the entire year without much of a break. I think if I hadn't the two weeks off, my body would have made the decision for me! Despite the hard work, I didn't make hardly anything in December, which does not bode well for the rest of the year. I am hoping that www.swoop.ie will end up being a good thing in the New Year to kick of Irish craft online. I have been part of www.etsy.com for over a year now and my sales are horrible. Granted, my cost is not high, but I find it a total waste of my time. There are just too many other artisans to differentiate yourself from and it seems like you could spend a whole day marketing and get absolutely nothing made. Etsy is probably a good option for Americans, but I don't see the majority of Irish shop owners there doing as well. Changes must get made.

We made these felt Christmas decoration
in craft club. Girls are getting to be quite
good on the sewing machine!

I have to get more students on board or I will have to give up my studio. That is the hard reality of this recession. I am desperate to keep it so I will spend the first week of the New Year going around to the schools that are likely candidates and talking to students about the Craft Club that I do. It would only take about 5-7 more students to cover the cost of my studio expenses, which isn't much and a realistic goal. Otherwise, I haven't room in my house to even move things back home as the tables won't fit and I wouldn't have room to make larger items. The Irish government is just sucking the life out of the economy and people are afraid to spend or are spending all they have just to keep going. We all talk about trying to just keep going and wait it out until things improve, but I see this year will be the watershed year of the recession. People are giving up their craft and are quite dejected. I am not sure what the answer is, but I know that something good has to come our way in the New Year. The Year of Craft is very nearly over and I know it gave craft a boost visibly, but it would be interesting to see in terms of figures how much it increased sales. Part of the problem is that I think Dublin shoppers were much more in touch with buying Irish and buying craft this Christmas, but Kerry buyers were not. I need to get my work out of Kerry, simple as that.

Meanwhile, I need to get a copy of the Examiner today as there is supposed to be an article on people starting businesses during the recession and I am included in it. http://www.irishexaminer.com/features/the-life-changers-178524.html.

Colleen Bowler's beautiful, hand-thrown pottery.

And the New Year is almost here, so must make plans! Happy New Year to all and wishing you a relaxing time for the rest of the holidays!!

Kerry Christmas Market

2011-12-05T02:17:00.001-08:00

I've been a bit quiet lately, but I haven't been idle! I am putting together a big two-day Christmas market for Kerry food and craft producers. Sales this year have been so poor, that we really need a good event to give us a boost for the holidays. And it's really shaping up to be a great event! Lots of fantastic vendors and the Díseart will be beautiful for the weekend. As Santy himself is too busy to leave the North Pole at this time of year, he has sent two fellas to stand in and make sure boys and girls are being good and are really deserving! Saturday Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh will be present as Dadaí na Nollaig on Saturday and on Sunday Brendan Griffin will be with us. Great fun! Santy will arrive via Dingle Jaunting car at 12pm on Saturday and on 1pm on Sunday. Loads of details to see to in the final planning, but things are going well...

Another craft fair done yesterday and it was pretty dismal for all, if I am honest. Most of Ireland is full of anxiety at the thought of the year's budget being launched tomorrow and are just afraid to spend. We are promised another year of woe and punishment. I am not sure how many more years of this average people can take. The politicians have given themselves raises yet again. It is beyond a disgrace to cut hospitals and creches and people on low income and then to give yourself a €27,000 wage increase (or one for your friends). I am not sure if people aren't too downtrodden to riot at this stage, but most other countries in Europe would be raging. Hard to say if it would actually do any good. It makes keeping a cheery Christmas attitude that bit more daunting, I tell you. I'd love to say that things will bounce back in the New Year, but I think people are largely thinking craft is a luxury and it is just not on the list of things to purchase. As well as excellent value, it must be said that not all craft is expensive. And the negative repercussions of buying overseas imports can be seen as close as our neighbors. We all buy a certain amount of things that are made out of country, but Ireland has lost so many jobs in the last 3 years that it is critical to keep that money in our economy. And if people aren't buying craft at Christmas, then I fear for sales the rest of the year.

Tree top angel, Handmade out of pure wool!

Meanwhile, the craft club is going strong. We made these little ladies last week and were working on felt Christmas ornaments this week. I think the last session before Christmas will be Christmas stockings. I am making these angels for hampers for Bluíríní Blásta Cafe for the next week. It's all go!

Oh, Knit & Stitch, how I do love thee....

2011-11-13T11:00:00.001-08:00

One of Ruth Issett's stunning
textile pieces on exhibition
at K & S

We made it up and down to Dublin, Fionn and I, and had a great time. Knit & Stitch time is my favourite time of year: a chance to get great new supplies, take in inspirational exhibitions, and meet up with friends you see mostly online. I took a mini-workshop with Ruth Issett called "Running with Colour" and it was fab. I adore her work and her use of colour--so vibrant and full of life. I tend to like a lot of abstract work in the last five years and so I could get lost in the piece on the left. I had this one on my computer desktop to study every day and so it was a thrill to see the original!

Fionn learned a bit of weaving, but it was disappointing that much of the student classes were rather flat. There were school tours there on the day we were there and most of the craft learning stations were geared towards girls, which was unfortunate as there were plenty of lads there. I am a strong believer in teaching boys to sew as its part of my Basic Skills for Life training that I teach. Who wouldn't have to know how to do an emergency repair of a seam or how to sew a button back on? Even if they aren't going to pursue a creative career, its a great thing to learn to express yourself creatively. I was told that a group from England decline to come over and tutor in craft. My response to that is WHY do they have to come from England? I know Twisted Thread, the organizing group for K & S, comes from England, but there are plenty of talented people in Ireland who could organize and teach young people interested in craft i.e. patchwork, weaving, spinning, felting, stitching. I did love their great emphasis on repurposing and upcycling clothing and the awareness of who is producing clothing and how they manage to keep their costs low (cheap labour overseas...). But, it's my third show now and I do notice that the cream of the craft doesn't always travel over from the English shows; it's time that we make sure that the Dublin show is just as good as the English ones.

Now I am back in Dingle, it's time to start working on the Kerry Christmas Market full-tilt. The deadline to apply is tomorrow and I have lot of PR to do, a poster to design, and one more celebrity Santy to find! It's coming along great and we have a wonderful group of artisans so far. The children Christmas carol service will be wonderful on the Saturday and I am working on music performances for the Sunday. If you have time and a few presents left to get, please DO come to Dingle for the weekend of December 17/18. Come on the Saturday and spend the day taking in the wonderful food and craft at the Christmas Market and the unique and vibrant shops of Dingle. Splurge and spend the night and have a fab dinner at Doyle's or Global Village. Appreciate Kerry as much as we do!

Craft club is going strong. We felted the pieces to make angels for the top of the tree and next week we will sew them together. For now until Christmas, we will be making Christmas decorations or presents. Great fun and the kids are learning so much (and they are a great bunch to work with).

If you have any inquiries about workshops or participating in craft club, please ring 087-9111793 or email sharon1_crandall@hotmail.com to register.

Hats

Tuesday, November 29th
Wednesday, December 7th

Scarves

Wednesday, November 16th
Tuesday, November 22nd
Saturday, December 10th

Absolutely amazing quilt close up. Won Judges Choice 2011. Artist is
Janneke de Vries-Bodzinga.

Love this guy!!

I also loved her sketchbook on how she designed the wonderful seahorse

Very impressed with this one as it was a kid!
Leif Sinclair from Leominster.

This is a panel of a quilt series from Genesis.

Part of Seascapes exhibition sponsored by CCOI. This is
Marika Miklosi-Manning.

Rolling in November...

2011-11-01T06:20:00.000-07:00

Merino and silk hat with resist
patches--looks fab on!

I've been busily felting for a pop-up shop that is opening in Limerick. New hats and scarves are on the way. All things going well, I will need to felt more! Here are two new hats. Both are merino with silk pieces and hand-dyed. The turquoise one is finished, but I have to think about the burgundy and see if it might need another bit of embellishment. I have three new scarves I felted and dyed yesterday that need ironing and labels sewn in.

I'm working on samples to send to Boston for a shop there. I need to send my lovelies out into the world as the sales in Kerry just aren't enough. I don't make as much money per item, but I am not making anything in Kerry!! The studio is great and has put me in great space to produce a lot more, so now I need to put the head down and get some serious production going.

Deadline is fast approaching for the Dingle Christmas Market (November 11th). Participants must be in Kerry and all goods must be artisan produced/handmade. I really want to showcase the talent in the county. If you are interested in participating, please get in touch with me and I can forward you an application (087-9111793 or leave a message here). Price is €25 per day and I would prefer that you are present for both days. I know its a long way to travel, so if you come up with friend, I can assign you space next to each other so you can watch each other's work and not have to be there both days. I am hard at work on all the details. It promises to be a great weekend!!

Merino and silk pieces, hand-dyed. I think these needs a
bit of bling yet!

I also wanted to let you know about an Indoor Christmas Market in Kenmare, Co Kerry. They are looking for potential stall holders that sell Irish Crafts and Christmas Gifts. The market will run from Dec 1st to 31st, 10am to 6pm. Prices depend on size of stall and are very affordable. Contact Sue O'Neill at 087 765 3319 or Anne-Marie on 064 6648907 to reserve pitches. Kenmare is a beautiful place and well worth visiting, so let's keep spending our money on original craft this year.

Buying Kerry goods = keeping Kerry jobs.

October is Transition Month...

2011-10-26T02:59:00.000-07:00

Crocheted merino hat with hand-dyed felt pieces

Lots of transitions these days. Transition to self-employed person, which is simultaneously exhilarating and creative and also very worrying on how I will manage a regular income. Transition to a car owner once again. Yep, I picked up my darling on Monday and so I am now the proud owner of a 2000 navy blue Ford Escort station wagon. She has low miles and is ready to go! I must get her washed again because she is filthy after driving up from Cork, but otherwise seems in great form. The relief of having a car again! Plenty to be doing, but must get the final license sorted ASAP as motor insurance is shocking here.

Felted and dyed three scarves yesterday with pics to follow. Craft fair on tomorrow, so must get labels sewn in and all new pieces tagged. Trying to keep a high production level, but darn busy life keeps interfering! I do have samples to make and send to the USA for two shops who have expressed interest, so that will help me sleep at night if I can get that going.

All Kerry Christmas Market on at An Díseart in Dingle December 17 & 18 (Sat & Sun) from 10-5pm. Standard 6 ft stalls INDOORS €25 per day. Please give me a ring to register as space is going quickly! There will be charity Santy, facepainting, excellent food and craft, and more surprises being organized. Should be great craic! 087-9111793 for more info.

If you are interested in felting workshops, please note the dates below...

Hats

Saturday, November 5th

Tuesday, November 8th

Tuesday, November 29th

Hand-dyed merino felt hat with seed bead
embellishment

Wednesday, December 7th

Scarves

Friday, November 4th

Wednesday, November 16th

Tuesday, November 22nd

Saturday, December 10th

Ring 087-9111793 or email sharon1_crandall@hotmail.comto register. Space and materials are limited. Plan to makesomething lovely for yourself or a loved one for the holidays this year!

Time to think about your warmies...

2011-10-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

It's mid-October and if the weather hasn't turned cooler where you live, then it will likely do so with a bang in the next week. So! Time to think about updating your lovely cold weather gear. I am listing workshops for making hats and scarves on the following dates. The price is €40 per workshop, materials included. We will be using high quality Merino wool and some silk and alpaca fibres to create lovely scarves or hats for winter, which we will then custom dye to the colour of your choice. All workshops 2-5pm on John St in Dingle, Co Kerry.

Hats
Saturday, November 5th
Tuesday, November 8th
Tuesday, November 29th
Wednesday, December 7th

Scarves
Friday, November 4th
Wednesday, November 16th
Tuesday, November 22nd
Saturday, December 10th

Ring 087-9111793 or email sharon1_crandall@hotmail.com to register. Space and materials are limited. Plan to make something lovely for yourself or a loved one for the holidays this year!

I am also busily planning Kerry Christmas Markets in Dingle this year, with Kerry made food and craft. Santy will be there with mulled wine and lots of fun. Dingle has a fantastic array of original food and craft, so plan on spending some time with us! We have a Jingle Bell jaunting tour and penguins for the kids. The Christmas tree will be lit Sunday, December 4th. Plenty to do and see, so watch this space for more details...

Hikes and Tests and Christmas

2011-10-10T23:41:00.000-07:00

Crocheted hat with hand-dyed red flower &
glass seed beads

I am starting to get that frantic feeling, like time is running out and I need to find a way to duplicate myself so that I will have MORE of what I need. This week seemed to have so much crammed into it: Scouts meeting, craft club, special orders, planning meetings, Scouts hike, Dingle Business Chamber meeting, and insurance company issues. It's no small wonder that I have had a hard time finding time to sit down and read my road theory test book, but I spent my day off yesterday reading the dang thing. I think none of you will be surprised to know that it isn't the most interesting reading. I have the test on TODAY and the good news is that most of the info was repeat on the test I took 28 years ago in the US. The Irish government seems to think that they hand out driver's licenses on street corners with reckless abandon, but I did take 3 months of theory and driving lessons before I was allowed to sit my exam. Ugh. So aggravated to have to do it again, but it should be over with today and then 12 driving lessons and I can take my road test. All the drama of this I don't need.

I've been finishing hats like mad and put in an order yesterday for supplies so I can start felting like a lunatic. I have so many hats and scarves to make and so many test pieces to get right so I can start making more. I have a pile of finished product to upload onto Etsy, if I could find 2 hours to do it. I ran out of labels to sew into my hats and ordered more, so that will be another relief. I want to close my studio door and stop answering the phone so I can really concentrate. I must find a kind of Zen calmness of I will not make it through the busy holiday season...

Craft club going well and we finished the books! Pics to follow as haven't uploaded them yet. We felted last Saturday and will cut them into strips and the girls want to make bracelets, so stitching and beading this Saturday--all good!

As much as I would like to rest now, I must get ready to head into Tralee to face the music. Wish me luck on my second driving test!

Crocheted hat with orange & yellow
flower and seed beads

Merino, Alpaca, and silk pieces resist-felted
and hand-dyed. Hand dyed star decor &
beading!

A Foodie Hangover...

2011-10-02T04:55:00.000-07:00

The Handmade Sessions on the Dingle Food Festival taste trail was a great success! We teamed up with Bluíríní Blasta cafe in Lispole and offered up sublime, jamtastic desserts: they baked meringues with their Blás na hEireann nominated lemon curd, fresh cream, and raspberry coulis; lemon drizzle cake with lemon curd on the side; and strawberry jam sponge with fresh strawberries. All gone by 445pm! Craft sales for the day weren't great, but there were a lot of people in and out and appreciating the work, so hopefully a preview of Christmas sales. It was pouring out of the heavens by 4pm and is quite wet now, but still another day of the Festival to go! We are heading out on the taste trail ourselves and it should be a relaxing, enjoyable day. I need me some oysters!

It was a rather frantic week of felting and embellishing. I felted 7 scarves and resist-dyed them and felted two new hats and resist-dyed to match two of the scarves. I embellished three hats. And cleaning and hiding all the clutter so the studio would be ready for the general public. Really, I need a good closet with shelving inside to just store things in and shut the door so my mess isn't out in the open. The new hat wall looked well and Colleen Bowler and Ursula Tramski's pottery was fab, and the company great all day. A huge success!

