Can you resist those eyes? Jacob, the big Swede (well he does come from a place called Ikea...), is calling on all team bloggers and those who always dreamt of becoming one, to write some exciting stuff for the Etsy Ireland Blog!
We need articles for our sections 'How to Tuesdays', 'Trade Secrets Thursdays' and 'Eyes Open Ireland' in particular, also Introductions and 'I'll Show You Mine', but any ideas are welcome!
Contact me, Brigitte, at my Etsy Shop if you have any article or idea for this blog, and Bridget at her shop for 'Eyes Open Ireland'.
And you never know what will happen when you do put fingers to keyboard... We asked a Ms PO Colour from Belfast:
"Ever since I've written that article for the Etsy Ireland Blog, my sales have increased", she insisted, rattling her knitting needles. "One of my hats was featured in another blog, and I've been asked to go on a radio show."
As you can imagine we were rather intrigued. However, when the excited knitter dropped her balls of wool and while retrieving them muttered something about having found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, been asked on x-factor, and been invited to a candlelit dinner with a certain Mr Craig, we decided that the lady was spinning a bit too much yarn for our liking.
Hello and welcome to the lovely world of Textile Workshop Dublin!
We offer contemporary textile and craft workshops that are designed to provide the inspiration, techniques and confidence to be more creative.
These workshops came into being because we wanted to show people that with just a little knowledge and a gentle nudge how enjoyable and easy creating wonderful textiles can be. We often heard people saying, “Oh, I’d never be able to do that…I can’t sew…I’m not creative…I wouldn’t have the confidence” and we decided that enough was enough! With a few easy, accessible skills anyone can enhance their everyday environment by designing and producing beautiful items. And of course they make fantastic gifts!
We offer a variety of embroidery, print and sewing skills workshops. As well as learning, or refreshing, essential skills, you walk away with a lovely finished product at the end of each workshop.
Textile Workshop Dublin was set up by myself, Paget, and Rebecca in the summer of 2009. Rebecca has gone on to specialize in Art education and our 2 women tutoring team now consists of myself and the talented Jane from the independent Irish boutique label JaneyClothing.
Our workshops are based in two locations- the lovely Pearse museum in Rathfarnham, and the charming Nelly's cafe run by the lovely Caroline on South Circular Road in Dublin.
Drop us a line on textileworkshopdublin@gmail.com and we can email you our monthly newsletter, full news of upcoming workshops, as well as design tips and inspirational designers to check out.
Hi, my name is Orla, from Farapinalia, and I live in Limerick in a house from the 1940s that seemed too large for myself and my long-suffering husband when we moved in 3 years ago. Now, however, it is about to explode due to the amount of fabric, wool, beads and trimmings that I am constantly cramming into it! I work from home. Oh dear! I originally moved to Limerick for University where I studied Law, History and German. Quite early in the proceedings and much to the dismay of my parents and sensible acquaintances it became apparent that the reality of a law practice would not really suit me for some strange reason! For far more years than I care to remember I have been a Tour-Guide, travelling Ireland on mainly historical tours with coach-loads of German tourists! Well “two out of three aint bad”- and yes, I am old enough to remember the song.Around three years ago a friend and former colleague, Ruth from Nice Day Designs, began selling her fab customised clothes in a Sunday Market in the centre of Limerick . That got me thinking. Since I very rarely work on tours for 4-5 months every winter and spend much of that time baking and sewing, why not try doing it for a living? Actually make money from what has been my enduring passion since childhood- making pretty things for people and feeding them!! I figured that, since I was already making and customising wedding dresses for friends it wouldn’t be too hard! Famous last words! Still, with much encouragement I stuck with it and although it was slow to get going, it has been a challenge and a blast so far! When I am at home I go to markets in the area with my clothes and accessories and my Gluten and Wheat-free goodies. When I am touring I bring wool and crochet hooks with me! I even brought my sewing machine and fabric for a memorable month last year! My suitcase died! I now have a portable machine, perfect for holidays in Barcelona ! I did say long-suffering husband at the beginning! I make clothes, bags and accessories from any material that I fall in love with at the time and I’m afraid that I must be a very fickle girl! At the moment I am making mainly crocheted hats, silk and chiffon skirts and dresses and brocade, velvet and p.v.c. coats! I love experimenting with different shapes and styles for my hats, trying different yarns and wools to get unusual effects and adding flowers, buttons and beads. I also adore embroidered and embellished silk for the luxurious feel and drape of it I have a terrible tendency to be unable to resist buying any that I really love when it is on sale and taking a year to work my way through all of it! Hence the house bursting at the seams! I started making rain macs from p.v.c. and vinyl 3 years ago and am constantly looking for funkier patterns and better-wearing material.
