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From this Thursday (20th June), music lovers in Belfast will have no fewer than four opportunities to experience The Lyric Theatre feeling more like a cabaret hall of 1940s Paris, courtesy of Christine Bovill. Bovill’s Edinburgh Festival smash hit Performing Piaf is a loving musical tribute to the soul-searing chansons of French singer Edith Piaf. The show arrives in the Lyric on Thursday, with an 8pm show, another at the same time on Friday and two shows on Saturday; a 3pm matinee and an 8pm performance. For those who may not know, Piaf was an iconic singer in wartime France, famous as much for her nomadic background, wild lifestyle and tragic death, as she was for her gut-wrenchingly emotional songs and superb voice. Christine, a singer-songwriter and ex-teacher from Glasgow, became fascinated by Edith Piaf whilst quite young, when she discovered the song Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. She has been singing Piaf’s songs for most of her life and Performing Piaf in its current format was brought to audiences in 2006. I was lucky enough to catch Bovill’s show at last year’s Out to Lunch festival, reviewing it for the Belfast Telegraph. The show is truly remarkable. The Scottish singer performs Piaf’s songs, chatting in between numbers about the French singer’s life and the subject matter of the songs, whilst cleverly working in details of her own story, and her relationship to the music of this famously tragic figure. She left the air crackling with emotion. I gave her five stars. “It takes a very special performer to create a show that brings you the songs of ‘The Little Sparrow’ and leads you through a potted history of the troubled chanteuse’s life whilst also making you smile. Christine Bovill is that performer.” When I was offered an exclusive interview with Christine ahead of her first ever Irish tour, I jumped at the chance. When I called on Friday evening, she was backstage getting ready for her performance in Sligo, with shows in Dublin, Galway and Letterkenny already under her belt. The response from Irish audiences has been, she says, “overwhelming”, despite admittedly not always reaching the sell-out point she is used to, which she puts down to last week’s great weather and the fact that “when money is tight, the arts suffer first”. However, the crowds have been there, and liked what they saw and heard. “That’s been the best thing about it,” Christine told me, “the response afterwards. People have come, not really knowing what to expect and they’ve been wonderful. Queuing up afterwards to buy CDs, telling us we have to come back… not letting me leave the stage!” The success of last year’s Belfast gigs was the inspiration for taking Performing Piaf around Ireland and Christine is really excited to return to Northern Ireland, to see if that electric atmosphere can be sparked once more. “It becomes a highly charged show the longer we go on touring it, with these songs that mean a lot to people, particularly No Regrets.” I ask for her thoughts on the longevity of Piaf’s appeal. Do modern audiences truly love the music, or, in this world of reality TV and soap operas, are they simply drawn to the tragic story? “Both are completely inseparable.” she says, immediately. “There are so few artists who have transcended language, time and generations the way she has. It’s the unique quality of her voice, married with a unique age of music – the quality and the purity of the songwriting.” However, Christine believes we are as drawn to the tragedy as we are to the artistry; to the “glamour of burn-out”, to those who live fast and die young. “We’re fascinated by people who live on the edge and live to excess. Look at the response to Amy Winehouse. People with considerable talent but who don’t seem to be very good at life; their talent kind of consumes them.” She poses her own question: “If Edith Piaf, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Amy Winehouse, had all suddenly become a healthy size 12, started singing about how wonderful life is: ‘my wallet’s full of £50 notes and I’m madly in love’… would we be as interested?” “If you think about your top desert island disc songs, they generally aren’t those songs that express the certainty of life – it’s the complexity of life in art that I think we are much more drawn to.” Christine’s passion for Piaf is evident, and her dedication to paying tribute so sincerely is paying off. Her multi-date show at the Edinburgh Fringe has been a sell-out for the past two years. She was invited to perform on highly-regarded BBC arts programme The Review Show last year. Undoubtedly, the highlight has been Piaf’s co-writer and songwriter Charles Dumont joining her onstage during last year’s Fringe Festival. “There’s an element to it where I think: ‘Did I…did I dream that?’ On the night we performed, it was his suggestion that we sing the song they wrote together, Les Amants, and then he took the piano and played for the crowd. “You can imagine; most people didn’t know this was going to happen! Then he began to sing and play No Regrets and I had to get onstage and sing it back to him. I thought of that wee lassie from Glasgow, 20 years ago, listening to all these songs on vinyl! He wrote my favourite Piaf song, L’Accordeoniste; in fact he wrote some 40 songs for her in the last three years of her life.” Christine has also enjoyed success in her own right, with debut album Derby Street named BBC Radio Scotland Album of the Week after its release in 2010. The Piaf show was something she did whilst still teaching; however, teaching had always been a “fallback” career choice, something she went into having studied French at degree level – a direct result of her love for French music! It wasn’t until Christine took the plunge and began writing her own material in 2005, that she found herself teaching less and less. Upon the album’s release, she left teaching for good. “You eventually have to ask ‘What do I have to say as an artist?’ I can’t keep being the girl who only sings someone else’s songs.” Christine says she will “never tire of Piaf” but does put this down to having carved out her own musical identity. “There is no greater satisfaction for me than my own songs, but the enjoyment of singing Piaf never wavers. Its wonderful.” I can only recommend this gig. Christine is engaging and funny in between songs, and that heartwrenching, Piaf vibrato is hers when she sings. The show is not entirely in French; it is sparingly sprinkled with English translation and she does such a beautiful job of sharing the story of a song, you really don’t need to have a word of French to enjoy this show. To get you in the mood, here is the Little Sparrow herself performing her two biggest hits; Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien and La Vie En Rose (NB La Vie En Rose: If you can listen to this song and watch this performance without serious goosebumps, you and I will probably never be friends. Grabs me by the throat every time…) Magnifique! A bientôt 🙂 #frenchmusic #festival #thelittlesparrow #thelyrictheatrebelfast #edinburghfestival #Edinburgh #EdithPiaf #lhymndelamour #Belfast #lyrictheatre #theblackboxbelfast #outtolunchfestival #ChristineBovill #outtolunch #theedinburghfestival #BlackBox #nonjeneregretterien #lavieenrose #belfasttelegraph #theblackbox #France

A more organised blogger would have worked in a summery or sunshiney theme to her weekly crafting post. Me? I let the sewing room go to wrack and ruin, and spent a couple of days taking pictures in the sun. Tenuous link to crafting: I did wear one of my latest clothing creations, my miniskirt, on these trips, in an unsuccessful attempt to get some colour into these blotchy, blue pins of mine. They didn’t even go pink. Now that we’re back to the mizzly, muggy ‘summer’ weather we know so well, I thought I’d share my snaps of Lisburn in the sun. Monday Makes will be back in its usual slot next week, I promise. This place I call home really does look superb with a bit of sunlight smiling on her – it brought it home to me just how much work has been done in the city to give us some impressive park space to enjoy. Click the pictures to see them full-size with captions. I walked round to Lisburn Cathedral and had a potter around the graveyard, a favourite old pastime of mine. Next, I headed to Castle Gardens, enjoyed the cooling spray from the fountain, admired the views of Lisburn from the beautifully restored castle walls and discovered Secret-Garden-esque gates and paths, and hidden corners of picturesque tranquility. Wallace Park was my next stop; another park space that’s had a fairly dramatic facelift in recent years. It looks amazing – there’s a proper, fenced-off cricket pitch with clubhouse and spectator area, an all-weather tennis court, a mind-blowingly cool kids’ playpark, an outdoor gym and a five-a-side pitch that very cleverly doubles up as a basketball court. The greens have been well-maintained and the duck pond and bandstand have been given a bit of TLC as well. I hope this post has cheered you on this miserable, rainy evening and remember – we don’t need to wait for a heatwave to enjoy the many gorgeous outdoor spaces we have in Northern Ireland. As soon as the rain stops, get out there again and enjoy this beautiful country! Let me know what you thought of this post and feel free to get in touch with your snaps of your favourite places – whether you live in Northern Ireland or not! A little walk in the park on a sunny day really invigorated me and got my creative juices flowing again. Although the weather has turned, the sunshine has stayed in my heart and I’m feeling inspired. Stay tuned for some new features coming soon 🙂 #whatdodoinLisburn #Lisburngraveyard #sewing #CastleGardens #forecast #northernirelandweather #makeyourownclothes #WallacePark #blueskies #parksinNorthernIreland #Lisburncemetery #makeaminiskirt #sunnydayphotographs #willitraintomorrow #parks #pictures #sunnyday #howtomakeaskirt #clothesmaking #outdoorspaces #Ireland #photographs #NorthernIreland #LisburnCathedral #Lisburn #weather #picturesofNorthernIreland #images #craft

Yesterday I stumbled across Household Belfast, a fascinating concept for an art festival. Image from Household Belfast’s Facebook page It’s taking place in Belfast this weekend between Friday and Sunday, with a collective of artists opening up their South Belfast homes to host exhibitions, gigs, talks, screenings, performances and tours. The launch event takes place at 5pm on Friday in Satis House, an innovative concept that really merits a blog post of its own. Located in one of Deramore Avenue’s modest Victorian terraces, it is a gallery-cum-house, with its co-founders and curators  also sharing the property as housemates. Getting back to Household Belfast, Satis House is acting as an information hub for the three-day event which wants people “to re-negotiate the way in which they view and interact with art in the city”. South / South East Belfast is my favourite residential area of Belfast and is now fairly densely populated by artists, performers and creative professionals. Even the names of the home venues conjure for me images of cool, candlelit, arty pads – Ava Avenue, Rosetta Park, South Parade… The term ‘eclectic’ is becoming a bit hackneyed, but there is no better description for Household Belfast’s programme of events. There’s The Olde Belfast Velo Jaunt cycling event and swap shop in Ormeau Park, the PLACE kids’ treasure hunt, Fraoch’s Frocks’ gorgeous night blending Irish and Japanese culture and something I was delightfully surprised by – ‘Connection’ at Ailesbury Road, an exploratory live work of artistic expression co-hosted by one of my counsellor colleagues, Rosie Burrows. I love it when the threads of your life interweave like this – perhaps it’s inevitable when those threads are woven in Northern Ireland though! Check out the full programme and details of the individual events and let me know if you go along to any of them and what you thought. #art #festival #inspired #design #music #Belfast #creative #making #artist #colour #Ireland #NorthernIreland #exhibition #performance #craft

