What's On in Limerick

There are a number of venues in Limerick that have a host of events on to choose from. One of my favourite is the Belltable Arts Centre, going since 1981. 

My Dad's mum brought me there in '81 to see Swan Lake. I really didn't want to go and protested all the way there, however i was captivated by the beautiful dancing (being a ballet student and all) and the feeling of ceremony and how important we were made feel. 

I didn't go to the Belltable again for many more years, this time it was to see Kevin McAleer. It was hilarious and again i was struck by that feeling of "going out" for a special event.

I've begun to bring my little one (of 14) to shows now, this time she get's to see the inner workings of stage productions, even meeting a few of the actors. I know she doesn't get the same feeling as I did but she is captivated by the shows that requires her to use her imagination. 

Don't wait until the young audience is older, get them in the door to enjoy the variety of shows that are on, get them using there imagination rather than being spoon fed dialogue. 

If you want to know what's on at the Belltable, just follow the link.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention... i never admitted to my Gran, Mum or anyone else that I actually enjoyed Swan Lake... stubborn or what!

House to Home Interiors

Woohoo! One of our favourite client’s websites went live today. We have been working very closely with Trisha from House to Home Interiors to create a site that reflects her new business. To say this woman is talented is an understatement! She is utterly creative, unique and provides her clients with a fantastic service. I know this as I met a number of her clients who kindly let us into their home to shoot the redesigned rooms. Check out her website www.housetohomeinteriors.ie, my favourite section is the before and after, it give a great sense of what Trisha does.

Check out some of the images that I took for her over the last few weeks, the first one being my favourite :)

A Busy few weeks...

I was recently asked to do a wee bit of marketing contract work for the Belltable Arts Centre, we have already sent out our first branded newsletter and I have done some photography for their first youth musical project, Crusade, the Irish premier opening 29th August.

I also did the photography for Limerick Youth Theatre's show The Miser, the amazing costumes and set were designed and made by Simon or Orchard Theatre Co

I had some lovely portrait clients and their families, come visit me in the studio space. And happy clients collect their images too :)

Finally, i am preparing Aine's images to update her site with her amazing knitwear. Aine is one of the most talented Irish Knitwear Designers I know, I love her latest collection! 

Another busy week ahead with loads to do, thank goodness :)

Irish Knitwear Designer

Anne Behan Irish Knitwear designer was with us today to talk about updating the website with her new collection. Keep your eyes peeled, its coming soon!

Free Online Class by Crafting Ireland

Really looking forward to this one, why not join us on the day :D. Crafting Ireland is hosting a free online class on the 21st July at 3pm BST. In the class we will create some mini scrapbook layouts. These layouts are perfect for card makers who want to get into scrapbooking or for scrapbookers who find they are running out of space for bigger layouts! We will also make a desktop flip display stand for the pages so you can show them off where ever you like! 

Supply list for the online class

• Mini layout pages:
• 4 sheets of cardboard/chipboard at 13cmx13cm
• 10 sheets 6×6 paper cut down to 13x13cm – keep the off cuts!
• This will make 4 double sided pages so you will have 8 pages in total, you can of course make more if you wish!
• *Polaroid style photo mats: photos are 7.4 x 7.4 cm and the white card to matt them on is 9.6cm x 8.1cm.
• You will need 8 photos and 8 photo mats
• Adhesives, border punches, trim, score board, duct tape and tools as usual
• Binding rings or ribbon (Binding rings do work the best)
• Crop a dile/eyelet setter and eyelets (optional)
• Hole punch

For the stand:

• 1 x Sheet of chipboard 30cm long and 15cm high
• 2 x pieces of chipboard 15cm high and 6cm wide
• Duct tape
• Paper or paint to cover it
• Optional – embellishments. I use tissue tape. 

Put it in your diary, July 21st :D

Mini Book Sneak Peek

A sneak peek into next Sunday's class, a mini book to home you precious memories, or like me to document an upcoming birthday :P There are still a few places left for just €25, includes full kit and lunch. Give me a shout on scraplim@gmail.com or 086 3817677 :)

Busy few weeks...

