Archive for » December, 2010 «

24
Dec
Merry Christmas & Happy Thoughts
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What a year. I think, if I am lucky enough to be kicking around in forty years time, I shall look back on 2010 as really…well…really quite mental. All I can say is that, as I write this, I am feeling most fortunate. I can’t explain it - I just want to make life a person I can hug. (Luckily I have someone in my life who embodies so much of all I love about the world, and I get to hug him quite frequently. So that’s pleasant…) ; )

Thank you to those of you have joined me on the HIGHS! and LOWS! of life on this blog over the last twelve months, and to those who have sent positive thoughts, and heartfelt messages, and genuine support. I appreciate it so very much.

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To the help part…well, it’s actually to do with those same positive thoughts…

I would like to make the next Fancy Friday, published on the 14th of January, a very special one, as it’s the 50th Fancy Friday.

If you could leave a comment, send me an anonymous mail, or a link, or a FB chat, or a skype or a pigeon carrier message or get your mum to call my mum… with a quote, saying, or something you wrote, that has inspired you in some way. You can also tell us why and how it helped if you like, the circumstances etc. Do feel free to share with us in as few or many words as you like.

Also, if you’re a photographer or an artist, mail us some stuff if  you would like us to include your work in the 50th Fancy Friday on the 14th.

That’s all there is to it…! If you don’t mind being linked to, I shall link to you. if you prefer to remain anonymous, just say the word.

Have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas.

Love, Blanaid

Images from Frank Capra’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’

Category: This Website  7 Comments
24
Dec
Shutterbug shop
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Some images from the shop launch day - by Ciúin Tracey. We had a lovely day and have been incredibly busy since Saturday, hence the lack of posting! Thanks so much to everyone who visited, purchased and said nice things…we look forward to seeing you in the New Year! For all the other thank yous, and there are so many, many heartfelt than yous, please see the post below. : ) Oh and Kay from K Kajoux will be back in January, for those of you who fell in love with her jewellery!

xBlanaid

Category: Blanaid's Style, My Work : Interiors, My work : Styling, Shopping : Real Life, shutterbug  7 Comments
17
Dec
a new shop, and thank you.
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I’m very excited and tired - this Saturday, at 11am, we’ll open our new little second-hand & hand-made shop. It’s not full of crazy prices or scariness, just nice and pleasant…like most of the lovely shops down here in Kilkenny! So if you do come down this Saturday (I’m making mulled cider!) - take some time to visit Butterslip, Smoking Lily, Rebekah Patterson, Bridies, the Made in Kilkenny pop-up shop, the charity shop, Yesterdays, the lovely book shops  - and so much more! That’s just the city centre - venture to bennetsbride, Castlecomer, Thomastown etc for more lovely craft stores. I’m like an advertisement for Kilkenny, but I do love this town. I mean city… ; )

Hope to see you on Satutday - I want to say a huge thank you to Rhona Nolan for the poster! One of my favourite bloggers, I also love her graphic skills.  She’s also been a great help this week. Thanks also to Brid Leahy,  Ciuin Treacy, Aisling Tobin Christina Byrne, Aran Hennessy, Moselle Foley and Frances Long for all of their work over the last year. Phenomenal people, really.  A special mention of course to Eoin Hennessy, the unsung hero who works seven days a week and all the hours he can say yes to, just so we can stay going on this adventure.

While I’m on my thanks roll, my parents don’t read my blog, but they’re incredible. Really. My sister Roisin for making me far much more cleverer about some things.. ; ) and Dave for listening very patiently and calmly when I realise I’ve let myself in for even more work.  Sometimes there are even tears. No bother to him, he’s a very good listener!

Also, genuinely to those of you who comment, and mail, and just say nice things, whether you’re a friend or a stranger of sorts - well, you’re lovely.

