We used the ’sheepskin rugs over chairs’ thing in Shutterbug, and I can’t recommend this look enough. In fact, I’d like to put them everywhere in my house too - over couches, on headboards, on my walls - I want my house to be one white square of fluff and softness.
Seriously though - if you or your partner sits on an office chair for the better part of each day, do this. I would almost guarantee that it will make them feel better about that 10 hour seat.
xBlanaid
I just want to say a HUGE thank you to Rosemary Mac Cabe over in the Irish Times for her continued support of Irish fashion, photographers and designers. She is one of the most intrepid bloggers out there, and I’m not just saying that because she did an epic post on Shutterbug! (read it <here> ) Her blog is actually one of my few daily reads (time constraints rather than lack of choice!) because I like her take on life. She’s interesting and intelligent. What more could you ask for from a blog?!
She has also inspired me to up my game on my own coverage of Irish fashion, art and design. This blog is no Irish Times of course, but I know, from my own experience, what a boost any coverage at all is to a body worn out from the strain of self employment in the creative field! So do get in touch if you would like something to feature here and I will do my very best!
Thanks once again to Rosemary, and to everyone who has supported both this blog and our studio. I can’t tell you enough, how much we appreciate it…
xBlanaid
Apologies for the lack of posting - we’ve been incredibly busy in our new studio, Shutterbug. Above is a selection from our shoot with Zarah and her mammy, Naomi!
xBlanaid
Credits: Shoot with Zarah. Photography by Eoin Hennessy. Post-production by Blanaid Hennessy
My 30th birthday has been most kind to me indeed. Yes, that is the Yves Saint Laurent Arty ring that I posted about back in January - you know, the one I said I’d love as an engagement ring? Well, no engagement, but my lovely brothers and sister, Eoin, Roisin and Aran clubbed together their hard earned monies to buy me something that I’d have for the rest of my life - something I could say ‘I got this for my 30th birthday’ about…it turns out my friends were all in on it too - telling me it was sold out, secretly sizing it, keeping me from saving up for it…etc. I am so thrilled. So, so thrilled.
My luck continued - my very thoughtful friend Dave presented me with a new ipod to replace the one that was stolen from my car… add this to the clothes pictured here, polka dot camping chairs, tie dye dress, vinyl records, jumpsuit, and my parents surprising me with the most incredibly generous gift - (more on that one next week) I’m feeling incredibly lucky, loving my thirties, and enjoying the sunshine. …To top it all, I have my studio launch/30th party to look forward to on the 5th of June. Life is good! ..and thank you for all the birthday wishes, whether it was here, facebook, text or email (all the mod-her-in technology!) - I really do appreciate it.
T-shirt - €20.00 River Island
Shorts - €30.00 River Island
Necklace - €28.00 Topshop
Ankle Boots - €80.00 Zara
Bracelets - charity shop/accessorize.
Ring - permanently glued to finger.
P.S Those are birthmarks on my leg - not bizarre sunburn! : )
xBlanaid
I can’t really be any more than I am right now. That’s not to say that I can’t continue to learn, and try, and tone it down or turn it up - but right now, today, this is all I can be. I can’t be your kind of perfect because I’m not sure what your definition of perfect is…
So here I am, with all of my faults, not trying anymore to be anything but all I am with all of my faults.
xBlanaid
Images via fffound
I’m 30 years old today, and I’m very excited to be heading in to a new decade..particularly if it’s anything like the last three (although memories of the first are hazy, and the third for that matter..)
So this is just a post to say - to all of the people who have made my life so incredibly FULL of dancing, laughing, talking, messing, some crying, learning, thinking, and one more time, for good measure, laughing - THANK YOU! Today, I’m just going to be grateful and happy and excited about everything, and stay hopeful that this next decade brings more of the same, and for you too, reading this right now.
xBlanaid
P.S this blog is also ‘one years of age’ this month - so thank you very much for taking the time to read, or comment on, my ramblings - I very much appreciate it all! …and to the person who made me start it - thank you - you win a prize - a pony! 
x
P.P.S We have a habit of doing ‘hamster’ faces on nights out - no explanation…
This may not seem like a big deal to most people - but I have never, in my life, found a pair of jeans that fit me properly. Ever. To the point where, around 6 years ago, I decided to stop wearing jeans altogether. I still dabbled with the boyfriend jeans thing about two Summers ago, and last year found a nice pair of slouchy and comfortable cropped jeans. Still didn’t love either though.
I’m not sure that I’ll ever really be a jeans girl. I feel very eh…normal in them. It’s not that I dress to impress or shock or anything like that, I just like playing around with stuff, and I think there’s only so much you can do with a pair of jeans. (I mean this for me personally, I’ve nothing against jeans in general…) Also shape wise, I have a long back and short legs so have to be careful with the old proportions, and jeans can be pretty unflattering on me.
Anyway, rambling on, I stumbled upon this pair in River Island on Saturday while out shopping with my friend Alison. Due to work it was a ’smash and grab’ shopping trip so I took ten pairs of randomly sized and shaped jeans in with me, and ended up buying this pair. Still wondering if I actually like them, it’ll be interesting to see if they appear in an outfit post ever again… : )
Jeans - €48.00 River Island
T-shirt - vintage, free! (gift from a friend..)
