Our Adventures in Ireland - Greenery, Glorious Sheep, and the Unforgettable Enchantment of It All

In May-June 2013, my husband and I took a much-anticipated and hastily planned trip to the Emerald Isle. We knew, from reading and hearing about it, that we would have an unforgettable multi-sensory experience in Ireland, that there would be sheep by the thousands, picturesque country vistas, hearty food, and excellent music. But we didn't expect our every expectation to be exceeded, and to be so immensely captivated by and enamored with the land we saw.

 

A typical landscape on the hauntingly and quietly magnificent Dingle Peninsula. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

We had many quintessential Ireland experiences. From seeing multitudes of sheep around virtually curve in the roads, to being left breathless by the magnificent coastal landscapes of Ireland's West Coast. To enjoying pints of Guinness, delicious pub grub nouveau, and the soulful and toe-tapping Irish traditional music we both love so much, in a pub near Fanore. To staying in historic homes built in the 1700s and 1800s, and experiencing that renown Irish hospitality everywhere along the way. To witnessing Ireland's many shades and gradations of green, which, paired with the blues of the coast and the whites of the flocks of sheep, made for a vivid, refreshing, and delectable visual palette. We left a part of our hearts in Ireland, and cannot wait to return to see more of Counties Clare and Kerry we enjoyed the most, and to travel up to Donegal and Northern Ireland too.

 

Here is a handful of photographs from the trip. You can see more if you follow me on Instagram (find me at "elena_knitsandbits"). If you are planning a trip to Ireland, I'd love to give you a few tips about some of our favorite off-the-beaten path places to stay and visit, so feel free to get in touch.

 

This view from our B&B window, caught hours after landing in Shannon from NYC, couldn't have been more idyllic or ideal. We spent the first few days of the trip exploring County Kerry from a home-base outside of Killarney. Jacqui at Burke's Mulbur House was the epitome of hospitality, friendliness, and all-around good nature.

 

Killarney, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

The bright and jubilant abundance of gorse (flowering shrubs) seen everywhere around Kerry made driving through the late spring countryside quite magical. The obligatory sheep delightfully dot the landscape virtually everywhere. As a fiber and wool fanatic, I couldn't get enough of the gorgeous creatures, and each sheep sighting was accompanied by peals and shrills of giddy excitement even on day 10 of our trip. Though, sadly, only some of the sheep in Ireland are kept for their wool, we did encounter quite a few sheep whose fleeces were long and beautiful, and, I hope, used for wool.

 

While we did see lots of knitted pieces in tourist and mainstream shops in Ireland, I was disheartened to note that despite the complex cable designs characteristic of Irish knitting, the hand-knit items were often priced quite low considering the time-consuming work involved. Knowing first-hand the true high costs of using high-quality wools and designing and hand-knitting ready-to-wear and bespoke accessories and clothing, it appears that more consumer education and appreciation would be lovely, both in the US and in Ireland. Ironically, in packing for this trip I didn't anticipate just how chilly the weather could get along the coast in late May, and was glad to support the local knitwear economy by buying a cozy knitted wool hoodie mid-way into our stay.



Gorse growing in County Kerry, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

Spring Blossoms, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

While exploring the Iveragh Peninsula, in addition to the famous Ring of Kerry, we took a side trip to a lesser known Valentia Island, where we wandered around the overgrown sub-tropical gardens at Glanleam House and came across graceful horses on the hills overlooking the Atlantic. Unforgettable, magical, and otherworldly.



Horse grazing on Valentia Island, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg

We couldn't be happier when we had to brake for sheep crossing the roads, and the novelty and charm of this experience never wore off.



Sheep family crossing the road in Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

For NYC suburbs' residents like us, it's not often that we get to experience an environment and landscape that are virtually timeless. Our trip through the ancient Gap of Dunloe gave us that sensation of timelessness. I am so glad the weather was fittingly wet and brooding.

By the way, a major advantage to traveling the in off- or shoulder-season is that we were either among only a handful of visitors or alone almost everywhere we went (the Cliffs of Moher being one exception).




Gap of Dunloe, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

On our way from the West Coast to Dublin, we visited rural County Kilkenny, where we were treated to scenes like these.


The setting sun, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg  



Kilkenny Sheep. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

In Kilkenny, I lived out the fantasy of the countless period films I have watched, by staying at Ballyduff House, where the movie "Circle of Friends" (with Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnell, Alan Cummings, and Colin Firth) was filmed. The house, the grounds, the ambiance, and the caring hostess, Bred, were all memorable.



Ballyduff House, Thomastown, County Kilkenny. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

Family Portrait, Ballyduff House, Thomastown, County Kilkenny. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

It was unbelievably wonderful to see hundreds of animals as an indelible part of the landscape wherever we traveled in Ireland.