I also make fun and pretty costume jewellery from beads and findings, mostly sourced in Barcelona where we keep returning every year-my home away from home! Maybe when I am rich and famous! Ha ha! Of late I have been custom designing and making bags, phone cases, briefcases and wallets which has been an enjoyable new challenge. I went on line in February after much nagging- sorry encouragement! Despite not knowing how to turn on a computer a year ago I love it and am really enjoying doing custom work for new people as far away as Australia ! I will be back doing coach tours again very shortly and have already got a new (sturdy) bag for my faithful sewing-machine companion!
Hola! Angela from artysmarty with you this week to give you a bit of a spiel about some of my own crafty stuff. I have been living and working in Dublin on and off for about 10 years but am originally from Tasmania in Australia where I studied ceramics. My work has taken a bit of a side step from my original training but I can't help it...I love everything crafty and it's easy to get side tracked. My current special subjects are wood-cut badges, bags and pendants.
You may have seen some of these about Dublin town, I am selling in MayFly (next to the Cake Cafe off Camden Street), Irish Design Shop, Se Si and Om Diva and also at the Dublin Flea Market which happens in the Co-Op in New Market Square the last Sunday of each month.
Lots of my bits and pieces are badges that are made from wood that are laser cut. The material is so flexible, you can cut it, glue it, pierce it and re-cycle it (if things go horribly wrong!). My current favourite is this lady that I use for a badge. She is cool in her nanna underwear.
I am currently working on some lovely bags, phone and business accessories. You know, the kind of stuff that girls love and boys often scratch their heads and say 'But, why do you need it?'
My only concession to my ceramics background is some of the pendants that I produce, made with a clay backing, image transfer and top glaze. I love that they are a fun, non-precious piece of jewelery that's affordable.
Anyhoo, that's about it really. If you like the stuff or just wnat check out my web site for a bit of a nosey, take a look at www.artysmartyshop.com!
Hi, my name is Ann Gorman; I am a Collage/Mixed Media and Paper Crafts Artist and I run Amg-Arts.
I live surrounded by beautiful scenery in the Boyne Valley Region overlooking Newgrange burial site in Co. Meath, unfortunately I am usually too busy in my Art Studio to enjoy the views or its busy raining outside.
At the moment I am working on converting old sheds/stables and a loft into working art studios, gallery and a workshop, where classes will be taught. But in the meantime I am content in working in my art studio inside my home. I also went back to college and studying a degree in Textiles at N.C.A.D but had to take 'time out' this year because I got sick, but on the mend now and putting all my time and effort into my art work and my Etsy Shop.
My first love is my collages, I love telling stories with them and adding details that I feel symbolize the story, or bring the collage 'alive', I also write and you will find some of my poems entwined into my collages. I make cut and paste collages on card, canvas and board and I also make them with Beeswax. In my Etsy shop you will find some of my collages, also my paper crafts; my cards and guestbook’s etc. I will soon be doing prints of my collages too.
When I’m not doing my art and crafts, I am busy working on doing up our old cottage, working in my garden, walking our three Springer Spaniels, I have my nose stuck into a book or I'm writing my blog 'Where People Create' .
