Autumn News...

Robin Alger's whimsical ceramic creations 

Ursula Tramski creates earthy, highly textured
wood-fired ceramics

It's been busy at Craft in Kerry.  There was a great turnout for Culture Night in Killarney last week for the craft demonstrations and selling in the Artist Quarter.  Great things happening there.  We have also had a lot of new members join Craft in Kerry: Lorcán and Anne Dunne (woodturning), Robin Alger (ceramics), Ursula Tramski (ceramics), and Agnieska at Okka's Crafts (handmade cards). It's great to have new members!

We are quiet at this time of year as we are ordering materials and making stock for the coming Christmas season.  It takes some time to produce lovely, handmade work!  Christmas craft fair dates are starting to appear, so keep in mind the following dates:

Sunday, November 20: Ventry Craft Fair 12-5pm
Sunday, November 27: Malton Hotel Craft Fair, 10-6pm.
Sunday, December 4: Dingle
Sunday, December 11:
Sunday, December 18: Dingle Christmas Fair (food & craft)

Next meeting of Craft in Kerry will be Sunday, October 16th at 730pm in Dingle at John Benny's Pub.  All interested should attend and we will be finalizing dates for holiday events!

Heritage into Autumn...

It's been a busy month for Craft in Kerry! We joined Original Kerry and took part in the Rose Festival in Tralee this year and it was wonderful. Under the big white dome in Pearse Park, we taught and demonstrated and sold for five days. It was hard work heading into Tralee for five days, but worth it to meet the public and get wonderful feedback on the work that we do. Many, many thanks to Deirdre Johnston who managed the event for Original Kerry!

Bluebell Eco Candles

Now we are getting to Heritage Week.  Tomorrow, Sunday August 28^th, Craft in Kerry will join Camphill Community for our day of traditional crafts.  Try your hand at weaving, candlemaking, wood turning, felting, and more! Camphill Community provides training and a home environment for adults with various disabilities.  They make and sell their work at Dingle Farmer’s Market to support their work.  They are currently fundraising to build a homestead on their land for their residents and volunteers.

Refreshments available & great family day out. Music and facepainting. Cost: €5 (fund raiser for Camphill)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

1-5pm

Dun Seanna, Dingle, Co Chiarraí

Ring 087-911179 for more information


Many thanks to Kerry County Council Heritage Office for the generous contribution to assist this event!

Colleen Bowler will demonstrate
handbuilding pottery
techniques at Camphill

Camphill is located on the outskirts of Dingle town.   If you are approaching Dingle town, take the left hand turn at Dingle Race course (opposite Ballintaggart House) and head down the road towards Bín Ban Beach.  Take the first left as you see houses nearing and go down the Dun Seanna road.  It will be about 4-5 minutes on the left-hand side of the road.  Parking along the road. 

Handmade Sessions this week:

Monday:      Upcycling clothing

Tuesday:     Wood carving

Wednesday: Knitting

Thursday:    Closed for workshop

Friday:        Crochet

Saturday:    Craft Club 11-1pm

                    Dyeing & Felting Day 2-6pm.

Fiona Crinnion's bracelets were a hit at the Rose
of Tralee Festival

Swinky Doo's gorgeous personalized textiles and
handmade cards

John & Theresa Murphy's stunning wood sculpture

Mid-August Review

Upcycling on Friday at Handmade Sessions

 Well, we have reached the half-way point of the summer and all thoughts seem to be gearing up to the return to school and work--some of us never stopped working!  With all this rain, I will be glad to get the kids back in school and get more of a routine.  It seemed like the endless rain and kids at loose ends was a bad combo and I think there must be many weary parents in Ireland right now.


But the fun isn't over yet!  Call by and see us on Friday-Tuesday at the Rose Festival in Tralee.  We will be under the Original Kerry tent selling/demonstrating.  There will also be workshops for the family and a drop-in arts space.  It is fantastic of the festival committee to put more family events into the schedule and to include craft.  Workshops are free, but you need to sign-up and get a ticket, with limited places available.  


