Crafty Ireland News + UPDATES.....

Greetings from the Crafty News Desk
I have just popped back to say hello.

Natalie from thebluesylph is taking on the job but wont be here until September, so in the meantime she has asked me to do one more report, a sort of round up on whats on in August and any relevant news for the coming months.

August is a very busy month on the craft front with loads of events and market opportunities happening all around the country.

• All the main events are listed on the Year of Craft website - craftinireland
• For a full roundup of events in Northern Ireland see - augustcraftmonth
• The main Craft Council of Ireland have listings on market opportunities, events for sellers, resources etc. and it is a great resource to use - ccoi
• Crafters Ireland organise craft fairs and events around the country - craftersireland
• August is craft month in Cork - cork
• Exhibition of the RDS National Craft Competition winners is on in the Westmeath Civic Offices 23rd August - 23rd September
• Outdoor painting workshop in in Avoca next Saturday - avocapaintingschool
• Glass Fusing course in Westport on 10-11 September - blueglasshouse

NEWS EXTRA::::

A very special Craft Day in aid of the Famine in Africa will be held in Dublin on 3rd September next in the Damer Hall, St. Stephens Green.  Loads of Craft Classes (I will be taking a beginners knitting and demonstrating wool spinning on my trusty spinning wheel) and lots of crafts to buy as well as coffee and cakes......  It would be great to see you there.  Information here ---- handmaidcraftday

If you have any events that you would like to highlight and add to the list either add them to the end of this report as a comment or contact me through my shop and I will add them to the main list.

That's about it for now.  I am looking forward to what Natalie brings to the News Reports and know that she will do a great job.  Best of luck Natalie.

Cheers
Mo
HUGGLEKNITS

Crafty News

Flowers at Malone House, South Belfast

Since our Mo is away on a well-deserved holiday and nobody has come forward to step into her shoes for these three weeks, you'll get me, Purls, once more.

And this leads me into the next subject, which is our blog. I am a bit thin on the ground for contributions, so unless you want to read Purls' yarnspinning every day, or have Jacob's growls and scowls for a week, I need to see paws up for the blog.

To show you all how effective our blog is, here is a link to an article by Alice on Fondelifair, which shows clearly that people are reading this blog and that articles translate into visitors to featured shops and author's websites.

This is very good news. Do you need any more persuasion, or do I have to send the bear in???


More crafty news:

• this weekend, Etsy Ireland's pop-up-shop, organised by Ruth from nicedaydesigns will dazzle visitors during the Cat Dig in Limerick. If you had the good intentions of sending some of your products down, but it went out of your head, check with Ruth whether or not it's too late to send things now.

• Some of our team members have joined Fondelifair, the new Irish online craft community and marketplace, and we're making ourselves quite at home there while getting to grips with the joys of Word Press. For those who would like to learn and brush up their Word Press skills, this might be the right course for you.

• The Home Souk and the Fashion Souk are on in Belfast this weekend. Both are taking place in the Europa Hotel from 11am to 5pm (Home Souk is on 14 May, Fashion Souk on 15th)
  

• Various Craft Fairs are happening in Cavan, Dundalk, Meath, Portarlington, and Athy during May and June
  

• Don't forget to put in for the Craft Guerrilla Designer Makers Competition to gain a stall space at one of the Knitting & Stitching shows in London, Harrogate and Dublin. The Deadline is 30 June 2011!
  

As always keep an eye on the Year of Craft website for updates countrywide, and tell me of any interesting crafty news happening in your area!

Selling Opportunity at Bloom 2011

This information just came in from the Crafts Council of Ireland about a selling opportunity at Bloom 2011.

Bloom 2011 is the fifth year of Bord Bía’s very successful garden show, celebrating garden life. The consumer show takes place from Thursday the 2nd to Monday the 6th of June 2011 in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Opening hours are from 10am to 6pm.

Celebrating Year of Craft, the crafts presence at Bloom 2011 will be stronger than ever – with a craft-inspired garden, retail, demonstration and workshop space.  Bloom represents opportunities for craft makers to promote and sell to this very large audience. In 2010 Bloom achieved pheonomenal success by attracting over 60,000 visitors.

The Crafts Council of Ireland’s objective is to raise the awareness of craft by offering consumers the chance to see it, feel it, engage with it and purchase it – and hopefully develop a life long affinity for craft in all its forms. The Crafts Council of Ireland area brings all of the craft activities into one key location – focused around an interactive garden that highlights 'growing your garden with craft'.