The Groupon deal i did is just over and already the sessions are being booked. I have met some amazing people and looking to meeting so many more :D This is the best thing about this job is meeting people for the first time and no two days are the same! These are a few of my favs from this weeks sessions, they range for Business & Actors Head shots to kids Portraits:D

Thanks for looking :D

Photography & Crafting

Today, my Groupon Limerick deal went live! Its only up for 3 days, so get it while you can. Its a portrait session, including a 10x8 and 4 5x5 images for €24. Click here to check out the deal

Talking about photos, I delivered some photos today to this guys lovely mummy, he has the most gorgeous eyes, talk about a heart breaker!!!

Yesterday we had our scrapbook class called "What's the Story". Using the yummy "Storyteller" crate papers to document a story behind a photo of a loved one or an event. Here is the class layout we were working from (and yes i got permission form her nibs to post this)

There was enough in the kit to at least another layout and cards and tags with oodles left over :D

Next class is July 8th and we'll be doing a mini book for all those gorgeous photos you have, tel 086 3817677 for more information. 


Thanks for reading,


Eva

Sneak Peek in to next weeks class

What's The Story? is it a Love Story, is it a long one or a short story? Whatever story you have to tell, scrapbooking is a great way of getting that story down on paper :D Next Sunday's class is all about mixing a vintage style with a contemporary feel. All you need is a 6x4 photo (portrait style) and your usual kit.

Class is €25 including your supplies, enough tea and coffee to keep you afloat and cheese and ham sambos. There only a few places left so if you'd like to join us just email scraplim@gmail.com 

DT & Classes

Crafting Ireland Design Team


It was such a pleasure to be asked by Timi of Crafting Ireland to join their design team. I'm really looking forward to pushing the creativity. If you haven't yet seen the new edition of the magazine then follow this link http://issuu.com/craftingireland/docs/issue_10 there is loads of inspiration and creativity :D

"What's the Story?"

The next Class is on June 10th and after careful deliberation we are going to do a scrapbook page inspired by the Crate Papers Story Teller. Do you have a story to tell, about yourself, about a family member or a friend? This class will mix vintage ideas and elements with a contemporary twist and feel. 



The class is €25 and includes your full kit, tea/coffee and a light lunch.


To book either email me on scraplim@gmail.com or ring on 086 3817677

Aletered Box Class & Mini Book

Its been busy, busy, busy the last 2 weeks. I love it that way! Anyways, last weekends class of the Minibook and Box went down a storm, we have so much talent amongst us it was such a pleasure and a pure laugh with some of the shenanigans that went on. Here are a few pics from the class.

Here are some pics of the class we did:

Thank you to all the amazingly talented ladies for coming to the class, and a special thank you to Kerry for bring her goodies from An Siopa Bui. 


News of the next class will be announced shortly along with news about our regular crops :)

A simple Scrapbook demo for Busy Bee's

I had a great time last night with the lovely ladies of Busy Bee's craft club. There is nothing better than being in the company of so many crafty women :D

The idea was to demo scrapbooking to some who may never have seen it before, so i decided to do a very simple layout (not to scare them :D) with 2-3 techniques. I used some papers from We R Memory Keepers and a photo of my lovely little woman (who does not allow me to take her photo anymore :( hence the shallow depth of field )

The technique we did was making a paper flower from old book pages

We used chipboard letters as a template for making our own title out of co-ordinating card stock (I sware I'm not obsessive with co-ordination, hee hee)

If you don't have co-ordinating (:P) ribbon then you can use some cardstock as a tab on your tag :)

I think the ladies enjoyed the demo and I reckon we have a few converts along with one or two who are already scrapbooking. What I learned.... I seem to love co-ordinating papers with my cardstock and my images, who knew?

April Showers

The weather over the last few weeks has been typically april showers hasn't it. And I know we are in for some more flooding  in the area but the sun will eventually come out and sure you can't have a rainbow with out the rain, (i know there is some symbolism in there, hee hee!). Anyways in acknowledgement of our lovely Irish weather here is my April Showers card :)

The sun is from the Paper Smooches digi stamps, you can find them at this link . 

