RDS National Craft Awards - changes for 2015

The RDS National Craft Awards rewards and showcases excellence in Irish Craft. Last year a major independent evaluation of these awards was undertaken by consultant Marie Brennan and as a result there will be a number of changes implemented in 2015.

The RDS National Craft Awards has two components; a competition and an exhibition. Open to a wide variety of craft disciplines, the competition provides an open platform for Irish craftspeople to have their work assessed by a professional judging panel of Irish and international craft experts. The prize-winning and a number of high quality entries are chosen for exhibition at the RDS during the Dublin Horse Show. The opening night of the exhibition sees annual prizes awarded to the most outstanding works of that year. The prize-winners are also displayed at the National Craft and Design Fair in December.

The independent evaluation reviewed the entire awards process and its recommendations will be implemented in 2015. The RDS National Craft Awards will now be a two stream competition where the work of emerging and established makers will be judged separately. To be eligible to enter the Emerging Maker Awards entrants must be able to show that they are either:

• Students studying craft in third level institutions

        or

• Have within the last five years set up a craft business.

       or

• Those who are new to a craft discipline within the last five years, either studying via an apprenticeship or life-long learners on an informal course.

All other entrants whether professional or amateur must enter the Established Maker strand of the Awards. An Award of Excellence of €5000 will be awarded in both the Emerging and Established Maker strands.

 

The evaluation also recommended that categories be reduced from twenty to thirteen, which are as follows:

 

1.      Constructed Textiles (woven, knitted, crocheted, felted textiles and lace)

2.      Embellished Textiles (embroidery, patchwork, quilting, batik, printed textiles)

3.      Basketry

4.      Jewellery & Silversmithing

5.      Metalwork

6.      Furniture

7.      Carving

8.      Leatherwork

9.      Musical Instruments

10.  Ceramics

11.  Glass

12.  Paper and Calligraphy

13.  Woodturning

Other changes include:

·         An extension for online entries into June

·         A restriction to one entry per person

·         A removal of the first round of judging to create a fully open competition where all entries will be examined by the judging panel.

 

Changes in RDS structures (we now have a Communications Manager and Director) mean that there is now greater ability to help with promoting RDS Foundation activities; meaning a stronger emphasis on media coverage in the future for both the competition and exhibition.

 

We believe that these changes will help to create a fairer, clearer, open and more streamlined competition and exhibition with a higher profile and a clear set of objectives in line with the RDS Arts goal which is: to provide a platform that supports the transition from student to emerging artist; encouraging the pursuit of a career in visual art, craft or music.

 

The call for online entries for the 2015 RDS National Craft Awards will be launched in March 2015. Please keep an eye on our website www.rds.ie/craft and social media pages for more information and to access the online application form from mid-March.

Party Night

A sneak preview of prizes for our IPS party Friday night and for those of you who are enjoying " I'm a celebrity get me out of here " you will have an opportunity to find a star and receive and extra prize !

 
Don't forget to bring a fat quarter with you tomorrow night so you can play "FAT QUARTER BINGO"

December Christmas Meeting reminder

The Christmas meeting takes place Friday 5th December at 7.30.

Entry fee €10 (members). 

We hope to have a fun-filled social evening with gifts and food. Please remember to bring your Christmas challenge piece (Christmas stocking or wine bottle gift bag). 

We will always be playing Fat Quarter Bingo. Don't forget to bring a fat quarter with you on the night, so you can join in the fun!

Also don't forget to return your library books. 

Members are also asked to bring some food (sweet or savoury) to the part table. 

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Eastern Branch Workshops

Below is a list of up-coming classes from the Eastern Branch (Dublin). If anyone in the Mid-West branch wants to wants to come just contact the Eastern Branch workshop co-ordinators (Kirsty and Mary Canning) on their site on the eastern branch.  

Maybe you might like to make a group visit or a weekend away as they often have classes on a Saturday and following Sunday. 

A reminder from the Eastern Branch Workshops Co-ordinator

There are a number of exciting and challenging workshops taking place in the New Year. Now is the time to book to secure a place. Please see their Calendar page for more detailed information.

10th January 2015 - Alice White - Quilt As You Go

Alice is a well know member of the society and a very experienced teacher. Kirsty is taking names to go on the waiting list. Please contact Kirsty Whaley at workshops.ipseastern@gmail.com

24th January 2015 - Rosaleen Dwyer - Table Runner

Rosaleen will be giving her workshop from 1pm to 4pm (Cost €30). Rosaleen writes for the Farmers Journal. You can read about Rosaleen’s work at http://www.farmersjournal.ie/tag/Rosaleen%20Dwyer and visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rosaleendwyer Please contact Mary Canning at workshops.ipseastern@gmail.com

14th February 2015 - Terri McNeill - Stained Glass Window

We all know Terri as a much admired member and teacher in the Branch and love her stained glass windows. There are still a few places available. Please contact Kirsty Whaley at workshops.ipseastern@gmail.com

28th February 2015 - Bernadette Kelly - Scrappy Quilts

Bernadette will hold her workshop from 1pm to 4pm (Cost €30). Many of you will have seen Bernadette’s amazing Scrappy Quilts demonstrated at various meetings. You will be sorry if you miss this class! You will be shown how to use up your tiny scraps and I mean tiny lol ! Please contact Mary Canning at workshops.ipseastern@gmail.com to sign up fast.

