Stitchlily

The Queen of Getting Distacted...

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:57:00 +0000

I sat down at the computer this morning to work on blogs, websites, updates, emails...etc.. To start advertising the next RETRO ROMP!! (Which is on Feb 10th in McCarthys Bar, Dingle.. of course...). We have the fantastic The Nitty Gritty, retro DJ's from Galway, coming down, to swing, jive, rock, or whatever tickles your fancy.

We have a theme, it will be slightly Valentinesie, but only in token gesture... and the theme is... well, the poster isn't quite ready yet, you'll have to wait... But here's a little something I wasted my morning on instead of doing all the things I should have.... But, it was kinda in the name of research!!

Weaving Dreams...

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:42:00 +0000

Weaving Dreams is neither a metonymy or a metaphor, I literally had a weaving dream last night, a dream about weaving. I dreamt I went into a quite large charity shop, and was browsing around, looking at knickknacks, and then about to leave. I stopped to chat to the shop assistant, when I suddenly spotted an antique spinning wheel. It was almost like a chakra type wheel, such as Ghandi used.

I went over for a closer look. It was beautiful, mahogany coloured, worn but still in working order. Then I spotted an inkle loom... a table loom, and behind me popped up a floor loom! I got very excited! Then, I got the chill, you know the one, when dreams are about to go bad. I saw someone eyeing up the spinning wheel, and was trying to make my way around all the stuff, to get to the counter to buy it up, but the counter seemed suddenly very far away, then I woke up.

I have always been a dreamer, crazy dreams kinda dreamer. I don't watch violent movies or TV shows, because I am, well, soft. I will inevitable dream about it, in gory detail. But this was bizarre, I don't think I've ever had a shopping dream, let alone a spinning wheel in my dreams. I spent the day mulling it over, and then it hit me, where all the influences were coming from, and here they are.

I watched this video:

And this movie:

So, how could this movie make me dream about weaving and not pirates? Here's why. Recognise the loom???? (Screenshots taken from about 44 seconds into Part 1)

3: I had a chat with my mum about mahogany furniture.

4: I had also dusted off my antique spinning wheel, apologising to it, for not restoring it yet...

God I am so susceptible to media influence. No more children's TV, or music videos for me... Or maybe I should just start spinning and weaving again.

The New Year - starting with a fizzle

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:52:00 +0000

Fireworks on New Years Eve in Dingle Harbour

OK, so this year hasn't started with a bang, more like a fizzle. You know, like a leftover bottle of lemonade. I can’t seem to get to grips with 2012, and we're already 9 days in!! I'm hoping the return to school and all things normal (with help from some liquid iron) will put some fizz back in.

I'm not much of a New Year’s resolution person, I always figured the depths of winter is not the best time to stop doing the nice things in life, (such as eating fatty foods and drinking pints...). But I do usually have lots of ideas whizzing around after the hols. This year, however, because the brain is so full of fizzle, nothing whatsoever coherent or vaguely interesting seems to be coming out. There are lots of vague plans for the 2012, and now it’s just a question of making them less vague, and more practical.

Happy Christmas and New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:48:00 +0000

(Had to edit this post to stick this in. My little man has written his first christmas card!)

I know I wont get it together to write another blog post before Christmas, or even New Year, so I'm sending out my greetings now. Many years ago, when I lived in Dublin, I used to hang out an awful lot in the Central Library in the Ilac Centre, especially in the music section. Leon was one of the musical discoveries I made there. If you have to listen to a Christmas songs, it just has to be his Christmas Island album. (Who else could do a cover of Frosty the Snowman with Dr John!!)

So, heres a little Christmas Cheer from Leon Redbone.

And if your're not into cheer here

Neverland on Sky Movies

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:32:00 +0000

Neverland finally comes to Sky Movies on Friday 9th and 16th December 2011!!

I'm just wondering if my loom will be in it, or has that scene ended up of the editors floor, just like the real thing probably ended up in the bin... I dont have Sky, so I wont be watching, but if you spot it, let me know!!

And now for something completely crafty... Crocheted Lace Panels

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:12:00 +0000

Still trying to catch up on blog posts about some of the stuff I made this year, so I'll keep the text short and sweet.