And next week, don't forget about the Camphill/Craft in Kerry Heritage Week event on Sunday, August 28th from 1-5pm.  Hopefully the sun will shine for the day and there should be plenty for the family to do.  Camphill is an organization that assists adults with disabilities of all sorts, teaching them skills to their ability and integrating them into the community.  They do fantastic work and they have the land, but no main house for the volunteers and residents.  So, we are asking for a suggested donation of €5 towards Camphill to go into their housing fund.  There will be candle-making demonstrations, felting, wood-turning, weaving, and more!  Tour their beautiful farm and enjoy the face-painting and music.

Patchwork pillow made at Crafty Bootcamp this week!

What's on this week? Monday is textile collage and stitch; Tuesday is crochet; 
Wednesday is knitting; Thursday is felting; and Friday is upcycling/clothing re-design. Pre-booking is essential, so ring 087-9111793 for more details. We also start another week of Crafty Bootcamp summer camps...

Lots to Do and Learn...

Learning how to sew

We are heading into another week of the Crafty Bootcamp and there's lots to do!  We start off on Monday  10 -130pm and will be drawing and dyeing today and making a sample felt piece to get the process.  Tomorrow, after all the dyeing is dry (hopefully!  weather is dull and wet...) we will get started with crochet practice and start felting a piece, most likely a book cover as that's what all the students have wanted to make so far.  Wednesday we will do some more drawing and start cutting patchwork designs and see how we are doing with the crochet.  Thursday, sewing up our patchwork designs and Friday will be used for finishing patchwork and working on the crochet piece.  A very busy week, indeed!

This week at the Handmade Sessions, we are offering:

Learn to customize your clothing in our upcycling Session

Monday: Crochet

Tuesday: Wood Carving

Wednesday: Basic Sewing

Thursday: Felting

Friday: Upcycling (clothing re-design)

Saturday: Felt and Dye Day


All Sessions run 2-530pm and cost €35, materials included.  Pre-booking is required, so please ring 087-9111793 for more information.  These Sessions are a great introduction to craft and a fantastic family activity while waiting out the rain!  Come on--craft is for every day!

Nearly Done with July

Colleen Bowler's beautiful pottery

The summer is flying!  Dingle is finally picking up a bit and Ray D'Arcy is broadcasting live from Dingle starting today!  It's causing quite a stir as we get ready for his live broadcast and Dingle is trying to put her best foot forward after being named the best coastal town in Ireland.  Have to hold the mantle up now!


Craft in Kerry is busily getting ready for it's summer showcase in Killarney at the Malton Hotel. It will take place 11-8pm inside the Malton.  Loads to do in Killarney on the August Bank Holiday: Summerfest, Irish Open golf tournament, and the new Taste of Killarney food festival.  Come take a look at the fine Irish craft we are producing!









The Crafty Bootcamps are starting today (each Monday throughout summer) from  10 until 130pm.  Participants are aged 9-15 years and will learn: 

Felting a book cover

Felt—stitch a sampler, make a small handbag or pair of cuffs

Stitch—embroider and embellish a felted & dyed piece; hand sew patchwork wall piece.

Dyeing—dye wool yarns for crochet, fabric for patchwork & merino for felting

Patchworkdye fabric and cut and sew a pattern for a small wall hanging

Drawing—learn to draw and keep a design & idea book

For more information, please ring 087-9111793.

Handmade Sessions beginning Monday, July 25th:

Monday  Clothing upcycling: learn to redesign clothing


Tuesday wood carving: learn to handle carving tools and carve a motif



Wednesday crochet: learn to crochet basics or pick up a few new stitches


Thursday felting: learn to felt, the oldest textile in the world.  Make a scarf or a felted book cover


Friday weaving: learn the basics of weaving and make a traditional críos belt



Come along & introduce yourself to craft in our 3.5 hour Sessions. Fee is €35, materials included. Pre-booking essential 087-9111793. Craft is for every day!

Handmade Sessions and New Members...

Pendant by Amélie Gagné

We are flying through July!  We have some new members at Craft in Kerry: Ursula Tramski in ceramics; Amélie Gagné in jewellery and paint; Mairead Sharry in weaving, spinning, and rushwork; and Lorcán Dunne in woodturning.  


Craft in Kerry is also hosting another showcase in Killarney at The Malton Hotel on the Bank Holiday Weekend, July 30 & 31st.  It will run inside the hotel from 11-8pm.  Killarney will be hopping with the Irish Open golf tourney, the Taste of Killarney in the Malton Hotel Gardens, and Summerfest going full tilt all around the town.  Call by and see us and buy some original Irish craft!


