GROUNDWORKS Studios

Groundworks Studios will provide a platform for emerging Ceramic & Textile Artists in a collective environment, creating a contemporary, innovative and vibrant setting in Galway and West of Ireland.

The Studios envisage strong links with GMIT Art & Design Department by providing incubation units/spaces for recent Graduates to assist them in developing their artistic and entrepreneurial ambitions and help establish themselves as professionals locally and internationally. It will be a centre for creative excellence in the applied arts, contributing significantly to the development of social, educationals and economic opportunities in the city and county.

The launch exhibition will open at the Lyrr Building, Mervue Business Park, Galway on Friday 11th December from 4-8pm. The exhibition will run on Sat 12th and Sunday 13th from 11-5pm. Queries to groundworksstudios@gmail.com.

Click on the image above to read the poster details for the launch....and do come along!

Orchid in oils

This is my second oil painting. I suppose it could do with more work and touching up in some areas, but I think I will leave it as a record of what I learned by the end of my second set of classes. Tonight I started a still-life charcoal drawing of a 'precious object' in front of draped cloth. It's a different process/method of drawing to my previous 2 drawings so let's see how I do with the next project. I have to say I'm really enjoying the classes and thoroughly recommend finding a tutor to help develop skills.

Nice buns!

Just finished a 12.5 inch block for the Western Irish Patchwork Society challenge for tomorrow's meeting in Galway (http://www.westernips.blogspot.com/). We were given a piece of the multicoloured fabric to use any way we wanted to create a block. All those who complete a block will help to create a group quilt which will be raffled amongst the participants. Watch this space for the completed quilt next year! I call this block....nice buns!

Domestic bliss

I love Charlie Byrne's bookshop in Galway (http://www.charliebyrne.com/)! It's one of my all time-favourite treasure troves. I heard it recently opened in Oranmore, so when the opportunity presented itself to pay a visit yesterday I was delighted. And the book I bought was 'The Gentle Art of Domesticity' by Jane Brocket. This was first published in 2007 and I don't understand how I only discovered it now. The photos are gorgeous, it's beautifully written and full of everything that is just my cup of tea (in a china cup, with a home-baked delight to accompany it!). So this is the kind of visual feast that perks me up as winter draws in. Check out Jane's website http://www.janebrocket.com/ and her blog under the name Yarnstorm. This has inspired my photo for today showing my Mam's blue china, the teapot set was a wedding gift from an old neighbour, the embroidered cloth is a fleamarket-find, the cake-stand was a present from my sister and the cookies were baked by my son yesterday.....ah.....domestic bliss!

The Knitting & Stitching Show, Oct 09 at the RDS

Just back from my trip to Dublin to the RDS Knitting & Stitching Show. I went along on Friday for the whole day with my sister and friends. Although it was uncomfortably hot in the hall, I still had a great day. My favourite part of the day is seeing the UK and Irish graduates' work and the exhibitions by guilds and professional artists. I loved the humour of Cindy Hickok's work (http://www.artists-galleries.com/). And was blown away by the work of Kim Thittichai (http://www.kimthittichai.com/). I was seduced by the selection of fabrics and prices at Rosenberg's stall and I got some lovely stuff for cushion covers at much better prices than I can get in Galway (http://www.mrosenbergandson.com/). And a day at K&S would not be complete without buying a book or two at Art Van Go (http://www.artvango.co.uk/) along with some 'inkaid' to experiment with printing on fabrics. Can't wait to get cracking on some new work now...so watch this space.