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			    <title>Ceramics | Arts | Irish Blog log</title> 
				<link>http://irishbloglog.com/Arts/Ceramics</link> 
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			<title>Make your own Gun</title>
			<link>http://irishbloglog.com/news/Make+your+own+Gun</link>
			<description><![CDATA[using a 3d Printer:
independent.co.uk:

Gun control activists have voiced fears that the world’s first firearm made entirely with 3D printer technology was successfully fired, and the blueprint used to make it was made available online to download for free.
A group described as the “Pirate Bay of 3D Printing” successfully fired the firearm in Texas on Saturday. Defense Distributed, which spent a year designing the handgun, dubbed “Liberator”, built it from plastic on a 3D printer bought on eBay for $8,000 (£5,140).
The computer-aided design file, or CAD, containing Liberator’s blueprint has been made available by Defense Distributed to download for free – it will allow anyone with a 3D printer to create their own “Wiki weapon”.
A 3D printer operates by spraying layer upon layer of plastic, ceramics and even metals to form complex objects. For several years, manufacturing firms have used the technology to create prototypes and components, but it is now increasingly available to the public – in some cases the price of a 3D printer has dropped to $500. Physical copies of the Liberator, created using the blueprint, would be untraceable: no serial number, no sales receipt.
Defense Distributed was founded last year by Cody Wilson, 25, a law student at the University of Texas, who calls himself a crypto-anarchist. Wilson told the BBC: “There are states all over the world that say you can’t own firearms… [but] technology says you can pretty much be able to have whatever you want. It’s not up to the political players any more.”
Gun control activists fear they could all too easily fall into the wrong hands. Victoria Baines, from Europol’s cybercrime centre, said: “As time goes on, and as this technology becomes more user-friendly and more cost effective, it is possible some risks will emerge.”
Defense Distributed recently received a license from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which allows Wilson and his colleagues to manufacture and sell guns. However, the organisation has faced  setbacks. In the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook, its gun blueprints were removed from the CAD-file search engine Thingiverse. Its account on crowd-funding website Indiegogo was frozen, and 3D printed manufacturer Stratasys refused the group permission to use its machines.
Yet the group has already created a high-capacity ammunition magazine for the AR-15 assault rifle, which it called “Cuomo”, after New York state Governor Mario Cuomo, a leading proponent of gun control. Its 3D printed magazine for the AK-47 was named “Feinstein”, after gun control advocate, California Senator Diane Feinstein.
US congressman Steve Israel wants a ban on 3D printed gun components included in the Undetectable Firearms Act, which bans the possession of any weapon that cannot be detected by a metal detector or X-ray machine. The New York Democrat told Forbes: “All the acts of Congress will not be effective if someone can go to a Staples, buy a 3D printer and manufacture plastic weapons components in their basement.”

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			<pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2013 18:00:02 IST</pubDate>
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			<title>Poets Meet Painters writing competition</title>
			<link>http://irishbloglog.com/news/Poets+Meet+Painters+writing+competition</link>
			<description><![CDATA[


The Poets Meet Painters competition 2013 is open for entries.

This also incorporates a new 
Mill Cove Poetry Award.

As always, this is a competition for poems inspired by 
works of art exhibited or sponsored by Mill Cove Gallery and Sculpture Garden.

For a sample slideshow click here 

Additionally, the highest placed poem inspired by a ceramic work will 
receive the Mill Cove Poetry Award.  If the overall winning poem relates
 to a ceramic work, the next eligible poem will receive the Mill Cove 
Poetry Award.

Check eligible illustrations in Irish Ceramics: the best of Irish ceramic sculpture (available for purchase  here ).

The competition will be judged by Leanne O&#039;Sullivan.

There will be a first prize 
of €200, and in addition there will be a Mill Cove Gallery award for a poem 
inspired by a ceramic work.

Deadline: 17 June 2013

Each poem must not exceed 40 lines
Up to three poems may be submitted per entry. 
A fee of €8 per entry is payable via PayPal or cheque

For full details 
of the competition and how to enter, visit http://hungryhillwriting.com/section682226.html. 
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			<pubDate>Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:03 IST</pubDate>
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			<title>Grennen Mill Craft School Summer Courses Kilkenny</title>
			<link>http://irishbloglog.com/news/Grennen+Mill+Craft+School+Summer+Courses+Kilkenny</link>
			<description><![CDATA[
- Monoprinting and Bookbinding |10th – 14th June
Students will create individual pieces by printing from glass slabs and 
collagraph plates, using water based inks and recycled materials such as
 papers, fabrics and foliage etc. The monoprints will be used for covers
 and bound into handmade books using a variety of binding techniques. 
Suitable for beginners and for those with some experience.Please bring 
sketches, photographs etc. for inspiration. All tools and materials are 
provided.
For more details please telephone or email Debra: 086 0678314 / tinteann@yahoo.com