Crafty Bootcamp went very well the first week!  The girls got on very well and it was such a pleasure to teach them.  Dyeing, felting, stitching, crochet, drawing, and patchwork--a very busy week.  Perhaps too busy, but I have to think about that a bit.  New Bootcamp starts tomorrow 10-130pm.  Fee is €60, including materials with a discount for multiple bookings.  Ring 087-9111793 as registering is required.

Ursula Tramski's beautiful, textured ceramics

What's on this week at the Handmade Sessions?



Monday: Clothing upcycling with Andrea. Learn to customize and change your clothing.  It's pretty easy and Andrea will walk you through all the details. 


Tuesday: Crochet with Sharon.  Learn the basics of crochet or pick up some new design ideas in free-form crochet.     


Wednesday: Felting with Sharon.  Learn the basics of one of the oldest textiles in the world.  Using wool fleece, soap, and water, you can make your own fabric.  The class starts with felting basics and then a project like a felted book cover or scarf to take home. 


Thursday: Knitting with Vicki.  Learn the basics of knitting or simply pick up some new pattern ideas.  Vicki knits for a co-operative of professional knitters, so come learn some of her fantastic tips! 


Friday: Weaving with Mairead.  Learn how to weave a críos belt that was traditionally worn by the Aran and Blasket Islanders in Ireland.  A very simple technique to learn. Suitable for age 12 and up.   


SATURDAY: Felt and Dye Day 12-5pm €50 (longer day). Have women's woolly day out with us!  Learn to dye your own wool for felting and yarns for knitting/crocheting.  Felt something and learn to dye it subtle and beautiful shades.   


Pre-booking is essential for all workshops, so ring 087-9111793 for more info...

Traditional woven críos belt at Handmade Sessions
July 22nd 2-530pm.  

Crafty Bootcamps and more Sessions!

Crafty Bootcamp: felting a book cover

Today we begin our Crafty Bootcamps for 10-15 year olds.  Craft in Kerry works to promote handmade traditions and so this is part of that effort--start the future makers on the right track!  We are starting at 10am and going until 130pm and they will start with an overview on colour and dyeing and then get stuck into dyeing their own wool yarns and cloth for patchwork.  Don't worry, I've pre-mixed the dyes so that we aren't doing anything dangerous with them!  They will felt and do a bit of drawing today and that should be it for today.  For the rest of the week: felting an item of their choice (book cover or phone cover usually), learning to stitch on their sample felt piece, cut fabric and make a patchwork sampler, and learn to crochet.  Their brains will be full!


This week's Handmade Sessions:  


Monday, upcycling clothing: learn to customize and recycle clothing for great fashion flair!  Andrea will show you how to get started.  Please bring an item of clothing that you want to change and we will provide the rest! 


Tuesday, wood carving: John will teach you the basics of wood carving and how to handle carving tools.  He has been teaching over 20 years and is chairperson of the Kerry Wood Turners guild.  


Wednesday, knitting: Learn to knit from the beginning or just pick up some new pattern ideas.  Vicki knits for a professional co-operative and can show you how to finish a garment to perfection.


Thursday, felting: Sharon has been felting for six years and will introduce you to the magic of creating your own cloth.  With beautifully, soft Merino wool and soap and water, you can make your own fabric and products.  We will learn basic felting and then learn to felt a book cover or scarf.


Friday, crochet. Learn the basic stitches of crochet and 


For more information, please ring 087-9111793.  Pre-booking is essential.  Also, we will have a weaving Session with Mairead Sharry on Friday, July 22nd and a spinning Session on Friday, July 29th.  Mairead is fantastic with the traditional crafts and is also quite good at rushwork/basketmaking.  Give us a ring if you want to take part in her fantastic Session!

This Week's Agenda...

Hi!  We are busy at the Handmade Sessions.  If you are going to be in Dingle, please do stop by and see our new venue.  This week's workshops are:

Upcycling Clothing with Andrea-Monday
Learn to customise and alter clothing to make it personal and fabulous!  Bring an item of clothing with you to the class and Andrea will show you how it's done!

