Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Show update.
So it's been a week today since I finished the 'Irish Furniture & Home Accessories fair', trade fair in the RDS in Dublin. (Tuesday 3rd April...it will probably say Wednesday 4th by the time I post this!)
I arrived on the Friday evening the 23rd March for set-up of my stand and again the following morning. On Saturday evening the 24th, there was a private preview evening for invited guests and then the show opened from 10am - 6pm on the Sunday 25th and Monday 26th and from 10am - 4pm on the Tuesday 27th.
I arrived home Tuesday evening, very happy with my little blue book of new contacts/clients that I met during the duration of the show.
It was an interesting experience for me, my first trade fair as a new business start-up and I enjoyed it.
I was staying just round the corner from the building in Bewleys hotel which was really handy and many of my fellow exhibitors stayed there too, I kept meeting them at breakfast each morning.
The other exhibitors were really nice and there was some nice furniture and accessories at the show.
I displayed a selection of my mixed media pictures, throws, cushions and a few tea cosies that surprisingly took off rather well. (The cosies)
My pictures, I suppose was the main work that attracted a number of Interior Designers to my stand. Overall, I met some very nice people.
Since I came home last Tuesday evening, I have been enjoying what was left of the fine weather and going over all the contacts I made during the show.
I have also been re-arranging the studio and planning not one but two projects I have to do. One being from the show. Looks like I'm going to be busy for a while. :)
I would like to thank everyone who did come and visit my stand and whom I got to meet, I really appreciated it.
Back in early January, I began researching into a new product that I'd like to try.
I have not touched on this yet but I plan to create a first model of it when I get a chance to. That and maybe ditching one current Idea and producing a more rounded product by making changes to it.
Do remember you can keep up to date and follow my updates over on my facebook page - grainne kenny textile design. There you will find further info and photo albums of my work.
You can also hit the facebook badge tab above and that should link you to my business facebook page.
Having trouble trying to upload pictures from show tonight, will try again in next blog post.
Have a good week.
Gráinne :)
I arrived on the Friday evening the 23rd March for set-up of my stand and again the following morning. On Saturday evening the 24th, there was a private preview evening for invited guests and then the show opened from 10am - 6pm on the Sunday 25th and Monday 26th and from 10am - 4pm on the Tuesday 27th.
I arrived home Tuesday evening, very happy with my little blue book of new contacts/clients that I met during the duration of the show.
It was an interesting experience for me, my first trade fair as a new business start-up and I enjoyed it.
I was staying just round the corner from the building in Bewleys hotel which was really handy and many of my fellow exhibitors stayed there too, I kept meeting them at breakfast each morning.
The other exhibitors were really nice and there was some nice furniture and accessories at the show.
I displayed a selection of my mixed media pictures, throws, cushions and a few tea cosies that surprisingly took off rather well. (The cosies)
My pictures, I suppose was the main work that attracted a number of Interior Designers to my stand. Overall, I met some very nice people.
Since I came home last Tuesday evening, I have been enjoying what was left of the fine weather and going over all the contacts I made during the show.
I have also been re-arranging the studio and planning not one but two projects I have to do. One being from the show. Looks like I'm going to be busy for a while. :)
I would like to thank everyone who did come and visit my stand and whom I got to meet, I really appreciated it.
Back in early January, I began researching into a new product that I'd like to try.
I have not touched on this yet but I plan to create a first model of it when I get a chance to. That and maybe ditching one current Idea and producing a more rounded product by making changes to it.
Do remember you can keep up to date and follow my updates over on my facebook page - grainne kenny textile design. There you will find further info and photo albums of my work.
You can also hit the facebook badge tab above and that should link you to my business facebook page.
Having trouble trying to upload pictures from show tonight, will try again in next blog post.
Have a good week.
Gráinne :)
Friday, 16 March 2012
One week to go.
Is it just me or are the weeks just flying past?
This day next week (Friday) I will be up in Dublin and hopefully at this time I'll either be finished or still sorting out my stand for the 'Irish Furniture & Home Accessories Fair', that starts on Sunday the 25th.
However, there is a preview evening on the Saturday evening at 4pm - 8pm, so I have until 3pm on the Saturday to have it up.
