September news.

I always get stuck on what to call my posts, so I'm just sticking with well .... recent happenings yet again and what's happening this September.
About a little over two weeks ago I was featured in the local paper (Wexford People Newspapers - for Gorey, Enniscorthy, Wexford and New Ross)The article focused on 'Heritage week' that was from August 23rd - 31st. As Weaving is a heritage craft, I was Interviewed about my past in Weaving and how I got into it. So that was Interesting.

Back in April (not May as I mentioned over on Facebook)we had a man called Neil Elworthy, who came to visit each of the members on the Wexford Craft Trail. He spent a good bit of time in Wexford Interviewing each of us for a programme called 'Wexford Matters' that broadcasts on Irish TV on Sky. Being in front of a film camera is a bit daunting at first when your not used to it, but I felt it went well.
In the meantime everyone except two of us, have been on the telly and you can watch back episodes on the Irish TV Website. However, I have to re-peat mine due to a small technical issue, :( so I have that to film again in a little over a week. To be honest, in a way I'm glad which I know sounds strange, but when I had finished the last time I remembered things I wished I had mentioned so I'll be able to do so this time round, hopefully. It's not that easy when your put on the spot.

Then on top of that, I've been recently invited to appear in something else which you'll find out about later next month.
Not to mention that Christmas is in a couple of weeks ... seriously the year goes too quick!!
So it's been an Interesting time, it's also my birthday later this week. :)

Anyhow ... I'm busily continuing on with some new design ideas for lampshades and other work at the moment. As mentioned before I am veering into Nature and Botanical designs, I still love the seashore and that will always be there but I think a change or something fresh is good now and again too. I'll still carry on the Sea Theme but I'm just taking a break and shall come back to it. So I'm trying new things out and developing new techniques and ideas as I go. Today, I came across my research notebook from my Masters and there are a few pieces of Information and Images in that, that have sparked ideas.
Check Facebook and my Website for updates/Photos between now and Christmas.
So my focus at the moment is on Christmas and the work I'm developing now is for then and into Spring 2015.
Anyway I better get this room sorted out before next week and I'll post again soon.

Recent Happenings.

It's been a glorious 2014 summer, not over yet mind you.... although it is practically Autumn!
So just a quick catch up on what's been happening.
I have work on display from Lampshades, Cushions, Tea Cosies and wall pieces, since the 16th of May at the newly opened 'Market House Design' gallery in Gorey, Co. Wexford. I am among sixteen other makers from places such as Wexford, Kilkenny, Kildare and Waterford, as well as among three other Wexford Craft Trail members in this too. The original plan was for it to close on the 16th August but it has been extended until mid September, which is great news for everyone. So yes I'm happy with how it's going. It's a great asset to the town and gives artists/craftspeople a space to show and sell their product. When a piece is sold it is replaced so the work is changing around the whole time which is good.

As well as my own work, I also work outside my studio and I'm very much enjoying that also. I get to be creative there too so it creates a nice balance. So between all that I've been kept busy. From walks on the beach, coffee with friends and enjoying the warm weather which has now slightly dampened a bit I can't really complain.

Recently, I had an Interview about my work and I, focusing on Weaving and that shall be in the local paper, I think next Tuesday or the following week?
I can't wait to see it and read it myself. I was asked just under three weeks ago, it will be great exposure, it's not every day opportunities like these come along so it's all good. I'm very honoured to have been asked, it was a nice surprise. So that's to come out I think next week?
I've also been offered a solo exhibition later this Autumn/Winter so I've a lot to get down to!!! Where and when I'll make known on my website and Facebook/Twitter accounts a short time beforehand. But things are beginning to look up for me so yay! :)
Lately, I've enjoyed mixing with fellow artistic friends and been meeting up with them and catching up and discussing our own work and who knows there may be a collaboration or two to follow at some point.
So there are a good few things happening and going to be happening so life is good! :)
Studio is still open and will remain open until the 27th of September and then back to appointments for the winter until May 2015 next year. However, a few things are happening between September and December 2014 ... see website for any up-coming details.
Shall post again soon.

Grainne x

Whats going on?

