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!

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....

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.

Nominated!!

Am delighted to have been nominated for Best Craft Blog in the 2014 Blog Awards Ireland! Thank you to anyone who nominated me.

I've been enjoying getting my blog mojo back, though I havent been as creative as normal. I'm waiting on word from some different projects, that will see me though the winter, and am just enjoying this quiet time, though it feels like the calm before ths storm.

Getting my blogging (and making) mojo back

The last few months have been hectic, but I cant show you why, because 2 weeks ago my bag was stolen from a pub, and as well as my keys, purse, bankcards, etc, my phone, with all my latest pictures was taken too! I have been in limbo land , trying to get new keys, new cards and trying to gather phone numbers. Alongside that, I had to abandon my broken car in Cork for a week. But...

The Tailor and Ansty, Blue Bags and a little Colour Theory

A book has been following me around for the past month or so. It began with a simple conversation with my mum over Christmas, about a possible workshop I might be doing in the Gougane Barra in Cork. (Will tell more soon!!). She told me a story about a trip she did, years ago, to see a play The Tailor and Ansty. There ensued an amazing conversation (with step-dad and friend joining in) about the Tailor and Ansty and a bag of blue.

End of Studio Sale!

6 months after moving into my lovely studio, I have decided to move out. There are several reasons why, and most of them are just plain boring, so I wont dwell on it. I feel the time, energy and money it costs me to have the studio could be put to better use. I'm trying to get efficient in my middle-age-dom!!

When I told the child, he was upset. Mainly because he can't deal with my mess from working at home. And he's right! I have far too much stuff. Tools and materials which I have been gathering in a vague dreamy way. Every item at the time, vitally important and useful!!

So, I have decided its time to cut loose the baggage of stuff, which has been weighing me down physically, more than mentally. Its time to let go, and the proceedings will go towards fundraising for a permanent workspace at home.

Milan, Studios, and bartering love...

It's been over a month since my last blog post. This is dreadful, my New Years resolution to post at least once a week only lasted, well a few weeks! I have been very lax, but I've also been busy so I guess that's OK. 

Tickets are booked for Milan! I am so excited about this, its hard to describe. I am cleaning up my memory cards, as I expect myself to go Japanese, and take pictures of EVERYTHING!

A very late post on the Blog Awards!

I’m playing catch-up as usual. Have barely been near a computer in the past 2 weeks. I had 2 projects I wanted to finish before the mid-term. Both are now finished, and need blog posts of their own, but I thought I’d have to get this one out of the way first!

I’ve a busy mid-term ahead, and promised the child lots of attention, fun, games, walks, etc, etc. He deserves it, he really is a gem. (He recently watched Star Wars for the 1st time, and decided he was Obi-Wan Kenobi and I was Princess Leia. If that doesn’t deserve spoiling, then I don’t know what does...)

A very belated congrats to Molly Moo who walked away with not only Best Craft Blog, but with Best Designed Blog and Best Personal Blog! It was well deserved... It is great to see a craft blog appreciated for its merit, content and design.

Blog Awards Ireland 2012

I've been shortlisted for the Blog Awards Ireland 2012!! 

I feel a bit under pressure now, better double check my p's and q's, dot my i's and write something intelligent.................................

Was never good in the spotlight, get all shy and type-tied, can't think of anything to say, so here is something I've made - the latest piece of embroidery for the ECD Project

Little road trip round Ireland with the child

As soon as the Retro Romp was over, I decided to take a break, a road trip with the child, and I thought I'd just post up a few pics of our travels. I love travelling round Ireland, its such a beautiful little country. There is so much to see, so much history, yup, I can be quite the tourist. It always amazes me how little Irish people travel round their own country. We seem to be better at travelling the globe then visiting our own heritage sites. I am lucky my 5 year old has the travel bug too, and is great (well... great-ish) in the car for long distances. I decided to make this his hols, doing things, going places the child would like, rather than what I wanted to do. So no visits to bookshops, shops, visits to museums he wouldn’t like, and lots of just sitting round with family and friends in the evening.

 This is the famous autograph tree 

First stop the lovely Kinvara, Co. Galway for 2 nights.This included a trip to the beautiful Coole Park with its famous beech autograph tree. If you have never been, then shame on you. It is a wonderful place. Just a minute off the Galway Limerick road, if you are passing, take a few mins to stop.  Not only is it a beautiful place to walk, have coffee, it is so full of history, its incredible to think of the men and women who strolled round this park in the past, and were inspired by its beauty.