Just another drive through rural Ireland - a herd of ivory goats. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



This family of sheep has an enviable daily view of the Atlantic. County Clare, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



Horses near Ashley Park House in Nenagh, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.
 

As rugged and severe as much of the West Coast of Ireland is, the way it is tempered and softened here by the pastel wildflowers and lichen, to me is somehow indicative and reflective of the wild and aloof yet delightful and endearing essence of Ireland itself.



Cliffs over the Atlantic, near the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



A 'polka-dot' shell fragment on the beach in Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

We try to seek out special and off-the-beaten-path places and experiences when we travel, and the Burren Perfumery is the very definition of such a place, in a very literal sense. An oasis in the heart of the Burren region, it houses a most fragrant "body" shop, a quaint café, a charming herb garden, and an inspiring story. After hiking the "Burren in Bloom" (spring wildflowers of countless varieties among rocky outcroppings), a stopover for some aromatherapy and souvenirs of the Burren Perfumery's "Summer Harvest" and "Man of Aran" fragrances hit the spot just so. Not to forget, generous cups of herbal tea enjoyed al fresco around a moss-covered tree-stump of a café table.



A cup of herbal tea at the Burren Perfumery's Café. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.

Our trip was relatively short (10 days), yet we saw so much -- from castle ruins dating back 500+ years, to formal English gardens from the 19th century (in states of alluring disrepair), to trees, ancient and majestic. My one regret is not scheduling a visit to a dreamy looking alpaca farm (the first in Ireland!) down the road from Orchid House B&B where we stayed in Fanore. By the way, this was an excellent home base for exploring the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.



Medieval fortress ruins, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



19th Century Gardens, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.



A very old tree on the Ashley Park House estate in Nenagh, Ireland. Photo by Elena Rosenberg.
  

And yet there is mightily plenty more to see, soak in, and experience in this country we enjoyed so much. We hope to return very soon. For now, I'll daydream of Ireland while looking in its direction from across the Atlantic.



While driving across Ireland. Photo of and by Elena Rosenberg.



 

New Press - Feature & Interview in WAG Magazine; Fall Schedule of Events

Thrilled to share that my designs and I are featured in the latest issue of WAG Magazine! You can read the full article online.  Learn about the inspiration for my designs, my roots, recent experiences, and future plans. It's a great write-up, and I am honored to be in great company on the pages of this beautiful issue. Other designers profiled by the magazine this month are Rolando Santana, and Sarah Phillips, and almost the entire issue is dedicated to fashion and style, with nods to Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, and others. It's a treat to be recognized by this great and well-respected publication as an emerging independent designer!


Elena Rosenberg featured in WAG Magazine, September 2013

WAG is a lifestyle magazine covering Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT. I have the Artrider Productions team to thank for making the connection between the magazine and me. Artrider is the producer of three shows in which I will be participating this fall, here in the NY tri-state area. In August, I had a great time meeting the WAG staff, including Mary Shustack (senior writer), Dee DelBello (publisher/creative director), Bob Rozycki (managing editor and photographer), and Alissa Frey (audience development director and my wonderful model). Print copies of the September 2013 issue are available locally, and the entire issue can be accessed online.

 

Elena Rosenberg's Designs modeled by Alissa Frey

 

Speaking of Fall events, I am excited to have been invited to show my designs at 5 fantastic retail exhibitions this season, taking place in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts! The complete line up of shows appears below. I hope to see you at one or more of these events. I will be bringing many new designs and colors to the shows, as well as a few entirely new surprises from a small collection of wearable fiber art accessories I am developing. Hint: it's wooly, but it's neither knit nor crochet. You will need to visit me at the shows to see more!

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art -- Fall 2013 SCHEDULE

 

Crafts at Lyndhurst, Tarrytown, NY, September 20-22, 2013

Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair, Philadelphia, PA, October 11-13, 2013

Crafts at Purchase Performing Arts Center, Purchase, NY, November 1-3, 2013

CraftWestport, Westport, CT, November 9-10, 2013

CraftBoston Holiday Show, Boston, MA, December 6-8, 2013

I invite you to follow me on Facebook for frequent updates and to sign up for my mailing list to hear about upcoming events and special offers.

Summer 2013 Issue of Fiber Art Now Magazine

The Summer 2013 issue of Fiber Art Now magazine comes out next week, and I am delighted to have contributed not one but two features to this issue. I curated the four-page spread "On View: Flora & Fauna" and wrote the cover article on wearable fiber art.

