The Art of Fashion 2008 brings you the Luxury Collection

featuring the very best in Irish Craft and Design.

The Leitrim Design House brings you The Art of Fashion Show 2008. This not to be missed show takes place at 8pm on Tuesday November 11th in The Dock, Carrick-on- Shannon and promises to be a superb event for all those who are fashion conscious, interested in style or just love shopping. Doors open at 7 pm for a pre show reception.This years event is being held in aid of North West Hospice. In 2006 and 2007, renowned Irish fashion consultant Eddie Shanahan curated and produced special sell out shows for the Leitrim Design House, bringing elements of craft, jewellery, fashion and accessories together in a presentation described as unique, impactful and a wonderful show by the Sunday Independent. This contemporary fashion show has now become an annual event featuring contemporary creations from top Irish Designers and showcasing fresh new talent from the National College of Art and Design and Limerick School of Art and Design.This year we are very pleased to introduce The Enterprise Ireland Graduate Award.

The Leitrim Design House will host a series of exhibitions by the designers and makers of “Into Leitrim” throughout the Summer.

“In The Garden” - May 16th to June 16th 2008 is the first collaborative exhibition between two of Leitrim’s most outstanding wood turners Niall Millar and Roy Humphreys. Both makers are working in wood but with differing designs and products. Both highlight the beauty and diverse uses of wood, bringing age-old crafts into the twenty-first century.

Their brand new collection of hand-crafted garden and household produce come from the forests of County Leitrim. “In the Garden” features a range of items for the home and garden, some traditional, some modern, from potato mashers, honey spoons, and coffee scoops to hay rakes and shoe scrapers.

Bird feeders, seed dibbers and beautifully handcrafted baby rattles are carved and turned from small native timbers found in South Leitrim. Each piece, from bog oak bowls to garden tools are treated by hand with natural oils to show the true beauty of the diverse woods used.

The Leitrim Design House offers you the opportunity to purchase gifts that reflect on the natural beauty of our landscape and local heritage. Ethical purchasing is increasing as awareness of environmental impact grows. “In the Garden” aims to emphasis the vocation of the woodworkers who encourage, maintain and often revive artistic and technical skills native to our area.

Some of the events taking place at the Leitrim Design House in May as part of “In the Garden” are:

A DEMONSTRATION OF GREEN WOODWORKING: Thursday 22nd May 12.30-1.30

Showing the use of a pole-lathe, shaving horse and other hand tools. The pole-lathe is an apparatus for turning freshly-cut (green) wood into useful items with a chisel and a foot. The shaving horse is used to hold wood for shaping with a draw-knife.

KIDS WOOD WORLD: Saturday 17th May Time: 11am-4pm

Come along to learn in a fun way about different types of local wood and their uses. Play with wooden toys, try your hand and leg at the pole-lathe (9-99yrs), make a wooden toy like cars, figures (dog, cat), planes, all done with the use of your imagination and not one drop of electricity.
All events are free and everyone is welcome along.

Into Leitrim is a guide to the Artists and Craftworkers of Leitrim. This online craft trail is a unique opportunity to see the artists at work in their studio; to hear their stories and to share something of the process involved in producing each piece of craft. Viewer’s will see exclusive designs produced in an environmentally-responsible way and experience the authenticity of the product. Together with our 2008 series of exhibitions, the website and its accompanying book take the visitor on a virtual journey into the workshops of the artists and craft-workers.

As well as the growing consumer demand for high-quality artisan products, there is an increased interest in both the person and story behind the product, and a need to understand and enjoy the energy and care that has gone into its making. “Into Leitrim” enables the widest of audiences, through the accessibility of the internet, to engage with the culture and creativity of County Leitrim as part of the Green box area.

These events are sponsored by the Leitrim Design House “Opportunities through skills programme” supported through Border Action through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2005-2008.
For further information please contact us on 071 96 50550/50533.

www.leitrimdesignhouse.ie

at the Leitrim Design House .

On Thursday the 8th of May the Leitrim Design House will present an exhibition of drawings created by the WILL/WAVE Partnership. Women from Leitrim (WILL - Women Living Independently in Leitrim) and Fermanagh (WAVE - Women Making WAVES) have come together to creatively engage with the self-image of women with and without disabilities in a cultural and artistic context, building on the Peace and Reconciliation process.

