CALL FOR APPRENTICES!

Craft Master returns on RTÉ for it’s Second series and is looking for individuals to feature on the show, who have foundation skills in the following craft disciplines:

Millinery, Jewellery, Knitting, Basketry, Furniture

This is an excellent opportunity for those who want to bring their competence to the next level through a residential master class with a top maker in their chosen craft.  Big Mountain Productions, in association with the Crafts Council of Ireland, has begun production on Craft Master, the BAI co-funded series for RTÉ and presented by Sonya Lennon.

The closing date for applications is the 6^th of June 2012. 

THE SELECTED AMATEUR APPRENTICES will compete on the show to win a free stand at Showcase – Ireland’s Creative Expo run by the Crafts Council of Ireland, which is Ireland’s largest international trade fair.

Contact details for members of the public. Call:  048 3083 4046

Email: craftmaster@bigmountainproductions.com

To apply online:

www.rte.ie/tv/audienceparticipation

Klaus Hartmann works from his pottery in rural Kilkenny. He designs and creates a wide range of functional and decorative stoneware and some garden ceramics including coronets, bird feeders and plant labels. His hand thrown table and gift ware is made using various glazes, decorating and firing techniques.

Where: Baurnafea, Castlewarren, Co. Kilkenny
Phone: 059 9726947
email: heikeklaus@eircom.net
Open: By appointment:

We asked Friederike Grace of Spirit Jewellery to answer a few questions…

1.  What is on your agenda right now?

 Juggling!   Keeping all balls in the air, I started making small, silver figurines last year for Arts week and only now have I had the time to refine them; give them new life by creating different sizes and postures. They are meant to be your guardian, action man and fairy godmother …etc.   

Also, currently working on an installation for the Eigse festival in the Visual Arts, Carlow.

 2.  What do you love most about what you create?

 Creating new beautiful jewellery is magic; shapes flowing into reality, sacred geometry in connection with gemstones. All colours set in precious metal. Some times I find it hard to sell a piece because the gemstone is so unique but I actually love when somebody loves it as much as I do. It makes it so worthwhile to see a happy customer.

3.  Three words to describe your work:

 Swirly, sensual, spiritual

4.  Who or what influences your work?

 My family is an endless well of inspiration, also my friends, a walk in nature or a meditation all bring new ideas, sometimes I have trouble to decide what to do first.

I love playing with shapes and colours; often the gemstone dictates the shape in how to show of its beauty best. Other times I swear I have a little helper telling me how to shape the gold, finding form intuitively.

5.  Money is no object what would be your wish list purchase?

 A long holiday to a sunny place, or, more practically, I would buy a draw bench, to make strong wire and tube.  I don’t need it that often but I would buy specific material for it.  I love doing everything myself in the way I want it.

Precious metals are shaped cold and then annealed (heated) after working with them to make them soft again, so it is quiet hard to make round wire over 3mm in diameter by hand. (At the moment I ask my husband for help.)

6.  What music is playing in your workshop?

 If I am doing repetitive work or, am very sure of the design, I love to listen to books on CD.  It’s a great way of doing two things at the same time and I also like the Buena Vista social club and classical music. A lot of the time, I quite enjoy the peace and tranquillity of my workshop and listen to the pure silence.  It is like a working meditation, the materials get a chance to tell me what to do.

 7.  Describe the highlights of your career so far.

 To be still in business, to have fun and excitement every day I go to work.

Creating something with my own hands. They are my daily highlights and they mean a lot to me.

8.  Use 3 words to describe you?

Uhh honestly… I go for fun loving, creative, committed

Friederike’s ‘Guardians’ range is available at Goods, High St, Kilkenny.

We asked potter Karen Morgan to answer a few questions.

1. What is on you’re agenda right now.

Right now I’ve been working up to the Made in Kilkenny@Goods launch and its looking great and the launch went fantastic.We will open now for the next 6 months on the first floor messanine of Goods Department High St, Kilkenny. Then my next big thing will hopefully be attending‘Bloom’ in the Phoneix Park for the June Bank Holiday weekend. I love this fair ,the smell of the flowers , its so colourful and it’s a real treat to be out enjoying the sun while showing off your products. Lets hope the sun shines all day everyday!

2. What do you love most about what you create.

I love that its totally original, that its creation begins as an interesting thought in my mind into something that’s tangible and beautiful just by what I have done with my little hands! I under estimate it most of the time but it really is quiet amazing and not everyone can do what I do ,so its special.