Last Friday, artist Jolie Dennison invited me to bring a friend and take part in the launch of her new Wine, Dine and Design evenings. She hosted it at the Bigg Life Arts centre in Belfast, which is on Commercial Court, opposite the Duke of York. The idea is to show up with a bottle of vino, have a bite to eat and a bit of craic while she talks you through creating your own “masterpiece”. If your artistic skills are at a similar level to mine, you should take her use of the term “masterpiece” to be very loose. I present Exhibit A – my finished effort. She’s a great artist and an engaging teacher, but sorceress is she none. However, not only was this a fun kick-off to the weekend, but great for me as an aspiring canvas-botherer too. OK, it’s not going to win the Turner Prize any time soon, but the act of beginning, working on and actually finishing a painting was such a useful exercise. It really didn’t matter how it turned out; not only has it got me over my fear of putting paintbrush to paper, it will always serve as a reminder of a fun evening with my mate and the lovely people we met. And that’s the whole point, really. Jolie cranked up the tunes on the CD player, we cracked open our wine and helped ourselves (several times) to the delicious, freshly prepared buffet by Whoosh. (Really tasty, imaginative veggie options too – major brownie points!). We all displayed varying levels of artistic aptitude, (some paintings were pretty impressive!) but nobody cared if their creation resembled a sugar-high toddler’s finger painting (refer again to Exhibit A). We arrived at 7pm and by 10pm, we had completed our artworks, marvelled/guffawed at each other’s efforts and were preparing to head to the pub to round the night off. It was a nice, non-cringey way to meet new people and there’s great potential to diversify the concept. It could be perfect for the likes of singles nights or tweet-ups, with a shared activity putting people at ease and helping conversation flow. A life drawing evening was even suggested, maybe with a hunky model for hen nights, but that would need to be one very brave, very secure, very well-paid dude. Jolie hopes to hold the next few evenings at the Bigg Life Arts centre before bringing it to other parts of Northern Ireland as well if everything goes well. Visiting Bigg Life Arts was an unexpected highlight of the night. Run by Biggy Bigmore, it’s designed to give creative people a space for all sorts of activities – with rooms, rehearsal spaces and recording equipment available. Biggy wants to help the arts at what he calls the “grassroots” level. It’s run as a charity and receives no grants or funding – the plan is to be self-sufficient. Check out the project on Facebook here. Jolie’s website is here if you fancy finding out more about Wine, Dine and Design. Now to dust off those abandoned tubes of acrylic and finish that painting I started nearly two years ago…

Any week that begins with a bank holiday is off to a good start, but this is a very special week, beginning with the Belfast City Marathon and finishing with the Big Start of the Giro d’Italia 2014. Loads more on besides, and don’t forget the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival continues this week, as well as other ongoing festivals – check the What’s On Calendar. Remember, you can get in touch if you spot an event or festival I should be including here. Monday 5 May (bank holiday) Belfast Belfast City Marathon, City Hall – Ormeau Park, Beginning at City Hall 9am Over 18,000 runners take to the road on Monday, pitting their bodies and minds against the 26-odd miles ahead of them. They’ll run from the city centre to the east, the west, the north and then the south of the city, with a fun day in Ormeau Park awaiting them and their supporterscial. Event organisers are keen for spectators to come and cheer on the runners and have created a list of locations and prediction times to see runners pass. Check the website for more information. Holywood Merry May Day – town centre, 10am – 4pm. The town’s popular annual May Day celebrations are back, with stalls, fancy dress competitions, and winners of BBC 2 Folk Awards ‘The Demon Barbers’ will be performing their XL show for the first time in Northern Ireland. But of course this event wouldn’t be complete without the children’s traditional Maypole dancing For more, visit Bangor Visitor Information Centre, or phone 9127 0069. Moneymore Vintage fête – Springhill, 12 – 5pm This Plantation house, owned by The National Trust, opens its doors for day two of its vintage fête. There will be music from The Swing Girls, vintage and handmade produce stalls and nostalgic attractions. Usual entry fees apply, National Trust members go free. Tuesday 6 May Belfast From Process to Pattern – Atelier Design, Wellingon Place, 1 – 31 May A recently-discovered exhibition that began last Thursday and runs until the end of the month. From the eponymous brains behind abigail*ryan homewares, it explores the design process involved in making their fabrics and wallpapers, from concept to realisation. Exhibition host The Atelier Design Studio is open Wed to Sat from 10.30am to 5.30pm and Thurs until 7pm. Wednesday 7 May Newtownabbey The Little Mermaid – Theatre at the Mill, 7.45 – 10pm The heartbreaking story of the mermaid that falls in love with a prince is one we all know well. Ballet Theatre UK have created a stunning version of the tale for the stage, which is touring the UK and Ireland this Spring. Tickets range from £20 down to a discounted £14 group rate. Visit the website for details and booking. Thursday 8 May Belfast On The Square Auctions Launch – Albert Square, 6pm In a bid (geddit?) to offer the bargain-hunters of Belfast something new, On The Square Auctions