For "On View", the magazine's regular feature, we put a call for art out to the international fiber art community and received submissions from many countries and in every imaginable fiber medium. The selection that appears in print features everything from modern tapestry woven in Spain, to floral silk painting, to Jan Hopkins' wondrous fruit peel sculpture, to oversized felt masks, to....wait for it... an embroidered skunk pelt by Willow Rector. I am biased, of course, but this eye-opening selection of work alone, I believe, is reason enough to get this issue of the magazine or order an annual subscription. The summer issue also features articles on eco-dyeing and Kathryn Harmer Fox's multi-media fabric paintings.



On View: Flora & Fauna from Summer 2013 issue of Fiber Art Now  Magazine.



On View: Flora & Fauna from Summer 2013 issue of Fiber Art Now Magazine.

The cover features the Lithuanian nuno-felt artist Vilte Kazlauskaite, beautifully modeling her work. Along with five other exceptional fiber artists, she is the subject of my cover article "Wearable Art: The Most Intimate Art Form." The opportunity to interview Vilte, Amy Nguyen, Cassandra Shephard, Daiga Henson, Carter Smith, and Chris Triola, and to ponder and write about this art form that's very close to my heart, as you know, is something I will treasure for a long time.



Wearable Art: The Most Intimate Art Form from Summer 2013 issue of Fiber Art Now Magazine.

 

When I am not writing for Fiber Art Now, I contribute to managing the magazine's social media presence, and I also curate its Pinterest pages. The magazine's small and dedicated team, led by Editor-in-Chief Marcia Young, is a delight to work with, and I truly enjoy being part of the magazine. Visit the Fiber Art Now website to learn more about us.

Studio Yarn Sale

Friends, it's time for a little confession. Over the past few years of non-stop knitting and designing I have accumulated so many yarns (beautiful, colorful, soft and luxurious yarns!) that I may now own more yarns than your neighborhood yarn store.  There's yarn It's time for some of these skeins to find new homes and uses, and time for me to make room for... chances are, more fiber arts supplies everywhere I look!  As hard as it is to part with any lovely yarn, it's time for a studio clear-out, and a major YARN DESTASH SALE. It's time for some of these skeins to find new homes and uses, and time for me to make room for... chances are, more fiber arts supplies.
 

YARN DESTASH SALE from ELENA ROSENBERG Wearable Fiber Art

The 90+ yarns I'm offering for sale are all high quality hand-knitting/crocheting yarns, including many merino wool yarns, merino & cashmere blends, alpaca blends, plus several non-wool yarns, including bamboo and cottons. A number of the yarns are from the hard-to-find category and are no longer produced. All of them have been carefully and neatly stored in plastic bags, in a smoke-free & pet-free environment. Some yarns I have only in quantities of a couple of skeins (perfect for small-scale projects likes gloves), while other yarns are available in large quantities or 10 or more skeins (great for large projects like shawls).

What's more, all of the yarns are priced below retail, so there are some excellent deals to be had here. I am happy to ship within the US or internationally, just contact me for a shipping quote.

If you are not a knitter, please feel free to share this blog post / Yarn Sale announcement with your knitting friends.

Here are a few peeks at just some of the yarns available, as well as a list of brands. You can find complete information about each yarn (including dye lot #'s, quantities, pricing) on my RAVELRY DESTASH SALE PAGE. Note: this page is viewable only if you are a registered Ravelry user -- if you are on Ravelry, log in to your account to view it. If you are not yet on Ravelry and you are a knitting/crocheting fan, you should definitely join this amazing worldwide community of over 3 million knitters!

Of course, you can use many of these yarns for my original Knitting Patterns. Feel free to contact me if you would like specific recommendations regarding what yarns to use with what patterns, or if you have other questions.

I plan to add even more yarns to the sale in the near future, so please keep an eye on my Destash Sale page on Ravelry.  Happy yarn shopping and happy knitting!

The Yarn sale includes yarns from the following brands: Debbie Bliss, Tahki Stacy Charles, Berroco, Louet, Elann, Elsebeth Lavold, and others.

 

  

For full details regarding each yarn, and to see all of the available yarns, please visit my RAVELRY DESTASH SALE PAGE.

See you this spring in Boston!

 

My next event of the season is CraftBoston Spring, April 19-21, 2013! This exceptional show, now in its 12th year, is run by The Society of Arts and Crafts, and it is the premiere New England exhibition and sale of contemporary art, craft and design. If you are in the Northeast, this is a show worth traveling to, and I hope you can make it to Boston for the event. Please send me an email if you would like a personal invitation to this event (with a discounted admission) mailed to you.

 

The natural world inspires my designs all the time. Here's one of my new 100% silk hand-knit cowls alongside a photo I took at this year's magnificent Orchid Show at The New York Botanical Garden.

