THE FIBRE OF OUR BEING
Dlúth agus Inneach na Beatha
The Fibre of our Being is a series of events exploring contemporary textiles which draw on tradition to reinvigorate their process. It will encompass an exhibition of the same title displaying a wide variety of contemporary Irish Textiles, as well as two full weekends of events and workshops that will allow people to learn techniques in dyeing and crafting with textiles. The highlight will be a day with talks and displays about the source of our fibres and Irish wool production, with displays from small businesses looking to find new ways to use sustainably our indigenous materials. We will finish with an alternative fashion show in the lively cultural hub of Levis Bar in Ballydehob !
These events are run by Kilcoe Studios.
This is all generously supported by Creative Ireland, Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht and Cork county Council.
EXHIBITION – The Fibre of our Being
The Exhibition will open on July 15th and will run from Tuesday to Saturday each week until September 9th.
The Fibre of our Being exhibition will include work by over 15 different crafts people and artists from all over Ireland who use traditional textile methods such as knitting, hand weaving, lace, patchwork, natural dying and felting and adapted them to contemporary practices.
The exhibition will also have an area where you can read up on the production of different textiles and see samples of a range of different fabrics and learn about business using Irish fibres.
Curated by Anna Crudge
Kilcoe Studios, Ballydehob, P81X009 Opens July 15th until September 9th / Tuesday to Saturday / 10am – 5 pm
Free
WEEKEND 1 – AUGUST 12th – 14th WORKSHOPS
SATURDAY 12th
In conjunction with the Ellen Hutchins festival
PLANT FIBRES and their use in craft in the past and today – A Talk with some hands on practical work.
BOOKING – Tickets – €15 Please book by mailing events@kilcoestudios.com with subject Plant fibres or text 0870667871 and state if you wish also to attend the talk at 4 pm.
In this workshop Sonia Caldwell will bring and display a wide range of baskets, matting, paper and other crafts made only using materials from the local environment. She will discuss and demonstrate the uses and there will be some hands on rope making and braiding near the end.
4pm exhibition talk free talk about the work in the ‘Fibre of our being’ exhibition and textile production on display. 5.30 – 7pm Kilcoe Studios, Ballydehob, P81X009
SUNDAY 13th
FAMILY TEXTILE CRAFTING DAY- SPINNING, DYEING AND FIBRE WORK
Workshops in Dyeing with Ashleigh Ellis, and some interactive family friendly events of nettle fibres and weaving.
COMMUNITY INDIGO VAT
Come by and dye a small item of clothing to a beautiful deep indigo with Ashleigh Ellis
A fun workshop to refresh cotton and linen textiles into vibrant blues in an organic indigo dye vat. There will be cotton fabric to experiment with and learn some traditional Japanese shibori techniques (similar to tie-dye) you are also invited to bring an old or secondhand textile of your own to give it new life. Washed textiles only and must be 100% cotton, linen, wool or silk and no larger than a tea towel or t- shirt.
11 am – 2 pm Outside Ballydehob Community Hall
BOOKING – Each slot will last approximately 1 hour – ticket cost is €20 Book by emailingevents@kilcoestudios.com with subject ‘Indigo’ or text 087 0667871. Please state your time preference – 11 am / 12 pm / 1 pm
Children will be welcome to also attend with a ticketed Adult once supervised and onlookers are welcome to view.
SUNDAY 13TH AUGUST
REUSE, REWORK AND RELOVE your clothing with Alice Halliday
A practical, hands on workshop repurposing vintage textiles and fabric remnants. Alice will show you some simple and effective methods of upcycling, mending and embellishing.Make sure to bring along a piece of old clothing (or two) that you wish to revamp!
12.30- 3pm Kilcoe Studios, Ballydehob, P81X009
BOOKING – Tickets €20 Please book for this workshop by mailing events@kilcoestudios.com with ‘Reuse’ in the subject or text 087 066787
FRINGE EVENTS AT COMMUNITY HALL – suitable for children and families.
11am – 3 pm
-Nettle Fibre making – twist your own nettle twine bracelet
-Weaving on an open loom
-Know you Fabrics – test you knowledge of different fabric types
GROWING NATURAL DYE PLANTS with Ashleigh Ellis
A talk on growing a range of natural dye plants (traditional and experimental), their unique qualities and an overview on how to use them. This talk will showcase the wide and vibrant range of colours that can be made, on textiles and as artist inks and pigments. We will also touch on some folklore and medicinal uses. A Q&A will be part of the talk and an opportunity to try some inks.
4 – 5 PM Kilcoe Studios, Ballydehob, P81X009
BOOKING – Tickets € 15 Please book for this talk by mailing events@kilcoestudios.com with ‘Dye talk’ in the subject or text 0870667871
MONDAY 14TH
PATCHWORK with Tamsin Blackbourn
English Paper Piecing Patchwork Workshop
Spend the day engaged in the craft of English Paper Piecing Patchwork where your hands will join shapes in colourful printed cotton fabrics to create a patchwork mat. Historically, patchwork was a way to utilise small remnants of fabric that otherwise would go to waste and create something useful, such as a bed covering. The focus here is on the mindful practice of hand work, using sewing skills to make a patchwork mat, but later you could incorporate the piece into a larger project, such as a bed quilt, a cushion, a bag. However, the emphasis of this workshop is to engage the eye and the hand and lose yourself in the rhythmic, meditative practices of hand sewing. It is about being in the present moment and enjoying the making. The intention is to focus on the process of making, rather than being concerned with a completed project.
