Cork Textiles Network Conference 2011

www.deirdre-nelson.com

I'm home and finally recovering from a whirlwind trip around the country. First I went down to Cork, to the annual Cork Textile Network Conference. I wasn't going to go, but decided last minute I would. I had seen some of Deirdre Nelsons work online, and was looking forward to hearing her speak, I also managed to book the last spot in her workshop.

The lectures were great, Deirdre Nelson, Diane Harrison and Aileen Johnson. Then after a beautiful (and cheap!) lunch, it was into the workshop with Deirdre Nelson. Well... what can I say. You have to meet this lady to truly appreciate her work, her humour, her thought processes... her way of teaching.

Fantastic is the only way to describe it. Probably the most un-productive workshop I've ever done, in terms of what I made, (maybe, just maybe, I was yapping too much..), but mentally, it was astounding. I think maybe the best workshop I have ever been to, and the most enjoyable. Pure stitching soul food... (with a bit of mackerel, very unsubtly thrown in..)

At the end of the day there was supposed to be a show and tell, but we figured we'd been doing more telling than had stuff to show, so we skived off. At that stage all I had made was a shower cap for a rubber duck... You had to be there to appreciate it...

Heres what I made on day 2:

and a few pics of what others in the class made....

I think everyone enjoyed the class immensely. There was a great mix of felters, stitchers, and of course, crocheters! Deidre is doing a residency in the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh, Contemporary Souvenirs. She is looking for people to partake, but I will put that in another post. It definitely worth its own post...

Here's some other work by Deirdre

Cork Textiles Network Workshop

Detail of Hand and Machine Embroidered Sample

Just a brief about the Cork Textiles Network Conference Colour and Form in Textiles.

There was talks from 3 very different textile artists, Connections with Colour with Ruth Issett, Process and Form with Angela O'Kelly, and Flights of Discovery with Nicola Henley.

Boon Tea Room, Shroud, Clones Lace and Prudance Mapstone......

I feel like I am at confession, it has been so long since my last blog post. And I am sorry this is going to be a wordy one, I've lots of exciting news I want to get off my chest, and then crawl back into my hole and do some work...

Boon Tea Room

I spent several nights and days crocheting like a mad woman, because I though I didn't have enough of a display for the Cork Workshop. And finally, well half sorted out my plastic midden, got going on the Toxic Reef part of the project.

Cork Textiles Network Exhibition 2009

For this exhibition I wanted to try combine some of the Irish Crochet Lace pieces I have been working on , and some other medium. I have a sort of mix 'n match attitude to textiles, and love trying to combine techniques and fibres. So, I thought maybe felt and crochet.

I haven't felted in years, and wanted to get back into it. The best work I ever did, was for the finals of my Diploma, these strange felt/scrap metal sculptures. I haven't made anything like them since, and I've decided to try re-explore the methods I used, as I think they are probably my favourite, of all the things I have ever made.
Normally I have what I call emergency felt, lying around. It's like hand-made paper, you can never have enough of it to make emergency artwork, presents, etc... But as I said I haven't felted in ages, so I needed to spend a morning working on felt. And we had the perfect weather for outdoor felting!!

So, I get ever thing ready, all the essentials (as above, the coffee helps but is optional). I have bags of old fleece, to rough for spinning with, so I though I would use up some of that. So, back inside for something I forgot, and when I came out my cat was attacking my lovely pristine, batting!! Pesky cat, though I had to forgive her as she did look very cute...I have never used batting before, and was looking forward to trying it out.

I made a few plain pieces, just to get back into the swing of things, and then started layering with colours. I also wanted to try embedding some crochet to see how that worked.

So felt made, I then spent a few hours experimenting with cutting, snipping, tearing, needle felting my wet felting. Finally, my piece was made, here's a snippet. If you want to see the whole thing, you have to go to the exhibition!!

It starts today, and the opening is at 6pm tomorrow night

St. Fin Barres Cathedral. Cork City. More details on the Cork Textiles Network website...

A quick hour in Cork after dropping off my piece, and I nipped into the yarn shop in the English Market to buy a handful of goodies for the next project/proposal. Which is to attend Electric Picnic 09 again, with an even bigger and better display...Watch this space for details...

Stuck behind a donkey and a trailer on my way home from Cork

Exhibition of Textile Art

Cuttings

This exhibition of Textiles, organised by the Cork Textiles Network, is on the move. It is coming to an end at the Bantry Music Festival, and will be travelling to to the Kinsale Arts Festival next week.

VENUE : Kinsale Methodist Church, opp tourist office in the town centre

EXHIB DATES : Saturday 12 - Sunday 20 July

If you haven't already checked it out, then here's another chance to do so. Also, you can get your hands on some small works of art donated by the participating artists to raise funds for the CTN.

Transforming Textiles

Cork Textile Network put on a textile conference this year, and I didn't get to go to it because it was booked out. It was so successfull they have already got next years event together. I should keep it a secret to guarantee my place, but I'm a generous soul so here's the lowdown...

Transforming Textiles

One Day Conference
Lectures from Britain's and Ireland's
Leading Contemporary Textile Artists

Colaiste Stiofan Naofa, Tramore Road, Cork
Saturday 7 March 2009, 9.30 am to 5.30pm

Stitching * Print * Collage * Paper Casting * Miniature Books * Felt * Lectures * Workshops

Details will soon be on the website, www.corktextiles.com.

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!