Mostly though, even with the odd tear, and late night, and frustrated phone call - I love it all, and I am very, very happy. I hope you are too, for any and every reason at all.

xBlanaid

See more images of the making of our shop on our facebook page > here < x

Category: My Work : Interiors, My work : Styling, Out and About, Shopping : Real Life, shutterbug  6 Comments
14
Dec
round two
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Another snow post - this was taken at the DART station, as my van was snowbound. I’m on the way to the christening of the very beautiful Grace C.

Thanks so much to Dave for the photo, and the day.

Coat - Custo Barcelona, around 3/4 years ago. Only two came in to Ireland. I had to have it, although it was *gulp* VERY dear, for me.

Shirt - Second hand.

Necklace - The Butterslip, Rose Inn St., Kilkenny.

Maxi skirt - Topshop

Gloves - Second hand.

Apologies for the lack of posting yesterday, we are preparing to open our second hand  & stuff shop in Shutterbug this Saturday! If you’re about, do pop in and say hello. More information to follow… :)

xBlanaid

Category: Blanaid's Style  8 Comments
10
Dec
Fancy Friday
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It’s so easy to get consumed by how much the world is affecting you emotionally, while living in blissful ignorance as to how you affect the emotional state of everyone in your world. Next time a problem arises, decide again who you’re going to be - the one who consumes the energy and time of everyone around them, or the one who can face adversity with a certain elegance, acceptance, and ability to move on. We can be whoever we want to be in our reactions to situations. It’s just a choice. It’s always a choice. I know this is a repeated subject - but I always need to remind myself. I want to keep trying, very hard, to make the right choice.

xBlanaid

Images from behind the scenes of Mad Men via Rolling Stone magazine.

Category: Fancy Friday  12 Comments
10
Dec
donate to me immediately.
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Let’s all just take a moment.

xBlanaid

Via Ikea

Category: My work : Styling  5 Comments
07
Dec
let it etc.
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This wasn’t supposed to be an outfit post, just a test shot by Offaly photographer Jeff Harvey on location at Kinnity Castle. We braved the black ice to do our recce on the castle, which we are now shooting in January. Excuse the hair! I’d left my hat in the car.

Skirt - €5.00 second hand maxi dress cut at the waist.

Sweatshirt - Dave’s, bought in vintage store in L.A.

Belt - River Island

Leather jacket - €29.00 Penneys

Fur Coat - €8.00 second hand shop.

Leather gloves - €5.00 second hand.

Pom-pom scarf - €7.90 H&M

Hope you’re all surviving out there in the snow & ice. It’s so beautiful, but oof, driving is scary.

xBlanaid

Category: Blanaid's Style  6 Comments
07
Dec
all over my mind
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Some images in my current interiors folder. Love > (1) A laden mantlepiece and a dark wall. (2) White floorboards and big cushions. (3) our light in the studio - going in to production? (4) baby blue table with tolix chairs. (5) wall decor in Mad Men.

xBlanaid

Category: Inspiration : Interiors  One Comment
03
Dec
Fancy Friday
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…just to touch the ground that you are on. I never thought of it that way before, but now I realise how lucky we are in the smallest of things. From the ground up, I share the world with you.

xBlanaid

Category: Fancy Friday  3 Comments
03
Dec
Anne Barber - Products.
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I chose five products available in stores or online, which are inspired by Anne Barber’s home. Have you any links to anything that you think would go well in her home? Share!

CHAIR

Bentwood chair in green. €119.00 (sale price) The Conran Shop at Arnotts.

T: +353 1 805 0400 W: www.buy4now.ie/arnotts

CUP

‘Blossom’ teacup and saucer €10.00 House of Fraser, Dundrum Town Centre.

T: +353 1 299 1400 W: www.houseoffraser.co.uk/

TABLE

Natural Oak Extendable Dining Table £535.00 plus delivery. From Irish and London web store – Sweetpea and Willow.

T: 0044 845 257 2627 W: www.sweetpeaandwillow.com

CUSHION

Flower cushion €7.00 Heatons – stores nationwide.