launches this evening with its official opening auction. Selling vintage, retro, industrial and pre-loved furniture, it’s sure to be a big hit with upcyclers and antiquers alike. Visit the Facebook page or view the catalogue of items online. Belfast Ponies Don’t Play Football, The MAC, 8 – 10 May Irreverent local dance group Ponydance are back with another run of this witty and wonderful show. One example of their choreographic genius is below, and they return to The MAC after a sell-out run of Ponies Don’t Play Football last year. Tickets are £15, visit the website for booking and more info. Friday 9 May Belfast Giro d’Italia Stage 1, Beginning Titanic Belfast, The day NI has been waiting for, the big start of the Giro d’Italia finally gets underway after weeks of pinktastic build-up! The practise session begins at 10am at Titanic Quarter, with the caravan leaving TQ at 4.30pm, with cyclists making their way to Stormont and on to City Hall via Newtownards Road, Stranmillis, University Road and Great Victoria Street. Visit the website for any more details you need. Saturday 10 May Belfast Giro d’Italia Stage 2, Belfast – North Coast The second day is a mammoth 218km journey for the cyclists, with stops along the way in Glengormley, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Bushmills, Ballycastle, Larne and Carrickfergus. The caravan leaves Titanic Quarter at 9am with the race beginning at 10.30am. Check the website to see where you need to be and when to catch the action. Lisburn Mayor’s Carnival Parade, Island Arts Centre – Wallace Park, 1pm 10,000 people are expected to come into Lisburn for the colourful spectacle that is the annual Mayor’s Parade. The theme this year is classic fairytales, and the parade departs the Island Arts Centre at 1pm and flows through Lisburn City Centre, via Queen’s Road, Linenhall Street, Smithfield Street, Market Place, Market Street, Bachelors Walk to Wallace Park. Here there will be a family fun day with fairground attractions, a vintage car display, sporting fun and lots of tasty food and drink, before the parade returns to the Island Arts Centre. Sunday 11 May Armagh Giro d’Italia Stage 3, Armagh – Dublin A mere 187km today for the cyclists (!) The caravan leaves Shambles Market Area in Armagh at 9.40am and the race begins at 11.20am. There are stops in Richill and Newtownhamilton en route to the Irish capital. Check the website for times and locations. #prelovedfurniture #littlemermaid #TitanicQuarter #bankholiday #ponydance #processtopattern #onthesquareauctions #mayorscarnivalparadelisburn #giroditalia #mayorsparade #lisburnmayorsparade #themacbelfast #industrial #islandartscentre #moneymore #theatreatthemill #holywoodmerrymayday #springhill #poniesdontplayfootball #mayday #vintagefurniture #belfastcitymarathon #abigailryanhomewares #atelierdesign #Newtownabbey #vintagefair

This week, following last week’s disastrous conclusion to the two-part dress post I started the previous week, I decided to take a well-needed rest from the sewing machine and explore some of the other areas of handicrafts I’m interested in. Like many other crafters, I have ever-growing – and rather gorgeous – collections of both buttons and ribbons, so I thought it was time to do something pretty with them. I decided to turn this pair of shoes…. Into this pair of shoes! I’m quite pleased with them, and they’re pretty straightforward to do, so no better time for my first proper tutorial. You will need: Shoes 8 x 3″ (7.5cm) lengths of ribbon, 1/4″ (6mm) thickness(12 here >> but I chose to only use 8. Ribbon is Celebrate, bought at Craftworld Belfast) 2 x 8″ (20cm) lengths of 3/4″ (2cm) white organza ribbon (not pictured here) Glue gun and glue stick(mine is the Loctite Hot Melt bought at B&Q) Sandpaper(mine is the B&Q Large sanding sponge, fine/medium) Two large buttons(mine are approx. 1 7/8″ / 4.8cm diameter, bought from BP Sew n’ Knit, Lisburn) Scissorsfor trimming ribbon INSTRUCTIONS 1. Thread two lengths of ribbon through each pair of opposite-facing holes in each button, as shown. 2. Fold over and glue down each ribbon strand to the button surface using the glue gun. Be careful, as the glue gets incredibly hot – use safety or gardening gloves to protect your hands if needed. 3. Here’s what my buttons looked like when I was finished, just before I gave some of them a little trim with the scissors. Play about with them though; you don’t have to glue yours exactly like mine. I was going for a slightly rough and ready ‘raggy doll’ look, but your ribbons could be neat and tidy, or even tied to your buttons in knots if you don’t fancy messing about with a glue gun. 4. Next, take one of your lengths of organza ribbon and sew the two ends together to create a loop. Starting at one end of the loop, and sewing as close to the top edge of the ribbon as you can, sew a running stitch to the other loop end. Gently pull tight to create a loose ‘flower’ shape. Repeat. 5. Put a generous layer of hot glue around the bottom edge of a button and press the button as hard as you can onto the organza. Hold for at least 20 seconds to make sure it has bonded. Repeat with the other button. 6. Choose where on your shoe you want to place the decoration. Using your sanding paper, gently rub the chosen area with your sanding paper; just to create a slightly roughened surface for the glue to bond with. Apply a generous amount of hot glue to the area (I did a square-inch-sized area, about 1/8″ thick) and quickly, but carefully, press the button-ribbon-flower on to the glue and hold for about 30 seconds. 7. Put on shoes. Enjoy! Let me know what you thought of my first tutorial – in the comments below, or through Facebook, Twitter and the Get In Touch link above. If you want to use any of the pics above as a link to this tutorial, again, just get in touch. #customiseshoeswithribbons #howtoupcycleclothes #quirkyshoes #decoratebuttons #creative #decorateshoes #howtoaddbuttonstoshoes #MondayMakes #oversizebuttons #clothescustomisation #ribbons #making #buttons #howtodecorateabutton #upcyclingshoes #howtothreadribbonthroughabutton #handmade #ideasforcustomisingshoes #customiseshoes #ThePatchworkQuill

