Ferdia.ie

This is my dear friend Ferdia's lovely Blog.

 I LOVE THESE! :D

I really think you should check his blog out... x

Treasure...

It can be difficult to kick-start the creative process.
Ask any musician, painter, designer, writer...they'll all agree that the first step is to be inspired...but that ever-so-elusive *flash* of inspiration can be a slippery b*gger!
Happily, it can be triggered by the most varied of things. By patterns found in mundane activity... From bubbles squashed together in the washing-up bowl, to that old spider web you really should have dusted months ago, or the sound of the wind whooshing through the crack under the bathroom door.

A method I use to unlock a flurry of ideas that is both fun, as well as being super-inspiring is to firstly find the most *perfect* material with which to make something.
When making jewellery, once I'd grasped the basics and explored wire-work, I found myself gravitating towards re-working older and broken jewellery. Probably to do with my love of re-appropriation from college...
I like the idea that with a little vision, something knackered and ordinarily destined for the bin, can once again be admired and cooed at :) Plus, there's something so deeply visceral about a box full of shiny bits'n'bobs, I think.
I am absolutely a self-professed magpie, and cannot resist the gasps and squeals when delving elbow-deep into a mound of beads, chains, ribbons and such. This is what a five-year-old me would have termed "Treasure".

I'd scour jumble and car-boot sales, frequent a number of charity shops/thrift stores and let friends/family know that I'll happily take some broken bits of their hands...but by far the most exciting is bulk-buying job lots of odds'n'ends from wholesalers. They can be easily found online, I've even bought some from eBay, too.

Here is my most recent shipment:

The best bit is they get shipped to your home...it's like a little mini-birthday surprise arriving in the post!


Oddly, I received a slip from the postman *on Sunday* - yep, it was Sunday's date on the slip.
Fair enough, our doorbell fell off a few weeks ago (...luckily, as the battery has died in it, too!) and I haven't quite gotten around to fixing it yet - so I'll let the Postman off for leaving a slip when I was definitely at home... In truth, I couldn't remember in the slightest what the hell was being delivered?! I'd totally forgotten I ordered this parcel!
(That's bad, isn't it? Internet shopping can be rather dangerous territory if you are in any way impulsively inclined...oopsie.)



Both hilarious and exciting, I opened the 3x Packages of mixed "Tat" that I'd ordered to find a mish-mash of tangled plastic beads, single drop-earrings and hoops. Plastic toy Dinosaurs and broken keyrings... Mr. & I belly-laughed at some of the weirder items...

                        

What IS this..?!

There were some other items that were fun as curios, oddities and general ephemera... I was glad to have Mr. there as I knew he'd appreciate the hilarity of some of them. As it happens, he posts such findings and some of his gorgeous art on a blog too... Here's a link! http://dutch-wine.blogspot.com/

And some of the pickin's that he decided he wanted... :)

Sure, that's an uncut rainbow tartan key, a battered old whistle (which I have decided graced the vicks-smeared gobby lips of a Mancunian Raver circa 1992) a mini keyring rubiks cube, another keyring mini address book, a plastic toy dinosaur and a THIRD keyring (yep, third................) which is a lantern-shaped torch. Oh! how could I forget the gold plastic snapped-off top of a fishing trophy!

These are a bizarre string of magentic & red and gold painted beads that I'm very much looking forward to ripping apart :)

I love the feeling of the unknown that comes with these parcels. They really are a lucky-dip of items, as the above oddities show, but on the other hand you never know... the oddest thing can inspire you, remember?

I did get some incredible necklaces, bracelets and beads, spools of sumptuous vintage cotton threads. Generally I've never received anything I'd wear straight-out, but I have certainly got HEAPS of inspiration jumbled-up here in all this. Oh, and the coloured foam shapes at the top are for collages and card making - they came in this magic box o'tricks, too! I love these gorgeous little white buttons...

...and the *CUTEST* penguin coin/key purse :)

     

   

The feeling of rummaging through untold treasures in Flea Markets is instantly recreated in your living room (with your trusty "evening beverage", to top it off!) Hurrah!

Of course, most of this is just costume jewellery; however on a few occasions I have received an item that is Sterling Silver, or has Czech cut crystal like these little brown lovelies, here.

I shall indeed be posting what I make with all this as and when I get around to making it...

Do you have a jumble-box of stuff that you can't make sense of, but know that someone could? Have you got some gorgeous beads but not sure how to re-work them? I'd happily accept commissions using some of your own personally-chosen materials and create something both unique and personal.

Byebyebye.x

Beautiful Chickens!

For xmas last year my fabulous English Mummy & Pa bought me the MOST incredible book.

BEHOLD!

 

As I opened the parcel - I realised it's at times like this that you know someone's really listened to the things that excite and fill you with joy (or heard you babble incessantly about things you just *have* to have!) One of these - for me - happens to be, the Humble Hen. I could barely contain my glee as I leafed through the pages...

