Soraya Ricalde, a Spanish Jewellery Designer living and working in North Leitrim is the winner of the Leitrim Enterprise Board Awards Winner 2009 “New to the Market”.

Soraya works with precious metal, silver and 9ct/18ct yellow and white gold, adding precious and semiprecious stones. She also works with new and different materials such as sea-shells, wood, fabrics, etc creating contemporary functional jewellery pieces and is always experimenting.

Soraya’s work is inspired by the simplicity and beauty of nature.The pieces she creates reflect the natural environment all around her. Soraya collects samples of organic shapes; sea-shells, seaweed, rocks, wood and many other natural formations from the landscape and uses these materials to inspire her designs. Growing up in the North of Spain by the sea, surrounded by lakes and mountains and now living in North Leitrim an area full of lakes and mountains influences and infuses all of Soraya’s work.

Leitrim Design House launches Meso Jewellery

Inspired by Mesolithic woman, a new and contemporary range of jewellery designed by Helen Conneely of Celtic Roots Studio in Ballinahown.The jewellery, fuses simplistic bogwood shapes and other jewellery components such as sterling silver, freshwater pearls, oxidised sterling silver, onyx beads and leather, and is one of its kind in the existing jewellery market.The name Meso derives from Mesolithic, the first sighting of man and woman in Ireland on Lough Boora Bog, where the same wood grew thousands of years ago.

Meet the Maker Helen Conneely

Leitrim Design House Saturday 24th October.And celebrate the launch of this new jewellery range. Meso jewellery will be available to purchase online via its own exclusive website -and in store at the Celtic Roots Studio in Ballinahown and Leitrim Design House in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Niall Miller’s craft is rooted in the hedgerows of Ireland. A craft that takes nothing but inspiration from the landscape of Leitrim. A craft that brings the functional into the realms of art. Niall Miller will be showing some of his new products including a pair of gorse chairs in the finishing stages. He will demonstrate how to make rope from New Zealand Flax (Phormium)-a common garden plant. The flax rope will be used in the seat of the gorse chairs. He will also demonstrate how to make bindings from briars.

Maria Noonan Mc Dermott will be in residence at the Leitrim Design House on Saturday 10th October. Her work is highly original; her creative and imaginative pieces ensuring her a reputation for innovative artwork that is highly collectable and truly unique. Maria’s work is distinctly recognisable as she paints with knife confidently applying layer upon layer, the texture playing a key role in the overall structure of her pieces. Working from her studio in Kinlough, Co Leitrim, Maria says that sometimes she gets so lost in her painting that she becomes something of a hermit; so this is a great opportunity to meet the artist, see her at work and have a chat.

Maria has had a busy year so far; a solo exhibition in County Clare, a number of commission pieces and numerous group exhibitions.  She also has found time to set up a new art group called ‘The North West Artists Group,’and their first major exhibition is in Markree Castle, Collooney, Co. Sligo on Saturday 24th October. The group is a diverse blend of art and artists from Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo and Donegal.

Leitrim Design House & the Dock

invite you to celebrate the launch of Craft in the Classroom 3rd-20th Oct

& Ri Ra Children’s Art Festival 12th-18th October.

The launch takes place at 2pm on Sat 3rd Oct and is a fund raising event for St Ciaran’s Childrens Respite Service. Come along to an afternoon of fun and activities

Craft in the Classroom, sponsored by the Crafts Council of Ireland placed an artist into 14 schools within the County Leitrim; St Patrick’s Boys NS, Ballinamore, Scoil na Maighdine Muire, Carrick-on-Shannon, Hunt NS Mohill, Four Masters NS Kinlough, Ardvarney NS, Dromahair, St Claire’s Manorhamilton, Masterson NS Manorhamilton, St Brigid’s Drumcong, St Mary’s NS Drumlea, St Brigid’s Drumkeerin, Scoil na Muire,Bornacoola, Rossan NS, Carrigallen, Scoil Naisiunta Brid Naofa, Driffreen NS, Manorhamilton, and Culfadda NS in Ballymote Co Sligo.

The artists worked with the teachers and children, from junior infants up to sixth class over approx 12 weeks resulting in this wonderful collection of work. Projects were grounded in the Visual Arts curriculum taking in many strands and great links were made across the curriculum to other subjects. Working in a variety of disciplines: drawing, painting print, clay, fabric & fibre, and integrating geography, environmental science and history, the pupils produced an inspiring body of work; boats, bears, bowls, masks and plates; fish, dinosaurs, jewellery and even a complete town land form part of the collection.

Leitrim is well known for its creativity and this creative energy is highlighted by the Craft in the Classroom exhibition. Leitrim Design House, sponsor of this exhibition would like to invite you to call in and discover for yourself the wonderful creativity of our younger generation.

Meet the Maker Day at the Leitrim Design House, Saturday 26^th of September from 2 pm-4pm. All are welcome to come along to talk to Peter and learn about ceramics.