April’s Magazine of the Month is Homemaker – a newcomer to the market, this is just the fourth issue of the monthly magazine promising “creative ideas for your home”.If you like the look of it, make sure to enter the competition at the end of the post to win issues 4 and 5 of Homemaker, as well as a little crafty surprise gift… UPDATE: The publishers of Homemaker, Aceville, have been in touch since this post went live, to offer prizes for not just one winner, but six! See updated details at the end of the post. Homemaker’s areas of interest include “Making, Interiors, Stitching, Baking, Knitting & More” – anything to do with putting your own personal stamp on your home is here. For such a young magazine, it is beautifully put together and really packed with content. Unsurprisingly, given the name, there is a strong focus on projects. Including cooking and baking recipes, I counted 25 separate tutorials, so if you are a keen maker/baker, you’ll get your money’s worth here. I also particularly enjoyed the I Spy pages, rounding up the best of the web, the feature on family-run letterpress Typoretum, and Helen Mulley’s lovely piece ‘Generation Game’ on how we need to remember to pass on the craft skills we are taught ourselves. This is a lovely magazine full of inspiration and tutorials for all ability levels; I will definitely buy it again. THE REGULARS Make of the Month Headlines Home Store (product/shopping feature) Anthea Turner Moodboard I Spy (the most creative corners of the worldwide web) Easy Upholstery (furniture upcycling project) Remade Q&A (panel of experts reveal their style tips) Out & About (city travel feature) Homemaker Notes What my Home Means to Me (celebrity/personality interview) THE PROJECTS Easy Upholstery – upcycle a mushroom stool Afternoon Delight – tea-themed sewing projects Simple Stencilled China Word Up – revamp a chest of drawers (Annie Sloan) Stitch Your Free Gift (carnival bird) Masterclass: Cafe Curtains Shade Spruce Up (lampshade) Super Easy Glass Painting Paul Hollywood’s Party Treats What Katie Ate The Milky Way (create mock milk glass) Coastal Charm (beach themed sewing) Cutlery Perfect Produce (grow your own food) Prints Charming THE FACTFILE PUBLISHED: Monthly, on or near 15th of the month. COVER PRICE: £4.99 YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION: £24 per 6 issues; £53.50 for 13 issues. Current offer: free afternoon tea kit for subscribers. CIRCULATION: No ABC figure as yet UK STOCKISTS: Most independent and larger newsagents and retailers. WEBSITE: http://www.homemakermagazine.co.uk COMPETITION To be in with a chance to win a copy of Issue 4 and Issue 5 of Homemaker, plus a little crafty surprise prize, fill in the form below. Prize draw closes Tuesday 30th April 2013 at 11.59pm. Any entries received after this time will not be counted. #baking #painting #ReadofTheMonth #inspired #AnnieSloan #sewing #upcycling #PaulHollywood #Homemakermagazine #creative #magazine #colour #craft #learning

Since I started this blog and started getting interested in making things, the number of people I’ve known for years who have ‘come out’ as crafters is staggering! I don’t mean they’re ashamed of what they do; but I have all these friends and family members who have either had a ‘dabbling’ relationship with handmade crafts (like I have) and not really talked about it, or have been quietly working away and making beautiful things for years and I never knew! I mistakenly thought that making your own clothes, curtains and gifts stopped being a part of everyday life for people born after my grandparents’ generation, but the skills are very much alive and well. My auntie Liz emailed me this week to show me this fabulous patchwork blanket she knitted for a friend. Just like that – ran up a blanket. Check out the little knitted flowers sewn on! It consists of 40 knitted squares sewn together and is backed with navy fleece. She told me: “I just knit the 40 squares – (chunky wool 30 stitches ). This one is in garter stitch (all knit) – I stitched them together then backed with fleece.” Her daughter, my cousin Joan, helped her with the blanket stitching around the sides but she’s already working on one for another of her daughters and plans to do the edge stitching herself. Apparently Joan is a bit of a master crafter and has been for a while; a dab hand on the sewing machine and something of a blanket expert; Auntie Liz described what sound like beautiful baby blankets she has made – with the baby’s name sewn on to building block designs! How lovely would it be to be able to make something like that for a new arrival? Inspiring! I wonder how many more friends and family members will come forward with their creations…

I really recommend the Coming of Age exhibition, in the Ulster Museum now until Sunday 18th November. Celebrating 21 years of melas in the UK, this vibrant display of photography and poster images is as colourful as you would expect. It is worth calling in simply to get your hands on the beautiful book being given away for free to visitors as part of the exhibition. It’s not just a coffee-table picture book either – it is a carefully written history of melas in the UK, and the role they have played in shaping our multicultural society. I especially like this quote from artist Keith Khan’s foreword: “The content of a British mela is implicitly anti-racist, drawing in multiple, diverse and intergenerational communities with different rhythms that appeal to families, youth and indeed specific faith groups within a shared atmosphere of celebration.The perception of the Asian community as closed, impenetrable and obscure is debunked. Visit any mela in the UK and it is clear that this is simply not the case. There is real power in the cultural displays and multiple entry points, from