Oops-a-daisy! I got my dates mixed up and here I am introudcing myself on a Tuesday instead of a Monday!!
Hello you bunch of talented crafters, I am Rebecca of LuckyRainbowDesigns! A Dundalk girl born and bread, I made the big move to the lovely and ever changing city of Limerick in 2000 to pursue a fine art degree and havn't looked back since! In fact, I cannot believe I'm living here nearly 10 years!! Time has quite literally flown by!
I set up LuckyRainbowDesigns initially in May 2009, however I had been toying with the idea for around 3 or 4 years. I create detailed and pretty handmade cards and hope to expand my range of paper goods in the coming months. I currently work full time in the University of Limerick, so for now my love for LuckyRainbowDesigns is on a part time basis, however I'm convinved that one day I'll get discovered and then I, the boyfriend and our imaginary family of dogs will live happily ever after! :)
I have always, ALWAYS loved cards, both giving and receiving. I would stroll shops for hours and hours deciding on the perfect one for the perfect person never completley happy with my purhcase as I always thought "I could do better!". I think it was my mother and boyfriend Robert who finally gave me the push to get going after I made a wedding card for a friend. They quite literally kept shouting "Just do it Rebecca!" in my ear!.......and numerous attempts, a few craft fairs, some money and an etsy siopa later, here I am!
My studio space for the moment is the box bedroom! I'm issuing a warning before you view the next photo! I work in chaos! I'm the kind of person that if it isn't sitting in front of me, I won't use it! My boyfriend with whom I live with cannot understand it as he is a (and I don't use this lightly!) Neat Freak! However we've come to a mutal agreement that LuckyRainbowDesign HQ is 'allowed' to be messy!
Right now, things I that I love and inspire me are as follows - The Etsy Ireland Team - looking at how others work inspires me to create more! In a time when Ireland is experiencing doom and gloom, I know I can hop onto the etsy Ireland blog and hey presto I'm cheered up! -Chocolate Mochas - mmmm the chocolatey, the better - no further explanation needed. -The Antiques Roadshow- Yes it's my guilty pleasure, I love the history behind objects! I love it so much I wrote my thesis on it! -Spring- The sun shone in Limerick for the first time in a long time yesterday and the world seemed a better place!
My name is Rachel Allkin and I have been making fairy folk for the last 8 years in a wooden workshop at the bottom of my garden (appropriately !) hidden in the woods of east Galway.
I trained in mixed media art and craft at college in Northamton , England and furthered my studies with short courses in silver smithing, weaving and felt making.
After a number of years living and working as a musician in Spain the call of the west was too great and I settled in galway with my lovely hubbie Ade. Our family now consists of Oscar (nearly 5) , Twig ( a hairy terrier), Frida (a startled cat), 2 unnamed goldfish,and a hoard of fairies (too many to count !).
The very first fairy i made was for my Mother's christmas tree and after friends and family begged me to make them one too i thought I might be on to something.
From there I started fashioning fairy folk on a regular basis under the bussiness name' Away with the Fairies' and selling them on the wonderful St. Nicholas' market on a saturday in galway . If you're ever in galway on a saturday please check it out as its a wonderful mix of organic and homemade produce and lovely local crafts.
i have also had wonderful support from many of the lovely craft outlets around the country including O'reilly-Turpin in westport and Glor in Ennis.
Each fairy starts her life as a flat piece of fabric (often vintage, recycled or sari) , then she is sewn together on a machine and stuffed with lavender and fluffy stuff. i then decorate her (my favourite bit) with lots of lovely embellishments, buttons, braid, ribbon, beads, feathers , shells..... and create a face for her with tiny seed beads as cheeky fairy peepers. Her hair is created with hand dyed wool and a silvery thread is sewn to her head so she can be hung up to float around in the breeze. Lastly but certainly not least the fairy is christened and her name tag is tied to her spindly wire arm so that any proud new fairy owner will know what to call her when she finds a new home.