- Japanese Woodblock Printmaking |17th – 21st June
Japanese woodblock is the oldest printmaking technique, dating back to 
the eighth century. Using traditional tools, students will carve their 
designs from birch plywood blocks and print onto Japanese papers using 
watercolours and ink, to produce black and white and colour prints. This
 technique can be followed on at home afterwards as there is no need for
 a printing press or large studio equipment. Suitable for beginners and 
for those with some experience.
Please bring sketches, photographs etc. for inspiration. All tools and materials are provided.
For more details please telephone or email Debra: 086 0678314 / tinteann@yahoo.com


- Metalcraft &amp; Jewellery for Beginners &amp; Improvers |17th – 21st June
This one week course will cover enamelling, chasing (repousse) &amp; 
basic metalsmithing &amp; silver jewellery- making skills. Introducing a
 new skill every day the student will choose which skills they wish to 
improve on, or possibly combine all techniques to craft their own 
designs of bowls, boxes, jewellery &amp; more. There is a basic 
materials fee of €15. Silver &amp; semi-precious stones will be 
available for purchase.
For more information on course content please contact Eva: evylynch@hotmail.com


- Jewellery-making for Beginners &amp; Improvers |24th – 28th June
This one week course will familiarise the student with the basics of 
silver-jewellery designing &amp; making, including soldering, 
stone-setting, chain-making &amp; more. Craft your own designs or 
replicate a beautiful idea. Advanced students will have the opportunity 
to learn even more useful techniques such as etching &amp; filigree 
work. A basic materials fee of €15 will include 10gms silver. Silver 
&amp; semi-precious stones will also be available for purchase. For more
 information on course content please contact Eva: evylynch@hotmail.com



- Weaving | 1st – 5th July
Following a day in the design workshop developing ideas, students will 
create an individual woven piece on table looms in the Weaving room 
using a variety of textured coloured yarns. Suitable for beginners. 
Please bring notebook and colouring materials for designing and any yarn
 you would like to use. Yarn is otherwise provided and included in the 
basic materials fee of €15.
For more details please contact Catherine at cryanbain@eircom.net or grennanmill@eircom.net


For all summer courses:
- Completed application form and full non-refundable payment of €180.00 are required by:
- Friday 24th May for both Printmaking courses
- Friday 31st May for both Jewellery &amp; Metalcraft courses
- Friday 14th June for both Ceramics &amp; Woven Textiles
- Cheques made payable to ‘Grennan Mill Craft School’
- Materials cost approx €15.00 (can vary especially if silver is involved)
- All courses run from 10.00am – 4.00pm daily
- Class formation is dependent on an adequate number of applicants – usually 12 participants necessary
- Should Grennan Mill cancel the course, your monies will be refunded in full

For more information on all courses please phone Tel: (056) 7724557


www.grennanmill.net
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			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:00:03 GMT</pubDate>
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			<title>New Skills</title>
			<link>http://irishbloglog.com/news/New+Skills</link>
			<description><![CDATA[This weekend  I took myself down to Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny to do one of the courses Ceramics Ireland had organized. You had a choice of Test Kiln Building, Raku Firing, Throwing and Decals for Ceramics which is the one I chose. Our class was the most popular with eight of us and Tina Byrne the tutor.
So what are decals well it&amp;#8217;s another word for transfers and these are made with enamels that will adhere to ceramics when fired to a certain temperature. The photo above is the work of Tina Byrne and with a little help from photoshop she created these images and then placed them on tiles. Enamel or transfer firing is usually a third firing and reaches between 840 &amp;#8211; 870 oC. I use lustre on some of my work and that is fired to a similar temperature so I thought it would be good to incorporate decals onto some of my pieces.
At the moment I don&amp;#8217;t have photoshop but I was able to work with Microsoft Word and it was fun. To give you some examples of what you can do with even limited tools this is what I got up to.

This was a photograph I took of a ceiling in a church in Columbia earlier this year. By playing around with different creative finishes and cropping the photo i ended up with the image below.


This is probably a better example. I took this photo of the wooden elephant in India last year.


I was able to mask out the background and play again with creative effects and then choose a different colour to end up with the elephant below.


The opportunities are endless and I know I will be having more fun with images and effects. I intend to put them onto thrown pieces I make myself but you can also put them on white delft that you can pick up in any household store. Watch this space!!!

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			<pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:00:03 GMT</pubDate>
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			<title>Last Week of Bali Indonesia</title>
			<link>http://irishbloglog.com/news/Last+Week+of+Bali+Indonesia</link>
			<description><![CDATA[After our visit to the Water Palace we were on the bikes again and this time a short spin of about 25km with most of it downhill to the coast to Amed. It is a sprawled out village and we got there just before the heat of mid day hit. This was a bit of a chill out day as we both had massages and did a bit of snorkeling from the beach. That evening I had a longing for prawns and they were recommended at our restaurant connected with our accommodation so we both had grilled prawns. Delish!!! However that night Paul was not feeling the May West and I think he might have had a dodgy prawn. he was still looking a bit green but being the tough boy that we know him to be we got on the bikes and headed to Lovina. It was a long enough spin of 90km but thankfully a good road and no hard hills. I took Paul&amp;#8217;s bike for most of it as he was pretty weak from that nasty prawn. We got there and found it to be a bit of a tourist spot and a bit of touting for accommodation. Anyway found a nice spot and Paul was able to rest up while I explored a bit. There were beaches alright but with black volcanic sand and unfortunately the rain had set in for the evening so no swim for me.
Amed