These are some WIP's, crocheted lace panels I started making last winter. They are extremely hard to photo for some reason, I'm not that happy with the pics, but you get the idea. They are made using traditional Irish crochet lace techniques, but made from recycled plastic bin bags. I made 2 panels using scrolls, one of my favourite motifs, but I didn't think they came out great, there is almost too much detail in it. (And the scrolls take forever...).

The 2nd panel, of flowers and leaves came out much better, especially with more open background. This panel is approx 150cm x 50cm. Its a bit worse for ware, as its been on display at 2 festivals and a disco. I hope to experiment a bit more with these, the original plan was to make something big, but lets see if I ever get that together...

Full of Christmas Cheer (and Hope and Advice)

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:59:00 +0000

I had banned the dreaded "C" word in my house until the 1st of December, but I am actually feeling full of Christmas Cheer at the moment, so I'm declaring it Christmas now.

After my weekend in Kilkenny, I feel hope, something I have not felt in a while. Hope in the work I want to do, that I will find the right people to work with, and hope in the salvation of the world. OK, this seems a bit extreme, but, on returning from my travels, I did 2 things that restored my faith and salvation in the world. I finally finished 1421 by Gavin Menzies. This book changed the way I look at history, and the whole bloody Eurocentric thing. If you are into history, maps, navigation, anthropology, botany, and numerous other fields, read it.

I also watched a film The Economics of Happiness. This film, is the most inspiring documentary I have seen recently. It’s very depressing at the start, but ends up very hopeful; it actually ties in with everything I believe in, the way I like to work, the way I believe communities should work, the future of mankind... It really is that deep! It all ties in together, and wow, I haven't felt this positive in a long, long time.

So, that’s just a bit of Christmas Cheer and now here’s the Christmas Advice. I don’t usually offer advice on my blog, well apart from advice of a crafty nature, what glue or stitches to use, but I am feeling so full of cheer, and chat, and reality of the overhypness of Christmas, I want to help you all cope with this coming Christmas. (Obliviously I'm not religious. If I was religious I would actually take affront at my religion and icons being used to encourage several of the deadly sins, which my religion is supposed to be safeguarding me from. I am always surprised the Church has not come out and actually renounced any and all association with the excesses of Christmas. Is it because theres no such thing as bad press?).

Advice for buying presents for kids:

BLAME SANTA!! If Santa does not give them the presents they asked for, you are not to blame, Santa is. So if your kids are unhappy, tell them a story about the North Pole getting flooded due to the polar caps melting and all the presents were destroyed. So, Santa did the best he could under the circumstances. (Get them to watch The Economics of Happiness film)
YOUR KIDS WILL NOT HATE YOU FOREVER if they do not get the presents they wanted, they will just hate you for a little while. Giving them what they want just gives them unreal expectations of their doomed future (get them to watch The Economics of Happiness film)
KNOW YOUR CHILD, Put some thought into it. Do you really know your child? I mean really? We're all so busy these days; it’s easy to not notice the small things. Buying them something they want is the easy way out, buy them something surprising, something they don’t realise they want, but they will remember forever. (Get them to watch The Economics of Happiness film)

Advice for buying presents for loved ones:

FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS/WANTS EVERYTHING buy them the The Economics of Happiness. They definitely need to watch this film, so they can see how their excesses are destroying the world.
FOR THE PERSON WHO DOESN'T WANT ANYTHING buy them The Economics of Happiness.They will really appreciate this film. It might make them a bit smug, because they are already on the right track with regards to possessions.
FOR ANYONE WITH ANY SENSE OF ENVIROMENT buy them the The Economics of Happiness. This film might make them cry because they have been following the destruction of the earth with great detail. It says everything they have been saying, but more intelligently with great visuals and in 68 minutes. It will also give them hope.
FOR ANYONE IN ANY POSITION OF POWER OF DESICISION MAKING (Real or imagined e.g. bank managers/CEOs/politicians etc) buy them the The Economics of Happiness. They are the people who really, REALLY need to see this film. They are destroying the world.

http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/

The Economics of Happiness - Official Trailer from The Economics of Happiness on Vimeo.

Curation Masterclass

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:12:00 +0000

I'm just back from a few days in Kilkenny, the nerve centre of the CCOI. I've been attending a series of Curation Master classes, the first time the CCOI have run workshops on the craft of curation. (And believe me it is a craft; an elusive, time-consuming, art-form that, I believe, involves a huge amount of craftiness in order to succeed).