I mean... look at THIS beauty!! 

This is a 10 Weeks Old Blue/Grey Langshan Chicken

Aged around four, I have a vivid memory of being taken to an old Country House one summer - and for a tiny sum, we were handed a plastic party cup filled with seeds. In seconds numerous hens came running towards me; swarming and CLUCK CLUCKing all vying for the seeds. Except, Four-year-old me didn't quite see it that way...!

I screamed and scrambled as high up on my father as possible - trembling, and perched on his shoulders, I demanded to know, "Why are they LAUGHING at me?!?!" 

Black Orpington Hen

I was born in a city in Northern Ireland, and spent my summers in the rural North-West of Ireland. We eventually upped sticks and moved there in 1997/8, living in rented houses across two townships there.

Now; anyone who grew up in the country will usually tell you that it was lovely, if difficult at times. The harsh & grim winters Donegal offer only serve to lessen the "rose-tinted" aspect of discussing the practicalities of country livin'.

I went to Art College in a small city in the West of Ireland, then relocated here to the UK in 2006. I currently live in the centre of a small-ish city with a population of approx. 156,000. Now that I've semi-settled here (after many nomadic years in my childhood as well as a "grown up" - moving house around 40 times to date, 5 years in one place is an accomplishment!) I hanker after the country again.

I mean, imagine waking up in the morning, putting the coffee on, then deciding to have some fresh eggs; heading out to the coop to be greeted by THESE ladies...

Brown Orpington Hens - bok bok bok! :)

Of course, I am not biased solely towards these Broody Babes... I would equally love a Pet Duck. All plump and soft, nestling up to my lap of a winter evening... I think I could *even* overcome the mild terror I experience when surrounded by 11 hissing geese...

But the jewel in the crown would have to be...

The Chinese Painted Quail.

I shall leave you to bask in it's beauteous glory... and wish everyone a Happy Friday and bid you Adieu.x

Sweet Eats - One

Last xmas was Mine & Mr.'s first in our flat together. Although we moved in just before christmas 2010; we spent that magical xmas in a snow-covered Somerset, with my English Mummy & Pa (Mr.'s parents...)


So, in honour of our first festivus together (along with our fat 'Miss Puss-Cat', Judy) we set about creating a FEAST! Mr. & I opted for two small stuffed Pheasants from our local butcher, rather than the traditional turkey; not least because there were a plethora cooking programmes on the television screaming at us to try something different!

My own family have few traditions regarding xmas - but in terms of the food-side of things we always have lots of potatoes (hey, we're Irish...) Mr. & I were already sold on having crispy-on-the-outside/fluffy-and-delicious-on-the-inside Maris Pipers Roast in Goose Fat (drool!) but I decided to experiment with some sweet potatoes, too.

WARNING - THE FOLLOWING RECIPE IS NOT GOOD FOR THE WAISTLINE!

I decided on Dauphinoise Sweet Potato minis - using Covington sweet potatoes; as they are a really tasty & super-sweet variety. They have a lovely orangey-rose tint to the flesh & are perfect for mashing or making spiced wedges out of, too!

Dauphinoise Potatoes (also known as Gratin Dauphinoise) is a culinary speciality of the Dauphiné region of France. I learned of it from my own parents' dinner parties as a kid, and have always loved it. (Although sweet potatoes weren't THAT readily available in Belfast in the early 80's! It works just as well & is also insanely tasty with white potatoes, too!) 

It couldn't be simpler to make - although can take a while if making one large dish of Dauphinoise Potatoes instead of mini portions as I have here. Try it with Roast or Stewed Lamb for a yummy spring treat, too.

A true mainstay; it never fails to impress at dinner parties... And, (provided your choice of cheese is vegetarian cheese, of course...) for those non meat-eaters; it's vegetarian, too!

Remember...DAUPHINOISE POTATOES ARE FOR LIFE! NOT JUST FOR XMAS!

The method is as follows:

• Preheat your oven to 200° Celsius / 400° Fahrenheit / Gas Mark 6
• Lightly rinse & pat dry your whole potatoes - slice approx. 1/2 - 3/4cm thick (I needed 2x medium-sized potatoes for these four tartlet tins)
• Rub the slices with some chopped garlic - I used La Mancha Mauve; a purple variety that originated in Las Pedroneras in Castilla La Mancha, Spain
• Arrange some mini tartlet tins (lightly rubbed with some olive oil) on a baking sheet
• Grate some medium-matured cheese & set to one side for now
• Stack your potato slices until the tartlet tins are full & sprinkle liberal amounts of cheese on top
• Other recipes call for nutmeg to be used at this stage. Because the variety of potato I have chosen is quite sweet, I decided to substitute the nutmeg for the *tiniest* pinch of Allspice
• Pour some double cream (ouch) over the top - until you can just about see it emerge through the potatoes & cheese
• Sprinkle with a little dried mixed herbs & some freshly chopped parsley; & season adding a liberal grind of black pepper... Et voila!