To accompany the exhibition Kathy O’Leary a member of the Leitrim Design House and facilitator with the WILL/WAVE Partnership will present a workshop around the theme of “Identity and Women”, “Shared Spaces and experiences”. Kathy will endevour to address the issues facing women with disabilities through the artwork of surrealist painter Frida Kahlo.

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), one of the most influential Mexican painters of the middle twentieth century. From 1926 until her death, the painter created striking, often shocking, images that reflected her turbulent life. She did not originally plan to become an artist. A polio survivor, at 15 Kahlo entered the premedical program at the National Preparatory School in Mexico City. However, this training ended three years later when Kahlo was gravely hurt in a bus accident.

The day long workshop and exhibition at the Leitrim Design House aims to develop positive relationships between the participants North and South of the border by focusing on the shared experiences of women with and without disabilities.

“The Partnership is ready to open up to the public having built up relationships through Art and Drama. They would like to work on the theme of shared spaces/experiences and the event at the Leitrim Design House is a building block for this work” says Kathy.

A presentation on the life and work of the artist will be followed by a self portrait drawing workshop.
A viewing of the academy awarding winning film FRIDA will take place in the afternoon at Carrick Cineplex. The artwork made during the workshop will be exhibited with a body of work recently made by the women from the Partnership.

As part of the workshop the group will also look at the work of Scottish Artist Chrissie Orr As a practising artist for the past thirty years her focus has been on producing work for and with communities. Her work is based on the premise that the artist, when directly involved with the community, can address complex issues and bring people together in a shared experience. It is her belief that art can transcend politics, cultural barriers and socio-economics.

Her project in Arizona worked with Native American and Hispanic Youth from treatment Centres to create a safe space for Youth in trouble. These adolescence were suffering from alienation of their ancestors and had turned to gangs and killing each other through conflict. Through working with these Youth she uses photography to raise issues of Peace and the Peace Process and the concept of what Peace meant to them.

The artwork made during the workshop will be exhibited along with a body of work recently made by the women from the WILL/WAVE partnership. This exhibition “Identity and Women” will be shown at the Leitrim Design House as an installation on panels similar to the projects developed by Chrissie Orr. The idea to expand and travel the exhibition to other public venues in the region.

This exhibition will be shown at the Leitrim Design House from the 8th to the 22nd of May. The WILL/WAVE Partnership is funded through the Leitrim County Councils Task Force.

The Leitrim Design House aims to engage with the wider community through organised events and activities to accompany its lively exhibitions programme. If you are interested in getting together to creatively engage with other women and explore the self-image of women with and without disabilities in a cultural and artistic context please contact the Leitrim Design House on 071 96 50533.

This day long workshop will take place on the 8th of May 11am to 5.30pm. Admission is free please book early to confirm your place.

Experience stunning Irish Craft at Bloom 2008 - the Garden Show

Visit Leitrim Design House at Bloom - meet our talented craftspeople - see the work, find out the inspirations, hear the stories behind these unique and beautiful pieces, and experience the fun of making.

An exciting addition to Bloom 2008 is the new Craft Trail - offering visitors a chance to live the craft experience. Follow the craft trail at Bloom; see and enjoy;

• Large-scale pieces of hand-made craft from some of Ireland’s most talented designer-makers

• Demonstrations, in a variety of skills and disciplines, from some of the countries most talented
  craftspeople - and have a go yourself

• Crafted Design - a select area where you can browse and purchase a wide variety of products
  from over 20 of the Irish craft world’s most talented makers.

The craft trail has something for all ages - whether you want to wonder at the inspiration that influenced the one-off pieces, or you’d like to try your hand at a craft you’ve always liked, or even if you are just curious to see what’s involved in crafting a piece - the opportunities are all there at Bloom.

And of course if you want to bring home a piece, treat yourself or a friend, buy for the house or the garden - the choice of beautifully design, hand crafted items is sure to tempt and delight you.

10th March 2008

Eileen Abbott - 2007 Art of Fashion

Introducing RED THREAD

I am looking forward to our RED THREAD event in Sligo in a couple of weeks. Its really exciting, our very own red carpet event! I am busy organizing the press release for same and about to put together a gown that I designed specially for the event using the RED THREAD theme. It’s tight going as all has to be complete by the weekend. The more pressure the more creativity flows!!! Bring it on….