plates of food to transcendent beats and visual displays.” The beautiful books accompanying the exhibition. Anyone who reads this blog knows my love of the Belfast Mela – I even wrote a four-week series of posts in the run up to this year’s event. I helped out at the Coming of Age launch event on 6th November and am planning to go back this weekend off-duty to get a proper look at all the gorgeous images. Last Saturday 10th November I helped out again at an ArtsEkta Diwali and Samhain event in Conway Mill. This gargantuan building off the Falls Road in West Belfast is an amazing place to visit – this was my first time here and I have fallen in love with it. I knew this was where Studio Nineteen was based, but had no idea it housed several other businesses, projects and ventures, as well as a market every Saturday. Since 1982, the former linen mill has been in the hands of the community and operates as a not-for-profit organisation, supporting economic, cultural and community ventures. I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures before the audience arrived for the festival event. Little gift shop in the main foyer of the building. The goodies inside… Some of the original fixtures and fittings remain. This stunning glass-roofed courtyard joins the buildings. Soon, the audience started to arrive for the Diwali and Samhain event – a special play commemorating the life of Sister Nivedita – or Margaret Noble from Dungannon, as she started out in life. Awakening a Nation tells the story of how this intelligent, gifted teacher from Northern Ireland came to be initiated as a nun into an Indian monastic order. She opened a school, championed female education, women’s rights, India’s art and independence and apparently even designed the first Indian flag. She is still revered in the country to this day, with the dates of her birth and death being observed. Enjoying the Sister Nivedita exhibition before the play. I greeted the audience, distributed literature about the play and directed them towards the Sister Nivedita exhibition in the Conway Mill foyer but sadly was unable to stay and watch the play itself, but I was assured afterwards it was a wonderful show. What a fascinating story, and yet another way in which Ireland and India are connected to each other. Again, I urge you to get along to the Coming of Age exhibition in the Ulster Hall before the sun goes down on Sunday – and to anything else in the festival programme this weekend that hasn’t yet sold out! A peaceful and happy Diwali and Samhain to you all. #school #art #festival #monastic #music #multicultural #femalerights #holy #Belfast #creative #studio #SisterNivedita #culture #diversity #India #tradition #travel #global #education #BelfastMela2012 #artist #nun #colour #arts #BlogAwardsIreland #NorthernIreland #exhibition #family #heritage #craft #learning

The week ahead is jam-packed with entertainment, with no fewer than six seven festivals, all kicking off within days of each other. The beloved Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and Festival of Fools are both back, as well as the much-anticipated Giro d’Italia celebrations. There are two seaside arts events and music in the maiden city, plus more besides. Enjoy! Don’t forget to keep checking the What’s On Calendar, as there will be events there which aren’t in the weekly guide. Do get in touch with any events you’d like to see here. Monday 28 April Lisburn Weaving Metal, Making Art – R-Space Gallery, continues until Thurs 15 May Internationally-acclaimed Japanese artist Toshinobu Takamitsu began a month-long residency at The R-Space Gallery on Saturday. In collaboration with blacksmith artist Eamon Higgins (Belfast) and sonic artist Matthew Whiteside (Lisburn/Glasgow), he will illuminate the gallery with large scale audio-visual installations. Check the R-Space Gallery website for more information, including opening times. Tuesday 29 April Belfast/Antrim EU Day of Solidarity Between Generations 2014, Belfast City Hall/Rathenraw Community Centre Since 2009, 29 April has been celebrated as the EU Day of Solidarity Between Generations, aiming to showcase and promote relationships between generations. Linking Generations NI (LGNI) are coordinating the day’s activities. These include the Age Sector Platform and Northern Ireland Youth Forum Event in the Reception Room of Belfast City Hall (10.15am finishing with lunch), and ‘Generation Connection’ an Intergenerational performance at Antrim’s Rathenraw Community Centre (7.45 – 9pm). Find out more on the website. Thursday 1 May Belfast Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Various locations, Thurs 1 – Sun 11 May One of Northern Ireland’s festival calendar favourites, the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is back, bringing 11 days of music, theatre, comedy, talks, visual arts, dance and lots more. The hotly anticipated opening event tonight is a talk by Channel 4 journalist Jon Snow. The Quill’s personal picks are Simon Amstell, Tinariwen, Balkan Alien Sound, The Blockheads and Billy Miskimmin’s Mercy Lounge, Midori Mitamura ‘Art and Breakfast Belfast’ and The Secret Cabaret. To be honest, you could close your eyes, stick a pin in the programme and be guaranteed an amazing afternoon or evening. Derry ~ Londonderry City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival, Citywide, Thurs 1 – Mon 5 May 35,000 music lovers are expected to arrive in the city for five days packed full of music. Over 60 venues will play host to hundreds of events. Highlights include festival regulars The Jive Aces, the powerhouse of jazz soul that is Ohio-born Dana Masters, and the Playhouse Speakeasy Bar Cabaret, bringing you right back to the 1930s. Check out the full programme and find out more on the website. Belfast One City One Book, Various locations, 1 – 29 May broken links in this entry have now been fixed Belfast’s third One City One Book begins today, the Arts Council‘s month-long celebration of