Lisa Connolly...the plight of a new designer!

Zizzi Hitchin!

2011-07-08T05:06:00.000-07:00

"Food should be fun!" Thomas Keller

So I've just finished my fourth project working with Zizzi Ristorante! During my time working with the team, I have come to learn what a fun company this franchise is! Looking at elements of their practice such as their artistic Fresh Talent collective and the musical Zizzi sessions, it is quite clear that this is a highly innovative company of the times.

This is what I wanted to illustrate in my work here at Hitchin.

Hitchin has a thriving market which dates as far back as the 14th century. I illustrated elements of food that have been sold at the market over the years, highlighting the fun and frivolous in each item.

My illustrations have been printed on vinyl and applied to the windows of the restaurant. In addition, my funtastic food has been printed on bunting which hangs outside the premises, mimicing the bustling town market!

...will have some photographs here soon!!

Zizzi Leeds The Light Photographs!!!

2011-06-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

I went to Leeds last week to visit the fantastic new Zizzi Restaurant in The Light Center. It is epic!!!! I am delighted to have been apart of such a fantastic project. I urge anyone near Leeds to go check it out and tell everyone about the fantastic work Zizzi is doing with the fresh talent collective.

You can check out some more of the Fresh Talent work for Zizzi at http://kitchen.zizzi.co.uk/

Bee...the styling sensation!!!!!!

2011-05-27T04:34:00.001-07:00

oh I forgot to mention, Bee is also an amazing stylist....

Leela & Bee bring you....Zizzi Kenilworth

2011-05-27T04:25:00.000-07:00

Kenilworth castle is the heart and soul of the town and so we decided to convey the whimsical nature of it in our work. Our illustration shows a young girl dreaming of her knight on his voyage to be by her side. Along the way he battles a dragon, then passing Kenilworth castle he finally reaches his lady.

knight on route to his lady!

Every part of the tapestry was hand made by the designers. All the fabrics were hand dyed to a contemporary colour pallet deigned specifically for Zizzi. The illustrations are machine embroidered and each piece has been delicately hand finished to create a 4m long tapestry.

Knight and his lady

This is a piece unique to Zizzi and very special for Kenilworth!!

The finished tapestry was far too long to photograph in its entirety so you will have to wait a little while for some photos :)

Leela & Bee

2011-05-27T03:59:00.000-07:00

Recently I was asked to create an illustration for the Zizzi Kenilworth. I invited one of my best friends Anna O Neil (Bee) to team up with me for this venture. I have been friends with Bee for a long time. Initially, we got to know each other during our portfolio course at the Central Technical Institute in our hometown of Waterford. After our year in the CTI we moved to Wales to study at the West Wales School of the Arts. That was where the fun began!!!! We lived together with two of our other best buddies for three years and it was probably the greatest time I've had so far!
I began by studying fashion design at WWSOTA and struggled with the rigidity of the subject for two years. I was lost in a mass of unaccounted seem allowances and miscalculated patterns....I just wanted to illustrate and be creatively freeeeeeee. Bee kept telling me to move to textiles, actually from week one in first year she told me I should be there but I had pledged allegiance with the fashion department an was uneasy about moving.

Eventually at the end of the second year she finally convinced me and so I made the move to Textiles. It was the best decision I've ever made and I will be forever grateful to Bee to giving me the kick to do so!

This reaffirms our similarities and I have always thought that if we could team up and collaborate it could amount to something fantastic! Thankfully, Zizzi thought so too and so allowed us to work together for their Kenilworth revamp.

It was one of the most enjoyable ventures I've worked on so far...I'm hoping team Leela & Bee will get some more opportunities for creative mash ups!!!

you can see some of Anna's work here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaoneill/

Work for Zizzi Canterbury

2011-05-27T03:14:00.000-07:00

Illustrations of John Cogan created by the fresh talent collective

Zizzi Canterbury has resently reopened its doors! John Cogan was the former owner of the buliding and his memory is strongly reassured in the new restaurant. There are twelve individual portraits of him gracing the walls, created by twelve of the illustrators from the creative collective.
You can read more about Zizzi Canterbury here... http://www.zizzi.co.uk/restaurants/canterbury#

Zizzi Leeds The Light

2011-05-26T03:27:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to share my new work for Zizzi with you!! I am just one of their new recruits to the Fresh Talent Collective. I am so proud to be apart of such a talented bunch which includes amazing illustrators such as Lizzie Mary Cullen (www.lizziemarycullen.com) who came to meet us at New Designers One Year On last year to give us a pep talk! If you haven't encountered her work yet do check out her website, she is quite the amazing lady.