This is a trade event and is on from the 25th - 27th March, starting at 10am & closing at 4pm on the Tuesday and at 6pm on the other two evenings.
In the past week, I received new business cards from 'Tweak', who are a company based in Co.Kerry and also my labels. (See image)
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This day next week (Friday) I will be up in Dublin and hopefully at this time I'll either be finished or still sorting out my stand for the 'Irish Furniture & Home Accessories Fair', that starts on Sunday the 25th.
However, there is a preview evening on the Saturday evening at 4pm - 8pm, so I have until 3pm on the Saturday to have it up.
This is a trade event and is on from the 25th - 27th March, starting at 10am & closing at 4pm on the Tuesday and at 6pm on the other two evenings.
In the past week, I received new business cards from 'Tweak', who are a company based in Co.Kerry and also my labels. (See image)
.jpg)
I'm really happy with the labels and they look really well against my work, a lot more professional to the ones I was using up to this that are nothing compared to these. I just wanted something plain, simple and easy to read, nothing too fancy.
I can't wait to get my work back from the framers, I recently completed a new piece using peacock feathers against a copper and green background, it's also a round piece. I did not take a photo of it before I left it in to be framed but I will post a photo of it when I go to collect my pictures.
I also went up to argos in arklow on Wednesday, and purchased two white high gloss floating shelves, I was not too sure of the gloss at first, but they are nice plus it saves me hauling a bucket of white paint with me or slaving away painting them before I go. As far as I know I have two boards to play with, so I will See when I get up there and figure out how to display my work.
So for the weekend ahead, tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and I shall be spending it at home (v.boring I know, but I have to continue) I'm gone past parades unless your a child and you like looking at tractors and all sorts year after year (I'm from a country town, yet live outside it) I'm giving it a miss. The weather is not great either. And then on Sunday it's Mother's Day followed by a bank holiday.
So wishing you all a very happy St. Patricks day and talk soon.
Gráinne :)
Friday, 10 February 2012
New work and how you can follow me.
Hello again,
I've had a very busy day today, rather messy in fact as been experimenting.
I'm in the middle of new pieces that I'm working on at the moment, see image below.
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Above: Image showing mixed media painting before stitching/beading is applied.
These new pieces that I'm creating at the moment will be on show at the 'Irish Furniture Fair' in March 2012 at the RDS, in Dublin. I will be exhibiting my work, a selection of mixed media paintings, weaving and tea cosies at this trade show. It is a trade event, which sadly means that it's not open to the general public, only those in the trade. My stand number is ND1 in the 'New Design Ireland' feature area. My business name is Gráinne Kenny Design.
If you scroll down to the bottom of my blog you shall find a link to my business facebook page that is
Grainne Kenny Textile Design.
Here you can follow updates about what I'm doing and view other images of my work.
You can also follow me on twitter at grainnekenny09
I am also registered with the Crafts Council of Ireland and have a profile on the website.
Gráinne.
I've had a very busy day today, rather messy in fact as been experimenting.
I'm in the middle of new pieces that I'm working on at the moment, see image below.
.jpg)
These new pieces that I'm creating at the moment will be on show at the 'Irish Furniture Fair' in March 2012 at the RDS, in Dublin. I will be exhibiting my work, a selection of mixed media paintings, weaving and tea cosies at this trade show. It is a trade event, which sadly means that it's not open to the general public, only those in the trade. My stand number is ND1 in the 'New Design Ireland' feature area. My business name is Gráinne Kenny Design.
If you scroll down to the bottom of my blog you shall find a link to my business facebook page that is
Grainne Kenny Textile Design.
Here you can follow updates about what I'm doing and view other images of my work.
You can also follow me on twitter at grainnekenny09
I am also registered with the Crafts Council of Ireland and have a profile on the website.
Gráinne.
Monday, 6 February 2012
A little bit about weaving and my experience.
Well as I've already mentioned I trained in textile design and specialised in woven textiles.
While a student at falmouth I was taught both hand loom weaving and digital Jacquard weaving.
Jacquard weaving was difficult to master at first but the more I did, the more I loved it.
