Stitchlily

Tiki Tiki!!( again)

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sat, 18 May 2019 17:33:00 +0000

I've done a few posts already about my love for Tiki designs. Its been one of my most popular posts ever, here on my wee blog. (See here!). So when the theme of this years Feile na Bealtaine parade was announced, as 'Masks', I knew immediately what I wanted to do.

For a few years now, I have worked with the local boy's school here in Dingle, designing and making their Feile parade costumes and props. I thought the theme of Tiki masks would suit the boys down to the ground.
I had a lovely space to work in, so for once my house didn't turn into a sweat shop. And as usualy I made everything our of cardboard and recycled material. I think everything should be recycled in this day and age, so, even though it can be harder to produce good quality props, I will only use recycled materials.

So, about 30 salvaged cardboard boxes, 10 old duvet covers, donated paint, a few hours put in by the boys, the teachers, and lots and lots of hours by myself, and my helper Mairead, we managed to produce a range of props, to fit 48 boys!

The weather was glorious, which always makes it much easier! As usual, I didn't take much photos, because I was too engrossed in the actual event, but I did get this nice wee video.

Christmas 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 20:13:00 +0000

So, my attempt at blogging again in 2018 failed....miserably. BUT, (the but of all buts), I am starting all my New Years Resolutions early, and try get the blogging mojo back.

First up, its Christmas!! Or it just was, its 3 days after Christmas. I had a few disasters, which were stressful but not life threatening. They included washing machine breaking down, car breaking down, and other petty annoyances, which I was determined, would not ruin my plan to have the most chilled out Christmas ever

It started mid-December with painting the front door... by special request, pokemon style, as you can see from the pic above.

Then it involved going drinking and playing the tin whistle with the Goat Street Wren, in preparation for Lá an Dreoilín (The Day of the Wren), a mighty session of a day here in Dingle on St. Stephan's Day. I also dabbled in a bit of straw skirt making...

Christmas Day was perfect. With a young teen in the house the days of fussing are over. The effort was minimal. This was the note left for Santa....

We got up, opened presents, and then went back to bed. Got up, cooked dinner. I went back to bed with a book, the teen to whatever virtual world his friends were hanging out in. Job done - a simple, stress free Christmas.

Santa was very eco minded this year, and presents were wrapped in brown paper, but nicely decorated with drawings of hearts and stars. He also brought me these handy items. A guppy bag for washing synthetic clothes (stops the micro fibres from going down the drain), and Hanna's Bee Wraps ( super usful and Irish made honey coated fabric squares. A great alternative to plastic). I'm on a mission to go as plastic free as possible. I've personally declared 2019 to be 'International Year of Cop the Feck On'. (Wont go into it but we seriously need to cop the feck on, with regard to the current ecocide crisis!)

Christmas Day done and dusted its time for the Wren (pronounced the 'ran'). A day of debauchery, Irish shtyle, with ceol, craic and pints. Historically, it was a day of mischief, for men to dress like their granny, mixed with straw rigs, and drink their way around the village, calling to the houses to play music, and try get a few pennies towards the pints. In some parts of Ireland this is still going on, but in Dingle, they have turned it into a full on street party.

There are 4 main Wren groups in Dingle, Goat Street (red and white), Sráid Eoin (blue and white), The Green and Gold and The Quays (green and white), with splinter groups including the 'New Road' for the blow ins of the town. Membership to these exclusive Wren groups usually meant you were born into, or married into a family on that road. We signed up to the Goat Street Wren, purely because we know most of them, and I currently work on Goat Street. Once you have joined one, that's it for life! Wren practice starts at the beginning of December, where people meet weekly to practice the tunes on the tin whistle, fifes, and drums.

The Goat Street Wren started outside Barr na Sráide on Goat Street, we marched down Main Street, Strand Street, The Quays to The Wood at the edge of town. A pitstop for mulled wine, turn around, and its marching back into town with the first proper pit stop for a pint at Dannos Bar. Then march and a pint at Paddy Bawn Brosnans Bar, then over to the Dingle Hospital to sing a few songs with the residents. Back to Strand Street, to Hannies Pub. Up Green Street, down Main Street... continue for several hours with lots of pub stops. There were 2 pit stops for food in the Flannery and Kennedy houses, where the Bean an tí (woman of the house), provided soup and sandwiches. It was a long day! I started out knowing about 2 and a half tunes on the whistle, but finished up with several more.

