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The stringing continues....actually this blog could probably stay on stringing for the forseeable future.....the highlight today was a visit from my friends Elma and Cathy. So good to see them and all the right things said by them!

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Sarah's Grandad Charles skyped us from Manchester today to see how we are hanging the heads and to talk through the technical issues involved in doing it. I think he is happy with what we have come up with!

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We were given a new handle for needles today made by James Carroll. It feels good and is giving Charlie's handles a close run.

We also had loads of visitors today including in the photo my Mum and niece Katie who has been accepted to Glasgow Art College. (Totally jealous....would love to go there!)

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Sarah and Roger hung the first head today in Studio 2. They were able to hang it through a balcony in the studio. It gives an idea of the height and how well the fibre hangs. It also shows where the points of hanging are. The other heads are photographed waiting, having already had their fibre attached.

Thank you to all who offered suggestions and theories on how to hang the heads. Some of them include Ken, Martin, Howard, Sheila................

Patrick's Day

Worked a half day on the project today and then went to see the parade in Kilkenny. The photos included here are of 3 amazing projects/iniatives happening in Kilkenny. The first is boarding made for the day by local artists. The second are heads made by students/artists in KCAT and the last two projects are women from the 5-6 Women's Project in Kilkenny.

Extra Felt News

Sarah had a busy weekend in the mud! We heard about all the bruises, cold and misery. Funny how she is smiling in the photos.

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These photos show how the bases are being stitched with a curved needle which works between each stitch and is then pulled out with a pliers.

Extra Felt News

Another use for felt samples. Any orders for body parts will be taken seriously....

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Today I learnt how to do a cat's cradle. Its way harder than I thought and mainly I ended up in tangles. I love the idea that this game is around for ever.

The photos also show plasters on my fingers which I am using to try and protect them while I am sewing!

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Jennie Castle is busy organising all her images and paper work for her exhibition in Berlin. Check out her link (on the right) here to see what she is doing. She is showing off her cool drawing facility on her computer. (I want one)

I spent a second day stringing. My hands have loads of cuts and they ache but there is very little sympathy.....more like disinterest.....I need some union reps!

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Today I started the stringing of fibre to the heads (photos include detail & process). Its great to get this far and the resolution to getting a needle with an eye large enough for the fibre was solved by using a feeder thread.

As the sun sets the studio is washed in the most amazing light. Sarah photographed her shadow this evening to get this amazing shadow photograph.

The final photo is on the drive home from the studio waiting for the Waterford train to pass.

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Sarah spent the day Ghostbusting, sorry Fireproofing the fibre today. Sarah stated 'best day working on the project for so far' ....outside in neon orange competing with the sun.

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Carmen's partner sprays the fiber with Fire Retardent in her studio. It means that the smells and the spray are kept away from us while we are working.

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Carmen came to show us the nuno felt scarves she is making. A good photo opportunity to shoot her and her scarves looking absolutely amazing.

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Nicky making a bird with the broken needles.

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All the yarn arrived today despite being sent over a week apart. The colour is beautiful. Now we only need to fireproof and stitch it while walking 5000 times 5 meters.

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Today was seriously hard work and when Sarah asked Cristina about her 8th Birthday, I couldn't take any more!

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I have included photos here of the 500 plus felting needles we have broken over the past five weeks. Cristina used them for a drawing and then refused to let us use the needles for 24 hours while she admired her drawing.

No fibre has arrived yet but fingers crossed it will be here on Tuesday.

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Peter Donovan made a needle for us today in Grennan Mill to go through the heads. It measures 23.5cm and is (fingers crossed) tough enough for the job.