The exquisite designs of a County Clare company.
Ballycar in County Clare is home to John and Alison Erridge, who gave up their professional lives in England to move to Ireland. Their daughter Susan also lives with them.
Alison Erridge, a former head of Department of Fashion and Textile at Derby University set up the craft industry Ballycar Design with Michelle Hughes a friend of her daughter.
Michelle Hughes is a graduate of Dun Laoghaire College of Art. The pair joined forces to set up a business manufacturing well designed articles from fabric.
Alison, Michelle and Susan have no shortage of ideas on what to make. The challenge for them is make sure that each project makes economic sense.
Much of Alison Erridge's artworks are inspired by her natural surroundings in County Clare. Choosing natural colours, she paints directly on to fabrics such as silk to create unique pieces to sell. This is a slow and delicate process.
Each silk scarf hand painted by Alison is a unique piece of artwork.
From the start, their articles were so beautifully designed and so well made that almost immediately they found their order books filled. From the many things that Alison Erridge makes, perhaps her hand and machine embroidered panels are the most interesting, cushion covers and hand painted wild silk scarves depicting delicate floral designs.
Michelle Hughes makes exceptional patchwork quilts and exquisite Hessian Dolls amongst other things. Both are highly skilled in their crafts and fine designers.
This episode of 'Patterns’ was broadcast on 15 July 1980. The programme was narrated by Hilary Orpen.
'Patterns' is a series of six programmes focusing on a newer generation who have found the answer to job satisfaction in one or other of the arts and crafts.
The series was produced and directed by David Shaw-Smith for RTÉ.