Eileen Abbott
Couture Designer
Mohill, Co Leitrim

RED THREAD - Design & Applied Art is a new co-operative body established to promote the work and interests of a group of designers, artists and craftspeople who were brought together under the Leitrim Design House’s Art of Fashion and Business Development programmes. Here are some of the RED THREAD designers and makers at the launch of the Leitrim Design House - “Art of Fashion”

Left to right:
Michelle McCarroll, Eileen Abbott, Wendy Knight, Renate Regan and Aistrid Tomropp Hoffman

29th February 2008

Everyone’s welcome to “Afternoon Tea” March 13th

Docpot ceramics -Derry and Adam Frew’s teapots

Here at the Leitrim Design House we are always searching for inspirational ideas to make available to you. Makers today may express themselves through a wide range of media from ceramics, to textiles, paper to glass, and graphic design to sculpture. Whatever the medium, craft practice demands a unique combination of hand, mind and eye - the technical mastery of material, aesthetic sensibility and design skills. The best craft work involves a fourth element too: passion. All the makers at the Leitrim Design House have a common goal - to make beautiful things and put them out into the world. In the process they aim to enjoy what they do and to learn from their work.

This Easter we are delighted to invite you to “AFTERNOON TEA” a stunning show of teapots and tea making paraphernalia which encourages you to stop your rushing and turn up the calm!! ….

A special launch of the exhibition by Councillor Sinead Guckian, Leitrim County Council will take place on Thursday the 13th of March at 5.30 pm at the Leitrim Design House, everyone is welcome along. This exhibition will run until April 21st 2008.

Left to right - DOCPOT, Deirdre OCallaghan, Jelena Fischer’s teapot and jugs by Adam Frew

“AFTERNOON TEA” involves the work of twenty six of Ireland best contemporary applied artists who all work to a common theme which everyone will be familiar with “the art of tea making”. This exhibition is all about seeking new and unexpected experiences, making tea an essential part of the process.

For centuries people have known that wisdom and advice, love and support, news and gossip all go better with a cup of tea. Tea and philosophy go hand in hand. The story of teapots begins with their necessity…. the development of tea and its regular consumption required an efficient and later an aesthetically pleasing vessel for drinking and brewing.

Left to right - Rosemary Durr porcelain, Ruth la Gear’s animation, Rosemary Durr porcelain

Adam Frew a young designer / maker currently artist in resident at the Flower Field Arts Centre in County Antrim exhibits his range of functional ceramic teapots. Adam has created an arrangement of distinctive, hand thrown contemporary teapots. The pottery wheel allows for endless possibilities in terms of shape and containment. The aim is to captivate a sense of movement and freshness, in the soft clay resulting in asymmetrical form, giving each piece an arresting quality that calls the eye to look more closely. Adams teapots are uninhibited and whimsical as they engage with each other.

Leitrim’s designers and makers, Peter Fulop, Brigitta Varadi, Erika Marks, Angela Hope, Suzanne Woods, Jelena Fischer, Ann-Marie Gearty and Jonathan Ball have created unusual teapots which range from the functional to amusing, in silver, clay, textiles and metal.

To add a more innovative slant to the show Emer O’Sullivan a young designer from Donegal will show a collection of stunning feminine prints based on functional utensils for the kitchen. Ruth la Gear is a recent graduate of Galway Institute of technology where she specialised in Sculpture. Ruth’s brings photography and animation to the exhibition through her collection “series with the teacup”. Jenny Mc Kenna also a student at Galway Institute of Technology uses a method of wrapping / coiling to make forms to create a cup and saucer matching tea pot and tray using washing line wrapped with wool.

This creative exhibition of teapots, cups and saucer, jugs, egg cups and a whole array of other tea time necessities will inspire all tea drinkers to enjoy a cup and spend a while. A range of refreshing seaweed teas from a member business VOYA in Sligo will accompany the exhibition. New collections by established Irish companies Big Leap, Nicolas Moss, Thomas Diem , Breeogue Pottery and Rosemary Durr will by complemented by brand new collections at the Leitrim Design House from DOC POT, Belfast, Emer O’Sullivan, Donegal, Andrea McCullough, Antrim, Hilary Jenkinson, Kilkenny, Orion Ceramics, Sligo amongst others.

Left to right - teacake tower, Andrea Mac Cullagh, textile work by Suzanne Woods, Jepena Fischer’s porcelain teapot

As part of “Afternoon Tea” children from the primary schools in Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim Village and Annaduff National school are participating in the exhibition. The children are designing imaginative teapots and their artwork will be displayed at the Leitrim Design House for the duration of the exhibition. An award for the best designs will go to the class who come up with the most innovative ideas. The winning design will be transformed into a real teapot created by Breeogue Pottery , Sligo.