It was great fun, and has to be seen to be believed.

More about my New Years Resolutions in the next post, but there will be more crafting, research on crafting for sure. 2018 was a dry year, where I put down my tools in the the attempt of trying to get better quality work, get paid a decent wage for once in my life. Yes, I have earned slightly more, but the stress of the modern workplace just makes me want to scuttle back into my medieval hidey-hole again. We'll see what 2019 brings! (Hopefully a working car...)

Slán!

Bunting Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 17:27:00 +0000

Over the years, I have made a ridiculous amount of bunting, each very individual and stylized for whatever event I was organising/attending. I've managed to misplace this enormous bag of bunting. ( I have a terrible habit of lending stuff to people, and then forgetting about it). So, when Greencrafts contacted me looking to borrow my bunting for a new festival (All Together Now) this coming August Bank Holiday Weekend, I wasn't able to lend it to them. So, they asked me if they could commission some bunting.

I had a week to make as much as possible. Thankfully, due to my hoarding ways, I had a roll of lovely orange fabric in my attic, and so, spent a few days glued to the sewing machine, and made about 40 meters of bunting, which is now on its way to Waterford, to decorate the lovely Greencrafts site.

Project 52 / Tionscnamh 52

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 22:01:00 +0000

I was delighted to be invited to take part in Project 52/Tionscnamh 52,
an interesting art project, that took place on the Dingle Peninsula, over 2017,
and was exhibited as part of Feile na Bealtaine, our fantastic arts festival,
the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

Project 52/Tionscnamh 52 is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary arts
project connecting 52 artists living on the Dingle Peninsula.
Over 52 weeks of 2017, each artist had a week to create a new piece
of work. This piece was then passed on to the next artist and was used
as the inspiration for the next artist’s new piece. Artists involved in
the project include writers, painters, dancers, musicians, photographers,
filmmakers, milliner, among others. The work is grounded in the
landscape and culture of the Dingle Peninsula with pieces in both
Irish and English. This project captures the rich and diverse art
being created hereand is a barometer for the collective community.

As part of the project, a creative piece was made, by No 1 person
on the list, it could have been visual, verbal, auditory, or any
other format. This piece was then passed onto No 2 on the list,
who only saw the previous piece, an had to create a new piece
influenced by it. And so on... I was given the following photos,
and had to create a some form of art based on it.

Using these photos as influence, I concentrated on the
text, which was both in English and Irish. It reminded me
of my final pieces in college many years previously (Fadó, fadó!!
[Irish for long, long ago]). I created pieces of text carved into
wooden panels. The words, illegible, became shapes rather
than text. I decided to use this same technique.

Firstly I carved text into a wooden block. I used lino cutting
tools, and a hieroglyphic style of font, angular letters that
would carve easier than cursive. Using a combination of oil paints,
and oil pastels, I coloured the text and the wood.

I then played around with the wording of the text, writing on torn paper, writing and scraping with oil pastels and sharp implements. I was really enjoying the process. I had a week to create my section of the project, and then I sent these photos onto the next person.

Project 52 / Tionscnamh 52 was exhibited as part of Feile na Bealtaine,
in a large room, which used to be a brewery. Until the exhibition,
few of the artists had seen each of the works, so it was a really
interesting opening! As well as art pieces, from print to sculpture,
there was poetry, music, sound, performance. It was an
excellent experiment and shows the diversity of artists living
on the peninsula.

I have photos on my phone to transfer and edit, of the exhibition,
and of my final piece, which I will edit into this post over the
coming days. I am trying to get back into blogging
and hopefully this will kickstart my blogging mojo!

Snail Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 17:40:00 +0000

Yellow isnt a colour I'd use very often, but sometimes you see a colour combination, that is just the business, and its usually Nature, at her best. Outshining everything.

The Blogging hiatus is Over, and Womens Reproductive Rights! Repealthe8th!

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 07:04:00 +0000

Its been nearly 2 years since I last blogged!! That is scary. Time is going way to fast for me, and I am struggling, like everyone to get on top of things. So, here I am at 7am, trying to gain some control of time and break my blogging hiatus.

