We are delighted to share with you the newest members to join our collective over the past couple of months. Some incredible talent here and we are excited to welcome them all to the Cork Craft and Design community.
Katie Sandham is a mix media maker based in Bweeng, North Cork. Katie is an Arts Graduate from University College Cork, who is Inspired by nature and the elements, she works mostly with encaustics, to create a variety of pieces.
Katie works to capture emotion and a sense of place and belonging in her original pieces, with a story behind every one. Katie created Gloundine Studio in 2021, to pursue her passion for creating.
To round up this talented bunch is Cork textile maker Orla McCarthy of Loombeam. Orla completed a degree in Textile and Surface Design (BA Honours) in NCAD in 2014. She then went on to win the Society of Dyers and Colourists International Design Competition in 2014.
Orla set up Loombeam while being temporarily laid off from her full-time job in retail. She works with Punch Needle Embroidery and Weaving techniques to create colourful, joyous wall hangings. She is obsessed with colour and the endless combinations she can come up with. Words and Typography are another big part of her work and bring a sense of fun and humour to her pieces. She is available for commissions and happy to work to a clients brief.
Kira O’Brien Ceramics Kira is a graduate from Colaiste Stiofain Naofa and The Crawford College of Art and Design. She has been working in clay for the past sixteen years and has Exhibited both Nationally and Internationally , most notably La Corouge Switzerland , Missoula Gallery Montana and Ceramic Biennale Croatia. She is a member of The Society Of Cork Potters, Nua Collective and Owenabue Artist Collective. She is currently teaching Adult Ceramic Night Classes in Colaiste Stiofain Naofa. Kira also works on a Commission basis. She lives and works in Crosshaven Cork.
Kira’s one of a kind pieces are made in earthenware and stoneware and come in Functional and Sculptural forms. They are decorated with slips, stains and enamels.
Mandie Wheeler is the brainchild behind Earthly Candles who make hand poured soy wax candles and wax melt bars, Mandie always loved candles and after months of testing many different waxes, wicks, and methods in order to create the perfect candle, she succeeded! Each candle is made using quality soy wax, premium fragrance oils and most importantly, love.
All the packaging used by Earthly Candles is eco-friendly with zero plastic involved and has a very minimalistic look to it.
Brendan Corcoran is a furniture maker and designer whose workshop is based outside of the idyllic countryside village of Ballinhassig Co. Cork. A Cork native he trained in furniture making
and design in Scoil Stiofan Naofa, working here in Ireland for a time before emigrating to Toronto ,Canada. While there he worked making custom furniture and high end cabinetry under a number of talented Canadian craftspeople.
Having returned home in 2018 he decided to work for himself crafting his own designs. His work is inspired by the natural character of the timber itself, traditional methods of joinery and simple yet elegant design. He is however, happy to work with clients on a commission basis utilising the skills he has learned over the years to achieve the particular style they may want but are unable to find elsewhere. His work ranges from small scale jewellery boxes and cabinetry through to larger free standing furniture such as kitchen tables and beds and on occasion fitted furniture for living rooms/bedrooms and offices. His specialty items being smaller keepsake boxes, display cabinets and the like, as the scale allows him to focus on the finer details.
Goldie Threads Embroidery: Fiona is an embroidery artist specialising in creating custom pet portraits & wildlife inspired pieces. She is a huge dog-lover and many of her pieces include little elements of dog-related humour! Her work is characterised by highly detailed stitching, forever trying to capture the essence of her furry, feathered, scaley or leafy subject. Happiest when surrounded by nature, her work is an outward expression of the things that spark real joy.
All Fiona’s original designs are stitched on cotton and upcycled fabrics, and framed in bamboo hoops or stitched on 100% certified organic sustainable tote bags.