Well, I only actually attended a couple of the series, because I couldn't make it to all of them. But I was very, VERY, lucky to have attended both of the classes that were facilitated by Freddie Robins and David Littler. Two incredibly inspiring people. Its impossible to really describe what actually went on in these sessions, which were a 2 day conversation about curating contemporary craft. But here’s is some of the key words... well, an awful lot of key words...(I do like a good word cloud...)

Finally, a crafty blog post; Papermaché

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:40:00 +0000

Its been ages since I blogged about anything crafty! I've finally gotten round to taking a few pics of the papermaché I made for the Retro Romp. I hadn't done papermaché in years, so they are a bit rough and ready. Made as quick as it is possible to make papermaché in a damp country. But it was great to get back into it, I'd forgotten how much I liked working with paper and paint.

Skeletal Cat #1

Skeletal Cat #2

And Skeletal Flamingos

Tralee Circus Festival 2011 (again)

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 19:55:00 +0000

Heres a few pics from the Tralee Circus Festival Parade, which we nearly didn't bother with because of the rain. But the rain eased just in time...The parade was small but certainly loud, fun and colourful!! I've post more on Flickr.

After the parade, I went to the Festival Club was in The Brandon Hotel, where we got to see some great performances from The Daredevil Chicken Club, The Twilight Players and The Roaring Forties!!

Great night, well done to the Tralee Circus Festival, gets bigger and better every year!! Next year, the child wants to be in the parade, so will have to come up with some good costumes....

Tralee Circus Festival 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:03:00 +0000

Don't forget the Tralee Circus Festival is on next weekend!!

Last year I brought the small man to a kids juggling workshop, and it was great fun.

More info here www.traleecircusfestival.com

and on Facebook

More Retro Romp (but a short one...)

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:57:00 +0000

OK, finally some pics from the Retro Romp up on Flickr!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchlily/

What a fantastic night! Great crowd, great music. Thanks a mill to everyone who came, especially those of you who got dressed up!! We will be putting on another night soon, but it probably wont be until next year. I forgot my flash, so I couldn't get decent photos of the crafty stuff we made. Next chance I get, I'll take some separate pics and post them then.

It was such a great project to work on. As I said in a previous post, its combines everything I love; music, crafts, people. It confirmed my belief we need to take crafts back. Every human culture has crafts interwoven into their customs. And sometimes I feel we are losing them, not just because they are undervalued, but because what we have, has become too precious and expensive. I know everyone has to make a living, I do too, but it doesn't mean we have to have a class system for crafts. Its only by making it part of our everyday lives again, that people will appreciate it, and more willing to pay for it. We need to reclaim it from posh shops, the galleries, the museums and make them living crafts. Make it part of very event, every festival, part of everyday life.

I was very proud of the work we put in this night, the place looked fantastic, and we pretty much made it all ourselves, on a crap budget, with recycled materials. If it makes people see, the beauty you can create from simple materials and simple skills, its worth the effort.

"I half wish that I had not been born with a sense of romance and beauty in this accursed age".

One of my favourite quotes by William Morris, which I sigh on a daily basis.

Halloween!! (but really its about the Retro Romp)

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:16:00 +0000

Only 8 days to Halloween!! My favourite time of the year. (And 11 days to the Retro Romp!!) Luckily the Retro Romp ties in with Halloween, or my son wouldn't let me away the with the mess I've been making lately, (and the time I am spending, making the mess). We want some of the stuff we've been making, to be a surprise, so the picture above is a glimpse of some papermache I've been working on. If you pass by my house Halloween night, you might recognise those bones...

I'm really enjoying working on the Retro Romp. I haven't done papermache for years, or painting for that matter, and its nice to get away from woolly things, for a change. (Never thought I would say that!). We've pretty much made all the decor, mostly out of salvaged and recycled materials. What I love about it, is the fact we are trying to bring together some of my favourite things; crafts, music, dancing and people. And I'm working with some wonderful people, who want the same things!!

I've had a few people ask me why are we putting this on? Whats it for? I have an answer, a really good answer that will explain it all and sound really intelligent, deep and artyfarty. When I get my head around the spiel, it is there, I just haven't got the words right yet. And considering I have been up late painting every night, I doubt it'll come to me soon. So, for now I say, fun! Its for fun, do you remember fun, purely and utterly for a fun night, well, music, dancing and people.

McCarthys Bar, Retro Romp Photoshoot!