Brief synopsis of the past 2 years: I finished my Masters, fulfilled a lifelong dream to go to First Nations Pow Wow, am working part-time in a charity shop and freelance in digital management such as websites, social media etc, and am trying to kickstart my own business, TriFlake Studio, a creative agency, into gear. Oh, and my son is now 11.

But never mind all that normal life stuff. This blog was always about making. I haven't been making a huge amount, but I've made a few fun things, which I will blog about retrospectively, before I loose the photos.

This post may upset some readers, as its about Women's Reproductive Rights. If you don't agree with it, its simple, don't read it, and don't comment. I don't need your disapproval, your comments or your condemnations, thank you.

Abortion is awful. It truly is, and no one really wants one, or should have to have one. But that is not reality. Whatever the reasons, medical, monetary, mentally, women make a decision. The reality is that Irish women have abortions, we just export it. Its currently estimated between 1980 and 2016, based on the UK Department of Health statistics, at least 168,703 women and girls who accessed UK abortion services provided Irish addresses. That does not include those who don't give addresses. I am not going to go into the speech about women's rights, access to safe medical procedures, awfulness of fatal fetal abnormalities, of women dying from septicaemia because of prolonged miscarriage and lack of medical procedures. You can get all the information on these sites:
https://www.abortionrightscampaign.ie,
https://www.repealeight.ie,
https://www.ifpa.ie/Hot-Topics/Abortion

photos taken by Renee Summer, from Facebook

Last Saturday, I took part in a protest, along with 40,000 other people, in Dublin, to demand the removal of the 8th Amendment, Repealthe8th. Basically, religious grounds put into our constitution to make a woman a second class citizen, and have no bodily autonomy when pregnant. Because, at it very basis, take away all the personal and religious feelings, and this is about Womens Reproductive Rights. The right to say Yes or No. Your choice. That is why we are called ProChoice. As a single parent who made a choice to have my child, I can categorically state its not easy. The stigma, the childcare issues, the loneliness. I adore my son, he is my moon and stars, but being a parent is not for everyone. Situations are different and difficult. So, that the boring part over, here the exciting part.

If there's going to be a protest, there has to be a bit of stitchery involved. I am a slightly fanatical when it comes to subversive stitchery. It adds an element to a protest that steps beyone a humble sign. Shows thought and consideration, and time into active participation of your right as a citizen. A good friend of mine is one of the regional organisers for Kerry For Choice. Over a bottle of wine (or two), as you do, she came up with a plan to make a giant uterus puppet. As you do. I had made a giant puppet for a local parade (blog post to follow), and she wanted something similar. After lots of planning, chats, near fisticuffs, we came up with this:

The Front

The Back

Inside our walking uterus, is @KnickersKerry
I didnt get to take enough photos, but there was some great banners and outfits including this, my absolute fav:

Some Time Travelling ProChoicers:

Even a Handmaiden:

Because of the enthusiasm for some ProChoice Stitchery, a new group is evolving, Knitters and Stitchers For choice. So, be prepared for some more stitching shenanigans...

Why I'm so quiet these days...

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 12:27:00 +0000

As you might have read from a previous blog post, I have started doing a MA in Digital Culture through UCC. (Previous post Upskilling) Although it was supposed to be part-time, I fear it is overwhelming me, and I can say it is nearly full time! A whole world of digital has opened up, sucking up my time either directly or indirectly. In a good way though! I would like, while I have the opportunity to do this course, to devote as much time to it as possible. So my crafting days as sadly quiet.

I am directing my research into the area of activism. Using arts and crafts as a means of communication, using digital tools, to make our world a better place. So, I am not entirely devoid of craft! But more reading the academic side of it, in the hope of becoming more proficient about being able to write and talk about it. And about why I feel it is so important for us, in this overpowering digital age. I hope to do a lot of research on social media and design tools that can help craftspeople, promote our work, and use our skills for community activism. Conservation of crafts is also a key issue for me, the conservation of skills.

I have had to start a new blog, and write about my research throughout the year, so I feel I must step back on the other blogging fronts, both here and on The Woolly Way.

If you would like to follow my research, make suggestions, state opinions. etc, as ever, you are most welcome to join me at my new blog Fite Fuaite (Gaelige for intertwined) or a new Facebook page I have set up for my research Fite Fuaite

I am still on FB and Twitter, and of course Pinterest, but I may be posting more academic type stuff. though still craft related I hope!