I held the Craft Club on Friday afternoon to make room for the Taste Trail on Saturday, so it was a mad two hours of sewing and helping the girls learn to use the sewing machines. They really are learning the sewing machines fast for 10 year olds. Their books are nearly done and next week we start on two weeks of bracelets. We will felt a lot of pieces and then decorate our bits the next week with stitch and beads. And then two weeks of Halloween projects, but I have to have a think about what we will do there...

It's all go these days. I need to do a big stock up on wool as I have a lot of stock to make for Christmas. Once I have many kilos of wool under my roof, I will sleep well!! New calendar of events for October up, but must get it online still--tomorrow as my day off and then will plot dates for Christmas gift making...Meanwhile, Ireland killed Italy today in the Rugby World Cup and we are slated to play Wales next weekend in the semi-finals--GO GREEN!!

A Quickie...

2011-09-22T01:33:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick post to show off two new hats I completed this week. I have a load of purple on the brain as I have a custom order and I am doing 2-3 different styles and the customer will choose their favourite. So far, they are totally different!

The first one is hand-dyed Merino with dark purple Gotland curls on the brim. I carefully stitched the brim up and added grape-like clusters of purple glass seed beads.

The second hat I resist-felted and was trying to
develop the pattern into a cute style I saw online.
The side tail was supposed to collapse inward into a swirl on the side of the hat, but the tail is too long, so must adjust the pattern and have another try at it. I do like the tail, however, and I over dyed the hat which came out quite dark purple with hints of pink where the silk threads peek through. There are also pieces of silk habotai and Wensleydale curls felted in, but it so dark that its hard to see them by camera. I think I might do a sprinkling of beads on the tail...

Meanwhile, it's time to get myself ready to head back into the studio. Lots to do!

Getting the Head Ready

2011-09-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Felted with Merino and silk pieces, hand-dyed, and then
embellished with hand-felted and dyed pieces and glass
beads

When I go full tilt all week, it is completely essential to have the relaxing Sunday at home. I try to sleep in, but my eyes open at the same time every day. However, when it's raining and I am snuggled in the flannel sheets, it's enough to know that I don't have to get up and rush around. Eventually, I gather laundry, strip beds, and head down to put a load on and start the essential coffee. I potter around for the day, detoxing toilets, cooking, doing computer work, and trying to gather the approximately 7,000 pieces of Lego that are in every corner of the house. I can't complain about the Lego because I have wool all over the house! I never have a dirty house, but it's some job to keep the level of clutter down. Children don't seem to MIND the clutter all over the place...

Crochet and then machine felted with hand-dyed yarns.
Over sized flower handmade and dyed with stitching
and glass seed beads.

I finished my green and gold hats and got my window done for the Kerry match. We will not discuss today's Kerry match. Here's another pink one finished. I felted a purple hat that I forgot to photograph and I found a whole stash of completed hats when I was cleaning out my old studio. They need to be embellished, so I imagine I will be beading and sewing a lot next week. I am in the middle of moving my old studio into my new space and I am trying to organize so that when we are on the taste trail for the Dingle Food Festival that there will be space for everyone. I found the new fixtures for displaying hats online and so now I just need the money to purchase! It isn't too expensive. I was hoping that I might have them for the Food Festival so things are looking good, but money is slow to come in the door--as usual. Priority number one is getting the outside of the shop painted as it will make a major difference. That and a big sign proclaiming Ciarraí Creations that can be seen from the bridge. All in due time...

Doll competed by a 9 year in Dingle Craft
Club. Her name is Aisling!

We had our second session of the Dingle Craft Club and the books that we are making are coming along great. After a bit of sketching, I cut Vilene for them and they painted them up. I meant for them to only paint a background colour as we would be collaging over it, but they put details in. No matter, they will see what I meant by next week. Saturday, they added more items in layers and started working on the fabric pages. We used coloured inks on the pages as it creates a watercolour affect and dries quickly. Then we will start sewing in earnest next week, adding layers and details. Also, with guidance I will introduce them to the sewing machine. And we have to seal the covers with decoupage. Must get pics next week as we are so busy for that two hours that time just flies!

In the meantime, the bacon and cabbage is ready. Time to drown our football sorrows in piggy!

Keeping the Faith

2011-09-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

New hat: merino, alpaca, & silk fibres & pieces. Decor
in progress!

I try not to be a worrier, but it is very hard not to at times. And these are worrying times that we are living in. Quite a lot is changing quickly and we are coping as best we can with limited resources and changing incomes. But I also reach a stage where I think "To Hell with it!" Either the hard work pays off or it won't. Either you can make a difference or you won't. I take time out to think and find the solution for myself and just keep plowing on...

So, I am relieved to see modest progress with my new workshop space. Craft in Kerry is no longer part of the Handmade Sessions as the summer was just too slow and the guild did not have the resources to keep going forever. I personally paid out quite a lot of money from my own resources and that could not continue. I took over the place as a studio/teaching space for myself as of September 1st and things seem to be falling into a nice routine. The kid's Dingle Craft Club started yesterday and I had a good start. It will pay the rent and keep me going while I work hard at developing new hats and scarves. I am looking into exporting as sales are just too slow in Ireland.

Closeup of the texture of merino and silk

I will be on the food trail of the Dingle Food & Wine Festival with Blúiríní Blasta cafe (located in the Seal Sanctuary in Lispole). The girls make WONDERFUL food, but also sell their homemade jams and are developing other products for sale in their cafe. The are going to be making their homemade jamtastic cakes for the trail and I will be felting. Should be great fun!

I have a whole pile of new hats that are ALMOST done. Mostly the finishing decorations. So, it will feel good to put four new hats out by end of day on Tuesday and start work on yet more. Being productive is a big relief for stressful money juggling!

So, these developments are good. Yes, I would love to be making actual money instead of breaking even, but sometimes you just have to keep going and hope for the best...

New fabric collage for my Green & Gold window that
is going up very SOON. The All Ireland is next Sunday,
so it has to happen soon!

Sundays are my best day...

2011-09-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Teal hat: merino, alpaca, and silk.

Thank God, August is over! I am thoroughly exhausted and run-down, despite eating properly and getting enough sleep. Working 60-70 hours per week just does not suit me. Or, rather, I could do it for a week, but heading into the sunset working that much is not good. And no holiday in sight it seems.

The Heritage Week event with Camphill went very well and we had a modest turnout of 125 people. Despite our best planning, we ended up competing with the Dublin/Donegal match to see who Kerry would end up playing in the All-Ireland Final--you just can't compete with football around here! Many thanks to Camphill who demonstrated candle-making, weaving, and spinning and Craft in Kerry demonstrated felt making, wood turning, and pottery. Kerry County Council Heritage Office was kind enough to give us a bursary for the event, so that helped sort out operating expenses and gave Camphill a bit for their time and effort.

I got quite a few scarves made in August, so I am in a good position to start on hats. It is time to consider hats! I made a lovely teal felted hat and now much start a range of colours going. I am also crocheting hats because they really do sell well and are less expensive for me to produce and for consumers to buy. As per usual, nothing drab. If we are to endure these cold winters, we need a little colour to pick ourselves up!

In the meantime, I am planning 8 week courses for autumn. I will be teaching a basic felting course at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne and a class in Handmade Home. This class will focus on personalizing your home with your beautifully made items, concentrating on Christmas decor as the term ends. The first few weeks will be spent on basic instructions and practice and then students will have time to concentrate on an area that particularly appeals to them. We will felt, crochet, stitch, and see what comes out on top! I am looking forward to it. It will be offered 1030-1230pm and also 7-9pm, both on Thursdays beginning September 29th. Leave a message here and I will get back to you with details.

New nuno felted wrap: silk chiffon and merino/gotland curls.
All hand-dyed.

Yes, it is what you think it is! People keep asking me
for tea cosies and so I finally made a few. These are
hand-dyed with silk pieces.

Heritage Week is Coming...

2011-08-16T04:21:00.000-07:00

Celebration of Traditional Crafts withCamphill Community and Craft in Kerry

Ceardaíocht Traidisiúnta a cheiliúradh le Pobal

& Ceardaíocht Chnoc an Choma i gCiarraí

Join Camphill Community and Craft in Kerry craft guild for our day of traditional crafts for Heritage Week! Try your hand at weaving, candlemaking, wood turning, felting, and more! Food & drink available & great family day out. Music and facepainting. Cost:€5 (fund raiser for Camphill)

Many thanks to Kerry County Council Heritage Office for their kind support!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

1-5pm

Bín Ban, Dingle, Co Chiarraí

087-9111793

I Been a Busy Girl...

2011-08-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Seattle Seahawk-inspired felt scarf

It's that time of year when we all disappear and relax into the summer, stealing away for a holiday or two--everyone except me! This summer has been non-stop. It's no joke trying to get a new business off the ground in the current economic climate. I am not giving up yet, but this is the slowest summer since I moved to Dingle. People are now here, but they aren't spending. So, we have a good week and then a bad one to balance it out. Is it too much to ask that we have two good weeks back-to-back???

I've virtually moved my studio onto the premises or else I would have nothing made the whole summer. My new line of scarves are coming along nicely, felted with 19 micron Australian merino and resist-dyed. I need to get quite a lot felted this week as we have events coming up. August 19-23rd Craft in Kerry will be teaching, demonstrating, and selling at the Rose of Tralee Festival. Hopefully the crowds will be there and the atmosphere great!

Fionn at Fota Wildlife Park. Our campground
was so close that we could hear the lemurs
when we got up!

Then August 28th we have a Heritage Week event at the Camphill Community in Dingle. They provide support and training for people with special needs. They have a 44-acre farm and make and sell for the Dingle Farmer's Market. We will be co-hosting a family traditional crafts afternoon at the farm, with weaving, wood turning, felting, ceramics, crochet, and candle-making. It will run 1-5pm on the Sunday, with a suggested donation of €5 towards Camphill's fundraising efforts to build a home on the farm. Kerry County Council Heritage Office has been most gracious in assisting us and we are now just hoping for decent weather for the day. There will be face-painting, music, and food, all going towards the good work that Camphill is doing.

And after that, I need to start wrapping my brain around Culture Night, which is Friday, September 23rd this year (and International Day of Felt, not long after!).

Meanwhile, we have another Women's Woolly Day Out on Saturday, August 13th from 1-5pm. Come by and learn to felt a scarf and then resist-dye it--head into autumn with flair! It should be great fun. Ring 087-9111793 to pre-book your space as space will be limited.

We did manage to go camping last weekend. I hadn't been camping in twenty years and let me tell you: it's easier to get up off the ground when you are younger! Even with an air mattress, that first push up off the ground was brutal! But it was great fun and many thanks to Scouting Ireland's Fota Campground. It was just adjacent to Fota Wildlife Park and we were a high-spirited group of 17 camping Scouts. We learned how to clove hitch, lash, and frappe ropes to make a large tee pee out of rope and logs. Can't wait to do it again.!

A proud Crafty Bootcamp student--her Australian flag
pillow

Flying through July

2011-07-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

New 19 micron Merino and silk fibre scarf.
Resist-dyed after felting.

When I look at the calendar, it's hard to believe that it's the 17th of July already. The Handmade Sessions is taking a good bit of time, but I have succumbed and moved quite a lot of my studio down so I can get some of my own work done and still be opened for office hours and inquiries. I've got quite a few scarves felted and that takes some internal pressure off as I was starting to stress that I wouldn't get any personal work done this summer AT ALL. I felted a handbag on Saturday that I think will turn out well. I dyed it and left it to dry overnight, so pictures to follow during the week.

We also finished the first week of summer camp and I found it a real pleasure to teach the girls. Not only were they very enthusiastic, I found it easier to teach them than adults because the minds of children are wide open and creative; they don't second guess themselves or worry about how their designs will appear. They just get on with it! And it was lovely to see such confidence. They produced great work: Felted book covers that they stitched afterwards, dyed cotton fabrics and rovings/yarns, patchwork pillows, and they tried crochet and found it difficult. I let them off the hook as they did so well in everything else. They were excited to enter their efforts in the Agricultural Show in Dingle this weekend. See my Facebook page for the photo album. Tomorrow starts the next cycle and so we'll have to see if I end up with such a great group again!

It was a busy week last week. Lots of teaching and administration to cover, not to mention a visit from my boss in Tralee and the new Harry Potter movie finally arriving! Needless to say, Sunday was spent planted firmly at home coming to grips with the disaster of my home. With the wind howling and heavy showers, I could hardly wash the windows, but everything else got a good scrubbing! Dull housework done, I think it's time for a cup of tea!

I love how the blue and purple came together: cornflower

Hand-dyed yarns & rovings. Despite the wet week, I
did get quite a bit dyed.

Where did that weekend go??

2011-07-11T00:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I seemed to have gotten nothing done this weekend bar laundry and rest. I know the resting has to be done, but there is quite a lot of grass growing and my house could be a lot cleaner! Nevermind, I will have a shot at tidying tonight. For now, I have to get going because our Craft Bootcamp is starting at 10am! We are learning patchwork, crochet, dyeing, felting, and stitch. Plenty to do for them!

I did get busy in my studio a bit this week. It probably worked double-duty as therapy and I got four new scarves out of it. I felted them with 19 micron merino and a small layer of silk and then did the design work at the prefelt stage. I finished fulling and then dyed then. Two I dyed as per normal and two I resist-dyed to see what texture I would get. Very happy with all of them!

Now, I need to get myself in gear and get us out the door! Will post more during the week....xx

Another Busy Week!

2011-07-03T23:57:00.000-07:00

This week's Handmade Sessions:

Free-form crochet

Monday: upcycling with Andrea. Andrea has been designing clothing for almost ten years now and will show you how to customize your clothing to creative innovative, sparkling design. Bring a piece of clothing that you want to change and we will have the rest of the materials for you!

Tuesday: dyeing with Sharon. Learn the basics of dyeing protein-based fibres (wool/silk) and cellulose fibres (cotton/linen/rayon). We will dye cotton fabric suitable for patchwork and wool fibres suitable for felting and discuss safety precautions for dyeing. Get the great colours that you see in professional work.

Wednesday: knitting with Vicki. Vicki is a life-long knitter and part of a consortium that knits for Everyone Loves Lilly, a company based in Kenmare that makes children's knitwear and clothing. Class is suitable for beginners or improvers.

Thursday: felting with Sharon. Learn the ancient art of felting. It's said that originally people put sheep's wool in their shoes to prevent blisters from forming and the felt was created by the sweat and friction! Either way, we will be making felt with lovely, soft merino wool and making our own cloth. Very easy to learn and suitable for children, as well.

Friday: free-form crochet with Sharon. Learn the basic crochet stitches and how to link them together to create a unique design for yourself.

All Sessions 2-530pm and cost €35, materials included. Booking is essential. Please ring 087-9111793 for additional information.

Crafty Bootcamp: crochet

Craft in Kerry’s Handmade Sessions will be starting their Crafty Bootcamp starting Monday, 4 July. Participants will learn craft technique in the following areas:

Felt—stitch a sampler, make a small handbag or pair of cuffs

Stitch—embroider and embellish a felted & dyed piece; hand sew patchwork wall piece.

Dyeing—dye wool yarns for crochet, fabric for patchwork & merino for felting

Crochet—Learn to crochet a scarf, e.g. basic single and double crochet which can be adapted into larger projects

Patchwork-dye fabric and cut and sew a pattern for a small wall hanging

Drawing—learn to draw and keep a design & idea book

The Bootcamp runs 10-130pm and costs €60 per student. Price concessions can be made for multiple bookings. Booking is essential. Ring 087-9111793 for more information.

Crafty Bootcamps from Handmade Sessions!

2011-07-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

A Participant in the wood carving Session.