My range has expanded from just 'freshly caught fairies' to fairy folk for all special ocassions and seasons. Some of the bestsellers include fairy bride and grooms and new baby fairies which can all be personalised eg. hair and eye colour, names and dates etc.
We are often found at craft fairs around the country and of course the market in galway so please stop by and say hello.
I also run craft classes in and around loughrea for kids (adults classes coming soon) convo me for info.
I'd like to take the oppourtunity to say hi to all the crafty ireland team members really looking forward to getting to know you all, I haven't been on any kind of team since school but this is so much cooler !
My name is Cortney. That’s right, no “u”. I’m happy to make your acquaintance and introduce you to Conscious Crafts by West Clare Weavers, a small home-based venture started by myself and my husband, Patrick.
I am originally from Colorado. I’ve been in Ireland since July 2008; however, three previous trips and more than 10 years of dreaming led me here. I’ve spent most of my life searching for the life I live today and the person I share my days with; I hope everyone has the opportunity to live their dreams and color the corner they live in.
Conscious Crafts has really been a "business" in the making for many years. I started creating goods for my family and friends years ago. What began as a means of giving thoughtful, meaningful gifts (painted platters, monogrammed quillows, jewelry, scarves) became an opportunity for a sustainable business when I found more than 40 fathom of rope on a local beach in West Clare and wondered what “useful something” I could turn it into. My husband and I built a rectangular loom from reclaimed timber and copper nails and I wove the first “reclaimed rope mat”. This “prototype” was given to very good friends, gardeners, who track loads of compost and other bits into their home – the mat is standing strong against the dirt and elements of Ireland, 6 months later.
Anywho, today, we spend our time creating wearable and usable goods. Scarves, bags, floor mats to name a few and did I mention we use nearly 100% reclaimed material in all of our wares. Just yesterday, we reclaimed 12 fathom of rope from the same beach where the original 40 was retrieved – can’t wait to see the mats with this “new” rope. Aside from selling on Etsy, we do our best to sell at local Craft Fairs and in Carrigaholt's own Dolphinwatch Centre.
Multi-color rope mat, woven with some of the original 40 fathom of rope
We are excited to be part of the Team and look forward to connections with other members.
In the mean time, we invite you to take a peek at our shop “consciouscrafts”. Since we’re new at this, we love feedback and get super excited when someone new “hearts” our shop.Hope to meet your acquaintance in person someday.
I am englishcookies, also known as Karin, a serious garlic muncher: frenchy as it can be ;)
I run my studio from home : making paper goods, prints and other handmade products.
I use various techniques : screen printing, Gocco, old stamps, letterpress, painting, etc…
I moved from Paris, many years ago to travel a bit, and now live on the coast of Ireland, near Belfast.
I have swapped the rat race for the beautiful country life, and I am grateful for every day I spend away from all the hustle and bustle of big cities...
I trained for several years in Art schools : Fine arts, design, communication & illustration; focused mainly on illustration, but was keen to experiment with all media I could find : the more, the merrier! From there I spent several years working in the Graphic design industry, in agencies: designing branding, logos, websites ..etc... As a lot of people, I became more and more disillusioned over the years with the industry, and even if my career was going better and better, I wasn't happy at all. A turning point came for me when the economic crisis of 2001 forced me to closed down my 3 months old freelance business.
I then decided to go to London andimprove my english for 6 months or so, until things get better. I stayed 2 years. Back in France, I searched for a place abroad to volunteer for the environment. I always wanted to work for free and learn more about nature, and I thought I had the opportunity to do just that when I arrived in Northern Ireland. I met my partner along the way and decided to stay for good: et voila!