UP-SKILLING: Learning new stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 12:47:00 +0000

As you may know (loyal readers!), I did a course in Digital Design last winter. To try up-skill myself so I could find more work. Sadly, my craft skills do not bring home enough broccoli (I'm a veggie, so no bacon), so I need to explore branching out on my design skills.

At the end of the last course, I looked around for a continuation course, such as Digital Marketing, or something similar, that I could study online, while looking for some part-time digital work. As you know I am distracted by shiny new things, and I came across a course, that is, well, a shiny new thing. Long story short, I am now enrolled in an online course, a Masters in Digital Culture with UCC. I still cant quite explain what it is, or why it drew me in, but as part of the course I have to chart my research through a blog, so if you are interested in my research, you can read my ramblings and meanderings at www.fitefuaite.com.

The main areas I hope to research are craft orientated, of course. I would never abandon my true love! (...and my main means of sanity). I have always been interested in using art/craft as a tool, to promote environmentalism, sustainability, community, and health. This course is going to give me the opportunity to really focus in on these areas, from an Irish prospective. Every yarnbomb, every charity knit, every piece of crocheted coral, was all spread through word of digital. It is a yarnistas main mode of communication these days. I'm really looking forward to exploring all these areas, and much more.

I've also started a Facebook page as well, if you are interested in these areas, or have other ideas, new, old, bold or just plain mad, come and join the conversation. I will probably call on your help at times if you don't mind. You are all invaluable sources of information! I also want to create a project that will coincide with my research, a yarnbomb, charity event, or some plain old protesting, so if you have any ideas or are working on a project already and need a hand, get in touch, I'd love to help (and use you as my research guinea pig).

https://www.facebook.com/stitchlilyfitefuaite

Ive also started a Pinterest page, for links to cool sites, articles, etc https://www.pinterest.com/stitchlily/digitalculture/

WORKSHOP: Transition Towns, Tralee, Co. Kerry

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:39:00 +0000

Transition Village at Tralee Food Festival in Tralee Town Square Saturday 19^th September 2015

WORKSHOP:

Only just unpacking from the Electric Picnic (pictures to follow!) and I'm plugging my next workshop. I'll be doing simple yarn workshops at the Transition Village at the inaugural Tralee Food Festival, suitable for kids and adults alike!

"It will be a buzzing hub of activity with local food, cooking demonstrations, information on sustainable living and community resilience, children's activities and picnic tables to hang out and chat."

VOLUNTEER:

If anyone is available to help out on the day, Transition Towns are looking for people who can help help on the day (anytime between 9am and 5pm) and also with the set up of the Transition Village area on Saturday 19^th September @ 9am and top help with take down @ 5pm. If you are interested in helping out or taking part– Contact Niamh @ 086 7247066

WHAT IS TRANSITION KERRY?

Transition Kerry is part of a local, national & international initiative. We are working together to get our local communities to think about making themselves more resilient, in response to three major things that are happening in our world: CLIMATE CHANGE, PEAK OIL & ECONOMIC DECLINE. We are about creating awareness and networks to ensure that local sustainability is at the core of all actions & policies made at local, national & international levels.
For more information visit: www.transitionkerry.org/

Workshop: Electric Picnic 2015, Co. Laois

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:51:00 +0000

Just a quick note to say I'm off to Electric Picnic tomorrow. I'll be taking part, once again, in Greencrafts, Craft Village, delivering workshops to kids and adults in making Yarn Mandalas, or Ojo de Dios (God's Eyes), as they are sometimes known. I first came across these many years ago, in a book about Mexican Weaving. They were little offerings, good luck charms, very similar to our own St. Bridget's Cross. I loved making them. Such beauty with just a few pieces of yarn and sticks.

I thought they were a Mexican tradition until I came across a picture, very similar in a book, Irish Folk Ways by E. Estyn Evans. In this book, was a photo of types of St. Bridget's Cross, including a God's Eye made out of reeds. The image below is an example of a typical cross, made every year at Imbolc, the 1st of February, in Ireland.

But there is known examples of a Gods Eye being made in Ireland, though less common. These are made in exactly the same way as yarn but with reeds instead. See below:

Made from sticks and yarn, they can be simple enough for kids to make them, or they can be quite complex as the example below shows. I will be giving drop-in workshops in making yarn Ojo de Dios, throughout the day over the weekend of the festival in the Greencrafts area. And will be also doing demos in making these beautiful Complex Oja's.

