Invited as a guest speaker at Ulster Museum

Ulster Museum

Last week, I was invited to Ulster Museum, Belfast by Craft Northern Ireland for their Making It seminar series. Craft NI’s making it + is a 2-year programme offering studio space to designer-makers in arts, cultural & business venues across Northern Ireland.

At the lovely Ulster Museum, I discussed Developing Creative Income with a group of designer-makers. After the morning session, met with a friend from college for lunch. Much laughter and nostalgia ensued. At 5pm, I headed back to the airport bringing my short visit to Belfast to a close.

Although the temperature was minus 3 degrees , Belfast came across as a warm city full of welcoming, friendly people.

Bayeux tapestery

The making

Last week, watching David Dwimbley's Seven Ages of Britain I came across the amazing Bayeux Tapestry. It's stunning! This embroidered textile (not technically a tapestry) dates back to 1070s and recounts the Norman conquest of England.

At 71 metres long, with hundreds of soldiers, boats and horses painstaking hand embroidered on to linen, the Bayeux tapestry is simply staggering in its scale and detail. The original hangs at Bayeux, Normandy in France. A replica made in 1890s hangs at the Reading Museum in England.

I hope to see the original one day. Until then the replica will have to do!