overthehildablog@gmail.com

Over The Hilda

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Lifestyle & Leisure
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Style & Beauty
  • Rants & Random Thoughts

Christmas sorted at The National Crafts and Design Fair

0
Hilda
Wednesday, 30 November 2016 / Published in Friends and Family, Home, Lifestyle & Leisure, News

Christmas sorted at The National Crafts and Design Fair

I haven’t been to The National Crafts & Design Fair for a few years and boy was I impressed by both the entrepreneurship and creativity when I visited today. There are over 500 of Ireland’s top craftspeople showcasing their handcrafted wares, everything from pendants to pieces of furniture, all together under one roof. The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland is represented and it is wonderful to see Guaranteed Irish with an even bigger presence than usual, supporting a number of diverse exhibitors from beauty and jewellery to fashion and textiles. If you want a unique gift for a loved one, or you want to treat yourself to something special, then this is the place for you.

Here, I hope to give you a flavour of what’s on offer, in my National Craft & Design Fair edit.

JEWELLERY

I am always drawn to the jewellery…well, I am a woman! There are many of Ireland’s top designers here and you can find something to suit every price range.

Chupi’s pieces will appeal to all ages and in her collection you see her celebrate Ireland’s heritage. Her aesthetic is influenced by the imperfect natural beauty of feathers, twigs and leaves complemented by gemstones. I Iove her tiny swan feather necklace in silver, gold and rose gold. Prices €139 to €159 or her gold initial necklace with one disc and birthstone €99. Her jewellery is made for your inner magpie, with delicate pieces in sparkling gold and the shiniest semi-precious gems. I know many a young or not-so-young lady who would be delighted with a Chupi creation!

chupi

Laragh McMonagle www.bylaragh.com has some dramatic necklaces, combining silver with rough nuggets of stone such as aquamarine and amethyst. Sculpted silver shells, pods and flowers, all inspired by nature, are unusual and reasonably priced.

necklace

CERAMICS, WOOD and HOUSE AND HOME

Ceramics feature strongly at the Fair. Edyta’s pieces www.edytaart.ie  (below) are immediately recognisable. From Poland originally, she has settled here and works from Stradbally in Laois, from where she sells to clients worldwide.

ceramic-figures

Grainne Watts www.grainnewattsceramic.com is also worth a walk upstairs.

fish

If you are looking for something different in the way of lamps, tables or wooden bowls for your home, you will find plenty to tempt you, all made in Ireland by some of our top craftspeople. There are large pieces from www.mangocrafts.com and also a clever chair that turns into a step-ladder.

What about this stained glass lamp, below, made from 1,500 pieces by Agnes Preece in Dublin. For more information see www.stainedglasslamps.ie

lampshades

There are many talented wood-turners at the Fair but Roger Bennett is a craftsman like no other. His inverted cone-shaped bowls (below) are incredibly delicate, coloured with wood dyes and inlayed with precious metal. Look here for something truly different.

 

blue-dish

 

QUIRKY GIFTS

At ‘Forgotten China’ (38), I was tempted by soy wax candles in vintage china tea cups and teacup lights. There were earrings, cufflinks and pendants upcycled from old broken china and they even offer a bespoke service. For example, if you have your granny’s favourite chipped tea cup, it can be transferred into some pieces of jewellery to keep forever. How clever is that!

 

three-pendants

 

Last year, a Waterford teacher Angela Mc Carthy developed a board game “Chase Across The Square”, an action-packed game of speed and calculation to help children develop confidence with numbers in a fun way which has already received accolades from educationalists and can be bought in a number of toy stores.

 

kids-games

 

You won’t be able to pass by Avokado and Co (64) fun Irish Signs and Irish Gifts without indulging. My favourite are the ‘Irish Mammy Sayings’ and prices start at around €13. These are perfect if you need to send some gifts overseas that are not too expensive to post either.

 

sign

The Irish Telephone Box (A 72 ) brought me back in time and I wondered if I would have space in my home for the large one. Of course, they have a full range of accessories such as key rings, Christmas decorations and fridge magnets. Go on line to read their story www.irishtelephonebox.com

 

BEAUTY

Anneco Beauty (www.annecobeauty.com) (IR10) has natural mineral make-up and wonderful make-up remover that is high in antioxidants and omega-rich plant oils, that I am assured will even deal with waterproof mascara. Green Angel (www.GreenAngel.com), also nearby, has beautiful products and I was impressed with their hand and body scrub which has won numerous awards.

green-angel

 

TEXTILES & FASHION ACCESSORIES

Textiles and Fashion Accessories are well represented. If you want a nice cosy gift for the man in your life, there’s an extensive – and very colourful – array of warm woollen socks on display at the Donegal Socks stand.