homegrown literature which this year features the new novel by Belfast-born novelist David Park. The Poets’ Wives explores the marital relationships of three poets, through the eyes of their wives – Catherine Blake (wife of William),  Nadezhda Mandelstam, wife of Russian poet Osip Mandelstam (and herself a poet, painter and engraver) and the wife of a fictional contemporary Irish poet. Throughout the month of May you can download the first chapter of the book for free. Visit the Arts Council to download the full programme. NI-wide The Great Ulster Pub Week, NI-wide, Thurs 1 May – Fri 9 May Pubs of Ulster’s first ever Great Ulster Pub Week kicks off today, celebrating all that’s great about our much-loved local watering holes. Over 160 pubs are taking part, with events to showcase the best of their food, entertainment and of course, their choice of tipples. Keep up to date with everything that’s happening on the website. Friday 2 May Belfast Festival of Fools, Citywide, Fri 2 – Mon 5 May Another festival favourite hits Belfast this week, with the return of Festival of Fools, four days of free street theatre and comedy. Whether it’s mesmerising juggling from That Man, a singing nun on a motorised piano, or outrageous acrobatics from Barren Carousel – there will be something silly or spectacular to entertain you. Remember to show your appreciation by chucking a quid or two in the buckets! Cushendun Cushendun Big Arts Weekend, Various locations, Fri 2 – Mon 5 May The picturesque seaside town will welcome arts lovers of all ages for four days of music, poetry, drama, art and children’s workshops. Highlights include tonight’s BBQ with music and storytelling, novelist Bernie McGill’s talk on Saturday, and the family film screenings on Sunday. See the website for full details. Saturday 3 May Belfast Giro Festival: Get On Your Bike! Citywide, Sat 3 – Sun 11 May Cycling fever has well and truly hit Northern Ireland, with Belfast being chosen to stage the start of the Giro d’Italia this year. This eight day festival will celebrate all things cycling and all things Italian. QFT will be showing Italian films, the Linen Hall Library will host an exhibition on bicycles in Irish literature, and of course, there will be loads of cycling events for all the family. Find all the details here on the Belfast City Council website. Bangor Project 24’s First Birthday Celebrations, Bangor Seafront, 12 – 5pm The Bangor art collective are throwing a party to celebrate their first birthday and everyone is invited. There will be a Samba band, swing dancing, gardening activities, games, sports, face painting and more. Find out more here and check the website to find out more about Project 24 and their achievements. #ToshinobuTakamitsu #derry #girofestivalgetonyourbike #art #festivaloffools #sonicart #sonicartist #rspacegallery #freeentertainment #audiovisualart #giroditalia #EUDayofSolidarityBetweenGenerations2014 #greatulsterpubweek #RSpaceLisburn #LinkingGenerationsNI #AgeSectorPlatform #streettheatre #eamonhiggins #pubsofulster #cityofderryjazzfestival #juggling #project24 #cityofderryjazzandbigbandfestival #bangor #cushendun #NorthernIrelandYouthForum #berniemcgillauthor #belfastcityhall #matthewwhiteside #giroditaliabelfast #project24firstbirthday #LGNI #giroditaliabigstart #cushendunbigartsweekend #giroditalianorthernireland #londonderry #blacksmith #rathenrawcommunitycentre

This month’s ReFound Makes gives a glimpse into the work of Nuala Maguire, a Belfast-based artist who specialises in upcycling and sustainable products. She trained in footwear and accessory design and now works as a costume designer, as well as making stitched, crocheted and knitted cushions, bags, cards and accessories under her Bluebird Belfast brand. She can regularly be found selling her beautiful wares at markets and vintage fairs across NI. Nuala told The Patchwork Quill: “Although my training was in footwear and accessory design, I still find I apply a lot of this to the work that I do for ReFound, applying design to a small area or three-dimensional objects for example. “I have been working with ReFound for a couple of years and this has included producing pieces for several shows from painted or upholstered furniture, and several lampshades as well as commissioned pieces. I have found it very interesting to be producing furniture rather than clothing. “Working with upcycled materials is fairly addictive, you start seeing everything as having potential rather than being rubbish. I use a lot of traditional skills including embroidery and crochet in my work.” “Birds feature quite heavily throughout my work, both for ReFound and for Bluebird, with lampshades in particular – it just seems the right place for them to be in a room, although they do pop up on cushion covers and other items from time to time. “It’s often the murmuration of starlings that appear every day over the Albert Bridge that I am referring to, but these pieces show hummingbirds and are based on a piece of street art that used to be near to my house. “Most recently I have been looking at industrial lighting and thinking about how I could approach that look. The answer has been to use wool and a traditional technique called tatting to ‘wrap’ the frame so it looks initially industrial but then has a warm, soft feel. “Current projects include working towards the next Refound show Geometry; the birds are here again, this time in a geometric and fairly abstract pattern. “I am also very excited to be participating in the LegenDerry chair project which is one of the City of Culture 2013 events. In a bit of a departure, this is unlikely to feature wildlife!” ~ I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for Nuala among the stalls of any craft or vintage fairs I find myself at in the coming months! I especially love the pics on the Bluebird Facebook page of the little buttons and accessories she sold at the Marine Fair. Gorgeous little nautical-themed treasures! Let me know what you think of Nuala’s work and whether you own any of her handmade or upcycled products. #50shadesofgrey #whatisamurmuration #whatistatting #BeFound #inspired #howtoupcycleachair #costumedesigner #handpaintedlampshades #BluebirdBelfast #albertbridge #murmurationofswallows #upcycledlampshade #albertbridge #handmadelampshlfast #MondayMakes #costumemakerinbelfast #making #Reade #NualaMaguire #tatting #costumemaker #howtoupcycle #handmade #upcyclingchairs #howtoupcyclefurniture #murmuration #ThePatchworkQuill