It's very different to hand weaving on dobby peg floor looms or mechanical dobby looms.
The program we used at falmouth was called 'Scottweave' it's quite like photoshop in ways, you scan a drawing or an image of what you would like to weave, then you select weave patterns, picks and the
aim is that you design on the computer how you would like your fabric to look.
Using a floppy disc the design was saved to the disc and then inserted into this large piece of equipment called a Jacquard loom.
A warp would usually already be assembled onto this on a large roller at the back and then you would select your own weft threads to form the fabric... I used wool and silk.
Next, (and we had to wear earphones for this as the loom is rather noisy!), you insert the disc into the machine and then it's a case of pressing a button and it weaves for you. Simple!
Examples of similar looms can be found in large weaving mills and close to home in places such as Cushendale Woollen Mills and Avoca Handweavers.
By using these types of looms work is completed alot quicker as in as little as a few minutes to an hour where by hand weaving by hand, takes depending on size of warp, set up etc.... about a week?! That's the difference.
Jacquard looms are mostly used for Industry, large textile companies that would produce for example Bed linen or Upholstery fabrics etc.
I designed some light weight silk and wool and silk and cotton fabrics using the Jacquard.
Below, is a chair that I upholstered and created the fabric for using the Jacquard loom.
It's a shell repeat pattern and it is 100% silk in the weft and a very fine cotton (warp), it sits now in my studio as I won't sell it although I've had offers.
My own loom, which I bought a few years ago is a hand loom but my dream loom would be, a Louet Megado Floor loom which is what I used in college. (Will keep saving!)
I did kindly receive the lend of a counter march floor loom from a weaver and friend in dingle, on loan for 6 months in 2010, that came with a very confusing instruction booklet! Parts of it was Danish but I did manage to piece it together.
I had used a similar loom to this when I was a student at Grennan Mill where funnily enough where I first learnt to weave!
My tutor was a lady called Lorna Donlon and she was a really good teacher, thanks to her I got the basis of weaving and two years later developed myself further when I was taught again how to weave while I was doing my Diploma at GMIT.
Looms can be expensive though and you need to shop around.
I love Silk, it's my favourite yarn to use, expensive but the quality and sheen it gives is beautiful.
I also love to use wool, worsted wool.
Other yarns of mine that I've sourced include New Zealand wools and Irish yarns to such as wool and tweed wools.
I do find it a lot easier to source yarns and materials outside of Ireland, although I can source some things here and I feel that it's becoming easier but slowly.
All my work is hand done, all work is designed and made by me.
I started a business in the middle of a recession..... some people think I'm crazy they will never mention it to me, but I can tell. Especially if your involved anyway in the art world.
Luckily for me I have good support from my family, without them I would not have got this far.
Below are a few example of woven fabrics that I created on a hand loom and some Jacquard samples also. Can you spot the difference?
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While a student at falmouth I was taught both hand loom weaving and digital Jacquard weaving.
Jacquard weaving was difficult to master at first but the more I did, the more I loved it.
It's very different to hand weaving on dobby peg floor looms or mechanical dobby looms.
The program we used at falmouth was called 'Scottweave' it's quite like photoshop in ways, you scan a drawing or an image of what you would like to weave, then you select weave patterns, picks and the
aim is that you design on the computer how you would like your fabric to look.
Using a floppy disc the design was saved to the disc and then inserted into this large piece of equipment called a Jacquard loom.
A warp would usually already be assembled onto this on a large roller at the back and then you would select your own weft threads to form the fabric... I used wool and silk.
Next, (and we had to wear earphones for this as the loom is rather noisy!), you insert the disc into the machine and then it's a case of pressing a button and it weaves for you. Simple!
Examples of similar looms can be found in large weaving mills and close to home in places such as Cushendale Woollen Mills and Avoca Handweavers.
By using these types of looms work is completed alot quicker as in as little as a few minutes to an hour where by hand weaving by hand, takes depending on size of warp, set up etc.... about a week?! That's the difference.
Jacquard looms are mostly used for Industry, large textile companies that would produce for example Bed linen or Upholstery fabrics etc.