Below you can see a selection of scarves produced from a combination of felt and wool and hand-dyed by Kate Ramsey www.fabulousfelt.ie

kate-ramsey

FOOD HALL

And if you have worn yourself out with all the crafts then you can visit the Food Hall and indulge in some of the best artisan foods Ireland and Europe have to offer. I was particularly taken with the tempting array of produce from The Country Kitchen in Nenagh, below, and the chocolate chip and honeycomb sausages from Barry Johns Sausages were surprisingly delicious. Encouraged to try out Ginos Gelato by a lady called Siobhan, I am now a convert. I didn’t realise that it is a franchise owned by two Irishmen who trained in Italy and have been in the business for over twenty years. Delicious and kind of healthy!

country-kitchen

DETAILS

Venue: RDS Main Hall, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Parking: Simmonscourt Car Park (free shuttle bus to RDS)

Dart:  IO-minute walk from Sandymount Station

Tickets €10 (accompanied under 16 free) at the door or online www.nationalcraftsfair.ie

Dates

Thurs 1st Dec       10am-10 pm

Fri 2nd Dec           10am-10pm

Sat 3rd Dec           10am-7pm

Sun 4th Dec          10 am-7pm

Complimentary gift wrapping is worth using and also a complimentary cloakroom service is a nice touch. Go early as there is a lot to see.  I will be posting one or two more photos a day of my top picks until Sunday.  Please sign up with your email for future posts so you don’t miss anything exciting and feel free to share if you like this post. Choose your platform below. Follow me on Instagram for updates on overthehilda and Twitter on @overthehilda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tagged under: beauty products, ceramics, christmas gifts, crafts, guaranteed irish, hand-crafted creations, irish design, jewellery, national crafts & design fair, quirky gifts, wood products

What you can read next

Wrinkles, wrinkles everywhere and not a cure in sight!
The Coffee Fix
Drink Lemon, Water and Ginger to stay Healthy

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sign up here to receive updates straight to your mailbox
Loading

DELIGHTED TO BE IN THE TOP 15!

Fashion Over 50

overthehilda

overthehilda
New Year Resolutions are not for me. I just love New Year Resolutions are not for me.
 I just love the life I live. Of course I am worried about the Pandemic. Who isn't? 
But even though I cannot meet friends, eat out or do many of the 'normal' activities I used to do, I can still walk and enjoy the lovely place I live. Pop over to the blog to see my farewell to 2020.

 'Life is not measured by 
the number of breaths we take, but
the moments that take our breaths away.'

Maya Angelou.

#staypositive #wintersea #seascene #waves #whitehorses #wintersky #lovethelifeyoulive #cloudscene #lookforward #overthehilda
Happy New Year from Graham and me. A different New Happy New Year from Graham and me. A different New Year's Eve for certain. We are sitting at home watching the telly. But welcoming in 2021 with open arms and hoping that in a few months we can return to a more normal life. 

While 2020 was tough, it also made me appreciate (even more) the beautiful place where I live. 

2020 also had its highlights: our third grandson arrived a few weeks ago!

Stay positive my friends. Stay safe and
 thank you for your support. 
#over60blogger
#newyearseve
#staypositive
#hopeful
#bestrong💪
#selfie
Back view yesterday. Front view today on a sunny d Back view yesterday. Front view today on a sunny day. What I did not tell you is that the coat is reversible but I pefer the faux fur in the inside. All deets on previous post. You can see the rest of the 'Style Not Age' gang on stories or on the blog. And @mummabstylish @annasislandstyle @thestylesplash  and @is_this_mutton_  look fabulous when they are out and about. Hop over to stories.

#outandabout #sharedootdinspirations #stylenotage #casualstyle #coatseason 
#walkingoutfit #affordablefashion #agelessstyle #mystyle #mystyleessential
It is the last 'Style Not Age' of the year and we It is the last 'Style Not Age' of the year and we are out and about. Warm outerwear has never been more important, as we meet up with friends for socially distanced coffee outdoors.

 The coat from @primark has kept me cosy during these difficult Covid times.  This pic was taken down a country lane a few weeks ago when I was visiting my parents.

And I have lived in these camo leggings from @fandfclothing for the past few months.  Walking boots and hat are old. Pop over to stories for more pics.

Go check out my friends @annasislandstyle @mummabstylish @is_this_mutton_ @thestylesplash to see what they wear when they are out and about.
#stylenotage #outandabout #stayingwarm #over50blogger #casualstyle #walking #warmcoat #outdoorsstyle #cosystyle #over60style#
Writing about the importance of supplementing with Writing about the importance of supplementing with Vitamin C (particularly at the moment) on the blog. Liposomal Vitamin C is all the rage becuse it promises optimal absorption. It is all quite scientific. But what you need to know is that taking it will benefit your immune system, your energy and your skin. Did I mention this Somega is delicious? More on the blog.