I have mentioned her once or twice in previous posts, but I’m delighted to finally be featuring my lovely grandmother, and the artist group she has been part of for many years, the Lisnagarvey Art Society. My Granny – never too far from a sketchpad. Since her teens, my Granny (Marie Hiddleston, if any of you bump in to her and don’t fancy addressing her as ‘Heather’s Granny’) has been a talented artist and was even offered a place at the Glasgow School of Art, but opted for a career in the civil service, marriage and an evening course at the school, achieving her own work/life balance. She has also in her time been a skilled seamstress and knitter – my mum remembers her making much of the clothes she and her siblings wore. She taught me to knit when I was a child and she is most definitely the reason my interest in art and crafting – and ergo this blog – exists. As you know, it was she who gave me my beloved sewing machine! For as long as I can remember, Granny has been sketching and painting from a little studio in her house in Lisburn – landscapes and indoor scenes, live portraiture and still life, specialising in watercolours, but also very skilled in oils, pastels, charcoal and pencil and pen work. Her work adorns the walls of friends and family and the entire upstairs of her house is filled with finished pieces and works in progress. For over 20 years, she has been a member of the Lisnagarvey Art Society, a collective of artists which has been thriving in the Lisburn area for well over thirty years – longer than I have been alive! There are three periods of the year (January to Easter; post-Easter to mid-May and September to December) during which the group meets every Tuesday in the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn – sometimes there will be a talk or demonstration from a professional artist or a class in a specific topic. From time to time my services are called upon to model (fully clothed, I hasten to add, Granny and I aren’t *that* close…) for their portraiture classes, something I have done on an ad hoc basis since I was a teenager. Most of the artists have watched me grow up and some have books documenting in pencil, chalk and paint my various hairstyles and fashion choices over the years – a beautifully spooky thing to flick back through! Posing for art class. They don’t always make me dress in a ballgown… Monday saw the opening night of their second main exhibition for 2012, held at the Island Arts Centre and supported as always by the Lisburn Arts Advisory Committee. It runs until this Saturday 17th November. We always like to attend the opening night with Granny. It is a chance for me to see my lovely artists without having to stand statue-still on a table in the middle of the room, plus there are a couple of artist competitions and complimentary drinks. Great way to spend a Monday night if you ask me! The first competition, announced at the beginning of the night, is the Richard Spence memorial prize, in memory of a local artist and the winning painting from the exhibition is chosen by Lisburn’s mayor, who also declares the exhibition open. Mayor William Leathem selected Bert McGowan’s stunning Winter Sunshine. The Mayor William Leathem announcing his choice and opening the exhibition. Winter Sunshine (£95 at time of writing) by Bert McGowan. At the end of the night, the ‘people’s choice’ prize is announced – everyone at the exhibition is given a piece of paper as they arrive and we all vote for our favourite painting. For the first time, in my memory at least, my Granny was voted the winner! Granny, with her beautiful handmade winner’s card. This is her winning painting, of Cushendun Beach, painted during our family break earlier this year. Granny’s winning painting, Beach at Cushendun (priced ATOW£75/£140 for this painting+Sunny Day at Cushendun) I had planned to blog about the exhibition anyway, so maybe the art gods saw to it that the post would be extra-memorable. The night was especially enjoyable as our cousin Bobby was also there with his lovely girlfriend Mia; they are here from London at the moment paying us a visit. Mia had arrived earlier with two beautiful bouquets she had arranged herself for Granny, so I think she was fit to burst by the time we left with her people’s choice prize in hand as well! Below is a small selection of the paintings that caught my eye (including my people’s choice on the night – no nepotism in our family!). It is just a tiny peek at what the exhibition has to offer, and the paintings are all for sale, with prices ranging from £200 down to just £30 (!) Memories of Summer (£75 ATOW) by Grace Hanna. Clematis (£100 ATOW) by Lila Reid. This was my people’s choice – I love the skilled use of textiles and embroidery and it is just such an intricate, pretty piece. View from Bassin du Arsenal (£30 ATOW) by Helen McLarnon. I urge anyone in and around Lisburn this week to call in to the Island Arts Centre to support, appreciate and hopefully purchase some locally-produced art. Support your local artists! The exhibition runs from Monday 12th November until Saturday 17th November 2012 at the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn. Opening hours: Mon – Fri 9.30am – 9.30pm; Sat 9.30am – 4.30pm. Tel: 028 92 509 509 #sketches #art #painting #talented #painter #creative #studio #culture #Granny #GlasgowSchoolofArt #LisburnArtsAdvisoryCommittee #voting #artist #colour #arts #Lisburn #LisnagarveyArtSociety #exhibition #flowers #family #vote