Showing posts with label residential. Show all posts
Showing posts with label residential. Show all posts

Wednesday, 16 March 2011

Ester Kiely: update on 2011 residential at Ballyduggan


We're just back from our 2011 week's residential at Ballyduggan, Co. Down. This was my second year attending and I think I settled in easier this year and therefore achieved more.

I arrived with my 'signature piece' completed and quite a few sketches, collages and notes in my sketchbook. This helped me to start working quickly.
There were four of us again this year. Jan, Frances Amanda and myself. Tania couldn't make it but hopefully will meet up with Jan soon to get herself up and running on the theme 'Stitching the Legend'.
My initial pieces are based on tree silhouttes against various backgrounds. I have 3 pieces in various stages of progress.
But I also have more ideas in my head based on the next stages of the legend of 'Eithne the Fairy Bride' associated with Knockma, Co. Galway.
Let's hope I can keep the momentum up!

Monday, 8 March 2010

Ester Kiely's update


Just back from my first time participating in the annual week-long residential with the Textile Art Forum. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was delighted with my week.

Before going I felt a full week away to just play with new ideas and techniques was proving difficult to arrange and to justify. But it was really worth it. I found I learned a lot from the others in the group and being away from my daily routine helped me remove all of the distractions that normally delay me from playing around with new ideas (and I didn't miss tv, radio or email at all!).
I tried out some new inks, fabric paints, and ways of reworking my 'stone-wall' series of wall-hangings. The photo shows my new piece created on translucent organza using soluble fabric as a stabilizer to create stitched lace between the stones and capture the bare tree silhouettes. It also gives a flavour of the little workspace I had next to a window beside the fireplace in the cottage. My new home-studio from home! More photos to follow shortly.

Thursday, 4 March 2010

day 4 (thursday) of 2010 residential at ballydugan cottages



Ester's stitched stones using 'Colour-catcher' swatches that are normally thrown away. They are lovely to stitch into when layered up with cotton wadding and a backing!


A walk through the Sally Gardens at the back of the cottages.





A view from the top of the Old Town Trail down to the Lake. There's a great 360 degree view from the viewing post.



Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Day 3 (Wednesday) of the 2010 Residential

Buttermilk cottage has so many little red doors and windows through which to photograph the week's activities!

Here's Amanda working away at her sewing machine just inside a window.Jan is also totally absorbed in the work inside another little window.


Jan's colourful 'Grandmother's Flower Garden' quilt with scraps of '70s fabrics looks nice inside another red little window.

And Ester's work area is just visible inside yet another little red window.

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Day 2 (Tuesday) of 2010 Residential

The living room at the cottage became a hive of activity for the week with enough space for 4 of us to each create workspace. Being together in one room helped us to share ideas, information and supplies. The fire kept the room cosy, sunshine through the windows provided plenty of light and the peaceful location provided us with a place to work free of distractions.

Ester experimented with fabric paints, silk paints, light-reactive paints, inks and printing onto fabrics using a variety of media to prepare the surface.

Frances was busy stitching her Autumn 'watercolour' patchwork combined with free-machine quilting and embroidery on soluble fabric.

Amanda stitched into her hand-printed designs on composted fabrics, adding flashes of colour. These pieces are based on the bull-rushes by the lakeside.

Jan worked on her hand-pieced hexagons creating a 'Grandmother's Flower Garden' patchwork of fabrics that hold memories of her family.

Monday, 1 March 2010

Day 1 (Monday) of 2010 Residential

Ester's workspace with some organza in water-soluble fabric ready for stitching.


Some very quiet neighbours!
And some curious ones too!

Jan's wall-hangings hang to dry.