I won’t go into the history of Coole Park, you can read all about it here http://www.coolepark.ie/. Suffice to say, its pretty darn amazing to still be able to see the markings of Lady Gregory, Yeats, Shaw, Synge, and more.

Second stop was Westport, Co. Mayo, for a few days, to the folks house. We chilled, ate loads, watched the rain and the Olympics. My folks have the most beautiful garden, and I always come back with lots of pics of some of its beautiful flowers. The colours of which are just amazing! We did catch a few mins of one lovely early music session in McGings,, a jazz band that plays the last Saturday of the month (I think). The trumpet player and singer is possibly in his 80's, and still has it.

Then, with a little break in the weather, got to walk a bit on the Greenway. A bloody fantastic venture by Mayo County Council!  42km of a cycle track around the most beautiful parts of Mayo. We didn't have our bikes, so just walked a bit, and then the child ran around the skateboard track, while I did a little mini session on the outdoor gym. This outdoor gym idea is fantastic, and I wish we could get one here in Dingle. The folks were very quick to point out that Westport was voted best place to live in Ireland, Dingle being only about 15th...(They don’t actually know where Dingle came in, but liked teasing me about it.)

Next we went to Dublin City Centre. I have wanted to go to Dublin for ages. I chat to a good few Dub stitching tweeters and I’m always saying I’ll visit and never do. But, as I said this was the childs trip, and he needed pleasing...

Originally I’d planned a day in the zoo, but the days were a bit dodgy weather wise. So we visited The Ark, Imagonosity, National Museum, and the Natural History Museum. All of which I highly recommend. The child loved each one equally. And a quickie trip to Dun Laoighaire, I sneaked in the one thing I wanted to do: visit the newly opened Maritime Museum. Lovely little museum, and interesting for kids, including a huge light from the lighthouse, a sword from the founder of the Argentinean Navy, and lots of models of boats.

Then down to Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow for another 2 nights, to visit a friend. Chat, eat, watch movies and be ignored by the children who were all happily playing. Bliss!

Then finally home with a carload of laundry, 3 little ash trees and lots of cuttings from my ma. And I had a lovely surprise when I got home. An avocado plant! Years of sticking avocado stones in pots finally paid off.  This baby is growing fast! I've just had to repot it. I've now just stuck a few plum seeds in, you never know....

Other things that are annoying me...

It'll probable be another few weeks before I post what I'm up to, have a few busy weeks ahead, but I didn't want to leave the blog on a ranty note. But then, there are loads of things really annoying me at the moment. So might as well get it all off my chest now. These are thing worth getting annoyed about, talking about. Its about trying to save the few good things left we have in Ireland, but also supporting the people, who are working tirelessly to keep the stupid actions of our governing bodies to a minimum. It takes a barely a minute to sign the petitions, so please, sign the petitions, join the Facebook groups, virtual protesting, you don't even have to leave your couch, so why not! If Hughs Fish Fight can generate 786,270 signatures on a petition to stop fishing waste in the North Sea and 135,000 tweets, surely to Christ we can do a bit better to support petitions that affect each and every Irish person!!

 County Kerry By-Law Protest

Protest Swims are happening around Kerry, to stop our County Council from bringing in a range of stupid by-laws, eg no swimming near piers without permission, photography/filming licences, mooring fees for small boats, pay parking at beaches. More info on Facebook  Kerry Harbour Protest
Petition here: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/kerry-harbour-bye-laws-contradict-rural-sports-events.html

People in Ireland have joined millions of people worldwide repaying unjust and illegitimate ‘debts’.

Petition here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_The_EU3100000000_payment_of_Anglo_Debt_due_on_31st_March/?fdyydab&pv=12 

No GM Trials in Ireland

Teagasc ( The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority) is applying for a licence to to plant GM potatoes in Irish fields, no2gm are calling all people and organisations involved in the Irish food industry to cease co-operation with Teagasc until they abandon this trial. No2gm also calls on the Irish government to investigate this misappropriation of limited public funds.

Sign here to call  for a 5-year moratorium on growing GM crops and food in Ireland because not enough is yet known about GM crops http://www.contact.ie/node/137
 http://no2gm.com/



There's lots more things annoying me, but hopefully by my next blog post, I'll just get back to doing, what I do best, making stuff, and talking about making stuff.

