I've had a reprieve from manning the stand at Mount Juliet today, instead, thanks to Leiko and Emma, I've spent the whole day finishing 5 abstract landscapes and creating a vest from a wrap! Basically, I got my super duper straight stitching sewing machine out...
Today's post shares pictures of two beautiful purses felted in Michigan by my friend Sue. I first met Sue last May at one of the Plainwell workshops organised by great buddy Dawn Edwards where she chose to felt her first vessel complete with craters, ever...
I started this morning by free machine embroidering a couple of abstract felt landscapes. It's difficult for me to decide when enough is enough with this sort of work, my personal preference has always been for NO stitching or embellishing but I do realise that...
On Saturday Mairead and Sharon really knuckled down to create beautiful pieces of flat felt in the morning and both felted wonderful vessels in the afternoon. It's always interesting sharing techniques with other artists because once I demonstrate the basic skills I love watching how...
This afternoon has been a REALLY bad one internet wise (must be some sort of connectivity problem but I really am not sure) so forgive me if I am going to be brief for now! [caption id="attachment_3107" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Detail of the stitching"][/caption] Here is a picture...
Apologies for not posting final pictures from the weekend's free machine embroidery workshop yesterday, tidying up just got in the way! Seriously, the massive back kitchen/garage restructuring that I have undertaken this week is really coming along famously and I didn't want to break stride...
It's a busy time here at Clasheen but I do seem to be managing my time a little better than usual, thankfully! [caption id="attachment_3043" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Stone wall inspired bracelets"][/caption] As promised here is a picture of the two dry stone wall inspired felt bracelets I made...
Just a short post today sharing a couple of pictures from the workshop I facilitated this morning with some clients and helpers at the Carlow Wheelchair Association and NCBI (National Council for the Blind Ireland) facilities in Carlow town. [caption id="attachment_3039" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Happy smiling faces...
Wow, thanks to all of you who have been commenting and leaving such great suggestions about my current woes and successes with free machining on felt, I am going to take everything on board, promise! Yes, I know that I have always sworn off stitching...
Maureen and I have spent an action packed 3 days catching up, eating, drinking, sourcing supplies, visiting Cushendale Woolen Mills and Threads of Green (a wonderful sewing supplier in Kilkenny) as well as felting vessels using wool from rare or less usual breeds of sheep! ...
Many of you know that any kind of sewing has always brought me out in a dreadful sweat and for donkeys years I have sworn NEVER to stitch for pleasure. I did however break the habit of a lifetime this summer in order to participate...
It's been very interesting and revealing invigilating at Grennan Mill Craft School, each of the 6 artists needs to either man the show for 3 full days or 6 half ones, I have chosen to do 3 full days. If I wanted I could nominate...
This morning I made the final adjustments to my space at Grennan Mill Craft School and decided enough was enough, 7 vessels, 2 sculptures and 1 framed piece with a little free machine embroidery. It's always nerve wracking but exciting participating in any show and...
I have been flat out this week trying to finish my work for Kilkenny Arts Festival which opens next weekend. Most of my pieces are totally wet felted but a couple have some free machine embroidery to add surface detail, I know, I can't believe...