If you would like to find out more about this exhibition or any of the artists involved please get in touch with us on 071 96 50533 or email info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie

Artists at Afternoon Tea…..

Adam Frew, Derry, Andrea McCullagh, Antrim , Angela Hope, Leitrim, Ann-Marie Gearty, Leitrim, Adrian Wistreich, Cork , Big Leap designs, Mayo, Brigitta Varadi, Leitrim , Breeogue Pottery, Sligo, Callery Ceramics, Sligo, Charlie Mahon, Cork, Deirdre O Callaghan, Derry, Diane McCormack, Tyrone, Erika Marks, Leitrim, Emer O’Sullivan, Donegal, Hilary Jenkison, Kilkenny, Jenny McKenna, Galway, Jonathan Ball, Leitrim, Jelena Fischer, Roscommon, John Ryan, Sligo, , Jerpoint Glass, Kilkenny, Peter Fulop, Leitrim, Rosemary Durr, Kilkenny, Ruth La Gear, Galway, Suzanne Woods, Leitrim, Thomas Diem, Meath,

posted 25th February 2008

Into Leitrim

NETWORKING EVENING
for craft workers, applied artists designers and makers

6th of March - 5.30 pm to - 7.30pm @ the dock

Would you like to meet like-minded people to exchange ideas?
5.30pm - 6.30pm
“Nicola Mc Manus, Business Advisor from Leitrim County Enterprise Board will give a presentation on the supports available to small businesses through the Enterprise Board.”
And four of Leitrim’s successful creative business will illustrate the importance of innovation and continual improvement in building dynamic businesses.
We hear from ….
Textile artist/designer - Suzanne Woods -Arroo - ….Suzanne creates personal and home accessories incorporating hand-dyed textiles and painted surfaces

Ceramic Artist - Peter Fulop -Peter is a commissioning artist recently returned from a three month residency in Japan where he has worked with Japanese ceramic masters

Accessories Designer - Angela Hope, Hope & Benson, Contemporary hand made handbags Winner of - Index Top 50 Irish Products at Showcase, Dublin Jan 2008
2006 Winner of best small business in County Leitrim

Graphic Design Company - PURE Designs - Padraig Cummingham and Linda Shevlin run a successful graphic design company in Carrick-on-Shannon. They are also Visual artists.

6.30pm- 7.30 pm NETWORKING - begins with meet and greet ,artists ,designers and makers from all over are welcome to come and chat about activities for 2008, all new ideas for collaborative activities welcome …

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER!

The session will provide the opportunity to:

Learn how successful entrepreneurs have built up their businesses in Leitrim
Learn new ideas that can be applied to your own business
Pick up tips from experienced and local business owners
Participate in a session that will inspire you and enhance your creativity
Network with like minded people

This event has been organised by the Leitrim Design House as part of Leitrim Enterprise week. Booking forms for membership to Leitrim Design House will be available. Appointments to meet with the staff of Leitrim Design House can be arranged on the evening.

Refreshments will be served

For further information please contact the Leitrim Design House on
071 96 50550/50533
email info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie , www.intoleitrim.ie
OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH SKILLS the Leitrim Design House training programme is supported by Border Action through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2007-2008 and part financed by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan.

24th January 2008

Tea Party invitation

TEA PARTY TEA PARTY TEA PARTY!

Calling ceramic artists, glass artists, textile artists, silversmiths, metalworkers…

Dear Friends,

We are delighted to welcome you to participate in our forthcoming “Afternoon Tea” an exhibition of contemporary to quirky tea pots created by Irish designer /makers. The exhibition will take place from Thursday the 13th of March 2008 to Thursday the 10th of April 2008.We are looking for innovative submission from all over the Country. Please email one to two jpeg images of your available work together with an expression of interest / ideas by Friday the 1st of February 2008 to info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie.

Ideally we would like to show 2 - 3 pieces from each exhibitor, if you wish to submit additional stock to complement your teapots please feel free to do so. The exhibition will take place at the Leitrim Design House in Carrick-on-Shannon. We anticipate that this show could travel to other venues in Ireland in Summer 2008. This well depend on the strength and innovative qualities of the exhibition.

Please submit quality images for regional press releases. The exhibition will be a selling exhibition with talks and demonstrations taking place over the duration of the show. The Leitrim Design House is a fully commercial Gallery. We take a 30% commission on both exhibition pieces and visual art work. Leitrim Design House will look after the presentation and promotion of “Afternoon Tea”.

