An update from Jan

It's hard to believe it's been almost a month since we left Ballyduggan but finally I'm feeling like some of my projects are really wrapping up. I've complete the wall hanging of the 4 small William Tell series and it needs to be quilted but after getting some backing material that will be accomplished this week as I'm home nursing my dog who got her pacemaker last week. I've also almost finished the grandmothers garden quilt after deciding to add some half-blocks where I thought I was only going to use calico. My goal is to also have this on the machine for quilting within the next couple days. Time will tell. Here is an "in-progress" view of the William Tell series.

Amanda's update

What a great week at Ballydugan! Friendship, inspiration and time to work uninterrupted were appreciated by us all. The bullrushes at Ballydugan lake remain my inspiration for current pieces of work, including a landscape painted with inks and fabric paints and a set of 12 mini sample pieces, printed and stitched then set in black boxes.

update from Frances

Such luxury! Another residential week at the Ballydugan Cottages (Downpatrick) and plenty of time for support, sharing of ideas and stitching of projects for this year's theme, "Make it New" (Ezra Pound). I finished the second in my series of colourwash wall pieces on the four seasons and then tried my hand again at the single needle drawing pieces that have intrigued me for a few years. Using composted fabric (well-aged!) and dark thread I used a mirror to create and then stitch a self-portrait which is my tribute to old age. Weathered but determined.

update from Jan

Well I can only add that it was a wonderful week away and the time flew and I also didn't miss the outside world at all. I've continued to work on my Grandmothers Garden effort made from old fabric used by my 4 sisters and I to make dresses inthe 1970's. I've attached a photo as it was at the residence week but has progressed since then some. I've also added my favorite photo of our special work space around the open fire with the look from my seat of France, Amanda and Ester. Hope to have all my pieces done by the end of March to start thinking on the next area we're going to focus on.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.