Tea and a chat with.....

The lovely and very creative Mollie Barrow from Spleodar. Sit down and put the kettle on everyone!

Tell us a bit about yourself!

Hi there! My name's Mollie Barrow and I make sparkly fused glass things from my studio in North Tipperary.  I live in Cloughjordan, home to Ireland's first eco-village and next-door to Barack Obama's ancestral home of Moneygall, with my 10-year old son Elliot and a couple of cats.  I also co-own Sheelagh na Gig (http://facebook.com/sheelaghnagig), Cloughjordan's bookshop and café, though since February I've been artsying full-time and have left the shop in my business partner Liz's capable hands. 

Liz is also coordinating the upcoming Cloughjordan Festival, and I'll be exhibiting my work during it at the Totally Tipperary (http://www.facebook.com/totallytipp) slow food event in the grounds of Cloughjordan House on the 25th and 26th of June.  Also as part of the Cloughjordan Festival, I'll be running a series of fused glass workshops for children.  I've never taught anyone anything before, and I'm sure I don't need to tell you how terrified I am!      

How do you find selling on Etsy?
Slow, to be honest. I opened my shop in 2009, but didn't give it any attention.  In 2010, I kept the shop closed whilst I stockpiled my pieces for the National Crafts Fair in December.  I re-opened when I stopped working in Sheelagh na Gig, and have been putting a lot of time and effort into it since. 

Because of the nature of glass and the fact that my work needs to be seen in person to be fully appreciated, and of course Ireland's being  an island in the middle of the Atlantic, I think the majority of my sales will continue to be local to Ireland.  And that suits me.  I am very grateful to Etsy for  exposure, though!  In just a few  months, my work has been featured in blogs and articles all over the internet thanks to the traffic to my Etsy shop.   

Describe your artistic process: 

I experiment!  All the time.  Kiln-forming glass involves melting glass in a kiln at temperatures 

up to 815c/1500f and then slowly cooling it to harden and to prevent thermal shock, depending on the effect you're trying to achieve.  

There are lots of cold-working methods that come into it too: 

like grinding pieces into shape, or sawing or sandblasting.  

But I love the actual kiln-work itself. 

I love the thrill of taking temperatures up higher than usual, 

I love combing glass when it's almost molten to 

create mad patterns, or letting it 'boil' at 1800f. 

I think glass has a mind of it's own.  I just facilitate it expressing itself! 

I do have respect for and appreciate the rules of kiln-forming glass, 

you have to if you don't want your pieces to shatter, but beyond that I just allow it to do its own thing! 

     

Future goals or ambitions?
Dirty words, as far as I'm concerned!  I look forward to having a bigger studio someday, though.  And once the sprog is off to university or down t'mines or wherever, I'm going to try to do some serious long-stretch travelling. He's 10.  I have a bit of a wait.    


What does handmade mean to you?
Now that's a loaded question! Beyond the obvious answer of not being made on an assembly-line, I'd say handmade implies quality and real people and skill and soul.    

Finally, any words of wisdom?
You're asking the wrong person if you're looking for wisdom! I'll just give you someone else's wise words.  Offaly artist Emma Barone (http://emmabarone.com) posted this quote to her facebook page today:  'A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.'--Lou Holtz 

Lovely Links
Etsy: http://spleodar.etsy.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/spleodarglass
Website: http://molliebarrow.ie

Thanks Mollie! Best of luck with the children's glasses, I'm sure you'll do wonderful!

Tea & a chat with....

Hey everyone!

The Tea & a Chat posts have fallen a little to the way side and so in an effort to re-boost them and find out more about all the wonderful Irish Etsy sellers, I've kicked started them by...well...interviewing myself! I've beefed up the questions and will shortly put a post on the Etsy Ireland Forum requesting that some of you lovely people put your names and shops forward for a wee cuppa tay and a wee chat! You can also email me if you're interested luckyrainbowdesigns@gmail.com

So...here it goes!

Tell us a bit about yourself!