Off the peg guy hangin' out at the bar

So here's a little bit to explain my concepts behind my illustrations for the restaurant...

“I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams

I have spread my dreams under your feet

Thread softly because you tread on my dreams.”

William Butler Yeats

"The Cloths of Heaven," poem by W.B Yeats

So often in life, a creative steps out from the crowd and offers something new and exiting to the masses. When the industrial revolution unfolded, textiles manufacturing was at the forefront of the uprising in Leeds. It was then that broadcloth was dreamt, produced, sold and worn.

my illustration of dressmaker working on HANDMADE broadcloth dress

A beautifully quintessential English prototype, the material was woven into the industrialised society, creating jobs, fuelling the development of crafts and offering an elegant material to suit the fashionable fillies of that time.

I can envision the hustle and bustle of the Corn Exchange and the city markets during this time, when the town’s cloth market was described as “a prodigy of its kind, unequalled in the world.”

But as we understand so well today, regardless of the innovation and hard graft that goes into a product, it can and will be produced cheaper by foreign our counterparts. And this is exactly what happened with broadcloth manufacturing in Leeds. No longer able to compete, the highly skilled work force were made redundant to create off the peg, mass produced fashion apparel instead, in a bid to somehow keep up with their competition.

This is the element I have chosen to illustrate in the restaurant. It happens too much in today’s society that skills which an area prides themselves upon, become diluted and often forgotten by our quick turn around society. Many people in Leeds may not even realise this heritage that created their wonderful city, and that is an awful shame. I am illustrating this in a quirky matter to draw attention to the subject, and to make people think twice about supporting what’s locally their own and helping it to succeed and thrive.

Leeds City Market

Leeds City Market is one piece of history which has survived the years of change and continues to flourish today. It is the largest undercover market in the county and houses around 800 traders. I felt it was very important to illustrate this fantastic Edwardian building and so it is featured prominently in my work for the restaurant.

For now you will have to make do with my drawings, I'm travelling over to Leeds next week to take some snaps of the completed work in all its threaded glory!!! I should have mentioned it was all stitched on leather panels, some of which have been mounted to chairs so it's going to be a very new way of presenting my illustrations. Can't wait to see it all!!! Hopefully some of you might get the chance to see it too if your in Leeds!

You can read more about Leeds The Light and about Zizzi's fantastic Fresh Talent collective here...

http://www.zizzi.co.uk/restaurants/leeds-2

breaking news!!!

2011-02-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

In resent minutes, Connolly has released a statement to insure that she has not in fact 'sold out'!!!! Just under a month after writing her passionate article, stating her passion for full time designing, love for the struggle and so on, the designer has in fact, obtained a full time job! Here's what she had to say...

"Well basically, I applied for a part time retail position in a new outlet opening in town. A couple of days later I am called for interview, and actually offered the managers position within the store. Not ideal in some aspects, but in others it is perfect because now I have the finances to start putting my lovelies into production on a large scale...something I've been struggling to do for quite some time. I've been manufacturing in bits and pieces, never enough and certainly not to suffice demand I have received.

Good side!

On the downside, I will not be able to commit to the Workhouse Studio full time...but the girls have been incredibly understanding of my new situation. Although I will not be working with them on a daily basis, I will still remain apart of the group which is absolutely fantastic because they are such a great team to be apart of. It would have been absolutely horrible to break away from the girls.
In addition, I fought to have my working schedule arranged so I can still attend the 'FAB' start your own business classes...so in all, I am not losing out so much, design time of course but I have made a nice little studio space in my house that I can work in the evenings after work...still being productive and fabulous and all that!

