Cork Textiles Network Presents

Cuttings an Exhibition of Textiles

opening thursday 5 June at 6pm
wit guest speaker Anne Mooney

St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork

www.corktextiles.com

You have to come as I'm on the cover!! Cant believe it. I got my invites in the post today and couldn't believe it when I opened the envelope. I am very surprised, and honoured that they would pick my piece. I'm not kidding, I am genuinely amazed. As I said folks, you have to come now! The exhibition pieces themselves will be for sale on the night, so will postcards of the pieces. Also on sale, are A5 sized artworks, created by the members. If you cant afford the big stuff, here's your chance to buy an original work of art for cheap. Monies raised will go back into the group. Anyone interested in textiles in the Southwest should join, they are a fantastic group, with some amazingly dedicated members. Well done to all the organisers!

WWKIP in Kerry

World Wide Knit in Public Day, Killarney, Co. Kerry!

14 * June * 2008

Join us as we knit with hundreds of other knitters around the world on the same day!

Not to be outdone by our Leinster counterparts, a World Wide Knitting Event is being organised as we speak in Killarney.

It began as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each others company. Knitting is such a solitary act that its easy to knit alone somewhere and sink into your work without thinking about all the other knitters out there. Neighbours could spend all their lives never knowing that the other knits. This a specific day to get out of your house and go to a local event (with your knitting in tow) just for you and people like you. Who knows you might even bump into your neighbour! Consider this a spark, to ignite a fire; getting all of the closeted knitters out into fresh air. Better living through stitching together.

We hope to gather in the beautiful gardens of Muckross, and make a public exhibition of ourselves....Everyone is invited, bring any textile work, anything you might need, raingear, waterproof knitting,etc. If you cant knit, but would like to learn, come along..

If you would like more information, visit www.wwkip.com or email shebeens@gmail.com
Organised by the Shebeens group on Ravelry

Dashy the Dog wins 1st prize at the Kingdom County Fair!!

To my deep surprise, Dashy came 1st in the Soft Toy section in the Home Crafts competition at this years 59th Annual Kingdom County Fair in Tralee, Co. Kerry.

He won the grand sum of €20!! Well Done Dashy!!
Kindgom County Fair this year, Crufts next....
Here he is looking very cute

The pattern was taken from my favourite craft book at the moment: Amigurumi!: Super Happy Crochet Cute by Elisabeth Doherty (a must for any amigurumi fans). So, well done Elisabeth, for the fantastic book!!

Woolly Hats for Sailors

I love making things for charity. I'm usually broke, so I never have much money to donate, but the one thing I have is time (not much, but I'll find it) and scrap wool.

So, when I came across this charity appeal, "Woolly Hats Wanted! The Woolly Hat Campaign provides seafarers arriving in the UK, often ill-prepared for cold weather, with hand-knitted hats to keep them warm during the many months they are at sea." It is run by the UK Sailor Society

I thought this is the one for me. I love anything to do with the sea, and I love making hats, what more could a girl as for?? I've had an email from Tony at the society, and he said they will accept donations from anywhere, so Irish people, get your needles out and make us proud. You can also email them for pattern suggestions.

They are also currently running a competition to design a woolly hat. To enter you need to register before Friday 30Th May and all entries must be received by Friday 1st August 2008. The design brief for the hat is "to create something outrageous, humorous, witty - we want to exhibit hats with attitude!" All entries will be displayed at The Knitting and Stitching Shows this year - NEC Birmingham, (September); at Alexandra Palace in London (October) and in the International Halls in Harrogate (November)




General Enquires: admin@sailors-society.org
Fundraising Department: events@sailors-society.org

ISANDS

For any followers of Coronation Street, they will no doubt have been following Marie's sad storyline. After the programme, there was the usual, "If you have been affected.... The group mentioned is ISANDS: Irish Stillbirth and Neonathal Death Society.www.isands.ie

ISANDS is currently running an appeal to anyone who has sewing abilities, can crochet or knit to create make tiny wraps or clothes for tiny babies. The Wrapped in Love campaign is hoping to supply maternity hospitals and units throughout the country with items so that every parent in the future will have the opportunity to pick a little wrap or garment to wrap their baby in love.

