Sunday, February 27, 2011

UWIB Goes Green:)

Welcome to the UWIB Blog Hop...we hope you enjoy seeing all we have to offer and find something wonderful for yourself or a friend.

"CLADDAGH"
Wall Hang finishes to 22" Square

What says green more than the Emerald Isle itself, Ireland. I am Irish on my mother's side and on a visit back in 2002 she and I started designing this piece together.

It is based on a 500 year old romantic Irish lore from the ancient fishing village of Claddagh just outside the walls of the City of Galway on the west coast of Ireland.

A fishing boat from the village of Claddagh was captured by Algerian pirates and the crew was sold into slavery. One of the crew was a young man by the name of Richard Joyce who was to be married the same week he was captured. Instead, Richard found himself far away from his love and his homeland.
He was sold to a wealthy Moorish goldsmith who taught him the trade and, eventually, he became skilled enough to design a ring of special significance: the hands were for friendship, the crown was for loyalty, and the heart was for love.
Years went by, but Richard never forgot his sweetheart. When he was finally released, his master asked him to stay and offered him riches and the hand of his only daughter in marriage. But Richard Joyce declined, eager to return to his Irish love. With much trepidation he returned to Galway to find that the girl he had been due to marry so many years before had herself never married. They were wed immediately and their wedding band was the Claddagh ring he had designed and made for her.
By tradition the ring is taken to signify the wish that love and friendship should reign supreme. The hands signify friendship, the crown loyalty, and the heart love. Often representing the sole major investment of a fishing family, they have been traditionally handed down from mother to daughter. Today, the ring is worn extensively across Ireland, either on the right hand with the heart turned outwards showing that the wearer is "fancy free" or with the heart turned inwards to denote that he or she is "spoken for." The pride of place is on the left hand, with the heart turned in, indicating that the wearer is happily married and the love and friendship will last forever, the two never separated.
But one word of caution: it is said to be very bad luck for a person to purchase a Claddagh ring for themselves. It must be given or received as a gift.


I was once told that it was tradition to receive the ring from your grandmother and I proudly wear my grandmother's claddagh today.

My quilt pattern can be found in my etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/68715701/claddagh-quilt-pattern

This is another color way and you can read more about how I have played with this design in an older post: http://nestlingsbyrobin.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-takes-on-old-favorites.html

If you are a quilter or know one, you can find more of my patterns on my website: http://www.nestlingsbyrobin.com/

If you are not a quilter but would love to own one of these designs, please contact me at robin@nestlingsbyrobin.com and I will send you my contract for commissioned work.

Please be sure to visit all our Participating Members:

Karen Terry-McDuffie http://www.jmjcreat%20ions.blogspot.com/
Linda ciaobelajewelry1@gmail.com
Birgitte Hendricks http://sewdanish.blogspot.com/
Judy Woodley http://www.wellspri%20ngcreations.blogspot.com/
Rita Wetzel http://ritascreativenest.com/
Audrey F http://audreygardenlady.blogspot.com/
Robin Maria Pedrero http://www.pocketfullofcolors.blogspot.com/
Ann Rinkenberger http://harvestmoonbyhand.blogspot.com/
Trudy Miller http://www.mommagoddesstreasures.blogspot.com/
Cory Trusty http://aquarianbath.blogspot.com/
Cory Trusty http://delicateadornments.blogspot.com/
Nancy Pace http://nancyswildwirejewelry.blogspot.com/
Wendy Kelly http://blog.vintageday.com/

12 comments:

Bella Linda Designs said...

Oh, that's wonderful! I never read the story before! It is a beautiful story and the fiber art quilted piece you made is incredible! I have so much admiration for someone who designs and makes their art...enjoy the blog hop, hopping around!

Audrey said...

Hey Robin,

AudreyGardenLady here...hopping over to your blog!
I am loving the family heritage behind your new creation in partcular!
Lovely work!

Audrey

Anonymous said...

So very, very beautiful! As a quilter myself I appreciate the time and effort it took you to design, piece and quilt this. What memories it must bring you. Love the story of the ring which inspired this design.

Unknown said...

Robin, What a beautiful tribute! I learned something today. You do such beautiful work!
Karen
www.jmjcreations.etsy.com

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

WOW! Your quilt is lovely, Robin! I enjoyed reading about the symbolism behind the ring and the way it is worn. I'm off to check out your shop now.

Ann
http://harvestmoonbyhand.blogspot.com

Nancy Pace Art said...

Robin, this is a beautiful story, one of best oldest friends is a sweet red haired Irish lass, I will have to share your blog post with her.I really love your art,very pretty quilt.

Bella Linda Designs said...

Opps...forgot to leave my uwib signature...my blog address on this blog hopping journey!

wwwdotbellalindadesignsdotnet

Momma Goddess Treasures said...

You are a true artist with fabric and thread. Gorgeous work! I enjoyed the history as well. Just beautiful!

Trudy
www.mommagoddess.etsy.com

Audrey said...

Goodness I forgot to leave my creds on the first visit...

http://AudreyGardenLady.etsy.com
http://AudreyGardenLady.artfire.com
http://AudreysCraftDestash.etsy.com

Robin Pedrero said...

Ohhh My What a wonderful surprise!! This is such a cool post and pieces!!

Etsy ~ http://RobinMariaPedrero.etsy.com
Facebook -http://artist.to/robinmariapedrero/
Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/robinpedrero

Judy said...

What a beautiful quilt and what a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing!

--Judy
www.WellspringCreations.blogspot.com

Designer4u said...

Stunning Claddagh Wall Hang. I love the colors intermixed with the design.

Wendy
http://vintageday.etsy.com