Carving with John-Tuesday
Learn the basics of carving with John Murphy, who has been teaching wood-turning and carving for over 20 years.  Design and basic tool handling are covered to produce small carved objects.

Knitting with Kathleen-Thursday
Learn to knit a bit or learn a few new tricks!  Vicki will walk you through the process and you will be knitting in no time.  Experience not necessary and materials provided.

Felting with Sharon-Wednesday & Friday
Learn basic felting in our studio and then progress onto felting a small camera or phone case.  The basics from this workshop allow you to learn how to make a handbag in an advanced workshop, if you should wish.

John Murphy teaching wood carving

All workshops are 2-530pm and the fee of €35 does include materials.  Please feel free to ring 087-9111793 with any questions you may have.  Booking is essential.

Is This Summer???

Learn to felt and make personally designed book covers

Okay, I am freezing!  The weather, for the month of May, is as damp and miserable as March.  Luckily, I have plenty of indoor work to do to get the Handmade Sessions up and running.  We are looking at June 13th for the launch and June 14th as the first day to take part in the Sessions.

I have set up a calendar on the blog to showcase our Session offerings. So far, we will be teaching wood carving, felting, dyeing, creative embroidery, up-cycling clothing, knitting, crochet, and jewellery. This list is not exhaustive as we will be adding more workshops over the summer and we do have many members of Craft in Kerry that teach in their own studio, so if you have a request please do get in touch and we can assist you in organizing the workshop of your dreams.  You can try your hand at felting or up-cycling clothing and your partner can make a bespoke greenwood chair.  Click on the day on the calendar and it will highlight the day's Session.

The venue is nearly ready and we will soon be furnishing the interior. Please do come by and see us in Dingle, Co Kerry on John St on Monday, June 13th and try your hand at carving or felting or knitting on the day. We will be there, rain or shine, from 4-8pm.  

For more information or for booking in advance, please email handmadesessions@hotmail.com or ring 011-353-87-9111793.  We do prefer to have people book in advance as materials are included in the price of €35 per Session and it will help us not only secure your space, but also ensure there are enough materials.

Nuts and bolts

• €35 per Session per person, materials included
• Workshops will be 2-6pm, but do check the calendar to confirm times as they may vary throughout the summer
• Venue is on John St in Dingle town, an 8 minute walk from the Tourist Office
• There is parking just above us on the right in the old secondary School (CBS) and it will accommodate a large van or bus.
• Most Sessions are geared towards beginner level, so don't panic about being in over your head.  If you already have basic knowledge, then your instructor will work with you to develop a more challenging project for your time here.
• Some materials may be for sale by the instructors to get you started in new projects as Dingle would not have supplies easily available.  Just ask when you register.
• There are two fantastic restaurants across the street from us (The Half Door and Doyle's Seafood Restaurant), so you can continue your wonderful Dingle artisan experience!

Instructors

John Murphy                   Wood Carving

Ann Moore                     Creative Embroidery/Up-cycling

Sharon Crandall               Felting/Dyeing/Crochet

Kathleen Flannery            Knitting/Jewellery

Ann Moore's creative embroidery

Nationwide and Craft in Kerry

Cathy Teahan's beautiful
apron.  Who has to be
dowdy in the kitchen?

Well, Nationwide has come and gone and are we any different for it???  The publicity for the group was wonderful and I am hoping that new members find their way to us via our blog here and on Facebook.  I know that CIK members Garry Marcham, Cathy Teahan, Sharon Crandall, and Emer Leogue are very appreciative of their profile on the show, as well as others that received camera time and no credit.  Pat Lawless had his furniture designs shown several times and Kathleen Flannery's beautful jewellery was shown.  We had a glimpse of Linda Hannafin's and Colleen Bowler's ceramics and Fiona Crinnion's colourful bracelets and necklaces that were a big hit on the day.  Roll on the next showcase!

We will be finalizing our calendar for the year at our next meeting, so watch this space for more Craft in Kerry events.  For sure, we will be in Killarney on May 19th at the Malton Hotel for the Kerry Tourism Showcase from 12-8pm. It will be free to the public (and free to exhibit, for that matter) and a place for all Kerry people to familiarize themselves with what is on offer for visitors and residents alike.  See http://www.discoverkerry.org/ for more information.  

