Tiki Tiki!!( again)

 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.

Christmas 2018

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.

Bunting Bliss

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. 

Project 52 / Tionscnamh 52

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. 

Snail Yellow

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!

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. 

Why I'm so quiet these days...

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

 

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. 

WORKSHOP: Transition Towns, Tralee, Co. Kerry

 

 

 

 

 

 

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."

Workshop: Electric Picnic 2015, Co. Laois

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.

OTHER: Growing Herbs

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.

MAKE: Harvest Knot Commission

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

 

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'.

DESIGN: Ponc Press Commission

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...

DESIGN: Photoshop

 

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

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

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

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).

Oops!!

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

 
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

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.