The week in review

Wow, this week has been a busy one. And I do love them that way.

I've been  getting all my taxes in order, because yes it is THAT time of year again. 

Lots of orders shipped out, I think I will need to order even more pencil boxes at this rate.

These UK map pencils are waiting for some box lids. Can anyone spot where they live? I was doing a whole batch of southern england pencil sets. They are pretty popular these days.

I have put a LIMITED range of Christmas cards up for sale on my etsy shop. So don't miss out and buy them early.

If you follow my page on facebook you may have seen me mention an interview I did. I was approached a few weeks ago about doing an interview for Irish blog La Creature and You. Of course I said yes. Click on the image below to read the full interview. My first one, I was pretty chuffed.

And I am working on a pretty exciting new project that involves my website, lots of code and themes that will all be revealed on Tuesday the 5th of November. But more about that next week...

Have a great weekend and if you're in Ireland enjoy the bank holiday.

I will be going here on Sunday morning 

And here on Monday.

My wish list this Christmas; Part 1

Let's think Irish this Christmas. First up Irish Jewellery designers. 

Rachel Swan 
"makes hollow formed three-dimensional jewellery inspired by modern architecture and sculpture"  The pendant below called Hollow Pearl Pendant €155 reminds me of an Anish Kapoor instillation I saw in Japan years ago, a dark fathomless blackness, beautiful; both of them.

 

Angela O'Kelly who works with a variety of mediums including paper and textiles to create these beautiful sculptural pieces.

Sabrina Meyns who works from her studio in Co. Waterford creates the most delicate and beautiful pieces like the one photographed below.

And lastly; originally from the Czech Republic Filip Vanas's work is a vibrant wash of colour, my favourite is his silver and epoxy range. 

New Product Range for Christmas!!

Im very excited to announce a new product range, something that's been in the pipeline for a while and I'm launching just in time for Christmas. Those of you who see me at my monthly craft market will know about my 'dictionary pencils'. Timber Pencils covered in pages from an old dictionary, each one unique. Now as an extension of that we have the comic book pencils. 

As each set is taken from the pages of a vintage comic book no two are exactly the same. Perfect for kids of all ages! You can find this listing on my etsy shop here

Let me know what you think.

Christmas Card Collection for 2011

Here we go. My Christmas Card Collection for 2011. Those of you who shopped with me last year will notice some new additions to the collection. Excited, I am. 

 'Red Trees'

 'Red Stars'

 'Red Snowflakes'

 'Three Snowflakes'

'Bells and Stars'

To see more pics go to my Etsy store here

Until tomorrow.

Tis the season

It's officially time to start thinking about Christmas. I, along with the rest of the craft world, have being doing so for a few months now. Finally all my products are designed, all my craft fairs are booked and now an awful lot of making remains. Over the next 8 weeks I'll be filling you in on what I'm up to. Along, of course, with all those amazing products and people in the world of art and design that inspire me as per usual.

I've just uploaded my first Christmas themed product to my Etsy Shop.

Set of 5 Pine Cone Christmas Tree Decorations in their own cotton bag 

This set are antique gold with snowflake ribbon

Until next year ..

Dear All,

Well I Do believe it is Christmas Eve, or Christmas eve day, morning.

This is where I say goodbye for the year and wish you all a very happy Christmas filled with lots of turkey and pudding and wrapping paper that you cant bear to throw away (ok maybe that last one is just me)
I'm shutting my laptop off for the next few days, over which time I will say quite often how I don't really need technology to survive and how nice it is to just sit back and read my book in front of the fire. This delusion might even last till New year. In the mean time I'll leave you with some pretty Christmas-ness

My favourite Advent calendar this year has to be this ultra Zen one from  blogger Annnaleenashem. It might all be in Swedish but its a gorgeous blog.

 And here are my own Christmas tree decorations that I'm chuffed to say sold like hot cakes. Though I did manage to save one or two for my own tree.

Happy Christmas

xxx Vanessa

Christmas fare...

Well I feel slightly silly signing off for the year when I have been in absentia more often than not the past while but its my blog; so my rules. The past few months have flown by and all those well laid plans for the blog were waylaid as my own designing took presedence over the wide world of design and all that inspires me. I find that when I'm working on new ideas I need to focus my attention inwards. The world tends to fade into the background and I'm afraid that this blog took a bit of a hit. So in an attempt to end the year on a productive blog note lets see how much we can squeeze in before the reindeer's come a calling.