T: 01 4630100 W: http://www.heatonsstores.com/

GLASSES

Plastic wine goblets from €2.99 TK Maxx, Stores nationwide.

W: www.tkmaxx.com/

xBlanaid

Category: Inspiration : Interiors, My Work : Media & Design  Leave a Comment
02
Dec
Irish Independent Weekend : Anne Barber
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Distressed table base purchased in Eclectic Interiors, Castecomer Estate Yard, Co. Kilkenny €120.0, ceramic table top commissioned from Andrew Ludick, Castecomer Estate Yard. Price on request. White chairs purchased on ebay €70.00 each.Patterned purple cushion from Miranda Groen, Kilkenny apx. €40.00. Poster bought in Chamonix for €10.00 and framed in the Framemakers, St. Mary’s Lane, Kilkenny. Blossom bowls €6.95 from Anne’s store - Butterslip. Little blue bird €5.00 bought on a trip to Turkey.

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Picture - €100.00 Eclectic Interiors, Castlecomer Estate Yard, Kilkenny. Vintage cups – gift. Jug – Brid Lyons, Clay Creations,  Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny. (0)56 7724977 Bowl – Andrew Ludick Ceramics, Castlecomer Estate Yard, Kilkenny. apx. €250.00. Flowers – Dried by Anne.

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The bathrobes are available to purchase from Butterslip from €20.00.

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Selection of bowls from : (1) Rosemary Durr pottery, Castlecomer Estate Yard, Kilkenny, from apx. €8.00 (2)Oxfam. from apx. €8.00 (3) Bowls purchased on trips to Morocco from €6.00 (4) Bowls from the Real Olive Company in Co. Cork. from €10.00

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The Bicycle art piece is by Rachel Burke apx. €450.00. Hat by Rebekah Patterson Millinery, Kilkenny,apx.€170.00. The key bowl was a gift from Anne’s sister. The sofa was found in a skip and Ann upholstered in Designers’ Guild fabric, try Garenndenny Lane Interiors for similar.

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‘Tomorrow is a lovely day’ print €14.99 TK Maxx homewares.

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The glass vintage jug on left is a family heirloom. The red vase was bought from a potter in Westport for apx. €15.00. The green plastic jug is from Dunnes Stores (€10.00) The clear speckled water jug from Butterslip is €24.95, and the blue jug is from Rosemary Durr in Castlecomer Estate Yard.

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The ‘Cow’ wallpaper in Anne’s spare room is from Louise Body Wallprints and is €85.00 per roll, available to order from Butterslip.

Please note : all images are copyright of Dylan Vaughan. Please do not re-post or use without his permission!

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AT HOME WITH ANNE BARBER

For the second ‘at-home’ feature in the Irish Independent Weekend magazine, photographer Dylan Vaughan and I visited the beautiful Anne Barber at home.  Anne owns one of my favourite shops - Butterslip in Kilkenny ( where I procured the necklace and brooches for the Sunday Times feature!) This feature was a great excuse to satisfy my curiosity - I’ve often wondered what her home looks like, considering how imaginative her shop is…I wasn’t disappointed.

Here’s the interview below, more after the jump!

xBlanaid

A VINTAGE WONDERLAND

Anne Barber has become incredibly adept at creating stylish places from tired old properties. She transformed an old angling store in Kilkenny in to ‘Butterslip’, a shop that has become somewhat of a destination for those seeking beautiful trinkets and objects for the home and wardrobe, a ‘treasure trove’ of a store in the true meaning of the term.

Her home, pictured here, is also the result of this ability. Once a simple council terraced house from the 60s, as Anne describes it - “perfectly proportioned mini house,” is now a vintage haven of incredible style. The colourful mish-mash of furniture and accessories creates an overwhelming feeling of comfort, antiquity and delicate sophistication.

more…

Category: Inspiration : Interiors, My Work : Media & Design  4 Comments