As usual the Greencrafts are is off-the-grid, so I will be very low-tech for the rest of the week. Normal contact will resume, from next Tuesday, 8th September 2015. If the weather holds, I hope to have a load of lovely photos!!

More info here:
http://www.electricpicnic.ie/news/join-greencrafts-weekend-full-craft-making

OTHER: Growing Herbs

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:59:00 +0000

This blog is mainly about my craft work, but another passion of mine is gardening. (Yes, as my sister says, I was born granny!). I haven't done a lot of gardening this year, due to, well, bad weather, and not being in the right mind-set. I've been trying to design a small foraging garden, where nearly everything is either edible, medicinal, or in some way useful. Easier said than done! Our weather is mild, but extremely damp, and when those Wild Atlantic Winds blow, you can taste the salt on your skin. My veg beds leave a lot to be desired, but my herb garden is thriving.

There is a lovely little farmers market in Dingle, on Friday mornings, and a friend set up a stall this year, selling local, organic produce. For local gardeners, who might have a small glut of produce. It is a lovely idea, and I have been bringing down cuttings of my herbs most weeks. A variety of mints, lemon-balm, sage, rosemary, oregano, etc. I need to cut these plants back anyway, so it is lovely to have an outlet to pass them on! I usually swop them for new plants, more mints and edible lovelies, I can plant in the garden. My plan is to make a 'tea garden' with a range of lovely herbs with which to make teas. As I am mostly caffeine free these days, its lovely to make my own combinations.

There is nothing more calming or soothing then sitting out with a cuppa, of ones own making, listening to the bees, buzzing through the flowers.

MAKE: Harvest Knot Commission

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:43:00 +0000

I was commissioned by a lovely Bride-to-be, to make a series of harvest love knots for her wedding. She had as a young woman, come across the knots, and always thought them lovely.

She discovered an old blog post about harvest knots, and contacted me to ask if I could make some for her. She was very apologetic about her request, incase I found it odd, but infact she made my day, I love odd requests and unusual commissions. It was a lovely idea to include such a traditional craft, in with a modern wedding. I was only too glad to make them for her!

DESIGN & MAKE: Feile na Bealtaine

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:40:00 +0000

Every year I take part in our local Arts Festival, Feile na Bealtaine. Everything from installations, workshops, exhibit, etc. This year, I was asked to help the school my son goes to, to design and make a series of costumes and props for their participation in the Feile Parade. Naturally, since I love parades, and its my son's school, I gladly took part. The theme this year was games, and the school chose 'Cowboys and Indians'.

I couldn't have been happier. I have always had a grá (love in Irish) for anything to do with Native Americans (or more correctly First People), since I was a teenager. My first ever craft book, was, as I call it, my 'how to be an Indian book'. a beautiful book, full of hand drawn illustrations of crafts from skinning a cow hide, making moccasins, to carving a totem pole.

If you are planning on doing any kind of Indian Craft work, especially with kids, I highly recommend this book. I learned to bead weave, and basket making from this book as a teenager. both of which served me well, when I went to art college to study Fibre Art.

I spent a few days working in the school, with the kids to engage them more directly in the design of the costumes and props. Last years parade was a bit of a wash out, the poor kids marching in pouring rain. They weren't feeling the love, and rightly so. It had been miserable. So, I was determined to have them involved in as much of the process as possible, from design to making. So, they too would get a grá for this years parade. The plan worked. They helped design and make a range of props and costumes. They could chose what they wanted to be Indian, Cowboy or Cactus. Surprisingly I ended up with 4 cacti!! The Indians each made his own feather headdress, necklace, I mean warrior beads (boys didn't like the term necklace), and then had a choice of props, from bow & arrow, mini-drum, rain stick or throwing stick. The Cowboys made gun hostlers, hats and ammo belts.

So, after a hectic 3 weeks, with the help of a few volunteer parents and friends, I made about 19 Indians, 18 Cowboys, 4 Cacti, a Canoe, and 4 horses heads. With the help of an amazing German backpacker, we made working bows, wooden guns and shotguns.

Thankfully, it didn't rain on the parade, and every boy outshone himself in his enthusiasm to shoot each other and the audience with pretend guns and arrows.

Oh, and I had to face paint them all on the day... Hectic but great fun!!