I think I cooked the potatoes for around 30/40 mins? But, sadly I cannot be totally sure (it was xmas day & I'd been drinking Prosecco since 9am...!) So, as rule of thumb - keep checking them & if, when you pop a cocktail stick/skewer into the potatoes it slides out effortlessly - they should be ready.

(...apologies for the VERY blurred picture...*hic*...)

The result is a sweet & garlicky mush that is literally making my mouth water even as I type. The wafting smell & sight of them bubbling & oozing as they emerge from the oven ensured that I'd most definitely be recommending this quick & easy recipe to whoever I could!

As a side note - Mr. & I adore our garlic - & luckily only have plans to be kissing each other! 

So, if you're not that keen on loads of garlic and/or plan on kissing multiple strangers, then by all means omit/amend as required :)

Let me know how it goes...x

Matthew Cusick

I came across this guy's stuff the other day - and it's really stuck with me. Matthew Cusick explores a world of multimedia work, and has a slick and impressive style that I find quite delicious :) His material choices span video/sound installation, collage, acrylic paint & found objetcs.
I make collage/mixed media work myself, so when I find other artists whose work inspires me I love to keep a record of it.

Matthew Cusick 'Fiona's Wave' 2005 - inlaid maps & acrylic on panel

I love the textural quality here, and the palette ranges from an earthy burnt orange to the lightest sea-spray blue.

Cusick was born in New York & graduated from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art, in 1993. Since then he has exhibited widely on both sea-boards of the U.S. He has also been the recipient of a number of awards & scholarships - in addition to undertaking residencies. He is currently completing an MA at Meadows School of the Arts, SMU in Texas.

i ii 

 i:  'p14 (passage)' - defaced book page  ii:  'And So It Is' - defaced book page 

I'm a big fan of Re-appropriation :) There is something so captivating about the simplicity of taking a pre-existing object, and presenting it again in an alternative context. 

These are from Matthew's 'Defacement' Series, 2010 at the Free Museum Dallas, Texas. 

His description for the process he constructs for these works to undergo is, "Pages from old school books that are altered by sanding and scraping away everything except the page number, an illustration and a few chosen words".

Matthew Cusick 'Course of Empire (Mixmaster 2)', 2006 - Inlaid Maps, acrylic on panel

I think 'Course of Empire' is one of my favourite from this 'Map Works' Series - and at 48x78 inches it is quite a grand size! I would love to see a show if his work - but according to his C.V, he is at present yet to exhibit this side of the Atlantic. 

Here is a great example of Cusick's video installation work: http://mattcusick.com/video--/file-on-motor-transgression - I'd be really interested to see this.

I love it! :) What do you think...?

Matthew Cusick is represented by the Pavel Zoubok Gallery, New York NY. 

All images shown here are courtesy of www.mattcusick.com 

Free Form Jewellery

I taught myself to make jewellery - mostly with wires & beads - in 2009. I had recently returned to Co. Donegal in Ireland, where winters are exceedingly grey and grim. It rains non-stop and can get you feeling rather blue...so it is imperative to distract yourself until Spring with something shiny and cheery!

I had some basic materials to play with and got to grips with it fairly quickly. Really - the best way to learn is to get it wrong. Over and over ;)

So, here are a few examples of some crocheted wire & beaded jewellery I made...

This was made with assorted Red/Purple/Pink Glass Seed Beads & Silver Plate Wire

Earrings - Made with Sterling Silver Earwire Findings

Spring has definitely sprung in my shady little city garden here in Brighton :)

My Cabbages from last year held on in there! 

Some of these beads were found on my travels through Thailand in 2009...It was fun playing with different sized/weighted beads - this "sits" quite nicely when worn... (cue some blurry late-night & hastily posed shots..!)

The gorgeous Bird Garland in the background was a present from my English Mummy from the treasure trove - The Golden Goose in Frome, Somerset :) 

I really enjoy the tactile element of crocheting with wire. These are made with simple Chain Stitches, then re-crocheted together - you thread on your selected beads at the beginning, so it's nice to arrange them in different ways. Of course, I do these in a rather free-flow (some might say "sloppily" ...ahem...) fashion, so they never really come out symmetrical. I think this gives the pieces quite an organic, natural appearance... at the risk of sounding like a t*t.

as always...

All Commissions Welcome!

:)

Turquoise Beads bought from the beautiful Miss Anchali in Chiang Mai, Thailand - a lovely woman with a JAW DROPPING shop of gemstones and jewels!

Thanks for looking, Yay for Spring! x

Where have all the posts gone!?

Twice since Xmas I have attempted to upload a post; and twice since Xmas it DISAPPEARED! There I was, happily typing away... when suddenly everything just literally was gone. No amount of "Back"-ing "Undo"-ing, (swearing or huffing, either for that matter...) could bring 'em back. Ho Hum. 1st world problems, eh?