A few snippets from the studio, work made in preparation to National Crafts Fair 2011

Over past few weeks I have been very very busy making this and that but most importantly making scarves and flowers for the fair.
In fact Loads of them... I did not manage to fulfill my target in making but I made what I could.

Here are some snippets from my so called studio (for us it is ordinary messy kitchen) but you know...
If any of the images are upside down its my IPhone I can blame....

I hang merino wool so it expands and relaxes a bit before the roughness begins...
and here 50 scarves piled up in a heap..

nice pattern, but why on earth it all smells of wet dogs hair???

National Craft Fair in RDS Dublin starts on the 30 th of November

I will be selling at National Craft Fair in Dublin from the 30 th of November, please visit my stand number 200!

Here is a gorgeous gift guide issued by the organisers and in conjunction with Craft Council of Ireland.

Please note the gorgeous Picture of my scarf by best Irish photographer Trevor Hart, Dublin. 

Nationwide filmed a bit of FabulousFelt by Kate Ramsey at Knitting and Stitching Show in Dublin 2011

I was not aware of this but yesterday my customer pointed out that my shop was shown for  approx 1 min at nationwide. It was a background for Nationwide presented Mary Kennedy on the 14/11/2011.

Such a surprise! I suppose the display was so nice that they thought that it would be a nice background! Thank you Nationwide.

The Knitting and Stitching Show 2011

So the Knitting and Stitching show has ended on Sunday! It was my second show, but this time I was based on on the ground floor. So the position and sales were way better than ever before!


 I had a 2 by 2 stand and planned to keep it nice and clean and stylish. So here is how the set up was like:
brought loads of boxes with ironed felt, and had hand made wooden display stands. I really can recommed the tree shape stand great for hats and great for scarves.

Here is the finished stand:

During the show I found that many customers prefer when there is a lot of product displayed, so the instinct to search and did in is very common, I found that my sales were higher. /so for the national craft fair I will be having a bigger stand and I will be displaying way more items for sale. The bigger stand would accoumodate more people at the stall  and it would encourage greater sales.

I stayed with my friend in Dublin and was walking every day 5 km to Rds along the South Circular Road in Dublin. The city is absolutely stunning so I felt in love with it.

Every saturday at Milk Market in Limerick

My journey towards professional feltmaking has started at the Milk Market in LImerick,
basically I asked one day a women who was selling handmade knitwear, her name is Theresa, whether I can join her at her stall at the market. I remember that day I sold for 50 eu and this is how the bug started.
After all those years I finally had time to photograph myself at the stall, well the stall that is:

here is the one I had last year at famous Artisans Craft Fair, long gone though sniff sniff.

 You can see how my work and display has changed!

Photographs by Barbara Zonzin with my work got published in Duch Fashion Magazine.

The magazine is called Advance Fashion Magazine
visit it at www.advancefashionmagazine.com

Here are some screens from this publication:

Now Tomorrow is the day to set up the Stand at Knitting and Stitching show in Dublin

I will be travelling to the RDS to set up my stand at Knitting and Stitching show in Dublin.
Loads of preparation involved especially since I was very late to start. All those days have left a serious marks on my hands:

It is especially the dyeing process that makes it very difficult. It will dissapear once I start making felt again, wool works better than the most sophisticated peel off scrub.

My RDS award got mentioned in the Newsletter distributed by Feltmakers Ireland. Many thanks Sheila Ahern and the team who does such a fantastic job!

Here is the screen: I got awarded by Feltmakers Ireland for the innovation of my felt Lace dress:

Finally I got my leaflets and posters designed. For their invaluable imput I wanted to thank
talented graphic designer Ewa Rybka, from Cork, Ireland, http://craftobssesion.blogspot.com/
please contact her at 00353 87 697 9313 if you are interested in comissioning logo or graphic design for your business.

Also big thanks to Barbara Zonzin who photographed a model wearing my lace scarf below (www.barbarazonzin.com)

Here is the leaflet itself:

Let me know what ya think!

New/Old Photographs of my felt pieces by BArbara Zonzin

Photo: Barbara Zonzin – Model and MUA: Manuela Mariani

http://www.barbarazonzin.com

 Fabulous Work Barbara

My work is on sale at Glasson Craft Gallery, Westmeath, Ireland.

I am proudly presenting some gorgeous photographs taken by Corin Bishop (2011) in this newly open shop located near Athlone.

Gorgeous selection of goods and amazing display, all done by fantastic woodturner, Stephen Mitchell.

  and my items off course!

Jewellery making workshop in a fantastic Greek countryside in Peloponez by Doretta Tondi

I am just back from my holidays in Greece, well this was my working holidays in fact!
Doretta Tondi is a very talented self taught jeweller, I admire her works and in fact there is something being made specially for me!
Here is Doretta's Ring that is particularly popular and my favourite:

A link to her shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DorettaTondi?ref=seller_info


I spend 8 days making silver jewellery from a scratch, starting from melting silver granules with copper, making flat sheet of silver, silver wire to use this elements for making beautiful brooch:

a ring

a set of earrings  and a couple more things.


I was based in a lovely village, with quiet streets lovely caffees.

Every afternoon we spent 2 hours in the village in the cafe sipping lovely orange and lemon granitas. This is the main street of the village in the morning hours, streets are cleaned, and people get organised for the next big trading day.

Same street at night, equally busy. I enjoyed this life out on the outdoors.

 
Knowing myself I knew that I will not bathe in the sea, let alone have a proper beach style tan, since bikinis in Ireland are not an essential article I did not bring one at all!
So my tan consists of unsatisfactory streaks of sun here and there, my Irish friends were unimpressed.

Here some photographs from Dorettas studio:
Soldering a bracelet I was fixing

there is this special thing about this bracelet, my mother had bought it 40 years ago and spend one of her very first earnings as a local teacher. Now, well worn loops were broken. NObody from the local jewellers were keen to fix this bracelet as the time spent would cost more then the value of the bracelet they think. So I brought it to Greece, and work for 2 days to make new links and solder them together. The sense of achievement is enormous since I saved something of an emotional value and did all the work myself. CErtainly I am good at soldering now after all that practice!

 The Greek countryside is beautiful and this photograph is my favourite!