DESIGN: Ponc Press Commission

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 22:28:00 +0000

I recently was commissioned by Ponc Press, a lovely little letterpress company based in Dingle, to create a series of images our most famous resident, Fungi, the dolphin. It was a lovely project to work on, and a great excuse to go out on a boat, and catch up with our own Fungi, all in the line of research. A beautiful day when we set out on the boat...

Then the mist rolled in, and the stillness was nothing short of beautiful...

Designing for letterpress printing, is very different. The drawings have to made into plates, suitable for printing, in this case on a beautiful original Heidelberg 1955 Platen Press. Its more akin to lino printing, so the drawings had to be simple, with bold strong lines. After uploading them to photoshop, I played around with the size, to make sure they fitted an A4 sheet correctly, (with crop marks, of course!). Saving the files is important, and each block maker has its own criteria, in this case, EPS files.

Ponc Press, has just been taken over by a new collective of 3 local business owners and book lovers. It was previously owned by a Puca Press, you can read about the history of the press and the beautiful letter sets they have here: http://thesalvagepress.com/index.php/journal/puca-press/

Here are two websites, that explain the process of letterpress printing very well:

https://letterpresscommons.com/

http://thebeautyofletterpress.com/

I look forward to seeing what will come off the Ponc Press soon!!

DESIGN: Photoshop

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 21:36:00 +0000

As part of my digital up-skilling, I've been really enjoying playing around with photoshop. Here's a little design I made up, incase you happened to pass by, and suddenly realised you needed a designer... (Yes, I do design, get in touch!!)

EXHIBITION: Kenmare, Co. Kerry

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 21:28:00 +0000

As part of the Kenmare Lace Festival, I held a 2-person exhibition with Fiona Harrington, in the lovely gallery at CLEO, Kenmare, Co. Kerry

A newly decorated, and beautiful space, we were delighted to show our work, of contemporary Irish Crochet Lace and Kenmare Lace.

PROJECT: Artist in the Community, Kenmare. Co. Kerry

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 20:51:00 +0000

I had mentioned in an earlier blog post, I received funding through Create Ireland for research and development into a project with the Kenmare Lace Festival. (Read more about it here).

For this project, I created a series of digital images, taken from my visits to Kenmare, and research I conducted. This was then projected onto the Kenmare Heritage Centre, at the launch of the Kenmare Lace Festival last March. I will include just a few photos here now of the installation, but will re-blog with further analysis of my research and thoughts on the project soon.

Oops!!

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:51:00 +0000

This is probably the longest blogging drought I have had! Over 5 months since my last blog post...

Am going to try fix that over the next few days, and write about what I have been up to the past few months, and what I will be getting up to for the next few months. But for now here is a cute kitten....

School Mural

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 12:36:00 +0000

Before Christmas, I did a mural for a local boys school. The design brief was two GAA footballers, one in a Dingle shirt, and one in a Kerry shirt. It took a couple of weeks, between showers and mid-term. Yes, it was raining the day I took this. I was helped by one of the mums, and 2nd and 3rd class each got to paint a small part of the footballers. It certainly brightens up the entrance! this is what it looked like before:

Photoshop

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 21:44:00 +0000

I've been sitting in front of a computer for hours, 5 days a week for the past 2 weeks and I still haven't managed to update my blog in that time! Its because I'm taking a few weeks off from my usual work routine to do a computer illustrated graphics course.

Mostly Photoshop with a bit of illustrator. I've dabbled in these before, but what used to take me days to do, now takes just a few hours. I LOVE learning all the shortcuts, and easy ways of tinkering with designs. Then I'm going to learn a wee bit of coding. Just enough to be able to (FINALLY!) re-design both this blog, and the Woolly Way blog. (New Years Resolutions!)

This course is also helping me create my series of graphic images for the Artist in the Community research project I am doing with the Kenmare Lace Festival. These images will be mushed (beautifully mushed, of course), into an installation, which will be projected outdoors in Kenmare at the launch of the 2015 festival, sometime in February. Of course I will post details, when I have them...

But for now its back to layer masks and gradients...

ICA Book of Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 21:25:00 +0000

The lovely folk at Mercier press have sent me a lovely package! Two copies of their latest publication, The Irish Countrywomans Association Book of Crafts! One copy I will be reviewing in the coming weeks for The Woolly Way of Ireland blog, (which will probably be covered in drops of tea and biscuit crumbs by the end, as I ogle the absolutely beautiful photos). The second copy will be given away as a prize on The Woolly Way. The competition is open from now until the 4th of December!