The Really Rather Retro Romp!!

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Remember I said how much I loved the Gramaphone Disco at this years Electric Picnic? (If you dont, read the post-EP post). Well, so did Kate and Michelle, 2 other ladies from Dingle. And on our return home, we have plotted and planned, and we have now come up with our own Vintage Disco!

Kate of Bijou Entertainment did the beautiful drawings for our poster and tickets, and together we are plotting and painting, sticking and stitching to create vintage visuals influenced by bones, kitch and chinz!

The DJ for the night is none other than Electric Picnic Gramaphone Disco DJ, whose collection of jazz, ragtime, rockabilly, blues, country and world music will have you dancing your spats off. There isn't a dress code, but dressing to excess is advised...vintage, burlesque, steampunk whatever tickles your fancy. It is Halloween Week, so anything goes...

Tickets are now on sale in McCarthys Bar and Re-Nua Health Food Shop, Dingle. Tickets are limited, so you are well advised to buy your ticket in advance. (Seriously, I'm not just saying that because I want to sell tickets, they were selling even before we made them!)

I'll probably either talk about nothing else for the next 2 weeks, or not talk at all! And add it to my backlog of projects I must blog about. Either way, if you can make it out on Thursday the 3rd of November, it'll be a night to dance, chat, plain old time party. The big decidion is now what to wear....

Cork Textiles Network

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:42:00 +0000

I've been in the CTN for a few years now, and am a pretty, well, crap member. They run several exhibitions a year, (I barely get it together to do one), run workshops, an amazing conference (which I got to last year!), and have 2 AGMs a year. I finally made it to an AGM (my first one!), and although it is a bit of a trek for me from Kerry, I am glad I did. I got to meet and chat with these fantastic members, put faces to names, vote on future events, and just generally feel part of a wonderful textile community. The Conference for 2012 in now in UCC, a sign of not only its popularity but its reputation. It is getting a great reputation abroad, as a very professionally run event. You don't have to live in Cork to be a member, in fact there is now a large non-Cork membership base. I do feel guilty for not being able to volunteer to hang or monitor exhibitions, or get to regular meetings. but the Cork crowd do understand that, and appreciate any other support given such as admin or internet support.

If more non-Cork members join we can start sub-groups, maybe meet up regular ourselves, share the driving/costs of going to the meetings. There are also other events such as The Knitting and Stitching Show that happen in Dublin. I cant say enough good words about the exhibitions, and would love to have a piece in every one! But going to and from Cork is a difficulty, not in costs but also in time. Again, this is where non-Corkonian members can help each other out, either share the costs, or take turns in traveling. One does the drop off, another the pick-up.anyway, enough of the speech, here's the latest CTN news

re:View
The Knitting and Stitching Show, RDS, Dublin
10th - 13th November 2011

A retrospective of selected members work

The Colour of Sound
The Cork School of Music
Thursday 24th November until 21st December 2011

Video Interlude

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:38:00 +0000

A lovely little video my sister told me about...

Original Kerry Craft Market, part of Culture Night in Kerry

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:45:00 +0000

My poor blog, I'm still struggling to get the time to update it! Between general life stuff, trying to update The Woolly Way blog, trying to learn how to update the Cork Textiles Network website, a completely distracting yet possibly really exciting venture in Dingle, and now I'll be taking part in Culture Night in Killarney!! I will be hanging out with some fantastic Kerry Crafters on New Market Lane, selling my wares, and even a little bit of demonstrating... Its not officially open from 5pm, but I will be there from about 3pm. I had said I was going to take a break from fairs and markets this year, but since I am still carless, (my lovely mitzi has gone to scrapyard heaven), I am going to sell my crafty soul to raise funds for the vehicle I have always wanted! (Well not really, anything that has 4 wheels and moves will actually do).

Original Kerry Craft Market Demonstrations:

Craft Demonstrations highlighting traditional and contemporary craft making techniques. An opportunity to meet some of Kerry’s master craft makers as well as see their work. Music, food and fun. Co-ordinated by members of Original Kerry in association with the Backlane Gallery.

Venue: New Market Lane, Killarney.

Time: 5.00p.m. – 9.00p.m.