#gosomega #irishbusiness #immunehealth #naturalsupplements #boostyourimmunity #irishvitamins #discoverhealth #liposomal #vitc #immuneboost #somega #vitaminc
From the archives. Remember when we tried on dress From the archives. Remember when we tried on dresses etc in changing rooms? And browsed in shops?
This is one that got away. Kind of wish I had bought it now @lkbennettlondon 
I am not so good at online shopping. Bought runners online in the size I normally get in that brand and they had to go back. Anyone else with the same problem?

#shoppingfun #dresslover #shoppingday 
#dressingup #over50style #stylishoutfit #stayingstylish over60style #styleover50
My birthday was extra special this year because of My birthday was extra special this year because of the arrival of this little man. Thank you @courtneysmithstyle and @mfnewman for the gift of a third grandson. My house will be wrecked but my heart is full. Welcome Zen to our world.  What a wonderful name. 

#grandsonlove #bestbirthday
#newbabyboy #grandson #myfamilymylife
Showing you my boots from our latest Style Not Age Showing you my boots from our latest Style Not Age 'A touch of Sparkle' challenge. These are very old. Maybe you can tell😛 They are no longer comfortable enough to walk far in them, but I don't want to get rid of them. The sparkly bag is from @shopfolkster
You can check out the entire outfit in stories along with the fabulous outfits from @annasislandstyle
@mummabstylish @is_this_mutton_ and @thestylesplash. 
#over50style #bootup #sparklesparkle #stylishoutfit #stylishatanyage #over60blogger #stylenotage #outfitideas #irishover60blogger #stayingstylish #fashionforall #maturestyle #over50fashion
🪥 My new stylish electric toothbrush (gifted) h 🪥 My new stylish electric toothbrush (gifted) has Ionic Brushing Superpowers! 

🪥Sounds impressive? It is!

🪥But do not ask me to explain it.Check out @ion.sei for all the science stuff. And learn about the innovative technology used in this German manufactured and Japanese inspired toothbrush. 

🪥It has to do with a UV LED light, a titanium bar and negative ions. But it is rather complicated and I am not a science geek.

🪥What I know is that my teeth  and gums feel cleaner and are cleaner. Because it actually prevents plaque from forming.

🪥Easy to use (there are 3 brushing modes) and gentle on gums, it turns off after 2 minutes. And delivers minimum 36,000 strokes in that time!!

#ionicbrusing #dentalcare #oralhygiene #electrictoothbrush #teethgoals #smile #ionic #dentalhygiene #besttoothbrushever #teeth #gifted
Back to golf yesterday. It was a beautiful day @ma Back to golf yesterday. It was a beautiful day @malahidegc1892. Unfortunately my golf was not so beautiful. But it is good to be back. 
#backtogolf #golfcourses #winterday #bluesky #over60blogger #scenic #reflections #bullrushes #lookaround
This month on 'Style Not Age' our theme is 'A Touc This month on 'Style Not Age' our theme is 'A Touch of Sparkle'. Unfortunately I am unable to post on the blog because of technical issues, so for the moment you will have to check out my friends: @annasislandstyle @is_this_mutton_  @mummabstylish @thestylesplash on my stories. 
I am wearing a skirt from @fandfclothing and a jumper from @thebiascutboutique (a few years old) and very old boots.

#atouchofsparkle #over50style #nevertooold #over50blogger #sparklesisters #stylishatanyage #staypositive #dressupathome #overthehilda #over60style #stylenotage
Wearing my favourite @itcosmeticsuki your skin but Wearing my favourite @itcosmeticsuki your skin but better CC+ Cream. There are a few versions of this now, but I still prefer the colour correcting full coverage cream. It is wonderfully hydrating and I love how light it is on the skin. Also has SPF50. 
I have written on the blog about this before. Seriously addicted. 
You can get online or in @arnottsdublin and @officialbrownthomas 
Also love their lippies and mascara. 
Developed with plastic surgeons and dermatologists, check out their products. 

#skincare #makeup #foundation #ageing
#over60blogger #yourskinbutbetter #ccream #over50skincare #naturalmakeuplook #over50style
Load More… Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Style & Beauty
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Lifestyle & Leisure
  • Rants & Random Thoughts

Recent Posts

  • Staged

    Binge Watch these Television Series

    We have watched a lot of telly recently. Yes, w...
  • Malahide Estuary

    Goodbye to 2020 and Look Forward

    Goodbye 2020 I believe that most of us (probabl...
  • Primark green coat

    Out and About with Style Not Age

    Our ‘Style Not Age’ collective show...

OVER THE HILDA

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Lifestyle & Leisure
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Style & Beauty
  • Rants & Random Thoughts

Copyright © 2021 overthehilda.ie | web by cloud nine

TOP
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.