Although it was unfortunate that the Strandhill Show in Lisheen had to be cancelled last Saturday due to heavy rainfall the day and night before, we took advantage of that time by soaking up the creative energy that is all around the Strandhill and Knocknarea area, went down to the beach at Strandhill, had some gorgeous tea and freshly-baked cherry scones at the friendly and mellow Shells seaside cafe, and came up with some new ideas and plans for upcoming plaque and mandala designs.
When we came back home, we immediately got into working on the first of the Celtic crosses, as well as finishing up these newest mandalas:
We've also finished two new Failte ('welcome,' in Irish) plaques - one inspired by the claddagh ring motif, and embellished with multi-coloured beadwork inside the heart, which you can see, below:
and a new wall hanging that incorporates a mandala, an Impressionistic-styled Irish landscape, and beadwork, which you can see all throughout the trees, the valley and the round tower:
12 comments:
Hi June!
Wow, it clearly was a very worthy trip, even if the event didn't take place, cause you got some amazing inspiration for some great pieces there!
I'll be posting about the wedding hopefully next week, once I manage to edit some photos, cause I have such a backlog of them!
Very cool, I like all the different textures. Makes you want to touch them up close
Sorry to hear the show was canceled but it sounds like it turned out to be a fun, productive trip anyway! You created beautiful work from your inspiration!
It was a pity that show was cancelled but c'est la vie...in an Irish Summer. Love ALL the plaques. They are brilliant. Look forward to seeing them "in the flesh" soon.
Bridget x
Thanks, Jeff. I'm glad they have that effect on you - making you want to touch them, I mean. I'm the same way, and I've found so many people at the crafts fairs I sell at are that way, too - something about it having lots of textures and touchy feelie-ness about it appeals to so many people.
Slan go foill,
June
Hi Pili! Thanks for the thumbs up on the new mandalas. It's definitely true about 'every cloud having a silver lining.' In our case, they were clearly rain clouds! Strandhill and Knocknarea definitely do have that effect on me. Anywhere near the sea has that effect on me. Next time you're in Ireland, hopefully we can meet up - you'd love Strandhill.
Looking forward to those wedding photos and your next blog post. It must've been brilliant being there in Goa.
Slan go foill,
June
Hi Sharla - It was a disappointment to us, yes, but we did make the most of the time we were there, so I can't and won't complain.
Thanks for the compliments on the latest pieces. I'm especially fond of the new beaded Failte/claddagh plaques, and have finished another two of them, just in time for another outdoor festival coming up early next month.
Slan go foill,
June
Hi Bridget - Yes...a typical Irish summer. No sense or use complaining, as it can't be helped or changed. As you've written about it in your own blog, and I agree, with all that rain comes all that beautiful natural magic that is the trees, the flowers, the plants...and our famous '40 shades of green' of course.
I'm hoping that the Strandhill Show might be re-scheduled, but so far, I've not heard anything more about it, have you? If not, then there's always next year. But I hope we'll be meeting up way before then - maybe at at least a few of the upcoming Christmas fairs and winter markets, I'm hoping.
Slan go foill,
June
June, continuing to create beautiful art! I love the last one.
Hi Ana - Thanks very much for coming back for another visit, and thanks, too, for the positivity. That beaded round tower is a new thing I've just started doing. When we put it up on ebay last week, it got a bid straight away, and is now on its way to its new home in Northern Ireland.
We've got three more in the works, in that same style. I love working with these seed beads - I feel like I'm doing a sort of variation on pointilism. The next ones will be with either dolmens or castles or old ruins, in addition to the round tower theme again.
Have a lovely week and thanks again for visiting.
Slan go foill,
June
June, the colors really pop! Your website looks great. I wish I lived near Sligo so I could attend these craft fairs. Heck, I'd just love to be able to travel there. However, I do have one of your original works - a Bread plaque you carved. It didn't have any beads or paint like these gorgeous mandalas. But I treasure mine always. There are so many newbies, it's hard to decide which is my favorite. All the best with your latest endeavors. Like the coin theme as well. Have to check out that round tower :)
Judy D
Hi Judy - Lovely to have you stop by for a visit. Thanks so much for the praise and kind words about the plaques. Oh...yes...the bread plaque! I remember it well.,.just like yesterday. Carved with lots of love. Maybe one day you'll be able to travel across the pond again and we'll be able to meet up.
slan go foill,
June
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