Accommodation in Lovina
That was out last day on the coast and it was upward and inward we were heading to Munduk. It was an easy 10km to start and then we had about 20km of climbing to the small village. We got there by 10.3o am so we had plenty of time to explore. we gave the bums a rest and walked some of the dirt roads around the village. We got badly caught out in a very heavy shower but luckily this family took us in. They were building a house and had just moved in that week and a few passers took shelter. The lady of the house had reasonable English and fed us with rice nibbles and coffee for me. This is what we love and traveling by bike allows us to have these windows of opportunity to meet the locals and get a small taste of their lives. Eventually the rain stopped and we made our way back to the village. We dined out that evening with views back down to the coast and on the other side the top of the ridge that we would tackle the next day.
Rice Treats near Munduck
It was a steep start right from our accommodation but thankfully it was only 10km of it and this climb was worth it. The ridge gave us views of volcanic lakes to the right and the sea to the left. It was beautiful and it was downhill. Whoopee!!!!  We were going to stay in CandiKunnig which is strawberry town and set on the side of a lake with a beautiful temple. We had a stroll around the amazing grounds of the temple and decided to head onto Ubud instead of staying. It was a bit further than we thought and the heat was getting to us a bit so a stop at a glass blowing studio was a welcome reprieve. Ubud is renowned as the creative hub of Bali. In the early 1900&amp;#8242;s European artists were invited to paint in Bali and bring with them the new modernistic ways of painting. Today it is not only artwork but all types of art and craft and yes there were some ceramics.
The Lakes
Temple in Canndikunning

Paul yet again found great accommodation and my usual request was white sheets and en suite. It was well located and he even got the breakfast thrown in. This was our last port of call for the trip so it was time to indulge a little. Our first evening in Ubud we explored the market and some of the arty shops and then stumbled across a great spot for grub. A bit like Waga Mama&amp;#8217;a with big tables and split on two levels. It was so cheap we did the dog on it and had starter, main and dessert and also juices. The bill came to a staggering 20 dollars for the two of us!!! I noticed that they did this specialty duck dish so we ordered that for the next night. We of course met fellow travelers and swapped stories.
Ubud Market
So the next day I took off with myself and went to a few galleries and left Paul to the internet. We went for a short cycle in the afternoon but again the heat of the day got to me and being all sticky and sweaty again made Hilary a bit grumpy. After a bit of local food and a cold drink began to revive. I then dragged Paul around another Art museum which was a collection of work gathered by a Balinese art dealer. A good selection and Paul appreciated some of it too!!!! And so back to the restaurant and the duck. A German couple were there from the night before and we had an entertaining evening with them. They told us about a cock fight they were going to the next day and we decided to try and find it too. As for the duck well it was tasty with all the spices it had been marinaded in but it was a bit on the skinny side so we indulged in chocolate brownies afterwards.
Temple Entrance
The cock fighting wasn&amp;#8217;t due to start until 11.30am so I had spotted a couple of sites to visit. The first was the Elephant Cave Temple. It was a bit disappointing as not so much temple more the location. We found another temple off the main road that was more interesting and Paul finally found a barber to give him a hair cut and shave the shaggy beard of the holiday. It was a good old fashioned cut throat razor I was almost afraid to take a photo!! The cock fighting took a bit of searching but we eventually found it. I felt a bit intimidated as it was really a sport for men so I saw one very quick battle and left Paul in the testosterone pit. The history of cock fighting is that people believed if blood was spilled it would keep the bad spirits away.
Careful !!!
Cock Fighting

On our way back to Ubud we came across a funeral which is a big affair in the Hindu culture. A life size bull was carried with boys sitting on top and then the remains of the deceased followed behind in a replicated temple like structure. There were plenty of followers and a procession of musicians playing drums and symbols. It was quite a spectacle.
Funeral Procession

We had a late lunch of suckling pig that is also another specialty to the area and then it was to the market to do some serious haggling for the pressies to bring home. Paul is an expert and we did really well. So our final night in Bali and where did we go yes back to our usual spot the food is so good and the company and the price.
Suckling Pig

Last Breakfast
Our last day and it was back to where we started. We cycled back to Made and Sandra in Jimbaran and thankfully our bike boxes were still intact. It was a quick dismantle, clean up and my last Bali coffee and they drove us to the airport for our evening flight. This has been our best holiday so far. Indonesia is a beautiful country and the people are so friendly. The accommodation has been of a higher standard than on previous trips and the food I could live on noodles and rice very happily. We will have some great memories.
Hilary and Paul
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			<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:00:03 GMT</pubDate>
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