As the “Something Red” exhibition continues to run in Jamsa, Finland and we get ever closer to the Shoreline Arts Festival in Co. Galway in September… This week’s 3 featured artists are Astrid Tomrop-Hofmann, Pippa Sweeney & Asta Gauronskyte.

Artist – Astrid Tomrop-Hofmann

The Glow worms Nest

The materials, shapes, structures and colors of my native surroundings provide inspiration for my creations . 

Working with different raw-wool types (unwashed and uncarded fleece loosened by hand ) fascinates me.

This piece embodies warmth, softness and protection .  The upright rods radiate decisiveness and togetherness , all the while surrounded by organic matter.

I like the challenge of working with different materials. It is so fascinating. Under the hands of the designer or maker the fibres enter into communication and transform into a new structure and design.

 Sale price. €600.00

 Materials – Finnwool, Mongolish – Karakul used as the base. Wool locks from white Romney, white Mohair, Blueface Leicester brown and white. Silk bark, and hand dyed linen- cotton yarn and silk fibres.

The Mermaid visiting at Fenora Beach

The inspiration for this piece are different materials and techniques, which have been employed in felt production for thousands of years. 

 I envisioned merging the textures of the Pongee – Silk with fine Merino wool to create a fish-skin effect . This is further embellished by adding Silk Fibre and a Kap-wool fin .

The piece is finished with free motion hand embroidery . Overall the Mermaid is an expression of emotion and consequentiality.

The piece itself represents the motion ~ ebb and flow of the tides ,waves of the ocean .Felting generates concentration ,punctuality, excitement and surprises ! My work always tell a story of their own 

Sale price – €680.00

 Materials – pongee silk, 16-19 micron merino wool, Kap merino, hand dyed silk fibre, cotton – nylon fabric, silk chiffon, mohair locks, free motion machine embroidery.

Artist – Pippa Sweeney

The Beauties and the Beast

The beauty of beach stones, their origins, journeys and destinations has been the inspiration for Pippa’s shibori felt work over the past few years.  In 2018 she held a solo exhibition in Ireland entitled ‘Between a Rock and a Soft Place” which explored the metaphor of stones as people, where human population can be represented by jostling stones of diverse origins, with all their differences, imperfections and beauty – each with their own story.

This piece ‘The Beauties and The Beast” in which a red knotted rope emerges from between stones represents the very real threat of plastics and rubbish on our beaches, a strangling, destructive danger emerging from between us all.

Sale price – €450.00

Materials – merino wool using the shibori method. 

Artist – Asta Gauronskyte

Scarlet & Black Boots

 My life has been about designing and making both clothing and accessories. While crafting these pieces they managed to weave themselves into the fabric of my self, making them a special creation. This was in part due to the ballad “Lady in Red” continually playing in my subconscious. The themes of love, passion and drawing attention show themselves in the design . A touch of black in the red  both calms down the power at the same time as hinting seduction. ”

Sale price. €350.00

If sold along with the matching Bag the set is €500.00

Materials –  24 mc Tirol wool , 21mc Merino wool , black silk chiffon fabric with sequins.

Metal shoe zip, natural leather heel box and innersole all sewn by hand.

High heel rubber pads firstly glued with special shoe glues and then sewn by hand.

 Notes – The boots are a UK size 6, EUsize 39.

Scarlet &Black Bag

My life has been about designing and making both clothing and accessories. While crafting these pieces they managed to weave themselves into the fabric of my self, making them a special creation. This was in part due to the ballad “Lady in Red” continually playing in my subconscious. The themes of love, passion and drawing attention show themselves in the design . A touch of black in the red  both calms down the power at the same time as hinting seduction. ”

 Sale price. €180.00

If sold along with the matching boots the cost for the set is €500.00

Materials – 24 mc Tirol wool , 21mc Merino wool , black silk chiffon fabric with sequins, Metal kisslock bag frame, lining made from 100% linen fabric.

With thanks to DCCoI for part funding this exhibition.