The Handmade Sessions/ Seisiúin Lámhdhéanta are open and teaching, but it's a bit of a learning curve, to say the least! Lots of promotional material distributed all over the county, but it just takes time for people to know that you are there. Quite a lot more local people coming in for Sessions than visitors, which is surprising, but great news for the state of craft in the county!

Monday we are getting started in our Crafty Bootcamp, a summer camp for 10-15 year olds in our venue in Dingle, Co Kerry. Live from John St, we will be teaching felt, stitch, dyeing, crochet, patchwork, and drawing. It will be a very busy week! We have room for 12 students for the Monday through Friday camp. The fee will be €60 with materials included and I can give a small discount for multiple bookings. We will run every week until the end of August, so that's what I will be up to for the duration of the summer!

I am excited, though! Children from 10-15 years are generally very enthusiastic and well able to follow directions and get stuck into a project. It's wonderful to spread enthusiasm for craft and show them how satisfying it is to create objects by hand, to say nothing of the fact that it will give them appreciation for the time and effort that goes into it!

Meanwhile, I am just grateful that the time of cleaning, dead spiders, and painting is over. I don't mind spiders, but the sheer number of them was a bit unnerving.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and
Gaeltacht Affairs,
Jimmy Deenihan, launching
Original Kerry.

The other milestone is that Original Kerry is launched! The website is lovely and live, due in large part to the great efforts of Deirdre Johnston, the craft coordinator for the county. Check it out at http://www.originalkerry.com/. Craft in Kerry is under original producers and "mixed craft," which is a little confusing, but we are there! There are Original Kerry gifts and the three new craft trails that have been established to show off the fantastic artisanal talent that our county boasts. Most of the stops on the trail are interactive and allow for people to view craft being made. Hop in the car and take a look at craft being developed--it's a great day out.

Handmade Sessions

Crafty Boot Camp

Participants will learn craft technique in the following areas:

Felt—stitch a sampler, make a small handbag or pair of cuffs

Making a felted book cover...Crafty Bootcamp
will be felting, among other crafts

Stitch—embroider and embellish a felted & dyed piece; hand sew patchwork wall piece.

Dyeing—dye wool yarns for crochet, fabric for patchwork & merino for felting

Crochet—Learn to crochet a scarf, e.g. basic single and double crochet which can be adapted into larger projects

Patchwork-dye fabric and cut and sew a pattern for a small wall hanging

Drawing—learn to draw and keep a design & idea book

For more information on the Crafty Bootcamp, email handmadesessions@hotmail.com or ring 087-9111793. Craft is for every day!

Run Off My Feet!

2011-06-20T04:01:00.000-07:00

The wonderful Pam de Groot
demonstrating Shibori dyeing

It's been a hard couple of weeks getting The Handmade Sessions open, and we could use a few more things up on the walls, but we will be officially open for business on Tuesday, June 21st with a wood carving workshop. The delightful Pam de Groot was with us for three days and taught master level felting and resist dyeing to christen the space. The walls are already dirty and need to be repainted! We all had a great time and learned so much. Many, many thanks, Pam, for making the trip to our corner of the world!

Please join Craft in Kerry in celebrating our new venture, The Handmade Sessions, on Monday, June 20 at 4pm on John St in Dingle, Co Kerry at our new venue opposite Galvin's travel agent. We will be showcasing some of our craft workshops, including wood carving, felting, knitting, spinning, and clothing upcycling. All welcome!

All workshops are 2-530pm for the present time and cost €35, materials included. Please contact +353-087-9111793 or email handmadesessions@hotmail.com. Lots of great workshops coming and if your group would like a day-long workshop, please contact me as we can accommodate that! Parking in old CBS parking lot just four doors up from us on the right.

Marika making design decisions with her prefelts.

The Endless To-Do List...

2011-06-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

Handmade Sessions at the Malton for Kerry Tourism Expo

To say that I have been busy has been a major understatement. I finished my job at the creche and had one day off to organize and then headed to the Malton Hotel in Killarney for the Kerry Tourism Expo. It was excellent. There was great enthusiasm for the Handmade Sessions and we got a chance to really network in Kerry for Craft in Kerry. It was a long day, but well worth it.

My sister had arrived the night before on a rather horrible trip into Ireland and so went swimming with my son while I was talking and talking and talking at the Malton. Between jet lag and her hangover, she wasn't doing all that well by late afternoon.
We recovered from that marathon day and then had just the next day to run around and get ready for my son's Holy Communion, the reason for Auntie Jen's visit. The weather was windy and sunny on the Friday, but Saturday dawned with awful weather. We barely got into the church intact and could hear rain hammering on the ceiling of the church during the Mass. The service was lovely and so beautiful. My son has been in school with most of the other kids since they were 3 years old and so it was so lovely to see them so grown up and innocent and wonderful up there. I was so proud of my boy. And it was over all-too-soon and then we were down to the Skellig Hotel for lunch and a bit of needed relaxation. Many glasses of wine later, we collected a pizza for the exhausted Communion boy and headed home to watch the film of his choice. Up for Mass the next morning and I lost count at the amount of times the Communion children were yawning. It made for a slow and easy afternoon (full of wind and rain, of course).

The much-loved Auntie Jen

Next day, we took off to Co Clare for three days. Liscannor, Doolin, and Ennis. It was lovely and sunny for the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin, but raining, raining, raining all the other days. Two different taxi drivers recognized me from Nationwide, which I found a bit disconcerting--I don't want to be recognized! We had a great visit, however, and we dropped my sister at the airport and headed off back to Kerry.

And now, I am frantically preparing for the launch of the Handmade Sessions. We have venue, we have instructors, and we have (mostly) enough money. Marketing materials being printed, venue getting painted next week, and workshop materials are being gathered. Please check the calendar for Handmade Sessions at http://craftinkerry.blogspot.com/. There are lots of great workshops coming up. The calendar should be finalized by this weekend! Life is in the details!

Look at the smile on that boy...psst, he's right next to
the priest!

Mastery, Anyone?

2011-05-08T03:18:00.000-07:00

Hand-dyed lambswool hanks 100g

It must be Sunday, because I am sitting here at my computer trying to put together another blog post! Despite the best of intentions, I only seem to be able to put together one, perhaps two, posts per week. So much going on and no time to write about it. Nationwide was a great success and we are all just composing ourselves and trying to take in the spotlight. I think we all appreciated the spotlight and here's to hoping that the artisans that need Craft in Kerry find us! Sadly, they edited out our contact details in the interview, but people are quite good at Googling these days, so they should find us either on our blog on http://craftinkerry.blogspot.com/ or on our Facebook page.

Mosaic felted wrap by Pam de Groot

Our craft showcase went well and I have plenty of hand-dyed yarns left, if anyone gets itchy fingers to start a new knitting or crocheting project! I need to get busy as there are plenty of new babies showing up in our circle of friends. A friend of mine, having her third baby, was sure she would be overdue again, but that baby just could not stand the idea of hospital and she ended up delivering him HERSELF in the bathroom! I about died when she sent me a text with the news. Mother and baby are doing wonderfully, but if that child doesn't deserve a special present, I don't know who does.

The big push now, besides the Handmade Sessions, is Pam de Groot's master level dyeing and felting workshop that will be held in Dingle, Co Kerry on June 17/18/19, 2011. The 17th will be a day of resist dyeing to prepare for the 18/19 felting days. Pam is Dutch by way of Australia and in Ireland for a short time. Her work is mainly in mosaic felting, which is comprised of individual panels of pre-felts that are inlaid or tiled and then felted into another, larger piece or garment (thus mosaic). Much of her work is in wearables and they are very beautiful; more examples can be seen here http://pamdegroot.blogspot.com/. The workshop will allow time for participants to dye the silk and felt pieces on the 17th and then make the prefelts on the 18/19 to end the weekend with a unique and fabulous piece (or two, if you are quick and ambitious!) to wear for the cold weather months. Pam also does quite a bit of natural dyeing and I am hoping that she brings some of the eucalyptus that is native to Australia as I have seem some of her work on her blog and the end result is really lovely. A day of experimenting with dyes and two days of felting with talented and interesting women--HEAVEN!

Mosaic felted tunic by Pam de Groot

Cost for the three days of master level work is just €150. A deposit secures your place and I have just a couple places left. Originally, I wanted to start organizing these workshops in Dingle as there isn't much outside of Dublin or Cork. It would be nice to have advanced level craft education on the West end of the country to make it more accessible. Kerry is off the beaten track, as they say, but it is also a wonderful place to visit and get inspired. The workshop fee does not include accommodation, but I can help with referrals. Many people are staying with friends in Dingle, so I wanted to keep the price as low as possible for participants. Lunch will be provided by the Goat St Cafe (http://www.thegoatstreetcafe.com/), which has a wonderful reputation and very good vegetarian/special diet food for people who need to consider those options (again, not included in the overall price, but their prices are fair). Great desserts, too!

If you want more information regarding this workshop, please email me at sharon1_crandall@hotmail.com.

Now, if I can get back into my own studio now, I have a fairy blanket to finish for that lovely, new baby....

Long Time No Blog...

2011-05-03T01:52:00.000-07:00

Pat Lawless' regal chairs

We are over the Easter holidays, thank God. My son was quite happy to put on his uniform and walk to school. He was ready a half hour early! I think we definitely are both ready to get back to routine. I spent a manic amount of time in my studio trying to get ready for the Craft in Kerry craft fair and then the admin work to get the craft fair ready (with the help of the wonderful Fiona Crinnion and partner Ronán and Colleen Bowler). Nationwide has come and gone and it should be on tomorrow night (Wednesday May 4 at 7pm in Ireland, but you can view in on Player at www.rte.ie). I was happy enough with the feature and so we just have to wait and see how we end up after editing. The weather was beautiful on the day and we all came outside. Actually, it was too beautiful and people were down on the waterside part of town soaking in the sun and sea, but no matter. We made a start and it's onward and upward!!

Colleen Bowler's beautiful pottery. All items at the CIK
Craft Fair were handmade in Kerry.

Now I need to get the Handmade Sessions on the map. If we are going to get started for the beginning of June, there's a good bit of work to get done. I have a flyer done, but we need to adapt that to a brochure and have leaflets printed for all the hotels and B&B's. We need to build a great table to work around and have a real kit the building out session. We don't need much to get started, so we might just squeak by on the cheap. It's a bit ambitious to get us started on this so soon after starting Craft in Kerry, but the time is now and I know it will work. There are also so many promising artisans that are not working and I am hoping that this will not only raise their profile, but also their income level!! We all need a boost and a break from the Irish economic doom and gloom. Lots of meetings to get through this week, but I am hoping to have a good answer on funding and getting our foot in the door soon to get the premises ready.

A final pic of some of the journals that I felted for the craft fair. I am happy enough with them and hopefully they will be part of my off-season woolly stock.

Felted journals by Chiarrí Creations

No Holidays This Easter!!

2011-04-22T02:50:00.000-07:00

Life is zooming along lately, with me as a mostly willing participant. I am tired, though. I am cramming a lot into my days, but once we get past Holy Communion and into summer, things will slow down--roll on the end of June!

Fiona Crinnion's beautiful bracelet

Not that all my activities are drudgery. I am really looking forward to Craft in Kerry's first Craft Fair that is coming up next Friday, April 29th from 10-6pm at An Díseart in Dingle, Co Kerry. More of a showcase that just a run-of-the-mill craft fair, it will feature some of the fantastic diversity that Kerry's artisans have to offer. In our dodgy economic times, it's important to remember that supporting handmade artisans means jobs to Ireland. You can own quality, beautiful items that will last and make sure that Irish people stay employed.

Beyond our stallholders, there will be craft demonstrations featuring our Handmade Sessions, the boy's of Scoil Ioghnad Rís selling handmade bird boxes/houses, face painting for the kids, and a lot more. Nationwide will be there filming us, so there should be something for everyone. All on the grounds of the former convent.

We are *hoping* for a fine day and so the convent gardens should be spectacular. They are going to be redesigning them into the Tree of Life garden which can be seen here http://www.diseart.ie/visitor/gardens.html. I am sure the Monsignor would appreciate all interest!

So, lots of events in our short week next week:

Wednesday, April 27th Felting Workshop 1-4pm @ An Díseart in Dingle, Co Kerry. Email sharon1_crandall@hotmail.com or 087-9111793 for details. Limited spaces.

Friday, April 29th Craft in Kerry Craft Fair 10-6pm @ An Díseart in Dingle, Co Kerry

Bluebell Eco Candles

Felting Workshop

2011-04-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through books. --bell hooks

Learn the easy and transformative process of felting, one of the oldest textiles in the world. With wool, warm water, and a little soap and energy, you can create all kinds of wonderful items. We will focus on the process of making felt and then felt book covers that can be used as journals, sketchbooks, or photo albums. Materials provided on the day, but space is limited so please book in advance. All abilities welcome, but preferably age 14 and up. 087-9111793.

Time: Wednesday, April 27^th 1-4pm, at An Díseart (next to St Mary’s Church)

Price: €25, plus materials fee €5

Sharon Crandall is a textile artist based in West Kerry. She enjoys making things with her hands and crochets, embroiders, quilts, and makes jewellery. Four years ago she discovered felting and Zing! wool and natural fibres became a passion.

Sharon Crandall, Chiarraí Creations; chairperson, Craft in Kerry; member, Craft Council of Ireland; member, Feltmakers Ireland. http://www.etsy.com/shop/kerryfelter http://kerryfelter.blogspot.com/

http://craftinkerry.blogspot.com/

Back from the Big Smoke

2011-04-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

I do love Dublin for a break from rural life, but I find I have to rush, rush, rush and then I am back home again. Hardly any time for relaxing or rummaging around for supplies I might need or just getting to know the city. We went up to Dublin for a Failte Ireland gig called Meitheal that was on at Mansion House. Garry Marcham and I were there to promote craft making for Craft in Kerry's new project called the Handmade Sessions. Meitheal put us in touch with almost 300 international tour operators to talk up the sessions that will begin in Dingle in June. In the picture there you can see Garry using his lathe to shave wood and I am the nut in the red felted hat in the background next to my friend the bald eagle! I felted flat pieces and gave tour operators a chance to learn felting and see the kind of work we are doing. The Handmade Sessions are important to us for two reasons: 1. They provide much-needed work for highly skilled craft artisans. Many artisans are not able to work full-time at their craft and this needs to change; and 2. We want to preserve these skills and educate people in handmade traditions. So, we are all go to get things ready.

In the meantime, I finished two more textile collages. This one is wool/silk/paper with a quote attached. It will be heading to the framer soon. The other one is a piece of wool I dyed dark inky colours of night sky and then machine pieced in hand-dyed wool stalks and stars and my favourite passage from Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. I am pleased enough with it so far, but can't quite make up my mind on whether it is finished or if it needs more hand stitching around the reeds. Opinions?

Now, I must get writing as I have lots of details for the Craft in Kerry Craft Fair that is on April 29th in Dingle. It's part of the Feile na Bealtaine/Pan Celtic Festival celebrations and it's proving to be a cracker event. We have more than 30 exhibitors, craft demonstrations, face painting and nibbles for the kiddies, a Craft in Kerry lucky dip, and a handmade bargain table that is not to be missed! Did I mention the masseuse???

The New Pace of Life...

2011-03-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

In the days before I racheted up my felting regime a notch, I had a quiet November, January, and February. I was very busy those months this year and I am now so flat out that friends have started ringing me to see if I am okay they haven't heard from me in so long. Wake, laundry, clean, feed, small boy off to school, two hours of phone calls and emails, and then off to paid work. After that, studio, phone, email, feed, avoid cleaning, stitch, and fall asleep in my chair. Wake up and go to bed at 1:30am and then repeat.