The Craft Avenue will be situated at the heart of the craft area. It will encompass approximately 20 – 25 craft stands (depending on demand and the sizes of stands required) – in outdoor, all-weather/weatherproof and lockable stalls. Please note – the stands are not in the usual marquee format.

This area will be promoted to visitors in advance of the show and will feature prominently in the Bloom website. In addition it will be highlighted in the Bloom catalogue and on signage throughout the show.

Selection Process
In order to ensure quality and consistency, all craft exhibitors must pass an independent selection process – organised / administered by the Crafts Council of Ireland. Applicants must be registered with the Crafts Council of Ireland.

Successful applicants will then be contacted by the Bloom sales team by the third week in May, regarding confirming and booking stands. 

The decision of the selection panel is final. All those selected will be offered a space at Bloom at the discounted rate of €800 for a 2x2m stall excluding VAT. Double stands are available. Successful applicants must ensure that their stand is staffed for the duration of the show.

Applicants who do not pass selection may be offered space in the Grand Pavillion, at the standard rate of €242psm (including shell).

Selection Fee
A processing fee of €25 will apply to all applications, so you need to post this fee to the Crafts Council. This fee is non-refundable and will entitle successful applicants to a listing in the CCoI information brochure at Bloom.

Deadline for completed applications is Tuesday, 10 May 2011.

Purls has further information and the application form, but you can also contact Nicola at the Crafts Council of Ireland directly at nicola@ccoi.ie

Crafty News

Greetings from the Crafty News Desk.
Just had to share a pic of my new button box, now holding loads of pretty buttons for my Tiny Chuus.....  Anyway, enough drooling......  Hope you all had a great Easter and May Bank Holiday. 

This week I have news of a number of Craft events, Craft Markets and selling opportunities coming up over the next few months - "In no particular order" as they say.....

• Ruth from  nicedaydesigns has word of a pop up shop opportunity in Limerick.   see here pop-up-shop
• First online Irish craft community and marketplace called Fondelifair .... see here first-online-craft
• Batik Workshop, National Print Museum, Dublin, Saturday 7 May, 10:30am – 4:30pm  (Max. 12 people) Cost: E60  nationalprintmuseum
• Art and Craft Fair, 19 June, Spawell, Templeogue, Dublin.  Spawell     location
• World record broken.......   1147 knitters have smashed the world record at the Lamb Festival in Roscommon over the weekend.   Well done.  Details -  Lamb
• 'Mastercrafter', a new RTÉ series, is looking for amateur craftspeople to star in the show.  Details here Crafters
• Sage and Stone Market on 28 May at The Farm, Newlanes, Duleek, Co. Meath.  Nice selection of stands so far including Fi from patchworkdelights  Details here sageandstone
• Scallop Festival with Craft Selling opportunities on 9th July on Valentia Island - details to follow
• Craft Guerrilla Designer Makers Competition! "We'll be working with Twisted Thread the organizers of the Knitting & Stitching shows to showcase the best new talent in British and Irish Arts & Crafts!    We're looking for talented Designer Makers who are passionate about all things hand made, have a high level of craftsmanship and make beautiful, modern, high quality, hand made Designer Maker items!  We have 6 stall spaces up for grabs in each "Knitting & Stitching" shows in London, Harrogate and Dublin.  For more info and application details please see...  craftguerrilla
• As always keep an eye on the Year of Craft website for updates countrywide.  craftinireland

That's about it for this week.  I won't be with you for the next 3 Mondays as I head stateside for a bit of sun and fun.  If you would like to cover news over the next few weeks get in touch with Purls at her shop purlsofcolour .  I will be back with you all on Monday 30th. 
Cheers till then
Mo
huggleknits

Crafty News Desk

Greetings from the Crafty News Desk

(this week's photo is of a surprise bed of blue bells I came across yesterday - nothing gives me a better feeling that Summer is on the way )

Well, this week its back to general news - bits and pieces that I hope will be of interest to you all.

Big congrats to BONZIE who was presented with a Designers Award last week in Dublin and who also designed the official gown for the Waterford City Mayor for the Formal Mayor's Ball.  She is going from strength to strength.  Its great to see a success story in this day and age.  Well done !!!

The latest listing of events have been posted on the Year of Craft website  YEAR OF CRAFT 

You can also add your own events directly to the website EVENT

There is a wealth of notices with crafting opportunities on the main Craft Council of Ireland website.  Well worth a visit  CCOI  also links to craft fairs/show here FAIRS  In fact if you trawl through all the pages on the website there is bound to be something of interest there for you.