Open Fair (...and a little rant)

About 2 weeks ago, I took part in Open Fair, held in the Carlton Hotel in Tralee. I had decided after Christmas, I was going to take a break from doing craft fairs, but Open Fair was different, it was not just a craft fair, but a skills fair, hosted by Rural Resettlement Programme. A programme dedicated to bringing life back into rural areas of Ireland. To use its own blurb its "national movement of free, community-based talent exchanges. The aim is to help you to make a living from your own skills, ideas and initiative. Every enterprise starts with one person. With the Open Fair, you can be that person."

I think this is a fantastic idea, and development away from traditional fairs which can be fairly repetitive. It was great to have a mix of business from craft to websites, PR to publishing. If nothing else, it was about setting up a community. So, I did what I seem to do best at craft fairs, made very little money, but meet up with lots of lovely people. But I went with that intention, not so much to sell stuff, as to sell my crafting soul. (I think I will just declare myself a 'not for profit company', since I am so crap at making a profit)

I've been stuck, the past few months, about where I am going, with my work, my time, and the effort its costs me sometimes to keep going, to keep crafting. It’s not a rut, more like moral dilemma. It is very disheartening to constantly be asked to work for little or nothing in my own area, and then not be asked to work in other places, because I am too far away. (But, thats what I get for living on the edge of the known European universe. It’s probably why I have become a geek, more of a virtual crafter. ). Yet I see 'outside' artists and designers brought in and paid well, to do the same work I know half a dozen locals could do. Having a well known name does not actually mean the work is better. I think committee members need to be told this..bluntly.

As a friend of mine repeatedly tells me I need to become a 'me feiner', I need to be more about me. But it’s something I don’t believe in. I just don’t have the ego or patience for it. I think for too long the egos have ruled the art/craft system, and it should be just about the work that needs doing. Even within a rural community there is always an inner circle, and I don’t believe in that either and I won’t be part in it. It's probably my undoing, but the older I get, the more I feel I have to live by my principles. An artist is no more valuable to society than a carpenter, a plumber, a gardener, etc, we all have our role and our place to form a functioning society, and the barriers and egos have to go.

Rant over, I don't mean to complain, but lately I've just seen too much money wasted, budgets blown, because of this system. And it really, really bugs me, I am prepared to get myself blacklisted by the powers that be, if it means sticking to my moral guns. I just want to make stuff! Its that simple, but sometimes its easy to forget its that simple.

If there is an Open Fair going on near you, take a stand, visit it, chat to people. It is fantastic to see so many people trying to create businesses, create a living, from doing what they love best, in these crazy financal times. As the expression goes, best foot forward....

Because I only decided to do the fair at the last minute, my usual unorganised self, I didn't have time or energy to do leaflets/flyers etc. So, I had to come up with a different advertising strategy. I have forever been meaning to do up a proper portfolio/photo album of work, and well, still haven't gotten round to it. So this is what I did instead...

Combined geekery with recycling! I made a slideshow of my work and past projects on the laptop, and made a tv to go over it. As well as showing images of my work I peppered it with other images, not so subtle 'me feiner' ads, and some craftivist propaganda, that hopefully, got into some peoples heads...

The TV now doubles as a puppet theatre for the bored child. Muti-purpose recycling! 

!@%$#%@!!

The Queen of Getting Distacted...

 I sat down at the computer this morning to work on blogs, websites, updates, emails...etc.. To start advertising the next RETRO ROMP!! (Which is on Feb 10th in McCarthys Bar, Dingle.. of course...). We have the  fantastic The Nitty Gritty, retro DJ's from Galway, coming down, to swing, jive, rock, or whatever tickles your fancy.

We have a theme, it will be slightly Valentinesie, but only in token gesture... and the theme is... well, the poster isn't quite ready yet, you'll have to wait... But here's a little something I wasted my morning on instead of doing all the things I should have.... But, it was kinda in the name of research!!

Weaving Dreams...

Weaving Dreams is neither a metonymy or a metaphor, I literally had a weaving dream last night, a dream about weaving. I dreamt I went into a quite large charity shop, and was browsing around, looking at knickknacks, and then about to leave. I stopped to chat to the shop assistant, when I suddenly spotted an antique spinning wheel. It was almost like a chakra type wheel, such as Ghandi used.

I went over for a closer look. It was beautiful, mahogany coloured, worn but still in working order. Then I spotted an inkle loom... a table loom, and behind me popped up a floor loom! I got very excited! Then, I got the chill, you know the one, when dreams are about to go bad. I saw someone eyeing up the spinning wheel, and was trying to make my way around all the stuff, to get to the counter to buy it up, but the counter seemed suddenly very far away, then I woke up.

