Greetings from Dublin!
A very Happy New year to everyone! I hope 2007 was a good year for you
as it was
for me. It raced past because I was so busy, and I can forsee 2008 being
another just the same!
However, I prefer to be too busy than not know what to do with my time -
but as an artist and a
lacemaker I think there is no fear of that.
I had a lot of lace teaching work last year, and this year will have
even more, with four separate
residenital courses to teach at An Grianan, the ICA College north of
Dublin.
My regular sessions there will be first week in March and mid-October, and at the beginning
of August I will be giving
another course there, with special patterns for lace jewelry. My fourth
session at An Grianan will
offer a course in mural and decorative painting for the home.
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These last two courses are new adventures for me. I have recently begun developing lace designs
for handmade jewlery, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, earrings, hair ornaments etc. I combine my
Bobbin lace, using a medley of textures and colours in the threads, with embellishments of pearls
and Swarovski crystals.
Most of the pieces are custom designed and made to commission, with prices starting at around €80 and rising to near €1,000 for the most elaborate necklaces. No design is ever repeated.
At present I have a display of pendant/brooches on offer in the Heavenly Therapy Beauty Salon in Delgany, Co. Wicklow, and I hope to place displays in one or two
boutiques this spring. |
The lace jewelry is ideal for occasion wear and perfect for brides and bridesmaids -
anyone interested in further details, please Email Me
Teaching my mural art is another new direction for me. To accomodate an away-from-home course
I am preparing special kit packs for students with basic supplies
needed.
Those travelling by car will be able to work on pieces of MDF board, primed beforehand, and those
travelling with more luggage
constraints will work on canvas that can be rolled up to take home at
the end of the course. As mural art
is ideal for brightening up a small dark space in a home, I hope this
class will prove popular.
Meanwhile, I continue to teach my weekly lace classes in my studio, to
paint some bobbins, and also
accept commissions for mural work, as well as taking some more travels
myself, so the year ahead
is looking good!
I hope everyone's New Year is filled with lots of positive energy, and
plenty of dreams and plans for
a great year!
Till next time, Slainte from the Green Land!
Ann.