Our new logo!

Craft in Kerry is off to an amazing start. Truly, it's time had come. I am having a hard time keeping up with all the opportunities that are coming our way. Our craft fair on April 29th is having some teething problems, but I will figure it out. We are on Radio Kerry for an hour's interview this Wednesday and headed to Dublin April 4th for Meitheal with Failte Ireland to promote the Handmade Sessions, our new craft education venture. We will be teaching 4 hour workshops for visitors and locals alike from 10-1pm and 2-6pm in a variety of crafts, including patchwork, felting, woodworking, embroidery, jewelry, and much more. Accommodating 8-10 people per setting, we will be working towards our goal of providing employment for talented craft workers and preserving handmade traditions. The Handmade Sessions will begin in June and we are hard at work to get all the fine print sorted so we will be ready for the summer season.

New piece on the way to the framer..

In the meantime, I have my own felting workshop on April 27th to get ready for. Located in Dingle, it is an excellent beginner's felting class. After getting down to basics on wool materials and how to felt, we will felt a few sample pieces and then I will show how to lay out fibres using a resist to make felted journal covers. I'm looking forward to it! And if that's not enough, the lovely Pam de Groot will be visiting Dingle and teaching a 3 day Master Class in felting and resist dyeing. Pam is Dutch by way of Australia and will be in Europe for a limited time, so we jumped at the opportunity to host her. Day One on Friday, June 17 will be resist dyeing, Day 2 & 3 are mosaic felting of wearables. Day One can be taken by itself or with Day 2/3 or Day 2/3 on their own. The fee is €50 for Day One by itself or €100 for Day 2/3 on their own or €150 for the three days. Pam's work is best seen on her blog http://pamdegroot.blogspot.com/. She mosaic "tiles" in pre-felted pieces to make beautiful wraps and wearable pieces, made even more beautiful by her resist dyed silks. The three days together promise to be wonderful and great value. The price does not include room or board, but I can help people from out of town find a good deal if they need help. Spaces are limited to just 12 people, so please contact me at sharon1_crandall@hotmail.com.

In the meantime, I actually got two new pieces done this week. This is a partial shot of the finished panel, awaiting it's journey to the framer. It's a mix of felt, silk, cotton fabric and machine embroidery. The weather has been sunny and dry this week, so I've started dyeing lots of wool and it will really show in these new pieces as the hand-dyed fibres really bling up the designs.

Meanwhile, I have marketing copy to write and a small boy sleeping in my chair. And I suppose there's always cleaning to finish, but I don't think I can face that tonight...

A Pox Upon Your Houses...

2011-03-11T03:15:00.000-08:00

Newly framed piece on the way to Killarney!

Where have I been? Why so silent? My young son got the chicken pox this week. Not plain old chicken pox, but a rather hard dose so I have been up at the wrong times of the night for the wrong reasons, running soda baths, visiting A&E, rubbing lotion on spots, checking fevers, hugging gently, and silently cursing chicken pox. Thankfully no new spots today, so we are on the way to shoving them out the door, thanks for calling, bye now!!

What have I got done this week? Precious little. Hard to feel creative when you are so tired that even coffee isn't appealing. I dropped off my last few pieces to the framer to get ready for Killarney, so they are in my possession and ready to head over. Not as thrilling as I originally envisioned since I just want to get them there and go on to salvaging the train wreck of a week. No time to celebrate as I have so much coming at me next week that if I don't clean my house today then there will be no chance of getting it done for another week.

I have been able to do some things by phone and Craft in Kerry is building up to be quite a great group. Fantastic people that I have met so far and so enthusiastic about the work we are doing. The craft fair is all set to go and we are planning a trip to Dublin to promote our summer craft sessions to tour operators. A premises is being looked into and so there will be a flurry of activity to get ready, as Failte Ireland hasn't given a lot of notice. Spring is in the air, but so is change!

Mixed media collage with embroidery, water soluble
fabric, beading, organza, Wensleydale

Sunday is My Day of Rest??

2011-02-27T06:27:00.000-08:00

Jewelry by Alison Walsh

My days are so busy that it seems like if I don't get everything done on a Sunday, then the list of Must-Do's gets carried over to the next week. So, when I should be thinking Christian thoughts and relaxing, I find myself pulling the oven out and washing underneath, planting the garden, checking my son's head for lice, cleaning toilets, mending, washing floors, filling out forms, and baking granola for the coming week. Did I mention laundry? It never ends.

But I am working really hard on a number of textile pieces to get to the framer. I am joining the Back Lane Artist Co-operative http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Back-Lane-Gallery-Killarney-Artist-collective/183402851690156 in Killarney. Deborah O'Keefe is the woman who had the inspiration to get it started back in November and she is doing well, recession be damned! She paints herself and she has a number of artists and craftspeople under her roof, including Bluebell Eco Candles and painter Tina Reed. Take a look at her blog at http://thebacklanegallery.blogspot.com/.

Work in progress

So, I need to step up my game to present some quality pieces. I had stacks of dyed and stitched pieces, it was just a matter of deciding what to do with them. I finished stitching three pieces yesterday and it's a matter of deciding if they need more embellishment. One needs a few seed beads and another one I am going to play with text and stitch some paper onto it and see how it looks.

Plenty to do! Tomorrow is the meeting at Kerry County Council Offices in Tralee with Fruition, the new Craft Coordinator for the Year of Craft. It runs 10-1130am and will hopefully generate some great new ideas on how to boost Kerry artisans into the national forefront, or at least give a strong profile for all those people in Kerry who want to buy locally.

Gearóid O Duinnin's stunning abstract, "Horsie."

Felting Through the Fog....

2011-02-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

Is the fog literal or metaphorical? In this case, both, I think. The day is dull and white, with a steady drizzle. It makes it hard to get up and going and after three cups of coffee, I know it just isn't going to be a productive day.

Last night we had our Craft in Kerry meeting and we are progressing along nicely. It's a lovely group of people to be working with, happily everyone seems concerned with the group and not individual needs/wants. There's a lot of start up work to get underway and really things should settle down a bit once we have our first event under our belt. The great news is that the craft fair is going great and we have a photo in the Kerry's Eye coming up this week. An interview with Weeshie Fogarty should really get the word out in Kerry. The next meeting is on March 27th in Castlemaine. Keep an eye on the Craft in Kerry page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Craft-in-Kerry/172314459478834 for up-to-date information.

Sneak peak

I took the plunge and joined Back Lane Artist's Cooperative in Killarney, run by Deborah O'Keefe. I am working on textile pieces like mad that I will have to get to the framer soon if I will have them ready for the beginning of March. So far, I am using merino, silk, bamboo, cotton scrim, cotton calico, and a couple of them are resist dyed with more soy wax. They have all been hand-dyed for specific colours that I wanted to work with and seem to be coming out well enough. I am doing a lot of mark-making with machine embroidery. I do love machine embroidery and it is especially satisfying to take out my frustrations with the machine and just hammer things into their place. Perhaps I have revealed too much....:)

Enough about me, how are you all surviving this end of winter/beginning of spring? Daffodils are sprouting in Kerry....

La, La, La, La, La or I Can't Hear You Valentine's Day....

2011-02-11T12:46:00.000-08:00

Book cover: resist felted and ready for stitching...

I really dislike Valentine's Day. I think I always have. Not because I don't have a boyfriend/husband, but because I don't believe in one day to tell people that you love them; you have to do it all year round. I used to have a roommate when I lived in Boston who taught English to male prison inmates. She was an attorney by trade and she told me once that inmates hate Valentine's Day and that they would do anything to avoid it, often getting put back in jail. She used to force them to write out letters to their wives/girlfriends/children to atone for bad behavior, but it got me thinking: how bad is a holiday if it forces men to commit crimes to avoid it??? No patience for it really or the artificial, saccharine sweetness of it. Why does an expensive gift or an engagement ring prove they love you, when surely the handmade card or dinner shows more thoughtfulness?

So, on that note, I thought I would PRETEND it wasn't nearly Valentine's Day and felt my way through it. Since I have books on the brain, I decided to make a cover for my really horrible looking diary that I bought to organize myself. I like to write in books and I like to read books, so don't try and convert me into using a Blackberry or a Kindle; won't work. Kindles don't smell like aged paper and there is no pleasure in eagerly turning it's pages. I imagine it also doesn't relax you as much looking at a screen as reading a proper book would. I know it's probably convenient to put 40 books into one Kindle, but I am really not a convenient person.

Front cover with a bit of quick machine stitching and a few beads

I measured my diary and cut out a piece of foam underlay to suit and went gathering my fibres. Since I would be using the cover for the year, I wanted something nice and girly and fun. Purple! Found some nice dyed silk pieces from last September and flipped some on there, as well. Felted in the usual way and I ended up with the above photo. I then machine stitched a quick design and sewed a few beads in the centre for a flower design.

I will be more specific with the next book cover in terms of design. This one I wanted to work on the actual felting process. I need to play with another size and perhaps some bamboo fibres....

I did felt two small pieces on Thursday. One will be for two matching cuffs in natural tones. I used natural merino and some black alpaca and silk mix that has a lovely silvery glint to it. I buried some silk cocoon pods into it to give it textures. And I felted some more pieces that can be cut up and resist dyed with the soy wax again. Love playing with my dyes! I can't wait until the weather is warmer and I can do dye days and really hang everything out on the line again...

Meanwhile, the only good thing about Valentine's Day is the selection of good chocolate...

Rain, Wind, Felt...

2011-02-05T05:10:00.000-08:00

One thing that you can say about Irish weather: it is really conducive to staying in and crafting! It's Day Three of the rain and wind, although the wind is a bit calmer this morning, and I felted a book cover for my new diary and I will be stitching that. I have a patchwork project to finish. I don't know if any of you have a clean dinner table, but mine is always half-covered with projects waiting for time and supplies. I am determined to have it clear by tomorrow night to start the week off right!

Felted and dyed using soy wax

I got one of my UFOs finished this week: a piece that I had felted and resist-dyed with soy wax earlier in the year. The soy wax was great, but it's supposed to wash out with simple soap and water and I had a little trouble getting it out. I went online and did a bit of research and lo and behold! if you read directions things DO come out better. Turns out the wax has to be pretty hot when applied (but not smoking, as there is a flash point) or else it doesn't saturate properly. I ended up using too much wax and so it was harder to get out. Learning curve! Essentially it's a batik process.

I couldn't decide what to do with it and I just decided that I was being too precious about it and collaged some fabric onto it. It turned out great (I think!) and I am going to develop a line of fibre collages as the woolly hats and scarves will not sell well in July and August! I also stitched a paper and fabric piece that I am happy enough with, so more time for experimenting with that if the weather continues to be dire.

Closeup of the centre flower

I also started felting again after the right arm decided to get cranky and have tendinitis. Not sure what aggravated it. This is the answer the doctor gave me: "Yerra, it could be anything really." Very technical. So I had a highly unproductive January. I decided to start small and felt a cover for my diary as it is a really icky green and I couldn't be looking at it anymore. I love my purple, so I picked out a nice mix of merino and silks that I had dyed and felted it using foam underlay as a resist. Design came out well = the diary fit in it, and I want to stitch it a bit, so I will post again tomorrow with the results.

I have ordered an instructional DVD from Interweave Press in the US and I am dying to receive it and the back issues of Cloth Paper Stitch that are on the way. I ordered it December 31st and it has not arrived yet. Needless to say, I will not be ordering anything from them again soon. I order hair conditioner and soap from a US website and it's at my door in 10 days in total and they don't charge me a fortune in shipping, either. Interweave has got to get their act together. Unfortunately, I love, Love, LOVE Cloth Paper Stitch, but I can get it from http://www.rainbowsilks.co.uk/ fairly quickly. I can't seem to get anyone in Ireland to stock the magazine and I NEED it :) Their mixed media stuff is always interesting and always makes my brain hum.

I also have a copy of the book I have been coveting for some time on the way! I had been *hoping* that Santa might bring it to me, but I guess he had his hands full trying to sort out the Irish government. One of the many ways we are being made pay for their incompetence. Jane Dunnewold is supposed to be the surface design guru, so this book has me drooling. I hope this book lives up to it's reputation as there aren't many textile courses going in West Kerry at the moment, so it's all DIY for me!

I am taking Karen Flannery's sewing course, which will be good for patterning and finishing clothing. I more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants seamstress and really I need to be more precise with my work. Karen has the horrible task of trying to rid me of bad habits. Has to be done or else no one will buy a nice tunic or jacket from me. I didn't get the piece I wanted to work with felted, so I worked on a piece of felt I made before Christmas and designed a cuff necklace. My neck isn't long enough for it, but it isn't necessarily for ME. Pics of that to follow when I finish the beading touches...

Now, must get off the computer and get some work done!

Finished product

Where Did January Go...?

2011-01-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

I usually find that January and February are the dullest months of the year, but that was before I decided to start a Scouts troupe and a craft guild simultaneously while working, cranking out new stuff from my studio, and cleaning (hah!) my house. Some of those things are going well and some things are falling down the rabbit hole. Scouts and the craft guild are going great! House is okay, not bad, but studio is not going well at all....In desperation, I moved a load of stuff back over, to tempt myself into taking up camp and getting stuck in again, but it was freezing and so I unpacked the boxes and hightailed it out of there. I will be heading back tomorrow, but it won't be for long periods of time until the weather warms up some. It's just hard to stick -5 with no heat, especially when sewing requires sitting for lengths of time and felting is a wet process that would leave me with even colder hands. My right arm has also been giving me some grief, something about tendonitis, so I've had to take it easy. Never a dull moment.

Make a beautiful felted book cover?

We had our first meeting for the craft guild, changed the name to Craft in Kerry due to Google search engines, and are off to a flying start! We have our first event, a craft fair, scheduled for Friday, April, 29th at An Díseart in Dingle from 10-4pm. We will have craft demonstrations and try to give it a real family atmosphere, given that two festivals will be taking place at the same time. We have our next meeting scheduled for Monday, February 21st in the Carlton Hotel in Tralee at 7:30p.m. Lots to discuss! Details for membership to finalize, publicity ideas, logo's hopefully will be ready to vote on, and we have an interview on Radio Kerry to get ready for! Weeshie Fogarty rang me and said he would be delighted to give us an hour's interview on his "In Conversation with..." show on Wednesday nights from 6-7:00pm. Our slot isn't until March 30th, but we need the time to get press packs ready, start a blog, decide which five members are doing the interview, and get him some background info on our coming events. Meanwhile, Nationwide was in contact and they are coming to Dingle to film us for the craft fair, so it's time to get organized! I did get a Facebook, page up and running, so you can look us up under http://www.facebook.com/KateOConor?ref=ts#!/pages/Craft-in-Kerry/172314459478834.

I'm also teaching a felting workshop during the Feile. It took me awhile to decide on what to concentrate on since by the end of April it will be warmer and a new winter hat will be at the back of everyone's mind. So, this is what I came up with...

*********************************************************************************************

Life-transforming ideas have always come to me through books. --bell hooks

Learn the easy and transformative process of felting, one of the oldest textiles in the world. With wool, warm water, and a little soap and energy, you can create all kinds of wonderful items. We will focus on the process of making felt and then felt book covers that can be used as journals, sketchbooks, or photo albums. They make a wonderful gift, but you may want to keep it for yourself! Materials provided on the day, but please book in advance. All abilities welcome, but preferably age 14 and up. 087-9111793.