So, although I would love more than anything to design full time, as of yet, I am not in a position to do so. Which is okay. Because when I am...I tell you I will be such a machine you will have never seen such a thing before!!!! Stay tuned for exciting news coming in the next few weeks of a super fantastic collaboration between the Workhouse Studios and other fabulous up and coming designers..joining force for one EPIC exhibition!!!!"

Lovely stuff!!! :)

oooh, and for anyone who hasn't connected to our Workhouse Studios page do so now to keep up to date with all the news...Eily has also uploaded some very arty images of the studio so check it out!! http://www.facebook.com/WorkhouseStudios

Lovely lovely things

2011-01-26T15:25:00.000-08:00

My favourites folder continues to grow on my laptop... I thought it would be nice to share some of these beauties. This would probably be classified as a 'swooning' article...however, use of the word swoon make me want to vom so I will not be describing it as so! Enjoy x

I adore this outfit
Organic by John Patrick SS11

DIY Sunshine Headband kit by Mayi Carles
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46269715/diy-sunshine-headband-kit-by-mayi-carles

Fantastical Embroidery by Lou Gardiner
http://www.lougardiner.co.uk/

Homemade goodie bags
http://lovelydesign.blogspot.com/2009/02/goodie-bags.html

SO clever
http://www.etsy.com/listing/65921176/tightrope-walk-woman-on-a-bicycle

Amelie... it's the most beautiful and inspiring film I've ever seen

'Let the right one in,' also a seriously beautiful film. If you watch it be sure to get the Sweedish version, there was an American remake released last year...

Oh I could be here forever!!..

Charlotte Olympia YOU'RE KILLIN' ME......... €1014

It's FAB!!!

2011-01-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

So I've just finished the first stage of the FAB programme. I should probably explain a bit about this wonderful initiative!... FAB stands for females at business. It is a scheme set up by the Waterford City Enterprise Board with the aim of helping more lovely ladies get in to business. It was felt that the majority of business start ups were male driven and so the aim of this programme was to put a change to this in Waterford.

Their initial call out was back in November where they held a coffee morning in the local Tower Hotel. I've been to some other networking events as of late but this one by far had the biggest response. Every table in the function room was full and they even had to draft in more seating!!! How incredible!! I think when you're trying to start something up yourself it's very easy to feel alone...but here were at least sixty other ladies all with similar ambition which was very comforting!

We discussed our own ambitions and plans for our businesses and listened to experienced female entrepreneurs speak of their journey. It was was probably the most positive and inspiring cup of coffee I've ever had!!!!

So the next stage of the programme was an idea generation workshop with Joe Kelly (local business mogul!) We were broken down in to smaller groups...less chatting and more doing, you know what a massive group of women are like! There were three other ladies in my group, Claire who is aiming to write a book, Brenda who bakes fabulous scones and cakes and Aileen who is setting up a joined venture with her husband specialising in carbon testing homes. It was great to have such a variety of business ideas bouncing off one another. This phase lasted for just three session, but it was amazing to see the transformation in attitudes by the end of it. Joe was very enthusiastic and encouraged each individual in the group. Each gal left the phase feeling confident, capable, and pretty bloody FAB!!!!!

The next stage is a ten module start your own business course during which time we will also be assigned a personal business mentor to help with our set ups. In all, this is a fantastic initiative headed by the City Enterprise Board and I am very grateful to have such guidance at the beginning of this huge venture. I think more cities should follow suit and get their ladies ready to lead us out of this recession!!!!

ALSO,

Bonzie Pendant

Before I go, I couldn't possibly blog about business women in Waterford without mentioning the fantastic Bonzie....

Ger and Bonzie Crotty

Bonzie is a local fashion design collaborative featuring Ger and Bonzie Crotty. The ladies describe themselves as 'an independent Irish design label with romantic vintage appeal.' These gals are at the cutting edge of tattered couture, creating whimsical designs that cannot but make you dream.

Their creations are incredibly beautiful and unique. Although they hold a very strong presence in the bridal market, I admire Bonzie's ability to provide fashion and accessories for a much wider audience. I dare anyone to try and find a piece of theirs that they would not love to call their own.