Since I live here, I decided to go back to basics and use computers only as a last resort. I do enjoy using my hands again and get really inspired by other people crafts and handmade, in general. I went back to printing with "the SEACOURT workshop (http://www.seacourt-ni.org.uk), in Bangor, and also got into weaving and spinning with "the ULSTER GUILD of spinners, weavers and dyers"(http://ugswd.blogspot.com), in the Ulster Folk Museum.
What first made me want to create things? Coloured pencils and felt tip pens!
One of my happiest and earliest memoriesare at the table, coloring and drawing pictures, for hours and hours, in a perfect bliss...I don't think I ever stopped until the dreaded computer came along, hi, hi !
One huge thing in my life, especially since I live in the UK, is thrifting.
All the charity shops, here, in Bangor, Newtownards, Donaghadee and Belfast are an unstoppable source of excitement to me : it is like being in a sweet shop ! I love to spend a long time trying to find this little special object or the book that nobody has noticed and give it a second chance. When I collect vintage objects, it does feel like I am buying history, even if my partner think (..the following part probably sounds very familiar to you..) it is more like buying junk! (..typical...I told you...)
I don't stick to one particular style. I am surrounded by those found objects, and move them in the house : on shelves, tables, corners…for months, then it becomes something else or simply an inspiration for a print. I get huge satisfaction from transforming discarded objects or pairing them with the perfect match.
Don't ask me what handmade possession I most cherish : I have never been able to choose a favorite for anything…
I do love them all and, at the same time, I am very happy with the idea of letting go of it.
Favorite to me is just an instant feeling : when I find something for the very first time.. and….hopla : the moment is gone!
What else do I do?
I grow vegetables. I am a novice gardener, but love the instant reward and constant surprise you get when you plant something in the ground and it comes out, few weeks later, in the shape, texture, taste and color of something else :
it is Pure Magic!
I also joined "the Northern Ireland Fungus Group (NIFG)" http://www.nifg.org.uk/home.htm, 2 years ago, and itgives me the opportunity to muck about in forests and parks of Northern Ireland 6 months per year, once or twice a month, and look at little mushrooms during a good day walk : I absolutely love it and would advise everybody to join us , it is only 5£ a year and a lot of fun.
Hi I'm Bridget and I'm currently living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I grew up in Belfast but I've been away in Scotland and Australia for the past ten years so it's lovely to be part of the Irish etsy team now that I'm back!
I have three shops on etsy. One is my bridbird shop in which I sell digital prints of kitchen themed pen and ink drawings.
I started making these images because my mum, who owns a lovely restaurant in Holywood, Co. Down, decided she wanted to write a cook book and asked me to do the illustrations. She's now on to her second cook book in which both these images were included.
My other two shops are what I call my 'more serious work' they are BridgetFarmerPrints andBridgetFarmerBooks. While I was in Australia I discovered printmaking. Real printmaking, with a big printing press, an acid bath for etching your plates and really thick messy ink! I loved it!
You see, I had studied Jewellery and Silversmithing for my degree in Edinburgh, but just never felt it was what I was meant to do, so when I found printmaking it was a wonderful realisation. I had been waiting to find this medium all along!
Me happy to have found printmaking, at the Australian Print Workshop in Melbourne. Photo by Carla Gottgens
I've always liked birds, they seem to be a recurring theme in my work. Especially while I was in Australia because there were so many strange and exotic looking birds there. I drank them in, thirsty for information about them all. I spent a lot of time sketching them and drawing stuffed specimens at Melbourne museum. I always like to work from life, rather than from photos, I feel this give more life and movement to the results. Printmaking became my way of exploring the birdlife in Australia.
Now that I'm home I have a renewed interest in Irish birds. I'm mainly focusing on them now. I've just bought lots of bird food and feeders and I sit eating my breakfast in the mornings, looking out the window at all the tits, black birds, robin and yesterday I figured out what I thought was just a female sparrow was in fact a dunnock, I'm very excited about this as I'm sure you can understand!!?!