Jacket - €30.00 vintage
Rabbit Hair Hat - €5.00 charity shop
Ankle boots - €80.00 Zara
Studded bracelets - €1.00 Charity shop
Cuff bracelet - €3.00 Accessorize sale.
xBlanaid
Ah, Summer in Ireland, when it chooses to behave itself, what more could you ask for from the place you live? Seriously thinking about buying a caravan, and heading off to an Irish beach any weekend that the sun comes out to play. Just a cheap caravan - paint the hell out of it, add some fancy bits, buy a barbecue, throw in some lounge chairs, hitch it all up and hit the road.
xBlanaid
After a serious lack of outfit posts, I seem to be on a mission to make up for it in one week. The shoot with Ciúin gave me a bit of a kick to get in to my clothes again - not just shoot wise, but the day to day stuff. Also, after my encounter with the navy polka dot dress versus the scissors, I can’t stop cutting stuff up. I like the raggedy hemlines and altered shape. I may be addicted.
I bought this dress in Penneys’ yesterday, and started by cutting the unflattering ruffled bib from the front, then cut about an inch from the bottom. Also cut off unflattering ribbon tie thing. Had to put down the scissors before I was left with a floral cravat. May change blog name to www.howsshecutting.com
Dress - €13.00 Penneys
Parka - €20.00 ish Penneys
Belt - €10.00 Vintage
Boots - Bought them in the River Island sale around five years ago, I think they were around €60.00.
xBlanaid
This is a feeble attempt at making you smile. I know you feel that you’ll never laugh again with a 100% conviction, but you will. Would a clown suit help? ; )
I wish I could help you more, or figure out the answers to your questions, but all I can offer is all that I know - as simple as it is - love is a nice thing, and if it’s not nice, it’s not love.
xBlanaid
This is actually a reeeal outfit post, as I was wearing this today, although the image is from the shoot with Ciúin on Saturday. Saved me trying to get an even remotely half as daycent photo of the rigout on the mac. Must sort out the camera situation. I really have absolutely no excuse.
Hat - €4.00 charity shop, Kilkenny
Tartan bralet - €25.00 Topshop
Belt - Vintage
Skirt - By Malene Birger (the creased look of it is part of the design, which suits me and my ironing laziness just fine..!)
Shoes - Gil Carvelho for Faith
Cape - €4.00 Sue Ryder charity shop, Thurles
Briefcase - €8.00 - Mulberry bag I found in a charity shop around five years ago, love it but it’s falling apart..
Didn’t wear the hat though, as I was in work, and also added the navy and white mandarin style top from the tattoo shoot a few posts below. Really wish this weather would sort itself out - I blame the volcanic ash. Not sure why, I just do.
xBlanaid
Photo by Ciúin Tracey
I love this shoot, via Knightcat’s blog - would love to do a shoot along these lines soooon! Need brunette model…
xBlanaid
These spaces kind of remind me of our new studio - not in the brilliance of the look or anything, but just the fact that I can imagine enjoying taking a seat in any of these rooms. Like our place, with the light and everything - I can sit and get work done and I’m never aware of - well, sitting and working. I just feel relaxed - and I usually find that quite difficult when trying to work - I’m usually restless or uncomfortable or distracted. Anywaaay! Let’s see how long it lasts… : )
First image - Pretty Lovely Things Second Image - What We Do
Third Image - Grey The Blog Fourth Image - Busy Being Fabulous
xBlanaid
Nothing to say except, Summer - I love you.
xBlanaid
Images via ffffound
First shoot in our new studio Shutterbug! Ciuin Tracey came down from Dublin to photograph me for a project she’s working on - which yes, involved underwear being out on show…but not in a racy way! : ) So happy with the lighting in the new studio, and the cyclorama - I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy working on all of our shoots - which is a very good feeling indeed!
I also love working with Ciúin - we have a very similar end product in mind so we don’t even need to rabbit on at each other, just let the other do what their doing and have fun - great day’s work! There are lots and lots of set ups from yesterday’s shoot - but here’s the first one - a kind of ’Russian Aristocrat Forgets Their Trousers While Getting Lots of New Tattoos.’ Well, obviously I photoshopped the tattoos in, but I kind of want them in real life now….
Turban - Christmas present from my sister, from the second hand shop in front of George’s Arcade in Dublin - help, what’s the name of it…!? apx €20.00
Veil - Bought in ‘Tempted’ around 2 years ago. €38.00
Feathered hairband - Penneys - €2.00
Blue bikini - Penneys - €6.00
Navy and white top - €18.00 H&M
Scarf around waist - Penneys €2.00
Wrap on chair - H&M €7.00
Stockings - Penneys (I didn’t realise how much of this was from Penneys..) €3.00
Jewellery - left hand little finger: two rings from Daisy stacking rings, green jewel ring from K Kajoux. Ring finger: red ring from Dirty Fabulous. Right hand : Turquoise ring from Accessorise, diamond ring from ex.
* * *
Photography : Ciúin Tracey
Styling & Digital Art. : Blanaid Hennessy
* * *
Hope you like the shots!
xBlanaid
The Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots festival was it’s usual brilliant self this year, and my sister and I were lucky enough to go to James Vincent McMorrow’s gig in Cleere’s. I can’t recommend his album enough, and in particular, I’m quite in love with the song above. Please do take a few minutes out to listen to it all the way through, I’d almost promise you that you’ll fall in love with it too.
xBlanaid
Outfit posts are back in the game! ; )
I bought this dress for a tenner in a charity shop yesterday - it was ankle length, with long sleeves, a white panel where the deep V now exist, and thick white bands at the top of the pockets - yes, I took out the scissors…!
Dress: €10.00 Sue Ryder charity shop, Kilkenny
Belt : Vintage ‘Ray Busa’ belt.
Boots : River Island, around five years ago…
xBlanaid
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