Growing up in a family with a strong Irish heritage is a blessing for me.  Through a tight bond, my family and I share old Irish traditions and cook Irish meals, but one of the most significant things we keep are belongings of our ancestors’ pasts—most being traditional handmade knick-knacks, and yes, crafts. Unlike my other experiences through this blog, this time I did not just stumble upon a craft that interested me—this time I sought it out.  I got the idea when I begun to think about what is important and personal to my family and our heritage.  I thought of these crafts, these special belongings we have around our home.

Ideas ran through my head of the different crafts we keep and the possibilities were wide.  I couldn’t make a decision on which craft to search for.  It didn’t come to me until a bus ride to Howth last week when I spot Saint Brigid’s Church through the window.  This first caught my eye because of my first name, Brigid; but then I began to think about the Saint Brigid’s Cross hanging in our kitchen at home.

It is believed that the cross is a protector of the home from fire and evil and was originally made from straw.  Saint Brigid is one of Ireland’s most significant female saints and was the supporter of doctors, midwives, healers, poets, and coincidentally, crafts.  Her first weaving of the cross was at the death bed of her father.  The cross is traditionally crafted every year on February 1st to celebrate the coming of early spring; February 1st is also Saint Brigid’s Day.

In a perfect world I would have found a workshop or a cross-maker to teach me to craft a cross; however, the tradition of the February 1st cross-making might dampen that idea.  I did some research and I couldn’t find anything on workshops, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me.  My mind was set on investigating this.

Earlier today, I arrived in Galway for the weekend.  I walked through the small town and I noticed an outdoor craft market.  As I was gazing at all of the amazing artwork, I saw a bunch of Saint Brigid’s crosses.  A sense of warmth and happiness came upon me and I began talking to the woman behind the display, the artist.  Her name is Ann and she hand-makes the crosses, along with other traditional Irish crafts.

Running into Ann in Galway turned out to be a stumble upon moment, yet again.  Through our chat I learned how much traditional crafts are important to the Irish culture.  Many still value trinkets and ornaments, not only for their beauty, but more importantly for their meaning and story behind them, just like Brigid’s Cross.  Even Irish-Americans, such as members of my family, are helping keep the tradition alive by cherishing these sacred Irish crafts.  Tradition is what ties us to our family trees and what connects us to our future generations.

Me, modeling a favorite hat

If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far during my stay in Dublin, it’s that coincidences are everywhere.  Not too long ago, a peer and I stumbled upon a woman who makes beautiful hats.  We stopped to check out the striking head pieces and started chatting with the artist.  The few hats she had on display are wonderful, and any woman would feel fabulous wearing one of these.  I know this because I tried a few on.  I’ve never worn hats like these and I fell in love with the idea of getting to wear one to an event.

Millinery is the designing and crafting of women’s hats.  It surely can be labeled as a craft because of its use of dexterity and artistic skill. Catherine Cooke is an Irish milliner who hand makes each one of her hats, many of them being one of a kind.  The hats are made for women to wear at various events, such as weddings, horse derbies, and outdoor parties.  She also offers millinery workshops where interested people come to learn. Catherine will teach you how to make your own head pieces, with the hopes of walking away with a unique piece of art.  I think that’s so amazing; I love when artists share their craft and open their skills to an audience in an interactive way.

You may be wondering… what does this have to do with coincidences?  Well, as soon as she mentioned that her hats are perfect to wear to horse derbies, that’s all I could think about.  I’ve always watched the famous Kentucky Derby on TV and admired the beautiful hats the women in the stands wear.  This made me yearn to attend a derby one day, wearing a hat like this.  Anyway, back to coincidences, soon after meeting the hat maker, my mom told me that when she comes to Ireland to meet me after my coursework is over, we’ll be attending the Irish Derby!

Horse races are said to be very popular over here in Ireland, and the Irish Derby is the biggest one.  I’m so excited.  As soon as my mom told me we have tickets, I thought of the hats.  I have to buy them for us. We cannot attend a derby without the most important part of derby-attire, the hat!

What I love so much about the craft of millinery and hat making is that it is entirely possible to make hats that are unique in many ways, whether it be to a specific personality, event, or even outfit.  There are so many different characteristics that can be put into these hats that make it possible for uniqueness.

As I’m writing this, I’m becoming more and more excited for the Derby, although I think I’m more excited to wear a crafted head piece.  I know this event will not only be special for the beautiful hats, but for the bonding I will share with my mother over a bunch of horses and a beautiful accessory.

