Leonardo da Vinci

Image Wikimedia

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

Leonardo da Vinci

Why I love Dublin?

Dublin Dance Festival

I'm always surprised by the amount of events, festivals and conferences that Dublin hosts.

 We are a tiny capital relative to places like London, Madrid or New York but we still seem to attract some of the best and most interesting performers, artists and creatives in general.

This year we've already had Offset and Jameson Film Festival. In a few weeks we're having an international conference about Children's Book which I'm hoping to go to, later in May Dublin Dance Festival and Dublin Theatre Festival in September

I loved this video produced to launch this year's dance festival

I can't wait to see a few of the performances this year

Trish Brown Dance Company via The Guardian

Book gift away : Edith Sitwell

 "Why not be oneself?

That is the whole secret of a successful appearance.

 If one is a greyhound, why try to look like a Pekingese?”

Edith Sitwell

I'm not sure I've ever given anything away on Silent Storyteller...maybe I have, memory fails.  I've been offered lots of different products in the past years  to review and share, but I've never felt they related in any way to the essence of this blog so have turned them down. 

I bought this book a year or two ago, with the intention of giving it to one of my readers. I had a copy of my own and thought someone out there would love to have this too!

So in celebration of World Book Day I'm giving away one of my favourite little books. English Women by Edith Sitwell.

It's a library edition from 1942...so a little tattered and yellowed....It has 8 plates in colour and 27 black and white illustrations

If you'd like to win this book just leave a comment here or retweet my tweet : )

Lent day 6: Barefoot grandmothers

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you

and then you win

Gandhi

Lent day 4: Random image and changes

 "However vague they are, dreams have a way of concealing themselves and leave us no peace until they are translated into reality, like seeds germinating underground, sure to sprout in their search for the sunlight." 

Lin Yutang 

Quietasoxen

 I wanted to write a post today about looking for inspiration for my new studio space.

Well, not exactly new...but repurposed space!

But I found this picture and just had to share it...not sure when or where it's from...possibly Mongolia? Isn't their hair incredible?

Some of you know I've decided to temporarily put on hold making dresses for now and focus on my new calling. Not sure what that is yet, but I know it will be related to the internet and visual storytelling...

I haven't given up making my collection, I'm still producing one ongoing knitwear collection a year which I'll export to Japan, through my website and in Bow. I don't think I could ever stop working with cashmere. It's magic! Also collaborating with Molloy & Sons to make some garments which are 100% spun, woven and sewn in Ireland. 

 But I'm more excited about this new direction, than I have been, lately, about making clothes.

I've always thought you must follow what your heart and gut tells you. So I've given myself some time to absorb new passions and interests.  I did consider going back to college, but I don't think I could cope being told what to do, or what to study and when. I'm self directing my training and have a heap of books and a few sites I'm using to learn as much as I can, on my own. Being obsessive and disciplined helps.

At the moment my head is exploding with all the information , but I'm hoping it will all fall into place, in some vacant portion of my brain. And as Lin Yutang said...hoping the seeds will sprout looking for sunlight!

I've already had my first 'client' meeting and I'm working on a new website for them.

: )