Student samples of free-motion stitching at a recent workshop

 

 

Some thread-sketching...

We had some fun at the workshop on Sunday in Cruthú Studio, Claregalway. A group of eager participants were introduced to a number of techniques to use in their textile work:

• finding inspiration
• developing ideas in sketchbooks
• free-motion machine stitching
• fusible appliqué
• foil appliqué
• soluble fabric

The above are some of the stitch samples produced, and I sincerely hope they found the class useful in helping them begin to find their own visual language so that they create unique textile artwork.

Galway Culture Night: "Building Claregalway"

A wall-hanging created with the help of some local children for Culture Night at Cruthú Studio in Claregalway on the 18th September, 2015. The children used fabric crayons to depict something about their life in the community, I quilted each one and we used recycled ribbons to tie them together. We talked about the connections between people, communities and interests and how this makes life interesting. I love creating something new with the help of young artists like these.
Cruthú Studio is owned by artist Elaine Cunningham and Culture Night saw the studio come alive with face-painting, millinery, mixed-media art, music, poetry, stilt-walking, paper-craft and textile art. What a vibrant arts community we have!

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.

Womens Support Project, Leitrim: Day 3

Learning to draw can be scary! Especially if it's your first time in front of a group of people. Some people remember previous attempts where the emphasis was on the outcome and not the process. Lots of us just simply say 'I can't draw'. Today we used charcoal and learned a few little tricks to put aside the fear and tackle a drawing. Like most things in life, taking the first step is the hardest part. But once we stop worrying about the outcome, we can just enjoy learning something new. With a little practice we might improve. These are some first drawings for these women, and it turns out they weren't so scary to do at all!

Womens Support Project, Leitrim: Day 3

Today the women made some 'Crazy Dream Collages' and explored ideas of 'what if?'

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.