Time: Wednesday, April 27th 1-4pm
Price: €20, plus materials fee

Sharon Crandall is a textile artist based in West Kerry. She enjoys making things with her hands and crochets, embroiders, quilts, and makes jewellery. Four years ago she discovered felting and Zing! wool and natural fibres became a passion.

**********************************************************************************************
I know the workshop fee is very small, but it's really hard to fill workshops right now. In the good old times, I could easily have charged €50 for the three hours. Any thoughts???

Getting organized...

2011-01-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

.There will be a meeting Monday, January 17th at 730pm at PAUL GEANEY'S to organized a handmade artisan guild, tentatively named KerryHandmade. There's lots to discuss, including setting up a committee, grant possibilities, craft fairs, and workshops. Since this is the Year of Craft there seems to be a rush to schedule lots of activities, but there is also the opportunity to promote Kerry crafts and get a bit of money to do it, too.

If you are in Kerry and you make handmade goods, please try to attend the meeting. Not only will we be able to market together and save money, but we will also raise the profile of all handmade goods in Kerry. Speaking of marketing, I am currently reading Un Marketing by Scott Stratten. It was a recommended read by Etsy and I have to say it is worth every penny. It kind of validates all the ideas that I have had about cold calling and how it does not work. In a nutshell, people sell themselves as trusted individuals first before they ever sell a product. Important to remember as a sole trader. Do spend the money to buy the book because it makes so many valid points.

In the meantime, I have stressed the tendons in my right arm, so my felting and crocheting is very slow right now. Not very convenient, but there you go. I can use the sewing machine, so maybe I should concentrate on that for now. There are lots of plans for this year, but it seems to be off to a very slow start!! Is anyone else experiencing roadblocks???

That 'ol Kerry Magic...

2011-01-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

I have been noticeably absent, but I return!! Rising from the Christmas ashes, I am ready to take on 2011. We had a lovely two weeks off and really did nothing but eat, talk, read, and watch movies, but that was exactly what the doctor ordered. December, as always, leaves me burned out and that two weeks of thinking and reading and nearly downright lazy time is what I needed to get myself focused on the new year. And I came to a few conclusions:

Dreaming of 2011?? I think so.

If I am to endure poverty and obscurity, WHY not in Kerry? We have a house and friends and a life here, I have my studio. It just seems overwhelming and financially devastating to start over again back in Seattle. My wee little start into a textile career would be sucked away into the recession abyss and my training and struggling would be for a hobby, not a career. Just can't face that.

If I am staying, then I am investing myself MORE and not less into Kerry. I want to put Kerry on the map for handmade goods and crafts tourism. First stop is KerryHandmade, a guild for handmade artists of all disciplines. I am organizing a meeting for Monday, January 17 at 7:30pm at Benner's Hotel in Dingle, Co Kerry. This meeting is for all handmade artisans throughout Kerry, so spread the word. We will be discussing the purpose of the group, how to get our message out, and a craft fair possibility during the Pan Celtic/Feile na Bealtaine on Friday, April 29th. There will also be workshop teaching possibilities throughout the Feile. If you make handmade goods, please plan on attending as this will be of great benefit to you! I have high hopes to get something going to really start branding areas of Kerry as centres of creativity --no, I wasn't going to say excellence!! Come along and we will see how to get the ball rolling.

And my final thought for the New Year: felt my way through it! My house is up in a heap since I had to move all home during The Freeze, but back it must now go and get cracking on developing clothing! I will be teaching a felting workshop of undecided focus in April and I must plan that and shift into replenishing stock and PLAYING with wool and design and colour. Certainly more dyeing :)

As dreary as December felt, January is certainly looking up. You can't keep a good optimist down!

Post-Christmas Slump OR Regathering My Thoughts...

2010-12-27T12:30:00.000-08:00

Two books recommended on Etsy for marketing and,
I think, part of The Plan.

We have entered the post-Christmas slump, which is that delicious, drifting time of staying up late, sleeping in late, lazy breakfast and reading books. Thank God for it because December always burns me out. I have marketing books to read and lovely books of fiction to take my mind off the dreariness of winter. I need it to recharge my batteries and focus on The Plan for 2011. And in order to get to The Plan, I need to eat, sleep, and read and hibernate a bit to regather my creative energy. I see on Facebook that friends were felting on Christmas Eve--how do they keep going??? I am always knackered by Christmas Eve and can just about manage making dinner before reaching for a medicinal glass (or three) or wine....

For now, I need to get my workspace reorganized and put back together. I had to move most of my studio home because of the sub-zero weather and lack of heat and light in my studio, but my house is up in a HEAP that is driving me mad and it all has to go back before I flip out. Usually, even in the worst mess I know where to locate things I need, but it has all gotten away from my like a large ball rolling down hill, getting larger and more dangers and faster as it hurtles towards disaster. At least we are thawing and temperatures are up to normal. All that hunkering down by the fire and trying to stay warm was for the birds--I was only warm in bed and my son was always at me to get up and feed him. No peace!

I suppose it's a natural time for focusing on plans for the New Year, although I do not do resolutions as such. Goals to work towards...I need to get marketing and sales up for Etsy and get myself on Twitter. I think I need to rethink Lámhdhéanta as it is not working--do I keep pushing to try and get the concept up and running or do I give it up??? I am personally thinking the concept will work, but the implementation needs tweaking. And by that last comment I mean that I haven't a feckin clue how I am going to re-attack it. It will come to me in a dream, most likely.

As a goal for last year, I wanted to try and get nominated for the Irish Blog Awards, but I can't seem to find criteria for nomination. I know the IBA ( are in March 2011, but that seems to be the only info I can find. Anyone else know anything???

Does anyone else have any good goals/resolutions/common sense for the coming year????

All I want to do is stare at the tree like a cat...

Nollaig Shona!!

2010-12-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Which is more exciting: Santa or snow????

I have been missing in action, but I blame head colds and the unreal amount of work that needs to get done in order to get Christmas off the ground! However, we are almost 8pm on Christmas Eve and just heading to a friend's house for some Christmas cheer and I wanted to wish everyone a wonderful, happy, and healthy Christmas!!!

I will write a big, fat post after Christmas to catch up, but know now that we are entering the time of miracles and magic and I just can't work anymore!!! God bless everyone!!! xx Sharon

December Panic in Dingle!!

2010-12-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

Crocheted and felted lacy scarf: Merino, Mohair.

I have been procrastinating in my blog writing, but that's because we have been struggling with the cold weather and I have had to move almost everything home because there is no heat in my studio. I put in two hours work there and was frozen. Even my heating system at home isn't keeping my house terribly warm and the kitchen is too cold to be in by night. I know it sounds boring to go on about the weather (though it is an Irish national pastime), BUT it seems to be having a big impact these days. I am just relieved that we aren't having as much snow in Dingle as it is treacherous with the snow and ice. And I feel truly sorry for my English friends as it is much worse there.

I am in the middle of a mad week of projects. I have cuffs to embellish and finish, a festive top to felt, a quilt to assemble and finish, fours hats to embellish, and felting more scarves. This doesn't include getting ready for the craft fair on Sunday, felting with Fionn's class, and cleaning and decorating the house. All go!!

The craft fair at Benner's Hotel in Dingle should be wonderful. The Dingle Chamber of Commerce and MFG are organizing a shopping day in Dingle, so come out if you have time (and the roads are very good our way) as there will be caroling, discounts in shops, and at 430pm there will be a Lantern Parade with all the school children in West Kerry. They are having a competition for the schools on who can make the best lanterns out of recycled materials. Go Scoil Iognáid Rís!!! It should be a wonderful afternoon and no better weather for warm woollies!!

Now, back to the sewing machine and the cold kitchen!!

Cold Dingle Morning

2010-11-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

We woke up this morning to a dusting of snow around Dingle and a considerable amount more in the mountains. Winter is here! And is there any better time for wool??? It's about 20 f/-4c today with the wind, so hopefully people will pick up some lovely warm gifts for Christmas. Handmade and not made in China.

I felted two scarves yesterday. What I call Ladder Scarves as they look like a ladder or spine when laid out. The are long and flippy, which makes them hard to photograph. In the photo to the right you can see the texture of the merino and silk together, very shiny when ironed and the merino is nice and soft to the skin. I used natural merino and then over-dyed it twice to get the variegated tones. You might need a much substantial scarf today, but this is good for most weather days in Ireland.

I am way behind on felting projects, which is about usual. I have too much going on in my own life that is disrupting production! There is going to be a great craft fair on in Dingle on Sunday, December 12th from 1-6pm at Benner's Hotel. I am working on some more scarves that will be done by then and I have more hats coming. You'd want your hat today!

So much seems to be coloured by Ireland's disastrous financial situation. Everyone seems to be so resigned and depressed, but they really can reject the loan and make the banks take the burden instead of adding generations of debt to each person in Ireland. What makes matters a lot worse is that they are calling for austerity measures for us all and then you hear about €240,000 golden handshakes being given out and how they only two weeks ago voted a pay rise for themselves. Austerity for all would be bad enough, but it isn't for all. Morale is quite low. The Irish news seems to be reporting that there isn't any other option, but calling an election before they finalized the loan is one thing the Irish people can do. Otherwise, Ireland will be colonized all over again, this time with the banks.

Busy Little Felting Bee....

2010-11-21T07:59:00.000-08:00

I have items finished, items dyeing, and items drying at the moment! I have added to Etsy and posted new things to Facebook and, after some general typing, I have to get MARKETING for the next Lámhdhéanta that is coming up December 4th in Dingle. This is the busiest November I have had in a long time, but I am hoping Black Friday will kick off some sales. I am offering free shipping from Black Friday to Cyber Monday.

This bomber-style hat is warm and stylish. Low on
the neck to keep the wind out!

Ventry Craft Fair was last weekend and I got a special order to do matching cuffs and a headpiece for a fashion show in Killarney. Interesting. I need to felt the pieces tomorrow and then once dried I can start the surface decoration. I plan on doing fun colours and then some multi-coloured with a black background. The feedback on the cuffs/bracelets was very good, so I am hoping that I sell a good few at the craft fair on December 12th in Dingle at Benner's Hotel. It's a Sunday and that's a very good day to BUY LOCAL and support local crafts.

A selection of hats

And then there are the Christmas items that I must finish for friends and family. God help me, some of them will have to be shipped by December 6th and that doesn't seem far away at all. I may just about ignore my birthday this year.

I am teaching a Christmas Foods workshop on December 4th from 1-4pm at the Pobalscoil in Dingle. The fee is only €20 and will include making yeast bread, limoncello, whiskey liver paté, chilli jam, and more. Lots of gifts to give for the foodie in your life and handy snack items to have on hand if visitors call by. I will be including a recipe booklet to take home and samples and group demos to show how easy it all is. The highlight will be a trifle homemade from beginning to end--so worth the extra effort as people will not forget how gorgeous it is!!

A classic Christmas dessert that becomes
immortal with a little extra work!!

It Makes You Pause and Think...

2010-11-08T13:43:00.000-08:00

It's quite easy to get caught up in the details of your own life, particularly when your children are small and one day tends to run into the next. We all know that we should take time out for ourselves, but it just isn't realistic when there is so much to be done. We do the best we can and move on.

Part of my ME time has been to read the blogs of (mostly) other women and see what they are baking, creating, laughing, or crying about. I enjoy the pictures of their creations, the colours they choose, the journeys they undertake, and the professional courtesies they extend to me (making me feel, rightly or wrongly, that I might be part of that vague and wonderful group of people called Artist someday).

On my blog travels today, I came across a blog post forwarded from Two Dresses Studio via Loves Stitching Red. Her blog http://twodressesstudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/butterfly-effect-open-is-calling-you.html describes a wonderful effort that is underway to create 1.5 million butterflies for the Holocaust Museum Houston. During the Holocaust, it is estimated that 1.5 million children were killed and so this project is gathering the butterflies to represent all the children that died. A rather daunting project, but I can only imagine how visually amazing and humbling the final exhibit will be once they are all in place.

Below is the excerpt that I cut and pasted from Twodressesstudio's blog as it clearly describes the project and how it came about. Please take a moment to read it.

The Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, we teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy. And the tag line following it reads:

Stop Hate. Starting Here.

That grabbed my attention. I read on.....The Butterfly Project mandate is to remember the 1,500,000 innocent children who perished as a result of the Holocaust by collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies. In Spring 2013, these butterflies will then become a break-taking exhibition to serve as a memory of this event.

Can you imagine? 1.5 million children translated into 1.5 million butterflies....? If you wondering why a butterfly, the project is based on this poem -

I Never Saw Another Butterfly

The last, the very last,
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow
Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing
against a white stone....
Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ’way up high.
It went away I’m sure
because it wished
to kiss the world good-bye.
For seven weeks I’ve lived in here
Penned up inside this ghetto.
But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut branches in the court.

Only I never saw another butterfly.
That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.

Written by Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942
Born in Prague on Jan. 7, 1921.
Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942.
Died in Aushchwitz on Sept. 29, 1944.

He was 23. 23. I have a daughter that age.

After a brief moment, I decided, I have to send a butterfly. Then I thought of how I'd love to send a lot of butterflies. Then I thought of the great group of artist friends here ! Who doesn't love a butterfly? And who wouldn't be touched by this poem and this tragedy and want to contribute to this meaningful and lasting exhibit and tribute? And wouldn't it be rewarding to encourage as many people as I could to play along with me???

I believe when I come from a place of abundance, a place of Giving, of Heart and of Light, anything is possible. The universe will support me and everyone else when we act from that Higher Place.

I can already see butterflies arriving in my mailbox from kindred spirits like you who share a similar belief. I'll open the envelope, photograph the butterfly and begin collecting a box full of butterflies to send on behalf of all of us!

Will you play with me? Would you like to be a part of this? Join in and make a butterfly? We'll call it ....The Butterfly Effect "OPEN"...borrowing from chaos theory, but much more importantly based on the wonderful notion that if enough people think enough healing thoughts, then slowly our world will be at peace. No one said it better than Gandhi - Be the change you want to see in the world. The power of the collective consciousness. Wouldn't this be a great place to start?

Consider yourself invited!

Follow the instructions as outlined by the Holocaust Museum highlighted in blue below. When your copyright free butterfly is completed, pop it into an envelope including your name, email and blog or web address and mail it to:

Two Dresses Studio

1554 - 20 Avenue South

Lethbridge, AB T1K1E9

Canada

DEADLINE - next year, December 31st, 2011

Or, if you'd prefer to bypass the group project, (though it won't be as much fun!) you can mail your butterfly or butterflies directly to:

Holocaust Museum Houston

c/o Butterfly Project

Education Department

5401 Caroline St.

Houston, TX 77004, USA

The deadline for butterflies to be received at the museum has now been established as June 30, 2012

Here are the Instructions for Making the Butterfly:

Butterflies should be no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches.
Butterflies may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred.
Glitter and all glitter-related products should not be used.
Food products (cereal, macaroni, candy, marshmallows or other perishables) also should not be used.

End of blog excerpt

I am hoping to get kids involved in the schools to make a few butterflies for me, but at the very least I will send one myself. I will probably send them directly to Houston. If you are in West Kerry and want to send a butterfly, you are welcome to forward it to me and I can send them all on together. There are some examples of the butterflies made and received on Two Dresses Studio's blog, if you need inspiration. People from all over the world are sending them on to the museum and I'd like to think that in these troubling economic times that we an climb outside of ourselves for a few minutes and remember so many children.

The End of Mid Term Break...

2010-11-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

He thought I was crazy when I realized we were
on Raglan Road ON AN AUTUMN'S DAY!!

