A day of transitions. Still recapping my March Ireland trip. On day 5 I went from Lucan Co. Dublin to Thurles Co. Tipperary to Ennis Co. Clare to Ballyvaughan Co. Clare. From East to West. There were kitchen talks, old friend visits, rhubarb tart, church noticing, memories visited, and then a sinking into my favorite… Continue reading East to West
Category: textiles
Ciaran & Little Bud
Oh my heart! Driving up the long winding driveway to the sight of daffodils, and lambs everywhere frolicking to keep up with their mothers on dewy grass sounds so very sweet but I assure you it's a real scene I witnessed and experienced. It was a Sunday morning and Ciaran was hard at work trying… Continue reading Ciaran & Little Bud
St. Patrick’s Day in Lucan
My first! Experiencing this very well celebrated holiday in its mother country through the eyes of children, was a treasure in itself. Seeing the Irish pride first hand.... I loved it so much. It just made me want to live in Ireland all the more. Lucan Village Parade
Friends Old and New; Cavan and Comber
Long before planning my 44Clovers Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour, I was planning my Irish Birthday Trip. And it included sourcing Irish wool of course! I found Sandra Coote of Crafts of Ireland2 online and saw that she raises Roscommon sheep- a thought to be extinct wool breed. After shooting off a very excited email,… Continue reading Friends Old and New; Cavan and Comber
Ireland; My Holy Well
I have never quite understood or appreciated Ireland’s holy wells. I had seen many watering holes in all shapes and counties along my 25 years of Irish travel. But it wasn’t until I heard these two podcast episodes: A Celtic Spring and The Holy Wells of Ireland that the idea of holy wells, St. Brigid’s… Continue reading Ireland; My Holy Well
Irish Tour Day 1; 100,000 Welcomes
What started as little seed of a thought in my tent August 2022, has blossomed into the reality of this journey. While teaching at the week long Medomak FiberArts Retreat the summer of 2022, in the evening I would unwind by reading Irish Aran: History, Tradition, Fashion by: Vawn Corrigan. I became increasingly interested in… Continue reading Irish Tour Day 1; 100,000 Welcomes
The making of Day 2, Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour October 2024; Lisa Sisk, Crafts of Ireland, and Cabra Castle
It's Day 2 of our Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour and we've just enjoyed our first Irish Breakfast of the trip. You know what my favorite part of an Irish breakfast is? The marmalade. And a bit of tomato with the egg. And at least 2 cups of sweet milk tea with the toast. I… Continue reading The making of Day 2, Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour October 2024; Lisa Sisk, Crafts of Ireland, and Cabra Castle
The Making of Day 3; Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour October 2024; Carrickmacross Lace, The Shed Distillery Gin Tasting
My love of Irish lace making knows no bounds. In 2013 while on honeymoon, we looked up and down the whole of the country trying to find non-synthetic lace curtains. I knew so little then about lace that I know now. How people must have laughed at me. Even after returning home, I became a… Continue reading The Making of Day 3; Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour October 2024; Carrickmacross Lace, The Shed Distillery Gin Tasting
The Making of Day 4; Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour October 2024; Studio Donegal, Knitting with Edel McBride, & Exploring Donegal Town
The first time I ventured to Donegal was on my honeymoon. We were doing specially for Studio Donegal. We both wanted to see authentic Irish tweed and how it was made. Along the way, we were entertained by the sheer number of Scottish Black face sheep we witnessed grazing the hill sides so close to… Continue reading The Making of Day 4; Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour October 2024; Studio Donegal, Knitting with Edel McBride, & Exploring Donegal Town
The Making of Day 5; Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour; Belleek Pottery, Galway Wool Co-op, Galway City
At some point during the planning of our itinerary, I got the idea to some how obtain a Galway wool fleece or Galway wool yarn for the workshop that I will teach at the end of this tour. I did a quick search and found the Galway Wool Co-op. With a few messages back and… Continue reading The Making of Day 5; Dyeing to Knit Ireland Tour; Belleek Pottery, Galway Wool Co-op, Galway City