I have always been a dreamer, crazy dreams kinda dreamer. I don't watch violent movies or TV shows, because I am, well, soft. I will inevitable dream about it, in gory detail. But this was bizarre, I don't think I've ever had a shopping dream, let alone a spinning wheel in my dreams. I spent the day mulling it over, and then it hit me, where all the influences were coming from, and here they are.  

I watched this video:



And this movie:



So, how could this movie make me dream about weaving and not pirates? Here's why. Recognise the loom???? (Screenshots taken from about 44 seconds into Part 1)

3: I had a chat with my mum about mahogany furniture.

4: I had also dusted off my antique spinning wheel, apologising to it, for not restoring it yet...


God I am so susceptible to media influence. No more children's TV, or music videos for me... Or maybe I should just start spinning and weaving again.

The New Year - starting with a fizzle

Fireworks on New Years Eve in Dingle Harbour

OK, so this year hasn't started with a bang, more like a fizzle. You know, like a leftover bottle of lemonade. I can’t seem to get to grips with 2012, and we're already 9 days in!! I'm hoping the return to school and all things normal (with help from some liquid iron) will put some fizz back in.

I'm not much of a New Year’s resolution person, I always figured the depths of winter is not the best time to stop doing the nice things in life, (such as eating fatty foods and drinking pints...). But I do usually have lots of ideas whizzing around after the hols. This year, however, because the brain is so full of fizzle, nothing whatsoever coherent or vaguely interesting seems to be coming out. There are lots of vague plans for the 2012, and now it’s just a question of making them less vague, and more practical.

Culture Night 2009 - Tralee

Culture night is a great thing...if you don't have young kids. My fella has a very short attention span. I am quite willing to bring him all kinds of places, but he isn't.... So, it doesn't matter what time it is, day or night. He's not very interested, or so he says....

I had to drag him out to go to Dancing on the Streets, an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Irish dance.... Don't know how many turned up, but we had a great time. Dancing, face-painting, ice-cream... What more could a kid want! They had been looking for folk to do free demo's and stuff, but of course I didn't hear about it in time... Maybe next year...

Lion-face

New Blog

I've started another new blog, no I'm not a blog addict, it's just I'm trying to focus myself.... If that's possible...

This one is called Stitchlily's Stuff. It's basically going to be patterns, tips, techniques, that I keep promising folk I'll post here on this blog but never get round to . Well, that's my plan for this winter. I am going to focus on all the things I've said I would do but haven't... and focus on writing patterns and techniques.

I've decided to put them on a new blog, because I tend to waffle a bit much here, and I know some people just want to get straight to the useful stuff. If I had a website this might be all neatly organised in one place, but I don't and I wont in the foreseeable future. I spend too much time on the computer as is! I plan on spending the winter holed up with my crochet hook and spinning wheel. All other crafts and activities will just have to wait until the Spring...

www.stitchlilystuff.blogspot.com

Sunshine, Kerry, Crochet and The Culchie Festival!

You know Ireland is getting a few rare hours of sunshine when the blogging/twittering/facebook, etc, entries are zero. We get so few days that are nice you have to grab them with both hands, arms, and very, very white legs...

Yesterday, to try catch up on the Vitamin C, we spent the morning in the playground and beach in Fenit, then home for lunch, then out to Banna Beach for the afternoon. You can't beat Kerry in nice weather. I suppose if we had good weather it would end up Costa Del Banna. But 10 miles of sandy beach in sunshine, heaven. At home we vandalised the driveway with colourful giant chalk drawings, a great day all round!

But to my shame I forgot it was International Day of Crochet! How could I. There I am organising days of spinning, felting, etc, and I forgot about crochet... Sorry Fearless Leader!!

That's what I get for being away from the computer for any length of time. Today, is another nice day, so the plan is to head out to the Culchie Festival in Camp, a field of tractors, the thrashing machine, and lots of dodgy men in turned down wellies, braces, and straw...(Heres the wiki definition, for anyone who doesn't know the term). I have a friend who's after a farmer with a bit of land, so we're meeting out there....

They want people to bring anything vintage along with them, so I propose to bring my vintage crochet hooks, and sit and crochet at The Culchie Festival! Thought I can't decide whether to get dressed up or not. I don't really have any culchie clothes (if my sister read this she would disagree...). Better get practising, want to impress those nice farmers....a sheep farmer would do nicely thank you...

Found this photo on The All Ireland Culchie Festival website....if you need a laugh take a look at their Gallery.