Whew! Another school holiday down, and just in time, too! I have a lot of work to get done and that means Small Boy needs to be in school and out of the way. We went up to Dublin for the LOVELY Knit and Stitch Show http://www.twistedthread.com/ in the RDS and it was wonderful and all too short! We both too a workshop: mine in resist felting with Feltmakers Ireland and Fionn with Colourcrafts and spritzing Brusho on Lutradur and mucking with all their lovely products www.colourcraftltd.com/. We ran around like headless chickens buying fabric and beads and new scissors and dyes. I then went over to the community stand Knit One Pass it On and taught crochet for the afternoon. There weren't a lot of takers on instruction (the stalls were jammed with people buying), but I helped a few and learned a new stitch myself! The RTE1 show Nationwide was there filming all day and the exhibitions were stunning.

It passed all too soon and so next year I must try and get there for two days. I must cultivate Dublin friends who have couches/spare rooms as all these cultural events are in Dublin these days. Feltmakers Ireland is doing a workshop in late January that I would like to go up for, but the price for all these activities goes up considerably when you have to pay for a hotel. Feel free to leave a comment if you are in a position to offer because I make a mean breakfast!!

It's great to have conversations with people who make things and possibly sell them and get updates on new products, shortcuts, creative ideas. Creating things is a rather solitary process, so the public events shoo us out of our rabbit holes, where we have been muttering and creating for far too long. We laugh and appreciate each other's work, and eat and try not to spend several weeks worth of wages on things we NEED and WANT badly. For me, its great to get encouragement and advice as I am beginning my selling phase and so many people are there actually making a living at it--it's the light at the end of the tunnel!!

Hilary Bell, Voids 3, Machine Embroidery & Silk. This was part
of the Filament exhibition.

Sheila Jordan's wonderful piece entitled "Dance of
the Spirits" in wool/cotton/silk for Filament.

Arlene Shawcross' delicate "Fragility" for the Craft Council of Ireland's
exhibition.

Feltmakers Ireland had a wonderful (if not warm) display booth
upstairs on the mezzanine

Volunteers for Knit One Pass it On teaching crochet. There were
more takers for crochet than knitting. Hooray!!!

I am addled...

2010-10-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

Between the mid-term break holidays, a head cold that is refusing to totally evacuate, a mouse in my house (!), and getting ready to leave for Dublin for the Knit and Stitch Show, I am addled. I am thoroughly disorganized and I am trying to motivate myself to get upstairs and pack, but no, I am here fiddling around on the computer and talking to YOU. I have mousetraps to set. I have tolietries to organize. I have to pack my camera so I can take lovely photos to post here for you. All I want to do is drink coffee and relax in the chair by the fire. I think relaxing for the school holidays has gone all a bit wrong ....

I must remind myself of all my fellow fibre people that will be in Dublin for the show! All those inspiring exhibitions! All the people that want to learn to crochet! And we cannot forget the wonderful supplies that will be there: velvet, silks, wool, dyes, paints, beads--oh, my!!

In between these daydreams, I did manage to felt a scarf and one hat. The hat needs more work, so I haven't photographed it, but the scarf is on the right. I love the colours, but I do think it needs something more on the length, perhaps a fringe, so it doesn't feel complete to me. And I dyed more fibres on the dry days this week, so when I get back, armed with my new goodies, I should be heading straight to the studio.

Now, I must head upstairs and face the music! If I don't get organized, I will be so sorry when I get up at 6am....

The Autumn Cometh

2010-10-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend I could definitely feel the chill in the air and last night it was cold! It was the first night I had to light the fire, instead of wanting the cosiness of it lit. I suppose my news today is that I have my Etsy site up and running! It feels a bit like giving birth, except I haven't nosy nurses poking at my girly bits and I am not starving! But my baby is up and running and now it is time to start SELLING! Plenty more will be added in the coming weeks.

More nuno felted silk/merino
scarves this week

I am going to be working on scarves this week as the hats and scarves have sold the best. Lots of purple and gold for our Huskies! I have rovings that are dyed, dried, and ready to go, so I need to make lots of pre-felt pieces to add into the designs and get some chiffon dyed up so it is ready to go on Tuesday. Chiffon is dry in minutes, so I need to dry my purples and greens and blues so I can get ready to lay down some fibre! I have the week to complete scarves and then I must get onto some slipper samples. The resist felting is going really well, but I think the slippers will be more challenging. And hats! More hats must be felted. Eek, I haven't enough time to really get at all the projects I need to! If felted a lovely dark blue/purple hat for myself and I need a new scarf to go with it :) When I say NEED, you know what I mean....

It seems like I am inundated with forms to fill out lately. Paperwork for citizenship, kids, Scouts, jobs. When I get through this next bit I need to get on to Halloween. We pulled everything out of the attic, but with all the interruptions today, I didn't get a thing put up. So the house must transform. At least I will have a great excuse for leaving the dusting for the next few weeks!!

Fishnet cape: crocheted, felted, felted flowers, beaded collar.

Photos Snapped!

2010-10-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

Bright pink hand-dyed lambswool

Well, I finished the photography for ETSY today and I just edited the photos. We have had glorious Indian Summer weather, so the light was perfect. This is going to be a mostly photographic post, so here goes:

Fishing net cape with beading around the neck

Merino/Silk/Alpaca hat

Turquoise funky beret

Felted, embroidered, and beaded green wrap

I am not Superstitious!

2010-10-10T05:49:00.000-07:00

You can see the Angora and Gotland texture here.

Well, here we are on 10/10/10 and the world has not gone BANG once again. I actually forgot about it until I looked at the date on the computer dashboard. Having a head cold for a full week has a way of doing that to you. Small Boy got a stomach bug and came home from school Monday and was ill on Tuesday. The cold I thought was gone over last weekend came back, retreated, and came back again. I think the strong winds that are blowing have got us all on the run, immune systems up and down. It wasn't cold, but it has been wet and windy and, really, is there anything more annoying than a sinus headache? I had one for four days this week and I have to admit that I was cranky. Yes, I was cranky. Why is that hard to admit? I think it seems a bit childish for an adult to act irrational, but in this case I had a good reason: banging headache with nowhere to hide from it.

Can you help this beret?

I got two hats made this week in spite of all that. The first is a beret felted with a resist. It didn't turn out the way I wanted it to for two reasons: 1. I used gray Angora for the first layer so it would be nice and soft next to the skin and it migrated through the purple Merino and made it look dirty. 2. I cut the head opening a bit too big. I made the beret circumference a bit larger than the average beret on purpose, but you get a what-the-heck kind of attitude with a head cold and don't make the smartest decisions, so I just snipped a hole without thinking. I am hoping to take it in a bit or perhaps sew a band of felt around the brim. I'm not looking for a traditional beret look anyway. I fixed the dirty colour problem by over-dyeing the hat with acid dyes after fulling. I don't think I can felt directly onto the piece after finishing, can I?? Anyone know the answer to that?

The second hat had the same dirty Angora migration problem because my head was too locked to see the problem before I did it a SECOND time....sigh. I over dyed it after fulling at is came out gorgeous. Here it is on the right. It was originally a bit more autumnal with oranges and reds and yellows mixed, but didn't have a great deal of choice when I had to cover the Angora. The Alpaca also has long, fuzzy fibres and so it seems to be shedding a bit, which you can see on the closeup of the beret. Will people have to keep it in the freezer???! I am happy enough with the felting and style, but I might fuss with the folds a bit more. I am going to stay with the hats this week and see if I can't add some spikes or something interesting like that....

I am finding Lizzie Houghton's book Felting Fashion: Creative and Inspirational Techniques for Feltmakers very, very good. I am finally wrapping my head around resist felting and making progress on much neater finished products. The beret would have been felted perfectly if I hadn't made a mess of the head opening and my Leaning Tower of Pisa hat looks good and feels better. The book has clear illustrations and excellent photos for inspiration. While the designs might look complicated, they are easy enough to follow and experiment with in your own time. Felt Fashion: Couture Projects from Garments to Accessories by Jenne Giles is the new book that I am hoping to get ahold of and peruse a bit. I have a few on the slide show on the blog. I really want Art Cloth: A Guide to Surface Design for Fabric by Jane Dunnewold as I hear she is amazing. The problem with a lot of these techniques is that you really need a demo to get them as they are often complicated and it is the rare book that guides you through the process thoroughly. Gorgeous colour pics of finished products are all well and good, but if you can't breakdown the process then the book is no good to you.

Meanwhile, my house is a mess and I need to bomb my body with fruit and veg today to make sure this cold is gone, gone, gone! Time to prepare for the week!

Sharon's Christmas Countdown

2010-10-10T04:02:00.000-07:00

Sharon's Christmas Countdown

Turning the Corner of October....

2010-10-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it was a quiet week of thinking and sleeping and trying to figure out what to do next. The only thing seems to be to just push forward, but perhaps not take on too much at one time. Three workshops on one day seems a bit ambitious, but the lesson is learned. I think some people might have stayed away because of the economy, but I think many more can afford it and I didn't focus enough on niche markets. I know that sounds a bit vague, but I have some new ideas that I am not about to divulge yet!

My Junior Felter having a go at a flat piece of felt

I did get my big box full of supplies from Wollknoll finally and that alone is enough to inspire! I have a hat block to play with and lots Merino and I got some Gotland, which I haven't used before. I think that it will be a bit more sturdy for the outside of the slippers as Merino tends to pill with tough use. The Gotland is really beautiful and smells nice (me and my smells--I like the smell of fresh fish, too) and is a rich silvery gray. It will look beautiful paired with purple and gold! I am going to re-attempt to make slippers for my brother again. They didn't turn out great last year, but I crocheted them. He has very large feet (size 17) and so I have a pattern of his feet, but I am going to have to guess a lot while fulling to make sure I have them right. I think the wool will give a bit if they are snug...I will tell him to wet them and wear them to allow them to shape to his feet anyway.

So, hats and slippers and Christmas stockings and ornaments and scarves--and what did I do? Get a cold. Damn. It's almost gone now, but I had a headache for two days and didn't get to play much yet. Tomorrow! Back on track again.

Rush Week

2010-09-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

Merino with silk threads and cotton
crocheted snowflake

This week is passing in a blur. I am working my PR skills like crazy, trying to get the word out on the workshop in (yikes!) three days! The first one is always the hardest, but once the word is out then things fall into place. I suppose that is providing that people will enjoy themselves!! I think they will....

We have three outstanding instructors, a lovely setting, and great food--what more could you ask for? Food shopping and prep tomorrow after work and then Friday afternoon will be spent getting the room ready and baking desserts. All things going well, we should have a great time on Saturday! I will take lots of pictures....

So, plan to arrive at 1030am to register and have tea/coffee and homemade scones. You will have time to get acquainted with other participants and check out the pop-up shop we will have there. There will be quilting supplies, yarns for crochet, and some felting fibres. I had planned to have lots of hand-dyed fibre goodie bags for felting, but my large order was apparently not received online, so we will be rather limited. I will bring ordering catalogs so people can see what is out there to order and get an idea of pricing. Check out our Facebook page 'Lámhdhéanta' for more information about the workshop and instructors.

I have started felting Christmas stockings! Two down, a zillion to go. The weekend's activities will stop production for awhile, but then full steam ahead next week! And once my order comes in, it will be hats, hats, hats! And perhaps a few pairs of slippers....

Resist-felted, hand-dyed Merino
stocking with hand-dyed tussah silk

Another Educational Opportunity....

2010-09-13T14:43:00.000-07:00

Well, we are all back in the swing of Autumn and life is returning to a somewhat normal pace. I have been taking classes with Una Ní Shé for the past few years and she is starting another creative embroidery class in Dingle on October 14th for eight weeks. You finish in time for Christmas holidays and then she will be teaching a FETAC textile course in February for a much longer session.

Una is very easy-going and an accomplished felt maker. I owe my love of felt to her :) She's good at giving instruction without INSTRUCTING, if you know what I mean. Encouragement without telling you how to make your piece. We dyed pieces in the last class and stitched, learned reverse applique, and learned a lot of new stitches. She will be using a lot more multi-media techniques this time, including wax resist, printing, and collage.

A piece-in-progress from Una's last class

This is the official blurb....Please join us for our fun and inspired course where students are introduced to creative embroidery while also developing skills in mixed media materials, including printing, wax, collage, stitch, and dyeing. This 8 week course is starting at an Mhainistir in Dingle, Co Kerry on Thursday, October 14, 2010. The cost is €45.00 and will run from 10:30-1pm. For further information, please ring Jeannette at 066-9152280. You bring the imagination and we will provide the tea and biscuits!

So! You have been duly informed. If you are able to get to Dingle, I highly recommend it :)

After the Wedding

2010-09-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

My head does not ache, despite having plenty to drink and getting to bed after 3am, but my feet sure do! We danced the night away at Siobhan and Thomas' wedding and it was fabulous! The bride was gorgeous and the groom was very sweet in his speech at dinner. A great night, really.

I finished my dress the morning of the wedding, just in time. I thought I was going to have to wear the felted top wet and smell like a sheep, but I ironed it dry and left in on the laundry line to air in the breeze. There are plenty of mistakes, but I suppose I am the only one to see most of them. I ran out of silk chiffon to nuno felt the sleeves, so I had to do them pure Merino, which was a bit warmer than I wanted. I cut down the neckline a bit lower and over the shoulders to balance it. If I ever do another dress, I will try to do the whole thing chiffon. It was hard for me to see the whole thing seamless, but maybe when I start tackling seamless creations then the patterning will make more sense then. I initially made the bodice far too big and I had to add darts and cut it down. I was very happy with the texture and colour, though. I am glad to have it behind me as it took up so much time with the learning curve and I have a lot to get to this week.

Hope it doesn't spoil the surprise, Woollove!

I have to get started on (YES!) Christmas items. I am felting Christmas stocking samples this week. I am going to try and resist felt them and see how they turn out. And I think the scarves will sell well, so I am felting more of the silk and Merino scarves as soon as my order arrives. I did a book cover that I sent to Woollove as part of the Clasheen Summer Crafty Swap. You can see the pics on Flickr. It turned out well and so I will start a series of those because I think they will sell well for Christmas. I'd love to receive one!

The view of Dingle Bay from the Skellig Hotel

This week I have started cranking into high great the publicity on Lámhdhéanta. The first workshop in the series is on September 25th in Dingle from 11-4pm. You can drop by at 1030am and have a cuppa and see what we will have to sell there in our supplies shop. Options in the fibre day are: beginning crochet with Orla Breslin, felting with Una Ni Shé, and patchwork with Nikki Foley. I have a Facebook page under 'Lámhdhéanta' with more information or you can email sharon1_crandall@hotmail.com. All are welcome and it should be a great day. The price is €65 for the day, including all materials and a fine, handmade lunch. All instructors are very talented in their field and reside in West Kerry. While I will not continue to use exclusively Kerry artists/creators, we simply have too much talent in the area to not start with the people around us that are making wonderful and diverse pieces. I think that Dingle is also a wonderful place to come to for the weekend and if anyone is travelling over to Dingle for the workshop and would like to stay overnight, I can recommend decent accommodation.

Okay, must feed the Small Boy and do a few mundane and decidedly uncreative household chores. Has to be done!!!

What a Difference a Day Makes...