So onto what's happening with me at the moment, well to start with during the past few month's I've been noticeably some what quiet. To be honest I've been posting mainly on twitter to that of facebook. I also manage and have been busy for the past few weeks/months posting to another page as I'm belong to a craft group. I was asked by a neighbour the other week, I see you have painted over your signs, no I'm afraid not it's in fact a blank cover over the text because I have been closed since before Christmas. It's like this there's nobody around at the moment since Christmas anyway, it's a quiet time of the year (January/Feb/March) and many will tell you the exact same. So what have I been doing then? I spent the bulk of January doing mainly research, experimented. I'm also looking for of a job at the moment and have been searching for the past12 months to be honest, just to help out financially as there are times during the year and many will know this, that it can be quiet plus people aren't spending once they used to and you can't sit back and depend on sales , what I mean is there might be a gap between selling a piece a work until the next time that I do and really I need to be doing it weekly or at least have a decent month in order to I suppose be worthwhile would be the word there. Its like this you can make away to your hearts content but remember, it's all about making money! And it would be good for me to me too. I don't sell to shops not that I don't want to believe me I would, but it's finding the right ones really. I did have one shop in the west of Ireland, in Galway in fact about two years ago this month actually, who ordered a few tea cosies from me but the owner has to make a profit too so in order to do so I had to sell my cosies for a lot less then what I would sell them for normally and she had them for sale at a way higher price! And to be honest the amount of time that I put in to making them as each one is hand sewn despite the overall machine sewing it together, it didn't pay me. Even framing for me costs money, I've began looking at alternative ways of framing to keep prices down but then I'm thinking does it not bring down the value of my work. As I had interest from Kilkenny Design again two years back, but again I was asked to come down and to re-think my costs before they would consider anything. Again, my framing costs and I have to take that into account. Now maybe at some point I'll re-look at that again but I can't come down off the pieces that they expressed an interest in at the time, so I'll have to look at smaller work or a different way of displaying my work. There has to be a compromise where both parties are happy. I have been lucky for the past two years, I did this business scheme thing and I also got a materials grant from WLD (Wexford Local Development)not realising the money was actually meant to go towards things like furniture or a printer, for example large items... but it didn't specify on the form for what so with quite a bit of pleading, waiting and hoping I got what I requested and ended up with actual materials that I needed. So that helped me out a lot and year one was good it was fun, year two was slightly different, however I did manage to open up my studio last well let's say August as 31st July is more or less ...I'll just say August! My work also appeared in House and Home Magazine and I was asked again last summer but I didn't say yes as at the time I needed the money for something else plus it gave someone else the opportunity instead to appear in the Christmas Issue again. But people still bring it up as to where they have heard about me which is strange yet good considering that was back in 2012. So yes, opening the studio that was strange for me as I'm kind of like a quiet mouse in my studio just working away on my own, in my own little world. To be honest, I did find it a little strange and slightly uncomfortable at first but at the same time good. I've always been protective especially of my how I create areas of my work. I mean I'll never tell exactly explain from a to z how my mixed media pieces are done. I might say what materials are used but never the technique because that's my own, nobody is doing the same and I don't mean to sound selfish but I don't want anyone to copy it. It's what makes my work unique and every artist has a secret and that is mine. I stumbled on this technique through weeks of experimentation back in 2003 and it's stuck with me ever since even though I later moved into Weaving but I still do both. Anyway, lets get back on track. So yes I closed just before Christmas 2013 and I have yet to re-open. The summer season is almost upon us now, but at the moment I am trying to sort out a few important things (personal stuff) so when I get all that fixed up then I'll be back on track hopefully. I'm looking at mid May for the moment. For the past 18 months I have been part of a group, a craft group and we launched a trail less then two weeks ago. I am member of the new 'Wexford Craft Trail' and we launched at Greenacres in Wexford town on the 3rd April just gone. There are 19 members in total. To find out more and to view photos from the launch please see http://www.facebook.com/WexfordCraftTrailNetwork So that's really all at the moment, do see some images posted on facebook, as since last night I have edited this blog and had trouble uploading. There was areas in the blog that I felt needed cutting out, I got a bit carried away! The work is on view from April 3rd - May 26th 2014 at Greenacres. So if your down in Wexford do pop in and take a look. It's a very nice exhibition if I may say so myself. Ideally I would have liked my work to be grouped together for the launch, as the three items were part if a set a matching lampshade, cushion and picture in two different colour ways, but that didn't happen but I was happy to have got the plinths I requested and it does look well. Oh and do take a look at the photos from the launch too on Facebook. Grainne.

Ikat Time Lapse - Large 540p Video Sharing.mov (+playlist)

Recently, I have been exploring and experimenting regards painted warps. This video in fast forward is an Ikat technique. The girl is hand painting the yarn in sections using dyes. The overall pattern comes out slightly blurred and not as bright, so I'm hoping that my own experimentation of this technique will come out brighter plus my pattern is less complicated then this one! I'm making mine slightly different, so much that I have 2 x 4 metre skein lengths of a warp to paint and the width is smaller. My warp threads are a mix of linen and cotton so the colour will appear lighter on one yarn and dark on the other. I have no idea how it's going to turn out or even when I start to weave it but it will be fun finding out. Wish me luck!




Video shared via Youtube.

Welcome 2014

Welcome 2014!

Okay so it's a brand new year and I'm rather excited about this one.
2013 was the year that I began clearing out the studio, to which I finally completed in July.
See below before and after photos.

 

Before: Photo showing inner studio space with ugly looking back wall as it was crying out to be used!