3. Use three words to describe your work.

Simple, Contemporary ,Beautiful.

4. Who or what influences you’re work.

Umm. I always find that a hard one. I tend to not look towards trends or other artists work as I like to challage myself to not create what is there already but make new. I like the simplicity of things in nature that everything works perfectly in harmony, the idea that less is more and you don’t need to over complicate aesthetics or need too many things for different functions. I just love clever design and and that ‘ah ha that’s just so simple but works so well’ kind of feeling! If I could make one object that could function for many things that would be my moment of glory!

5. Money is no object what would be your wish list purchase.

If money is no object than I would buy 2 extra days in the week so I could have more time off to smell the roses and relax.

6. What music is playing in your workshop.

Right now some guy singing opera. I’m not a classical music buff ,but I know its relaxing. I normally used to listen to other day time radio shows but now maybe its getting older? I find it so repetative and talk shows and the news just depress me and make me angry. I feel like people are shouting at me when I listen to those!So Lyric fm is the best option for me and its educating me at the same time about the music. CD’s just get covered in clay so that’s not a good option!

7. Describe the highlight of your career so far.

The highlight so far has been getting to eat at the famous members only Playboy Club London last year.Where the Executive Chef Judy Joo(Who had comissioned me to create the serving ware for the restaurant ) cooked an amazing dinner for me and my partner. We had VIP treatment!It was a really special treat to see how the other half eat!And Judy really loved my work and made me feel so valued as an artist. No I didn’t meet any famous diners or make any porcelain bunnies(yet) there has been talk of napkin holders

!I have had a lot of wonderful things that I am proud of that are big highlights for me but this was most recent and fun and different!

8. Use three words to describe you.

Shy but Strong and Creative.

MADE IN KILKENNY POPS UP @ GOODS

With the success of our Christmas and Arts Festival pop up shops we are now going to be available in GOODS of Kilkenny.

This new, innovative and exciting retail outlet is a six month pilot business venture in collaboration with GOODS and will retail an extensive range of handmade quality craft products from MADE in Kilkenny members.

The Launch is this Friday 30th March between 6.00 – 8.00pm so please do come and join us and view all that is on offer.

As an extra bonus to celebrate we are offering 20% off all products this Friday 30th and Saturday 31st.
Open Hours are Monday-Saturday 9.30am-6pm.

Karen Morgan creates and designs a unique range of elegantly crafted table and decorative ware in Porcelain. Her award winning designs make an ideal gift for any occasion. The subtle folds and curves of her minimal forms and colour pallet of sea blues, greens and white will sit comfortable in any interior and are a joy to use. Karen invites you to see her crate the work in her new studio and beautiful gift shop in Market St, Thomastown.

Where: Market St, Thomastown

Phone:086 1663691

email: karenmorganporcelaingmail.com

Web:www.karenmorganceramics.com

MADE POPS UP FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Yes we will be opening this weekend on Rose Inn Street just beside the Tourist Office. The doors open at 10am until 6pm this Saturday 26th November and 12pm-6pm on Sundays.

There is a wide selection from half our members and plenty of hand crafted gift ideas for Christmas.We will keep you posted with gifts made especially for the festive season.

Invitation to Christmas event: 6pm-8pm Thursday 8th December

COMPETITION TIME
Plus enter our competition here to win a Christmas Craft Hamper, celebrating Year of Craft 2011.

This weekend sees another Savour experience coming to Kilkenny with various        cookery demonstrations and a huge assortment of stalls selling their delectable  delights. Made in Kilkenny is also participating. There will be a display of work from  some of the makers in The Pembroke Hotel on Patrick street.

Donal Skehan will be doing a demo in The Set starting at 11.00am. He will be using    pieces from some of the makers so it will be a perfect opportunity to see how    functional handmade crafts are.

Frederike, trained in Germany, Works from her studio in Burnchurch/Co. Kilkenny, the idyllic country setting inspires her work. She manifests organic and geometric shapes into reality. Frederike loves working with precious metals, adding a splash of colour be incorporating Gemstones and Diamonds that catch the light and underline your beauty and uniqueness.

Where: Burnchurch, Co. Kilkenny

Phone: 056 7729221

Mobile: 086 3012819

Email: fgrace8@gmail.com

Web: www.spiritjewellery.ie

Opening Hours: By appointment

For those of you who may have missed Rudolf Heltzel on Nationwide on RTE1 on Friday 2nd September you can catch it on RTE Player or click HERE.