Contact: Fleur Daly on 086 8112398

www.culturekerry.com

www.culturenight.ie

Electric Picnic 2011 and other stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:46:00 +0000

I haven't been online much this Summer, not blogging, not even tweeting. The main reason was I wasn't in the mood, I felt like I had nothing happy and exciting to contribute so I kept stum. As much as I enjoyed the Body and Soul Festival, I felt exhausted, and drained after it, I was even thinking of backing out of the Electric Picnic. I think I went through a mini midlife craft crisis. So after a lot of soul-searching I came to the conclusion am I fecking mad? I love festivals, I love music, I love camping, hanging out with friends and talking textiles for days on end. So I decided to use that scary word "invest". I dont invest in my future, I barely think about next week, but the marquee thing was getting to me, and I was sick of making endless decorations, so I decided to invest in a proper marquee. I had several boxes to tick, I needed a marquee that would suit several different festivals, be comfortable to sit and teach in, as handmade/eco as I could possibly get, takes 2 people to put up, isn't too difficult to store, would last me an awful long time, and most of all be nice to look at. Lots of endless nights trawling through marquees, websites, festivals looking for inspiration. I came across pasttents.com and fell in love with this.

So, a very, very, long winded story which involves tents not arriving on time, cars breaking down, children starting school, it was the craziest most stressful summer I have ever had. So a week before the Electric Picnic I ended up with no transport, no tent. Luckily I was just coming out of my midlife craft crisis, I had run out of steam, and although my insides were churning, I maintained an outer calm. I have taken to mantras, all summer all I repeated to myself was "It'll be fine, it'll be fine' it'll be fine...". I managed to borrow a van 5 days before EP set-up, and my mantra changed to "Diesel, diesel, diesel...". The day before I was due to leave, my new tent finally arrived, but without any instructions on how to put it up "It'll be fine, it'll be fine, it'll be fine...". So, I when I get to the Greencrafts site, guessing how to put the marquee up, my mantra changed to "it'll stay up, it'll stay up.... as long as it doesn't get windy it'll stay up"

This is the tent on Day 5, it's gone a bit loose and lopsided, but I think not bad considering it came with no instructions. I am absolutely delighted with it. And hopefully I'll be able to start doing more festivals and events. (Anybody want me? Now taking bookings for next summer!!)

The workshops went great, I had 2 fantastic helpers this year, Denise and Lisa. I am indebted to them for making my festival very easy this year. I had some lovely people stop by for a chat. A few people I recognised from last year, and it was lovely to meet to them again. But my favourite of all were these bunch of cousins. They were so pretty and happy, and we all just giggled for ages. They made my festival.

To be honest, I didn't see much of the festival, I pretty much stayed in the Greencrafts Village, in the trees for most of the weekend, during the day doing workshops. Maybe I'm getting old, but the big bands don't do it for me anymore. What I love about the Electric Picnic is being surprised, hearing new music, and the top 2 to impress me were CW Stoneking, like Tom Waits in his early drinking in the harbour tavern days and Lady Grew, a pint-sized tornado like a cross between Mad-Max and Grace Jones. But the real highlight for me was dancing my wellies off at the Gramophone Disco.

Here's a few more pics from Greencrafts. I didn't take many although I say every year I will, maybe next year I'll take more.

I have a lot of crafty blog posts to write up, everything from how to make fabric windmills, crocheted mushrooms, plastic lace, and more, so the next few posts will have less chat and more craft!

Cork Cycling Festival 2011 and the History of Silk in Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:32:00 +0000

This years Cork Cycling Festival runs from Saturday 16th July to Sunday 24th July 2011. So, the piece I made for the Kerry Bike Festival is on its way to Cork, as this year they are sharing the Visual Arts Exhibition. (See this post!).

Its looks set it be a great festival and I hope to make it down one of the days. I am delighted however to have sold the piece, so it wont be coming home!! It was going cheap, but I was in the midst of Body and Soul chaos, and couldn't face the thought of it coming back, so its better to put an affordable price on it. Also it was all made from recycled materials, and just because its in a gallery doesn't mean it has to be over priced. With the proceeds I bought this book.

Just published, its written by Mairead Dunleavy, who sadly passed away last year. But I'm sure she would be delighted her book was published, because if it hadn't, we would have lost a gem. I have another of her books the excellent Dress in Ireland, a bible for Irish textile history. It is such a shame Dress in Ireland is now out of print. There are so few books on Irish Textiles, and written by Irish people.

