Stormy Seas

during a brief trip to Newcastle last week we were lucky enough to see some great high seas 

The Little Sisters: Busking outside King's College

The Little Sisters: Busking outside King's College:

Kate & Eleanor, deep in the Christmas Spirit; singing for charity in Cambridge on Saturday

'via Blog this'

Welcome to The Lagan Lutherie School

For all those who have always wanted to create their own musical instrument, check out this fantastic place

Welcome to The Lagan Lutherie School:

'via Blog this'

Craft Fairs

'tis the Season. We'll be busy at Craft Fairs for the next few weeks.


It's a great time of year, in the build up to Christmas, both because it's good to get out and about, meeting old friends and and new, and as it's our best trading time (hopefully!)





A good Craft Fair is a great place to shop:

• locally produced goods
• made by real people who you can meet
• individual, often unique items
• things that are aesthetically pleasing
• a better atmosphere than the soulless shopping malls
• less hassle with getting there and parking
• often in inspiring locations

Here's our schedule:

• 26th & 27th November Carlingford Old Barn Market from 12.00 noon
• 1st December Slieve Donard Newcastle in aid of Cancer Research 12 - 8 pm
• 3rd December Downpatrick Race Course in aid of Mainstay DRP from 10 am 
• 4th December Carlingford Old Barn Market from 12.00 noon
• 10th & 11th December Rowallane National Trust Gardens Yuletide Market 12 - 5pm

These dates we will not be at the Workshop, but if you want to visit, please get in touch! 

Felting Weekend

Had our November Felt workshop on Saturday - some old hands and newcomers - not that you'd be able to tell them apart by the quality of the work!

The Red Baron at large!

Looks vaguely Wagnerian - in a psychedelic way!

can you tell what it is yet?

spec-tacular!

Wow! Mushrooms

dreamy wall panels - ethereal and vibrant at the same time

appletree by moonlight- more than a touch of Gauguin here

from another angle

Happy Felters!

Much banter, fun and creativity went on..... thanks for a great day!

Weather Data for October

Well, plenty of weather again here today (rain & storms!)put me to thinking that I'd not mentioned the weather data archive on our website recently


It was the same in October:

the full report can be found on the met.ie website

Starlings and Kites

A beautiful day today - feels like a different planet to yesterday (gales and downpours) I stood out at dusk to look for murmurations of starlings going by.

unusual clouds as the sun went down

There were a few flocks passing by, 

and I saw a Red Kite on the horizon, probably heading home too .

Out of focus I know, but still captures the grace

complete with Starlings!

And was rewarded by a pretty good sunset

from pastels ....

to vivids, all in a few minutes - a Benraw Sunset

Outback Chic

We've renewed the roof on what will become The Gallery - a bigger space where we can hold larger workshops, have a bigger tea room, and have space for display.


A very exciting prospect - needs holes for doors and windows, doors, windows, floor,s water and electricity all by Easter 2012!


A useful side effect, part of our 'make do and mend' culture, the old tin sheet has made a very secure 'skirt' for the caravan. It felt really stable in last night's storm.

Outback Chic - crude but functional; there's insulation behind that as well.
Will look much tidier after a lick of paint

Before:

old roof stripped off and walls built up

New roof; old gable taken down, composting toilet roofed as well!

The High Line Major Step Forward: All Stakeholders Pledge to Complete the High Line at the Rail Yards | The High Line

Major Step Forward: All Stakeholders Pledge to Complete the High Line at the Rail Yards | The High Line:

'via Blog this'

Don't know if you're following the development of the High Line in New York, but we think this is exciting stuff:

At Legananny Dolmen

Had a great time last week - James and Lauren over for the first time since February - really good to catch up!

at Legananny Dolmen - two miles from The Turnip House

the Mournes are majestic from here

simply magnificent

one of the finest Dolmens in Ireland!

Turnip House Courtyard; October

a beautiful October morning - a hint of chill in the air mellowed by the warm sunshine


this is a panorama of the Turnip House Courtyard, still some spots of colour and life!

Evening

a perfect end to the day

A New Product: pebble purses

As well as much creative destruction going on about the place, we've been working on new products in the workshop, we took some on their first 'outing' today:

made by the wet felt process (see the psychedelic guineapig post) they are lovingly crafted by hand and each one is unique 

the first collection

colours so far: rainbow ink

sunburst

mocha

aqua

rainbow sky

deep purple

These perfect little purses for young and old can now be purchased from Painted Earth in Newcastle  
- thanks Linda!

Demolition!

That old gable end just had to go - was a major eyesore, and no use now one of the garage walls had fallen down!

at last a Meccano set for grownups!

Our first construction!

I think we'll take it from the top

going....

going..

a lot easier than we'd thought

That will do until the roofer comes