2010-09-05T13:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was stunning, the kind of postcard day in West Kerry that makes your heart sing and so glad that you are lucky enough to live here. Blue skies, a light breeze, and 2,000+ people in Dingle for the 2nd Annual Dingle Marathon. Fionn and I were signed up to volunteer down at the finish line, handing out goodies as the runners entered Dingle once more. The forecast was given very poor for the day, so we were very lucky and since most of the runners were not from Dingle, it was even luckier to be able to show off the Peninsula at her best. We handed out goodie bags from the sponsors, water from Kerry Spring, and passed out t-shirts to the breathless finishers. I have to say, there was a fantastic atmosphere and the operation was very well organized. There was great music from a slightly mad Kerryman (never did get his name, but he kept the crowds going) and the locals and visitors alike hung around longer than I thought they would. Fionn got to hand water to the finishers as the crossed the line and even got to put a few medals around their necks. Great fun and a wonderful afternoon. For all the events that are put on in Dingle, this one is great: good PR and money for the town, lots of visitors who seem a largely positive bunch, and the whole lot is cleaned up and tidy afterwards. Win-win!

I had a mad week full of two children's birthday parties, work, sewing labels in clothing, and trying to get a dress sewn/felted for the wedding next Saturday. I need to just take a look at measurements in my studio tomorrow and we might have a nearly finished dress! I might want to add a bit of embellishment around the waist area and I need to felt some cobweb felt for fluttery sleeves, but we are nearly there. I will post photos when I get it done!

My very grownup little boy started the boy's school for 2nd class/Ranga Dó this week. He was very nervous about the Irish, but when he got home the first day he told me "Mom, I hate my old school and I love my new school! We got to play basketball!" Boys. They can be bought with food and sports. Here he is with the new school uniform, which he wore the first day and then he will wear the blue polo shirt and navy track suit bottoms with the sports jacket. He would live in track suit bottoms if I let him. I am just relieved that we are off to a good start. It seems like homework is going to average an hour this year, so it may be hard to get a lot done in studio until he gets it done. I know he is supposed to start doing a lot of it himself, so once we get a routine going I am hoping he evolves into my little self-starter!

Not many pics this week as I am getting ready to photograph EVERYTHING for ETSY this week. Weather forecast is not good...sigh. Weather has been very good on Sundays, but it's hard to get people to drop everything and model on a Sunday as they often have family plans. Perhaps the sun will shine only in Dingle once again this week and I can snap everything quick! Must finish dress and felt some kind of vessel to nicely present our cash present to the bride and groom. And this week I start Christmas items! If you think I am a bit daft, then you are forgetting that it takes time to make these lovely, handmade items. Only 112 days left til Christmas!!!

Back to School....

2010-08-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday afternoon's efforts!

Well the silence in our house at 8:45pm was simply blissful. For those of you who do not have small children, it is very hard to get them to go to bed in the summer due to the long evenings and the fact that they can't really tell time well yet. So they are monkeys by getting up early with the light and staying up late. What it means for me is that I did not have any peace in the evenings. I know with the shorter days we are a bit less productive and the weather might be bad (it might be bad in summer also), but having the small boy in bed for 8:30pm is WONDERFUL. The stillness to hear myself think and to potter around the house--ahhhhh! Back to school, but also back to normal.

Fionn is quite nervous about starting the boy's school tomorrow. He is a bit sensitive and he is particularly upset about their strictness on Irish language. I have heard that they are not to speak English on grounds at all and he is worried because he doesn't think he has enough to understand or talk, but I think he probably has a lot more than he realizes after four years of school. I completely believe in immersion to learn a language, but I hope there isn't a penalty for not speaking Irish; negative begets negative and the kids will not love Irish like they should. There are other boy's in his class that don't speak Irish at home, so I keep telling him that he won't be alone. He will know a lot of boys there already, so I think once we get past the jitters then things will be fine.

I got a lot of dyeing done yesterday with the fine weather. I have a fibre swap to get in the post and a nuno dress project for myself, so I had to get dyeing while I had the weather. Hopefully with small boy back in school I can get back in the studio on more regular hours as I have only been in on Fridays lately and it is not getting the big or small jobs done. Still have yet to sew labels in--sigh. I did finish the lacy scarf and it's long and drapey and fab in a Mae West kind of way, but when I put it into the washing machine to felt it stripped the colour out of my lovely hand-dyed silk yarn. I used acid dyes, so did I not use enough vinegar to set it??? I am wondering if I can put the whole lot into fuchsia dye and try to over dye it again. Any ideas fibre people?

My first soy wax resist attempt

I felted a sample piece to start playing with the soy wax that I got from http://www.corkartsupplies.com/. They stock it now and I can get my acid dyes from them instead of ordering from the UK. Cork Art Supplies ship fast and I receive it next day, so it's wonderful to have them stock things. I dyed the felt piece with chartreuse (light bright green) first and then heated the wax and painted it on in a random design. I was more interested in the wax resist, not the design elements really. I then dyed with turquoise and the silk fibres too the turquoise, but the wool turned a deep green. After rinsing in cold water, I filled the sink with hot, soapy water and started rubbing the wax out. Contrary to their claim (I should know better by now), it did not come out all that easily. I left the piece to soak in hot water and Googled soy wax and it turns out that the wax has to applied very hot for it to absorb well. I think that I had probably used too much wax in an effort to make sure that it penetrated the dense surface of the felt. So it took a little work to get it all out. I think I will do another sample tomorrow and try to keep the wax constantly hot and be a little lighter with it. It also warned that rinsing out can add waxy build-up in your plumbing, so it might be a good idea to use a bowl and then you can pour it outside because it is all bio-degradable. So more to come!

And my final piece of news is that I did a big Christmas-Come-Early order from WollKnoll in Germany and I got lots of Merino, Wensleydale, silk, prefelt, shoe lasts for felting slippers, and a hat block, which I have wanted for a long time. I suppose I need to get going on these things to start making more things for ETSY. I really need a long table for laying out the scarves as I am working with two tables pushed together in the studio and they are both too short and I have to roll and flip to get coverage on both sides. It's awkward, but I know it will get easier. Santa please bring me a long table to felt on!!

The day was lovely til it wasn't....

2010-08-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

I started cleaning with the high hopes that I would have the afternoon for felting and dyeing projects, but as soon as I started the last (dreaded) task of washing windows the wee little droplets started to fall....sigh. Perhaps tomorrow. I have a clean house and I made lovely food for us, but this is not going to get my ETSY on the way. This brings me to the observation that I have had lately that I notice most artists don't have the cleanest house. It is perhaps due to some common allergy to cleaning, which I fully appreciate, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they just wouldn't have time to have a sparkling house AND make lovely, handmade items. My white skirting boards are very dirty, fully of dust that ran in the house when the kids left the door open for the 9th time every day, and I have just decided that if I spend five minutes for the next four days, I might be able to get them back in order. When I am up the walls, I just don't look down for fear of what I might find or what it might do to my blood pressure. Don't get me wrong: I LOVE a clean house, but I just don't seem to have enough time to devote to it. Small children are wonderful, but they are built on the foundations of chocolate, germs, dirt, and sticky kisses.

I have been working on another lacy crocheted scarf since the other ones seem to be getting great reviews (and that leads me to believe that they might sell), but I ran out of the recycled sari silk yarn that I was using as the final row to give it a VA-VOOM! I was rummaging around my silk drawer and found a skein of white silk yarn that I was saving for a wedding/Holy Communion project that I hadn't gotten to yet and decided to chance dyeing it colours to compliment the charcoal and fuchsia wool I had already used. I used yellow and them a bright fuchsia over it. The first time it came out a bit orange, so I used MORE yellow and MORE fuchsia and it's a lovely mix of yellow/orange/pink that suits the other colours. I reminds me of a sherbet. Now I have to crochet the last row on and felt it in the wash. All it needs is a label....

Are the Days Still Getting Longer????

2010-08-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

It feels like I am going non-stop these days. Where are the lazy, hazy days of summer? In between mist/rain I am dyeing fibres for projects and leaving them out to drip. I have received my labels and must start sewing them in garments. I am steadily building up a supply of hand-dyed wool yarns. I hope Santy is bring the good fibre people plenty of pretty wool in their stocking!

The chiffon piece on the left is for the bodice of a dress I am making myself for a wedding coming up soon. I have black wool jersey that I bought in Dublin and I want to nuno felt over the chiffon with some lovely hand-dyed Merino and silk. I dyed some Wensleydale to add in also. I think it will be a range of pinks/reds in many shades. Those tend to suit me and so I must do some lighter colours next time to balance the shades.

Tomorrow I want to start with some of the cotton gauze that I received and nuno felt a scarf with that to see how I like working with it. The weave is quite fine so I'd say it will make a lovely scarf if I lay my fibres out well. And I must start my journal cover challenge! I joined the Clasheen Crafty Swap again for summer, so I will felt fibres into the prefelt that I bought and then try my hand at resist dyeing. I am all experimentation these days! I might use some of the soy fibres I bought when I was in America.

Meanwhile, I am admiring the lovely fuscia/red/orange colours that I got today. I want to do some more gold and greens tomorrow, because I ran out of daylight today. Hopefully a dry day for more fun!

August Occasions...

2010-08-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

Well, we are halfway through August and the summer is flying. We had a perfect day yesterday, hot and sunny with blue skies in every direction. Today, we have THIS---> Really horrible misty, low cloud day. Outright pouring now. Friends in America are sweltering in the heat and we are wondering if we should light the fire!! There is a mountain range in the upper part of the photo, but you can't even see it.

I got precious little done last week. Wasn't feeling the best and the weather just did not help motivation any. And dragging small boy to the studio is getting harder and harder. Roll on school!!

I did get a scarf felted on Friday. I think it needs a bit more fulling, but the colours are lovely. I dyed the chiffon red and then used the hand-dyed merino batts that I got in my Clasheen Crafty Swap for spring. Very dramatic colours and I do love my reds! Speaking of Clasheen Crafty Swaps (you can see pics of the swaps on www.flickr.com), the summer one is upon us and we are doing journal covers and are supposed to use experimental materials--in other words, step outside the comfort zone! I love this. I have done two journals and I have learned a lot making them. The last one I placed design bits in the wrong place, but I know now where I should put them, so I think this one will come out well. I think I will use prefelt and then felt my design and colours over it. This is my third swap and I highly recommend them because you get matched up with interesting artists/designers and it's great fun opening up the box to see what treats lie inside! Sometimes you need the pressure/challenge to a new idea going.The winter swap I got at Christmas was fabulous from Reinventing Fashion. She's Australian and she upcycles clothing and does really funky, retro work. Hard to find antique fabrics for her in Dingle!

Since I have to order everything online, I will have to have a few goodies set aside for this winters so I don't have to dig around in a panic. The bonus of living in a city is that you can just walk out the door and go buy stuff when you want it; here we must PLAN, which is not as much fun. However, we do not sit parked in our cars for an hour each way to work, which is a real bonus. Life is a trade off.

How can I dry anything in this???

I have loads of dyeing to do, but will have to wait for a decent day to line dry them as I just don't have room in my house to let things drip dry all over. I need to dye chiffon for the top portion of a dress that I need to wear to a wedding in a few weeks. I have wool and silk bits to dry and bag up for sale and I have more of the knitting yarn to dye. I think I will get more chiffon and then some other silk and try dyeing or painting for effect. I just saw some lovely felted scarves that had pieces of silk cloth felted in and they were gorgeous, so I want to try that. It's all money!!

Back to school is upon us and I must get into Tralee and sort out the uniform and get small boy's books. He is changing schools to an all-boys school and so he has the usual excitement (boys!) and dread (Irish!) about the change. He will be fine. I am going to TRY and get him a new bike while we are in Tralee, if funds allow. I am trying to clear as many bills as possible before the wedding September 11th. My dress is mostly sorted, I have shoes, but I will need hair sorted and I need a new handbag anyways. And drinking from 3pm til the wee hours does not come cheaply! Irish weddings are all-day to two-day affair.

Isn't my model gorgeous???

The End of a Busy Week

2010-08-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

I have had a quiet weekend, but a rather busy week overall. The details for Lámhdhéanta/Handmade are coming together. We have instructors for Crochet, Felting, and Patchwork. We have space at Aiseanna na hOige, the local community centre. Funding for marketing is underway and I just need to sort out the insurance issue. We are in pretty good shape for September 25th!

I spend yesterday afternoon getting started dyeing. I received a nice Merino lace weight wool and a lovely blend of Merino/Alpaca/Silk in a chunkier weight. I am really happy with the colours! Today I over-dyed a vest that I felted on Thursday a deep red, but the light faded and it is now a misty, dirty rain so there will be no photos taken now. I am so delighted with the dyeing process. I love mixing the colours and testing out new fabrics. I spent the morning on the Internet and YouTube.com trying to figure out how Chad Alice Hagen dyes her wool so beautifully. I think she must use encaustics somehow, perhaps the new technique of using soy wax? I am going to try that and see if it works. It can't hurt and the soy wax washes out with simple soap and water, so it doesn't involve chemicals and messing around. Chad Alice's notebooks that she makes are sooo gorgeous. I would love to be able to dye pieces with such vibrant colour and texture. I am perhaps light years away from that! But I have my Wollknoll order to play with and new dyes that came this week. I mostly use Jacquard Acid Dyes, but Arty's little pen liquid dyes for microwave dyeing (from www.rainbowsilks.co.uk) is handy because you can quickly space dye pieces with the pen tip. I got some prefelt from Wollknoll, as well as a kilo of undyed Merino, some cotton gauze for nuno felting, and the Merino knitting yarn for dyeing. That will keep me busy for the next week.

I also made the rest of the appliques for my brother and sister-in-law's wedding blanket. Or rather their wedding present! Here are a couple of the appliques that I felted and machine stitched. I decided not to add too much ornament to the appliques because this blanket will need to be washed and glitzy stuff will most likely fall off with normal wear and tear. This blanket is 100% wool and will last a very long time, possibly the rest of their lives, if they take care of it. It feels like it has been hanging off the arm of my chair, patiently waiting for me to complete it, for a very long time. I crocheted nine panels and the stitched them together like a traditional nine patch quilt. The rest of the quilt is simply filling in the gaps, but the variegated purple wool is a nice silk and merino blend that's baby soft. All of it should be nice and soft. I hope they like it because I have spent about 70 hours on it so far. Sewing a traditional quilt would have taken far less time!

Must go rescue dinner! Free range roast chicken, one of my favourites, with roasted onions and garlic and spuds and broccoli. Life is good!

Sneak peek: almost finished!

Calzone 101...

2010-08-02T01:50:00.000-07:00

For a change, I thought I would do a food post since my camera is still a bit wonky :) I got the memory card sorted, but now the little gadget that transfers the pics to the compute has quit on me! So, a foodie post...

I worked for years at Pete's Pizza as a college job and sometimes a second job. Not rocket science, but people would come from all over for them because they are fab. I made them over the weekend and I forgot how wonderful they are and how easily adaptable: you can do meat or vegetarian or even small ones for hors d’oeuvres. It's one of those dinners where you can please everyone because you can customize for all likes and dislikes. Here we go...

As always, read directions all the way through first so you know the whole process…:)

Pizza/Calzone Dough

(Half this recipe makes two medium pizzas or four good size calzones)

• 2 tsp. dry yeast

• 2 c. warm water (blood temperature)

• ½ tsp. sugar

• 5 c. flour

• 2 tsp salt

• Olive oil

In a small bowl, add yeast and sugar and slowly pour water over and stir until dissolved. Leave to bloom (the yeast will start growing and you can smell it in the air) for about 10 minutes. If it doesn’t grow, then you have the water too hot and killed it (start over) or too cold to activate it (add a bit of warmer water).