I'm on a mission to try collect all the books on Irish textiles I can. I must compile a list here, so if I'm missing one, you good folks can tell me.

International Freeform Guild 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 22:09:00 +0000

I seriously need to catch up on blogging, before I make/do anything else. So, here we go...

While I was in the midst of packing for The Body and Soul Festival, the International Freefrom Guild opened its online show. 50 Freeform Artists from around the Globe were challenged to create one freeform piece interpreting a chosen theme.

We had a vote on the theme for this years show. During the voting, recycling was winning the vote, so I was trying to be organised and started on a recycled project. (That's another blog post!). This is a new thing for me, I'm usually an up all night the night before the deadline kinda gal. Then, to my dismay and well, delight, my actual favourite theme won the vote: Mythologies, Stories and Fairy Tales.

When I lived in Dublin, many moons ago, I spent 2 years doing night classes at the loveliest but strange little college Saor-Ollscoil na hÉireann in Stoneybatter. (Which celebrates its 25th year this year). I enrolled, just to do Folklore, but it was actually a degree course, and so I ended up doing a few other subjects; History, Archaeology, Environmental Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies (was more conflict than peace...) and more. Anyway back to Folklore, the course was taught by Dr. Micháel Ross. I loved every minute of this course, you could just listen to Micháel forever, a born storyteller. I ended up writing essays on Tolkien's use of old English poetry in his work, on present day Wiccan activities in Ireland, and The History and Construction of Irish Tower Houses, and well, lots more. It gave me an excuse to read lots of very unusual yet interesting books. The place is like mecca for knowledge; all ages, all types of people. I wasn't interested in doing the degree really, I just wanted to learn, and be around other people who like also liked learning.

So, I had to make something for this exhibition, something freeform, crocheted, based on mythology, and since I'm still in my lace phase, it would have to be lace, and of course it has to be Irish, and because I love Celtic illumination, and especially zoomorphics... etc. Enough said here's the piece....

Cú

Crocheted with a fine black wool yarn.
(Yarn weight and type unknown. Hook size, cant remember...)

So, the exhibition can be viewed online here http://www.freeformcrochet.com/2011/Pages/index.html and it can also be bought! Its published on Blurb http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2241770. All proceeds of which go to very worthy causes!!

Since I had a lace piece made, I decided to enter it into the Lace category of the RDS Crafts competition. I have never entered before because as much as I love the promotion of Irish craft, I don't like how expensive it is to enter, (€15!!). It seems that Irish artists and craftspeople are constantly having to pay out for the privilege of just entering competitions, exhibitions, etc, let alone the actually crafting, framing, travelling, etc, expenses. We are struggling to make ends meet, and galleries, arts centres, administrators and the likes have nice regular wages. It just doesn't sit well with me. The piece got into the finals which was quite a surprise, I never expected it to. I should be delighted, and I don't mean to bah-humbug, but a part of me wished it hadn't, as I then had to get it framed, and couriered it up to Dublin. I'm trying to save up for a new marquee for doing festivals and every penny counts at the moment. No marquee, no Electric Picnic!!

So, anyone want to buy a lovely framed piece of Lace??

The Body and Soul Festival 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:29:00 +0000

OK, its about time I put some pics up of the festival. I've just about recovered. After 2 days of sunshine most of my camping gear is cleaned and dry, and I'm feeling a bit more restful. I don't have many pics of the festival itself. It was a busy weekend, (albeit a bit stressful with regards to my crappy marquee and the crazy weather). Its going to take a few posts, so first of all I'll just deal with my stand, and the stuff I made for it.

GREENCRAFTS

There were only 6 of us in the Greencrafts area, but it was lovely none the less. We had a beautiful setting just on the edge of the woods, and even had our own mini acoustic stage to look at!

Greencrafts

I had a very definite picture in my head about the space I wanted to create, but unfortunately it didn't come out exactly as I planned. I wanted it to look kind of circusy, but in a homemade kinda way. Instead it came out as crazy ole granny kinda space, but sure, it was cheap and cheerful!!

Firstly I made a load of lining. I realised how crap Ireland is for sourcing and buying festival/party stuff. I couldn't find anyone in Ireland who stocked marquee lining, yet in the UK you can get all kinds of fire-proofed lining, in a range of colours and themes. (Anyone looking for a business idea out there? I reckon this could be a good one). So, I spent the best part of a week ripping up old sheets and duvets from the charity shop, and sewing them into panels. I lined the whole inside of the marquee and the roof with these panels.