Catherine Cook and her hats

Last week I got a phone call from my mom delivering some unfortunate news.  She was calling to tell me that my grandmother had died earlier that day.  I was so upset because I had such a close relationship with my Gram.  This was the same grandmother featured in last week’s post, A Kettle and Two Reminders.

Let me refresh your memory:  a few days into my stay here, I bought a teakettle for my grandmother as a gift from my travels.  Colm De Ris, A friendly potter who creates beautiful artwork, sold it to me.  I knew my grandmother would love it and I could not wait to give it to her when I returned home.

A few days after writing A Kettle and Two Reminders I received the news of her death.  After hanging up the phone from my mom, my face covered in tears and smeared makeup, I grabbed the kettle, put it next to my bed and stared at it.  At first, the only thing I could think was how she will never get to see it.  That kettle suddenly changed its meaning to me completely.

Now, the kettle that I bought the other day at an art fair as a souvenir for my grandmother is going to stay with me forever.  Part of the reason I wanted to buy this for her was because growing up, and even today, we always would share conversations over a cup of tea on Sunday mornings.  Those mornings were some of the best moments with her, and now the teapot will not only be a symbol of my grandmother, but of those mornings

The Celtic symbol, The Triple Spiral, displayed on the kettle has earned a new meaning to me too.  Some say each of the three spirals stand for life, death, and rebirth and how they are all connected.  Or in other words, that the spirit never dies.  This will remind me of my belief that my Gram is still with me in spirit and that she will always watch over me.  Others say that each spiral stands for grandmother, mother, and daughter.  How appropriate.  The two most important women in my life, are my mom and my gram.

So, you might be wondering how this relates to crafts or even art in general, because I was too, until it came to me a little bit ago.  My fingers are typing away and rambling about a kettle and my grandmother, and I realize: this teakettle, that a stranger designed and made with his own two hands, has such a strong meaning to me now.  Artists design pieces usually for other purposes, but often artwork builds such a strong personal meaning to the owner.  All over the world, people own craftwork, whether it be jewelry, quilts, crocheted blankets, wooden clocks, or pottery, and often these crafts have personal meaning and are passed down through generations.  I hope my Gram’s teapot is too.

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The sun is shining early this afternoon as I stroll through the beautiful streets of Dublin, taking in the new culture that surrounds me.  Along the journey, gazing admirably at the city life, I stumble upon the pillared, powerful looking building across from the famous Trinity College: The Bank of Ireland.  It was unlike any bank I’d ever seen.  Yes, it was the pillars and the beautiful architecture that first caught my attention, but as I looked deeper, I’m drawn by the art fair occurring on its front porch.  Artists from all over Dublin packed a few of their pieces from their studios to join the fair in hopes of getting their name and work out for people to see and purchase.

As I approach the last artist’s station, my attention is grabbed by Colm De Ris and his beautiful pottery.  Everything was amazing from vases to large bowls.  These 100% handcrafted pieces surely made me fall in love.  Colm is an Irish potter who discovered his love and talent for the art.  Over the past few years his art has become popular throughout Ireland and even some other parts of Europe.  I think it was the beautiful colors that caught my attention.  His pieces are usually painted in greens, blues, and reds and have a traditional Irish appeal to them.

I see a teakettle among the beautiful pieces and I think of my kettle-collecting grandmother back home.  I couldn’t resist purchasing it for her.  For a reasonable price, I got her the newest addition to her collection.  I was even tempted to buy a piece for myself!

As soon as I took myself away from Colm’s beautiful pottery, I begin to look at the event as a whole.  Being at the art fair blinded me of the fact that I was at a national bank.  This isn’t something I’d typically find back home in the states, an art fair at a bank.  When speaking with Colm, he told me that every so often the bank allows small business, usually for art and food, to come display their work.  I not only see that I’m at an art fair at a bank, but I’m able to look beyond that.  I went on to think about Dublin’s open and publically displayed love for the arts and small, striving businesses.  America has an obsession with big corporate businesses and it is beautifully refreshing for me to experience this love for the arts that Dublin displays.

I am sitting in my room right now, staring at the teakettle.  I’m reflecting on what this will mean to me in the future. Right now, I’m being reminded of my grandmother while I am miles away from her. And then I think, when I’m back home in America in a few weeks, when I look at it, what will I think of?  I know that every time I look at it I will think of my summer in Dublin.

During our studies in Dublin, Hannah Conrady and Brigid Cosgrove are the students who will be exploring Folk Arts and Craft.