10 am – 4 pm { with break for lunch } Kilcoe Studios, Ballydehob, P81X009
BOOKING – Please book for this workshop by mailing events@kilcoestudios.com with ‘Patchwork’ in the subject or text 087 0667871 Tickets € 45
WEEKEND 2 – AUGUST 26th – 28th
In conjunction with Fibreshed Ireland and Levis Corner House
SATURDAY 26th
EXHIBITION TALK with Fibreshed participants followed by
SOCIAL EVENING to meet and talk to members of Fibreshed Ireland
6pm – 8 pm Kilcoe Studios, Ballydehob, P81X009 Free – no need to book
SUNDAY 27th
FIBRESHED IRELAND DAY OF TALKS, INTERACTIVE EVENTSAND FASHION SHOW
Fibreshed Ireland is the Irish affiliate of a global organisation looking to reinvigorate local textile production. It is a membership based organisation that is a supportive network working towards a regenerative fibre system based on local fibre, local dyes and local labour.
TALK ABOUT FIBRESHED IRELAND by founding members Malú Colorín and Liadain Aiken
This will be a talk about the aims of Fibreshed Ireland their recent work.
1pm – 2 pm
Outback of Levis Corner House Ballydehob
BOOKING –Please book at events@kilcoestudios with subject ‘Fibreshed’ or text 0870667871
Donations at the door will go towards the event and Fibreshed Ireland
TALK ABOUT OUR IRISH WOOL – Sheep Breeds, Processing, History and todays need to bring back it’s value by Fibreshed Ireland member Kit Keawwantha and other panel guests.
2.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Outback of Levis Corner House Ballydehob
BOOKING – Please book at events@kilcoestudios with subject ‘Fibreshed’ or text 0870667871
Donations at the door will go towards the event and Fibreshed Ireland.
SUNDAYS FRINGE EVENTS
The Exhibition ‘The Fibre of our Being’ will be open on Sunday from 11 – 5 pm at Kilcoe Studios Ballydehob
Levis Corner House – 2pm – 5.00pm
Weaving
Know your Fabrics – test your knowledge of different Fabrics
Basic sewing techniques and how to sew on a button
Display tables of fibre producers and Fibreshed Ireland
Carding and Spinning Wool Demos
Fibreshed Market Stall
No booking required to drop by – Donations will be taken for some of the hands on crafting .
THE FIBRE OF OUR BEING FASHION SHOW
We couldn’t resist … with all this talk of fibre, textiles and locally made sustainable clothing we had to just show it all off to celebrate that there is just a great amount of people making textile work to wear as well as household items .
The fashion show will feature sustainable and up cycled clothing by Re – cut and Alice Halliday, as well as those who are working with wool from Irish sheep including Conor O Brien, Yarn Vibes, Liadan Aiken and those that follow age old skills in dressmaking like Tamsin Blackbourn. This will be a very alternative fashion show with music and fun and a chance to chat to the makers after the event.
6.30 pm Levis Corner House Outback Ballydehob
BOOKING – Please book at events@kilcoestudios with subject ‘Fibreshed’ or text 0870667871 Donations at the door will go towards the event and Fibreshed Ireland
MONDAY 28th
NATURAL DYE WOOL KERCHEIF workshop with Malú Colorín and Liadain Aiken – SOLD OUT
Natural Dye expert Malú Colorín of Talú will team up with local knitwear designer Liadain Aiken to host a natural dye and knit workshop. Liadain will supply pre-knit 100% merino lambs wool kerchiefs (small neck scarves) to be tie dyed with Malú’s natural dyes. The day will start with an opening talk to introduce our work and to explain what kind of dye techniques we can use on the kerchiefs. Liadain will demonstrate how to knit a kerchief on her hand-driven knitting machines, each person will get to experience the process of casting on, knitting and casting off. Malú will show us how to mordant the kerchiefs and then we will prepare and dye our pieces. Each participant will go home with their beautiful and unique hand-dyed kerchief. There will be a 30 minute lunch break.
Monday 10.30am – 3pm
Levis Corner House Outback Ballydehob
BOOKING – Cost – €45. Book via Fibreshed Ireland – www.fibreshedireland.ie
link – https://fibreshedireland.ie/event/natural-dye-wool-kerchief-workshop/
CLOSING EVENT
Fibre of our Being Exhibition finishes on September 9th
SUNDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER
TALK AND DISCUSSION – CORK LINEN AND FLAX – Its Social History
Linen and Flax growing was once a booming business all over Cork and in many other parts of Ireland.
Although most of it happened before living memory there are still remnants of it’s past in the memories of relatives and memorabilia.
On Sunday 10th September Eco Artist Kathy Kirwan will host a gathering of people to share and discuss stories about flax and also discuss any potential for how it may be renewed as part of a sustainable textile industry in Ireland.
If you have a memory or story to share but you cannot attend please do send it to us by mail or email – see contacts below.
She will also demonstrate some flax processing with flax grown this year in Cecas.
Afternoon Tea will be provided.
Kilcoe Studios, Ballydehob, P81X009
2pm – 5pm
BOOKING – Please book at events@kilcoestudios with subject ‘Flax’ or text 0870667871
Suggested contributions of €10 to the event will be taken on the day