Inspired by recent travels to China and Japan, Peter Fulop brings his new collection of Raku Ceramic Art to the Leitrim Design House . On 26th September Peter will showcase a collection of these outstanding ceramic pieces at the Leitrim Design House in Carrick-on-Shannon. This exhibition will continue until mid October. Peter Fulop, Leitrim based Ceramic Artist recently attended an 8 weeks residency programme in Jingdezhen PWS Experimental Factory in China where the porcelain tradition dates back over 1000 years. This two months art residency at the Jingdezhen PWS Experimental Factory was supported by Culture Ireland, The Arts Council of Ireland & Leitrim County Council

Peter was invited to exhibit at the International Ningbo Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition at the Ningbo Art Museum, along with renewed ceramic artist Takeshi Yasuda, Derek Au, Dryden Wells and Sebastiao de Meira. Creating a new body of work, Peter has focused on a cultural fusion of aesthetics by bringing together his previous Japanese experiences and also incorporating the new Chinese influences. To achieve his vision Peter built upon the decorative porcelain of the Chinese tradition integrating the free thrown forms and the very energetic “aggressive” brushworks of the Japanese practice. Calligraphy in Peter’s interpretation becomes an independent improvisation of action. The self vitrified porcelain body not only functions as a background for the calligraphy but connects two different dimensions together. The colours of white & black along with the light green of the celadon glaze carry a feeling of emptiness and posses a meditative quality.

For further information please visit www.peterfulop.squarespace.com or contact the Leitrim Design House on 071 96 50550, email info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie or visit www.leitrimdesignhouse.ie

Work Showcased:

Peter Fulop 2009 Solo Exhibition at C2 Gallery, May 2009, Jingdezhen,China.

Selected Group Show Potfest in the Park, July 2009, Penrith, Cumbria, UK.

Invited lecturer and Exhibitor Art in Clay, August 2009, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK .

Upcoming Exhibitions:

Peter Fulop 2009, Jingdezhen Solo Show at the Leitrim Design House 26th September, Carrick-on-Shannon,

Ceramic in Focus- Invited artist at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery 6-8 November, Cork

Artist and designer, Suzanne Woods, will be our Meet the Maker on Saturday, 19 September. Suzanne, who is a textile artist creates a range of fashion and home accessories using luxurious fabrics and also makes a range of room and fire screens with painted imagery. Visitors to the Leitrim Design House will be familiar with some of Suzanne’s products which include felt brooches inspired by garden flowers including poppies and roses and her silk and merino scarves with velvet corsage. Suzanne who began her business in 2005, holds a B.A. in painting, and an M. A. in art history.

Currently Suzanne is working with wool felt which she forms into three-dimensional shapes for use in her wall-hangings and jewellery. Of her new designs Suzanne says, “These new pieces have a more dynamic and contemporary feeling than my other work which I think of as having a vintage feel. Felt is a fantastic fabric to work with. It has such a rich surface and such potential for exploration”.

Suzanne will bring samples to work with on the 19th and would be delighted to discuss her work and share ideas with visitors to Leitrim Design House on the day. Come along between 2 and 4pm and meet Suzanne. These Meet the Maker days are special promotional events with fantastic offers available on the day.

For more information visit www.aroo.ie

Leitrim Design House is hosting a Meet the Maker event every Sat throughout September and October This is a very special opportunity to meet our Artists and Craft workers, hear their stories, discuss their work and find out what inspires them. Each month we will focus on a different craft discipline. September highlights the beauty of wood. Chris Killalea will be on hand on Sat 5th September between 12 noon and 4 o clock to showcase his new collection of bog oak, unique handcrafted products from Leitrim. Come along to meet Chris in person and learn more about his craft. Visit Leitrim Design House and discover the wealth of creativity on your doorstep

Leitrim based Blacksmith Jonathon Ball will be here in the Leitrim Design House on June 6th from 1pm to meet the public and talk about the skills and techniques involved in traditional blacksmithing. Come along, meet Jonathon and enjoy the special offers available to customers on Meet the Maker day.

Jonathan will showcase a collection of beautiful crafted interior items from candle holders to lamps, coat stands to vases and bowls alongside a series of smaller items such as door handles. Jonathan’s work is very affordable and his beautiful hand forged items would make an ideal gift for anyone looking for something different for a wedding, birthday, retirement or any special occasion. Visit the Leitrim Design House on Saturday June 6^th to meet the Jonathon and choose from the best selection of his work ever found under one roof.

The Leitrim Design House will host a series of exciting MEET THE MAKERS days at The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon over the summer.

Sunday 28^thJune Alan McCluney Ceramic Artist

Sunday 28th June Brigitta Varadi

Saturday 4^thJuly Peter Fulop Ceramic Artist

Saturday 1st August Soraya Ricalde Jeweller

Jonathan will showcase a collection of beautiful crafted interior items from candle holders to lamps coat stands to vases and bowls alongside a series of smaller items such as door handles. Jonathan’s work is very affordable and his beautiful hand forged items would make an ideal gift for anyone looking for something different for a wedding, birthday, retirement or any special occasion.Visit the Leitrim Design House on Saturday June 6th to meet the Jonathon and choose from the best selection of his work ever found under one roof.

The Leitrim Design House will host a series of exciting MEET THE MAKER days at The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon over the summer.

Sunday 28th June Alan McCluney Ceramic Artist

Sunday 28th June Brigitta Varadi

Saturday 4th July Peter Fulop Ceramic Artist

Saturday 1st August Soraya Ricalde Jeweller

Easter Millinery:This Easter Leitrim Design House bring you a rainbow of colour, a visual feast from some of Irelands top Milliners. Wendy Louise Knight, Suzie Mahoney, Rachel Feeley and Leonora Ferguson will collectively showcase their talent and precise craftmanship at the Leitrim Design House.

Hats for the races- Hats for going places- For a wedding,a celebration or special occasion.

HATS ARE A STATEMENT, a work of art, an essential piece of clothing. A hat will instantly change the look and add a sense of style to any outfit. Find a creation true to your own sense of style and imagination. This group of well established Milliners have come together to exhibit their creations and place Irish Millinery under the spotlight.

A definate date for your diary.