My name is Rebecca O'Hare and I'm orginally from Dundalk but made the big move (well it seemed like a big move when I was 18) to Limerick nearly 11 years ago to pursue a degree in Fine Art in the Limerick School of Art & Design. I also completed the H.Dip in Art & Design Education and last September I returned to start a part time MA in Social Practice & the Creative Environment. A course I am throughly enjoying!

I currently run LuckyRainbowDesigns on Etsy on a part-time basis which I set up in 2009. Throughout my time in college, my friends and I would buy handmade cards for family etc but I always found them to be really expensive and always found myself saying "I could do better than that!". Years into college I told myself I'd set up a card shop and call it LuckyRainbowDesigns but it wasn't until I made a wedding card for a friends wedding in 2009 did it really begin to take off! Everyone kept telling me "you should sell your cards!". When I discovered Etsy, I knew it was the perfect platform for me.

How do you find selling on Etsy?

If I'm honest, I'll say that alot of my sales come from outside of Etsy and that is mainly down to word of mouth and all my amazing work colleagues in the University of Limerick buying my cards for their friends and family. I've only ever sold to America or Ireland and have no idea why I've never gotten sales in the UK seeing as it's only "across the water!" but then again like so many other parts of Etsy, there are lots of card makers - I'm only a drop in the ocean.

Overall, I do love my little shop and I do day dream about making it my full time job. I take alot of inspiration from other products and have learned alot chatting to others in the forums and of course from the Etsy Ireland team too!

In fact, I love the etsy Ireland family and I've made some great friends through the whole process! I've also been very proud to have worked alongside those (shout out to Ruth of NiceDay Designs) who have volunteered their time to work in the Etsy Ireland Pop-Up Shop in Limerick - it's been a very enjoyable and successful experience.

Describe your artistic process?

Mmmm, that is a difficult question for me! I am very sporadic, I can go head first into my craft room and make great item after great item and sell them all in no time! However in saying that I can also go in and get no inspiration what so ever to the point where it frustrates me! That's usually the time when tea is needed and a few choccie biscuits too!

I'd also say that I suffer from having a short attention span in that I like to change all the time. It's the same in my full time job, I like to try out different things during the day and get easily bored by working on the one task.

Future goals or ambitions?

So many....so,so many that I think about it on a daily basis! I'm an avid list maker and I've lost count the amount of times that I've tried to sit down and get my life in order! Only last night (at 2am when I couldn't sleep!) I was setting myself a "two year project" where by I give myself two years to get the perfect life / work balance. For now and for me I think it's important to concentrate and be grateful for the good things like a wonderful boyfriend, a free roof over my head (Yup, you read right, I get a free house as part of my job, but I'll tell you about that another day!), no health worries and a craft room full to the brim of crafty supplies!....BUT if you really wanted me to pin down a few ambitions I'd say "find the perfect, creative job, in the most perfect, creative city (think NYC!)"

What does handmade mean to you?

Handmade to me means someone, somewhere took time, patience, effort and love to make something worthwhile that they feel is important and needed in this world.  Only today I received two packages from America and Korea from two etsy sellers and the time they took to pack their little items and send them to me was just...beautiful! One even popped a lollipop into the package and each wrote a lovely note....need I say more!

Finally, any words of wisdom?

Ohhh I don't think I'm old enough to part with any words of wisdom but I will say this...Do what you love and love what you do!

(I'm a sucker for a positive quote now and again!)

LuckyRainbow Links

http://www.luckyrainbowdesign.com/

http://luckyrainbowdesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/LuckyRainbowDesigns

Twitter: @LRainbowDesigns

Tea and a chat with.....

Up this week is the wonderful Maura of Irish Bounty, a gem of an etsy shop selling all things thrifty, vintage and bric-a-brac - My personal favourite type of Etsy store!!


If you wish to be featured on Tea & a chat, don't hesitate to email Rebecca at luckyrainbowdesigns@gmail.com (don't forget to send some pics of your wonderful items for us all to drool over!)


Enjoy and over to Maura!