If you want more information contact ISANDS. There is a group on Ravelry (isands wrapped in love group) that share and advise on patterns.
If your looking for patterns, you can just google preemie projects/patterns. There are groups in UK and USA that have published patterns for you to use.

Here are pics of the first few projects I did. As crochet is more my thing, I crocheted burial wraps in different sizes, with optional hats. The one lovely aspect of this project, is that each time you make an item, you make a small sample piece, which is given to the parents as a memory token.

Crocheted Coral

I've finally gotten it together to put up some photos of my donations to the UK Coral Reef Exhibition in London. I have to admit, this has been one of the best projects I've done in years. I've been doing crochet for years, and its great to see it finally getting recognition as a versitile modern skill. there are people out ther who like to make mad stuff like me! Its fantastic!

I've always been into the art of maths, of geometry. And I mean literally the art of it, I havent a clue what any of it means. But if it involves numbers, rulers, compasses, circles and triangles, and wool then I'm into it, infact, I'm in heaven!

This is a group shot of the first batch of Coral. I was in a rush to post it so I didnt get a great photo of them. The deadline date was loomin, so I had to post it quick. But since then they have extended the deadline, so I decided to make a second batch. But this time try get some decent photos.

All my coral is made with a variety of hooks and scrap wool. The remnants I've been saving for years have finally come in handy. (I told my boyfrien they would, but he didnt believe me). I'm finding it very hard not to add fluddy wool to everyting. I dont know why, maybe because it looks more watery??...

This is my second batch, which I will be posting soon. As much as I love making them, I think maybe its time to give the huddy/son/cats/house/garden some attention, I have been happily ignoring everything while I was making these, and things are getting fairly chaotic.

I had great fun taking photos of these. They were taken outdoors, in my son's blue paddling pool, with genuine water drops for the authentic look!











I call these three Squiddy, Browns and Green Tubular. Squiddy was supposed to be a shell, but slowly turned, well, Squiddy. The other two are pretty obivious. I hate naming them, but if I dont, I'll never find them again on my computer. I never remember where I save things.

UK Coral Reef Project

If you can crochet, and you have a bit of free time and scrap wool, then why not make some pieces for the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef.

Here is their blurb, "This is a large-scale, handmade replica of the real thing. A woolly celebration of the intersection of higher geometry and feminine handicraft, and a testimony to the disappearing wonders of the marine world. Unfortunately, plagued by pollution, the real coral reef may not be with us for much longer. This project highlights the plight of the world’s waterways, especially on the Southbank, our own river Thames. Charity Thames21 took the exhibition organisers to see the problem for themselves, where they collected some of the plastic that causes part of the problem, to use in their crochet."

It sounds harder than it is. In fact the crochet is very simple, and you can have great fun experimenting with shapes and textures. There are patterns online for free but, if you're not sure were to start, have a look at www.theiff.org, for some great examples. For patterns try www.crochetpatterncentral.com, or to buy patterns try www.etsy.com

I'm going to try get some basic patterns up before the end of the week.

The exhibition opens on the 10th June through to 18th August, The Hayward Gallery, and Festival Hall, Southbank, London.

What I'm working on at the moment

I've decided, in the interests of building up my portfolio, and profile to do things this year that I have never done before. So, this is my new blog, a place I can gather my thoughts, and keep track of what I am doing.

Currently I work as a volunteer at a community organic garden, and at an after schools club teaching Arts and Crafts.

Exhibition pieces, this year, so far, are in two group shows.

Cork Textiles Network: St. FinBarre’s Cathedral, Cork.“Cuttings”, an exhibition of Textile Art is on from 2-22nd of June.The opening is on Thursday 5th June at 6pm

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef: 10th June through to 18th August, The Hayward Gallery, and Festival Hall, Southbank, London.

Other textile stuff I'm working on :

ISANDS - Wrapped In Love Appeal, making little burial gowns and wraps/blankets for babies who die before or around the time of birth in Ireland.

The Natural Dye Studio are running a Toilet Dolly competition. The Dollys will all take part in a charity auction, all proceeds will go to The Mirasol Project