Nenaghgal Meets Fashion Designer- Marion Murphy Cooney

Above: Double breasted jacket from MMC.

Soon after we moved to Ireland in 2007, I heard about local fashion designer Marion Murphy Cooney because I was looking to have a dress made for my brother's wedding in October 2008. I had a specific idea for my dress and wanted to have it made for me as I knew it would be more flattering. I met Marion in early 2008 and had my first meeting - I wanted an empire style dress as I felt it best suited my curvy figure. We picked out a fabulous orange silk shantung which was then lined with a kind of pink fuchsia lining- Marion told me she'd pick out some jewels to go on the waist and then I'd be back in closer to the date to try it on. It was wonderful and a real hit at the wedding and I've gone on to wear it 4 more times since then- a very worthwhile investment.

While Marion had been on the fashion scene before I moved to Ireland, her beautiful creations are now sweeping the globe. Most recently, on of her dresses appeared at the OSCARS on Denise Creagh, co-producer of the much acclaimed Irish nomination, "The Crush"

Above: Bodice and skirt from MMC Designs.

Irish celebrities have her designs on their radar and she's often the designer of choice when it comes to social events- she's dressed Maura Derrane, Karen Koster, Celia Holman Lee and Lorraine Keane, just to name a few.

What I love about Marion is that through this all she has remained humble and is one of the nicest people I have come across. She takes the personal time to work directly with you on the piece that will be created just for you. There is no big ego. She knows where she's come from and she's worked hard to get where she is- nothing is taken for granted.

Above: Lisa Fitzpatrick wearing MMC at the VIP Style Awards.

I love that she offers a wide range of styles and choices- there are so many designs on my list-a beautiful jacket, another dress. Some of her designs are available under the MMC label in a few shops but the best way is to go directly to her and have a piece designed for you.

Above: Kathryn Thomas wearing MMC at the IFDA's.

She does have a bit of a waiting list so for now you won't get in before September with her so plan ahead!

Above: Emma O'Driscoll wearing MMC at the IFDA's.

Check out more on her website or follow her on Facebook. You can contact her directly at info@marionmurphycooney.com or ring her on 086-8617180. By the way, she's based just outside of Nenagh.

"Love Irish Crafts" - Meet Ann Murphy

Good morning everyone- I am so inspired by Obama's visit to Ireland on Monday and I certainly hope that many of us will take his enthusiasm on board and remember Yes We Can. Of course that's what it's about being an entrepreneur and a craft person- is doing what you love and knowing you can do it so my "Love Irish Crafts" blog campaign is all about the power of believingin yourself and doing what you love- which in turn, makes you more passionate about it, you work harder and are more satisfied with the results.

So, without further adieu, I introduce Ann Murphy, a crime reporter with the Evening Echo n Cork since 2005 but like many of us, she had a passion for other things, specifically jewellery and head pieces. She set up her business AM Jewellery in 2010 and soon was selling in two crafts shop in West Cork - Ine Anish in Leap and the Hummingbird Gallery in Dunmanway.

As happens in many businesses, it started to evolve and after a Mad Hatters Ball in Cork, Ann was tempted to try making head pieces and she was able to experiment with her love of colour in another way.

Ann told me" I went to a workshop by a milliner in Mayo and also undertook a workshop course in Mallow Fashion and Design College. I did my first course in 2010 and in November the owner of Chamairie boutique in Middleton put in her first order. Since then I have supplied he with close to 50 headpieces, while I have also sold several other pieces to individual customers. On February 1, The Best of Buds florist and gift ware shop in South Mall in Cork city centre took a large order of head pieces from me."

Ann is inspired by everything floral for her head pieces and she loves using colour.

You can check out many more of Ann's designs through her Facebook page. You can also check up on events she'll be attending locally.

As always, this is part of my campaign that runs all year long for Year of the Craft 2011 which is being promoted by the Crafts Council of Ireland and Craft Northern Ireland.

Magic in Moneygall- The Day Obama Came to Town

In our little pocket of the country yesterday, there was great excitement and anticipation waiting for the President of the United States, Barack Obama to arrive in Moneygall - his ancestral homeland. Moneygall is literally 15 minutes down the road from us but unfortunately we did not have tickets to be there for his actual visit so we drove down in the evening to revel in the buzz. Above, he and Michelle enjoy a pint in Ollie Hayes's pub.

It had been raining on and off all day but as we entered Moneygall last night at about 7:30- a rainbow rose over the village.

Streets are lined with American and Irish flags and the village has been given a fresh lick of paint and looked spectacular.

These hills behind the village looked beautiful in the evening light. A far cry from the motorcade and screaming fans.

I loved this house with the flags in the windows. The streets were lined with people (even though you don't see them in my shots) there was a wonderful positive buzz in the air. Long may it continue - Ireland needs a boost of optimism. Obama's speech in Dublin after he left Moneygall was particularly inspiring and I hope that the Irish take his message on board and fill themselves with that American "Can Do" attitude.

Here are my husband James and daughter Sophia in front of the house that sits just off the main street and has been widely photographed over recent weeks.