 

After: How above Image (see far left of this Image) of how it looks now. (Has changed again since photo was taken)

 

 

                              Before: How section of outer studio space looked before makeover.

        After: Same space as above....notice how much fresher it looks! Gone are the drab curtains and pink walls and oh the exercise bike!!

                               After: Same Image as above only with my work shown in it.
                                            (Stock changed on wall since Photo was taken)

                                     After: Inner studio space is now my work area, table fits perfectly!

                                   Before: Getting ready to start paint rolling the walls.

                                             Before: Area of studio during painting stage

      After: Image showing outer studio area...notice how nice and white the ceiling and walls are now.

                                                                          Signage

                                                            Signage (follow blue arrow)

                   And another sign which points upwards to indicate that I'm upstairs.(Separate access)

I'm thrilled with my new improved space, it's lovely to work in and I have plenty of natural light.
So yes, I finally completed the studio on the 31st July. It was a long time coming but worth it.
I'm a member of 'Wexford Craft Trail & Network' and this was part reason as to why I made over the studio and opened it up.
The year had it's ups and it's Downs but mostly it's ups so I'm not complaining.....a lot of time was spent on the studio if I have to admit that but besides that I enjoyed many things especially the Opera festival last October where I exhibited with members of the group mentioned above and I look forward to future exhibitions together. In a way I'm glad 2013 is over and I look forward to this year for various reasons. I'm learning things the whole time and finding out what works and what does not so it's all a learning experience no matter what business your in.
I'm still finding myself moving things around the studio though....I'm always doing that!
I am now closed for January 2014 but I shall re-open later in the spring. I'm busily working on some new ideas and new stock.
Matching lampshades and cushions are on the list for early 2014 plus some entirely new designs with and without the woven braids on my shades. Some will be stitched originals of my own designs with surprise, surprise inspired by the coast. While I'll still continue the woven lampshades too.
Apart from lampshades there shall be cushions, matching cushions for both including the coastal collection to which I haven't fully christened yet so it's staying named as the coastal collection for the moment. New mini mixed media pictures inspired by my previous larger pieces and some new designs from the new collection will appear around the same time. Weaving will feature heavily this year too with a coastal collection of table linen. Colours will be stripped back a bit and I'm not going to mention much more as I don't want to give everything away too early so keep watch! It's going to be a busy time. However, it is  a new year, new change and new start, start as in I've finally worked out where I'm heading with it all, it just took me some time to figure it out. Anyway, wish me luck!
Happy new year.

Gráinne

Autumn News

Hello, golly I can't believe my last post was in July...oops!
I'm not one of these constant weekly or even daily bloggers, as I would not get much work done.

So to bring you up to date.... I opened up the studio, it's become a really nice space to work in and I love it. Everything has a place which is typical of me, as I like to see everything and colour co-ordinate yarns and fabrics as I find it easier to find what your looking for.
The walls and the ceiling are white, it was goodbye to the girly pink soft hue but I kept a bit.
A few weeks ago I had a photographer in to take photos of my work, the photos are actually for the trail booklet that is being organised at the moment. So he was going around to everybody.
I am closing now for the month of October and will re-open in November.
I am doing the Wexford Opera Fringe Festival where there are eleven of us exhibiting together from the 26th - 31st of October at Whites Hotel in Wexford town.
So I decided to shut to get ready for that and get myself prepared for the Christmas season that will soon be upon us. I'm not counting the days.....I know some people are (Crazy People!!)
I know I will when it gets to December perhaps, but I think everybody does but they don't admit it!

I was asked to appear in 'House and Home' magazine again, they gave those who appeared in the article last year first preference for this year, which was very nice by the way. I got the call in August. I'm actually declined this year for reasons of my own. Some people might think I'm crazy but that's my decision. I appeared in it last year so I've done it once, so not this year and anyway it gives someone else the opportunity which I'm sure has already been filled as they start their Christmas Issue early. It was very nice to get asked again and I will remain in contact and maybe during 2014 something just might pop up in one of their Issues. Keep watch!
I did however, place a small add in the local Gorey Echo newspaper recently to highlight the studio.
But do keep an eye out between the remainder of 2013 and certainly during 2014.

To keep up with what I'm making, doing etc please visit my facebook page, see homepage for link.
Or visit http://www.grainnekennydesign.com for more Information.

Shall post Images soon.

Grainne :)

**Recent New Lampshades**

100% Cotton in Grey with multi-coloured felt flowers with button detail.

 

 

100% Linen in Stone with Turquoise and Lime felt flowers with button detail.

 

 

Inner view.

 

 

100% Muslin in Turquoise with Coral and Orange felt flowers with button detail.

 

 

The Collection (love the grey one if I must say so myself !)

 

 

These can be used either way up for use as a table lamp or ceiling pendant shade.

 

More coming soon ... new designs!

 

G :)