As for our next meeting, it will be on Monday, May 30th at 730pm in Dingle.  We hope to have our new premises for the Handmade Sessions ready to launch, so it will be time for a party!  We will be demonstrating a sampling of the Handmade Sessions and also celebrating a bit.  If you have any interest in making handmade products, come along and have a look and see what we have been up to!

Cathy Teahan's floral tote--take me to
the beach!

You might have seen Dragonfly Cottages featured on Nationwide last week.  Her gorgeous soft furnishings were a big hit.  Here is another apron in the most gorgeous spring colours.  I agree with her 100% that you don't have to look dowdy in the kitchen!  As she says herself, they are styled after Marilyn Monroe's dresses.  Now, whether you wear anything underneath yours is your business alone! There are also new designs in her tote bag range for spring. We are in the throes of summer now, so watch this space for more activities that are coming up...

Craft Fairs and Handmade Sessions

Linda  Hannafin's ceramics and Karen
Flannery's jewellery and hats

Easter seemed to come and go in a blur this year, with so many crafts activities on the go.  Craft in Kerry had it's first crafts showcase at An Díseart in Dingle, Co Kerry.  Exhibiting the best of handmade Kerry crafts, there was a great turnout and even better weather.  Perhaps TOO GOOD, as many customers ventured down to the waterside for lunch that afternoon and didn't make it back up!  Many thanks to all our talented artisans and new customers for coming on board.

Nationwide was there filming us on the day and it should air on Wednesday, May 4 at 7pm. They were all over the place filming, so we just have to wait and see what the final edit ends up looking like.  Many thanks to them for their time and great promotion--they have been so good to the Year of Craft!

Watch this space for information on more Craft in Kerry events.

Garry Marcham preparing his greenwood chairs.  Garry will
be teaching as part of the Handmade Sessions.

Our focus is now shifting to our new Handmade Sessions. We will be teaching half-day workshop sessions (10-1pm and 2-6pm) in a wide variety of crafts in Dingle, County Kerry. Your 4 hour session will include materials, instruction, and a fine Kerry welcome! Workshop offerings include traditional Irish knitting, Irish crocheted lace, woodcarving, jewellery, creative embroidery, felting, dyeing, and more. Customized workshops available on request, as well as longer sessions. Please contact handmadesessions@hotmail.com for more information.

Debbie McCarthy and Dawn Thomas' exhibition at the
Craft in Kerry craft fair last Friday.

Our next member focus is Dawn Thomas.  Dawn hand knits and crochets beautiful adult and children's wear from her base in North Kerry.  Specialising in custom-made wearables, Dawn makes hats, cardigans, blankets, and more to cater to almost any occasion.  Using a wide variety of patterns and  yarns, she is kept busy on the craft fair market sharing space with Debbie McCarthy.  They will be exhibiting at the craft fair in Killarney May 28 and at many fairs around Kerry.  

You can find more information about all Craft in Kerry members on our Facebook page or email sharon1_crandall@hotmail.com.  New members welcome, but produce must be handmade in Kerry.

Dawn Thomas' beautiful hand-crocheted girl's tunic dress

Radio Kerry and Another Talented Artisan...

Craft in Kerry had the fantastic opportunity to be interviewed live on Radio Kerry with Weeshie Fogarty last Wednesday evening.  It was part of his "In Conversations with..." show from 6-7pm and Weeshie proved to be an able and easy-going host.  Any early nerves were put aside when he started talking.  It was like having a cuppa and a chat.  We got a chance to talk about our own crafts, the upcoming craft fair April 29th in Dingle, and how all our products are handmade in Kerry FOR Kerry.  If you buy Kerry products, you create and preserve Kerry jobs.

Soft furnishings from Dragonfly Cottage

We will put a digital copy of the interview up when we get it.  In the meantime, a group of us are off to Dublin tomorrow to promote Craft in Kerry to tour operators.  It's a chance to sound out tour guides and see how well our Handmade Sessions go over.  We will be demonstrating our crafts and talking up craft to almost 300 vendors.  We will be busy!  Stay tuned for news about that shindig when we are back.

If you’re looking for something different to accent your home, or a unique gift, Dragonfly Cottage offers a range of bespoke interiors.  Anything from throw cushions, aprons, sachets and wine gift bags which are all handmade at Callan Farm, located in Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry.