I designed some light weight silk and wool and silk and cotton fabrics using the Jacquard.
Below, is a chair that I upholstered and created the fabric for using the Jacquard loom.
It's a shell repeat pattern and it is 100% silk in the weft and a very fine cotton (warp), it sits now in my studio as I won't sell it although I've had offers.
My own loom, which I bought a few years ago is a hand loom but my dream loom would be, a Louet Megado Floor loom which is what I used in college. (Will keep saving!)
I did kindly receive the lend of a counter march floor loom from a weaver and friend in dingle, on loan for 6 months in 2010, that came with a very confusing instruction booklet! Parts of it was Danish but I did manage to piece it together.
I had used a similar loom to this when I was a student at Grennan Mill where funnily enough where I first learnt to weave!
My tutor was a lady called Lorna Donlon and she was a really good teacher, thanks to her I got the basis of weaving and two years later developed myself further when I was taught again how to weave while I was doing my Diploma at GMIT.
Looms can be expensive though and you need to shop around.
I love Silk, it's my favourite yarn to use, expensive but the quality and sheen it gives is beautiful.
I also love to use wool, worsted wool.
Other yarns of mine that I've sourced include New Zealand wools and Irish yarns to such as wool and tweed wools.
I do find it a lot easier to source yarns and materials outside of Ireland, although I can source some things here and I feel that it's becoming easier but slowly.
All my work is hand done, all work is designed and made by me.
I started a business in the middle of a recession..... some people think I'm crazy they will never mention it to me, but I can tell. Especially if your involved anyway in the art world.
Luckily for me I have good support from my family, without them I would not have got this far.
Below are a few example of woven fabrics that I created on a hand loom and some Jacquard samples also. Can you spot the difference?
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Sunday, 5 February 2012
A peep into what I'm at this week.
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Workings of a piece in process, this is going to be of a wave with copper spiral wires surrounding the curve of the wave that I'll soon be adding once I'm finished the other steps. There is a lot of drying and building up layers with each piece to create my desired effect. The piece itself is round compared to the usual square and longer rectangular mixed media paintings I create.
Up to December 2011, I had been making square and long rectangular pieces. The longer pieces I find are more popular with people and surprise, surprise in requests for green or blue!
So for 2012, I have started making more of this shape, the middle photo above.. that piece is circular.
I'm also adding smaller sized pieces that will retail for under €100...this should make many people smile.. seeing as my price range is normally over €200. Saying that, other pieces will remain over the above.
Below are a few examples of completed and framed pieces that I made during mid 2011, using the same technique.
Top: 'Breaking Waves' - Mixed Media.
Middle: 'Untitled' -Copper leaf with hand sewn pearls/Mixed Media.
Bottom: Selection of work's on show at the Christmas Craft and Food fair, Springmount Garden Centre. December 2011.
I will be adding completed images of piece's I'm currently working on, here... before I take them to the framers.
Will post during the week, other new work to come include cushions and a new line of tea cosies.
Gráinne :)
Thursday, 2 February 2012
New background for Blog.
I came across the following website http://www.shabbyblogs.com before a long time ago and decided on the design I've chosen on here, for my blog background. It gives my blog a bit of a lift plus I think it's pretty!
You can design your own headers, backgrounds and so on, on the link above and the good thing is it's free!!
There are many quirky designs to choose from, but I was seeking a textile related background and found this one.
On a different note, I bought cushion pads/inserts today as designing fabric (woven fabric) for some cushions. Starting with small ones first.
I also added 18 new photos to my facebook business page earlier in the week, of mood boards that I had been working on in early January. (Grainne Kenny Textile Design)
Will post some examples of work over the weekend.
Gráinne :)
You can design your own headers, backgrounds and so on, on the link above and the good thing is it's free!!
There are many quirky designs to choose from, but I was seeking a textile related background and found this one.
On a different note, I bought cushion pads/inserts today as designing fabric (woven fabric) for some cushions. Starting with small ones first.
I also added 18 new photos to my facebook business page earlier in the week, of mood boards that I had been working on in early January. (Grainne Kenny Textile Design)
Will post some examples of work over the weekend.
Gráinne :)
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