update from Ester Kiely

For this year's theme, "Myths & Legends" I decided to continue to explore the landscape where I live in County Galway.

My house faces the hill, Knockma (Cnoc Maigh - the hill on the plain). It is the only high ground in a very flat plain of land that stretches to Loch Corrib and to the mountains in Connemara beyond.

According to local folklore, Knockma is a fairy hill and site of the palace of Finnvarra (Fionnbharra) King of the Fairies. There are many stories of people being 'spirited away' by the fairies and lots of superstitions.

Another legend says that Queen Maedbh is buried there. There is also mention of Ladra, a Nordic explorer, who apparently populated the surrounding area! Not to mention St. Patrick who passed by his way to Downpatrick. The old abbey of Donoghpatrick is just a mile away. I'll soon be follow St. Patrick to Downpatrick as I head to Ballyduggan for this year's residential.

But back to Knockma and a legend of 'Eithne the fairy bride' where a local chieftain's wife, fell into a trance and was spirited away by Fionnbharra, King of the Fairies. With this in mind, I began to collage and doodle in my sketchbook to see what images might come up.

A photo-collage of tree-silhouettes against a night sky.

A torn-paper tree with the words 'mo ghrá thú' (literally translates as 'you are my love' but is said as an endearment).

Metallic continuous line drawings to simulate metallic thread stitching.

Black calligraphy pen drawings on white. White pen on black background.

This sketchbook page was the one I decided to work with for the challenge.

The challenge is for each member to create an initial piece based on their own interpretation of 'Myths and Legends' but it must include black and gold metallic thread and tea-dyed calico, stretched over a 50x50cm canvas.

exhibition update - don't miss it!

The Forum's exhibition "Make it New" is now showing at Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards Town Hall, Conway Square, until 25th February. Open every day except Sunday, until 4.30 Mon - Thurs and 4.00pm Fri and Sat. There is a variety of work on show including Jans' handstitched hexagon patchwork, Esters' machine embroidered stone wall interpretations, Frances' skillful colour-play and Amandas' experimental fabric composted pieces. If you visit the exhibition let us know what you think, either comment here or sign the guestbook at the Arts Centre.

"Make it New" an exhibition by the textile art forum in co. down

The Textile Art Forum

presents

Make it New

an exhibition of textiles at

Ards Arts Centre,

Newtownards Town Hall,

Conway Square,

Newtownards,

Co Down, BT23 4DB

Official opening: Thursday, 3rd February, 2011: 19.00-21.00

Exhibition runs from 2nd - 25th February 2011

Opening times: 10.00 – 16.30 Mon - Thurs, 10.00 – 16.00 Fri - Sat

update from Jan

Well hopefully we all made it through the rough weather in December and all of you are being as enthused as I am right now. I'm finally getting my head around the new theme and sketching out ideas (some off the beaten path but will lead to great conversations in Ballyduggan) and will hopefully have done some samples for the signature piece within the next few days. I'm including the final hexagons - other than the one I may bring in March for me - that was part of the cushions I made for each of my sisters out of fabric that they would have used in the 1960's. I will hopefully post either some sketches or samples within the next couple weeks and do look forward to where each of you are going with the theme "Stitching the Legend".

december arrives...by Amanda

I promised an update mid-November, well, it's December now, other projects pushed their way to the fore and Forum work is waiting for attention. I have spent a month developing a character design for a pre-school children's book. This is almost complete now so will be sharing that on my own blog before Christmas.

Life is full, Stitching the Legend is still in process. Sometimes it takes months of waiting before an idea sparks the project off again - it's all part of the creative process. The Ulster Musuem has a small costume display which includes a beautiful Schiaperelli gown. I'm not sure what the fabric is because there is little detail and you can't touch it to find out! I'm guessing it's silk crepe de chine. The colour is a muted soft pink so that will have to be included somehow into my Schiaperelli piece for Stitching the Legend.

Here's a quote from the famous lady herself:

'Never fit a dress to a body but train the body to fit the dress'

Back onto the exercise bike for me then!

eager to stitch

Seeing the cartoon, Amanda, makes me eager to get back to this project. Until I get a 'thumbs up' from the surgeon, however, I continue to be limited to thinking and researching. See you all at the Bee Hive on Saturday. Frances

looking ahead by Amanda

Our Make it New work is still available for exhibition until next summer but meanwhile Forum members press on with our new theme 'Stitching the Legend'. We are planning for and looking forward to our next residential week in March 2011 when we will be focusing on the theme and working together to bring our ideas into reality. Meanwhile Autumn is here, the weather is cooler and the days are shorter, the perfect season for turning up the heating in the studio and spending time in creative mode. Each Forum member is busy with their own lives and work, slotting in Forum time whenever possible. For me, October is an important month for updating my own website and for working on the allotment, planting fruit canes etc -November /December are my forum months so, all being well, expect an update from me mid-November, maybe sooner if inspiration takes over and I start working through the night!