Last week, Bonzie received the recognition deserved as they were crowned Ireland's most influential designers of 2010.

HOW AMAZING IS THAT!!!!

They are an incredible inspiration and are proof of what you can achieve with hard work...and a smashing personality (as opposed to the bitchy industry stereotype!) I wish the ladies all the best for 2011, keep a close eye on them and if you can invest in a piece of theirs soon...do!!! I am saving as I ~~speak~~ type!

Collection of Bonzie Pendants

Bonzie Bag

Bride wearing Bonzie bolero

You can enjoy more of Bonzie's delights here...

www.bonziedesigns.com (portfolio)
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bonzie.etsy.com%2F&h=34f00wfGfQbA5hAgduK3FbaZ-BA (online store)
www.designsbybonzie.blogspot.com
facebook : bonzie crotty

Enjoy!! xxx

so...where do you work?

2011-01-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

This is probably one of the most dreaded questions I hear lately... what do you do? Where do you work? Today I had an electritian in my house doing some work, and making small talk, he asked just that. So, I told him I was a freelance designer, based in a studio la la la and just as quick as I could inform him of my contribution to our country, I could see his bright and hopeful face fall to one of confusion and pity. How do you make money then? So you have no steady income? That's hard, why don't you get a real job (grrr that phrase makes my blood boil!) etc. etc. I could go on and on. I stayed there for a while trying to explain anyway but knew my words were falling on deaf ears.

That's the thing with being a creative...it's a constant battle to keep up with 'the real world.' One of my musician friends called round this evening, we spoke of the marvelous things we did with our day...he began writing a new song, I sketched some new illustations which for the first time this week I really adored. We were delighted with ourselves. Then my partner, who is a carpenter arrives home from work (who I must mention is incredily supportive in my pursuit of design doimination), anyway he arrives home from a hard day of grafting, covered in dirt, absolutely wrecked...and suddenly, my efforts seem so meager.

why don't the 9-5'ers dress like this?

I am a dreamer. I summon a zillion new business ventures, design ideas and adventure possibilities on a daily basis. The 'real world' may turn their nose up at this....and so, to prove them wrong I have decided to make this the driving force in achieveing all I want to do. Creative people have made the world the playground that it is. I am sure I am a very very small fish, actually I'm probably more like plankton, in a massive pond of uncertainty amoungst such types and that is a reassurance in itself!!!

Apologies for the massive rant. Creative folk I've got your back...and not so creative folk...I hope you've got ours!!!! xxx

a day of unproductive productiveness!!!

2011-01-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

Tim Walker shoot for Vogue May 2006

So I sat down with a big mug of tea last night to trawl through my endless back issues of Vogue, Tank and Lula. I haven't done it in ages, and even though I've read through them all hundreds of times, I continue to be excited by the dreamy location shoots and brave garments that have been fashioned by some of the worlds best creatives.

Sasha Pivovarova in Chanel, January 2007

Although I have gone down the textiles route of stitching, ink is where my journey into illustration began. I spent the first two years of college studying fashion design. I never got around the precision of pattern cutting and found it quite soul destroying because I could not master it... illustration class however was where I 'blossomed.' I spent many an hour sketching class mates prancing up and down on top of tables wearing as many different textured items of clothing as possible and absolutely loved every second of it!!! The messiness and unsure nature of illustration speaks to me more than a perfectly tailored garment ever could.

messy work space!

I must say I really enjoyed my day of doodling..although that was not was I was supposed to do at all. I am (or rather should be) constructing my market research surveys and questionnaires in line with the business model I am setting up this year. My business advisor and best friend Orla Caffrey has given me a massive book on creating and conducting such things, but being the crafty person I am am finding it quite impossible to make friends with this book!! Orla, if you're reading this I'm sorry and promise to get going on it tomorrow!!!!

Tim Walker shoot for Vogue, December 2004

come to the dark side....