Have you been to our Facebook page yet???  Loads happening there.... Last Friday we had a Showcase for all of our new work.  It was a great way to see what is coming next in a number of the shops.  You can also find details of giveaways and events.  Worth a look..... we now have over 1,000 followers on Facebook whoo hooo!!  Facebook

AND NOW FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.

How would you like to showcase your area on the weekly Crafty News???? 

Tell us what is happening Craftwise where you live.  

If you would like to bring your event or shop to the Crafty News let me know and I can feature you on one of the Monday slots. 

I am also looking for some Guest News Reports to take the blog entry when I am on hols in May.  So please get in touch through my shop HUGGLEKNITS  and we can take it from there.

So thats it for this week - short and hopefully sweet.

Keep the news coming in - See you next week

Cheers

Mo

Crafty News Desk

Greetings from the Crafty News Desk. 
This weeks photo is of a determined briar that is growing though the back wall of our garden .... what PERSISTENCE - good word for us all in these recessionary times.

As part of our look at the Provinces I will be taking a stroll through MUNSTER this week.  No doubt I will only be touching the surface.  If you have anything to add please let me know and I can update the list or you can add your info to the comments at the end of this article.


Munster is made up of 6 counties i.e. : Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford.
A quick look at Etsy shows the following number of active shops in each county.
Clare (3), Cork (24), Kerry (5), Limerick (8), Tipperary (4) and Waterford (4)  total of 48   Big wave to you all in Munster ......


Some local links of interest
Clare : Clare Crafts Association  Assoc
Cork : West Cork Guild Guild 
Cork :  Stone Sculpting course Sculpting
Cork : textile intitiative Souvenir
Cork : Cork City Arts Arts
Cork:  Textile Exhibition and also 2-day textile festival  Cork Textiles
Kerry : news from Kerry Co Co. Kerry Co Co news
Kerry : Story of Irish Lace Exhibition and Seminar Lace
Kerry : Glass info Glass
Limerick : Milk Market Market
Limerick : Quilting retreat next weekend Retreat
Tipperary : craft classes Class
Tipperary : showcase crafts
Waterford : craft info studio

General links :
Craft Council of Ireland http://www.ccoi.ie/
Year of Craft site http://www.craftinireland.com/
Craft events http://www.craftinireland.com/
Business partnerships http://www.businesstoarts.ie/

Other news:

• Geraldine from LittleSnippets has been in touch with news of a great giveaway for Spring on her blog, well worth a look here ..... SPRING 
• How are you all getting on with the St Patricks Day Treasure Hunt???? 

Thats about it for this week.  Next week we have a look at Dublin.  All items for inclusion should be in with me by Sunday evening at the latest.
Have a good week
Cheers
Mo
http://www.huggleknits.etsy.com/

Crafty News Desk

Greetings from the Crafty News Desk.

How are you all doing? 
New Year - new collections in the ETSY shops and loads of new members in the Crafty Ireland Team.  Our membership is growing and growing - how many have we now?   Great to see the wide selection of crafters we have in our group.   Take a look at the last few groups of new members on the blog here > group A  group B

Not a lot of fresh newsie titbit's for you this week.  Everyone seems to be beavering away being creative.
 
Great news though about a new Europe office for ETSY being set up in Ireland  - see this earlier report Limerick Meeting  Loads of speculation going on as to where it will be located and how many staff will be needed as well as the advantages we as Irish Crafters will have when it opens.

Also some of our crafters are involved with the Showcase Ireland in the RDS.  Loads of luck to you all.  If you want to read more about this check this out rds

In case you need to keep in touch with the year of craft and what is coming up check out this link Craft Year    As to what we as a group might do to showcase our creativity, no news yet.  Any plans for regional meetings coming up?  There are loads of ideas out there that we need to harness.

www.irishshop.com is looking for new suppliers for their website www.irishshop.com  They cater for the Irish American market and would be interested hearing from new suppliers. 

Make contact here ; irishshop

Interesting item  ----  check out this website   http://upstart.ie/  art  throughout the upcoming election  !!!!

If you have any news items that you would like to pass on to the team e.g. markets, art/craft exhibitions, courses, meetings, selling opportunities, items to buy/sell (within  reason and only craft related) giveaways in your shop etc etc etc....  contact me through my shop here HuggleKnits

That's it for this week. 
Cheers
Mo