First a thank you to two people for promoting my blog. #1 the lovely yokoo who tweeted about my post on her. And #2 to the lovely Laura (title : best friend), who has just recently entered the blogosphere, who referenced me in one of her posts. Check out her blog fashion notes. Fashion is too often sidelined as shallow or fickle, read this, then think again. 

Secondly, a post really isn't complete without some pretty pictures. I ventured forth to do some Christmas shopping yesterday and Dublin was looking very festive, snow and all.

 So for this next one I'm going to sound like I'm going into my dotage. But I remember when I was a child going into town before Christmas to look at the window displays was a really big thing. I can still remember lining up to peek into the windows of Switzers. They were filled with (in my memory) the most amazing Christmas scenes, and it was a family day out. But walking along Grafton street today I was bemoaning the lack of traditional festive window dressing (theres only so much you can do with glitter and tinsel) and then what do I spy but this...

 Bewley's window had me eating my words. Here was some proper Christmas cheer. It wasn't about selling or buying and it was fabulous looking at all the children looking to have a peek.

Its part of an exhibition running inside Bewley's by sculptor Paddy Campbell. Definitely worth a look if you have the chance. Admission is free and any donations go to Bernardos. A good way to remember what Christmas is really about, before I rushed off to snap up the last (blanked out for the recipients own protection) before they were all sold out! What can I say, I'm only human. 

Happy Christmas shopping.

Happy Christmas

Before I sign off for the year I just wanted to say Happy Christmas to everyone and a fantastic new year.

Also I just got an email from Jane Hall the lovely lady at the Ecoshop in Greystones to tell me that unfortunately they will be closing down for good this december the 30th I featured them in my blog on christmas not too long ago here. I'll be very sorry to see them go, but they will be having a sale from the 27th to the 30th so catch them while you can.

I'll be back on the 1st of January so I'll see you all then.

Wednesday surfs for ... christmas

This post is not that international I'm afraid, unless of course you're planning an impromptu visit to ireland.

The National Crafts and Design Fair starts in the RDS in Dublin today. Its open from 10am to 10pm every day till Friday and till 7pm at the weekend.

I'm off to have a gander on Thursday and maybe make a few purchases, purely for research purposes of course, while I'm there. Among those there that I'm looking forward to are, Alan Ardiff who I already blogged about here

Remember?

And Ayelet Lalor. Stand B11. I'm still saving up for one of her pieces. But any time I see her work I fall a little bit more in love with it. Last time I checked her work is also available to buy in the DesignYard in Dublin, but its a lot cheaper if you buy directly from her (she has a studio in The Design Tower on Grand canal quay). I'm particularly partial to her Diva range.

Wine Diva with Dog

Green Diva

I'm sure there will be lots more to tell you about Friday.

Another Christmas Fair coming up soon is The 12 days of Christmas Market on in the IFSC at Georges Dock. It starts on the 12th of December and runs till the 23rd, so plenty of time to catch it. It has everything from food to gifts to santas grotto for the children.

And if you're twiddling your thumbs wondering what to do this weekend there's a Christmas Fair in Greystones on the seafront. I don't know much about it, its in St David's School where the car boot sales are run, but Greystones is always a good day out. If you do happen along you should also check out the Ecoshop. Last time I was there I took some pics of their offerings

A miniature car made entirely from beer cans.

An artdeco-esque box by Organica Functionarte, a british company.

Also available here (last time I checked) is one of my favourite Irish chocolate companies, Natashas Living Food, mainly for the beautiful packaging, though the chocolate is very tasty too.

And after all that shopping if you want to put your feet up somewhere and have some scrumptious food go to the Happy Pear, on the mainstreet, for a cafe with personality.

Tuesday loves ... Joseph

In the run up to Christmas we all start panicking about what to buy that person who has everything, or the ones who say they don't want anything. You know who I mean. These brothers may just be able to help you out. Joseph Joseph are an English design duo who specialise in kitchen ware with intelligence and flair.

 

Nest 6

  

Chop2Pot