2011-01-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

So I joined twitter today because I've heard it's like really important to have as a designer? I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing AND I have no friends...well actually I have one friend but he seemed to come on board pretty quick after I joined so I assume it's like a rent a friend thing twitter to do so you don't become disillusioned and leave.
Anyway, if you have a twitter account and would like to befriend me...or share your pearls of technomological wisdom please come and find me!!! http://twitter.com/ LisaThreadables

oh yes, and the illustration above is one that I drew for my final major project in uni. It was based around the poetry of Emily Dickinson, hence the morbid expression!

My youngest admirer!

2011-01-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

This picture was sent to me today by a friend of mine who had her first baby a few months ago. My stitching of a little girl was given to her as a gift and Sadbh seems to like it already!!

Congratulations to Brian and Fiona on their beautiful new recruit!!!

Ooh la la...another new year!

2011-01-04T04:59:00.000-08:00

It's January....again!!! Usually this month leaves me quaking in my Christmas Pjs... another year of possibilities and probabilities, it can be pretty daunting. Not this year however!!!! I can feel it in my bones, this year is going to fantastic!!!! I just woke up on Saturday morning and knew it instantly..pretty cool hey! Okay, before you think I've lost the plot, I'll quickly mention that I haven't! I'm just feeling incredibly positive and slightly over ambitious for the coming year, but sure if you haven't got ambition, what have you got?

Until now I've been floating along doing different exhibitions, creating artwork here, there and everywhere and generally just enjoying keeping my crafty hands busy. Which is all great, don't get me wrong. This year however, I am aiming to establish my design label and create a well rounded business doing what I love most. If I don't give it a go now January will continue to knock upon my unassuming door and I will be upstairs cowering under my bed, regretful of the chances I did not take and opportunities I did not chase.
So...

hello January, my new ally, I think you and I are going to get along just fine!!

Happy New Year everyone xxx

London Design Festival

2010-08-02T11:53:00.001-07:00

I have just completed my project for London Design Festival, in association with the Mint Shop, South Kensington, London. The idea for their festival show was created by Lina Kanafani, the shop owner. When in Denmark she salvaged 13 chairs from a disused dock which she brought back to London with her! She approached 13 different designers to put their mark on the assigned chair... I have attached some pictures of my chair.
The show opens on the 23rd of September in the Mint shop.

Tectonic plates(where art and industry collide)

2010-06-03T10:02:00.001-07:00

So the New English team are back from their overseas tour of the show. Much to my dismay I didn't make it over but have been told it was very well received by the New Yorkers! Here are some pics of the show..
( If you look very closely you can see my stitched plate of Bella in the center of the circle.)

The show continues this weekend at Pulse, Earls Court, London.

Congratulations to Paul and all at The New English on creating such a fabulous show!

Mr X Stitch

2010-05-23T03:48:00.000-07:00

I met Jamie, the dynamic stitching blogger at this years knitting and stitch show in London. Anyone that has an interest in unconventional stitching should definitely check out his blog, you are sure to find some nice treats! Here's a little piece he has added about my girls http://www.craftster.org/blog/?p=7890
Thanks for the mention Jamie!

Diverse Talents

2010-05-23T03:31:00.000-07:00

I am taking part in a collaborative exhibition this month with the Workhouse studios. The show will bring together designer makers from a range of different backgrounds. showcasing jewelry, ceramics, glass and textiles. The show opens on may 30th and runs until June 25th..be sure to pop in if you're around the Wicklow area.

...and here's a sneaky peek of some of the work I will have on show

The New English: Tectonic plates exhibition

2010-03-29T04:13:00.001-07:00

If anyone is close to stoke on trent be sure to check out the New English gallery to check out their tectonic plates exhbition.

"Featuring the work of 100 creators on 200 plates, the exhibiton demonstartes the power of rethinking ceramics by bringing art and industry together in new and exciting ways."

After Stoke-On-Trent the exhibiton continues in New York... a very strange jump!

it's been too long....

2010-03-10T07:45:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I dropped a line here, I am a terrible blogger!!

I am writing this from Wales...I've popped over to college for a few days to see all the fabulous happenings of my friends as they prepare for their final show. I remember the anxiety and uncertainty of this time last year..how you're so sick of looking at your own work and how you begin to doubt everything you once believed in in September! I have done my best to chat to everyone, reassuring them of their brilliance (there really is some great stuff happening here in the college)...but I still feel so sorry for all the guys as they struggle on to jump the last hurdle.