Meanwhile, get a large bowl out and add your flour, salt, and a swirl of olive oil to the bowl. When the yeast is ready, add it the flour mixture and stir until it becomes a decent lump. Mix it with your hand until the dough all comes together, catching the dough around the sides of the bowl and adding flour to your hands to keep it from sticking too much. If you added a little more water, then you will need to add more flour. Smoosh and knead the dough for about a minute, pour olive oil on top of it and turn the dough so the bowl and dough are all covered. Put a tea towel on top and leave in a warmish place for an hour.

This whole dough process should take about 12 minutes, tops. Leave it and make yourself a cup of coffee and relax or go do some awful chore that you would rather not do, but has to be done.

Sauce: you can make your own in five minutes or you can buy a jar of decent sauce and make your life easier. I make my own because it takes no time at all and it’s cheaper. You need 16 oz/large can of tomato sauce, pinch salt, splash balsamic vinegar, pinch sugar, and 1 tsp. oregano. Stir in a skillet and heat through. Garlic is also nice to add. Let it start to boil and then turn off. I use a cast iron pan and it stays hot, but the flavors will develop as it cools. Better to not have the sauce too warm for assembly as it’s messier. I have an herb garden and so I use fresh oregano and that makes a huge difference. Fresh basil works also.

Fillings: You have to have cheese and plenty of it. This is not time to cry diet. Make your life easier and buy the grated mozzarella. Fresh mozzarella is too wet and causes sogginess, so don't get too fancy. I highly recommend ricotta cheese, especially if you put anything spicy in the calzone. Olives and spinach are excellent, but you can do any combination of things. One thing to watch out for in the veg is the amount of water that cooks off when heated. Spinach is lovely, but you should blanch it and squeeze out the excess water so it doesn’t make your calzone really soggy and watery. Mushrooms are okay, but broccoli cooks off a lot of liquid also. My favorite is spinach, mushroom and meatball with red pepper flakes or jalapenos and ricotta. Yum! This is a great thing to make for friends that are vegetarian because you can easily customize for everyone!

Assembly: It is not as scary as it sounds. Once you have made one you will see how easy it is.

Roll out dough to a circle (not too thin or the pressure of the filling will make it burst=disaster) and put a small handful of grated cheese in the middle; this will make a barrier so the heavy ingredients aren’t pushing at the back of the calzone and forming a hole. You are going to build a mound from the middle forward so you can fold the part nearest to you over and make a half moon. Add a spoon of ricotta on the cheese and the meat or main veg onto the top of that. Pour 1/2 cup sauce over the mixture. Add the remaining toppings and then more grated cheese, about a cup (Pete’s uses 8 oz if I remember right). Fold over the half of the circle on top of each other and line the edges up. Starting on the left side, put your thumb down on its side and use your right hand to fold the dough over it. Pinch down to seal as you go around the half circle. Repeat until you have a neat "roll" all the way around the calzone. If this is too tricky, use a fork around the edges to seal it. Air bubbles in the calzone are good, holes bad. Cheese in the roll looks a bit messy, but it's delicious. Now, if you are making different calzones for everyone, take a bit of the main ingredient and put it on the corner of the roll (small piece of pepperoni, mushroom, and olive) so you can identify after they come out of the oven. Otherwise, chaos trying to tell them apart. Bake for about 15-20 minutes in a hot oven, around 425 degrees. If the top gets dark, put a small hat of tinfoil over the top.

Three notes for eating:

• A half cup of sauce over the top is REALLY good. I make extra sauce just for this.

• They are VERY HOT inside, so take a fork and break open the top like a vent and let it cool a second, even though it’s very tempting to start wolfing it down.

• They are really filling. Make half-size baby calzones for kids and some adults. I recommend half size portions if you are drinking beer with them because you will want to take over the sofa like sea lion afterwards. And perhaps not flattering for a date to look six months pregnant.

Bon appétit!

The sun is shining and I see blue sky!!

2010-07-29T00:45:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick post to say hello, I am not dead, I am working flat out. The weather looks great for today, so I am heading into studio early and if it stays nice we might make a trek to the BEACH! You never know when the weather might change on you, so it's best to take advantage straight away.

I am felting a nice piece of red dyed chiffon today. I will have to have a poke around to see what other colours, but definitely Merino with some nice silks. I just got some great dyeing tips for fibres from an American friend I met on Facebook, so I can hopefully try those out this weekend. And I really *must* get at the plastering so that I can paint in the next few weeks.

Again, no photos, but I am replacing the memory card in my camera today so all should be well in the world soon. Happy Thursday!

Another Drizzly Sunday in Ireland....

2010-07-25T07:18:00.000-07:00

I have, over time, developed the bad habit of starting new projects before finishing old ones. So this week, I have been trying to tidy up and finish up projects sitting around my studio. I am trying to clean up my act. I suppose when a felted item doesn't turn out the way I wanted it the urge to embellish dies with a thump. Why bother when it won't be an item for sale or even good enough to give as a gift? Too many white elephants on the learning curve.

So I am beading the collar on the turquoise cape because it really did need a bit of bling before it was completed. The collar will make the whole garment stand out. I did felt two handbags, but I suspect that resist felting is not my forte yet. I will need a lot more practice before I produce something that I could sell. Perhaps nuno felting and sewing the handbag pieces? Hats are coming along well. I finished a purple and gold one that is felting as we speak and I finished a lovely scarf that will match a hat. I have a charcoal gray hat the I am working on now, so there is progress.

It's all go for the Dingle Fibre weekend on September 25th. I am tentatively going to call it Lámhdhéanta or Handmade in English. While most of the workshops will be just textile initially, I would love to see other handcrafts included if we can get going. I am in the middle of contacting people, inquiring about space and funding, and putting a committee together. A committee of people is a tricky thing because they have to be people that are workers and all get along. Not always an easy task. And not too big a committee or else we will never get agreement on core issues. I think five people sounds good, an odd number in case we can't agree. I know I should start with just the Saturday, but my guy says do an optional Sunday for crafts that need more practice time. It's hard to rush a learning a new skill because if you don't get enough immersion then you don't go home and practice. It's a waste of time. Must have the committee agree on that one!
No pictures today as my camera is not uploading photos. I think I need to get a new memory card, but either way my computer is locking up when I try to upload. Not a good sign. I installed new anti-virus, so applications should be safe enough. Thank God I have insurance on this computer so if it ever does go BANG then I just go and get a new one.

I will post again in the next couple of days when I can get some pictures to upload....

Something's Marinating in There....

2010-07-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

I have had the idea, off and on, for the last year that I want to start fibre weekends in Dingle. I want Dingle to become a destination for artists and hobbyists alike who are looking for training in a fun, inspirational location. The talent is certainly in the area, it just needs to be organized. So, I think I am going to step up to the plate, with more than a little assistance, and organize a small weekend at the end of September. I am trying to start small and be practical, but it really isn't one of my strengths. I am going to have to have someone nominated as the Rain on My Parade to stop me from scheduling fibre slumber parties and marathon dyeing sessions and how to felt your own lampshade sessions--you can see where a little enthusiasm can go all wrong.

For now, I am thinking of doing a session each of Crochet, Knitting, Feltmaking, and Fibre Dyeing. Once I have the instructors on board we can think of interesting focuses in each subject. I would love Tunisian Crochet or how to crochet lots of flowers (or coral!!). I would love to see a patchwork session, but I am not sure if a short session would serve that well; if people are interested then that seems like a weekend affair. I have dyed loose fibres, but not spun yarn and a big session of dyeing fabric for patchwork would be good. Intro to Knitting would suit me since I cannot knit, but most people learned to knit in school here so I think we will have to think outside the box on that one. Nuno felting is popular, but laying out fibres and felting a handbag or slippers would also be good.

I think that we want to get the pre-Christmas crafty people who would be interested in learning something new for the coming gift-giving season. I don't know if it's recessionista or simply just anti-Celtic Tiger excess, but there is a huge upsurge of interest in making things by hand. Perhaps they just want to keep their hands busy so that they don't crack up while out of work. Get out of the house and into some grownup talk. I don't care. People that can make things with their hands are usually far more interesting. They are My People. They understand why it is so important to stay up until 1am (or later) to finish crocheting a project when the more sensible people are sleeping. Dyeing your own fibres and felting a scarf and spending five hours beading an item are perfectly legitimate uses of time. It's these people who will come to Dingle.

And I want to lure them with a Swap or Shop. The day of the workshop a select group of people will be invite to sell materials, lovely stuff that will be hard to put down, things that need to come home with you. Alternatively, people can bring items from their own stash at home and swap fabric/wool/fibres.

Lots of ideas swimming in the head. Time for a cuppa and to find my crochet hook and have a think....

2010-07-17T05:22:00.000-07:00

I started a Facebook page for Chiarraí Creations this week (see my wee badge in the top right corner) and I think the pressure to post more pics, finish work, get my ETSY shop open finally is going to give me plenty to blog about! I am on the antibiotics still, but the little darlings are working and I can feel my energy coming back slowly but surely. I got into the studio yesterday and finished beading my seaweed wrap and felted a silk and Merino nuno scarf. I think it came out pretty well and I am happy with the colours. My critical eye is always: would I wear this? Maybe I am a bit of a Smarty Pants, but I think I happen to have good taste and so, sorry to say good people, I will be producing goods that I like and approve of. Let's hope that snarky attitude will actually put a bit of money in the bank....

The model for the silk and Merino scarf was drafted under duress so I could get a quick pic and get this posted. I had to promise Tayto's, which he is eating while I photograph. I think the scarf is nicely offset by the Transformers' pajamas, don't you???

Finally, pics of my seaweed wrap. I have felted the optional brooch for tying it, and have to dye it to match and stitch yet. Will do a pic with a model to show the drape when I finish it Monday. You can really see the free machine stitching and the random beading. I think it's pretty and I WOULD WEAR IT! Ha! You have to laugh at yourself!

Another rainy day in Ireland...

2010-07-15T03:10:00.000-07:00

Close-up of my nuno-felted scarf. Merino and silk into silk chiffon.

Well, my grass is certainly greener, but I want our warm, balmy summer back!! I have high hopes for next week. In between studio work, I have things to plant in the garden and I want to buy paint for upstairs and begin that dreaded project. I must be feeling better if I am dreaming up more work for myself. Small Boy gave me his strep throat that he had ten days ago and LUCKY ME I have it far worse than him. Thankfully I got to the doctor and got meds when I did because I got worse before I got better. Throat still swollen, but on the mend now...

Crochet and felted wool hat

Here are a couple pics of of completed work. Nuno felted scarf done in red and hand-dyed silks and merino. I felted this one a bit thicker than the other one. It's nice, but I think I liked the peek-a-boo aspect of the chiffon underneath much better and it's a lot more flexible for tying. This hat turned out well. I think I would make the tail a bit longer. I did one in blue and green for my brother and the tail was so long it kind of wound around your neck like a scarf. Very cosy for winter and the hat part slouched on like a beret. I need to keep working on it to get back there. For now, I think I might bead around the brim just for a bit of added bling. And then another thing done for the ETSY shop!

Slowly but surely adding stock up for the start.

And finally, I finished two necklaces. What I love about these, other than the lovely colour of glass beads, is that it doesn't have a clasp. I can't tell you how many times I have to fuss with a clasp when I am late and trying to get out the door. The long end simply slips through the loop and you are good to go. I have been wearing a multi-coloured one for the last few weeks and it goes with almost everything. I am tempted to stop wearing my other necklaces! A friend said that she wanted to buy one for her mother because she has arthritis and can't manage the clasps anymore, something that hadn't occurred to me at all. I need to think of a price and try to sell these locally. I love the random colours personally, but the all blue is lovely. I think I will try to do a green and red-toned one.

And finally, internship has started so plenty of time to press ahead. After work, I will be in studio working on wedding accessories. And I need to make some money to pay for a new sewing machine. If I can kick this strep throat, then it's all GO!

Back from The Big City....

2010-07-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Temple Bar in Dublin, near my lodgings

Dublin was wonderful! The class at the NCAD was very good and gave me lots of new ideas. Our instructor was very experimental and showed us how to use the machines and away we went. The heat transfer press and Bondina (used for bonding fabrics) were interesting and we got to use a fancy embroidery machine, which I now know I do not need and definitely do not want! Fussy things and so automated that if one thing goes wrong then the whole thing shuts down. It would do my head in. I loved the free machine embroidery and I am going to try and get a Bernina like they had in the lab as there is great freedom in stitching in any direction. I liked stitching paper and plastic and combining all that with fabric. Lots of multimedia ideas...

Paper stitched and fabric added.

Dublin itself was so nice. I have been living in the country so long that I forgot the pleasures of all that a city has to offer: great food, access to supplies, interesting people, cultural variety, and public transportation. Add to that great weather and the fact that Dublin is a good walking city and I was all over the place! I have been to Dublin many times, but I don't think I have really got my bearings until this trip. I would end up in one section of the city and couldn't find my way around. Now, I can go from O'Connell St to Grafton and I know the LUAS line and Temple Bar. The next time I go I will be flying around the city.

St. Audoen's, Church of Ireland

And then, smack in the middle of Dublin, I found St Audoen's Church (pronounced Odd-wins), a medieval church located in the heart of Dublin. It was built around 1181-1212 and is still an open and active parish! Its was just beautiful and I went inside and had to look around. I seem to be drawn to old stonework lately, so I snapped pics of the patterns that they made and had a nose around. With the wildflowers out the front, it easily looked like it might have 800 years ago. I did a few sketches and will see what I come up with...Strangely, there is ANOTHER St. Audoen's right next door: the medieval one is Church of Ireland and the "newer" one is Catholic. Hate to say it, but the older one was far more interesting and in far better repair. The newer St. Audoen's was a grand old church in need of repair for water damage, but you could tell she was a proud old girl. A base for the many Polish that relocated to Ireland as many of the Masses were read in Polish. The stonework in the older church was just beautiful the way it was weathered and eroded over time. I took some pics of the gravestones on the main chapel floor that were worn quite smooth, but the light wasn't good that day and they didn't turn out well. I think the picture below is one of the old stations of the cross that would have been chiseled in stone.

Stonework at medieval St. Audoen's

I have completed work in the studio that I didn't have time to photograph, so I will try to get that done tomorrow and have a go. There seem to be so many good workshops around right now. The lovely Stephanie of The Yarn Room in Wicklow is having her 1st year anniversary for the shop and lots of good classes on board. I would love to do the improvers crochet and the Tunisian crochet, but I can only imagine that time will be getting away from me. Monday I start an internship and Fionn is in camp again, so we will be go, Go, GO for the rest of the week.

Transfer printing using disperse dyes.

A quickie....

2010-07-03T02:54:00.000-07:00

Hello chickens! I am off to Dublin tomorrow for a sewing workshop at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) for the week, so I am fluttering around trying to get Small Boy and myself ready for the chaotic schedule. I have not been feeling well, so I am already behind! Fionn starts camp on Monday and he is sleeping in a different bed each night and hopefully won't miss me too much (and me him!).

My course is called Creative Sewing by Aisling McLoughlin and thank the Lord they are providing sewing machines and I won't have to drag mine up by train. The fees that Ryanair would charge would nearly justify buying a new machine! Ms. McLoughlin makes handbags by trade and so it would be really interesting to see her stuff and get some practice in there as I would like to try my hand at making handbags. She is on faculty at the NCAD so a fresh point of view will be interesting as I have been working with the same (wonderful) tutor for some time. Something new to add to the mish-mash of my brain.

So, no pics now. I will take loads in Dublin and give you a big, fat post when I return. Enjoy the summer!