What is the last book you read? 
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas John Boyne

If you could be a superhero what super powers would you choose?
I'd be invisible, able to fly and with the ability to broadcast what I see/hear around the world. That way I could sneak into bilderberg meetings etc and then do an expose on them and their plans. 

Describe yourself in 4 words.
Haphazard, idealistic, daydreamer, non-conformist

What did you want to be when you were 12 years old?
A nun

Imagine you are having a dinner party, you can invite 5 people dead or alive, who would they be?
Asimov, Tesla, Lincoln, Chavez, Jon Stewart 

What was your mother right about?
That if my head wasn't screwed onto my shoulders I'd lose it

Guiltiest pleasure?
Duvet day with Cava and dark choclates and entire seasons of the Fringe to watch

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
No idea - depends what life sends me!

Regardless of money, would you ever get plastic surgery?
No but with money I would have a private trainer, masseuse and chef and between them they'd help whip me into shape and make the best of what I have

Describe your perfect day
Wake up, coffee, hit the carboot sale, walk around exploring everything for 3 hours, home and a fry up, nap

Lastly, some linky goodness, link to your shop, blog, facebook, twitter etc etc.
www://irishbounty.etsy.com
www://lilgreenshop.artfire.com
www.facebook.com/lilgreenshop 
www.twitter.com/lilgreenshop

Next Week: Kokokaren! Stay tuned!

Tea and a Chat with.....

The lovely Jenny Doyle from JenDoyleDesigns

Tell us a bit about what you do?

My name is Jen Doyle and I am a jewellery and hair accessories designer, and I specialise in bridal design. I am based in fabulous Donegal where I only have to go outside for inspiration.. I am hugely inspired by nature.

I kind of got into jewellery making in a roundabout way- and I blame my 6 year daughter! It was while pregnant with her that it all began. I went into a local shop to get a few bits and pieces and came out with a magazine about jewellery making. My business has basically grown from that moment. I started making stuff for friends and family, and then progressed to jewellery parties, and in 2008, I found myself taking orders for bridal jewellery. I began doing hair accessories after a bride to be, upon being told that I only made jewellery, said ''well for goodness sakes you have beads and wire don't you?''. I went out and bought a couple of books, learned a few techniques and then put my own slant on it to make my pieces that little bit different.

I have always been 'arty'- (I do a lot of drawing / painting as well) so I love to experiment with things to see what I can do, I like to push the limits to grow my skills so you never know what could appear in my shop LOL!

If you weren't a crafty type, what would you be doing?

It's hard to imagine my life without some form of art in it, but if I didn't do what I do for a living.. I think I would either be a horse vet, because I adore horses and being outdoors, or a pilot, because I took a flying lesson once and the sense of freedom I got with the whole sky to play in was like nothing in the world!..bit pricey though :) Or failing either of those two, a photographer.

Give us some of your favourite designer/fashion peeps!

I have always pretty much marched to the beat of my drummer and have never really followed trends/designers as such.....but when working with brides, you can't help but be aware of the different dress designers and I absolutely love the work of Claire Pettibone, her dresses are so romantic!

Any amazing blogs that you'd like to share?

www.reneejulia.com (amazing photographer)

http://www.castlescrownscottages.blogspot.com/ (inspirational)

www.mias.blogg.se

(Mia is an amazing person who has been through more than a person should have to go through in life and she still keeps going onwards and upwards!)

www.abby-wynne.blogspot.com (She has some very interesting things to say!)

What are your top 5 films of all time?

High Society

Lord of the Rings

Sound of Music

King Arthur (2004 version)

Horse Whisperer

What was your mother always right about?

Well, she always told me that you have to make your own path in life, because no one else can make it for you, and that life is very much what you make it to be. And she is right! (damn it lol!)

Finally, Where can we find you?

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JenDoyleDesigns

Blog: http://www.doylejewellerydesign.blogspot.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jendoyledesigns

Youtube: www.youtube.com/users/jendoyledesigns

Now, stop on by and share the love!

Tea and a Chat: Ruth from Nice Day Designs

It's starting to get really cold now, so you'll definitely need to get a nice warm cup of tea while you read about our Limerick Rep. and blog host for 'New to Etsy', Ruth. Take it away...