Anywho, things are goin very well on my side. Have been working on comissions, as varied as stitching pictures of peoples grandchildren, designing wedding invitaions and rebranding a restaurant! I have had some lovely mentions on various blogs and in magazines, to all I am so greatful.

A particular thanks to Cat Glover from Hanatsubaki high fashion magazine in Japan, and Katie Dominy at UK based arts thread mag for mentions in their rescent publications.

I had some amazing news on monday, I've been selected for the One year on show at new designers this summer. I am absolutely amazed and still cannot quite believe it.

New designers was the foundation of everything that I have done since leaving college, the chance to show there again this year as a practising designer in their first year of business is so exciting...I am going to work my ass off for the new few months to put on the best show there possible!!

The girls and my ceramics are still residing in the fabulous golly gosh boutique in waterford. The guys there are doing very well and it is most definately a boutique Waterford was in serious need of, you can check out their stuff at http://www.gollygoshboutique.com/

Right I must be off, I am heading out to the beach with one of my fashionable friends to try commandeer a tree for her photoshoot......the things I do!!! x

website

2009-11-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

The wesite is finished!!!! http://www.lisaconnolly.co.uk/ check it out :) X

Interview

2009-11-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, the lovely Katie from fat-quater online magazine interviewed me during the week about my stitch work. here is is....

http://www.fat-quarter.co.uk/archives/837

Knitting & Stitch show RDS Dublin

2009-11-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Last week saw the arrival of the knitting and stitch show to the RDS, Dublin. I was really excited for this show as it was my first in Ireland. In all, it was much quieter than London, however this wasn't so bad as I got to catch up on some reading!(If you haven't read the Kite Runner yet you should, it's amazing.) Anyway, I had some great feedback which was good and have had some comissions to stitch pictures of a few grand children so I'm looking forward to that. Also got to meet up with some more lovely graduates from Galway that were exhibing there which was nice. The biggest surprise of the week was the arrival of Ms Suzi Park who I could not believe was standing before me (Suzi was my stitch teacher in Wales and traveled all the way over for a quick hello, she is a bloomin' amazing lady!!!) Anyway, I will leave you enjoy some pictures of my work, and the other other lovely ladies I was exhibiting with.

Here are the Lovely Emma Doyle and Jacqueline O'Neil

..and the equally lovely Vivienne, Kate, Kirsty and Abegail

This amazing work belongs to Miss Orla O'Brien. I fell in love with her stuff at New Designers and again when I participated in the Mint Escapes exhibition with her earlier on this year. She makes adorable dolls and stitches pictures of them too. This was the first time we met and she is absolutely lovely. We are now talking about having an exhibition together..and then take over the world perhaps?!

and that would be me. Thanks you and good night X

Knitting and stitch show 2009

2009-10-15T01:57:00.000-07:00

So I am just home from the madness that was the knitting and stitch show in Alexandra's Palace London. Firstly, Alexandra's palace..is actually, a palace!!! Amazing building! Secondly, my God!!! The ammount of people that attended the show over the four days was just colossal. It was great to talk to such a variety of people, from the very young to the very old! Got some really interesting ideas and great feedback from everyone so it was a very positive experience altogether! The show stops off in the RDS Dublin next, I would advise anyone and everyone to go, it's definately worth a look.

Anyway, here are some of my new stitched girls...

and here are some of the seriously cool faces in the crowd!...

Mint Escapes 2009

2009-09-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Is anyone around London next week? If so come see me and some other lovely people at the Mint Escapes show in conjunction with London Design Festival.

There's some great stuff on show, check it out on their blog http://mintshop.wordpress.com/

I will have five images on show, each one representing one of the Little Women from Louisa May Alcott's infamous tale.

New Designers 2009

2009-07-23T09:04:00.001-07:00

The class of 2009 at New Designers, London. 2009

So I'm back and have finaly recovered from a hectic 2 weeks in London (including New Designers). The show went really well. The graduate work was unbelievable- everyone was so different and equally amazing, it was both ispiring and terrifying!!! The were lots of people around also and it was great to hear such good feedback from the public, students and people workinf in the industry. I sold some work and have had some offers for other exhibitons. I was also selected, amoungst 26 other graduates from New Designers, to show our work at the Kintting and Stitch show in October which will be on in London and Dublin, very excited about that.