Looking very much forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Anna-Marie O’Rourke
Craft Development Officer

23rd January 2008

Dedicated followers of fashion…

2007 was a very busy year here at the Leitrim Design House and one of the most outstanding events “The Art of Fashion” took place in November. Renowned Irish Fashion and Retail Consultant Eddie Shanahan first produced this special sell out show for the Leitrim Design House in November 2006 bringing elements of contemporary craft, fashion, jewellery and accessories together in a presentation described as “a unique reflection of the renaissance of the Irish Craft and Design industry” by the Sunday Independent. We are delighted to say that this contemporary Fashion show has now become an annual event at the Leitrim Design House. Bringing fresh new talent to the foreground is an integral part of the Leitrim Design House initiatives and in November 2007 we introduced a graduate award. The award went to Eva Maguire, recent graduate of the National College of art and design for her stunning collection of garments entitled “Conception”

… Here is what Eva had to say about her award winning collection …

“During my final nine months of the Fashion Degree course in the National College of Art and Design, I used this concept of nine months of pregnancy as the inspiration for my final year collection. In relation to the theme ‘Nine Months’ I researched and explored customs and traditions associated with child birth and christenings. The sculptural contours of the pregnant woman combined with the intricate and detailed overlapping lines and images from the cells of the ovary lent for modern innovative and original design ideas.” From “conception to Birth”- is a delicate feminine collection in luxurious fabrics inspired by the innate beauty of new beginnings. Soft leathers and draped silk chiffons in a pastel palette create a floaty feel for this wearable collection. The garments in each outfit are interchangeable throughout the collection, lending versatility when opting to wear an outfit for an alluring evening look.

One of Eve’s feminine garments

Collections by fourteen gifted recent graduates of the Limerick School of Art and Design and the National College of Art and Design, Dublin stood strong alongside established Irish makers and several International Irish designers such as Ellis Boyle and Aideen Bodkin … read more about the graduates and the designers in our archive …
The aim of the Art of Fashion is to focus on that made by hand- to raise an awareness of the small companies who work out of studios and workshops in rural areas, designing, creating and making unique contemporary Irish items. By introducing these Designer/Makers and their collections to our customers we aim to raise the awareness that everyone can purchase Irish contemporary designs at very affordable prices.

From left to right:
Michelle Mc Carroll, Eileen Abbott, Wendy Knight, Renate Regan and Astrid Tomrop Hoffman.

Here is what some of our top designers from Leitrim have to say about the 2007 event …

“My collection of felted garments for the show was called “Four Seasons”. When I read about this year’s theme for the fashion show, the movement of the body, I started to think of how I could incorporate this idea into my new collections. I thought of how the weather has so much to do with how scarves move around and together with the body and also how each season represents a different part of the growing cycle with its colour scheme and vegetations.
I thought that the whole event was so professional and everybody’s work was of such a high standard. When I saw my work on the models I was so nervous I hardly remember a thing, I just hope that audience liked what they saw.”

Brigitta Varadi , felt maker/artist December 2007.

“I would like to take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks for inviting me for the second year to take part in “The Art of Fashion”. It is always a great challenge to stand beside experienced designers and show my own creations. Needless to say it gives me great pleasure to put myself to the test to progress to new and bigger ideas which lead me to grow in inspiration and confidence.
My compliments to you as well in organizing this exquisit showcase of an array of different styles in clothing and accessories. In Eddie Shanahan you found the perfect host for this event. His expertise and comments kept everybody engaged throughout the night. To have such beautiful models presenting my scarves and blouses gave me a great feeling of pride”.
Renate Regan , silk accessories designer. January 08

45 Irish designers and makers took part in the Art of Fashion 2007.Together with eight of the top models from option 1 in Dublin, this event was truly unique crossing contemporary craft and fashion with style of an international standard.

Leading on from the show the Leitrim Design House will be running a “business development programme” called Creativity in the Marketplace with Eddie Shanahan. This programme will start on the 27th of February. Last year the course was a great success with designer / makers from all over the country in attendance.

Left to right
Joe Lowe, Geraldine Gray, Eva Maguire, Eddie Shanahan, Ann-Marie O’Rourke.

To find out more , book a place on the “Creativity in the Marketplace” course or if you are interested in becoming involved in our 2008 show please
email us at info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie or call us on 071 96 50533.