Tell us a bit about what you do?
Hi this is Ruth from Nice Day Designs and Nice Day Supplies, and I do a little bit of everything! Primarily I have a stall at the Milk Market 3 days a week where I sell handcrafts like felt brooches, pocket mirrors, badges, felt pincushions and handmade cards. For the past few years I've also been making a range of quirky recycled clothes, but due to time constraints and only having 24hrs in the day, I just sell them in just one venue-Roisin's Boutique in Inistioge. Last year I also started selling a large amount of vintage buttons/sewing supplies online and at markets, a way of making a few quid out of my insatiable button addiction. Lastly I just started making custom made badges and pocket mirrors in bulk for musicain, clubs and party favours. I've also been known to do my fair share of painting, illustration and graphic design. Once I'm doing something creative I'm happy!

If you weren’t a crafty type, what would you be doing?
As you can see from the above answer I've tried out a multitude of areas within art and craft and I can't imagine it not being a part of my life. When I was younger I toyed with the idea of being a writer, but I don't think I would have been as good at it, or as happy.

Give us some of your favourite designers/fashion peeps:
Even though I work in fashion I'm a disaster when it comes to knowing names and brands, it's always felt foreign to me as an idea. I'm mostly inspired by the small details in the clothes of everyday people, and how they show their own sense of style. I'm a big fan of the beauty to be found in the minutae of the mundane.

Any amazing blogs that you’d like to share?
Lupin: http://bugsandfishes.blogspot.com/
A Chick Named Hermia: http://chicknamedhermia.wordpress.com/
The Anti-Room: http://theantiroom.wordpress.com/
Andrea Joseph: http://andreajoseph24.blogspot.com/
Declan Shalvey: http://dshalv.blogspot.com/
Kevoto: http://kevoto.com/471

What are your top 5 films of all time?
The Sound of Music
Lawrence of Arabia
Rear Window
American Beauty
Brideshead Revisited(the original mini series with Jeremy Irons)

What was your mother always right about?
That you need to love yourself before you'll ever be able to let someone else love you. It took me years to learn how much that really made sense.

Lastly some linky goodness, where can we find you?
Crafts: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicedaydesigns
Supplies: http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicedaysupplies
Blog: http://nicedaydesigns-ruth.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nicedaydesigns
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NiceDayDesigns

Rug up everyone, talk to you soon,

Angela (a.k.a. artysmarty)

Tea and a Chat With: Paul Coyne

-What is the last book you read?

The lost Symbol by Dan Brown I have a stack more books beside my bed for ages but just cant get the time to open them.

-If you could be a superhero what super powers would you choose?

Time Travel.... endless shenanigans/mischief

-Describe yourself in 4 words.

Friendly optimistic passionate open

-What did you want to be when you were 12 years old?

A Carpenter (i think)

-Imagine you are having a dinner party, you can invite 5 people dead or alive, who would they be?

zooey deschanel.... so cute

steve irwin.....cool guy

jamie oliver....good food

ellen degeneres...funny

Stephen Fry.....witty banter

-What was your mother right about?

Everything, or so she belives

-Guiltiest pleasure?

chocolate

-Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

5 years in the future (or could it be time travel)

-Regardless of money, would you ever get plastic surgery?

No, never...

-Describe your perfect day

Breakfast in bed, walk on a beech near letterfack connemara, a cup of tae good movie and all in the company of my girlfriend...

-Lastly, some linky goodness, link to your shop, blog, facebook, twitter etc etc.

www.paul-coyne.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/podgy00

http://twitter.com/Paulcoyne

Tea and a Chat With...Scott McCarthy

Here is another installment in our Tea and a Chat with.. series. This time we have Paget from Scott McCarthy, who makes beautiful fashion and textiles. -What is the last book you read?

Agatha Christie's autobiography! Such an interesting and clever lady.

-If you could be a superhero what super powers would you choose?

Definitely something that involves flying..I think I'd like an amazing outfit too.