We had a really big stand this year which was great Because we got to hang so much of our original work...

and here's my work on display...

would you eat your dinner off these??!

2009-06-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

Had a lovely mention today from Erin on the fabulous http://design-milk.com/ If you haven't seen this site before it's deinately worth checking out, you're sure to find some amazing art/architecture/design work you've never seen, or even even thought possible before now

Lis x

They've given me a degree!!

2009-06-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

So I just got home to lovely irish land yesterday and am now the proud owner of a BA 1st class hons Textiles degree. Home for two weeks then over to London for New designers. The show runs from the 6th of July until the 11th so if you are about London town do come for a look at all the amazing things on show. I've started work on the website so it should be up and running soon.

and so here are some more images for you...

Lis x

The show is up and atom!!

2009-06-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

So the college show is now running into its second week. The work on display is AMAZING and, although I am very bias, I do believe it's one of the best years yet. The opening night was last Friday where everyone's tough year of work was awarded with a celebration of live music and cheap wine, lots of fun was had by all!! Here's some photos of my installation, the pictures don't really do it justice as it was impossible to photograph it in the round due to the enclosed nature of the space (7 boards each one 7ft x 4ft creating an enclosed hexagonal installation.) Anyways it will give you an idea, talk soon, lis x

...and to end, here is a family photo of my three best buds and me (the ginger!)

happy days :)

2009-06-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

I had some really good news today, I was awarded a Laura Ashley sponsored bursary of £3000 towards setting up my business. I am both surprised and elated!! It's fantastic because now it means I can buy the vital screen printing equipment to continue making work, I can also finally afford to set up a good website! Watch this space because I am in for a busy year!!

...also, here's a look at me featured on the cover of Damien O'Reillys magazine 'Pinback.' It's a free zine that can be found in shops in Cardiff and Dublin. Damo is a graphic designer and his work is most definately worth a look, check him out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/damienoreilly/

New stitch work

2009-05-31T06:37:00.000-07:00

three pears short of a lemon tree

2009-05-28T05:12:00.000-07:00

Until I get my website up and running I am stitching my roots here in this blog! I'll begin by telling you a bit about myself... I am an illustrator/textiles artist studying Contemporary Textiles in WWSOTA (west wales school of the arts). Originally I am from Ireland, I moved over here 3years ago to frolic with the baby lambs down in the valleys...and to do my degree! I began studying fashion, I've always been a huge follower of the area; especially the styling and photographic side. However once I started studying it, my passion almost completely disappeared in a frenzy of mis-cut patterns and badly sewn hems....pattern cutting was definately NOT for me!!

One thing I did take from the two years in fashion however was illustration and for that introduction I am so greatful. Because of my disaterous dressmaking skills I decided I would concentrate on illustration full time and so I upped and moved to the textiles department in college (a much happier land!!) I just made the move this year (my final year) and so i had a lot to catch up on. I decided because of the time factor, I would concentrate on developing my screen printing and stitching techniques, assets I thought would give my illustrations a quirky twist amoung the mass of digital work being produced at present.

The past year has been brilliant, sometimes horrible and stressful, dismal too..those days were pretty bad. But now that it's all done those days are forgotten. The college show opens next Monday (the 5th of June)...hopefully this is where all the hard work pays off.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog, I hope it's somewhere you'll enjoy returning to in the future to look at some pretty pictures and read my random ramblings :)

before you go, heres a wee look at what I do/did

(art students actually do things sometimes you know!)

This is a stitched picture... a lot of people say it looks like Lilly Allen. I don't think she'd be too impressed if she heard that!

..another stitched picture. My friend is actually using this for the next issue of his art and design magazine 'Pinback.'

These are some of my t-shirts from my final collection. All tshirts are hand printed (using silk screen printing) and hand embellished by moi

and here are some of my ceramics..

I will post some pictures of the exhibition soon, lis :) x