I have gradually learnt more printmaking techniques, using the facilities at the print workshop in Australia and now in Belfast and from a lot of help from other users. I've always found etsy a very friendly place, full of people who are willing to help others and the print workshops are just the same. If you are interested in printmaking and know of a print workshop in your area you should definitely go and have a look!
Pied Currawong, Sugar Lift Etching
Although I say I've learnt many printmaking techniques I still feel quite a novice and there is so much more to learn. The processes are all quite lengthy so I find it difficult to experiment as much as I should. I'm quite interested in looking further into non toxic printmaking. My dream is to one day build an eco house out of straw bales. How could I possibly have a green eco house, but then have a studio full of noxious substances?! So I need to research that.
Another passion of mine is making books. My books range from photocopied and stapled zines to precious hand bound artist books containing original etchings. I've only just opened myBridgetFarmerBooks shop so I don't have very much in it at present, but I'm very excited about it and looking forward to filling its shelves. These books will contain mainly images in the form of my drawings and etchings, I'm not so much of a writer, although I'd be very interested in collaborating if any writers are interested!
Just to prove that occasionally I do branch out into other subject matter here is a book of digital prints of drawings I made of goats. I do love goats, and as the title say, who doesn't?
You can see more of my drawings and some of the processes involved in printmaking on my blog www.bridgetfarmer.blogspot.com and more of my etchings on my websitewww.bridgetfarmer.com. I'm now getting a bit embarrassed by my repetition of my name here, so I shall say farewell for now and thanks for reading.
I have been making wallhangings for about ten years, after originally being inspired by the work of Janet Bolton. I began with very simple lighthouses and birds then , after moving to Ireland and starting to sell my work locally, I specialised in depicting the distinctive buildings, particularly the brightly coloured pubs with their decorative signs and flowering window-boxes. I often took commissions, and was always happy when the owner of the building bought my version of it!
Foxy John's, Dingle, Co Kerry
Old Head Lighthouse, Kinsale, Co Cork
As my embroidery improved I turned to more natural subjects and landscapes, and the sea and coast became my dominant theme. I began a series of wallhangings of scenes on The Isles of Scilly, the group of islands off southwest England where I was born and grew up, and I sell these in a gallery there. A few years ago I realised my dream of giving up my day job – a soft-furnishings and clothes alteration business, to do my craftwork full time. Now I am a full-time mum, and stitching part-time again. Etsy is perfect for those of us in this situation as the overheads are minimal and we can work at our own pace.
Designing new patterns is the hardest part for me; I know the effect I want, and I usually have a good idea of the fabrics and colours I will use, but actually creating a composition is something that rarely comes easily. Something I need to study! Choosing the colours is the part I enjoy most – like most quiltmakers I am addicted to fabric, and many of mine are old friends which I have used for years, together with regular additions of new ones which I have bought more from greed than necessity!
"Daffodills" Tresco Gallery, Isles of Scilly, Daffodils Exhibition, September 2009
Having drawn the design and made paper templates for all the pieces, I cut the various shapes from fabric scraps. These are laid onto a piece of lining fabric with the design drawn onto it.. Usually the raw edges are pressed under with the iron first, and they are stitched down with an invisible slip-stitch. After this I hand embroider the details such as flowers, seaspray, windows, and the eyes, beaks and feathers of birds. Next the embroidered piece is stitched onto the white backing, which is then quilted with white thread, the patchwork border is pieced together and sewn on, then the edges finished with a narrow fabric binding.
Commission for a seaside house in Norway, 2008
Future plans include adding some different styles of work to my shop, such as larger machine-embroidered art quilts, and personalised baby wallhangings. I’m also going to add a supplies section and list some of the fabrics of which I bought too much! Thanks for reading this and please contact me with any questions or comments at http://www.etsy.com/shop/PuffinPatchwork
**** Best Wishes to everyone for a very Happy Christmas and New Year ****
