PJ's Studio: Ireland

Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Galway Illuminated

This month’s piece from the Illuminated Ireland series features a photo of Galway.

It’s a college town full of life and fun. And the oysters were to die for. Here’s the original photo…

The letter “G” drawing…

And the collage.

Another photo of the final version.

Here are links to the other pieces from the Illuminated Ireland series…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/01/glendalough-illuminated.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/02/kilkea-rose-embroidery.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/03/craggaunowen-illuminated.html

And, here are some other previously posted embroideries…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2014/06/embroidery-wisteria.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/03/fighting-fish-orchids.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2025/01/embroidery-world-trade-center-butterfly.html

Cheers!

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Craggaunowen Illuminated

This month’s piece from the Illuminated Ireland series features a photo of a crannog.

People first began building crannogs – dwellings on artificial islands - during the Neolithic period. Crannog ruins in Ireland have been dated 1200 – 600 B.C.

Much to my surprise, I was recently watching a tv show about Scotland and some popped up. As it turns out, they can be found in Wales as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crannog

This reconstruction can be found in Craggaunowen…

https://www.craggaunowen.ie/

Which also has a cute little castle, so it’s well worth a visit.

Here’s the drawing of the illuminated letter C. ( I thought a sea creature would be appropriate.)

And, the photoshop combination ready for printing on linen.

Here’s another photo of the final version.

Here are links to the other pieces from the Illuminated Ireland series…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/01/glendalough-illuminated.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/02/kilkea-rose-embroidery.html

And, here are some other previously posted embroideries…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/11/embroidery-coral-bouquet.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2024/02/embroidery-chinatown-butterfly.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2013/06/embroidery-orange-tulips.html

Cheers!

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Dublin

It’s that time of the year again,

when my thoughts go to Ireland

and the terrific visit we had.

Dublin has something for everyone. While it’s famous for its Georgian doors, when we went to check them out, Edward accused me of taking him to the most boring part of town!

Grafton Street is a 24/7 street fair,

and O’Connell Street a living history lesson.

You can even see bullet holes in some of the statues.

But what I remember most,

is the beautiful Celtic art in the museum,

and watching the hilarious Martin McDonagh play “Lonesome West” with an Irish audience!

Previous Ireland/parade blogs…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2025/03/ireland-5.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/03/erin-go-bragh.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2017/03/ireland-2.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2022/07/kilkea-castle.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2024/03/ireland-4.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2018/03/st-patricks-day-2018.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2023/03/nyc-st-patricks-day-parade-2023.html

Erin Go Brah!

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Kilkea Rose embroidery

This piece from the embroidered Ireland series features a rose from the backyard of Kilkea Castle.

The castle is a family favorite - Edward visited in 1968 and we stayed there together in 2001. I felt like a princess.

Here’s the photo of the rose…

The drawing of the illuminated letter K…

And, the photoshop combination ready for printing –

I thought a pink tint would be fun.

Here’s another photo of the final version.

And a link to the Kilkea Castle website…

https://www.kilkeacastle.ie/

Here is a link to the last piece from the Embroidered Ireland series…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2026/01/glendalough-illuminated.html

And, here are some other previously posted embroideries…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/08/embroidery-pink-lilies.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2015/05/embroidery-st-pauls-rose.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2024/01/embroidery-guggenheim-butterfly.html

Cheers!

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Glendalough Illuminated

This is the first piece in an embroidery series inspired by our trip to Ireland in July 2001 and the beauty of Irish illuminated manuscripts.

For the background I combined two photographs taken at Glendalough – the place where the Irish saved civilization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendalough

https://www.amazon.com/How-Irish-Saved-Civilization-Irelands/dp/0385418493

Then I drew an illuminated “G” based on a classic design.

Combined it looked like this. Then I printed it on linen, and added the embroidery.

Here’s the finished piece again.

Here’s a look at some other embroidery posts…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/07/embroidery-chat-eiffel.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/07/embroidery-tall-coral.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2014/01/embroidery-rialto-bridge.html

Cheers!

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Ireland 5

As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches my thoughts turn to Ireland.

I read recently that Guinness is experiencing a resurgence in sales. In fact, it is the fastest growing imported beer in the U.S. in this its 266^th year of brewing. (Started 1759.)

Demand has been so high that some pubs in the UK have run out!

Others have been limiting consumption. Oh no!

Apparently, Guinness’s newfound popularity is due to a social media challenge, embraced by celebrities and influencers called “splitting the G.”.

Drinkers gulp their Guinness in the hopes that the horizon between the stout and the foam falls in the middle of the “G” on a branded pint glass.

Hmm. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is more to it than that.

A while back I saw a taxi ad that said : Guinness - 90 Calories.

I was skeptical so I did some research and found that a 9 ounce glass had 90 calories, and a 12 ounce one was only 125 calories. And it’s so much better tasting than a light beer. Wow!