NUI Galway Arts & Theatre Office and Galway Crochet Craft celebrate Traditional Irish Lacemaking

These are just some of the samples of Irish lace shown at the Vintage Lace and Fashion Show at NUI Galway on Tuesday 20th March. Anne Quinn of Galway Crochet Craft is our crochet tutor at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery and a member of the Traditional Lacemakers of Ireland (see www.traditionallaceireland.com). It's nice to think that eventhough we are only beginners at crochet here at Le Grá we are (slowly!) following in the footsteps of some amazing traditional Irish craft-makers!

Happy New Year! Happy new stock! Happy new workshops!

Welcome to 2012 at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery!

Re-opening on Monday 9th January, 2012 with lots of exciting new stock from Irish artists, craft-makers and designers.

New brown and cream glazed pottery soup-cups from Roger Harley of Absolutely Pottery, Westport.

Framed fine-art prints by Galway artist Mary Geeleher.

'Feather' a new range of pale green glazed pottery by Roger Harley of Absolutely Pottery, Westport.

Fantastic new selection of 100% cotton 'Fat Quarters' for patchwork from Rags for Linda, Oughterard, Co. Galway.

And coming soon...a new list of craft workshops such as patchwork, felting, pottery, jewellery-making and lots more.

Absolutely Pottery arrives at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery

Clew Bay Blue Cereal Bowl

Brown Cut-Out Lamp

I've been a fan of Roger Harley's pottery since I first met him at the wonderful Christmas Craft Fair in the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar. So, I was delighted to see Roger arriving this morning with a lovely selection of his work for Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery customers.

Roger's pottery workshop and shop is based in Westport and the surrounding landscape influences the colours he uses in his glazes. I can attest that his everyday Clew Bay range holds up to everyday use in a busy home while being beautiful to look at and to handle.

In addition to the Clew Bay Blue range of everyday mugs, teapot, sugar and creamer, cereal bowls and soup cups Roger has also created beautiful lamps you are sure to love.

Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery now has some wonderful knitwear by Teddy Baby

Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery is delighted to offer a selection of children's hats by Teddy Baby. Simon Howell and Susie Cuthill tell us more about their craft:
"We have always shared a passion for arts and crafts. After giving-up our careers back in 2008, we took up residence on the stunning North-coast of Northern Ireland and explored everything from ceramics to illustration. In 2009, we brought our 'good life' back to the city of Belfast and after the birth of our first child; we finally decided to follow our passion for textiles and fibre art. In 2010 we started Teddy Baby, our hand-spun wool and knit-wear business.
What makes Teddy Baby so unique is that we spin our own wool, a technical skill that is rarely seen or even spoken of toady, but we are passionate about keeping it alive. The art of spinning wool is also an important part of Northern Ireland’s heritage and runs in our family.
We are part of the new generation of traditional craft makers striving to maintain a link to our cultural heritage, while exploring the possibilities of the medium within contemporary fashion, arts and crafts. It is important to us that while maintaining tradition in the artistic process, that the final design is fashionable and reflects us as designer/makers."