It is well worth visiting Moneygall if you are in the vicinity- it's located just off the M7 motorway and there is now a craft shop with plenty of Obama memorabilia, cafe and of course two pubs. Ollie Hayes was jammers with people revelling in the moment and back in 2008, James and I enjoyed a pint in their on the eve of his election.

Tipperary Focus- Aoki Interiors

I really applaud people who decide to start up a business in a recession - it takes real guts and determination. In Carrick-on-Suir, Anita Oakey opened her business Aoki Interiors only a few months ago. Anita told me "it had been a secret ambition of mine for many years to open my own store never thinking for a moment that I would ever see my dream realised."

Her dream has definitely been realised now with this impressive store filled with a wide range of interior design options. About 13 years ago, Anita didn't really want to return to work after her daughter was born. She loved sewing so decided to join a six week sewing class. That led later on, after another two children were born, to a Fetac Level 5- 2 year interior design and decoration course. Here her passion for interior design was born and she discovered skills she didn't realize she had.

Anita then got a job as an interior designer with Ormond soft furnishings in Carrick-on-Suir, but three and a half years ago she was one of the casualties of the hard hitting recession. Well they do say that necessity is the mother of invention and that probably why businesses start in a recession because they have to. Luckily Anita's husband Pat, is equally talented in carpentry, technology and management and if you add in Anita's skills of curtain making and design the combination works well.

There are nice mix of accessories in the store- at the centre of the display above, is their Metropolis Man which is contemporary piece inspired by art deco.

This whimsical "laughing cow lamp" would be great for a side table in a sitting room.

The FLUX chair cleverly combines the practical advantage of fold-able furniture with the looks of a classic design chair.

Anita told me " I try to ensure that if a customer comes in for a pair of curtains, they will be able to accessorise with poles, blinds, cushions, throws, light shades, frames, mirrors, vases or other accessories. As it is with fashion, finding the accessories to complete the look of the fabulous dress you have is just as important as the dress itself."

Anita at the main counter.

At Aoki they offer a comprehensive design service such as curtain making and fitting, curtain pole fitting, blind fitting, wainscoting fitting, free in store design advice, full interior design service and project management. And I am happy to report that they source a lot of Irish manufacturers- the wainscoting and panelling is manufactured in Limerick. Their lighting supplier, who makes their silk and linen shades is in Dublin and all their blind are made in Dublin too.

The accessories have been sourced throughout Europe and the various trade shows they attended over the last twelve months.

Aoki Interiors can be found on Facebook as well as through their online store.

If you are spending more time at home these days- why not make sure it is the cosiest, most personlized space it can be- a visit to Aoki will certainly be a good place to start.

A Quick Glimpse in My Garden

This summer will be our 4th summer living in Ireland and at long last my garden is finally starting to take shape and be more substantial than years before. Last summer I got my husband to put up the trellises for my climbing roses which has made a huge difference.

They've shot up the trellises this year and many are now in bloom (as these photos were taken over a week ago).

I decided this year that I wanted to have sweet peas and used some old plastic pots I had to construct my very basic "teepees" for them to climb up. Here you can see my fabrications - simply bamboo poles and thick twine which I've tied in a lattice between the poles giving them something to climb up.

When they grow, they should, as I envision, go up the poles and string and create a wonderful pyramid effect of colourful flowers. Fingers crossed this all works!

When one of my beautiful alliums got beheaded by accident- I popped it into a small glass on the kitchen window so we could all continue to enjoy the bloom.

Happy Friday everyone. The rain is pelting down again- will it every stop!!

"Love Irish Crafts" - Meet Bridget Breedy in Cahir, Co. Tipperary

As my year long "Love Irish Crafts" campaign continues, today I'd like you to meet soap maker, Bridget Breedy.

Bridget lives in Cahir and started making soaps many years ago for her family never really intending to sell it. Of course, like many businesses it all started because she wasn't happy with what was currently available (don't they say necessity is the mother of invention!). Frustrated by commercial soap because they always dried her skin too much she decided to develop her own recipes.

Bridget told me, "I researched different oils I could use in my soaps and over the years developed my own recipes which have all been safely assessed. I use only high quality oils such as olive, coconut and Castor , which may be expensive, but result in a very high quality soap. I grow my own lavender and Calendula flowers which I sometimes use in my soaps. These flowers add colour and texture to the soaps and have long been reptuted to have healing qualities for our skin."

She also adds things like oatmeal and seaweed along with manuka honey for some of her soaps that improve skin healing.

The business has developed over the years to incorporate a range of wedding soaps and bath fizzers and she also features the local Rock of Cashel (maybe the Queen will get one!) and Cahir Castle on some of her soaps which are sold at local craft shops.

Bridget also hosts workshops and demonstrations where she teaches people about making natural soaps and how to even turn them into liquid hand washes or household cleaning products. Bridget can be reached via email at bridgetbreedy@yahoo.com

Bridget is listed on the Crafts Council of Ireland website (choose a county in the option box and you can see all the Tipperary craftspeople listed.

As always my "Love Irish Crafts" blog campaign is part of the Year of the Craft 2011 celebration promoted by the Crafts Council of Ireland and Craft Northern Ireland. You can visit their sites to see events and other features artists.