Lot's of Good Things in Kerry...

Bracelet by Alison Walsh, silver and turquoise

We are turning the corner into better things, I can tell!  Craft in Kerry is going from strength to strength.  We are 46 members strong in just the two months (even if everyone isn't paid up yet!) and we are on the way to getting our marketing materials ready.  Once we have that done and the banner for public events, then we will be flying as those are jobs that are generally done as needed.  I am checking out our insurance quote through Craft Council of Ireland and so we will be ready for public events by the end of April.


We have an opportunity to mix and mingle with over 200 international tour operators in Dublin for a part of the Meitheal program that is run every year by Failte Ireland.  It's a 2 day affair, but if we go up for April 4th and do the evening social and demonstrate what our unique (ahem!) tourist opportunity is and really add an entertainment factor, then we can hopefully convince some of these tour operators to buy into crafts tourism in Dingle.  I *may* have a premises sorted out, that should would be a big relief, and so it would be full speed ahead marketing the sessions.  Please post a comment below with ideas for the name of the sessions as "drop-in sessions" sounds rather like a dentist appointment!  I will need to know who is interested in teaching and hopefully we can get crafts sessions up and going in other areas of Kerry in the near future.  These sessions are for visitors and locals alike, run on four hour sessions (10-1 and 2-6pm) twice a day a couple times a week.  I have hesitated to think of filling the schedule too much as I want to leave the space open for members to teach a day-long workshop.  It will be easy to add more days in...I should have a calendar of offerings on this blog soon....

Necklace by Alison Walsh, silver and pearls

New member Alison Walsh is based in Tralee Co Kerry. Alison established her jewellery design business in 2006. Specialising in contemporary and classic designs, Alison also creates specially commissioned pieces for customers looking for accessories to match an outfit for a special occasion,  especially bridal wear.  Alison is constantly retraining in her craft and completed various beading courses, a tiara making course and a recent silver smithing course.  She originally trained as a display artist in London, returning to Ireland to work as a window dresser for different fashion stores around the country.  During this time she developed her love for creating jewellery and now exhibits in Back Lane Gallery in Killarney deborahokeeffe.blogspot.com ,  as well as being a freelance window dresser.

Handmade tiara by Alison Walsh

What's New in Craft and Kerry

Craft in Kerry seems to be going from strength to strength!  We had a great meeting in Tralee on February 21st and managed to cover a lot of ground.  Our craft fair  on Friday, April 29th from 10-6pm in Dingle is going great!  The sign up sheet went around and we are looking for a few more people to do demonstrations.  With the Feile na Bealtaine and the Pan Celtic Festival running at the same time there should be lots of people about and hopefully they want to take Irish craft home with them!  Nationwide will be there to film us on the day.

One of Nikki Foley's fabulous quilts.  She just opened
her Sewing Shed textile shop in Keel, Co Kerry.

We are busily preparing for our interview with Weeshie Fogarty at Radio Kerry.  We have a full hour on his "In Conversations with..." program on Wednesday, March 30th.  Six of us will be present LIVE to talk about our own work and Craft in Kerry. We are looking forward to it very much as it should be great fun!

Yesterday, our own Nikki Foley celebrated the Grand Opening of her Sewing Shed in Keel near Castlemaine.  Not only does she have gorgeous fabrics for patchwork, but she in the local rep for Janome sewing machines (and they service them, too!) and she stocks textile paints, sewing notions, fabric dyes, and a wide array of embellishments. With her great prices and wonderful workshop room, she will no doubt be very successful!  We wish her the best of luck.  For more information on the Sewing Shed, contact 087-9924002.

Meanwhile, there's plenty to do to plan for the summer.  With the help of the new Craft Coordinator, it is hoped that there will be some proactive, positive changes for artisans in the county.  Please take a moment to fill in the survey www.surveymonkey.com/s/kerrycraft and send it back to deirdre@fruition.ie.  It should not take long to fill out and the information will be used to assess the needs of the craft sector and put in place programs and policies that will assist us.

The next meeting of Craft in Kerry will take place on Sunday, March 27th in Keel/Castlemaine at the Sewing Shed.  Directions will follow closer to the date.