Next I made some doily discoballs. I've blogged before about the prototype. I made a few of these, but unfortunately I had to squish them a bit to fit them in the car, so I had to blow up more balloons inside them and leave them in, Sure it added a bit more colour! (I will post the pattern for these soon!)

My mushrooms made a regular appearance, and this time I added in a few fabric windmills. (Again, will post tutorial soon!)

I brought my spinning wheel along, because the plan was to just sit, chill and spin, as part of my demonstrations. I haven't had a lot of time to spin lately, and I was using it as an excuse. There is something so primal about the spinning wheel, that makes everyone, male or female, stop and want a closer look. Its like having a great big stop sign outside the marquee!! I even had a great chat with 2 young lads about the spinning jenny and the Industrial Revolution. That kinda thing makes my day. I love history and especially textile history, so it be able to sit at a festival, spin and talk history, well, it is kinda special.

I don't usually get it together to sell much at these festivals. To me they are more about promoting craft, textiles and trying to get people to have a go. But I tried to make some festive stuff, to sell this year, because between insurance, petrol, and other expenses, its getting tougher each year. I made a load of flowers, as brooches, clips and hairbands. I am a total Japophile, yes it sounds rude, but I just love Japanese arts and crafts, their aesthetics, their clothes, gardens, etc, etc. So, when I was looking to make flowers to sell, it had to be kanzashi.

Making Kanzashi

I love these flowers. They are a little bit fiddly to make, like fabric origami, but the result is beautiful. The proper Kanzashi use silk and rice glue, but instead I used scrap fabric and sewed them together. But I'm delighted to have sold a few, gives me the excuse to make more!

Since I was selling fabric flowers I decided to do a fabric flower workshop. Not Kanzashi, but a simple folded flower with scrap fabric and a bit of netting. They are easy to make, and everyone who made one, seemed happy. Here's a pic of my good friend Aideen, who was my rock at the festival (when the wind was blowing hard, the rain falling, the field flooding, who made me breakfast each day). I don't usually get the chance to have a break during the day, but she did a few workshops for me, so I could go for a wander.

I also want to say a big thanks to Conor, our handy-man for the weekend!

I have posted a good few pics on Flickr, and as I said, it will take a few posts to cover all the activities of the past month. Its been hectic! New tutorials, patterns, and more news, but that'll have to wait until day.

The Body and Soul Festival!

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sat, 21 May 2011 09:29:00 +0000

In the depths of a long dark winter, when summer feels like a long time away, I came up with an idea. A big idea, my biggest yet. In the Electric Picnic Craft Village, you can stroll around a lovely space, beautiful yurts and tipis, with interesting people doing lovely handcrafts, looking very eco-friendly and calm. And then there is me.

I turn up in my cheap plastic party tent from Woodies with my almost neon acrylic knitted bunting. I feel like a raspberry, a pretender to the calmness and eco-ness that is the spirit behind the Craft Village. I am always completely rushed, so my space tends to look a bit, well, thrown together. I only do one festival a year, so it didn't seem worth my while investing in a decent shelter, a van, and any number of useful things, festival going people usually have.

Then, I had the big idea, the notion I would I would make a new marquee. Crochet it in fact, Irish Crochet Lace, in Plastic... So I spent far to much time plotting, planning, and making samples. Much to the amusement of my weekly stitching group. The samples came out well, it could look fantastic, but....

The time slipping away, and now, ITS 4 WEEKS TO THE BODY AND SOUL FESTIVAL!! So, the plan to crochet the marquee is on hold, the sewing machine is out, and I have 4 weeks to perform a miracle. I am starting from scratch, I need everything; decorations, workshops to prepare, stock to sell, and marquee lining to try up my un-eco friendly, but yet, cheap and reliable party tent from Woodies... So, again, my space will look a bit thrown together, patchworked infact, but hopefully in a homely, sit down and have a cuppa kinda way. Well, sit down for a workshop and buy something kinda way! All monies are going towards.....a proper marquee.

So, I'm locking myself indoors, (I'm the only one enjoying the crap weather, I'm not getting sun guilt!), In fact I shouldn't be online even now, except I need to order supplies. I've been making loads of new stuff, new designs, new patterns, and have no time to blog, but prepare to be blitzed after the festival.

