The Brambles
Take a look inside this beautiful new Airbnb in Dundrum Co.Down…
Dundrum Co. Down has always been somewhere I have driven through but never stopped to spend much time in, so it was lovely to be asked to capture a new Airbnb right the in center of this charming little town.
The Brambles is a beautiful period house that sits on the main street of Dundrum, with its location being so close to stunning walks and views such as Dundrum Castle and Murlough Nature Reserve this beautiful house is perfect for a weekend stay or a mini holiday with your family. The decor in the house hints at the owners love for Ireland with glimpses of their history throughout.
We arrived at The Brambles just after lunch and after being shown around by Wendy and hearing a little bit about her story and how this Airbnb came to be, we started photographing the space and capturing all the little details. Wendy had left us some delicious buns from a shop in the town and lovely local Kilmegan apple juice which we happily tucked into before heading out for a walk.
We walked up to Dundrum Castle which is about a 10/15 min walk from the house. The views across the lough were beautiful. Unfortunately it was a little cloudy but on a clear day the view of the Mournes would be incredible. Definitely worth the trip and taking a walk around the Castle. (I will list a few more places to visit nearby at the bottom of this blog.)
After visiting the Castle we walked to Scopers to order our dinner. We had heard great things about this place both from Wendy and on Instagram. We really enjoyed it, the staff were really friendly and it was nice to be able to support a local restaurant during our stay.
After dinner we lit the stove and enjoyed an evening of reading in front of the fire, the main living room is a very cozy space where you could happily sit all evening. If you wanted to venture out there is a local pub near the house, about a 5 min walk.
In the morning we enjoyed the coffee and croissants provided by Wendy before we headed out for a walk around Murlough Nature Reserve which was just across the road from the house. We had a lovely walk around the lough to Murlough House and back before we left to go home.
After our stay I asked Wendy a few questions about herself and her new Airbnb, read more below…..
Hey Wendy tell us a little bit about yourselves and the story behind your Airbnb.
My husband and I are both Irish and have lived most of our lives in Switzerland. We discovered this area about thirty years ago through good friends who live here and we fell in love with the place. We bought a property in the village 13 years ago as a holiday home and 3 years ago we made it our “forever” home. We both grew up by the sea and had a longing to return to it.
What inspired you to start an Airbnb?
We have always enjoyed hosting friends and family in our own home and helping them to discover all that the area has to offer. Having the Airbnb is an extension of what we are already doing. We appreciate being part of this village community.
If you could sum up the style / feel of your Airbnb in 3 words, what would they be?
Charming, cozy and inviting.
What do you love most about your accommodation?
We love that it is a beautiful period house with so much character.
For guests coming to stay, where would you recommend as good places to visit nearby?
There is so much to see and do in this area. In walking distance from the house we have Dundrum Castle ( built in 1117) which has fantastic views of the Mourne mountains and Dundrum Bay. There is also Murlough Nature Reserve, which has an amazing beach with the Mountains of Mourne as a backdrop. We are blessed with stunning scenery and plenty of places to eat delicious food.
list of places to go nearby
Food
Scopers
Mourne Seafood Bar
Dundrum Inn
Tonn Ruray
Bay Side Catch
RuMac's Pizza
The Buck’s Head Inn
The Squid Shack
Walks and Attractions
Dundrum Castle
Murlough House
Murlough Nature Reserve
Dundrum Coastal Path
Seaford Woodland Walk
The Studio Helens Bay
Have a closer look at this unique new Airbnb in the quant little town of Helens Bay, Co. Down…
A few months ago I was invited to a beautiful new Airbnb in the quaint little town of Helen’s Bay. This unique holiday rental is located just a short walk from the delightful coastal path and sits beside the owner, Sara’s house. What once was the annex of their family home has now been converted into a delightful Airbnb, perfect for a solo trip or for a new family. Sara has a great eye for detail with her design background. Her house is full of character and charisma which has followed through into the Airbnb. Read more below about how Sara and her family began their Airbnb journey.