I'd really like to congratulate the ICA and Mercier Press on the book. I have barely read it yet, but just a fleeting glance show the incredible quatily of the production, and a vast range of skills present. I am always moaning (to anyone that will listen) about the serious lack of Irish craft books, written by Irish craftspeople. This book, a real gem of knowledge and photography, changes everything. I wish them all the luck for the success of the book, and cant wait to dive in and start making some projects from it...

Mercier Press
Unit 3B, Oak House, Bessboro Rd., Blackrock,
Cork, Ireland.
Tel: (+353 21) 461 4700

Direct line (+353 21) 461 4456
Fax: (+353 21) 461 4802

Mobile 087 929 9313

http://www.mercierpress.ie

The Knitting and Stitching Show 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:42:00 +0000

There is a great competition over on the Woolly Way blog for 3 pairs of tickets to this years Knitting and Stitching Show! Check out about the show here and the competition here!

Awash with Green and Gold

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:30:00 +0000

I'm working on designs for a mural at a local school that, weather permitting, I'll be painting next week. It's very appropriate that it'll be the Kerry colours, with the All Ireland Football finals coming up this Sunday. The town is awash with green and gold. (Since they are the Donegal colours too, its going to be fun, trying to figure out who to cheer for, must brush up on my GAA knowledge).

Tiki Tiki!

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 10:52:00 +0000

My most popular blog post of all time is my 'How to draw a Tiki Head' post. I find it fascinating and amusing, how many people want to draw tiki heads!! Apart from me that is...I'm glad people are getting some use out of my tiki head tutorials. They are popping up all over the interweb, which is great. (As long as they remain free, if I find anyone charging, there'll be trouble!)

So, why am I talking tiki again? Well, I got a lovely email from a gentleman asking to use a tiki head for printing onto fabric. He was making some kind of TV show, and wanted to use one of my tiki designs to make gifts for the contestants. I just finished making him a special tiki head, and cant wait to see it in print. I love little commissions like this, they make my day!

'Light is Time'

noreply@blogger.com (Stitchlily) — Mon, 01 Sep 2014 15:51:00 +0000

I've mentioned in a previous post about some work in doing in the studio at the moment (read about it here). I've been doodling away, drawing old watch parts over the last few weeks. So, imagine my delight when I came across this installation on the interweb!

I love the concept behind the installation, 'Light is Time' which was created by Paris based architecture company, DGT, and Art Director Yutaka Endo. The installation is made up of 80,000 clock parts.

Here is an extract from the concept behind the installation...

"......."LIGHT is TIME." Light was born at the instant of the Big Bang, the universe's beginning. From beyond the horizon, the rising sun slowly covers the earth in light, shadows transform into a different shapes, the seasons to transmit colour in nature and the waxing and waning of the Moon changes. When humans noticed these things, we unknowingly created the concept of time.

CITIZEN came to take on the challenge of making watches that show how "time changes by light" in accordance with the company's philosophy of "watches for all citizens."

"LIGHT is TIME" is an installation of light and time at the Triennale di Milano exhibition hall, where we will present a magnificent space made from a palette of unique materials, including our main element of 80,000 ‘main plates’ – the most basic part of a watch. There, we envision a space-orchestration where light will fill the room, composing – through the senses of sound and vision – a sense of light and time as yet not experienced by humankind. In addition to exhibiting everything from pocket watches as origin (where CITIZEN first started) to the latest satellite-synchronized watch at the venue, we hope that the audience will experience CITIZEN's mission to search and discover ‘What makes a watch’.

21st Century Light for Time

Time is light. If there were no light, then there would be no time. In the 20th century, mankind digitized time, measured it and continued to economize our time, until eventually we forgot about its relationship with the essence of light. Without light we never would have had the wonders of the universe, the richness of our planet or the joy and pleasure of our lives.

"LIGHT is TIME" — the manifestation of light's return to time — is our great challenge of the 21st-century...."

For more info visit http://www.citizenwatch-global.com/milanosalone/2014/en.html

-----------------------------

Needles to say, I can watch this video, endlessly! I just wonder what they will do with all the parts afterwards...