 

I am bringing many exciting designs to this show, including lovely accessories especially suited for springtime and beyond, in luxurious silk, bamboo, and cotton, in beautiful bright colors as well as in timeless neutrals.  I will have a selection of new fiber jewelry too. The timing is perfect for adding exquisite hand-knit heirlooms to your collection of accessories and for Mother's Day gift shopping.



CraftBoston Spring Hours Friday April 19, 10-6 / Saturday April 20, 10-6 / Sunday April 21, 11-5
(Preview Gala: Thursday, April 18, 6-9pm)
 Location: Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd (Boston, MA)
 

SAVE THE DATE: My fall 2013 schedule of events is lining up, and in September you will find me here, close to home in Westchester County, at Crafts at Lyndhurst. Located on the grounds of the grand and historic Lyndhurst estate, overlooking the Hudson River, this is one of the best-known outdoor art & fine craft festivals in the country. Take a weekend trip to the Hudson Valley and visit me at this beautiful event, September 20-22, 2013.

In other news, the Spring 2013 issue of Fiber Art Now magazine includes a feature I curated, with work by ten international fiber and textile artists, on the topic of "Growth and Renewal."

A feature curated by Elena Rosenberg, from the Spring 2013 issue of Fiber Art Now Magazine.

I invite you to follow me on Facebook for more news from my studio and inspiration from the world of art and design.
 

A Cordial Invitation to the 2013 American Craft Council Show

A cordial invitation to see my collection of hand-knit wearable fiber art at the American Craft Council Retail Show in Baltimore, Maryland, February 22-24, 2013. This is a magnificent exhibition of fine craft, and one of my favorite events of the year. Alongside familiar favorites, I am excited to share many new designs in a lovely new color palette with you. If you are within traveling distance of Baltimore, I hope you can make it to this fabulous event, featuring over 650 ceramic, wood, glass, metal, and fiber artists. Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art at American Craft Council Show 2013 Booth 2302 Baltimore Convention Center (1 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD) Friday, Feb. 22: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. For additional information, visit: http://shows.craftcouncil.org/baltimore I have a handful of complimentary one-day ACC show passes available. Please contact me today if you would like me to reserve one for you. Please note that due to the one-of-a-kind and very limited-production nature of my work, most of the new designs to be presented at the ACC Show are not available in my online shop at this time; however, I regularly share previews on my Facebook page and on my website, and I invite you to contact me directly regarding availability of styles, colors, and custom order inquiries. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of my work. Warm regards,

Future Events CraftBoston Spring Boston, MA, April 19-21, 2013 Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst Tarrytown, NY, September 20-22, 2013

Wendell Castle's Rules of Thumb & Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft News

A feature on the artist Wendell Castle in the latest issue of American Craft Magazine included Castle's "guides to creativity". I read and re-read the straightforward, candid, and extremely relevant lists several times when the magazine first arrived a couple of weeks ago, and thought that the start of the new year (Happy 2013!) is a perfect time to dwell on them again. How many of them hit particularly close to home for you?

The Original 10 Adopted Rules of Thumb
1. If you are in love with an idea, you are no judge of its beauty or value.
2. It is difficult to see the whole picture when you are inside the frame.
3. After learning the tricks of the trade, don’t think you know the trade.
4. We hear and apprehend what we already know.
5. The dog that stays on the porch will find no bones.
6. Never state a problem to yourself in the same terms it was brought to you.
7. If it’s offbeat or surprising it’s probably useful.
8. If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it.
9. Don’t get too serious.
10. If you hit the bull’s-eye every time, the target is too near.

Wendell Castle’s New Adopted Rules of Thumb
1. Distrust what comes easily.
2. You have to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.
3. Bring conflicting attitudes to bear on the same problem.
4. We should never know for whom you’re designing.
5. Always listen to the voice of eccentricity.
6. The whole secret to designing a chair is applying the seat of your pants to the seat of the chair.
7. The problem with taking life in your own hands is you have no one else to blame.
8. If your mind is not baffled, your mind is not fully employed.
9. Imagination, not reason, creates what is novel.
10. Jumping to conclusions is not exercise.
11. Keep knocking – eventually someone will look down to see who’s there.

(Source: American Craft Magazine, Dec/Jan '13)


Wendell Castle, Midnight, 2010 stained mahogany with oil finish

Wendell Castle, Desk, 1967. Photo: Jon Bolton

Castle's work is currently on exhibit at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft - "Wendell Castle: Forms within Forms". The show sounds marvelous and has received great reviews. Although I can't attend in person, I'm very pleased to announce that, as of last month, my work (hand-knit & crochet accessories & jewelry) is carried by the Museum's shop. It's a treat and an honor!