Monthly Archives: September 2014

Preparations underway for FeltUnited @ Clasheen!

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The base is sorted and I'm putting aside wool and various embellishments to adorn our collaborative wall hanging next Saturday for FeltUnited Day 2014! We'll be laying out our design on what remains of a large roll of rug base I bought from Mehmet Girgiç quite a number of years ago. Mehmet is a marvellous felter and teacher, do visit him and Teresa May O'Brien in Turkey for a workshop if ever you get the opportunity, alternatively take or organise a class with him in your own studio. Here's a close up of the first rug I ever made using this base, felted with Mehmet at Wollknoll in Germany and still one of my favourite pieces!

Thanks a million to those of you who've confirmed you'll be here at Clasheen (George, Ruth, Anita, Karen and Samantha), if you've indicated via Smore or FB that you're coming but NOT emailed or spoken to me personally please just do so sometime this week. The reason that I'm asking you to drop me a quick line is that SO many friends worldwide have said they're coming and obviously won't all be able to make it, I'd like to have a guideline of numbers so that I can make sure I've enough drinks and food organised!!! The plan was to have a pot luck supper after the wall hanging was finished but maybe it'll work out best if we start the food from mid afternoon onwards, we'll play it by ear.
Finally for today, please don't forget that you are encouraged to bring along any stash items you'd like to swap, sell or give away, this will all add to the fun atmosphere on the day! For example, I'm going to have items like plenty of excess bubble wrap and laminate floor underlay to give away (cut pieces perfect for smaller projects and brilliant if you teach) and black velvet necklace stands, large plastic rolling mats, hanging storage, packs of 10 Jiffy bags, large wire baskets, pool noodles and tonnes more items to sell at knock down prices. Alan always says that I buy storage solutions to store my storage solutions, he may be correct unfortunately!!!

 

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FeltUnited @ Clasheen invitation and pictures of new felt wraps

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I'd like to extend an invitation to everyone within striking distance of Clasheen, please come along on the afternoon of Saturday 4th October and help celebrate FeltUnited Day 2014 in style. My plan is for us to felt a collaborative wall hanging, swap tips and stories, show and tell, enjoy a pot luck supper and for those that want, it's an open opportunity to set up a selling or swapping table and stash bust!!! Check out the invitation flyer for more details https://www.smore.com/app/pages/preview/0xzhg and don't forget that total beginners are very welcome to attend too, the only prerequisite is a love of felt and fibre plus I would appreciate if people stick to the time plan and RSVP prior to the day!

 

Stag's horn sumac

On the felting side of things I'm busy preparing new work to bring to my first seasonal event of the festive season, the annual Glucksman Craft and Design Fair which is taking place in Cork from 7th to 9th November inclusive.

Side A - eucalyptus bark

In the mornings I'm trying to felt two wraps and then either printing them in the afternoon or tryng to keep things progressing in advance of Creative Island (@Showcase in January), there's a lot of work to do!

Side B - eucalyptus bark and leaves

This week I was particularly happy with the two wraps pictured in this post, both were printed at the same time in the same pot. It's always fascinating to see how incredibly different the end results may be, differing vegetation (and sometimes pre-treatment) makes such a big contribution to the end result.

 

 

 

 

 

Article from yesterday’s Sunday Business Post

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Thank you Margaret O'Brien for featuring me in yesterday's 'Made in Ireland' article in the interiors section of the Sunday Business Post Magazine! As plans progress for 'Creative Island' at Showcase 2015 it's good know that I'm heading in the correct direction with my naturally printed felt throws and large squishy feather filled cushions. This month I'll be felting like crazy and also printing heavy quality silk and wool yardage ready to be sewn into more of the cushion covers. Luckily I have an excellent seamstress living locally, if I didn't I'd be in a bit of a state by now, sewing really isn't my forte!

 

Felt vessel in progress

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I'm having a busy but productive time of it lately, many things are coming together at the one time so please forgive me if I just post a couple of pictures today. As soon as I have a minute I'll write a longer blog post, I'll also have time then to full and shrink this beaded felt vessel a little further.

Thanks a million Jan for the gorgeous beaded silk chiffon and thanks Dianne and Mike for transporting it to Ireland!

As regards scale, it IS tall.

 

RIP Rex and an update of recent activities

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Apologies for the lack of posting these last few weeks, my beloved Rex started suffering from bad heart problems unexpectedly and unfortunately I had to put him to sleep last Monday. He was a real character, inherited from my neighbour Tom Doran (who died aged 90 when Rex was 6) he'd lived at Clasheen all 14 years of his life, those of you who'd met him will know how quirky he was!


Meeting Tom and Rex at Clasheen
Jumping to catch a ball, one of Rex's favourite pastimes!
Although I didn't usually let Rex up at the table Dawn DID manage to capture this picture during her visit last April, wonder how that happened???
Merridee and I relaxing mid August, although Rex was not well by then he did want to participate in everything we were doing! Alan dug a grave in a nice spot between the oak plantation up above my house and the ever expanding grove of eucalyptus trees, RIP Rex Doran 2000 – 2014.
In addition to the trauma with Rex I've had a really busy time since Merridee and Keith's departure home to California. In brief I've been working on an order of naturally printed silk scarves for the Old House Gallery in the UK, had an individual piece and a collaborative piece accepted for an upcoming Feltmakers Ireland exhibition, attended a full day Creative Island training session, been juried in to the Glucksman Gallery's Christmas design and craft fair plus been working on some new ideas for felt and silk naturally printed accessories. The collaborative piece is interesting if a little time consuming in the conception and construction, it's a felt neck piece incorporating moisture reactive smart technology. Thanks Niki Collier and Cheryl for the opportunity to work together! I'm also working on dates and venues for my trip to the US and Canada next spring, do please shout out loud at the end of this week if you haven't heard back from me, it's been manic here and I'm really trying to get everything under control as soon as I can. Kentucky friends Dianne and Mike are also arriving tomorrow to visit for a few days, fun ahead but not too much time at the computer yet again!
I'll leave you today with two images of a Tshirt I printed over the weekend, it may be worn with either side to the front.
I'm currently experimenting with using cotton, linen and other fibres as a background for my natural printing, it's a different preparation process (that's where I'm doing a lot of experiments) and I'd like to offer it as a more advanced technique next year to students who've already taken an introductory natural printing workshop with me. More anon………….