New Journals in jewel-colours!

A new batch of A6 Journals are off to Kaleidoscope, the new craft gallery in Westport, www.kaleidoscopearts.ie. These have been made in a variety of jewel colours, with mixed textures of chenille, wool, silk and cotton, vintage buttons and beads, variegated threads and some words printed on fabrics and 'salvaged' from a beautiful old book of sheet music from around 1890-1920.

I hope to make some more journals soon in anticipation of the opening of my new on-line shop (watch this space!). A big thank you to Aga, creator of beautiful yarns and knitted shawls (see www.etsy.com/shop/knitspinfelt) who took the time recently to walk me through the experience of setting up shop on www.etsy.com.

New journals in stock!

Just some of the embroidered notebooks I have added to my stock recently! These are blank A6 sketchbooks/journals that I've made covers for. No two covers are the same as the combinations of vintage fabrics, threads, buttons, beads and embellishments cannot be repeated exactly. When the journal is full simply remove the cover to put on your new A6 journal.

Womens Support Project, Leitrim: Day 4

Today was the 4th of 5 classes with the women of Leitrim. We had a day of sharing stories, sketching, journalling and collaboration. Every day brings more stories of connections between past and present experiences, serendipity and personal growth. We had a 'field trip' to the Leitrim Design House downstairs, stopping at whatever pieces we connected with to take notes, sketch, develop our powers of observation and record our own emotional responses to what we saw. Here are some journal pages, collaborations and sketches from these women.

Women's Support Project, Leitrim: Day 1

Today was the first day of 'Creative Journalling' with the Women's Support Project, at the Leitrim Design House in Carrick on Shannon. The thing I love most about 'creative journalling' is that anyone can do it, regardless of age, background or experience at 'art'. Even those who feel a bit anxious about where to start, become absorbed and then don't want to go home! So often people tell me it's the first time they felt 'allowed' to create something without any rules. If it doesn't work out as they like, they can just paint or collage over it until they are happy. Today's session was full of paint, glue, bits of paper and magazines. We created a happy mess, shared stories and had fun. Here are samples of the work from these very creative women.

Women's Support Project, Leitrim: Day 1

More photos of this first session

Women's Support Project, Leitrim: Day 1

Some more photos from this first session.

'Go Create' Solstice Arts Day at Campbells Tavern

Local artists at work on their 'creative journals'!

'Go Create' Solstice Arts Day at Campbell's Tavern

The Solstice Arts Group held a family fun day 'Go Create' at Campbell's Tavern in Cloughanover, Headford, Co. Galway on Sunday 20th September, 2009. Local families showed up eager to get creative. There were free workshops in pottery, jewellery-making, card-making and quilting in the outdoor marquees. More workshops in music, web-design, candle-making and creative journalling indoors. The teepee had a log fire and some drumming workshops. Anyone who wanted to, sat for a while in the field to help create a beautiful mandala using shells, stones, wood and sand. Here are some photos from the day.

Women's Support Project, Leitrim Design House

'Supports for Women' is a creative learning project tailored to the needs of women living in County Leitrim who have been adversely affected by the troubles in the North. The project will run between Sep '09 and Aug '10. It aims to deal with issues of trauma and release these issues in a creative way.

I will work with the group over 5 classes to help them express ideas in a 'Creative Journal'. This form of journalling is a great way to kick-start creativity and I hope to provide the group with some very simple techniques to help them find their creative voices. Using journals in this way has helped me develop my own ideas for my work and I find it very inspiring. Further information on the Leitrim Desgin House and this project can be found at http://intoleitrim.com/

Creative Journalling

I've always loved diaries, but mine always bored me! When I became interested in creative textiles and first saw student sketchbooks I started to keep a notebook by my side almost all the time. A good friend introduced me to the idea of 'altered books' and we started a 'collaborative journal' together when I moved from Dublin to Galway. The notebook travelled by post back and forth allowing us to share ideas with eachother. I loved to see the postman coming with a fat envelope containing those notebooks bursting with new ideas from my pal in Dublin. Now I keep a visual journal going all the time and it provides me with ideas for my work in textiles. I've also given workshops to all age-groups on creative journalling and people love doing them.