Tell us a little bit about yourselves and the story behind The Studio Helen’s Bay
My husband and I recently returned to live in Northern Ireland after almost twenty years working in London. With careers in fashion design and marketing, we would often joke that one day we would leave it all behind to run a bed and breakfast in Ireland.
And then one day it happened!
What inspired you to start an Airbnb?
Just prior to Covid hitting, and following the birth of our second child, we decided to swap West London for Helen’s Bay and the slower pace of life it offers our young family.
Enthusiastic about rediscovering the North Down coast, we are keen to share the place we love with visitors to our fledgling Airbnb.
The Studio is set in the grounds of our own home and takes its name from its use as a functioning design studio. When not occupied as an Airbnb, the large limed wood table in the living area is a perfect work space for to work from. Airy and peaceful, it really encourages relaxed, creative thinking.
I love the minimal style of your Airbnb, was there any interior inspiration behind the styling of it?
We have used a lot of salvaged and upcycled furniture, heavily influenced by interior stylists Mark and Sally Bailey and their ability to mix old with new.
Above all, sustainability was a key consideration from the repurposed furniture, to the solar powered skylight fittings, even carrying through to the zero waste toiletries sourced locally at Without Waste, Holywood.
The Studio is a space to champion local design and we have used its walls to showcase local art with pieces by Ruth Osborne, bespoke paintings and hand crafted wreaths from locally gathered willow.
Do you have a favourite detail in your Airbnb?
Our favourite feature in the Studio has to be the double height white washed vaulted ceiling in the open plan living space. With multiple sky lights and double doors opening on the leafy private garden, the light bright space feels like a little oasis of calm.
Have you any advice for those wanting to start their own small Airbnb?
What we hadn’t appreciated when we started out our plan is that all Airbnbs in Northern Ireland must be Tourist board accredited. We found the people at Discover NI hugely supportive and informative when starting out for the first time.
For guests coming to stay at The Studio, where would you recommend as good places to visit nearby?
The Studio is perfectly located just by The North Down coastal path and Crawfordsburn Country Park.
Helens Bay Organic Farm Shop is a beautiful spot to drop into and pick up a few local ingredients during your stay. Restaurants like Frae and Lynchpin in Holywood are on our recommendation list for visitors. Slightly Further afield, a day trip along the banks of Strangford Lough with a stop off In the village of Greyabbey with its pretty antiques shops and a visit to National Trust property Mount Stewart makes for a perfect day.
Thank you to Sara for taking the time to answer some questions about her Airbnb and for inviting me to capture it.
You can keep up to date with all that is happening at The Studio via their Instagram.
Click here to book your stay.
Só Soy - Hand Poured Home Fragrance
Get to know a little bit more about Hannah from Só Soy in my new Local Natives blog feature…
I first met Hannah (through Instagram) in 2017 shortly after launching Native Ivy, and have had the privilege of capturing some of her candles and diffusers over the last few years.
It was lovely to be invited to her studio in Ballymoney to capture her everyday work life, making products and running her shop.
After our shoot I chatted to Hannah about how her candle making journey began.
Read more below...
Hello Hannah, can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start making candles?
Hi! I’m Hannah and I started Só Soy in October 2016, so my ‘baby’ is almost 6 years old. I’d always had a love for home fragrance and one day curiosity got the better of me. I struggled to find a minimal candle that I loved the smell of, so I made my own. I have experience in design and knew I wanted the fragrance to do the talking. After a lot of research and kitchen-pours, Só Soy was born. For the first 5 years of Só Soy I kept it solely online as my ‘side-hustle’ until I finally took the leap to self-employment in January 2021. Mid pandemic I left my full time job and opened my own studio in Ballymoney, opening my in-store shop shortly after.
Can you tell me a little bit about your making process and what is involved?