14th March 2015 - Mary O Reilly - Curved Piecing

Mary will be giving her class from 10 pm - 4 pm (Cost €30). She is a well know member of the Branch and of the Society and her class on Curved Piecing will be both challenging and instructive conducted in Mary’s inimitable style. Please contact Kirsty Whaley at workshops.ipseastern@gmail.com to grab a place.

29th March 2015 - Barbara Weeks

We are privileged to have Barbara visiting us for two days Barbara is a Internationally acclaimed Quilter who teaches and exhibits world wide. You can read more about her at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/weeks/Weeks. Barbara will be giving a workshop following the Branch Meeting on Saturday from 1 pm - 4 pm. (Cost to be announced). Please contact Mary Canning at workshops.ipseastern@gmail.com to register for this class.

Sunday 30th March - Barbara Weeks 1-day Workshop

Barbara will hold a workshop on Mosaics from10 am to 4 pm. (Cost to be announced) You can see examples of her own mosaic work at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/weeks/Mosaics%20in%20Fabric.htm Get your name down quick as the places for this course will fly out the door. Please contact Kirsty Whaley at workshops.ipseastern@gmail.com

New Beginnings Art Exhibition

Western Branch members Ester Kiely and Colette O'Donnell are amongst a group of artists who will holding an art exhibition at Cruthu Studios, Claregalway, Co. Galway.

The exhibition runs from Sunday 23rd November to Saturday 6th December. 

Athlone Schoolhouse Quilters Exhibition

The Athlone Schoolhouse Quilters are holding a quilt exhibition to mark their 20th Anniversary. 
The exhibition opening will be on Friday 21st Nov. at 7.30pm. Venue: St. Mary's National School, Fair Green, Athlone. 

Venue also open Saturday 22nd Nov. 11-5pm.  Sunday 23rd Nov. 11-4pm. 

All welcome - admission free.

October Branch Meeting

Our October meeting at the Baptist Church was a really enjoyable one. We were as usual, updated with all the most recent and relevant information on forthcoming local, national events, matters regarding our constitution and the upcoming AGM.  

Suzanne Pass had three items to display. A beautiful multi-coloured large patchwork bag, her Halloween panel that she machined quilted and her “Do Not Touch” piece for entry at the AGM. This was of a rose she photographed while on holiday in Dingle, Co. Kerry and then transferred it to a beautiful eye-catching pink material with exact mitred corners. It was quite a talking point for many of the attendees.  We wished her well for the AGM.

Ruth Bourke is a very modest person who produces a prolific amount of excellent patch work. Her lap quilt was a beautiful multi-coloured piece of work and the quilt that she made for her Mum was just as exquisite. It was made from a “Layered Cake” bundle of floral, rustic, black and cream materials with exact and precision sewing.  However, the most striking feature was her use of a panel incorporated into the back of the quilt which she acquired from The Limerick Quilt Centre. It is aspects of quilts like these that make the rest of us open our minds to the use of such panels that we would otherwise not consider buying.  

Five cushions were displayed by Tracy Watson. Again, Tracy is a member who imparts her knowledge and her expertise in a very helpful and friendly manner. This approach helps in no small way to make our nights/meetings the enjoyable events they are.

The obvious friendship between Áine Bennis and Isabel Cagney was very apparent as they proudly displayed their wares. Áine held her beautiful animal nine patch quilt and bag aloft for all to see.  Her combination of red, cream and green materials were well chosen for the quilt and cleverly incorporated the letters of her name into some of the squares. Isabel I believe, could see her name in lights as a famous model someday as she proudly displayed her lovely pink and grey apron.

Our guest speaker.

A symphony of colour is my only way to describe the quilts that Ann O’Rafferty displayed on the night. Her work, from her very first quilt, which she displayed with slight reservation, to her beautiful Baltimore Quilt brought to my mind the book “American Quilt Classics” by Patricia Cox. A quotation from same says “A collection of quilts such as these is a personal thing, it reflects, various aspects of its collector, and among them her interests”. Ann’s collection displayed all of the above. Many of our members nation-wide, have in their possession wonderful collections of quilts, which hopefully will be documented in the on-going archival procedure now taking place. The Midwestern Branch were very impressed with Ann’s overall presentation and would encourage other branches to avail of her as a guest speaker as she held us spell-bound throughout the night.

“Seams Sew Simple” was our shop on the night. The committee would like to thank Lynn for a wonderful assortment of materials and patchwork accessories to help our members with their projects.

ANN O’RAFERTY’S HAND APPLIQUE WORKSHOP   SUNDAY 12^TH OCTOBER.

At Villiers School we appeared from the fog,

To a workshop on Applique the “old fashioned way”,

With instructions, materials and sharp scissors to boot,

We marched to the class-room our teacher to salute.

After meeting and greeting we all took our seats,

Tried not to look anxious as we shuffled our feet,

We hoped we brought everything required for the day,

Reassured by our neighbour not to worry that way.

We all know intricate applique designs,

Ann told us not to worry this piece was not so inclined,

Our pattern was transferred to freezer paper you see,

She told us to dissect it but not A, B and C.

We transferred our design to our material of choice,

And with skilful tuition she made it easy and nice,

Ann glided amongst us to guide us with ease,

Our problems sometimes unusual were solved like a breeze.

This workshop by Ann was appreciated by all

And some to applique were definitely called,

And with child-like enthusiasm we left her that day,

Our quilts and our cushions we will someday display.

Alice Quaid  P.R.O.  Mid West Branch