Crowd Funding - Better Fashion Week and Yarn Graffiti!!

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 06 May 2011 09:27:00 +0000

Have you heard of Crowd Funding? Its a fancy way of asking people to donate money to projects. All kinds of projects, all kinds of people, its your choice who you give to, and what amount. You can just pay a minimum amount, and donate for kicks, or you can give money to a project you might be passionate about.

I have donated to a few projects, firstly because I am interested in those projects, and would love to see them successful, but also because I like to think, if every I wanted to get funding for a project, I could be supported. Having run events both successful and unsuccessful in the past, I know that money is always an issue, and its a horrible reason to have to cancel what could be a financially poor, but emotionally very successful event. And when it comes down to it, that is what art, movies, music, etc, is all about. If it makes money great, but it should not be the reason why we do it, We do it because for some bizarre reason, an animal painted a picture on a wall in a cave a long time ago. Its in us, we dont know why, but its what makes us human.

The projects I have funded to date are all textile (surprise, surprise), but are movements, ideas rather than actual physical textiles. As I have said before, I think its great that textiles, knitting, crochet, etc are back in, but am horrified with the impact it is having on the environment, on farmers, on people.

So one of the first projects I donated to was Dirty White Gold - Journalist Leah Borromeo is making a documentary about the horrors of the cotton industry.

At its height, up to 26 Indian cotton farmers a day drank pesticides to kill themselves out of the debt they got into in order to work. The country where 4 of the world’s 10 richest people live is also 70% agrarian. Journalist Leah Borromeo traveled to India and met with a suicide widow, local doctors, farmers and workers along the cotton production chain. And a 23-yr old man who tried to kill himself over £800.

Her funding campaign is over, but Leah is still working hard to bring her documentary to a reality. She was recently in Copenhagen attending the Stockholm Convention on Persistant Organic Pollutants. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

RE_DRESS- A fantastic Irish group dedicated to raising awareness of sustainable fashion, are looking for funding to organise their event: Better Fashion week is organised to highlight better practice in the Fashion Industry. Better fashion is creatively inspiring while being environmentally and socially responsible. There’s still time to help them out on Fund It. You can catch up with updates on Twitter and Facebook

Yarn Graffiti Documentary. And just last night I came across a a campaign on IndieGoGo by Sarah Gonzales, who is looking for funding to make a documentary about urban art and in particular, Yarn Bombing. This is something I have been following with great interest over the years. And hopefully if she gets the funding, will make a great documentary!! And yes, she is on Facebook and Twitter too!! Check out all the details on the blog http://yarngraffitidocumentary.blogspot.com/

Here is the blurb:The primary goal of this documentary is to formally introduce the world to Yarn Bombing, giving a retrospective history. First, the filmmakers will spend time with each of the knitters, documenting each unique style and statement. Next, we will conduct interviews with each of the subjects, gathering their stories and perspectives on the craft. Topics of discussion will touch on why Yarn Bombing is dominated by women, how it differs from male-dominated crafts, and whether commissioned artists have “sold out” from their guerilla, graffiti roots. In the end, it is our goal to piece together the chronology of this movement. Just as Rockers defined Reggae in the 1970’s and Style Wars defined Graffiti art in the 1980’s, we hope to bring yarn bombing to the world as the newest art of this decade.

2011 Kerry Bicycle Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Frame: Art Cycles opened in Siamse Tire last night, part of the Kerry Bicycle Festival. I actually got something together for it this year. Anyone who knows me, has immediately said, "did you crochet it"? No, well, not quite...

Heres what I made:

Maybe I take my themes a bit seriously, when they said bike exhibition, I just had to make something out of a bike. (I blame my sister, we've been chatting a lot lately about the merits of inner-tubes). And of course, I had to add a bit of crochet. (The leaves are made with innertubes and crocheted with a fine silver thread.)

If you can't catch the exhibition in Kerry, you'll catch it in Cork at the Cork Cycling Festival,
16th - 24th July 2011

Lace Seminar

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 01 May 2011 21:00:00 +0000

You'll never believe this, but I didn't take any photos of the Lace Seminar!! I was so busy, running around like a headless chicken, I didn't get the chance. What a wasted opportunity...

But you can catch a glimpse of it on Nationwide, RTE next Wednesday. The lovely Veronica Stuart from the Traditional Lacemakers of Ireland group was interviewed about Irish Lace.