Another sneak peek at our next class on Sunday May 13th, there are a few places left so do check out the full class details and price by following this link. If you can't make the class and would like the kit with full colour instructions then give me a shout at scraplim@gmail.com 

Finally, great news from Kerry from An Siopa Bui. She is coming down to do the class and I have asked her to bring some goodies, naughty or what!

Talk soon,

Eva

What a great weekend!

My Mum had no idea that we had arranged for the whole family to be with her at the gorgeous Carrig House to help celebrate her 75th Birthday. And boy did we celebrate, we're still recovering!

Congratulations to Lisa who is the winner of the carfty goodies, as picked randomly by this app :) http://bit.ly/hB7E6H Lisa send me your postal addy and I'll post out the goodies :)

Right off to make a birthday card for a someone who loves Ooooooooooooooowls :)

Sneak Peek and Competition

So I have just finished making the next class "Altered Box & Mini Book" using the Café Garden papers by American Crafts, and I have to say I love it! I can see me making a few of these as gifts but the first one will be mine (mwhahahaha). I'm going to use it to remind me what I am grateful for. It will have notes and photos about the ones I love. Want to have a peep in the box?

I might even show more during the week :D (ta da da da, ta da da da). Give me a shout on 086 3817677 or email scraplim@gmail.com to book your place. 

• Date: Sunday 13th May

• Studio Space, Annacotty

• Time: 11am – 4pm

• Cost: €25 (includes all your materials, tea/coffee and lunch)

I know I joke about calling my Mum Yoda and its not because she is small and green (small maybe but certainly not green!), it's because she is such a wise person! Well It's her birthday today, "Happy Birthday Mum". And boy are we are going to be celebrating with her tonight. 

So i thought I would have a wee competition to celebrate here :). The question is, what age is my Mum today? Hint: The answer is on her birthday card somewhere.... Just post your answer here and I will randomly pick a winner on Monday and they will be posted out some scrappy goodies :) Best of luck!

Altered Box & Mini Book Class

The next Scrapbooking Limerick class is now available to book and I'm really looking forward to this one! It is an altered box and 6x6 mini book class using the yummy new collection from American Crafts called Café Garden. "Its rich ambiance boasts vintage wallpaper - inspired floral patterns, teakettles and silverware." Sounds delish!

• Date: Sunday 13th May
• Studio Space, Annacotty
• Time: 11am – 4pm
• Cost: €25 (includes all your materials, tea/coffee and lunch)

You won't need to bring photos to this class as they can be added afterwards, what you will need is your basic tools, trimmer, inks, glue etc.


As the numbers are limited to 12, booking early is advisable. For more information or to book your place either ring me on 086 3817677 or email scraplim@gmail.com

Catch Lights

I was recently talking to some crafty friends about taking portraits and in my opinion the eyes have it! Focus on the eyes and you can get away with the rest of the face being a little soft. Try and capture the reflection of the light in the eyes, also know as catch lights as this adds life to your subject. The best time of day to take a photo is during the golden hour, just before the sun sets or just after it rises. The photos below were taken in large open interior spaces with loads of light for professional headshots. However we you can do this with your own images.

How to do this at home:

In this example below I asked my daughter to stand just inside the door where she would be in shade, and got her to face the light. As you can see in the close up the lights were caught in her eyes (as well as myself).

 If you are out and about, try placing your subject just under the shade of a tree facing the light. You will need to adjust the contrast and remove any colour casts using your photo software but you should have the same effect, giving the eyes some beautiful life.

A weekend of craftiness

Phew, back in the door after a long but great day! An early start this morning to collect Kate and then a relaxing drive to Athlone for the Jamoree CHA 2012. Thanks to Create with Kate and Mandy for a wonderfully creative day. Not only was the class superb but also the make and takes. Some fantastic goodies in the shop too :)

Mandy's BoBunny Class:

Make and Takes (more like another class really):

I even managed to get a layout and a card done too :D

Yesterday I got to craft with the lovely Ber. We had a good laugh, chilling and working on our card swap for Busy Bee's. I managed  to get mine done by using Paper Smooches Spark challenge as inspiration.

If you want to know how the above card was made just check out the video below:

Right, off to get the school bag ready for the morrow :D