-Describe yourself in 4 words.

Creative, hardworking, optimistic and tall.

-What did you want to be when you were 12 years old?Actress/Ballerina/Vet/Author/Combination of all four

-Imagine you are having a dinner party, you can invite 5 people dead or alive, who would they be?

Possibly..George Orwell, James Dean, Lucienne Day, Grace Kelly and my Grandmother.. but I think my Grandmother would like Clark Gable to be included.

-What was your mother right about?Most things in general!

-Guiltiest pleasure?Spending much too much time on lovely sites and blogs!

-Where do you see yourself in 5 years?Hmm..somewhere good.

-Regardless of money, would you ever get plastic surgery?I hope not.

-Describe your perfect day

A combination of sun, relaxation, delicious food and time with friends.

-Lastly, some linky goodness, link to your shop, blog, facebook, twitter etc http://www.pagetscottmccarthy.com

http://www.designfingers.blogspot.com/

http://www.textileworkshopdublin.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/scottmccarthy

A cuppa and a chat with: Photosworldwide

Welcome to the new series of 'A cup of tea and a chat with...', where we ask the team some silly and pointless questions just for the hell of it. Here is our second volunteer Paul from Photosworldwide. If you would like to take part in this questionaire send your answers to the following questions to Ruth with a photo of yourself.

What is the last book you read?
The Painter of Battles by Arturo Pérez-Reverte

If you could be a superhero what super powers would you choose?
Invisibility

Describe yourself in 4 words.
Tall, ginger, stubborn, loyal

What did you want to be when you were 12 years old?
I didn't know then, and I don't know now

Imagine you are having a dinner party, you can invite 5 people dead or alive, who would they be?
Freddie Mercury for the piano, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall for the cooking, Richard Harris for the drinking, Monica Bellucci for the accent and the eye-candy,

What was your mother right about?
The girls I shouldn't date

Guiltiest pleasure?
...is unpublishable in a family-orientated forum.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Doing this full-time

Regardless of money, would you ever get plastic surgery?
Nope

Describe your perfect day
It's late summer. Waken around 10. Up and at 'em and out with the camera into a car with a full tank. Pick up significant other and head south in the car. Stop in Belfast at Doorsteps on the Lisburn Road for a sandwich. Wander the town taking pictures on a sunny day. Beatrice Kennedy's for dinner. Then the Crown Bar while the sun goes down outside. Malmaison for a nightcap and then bed.

Lastly, some linky goodness, link to your shop, blog, facebook, twitter etc etc.
My site is http://www.paulbeattie.net. I occasionally tweet on the state of the world under the moniker of paul_beattie. And sometimes I write at http://photosworldwide.wordpress.com

A Cup of Tea and a Chat With: EnglishCookies

Welcome to the new series of 'A cup of tea and a chat with...', where we ask trhe team some silly and pointless questions just for the hell of it. The first guinnea pig is the lovely Karin from Englishcookies. Enjoy...and sure why don't you make yourself a cuppa too, you know you deserve it! -What is the last book you read?
The confederacy od Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I have read in French, years ago and finally reread it in its original version : I laughed as much ! Brilliant book !

-If you could be a superhero what super powers would you choose?
Flying, of course (just for selfishness) and the ability to make people time travel for a day wherever they want to go.

-Describe yourself in 4 words.
smile - think - tickle the world - feel

-What did you want to be when you were 12 years old?
An archeologist like Indiana Jones.

-Imagine you are having a dinner party, you can invite 5 people dead or alive, who would they be?
Isaac Newton, Charles Baudelaire, Bill Bailey, Jonhny Deep, Audrey Tautou

-What was your mother right about?
Pfff...everything ! (do I really have to admit it, lol !)

-Guiltiest pleasure?
Sugar : all kinds

-Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I don't.

-Regardless of money, would you ever get plastic surgery?
Nope.

-Describe your perfect day.
Free to linger about, on a sunny day, without thinking of time or getting back to normal

-Lastly, some linky goodness, link to your shop, blog, facebook, twitter etc

Shop
Flickr