Everything is hand poured by me in my Ballymoney based studio in small batches. Every product starts off raw and is designed, created, and packaged in house by my one-woman-team (just me!). I work with UK based perfumers to select the perfect fragrances for my products. I’ll always consult family and friends and ask them for fragrance reviews, but by that stage I’ve usually already made my mind up!
What does a typical workday look like for you?
To be perfectly honest most days look the same! I’ll usually pack online orders and stockist orders in the morning and make stock in the afternoon. Wax melts are great for multitasking as they’re usually quick to melt and quick to pour, so you’ll normally find me doing those alongside other products. They’re also nearly impossible to keep in stock!
On Saturdays I’ll open the shop from 11-3 and continue to pack and pour behind the curtain between visitors.
In the evenings I’ll normally take my work home with me - and by that I mean updating socials, checking emails, and answering blog questions until late. It can be really hard for me to switch off sometimes, especially if I know there’s things that need doing.
Can you describe your brand in three words?
Hand-crafted
Uncomplicated
Calm
Do you have a product that is most popular with customers?
The most popular product is my Black Coffee, Jasmine + Vanilla Candle (or anything in this fragrance really). It’s always one I’ll have to double-up on when I’m making. It’s so popular and so well loved, I’ll always steer people towards it for gifting if they’re unsure of what to choose. You really do need to smell it to experience it.
What do you think makes it so popular?
I think it’s the perfect fragrance in terms of notes - it’s got subtle hints of coffee, is quite floral, a little sweet but just enough that it’s still sophisticated.
Do you have a favourite product?
At the minute I’ve been grabbing for my Lavender + Tonka Bean Wax Melt - it’s the most relaxing fragrance (maybe this says something about my current stress levels!)
I’ll always have a soft spot though for my Lemongrass, Lime + Ginger Root Candle. It was my first born fragrance so feels a little nostalgic for me.
Do you have anything new or exciting coming up for Só Soy?
I do! I have a new Autumn/Winter fragrance that I’m hoping to release early September across the all products. It’s so cosy and homely, I can’t wait for everyone to smell it. I’m also taking part in the Tedberry Market in Antrim on 20th August, it’s always exciting for me to go out, meet new people and introduce them to Só Soy.
What advice would you give people wanting to do something similar?
Research until the cows come home. My industry is really trial and error - it takes such a long time to really perfect your ratios and temperatures etc. and there are a lot of safety laws and legislations required. I’m lucky I’m in the swing of things now and can work quickly and confidently but there’s lots of helpful information online for those just starting - I’m completely self taught.
I also think you need to have the passion before you start - I LOVE my products and I genuinely love getting up for work every day. You need to ask yourself are you starting a business for the right reasons.
Where can people buy your products?
You can shop in store each Saturday 11am-3pm or book online for a weekday visit. Find me at Unit 17 Phase 1, 2 Riada Avenue, Ballymoney Co. Antrim BT53 7LH
Thanks to Hannah for taking the time out of her busy week to answer some questions about her business and how her Só Soy journey all began.
You can shop online at sosoy.co.uk for home delivery or free click + collect in store.
Follow Só Soy on Instagram
Read my last Local Natives feature with Ivy & Gold here
Broad Skies
My latest Local Natives blog featuring Broad Skies. A converted static Caravan transformed into a beautiful cozy cabin Airbnb based in the North Coast of Ireland.
In 2020 I captured the beautiful Oat Box for Olive, so it was a pleasure, one year on to be asked to photograph Broad Skies, a static caravan converted into a beautiful Cabin located just outside the town of Bushmills, Northern Ireland.
Olive got in touch as soon as she launched Broad Skies in May 2021. Ever since, I have been itching to get in the doors to see all the unique details that I knew Olive would have decorated it with. Her amazing eye for interior design is evident in every room, on every wall, in every corner.
As soon as I stepped into Broad Skies, I was hit with a great sense of warmth. The autumn tones dotted around the main kitchen area had me instantly feeling all cozy and ready to nestle in to a relaxing evening by the stove.
Off to the side are two striking bedrooms. A main bedroom detailed with accent lights at each side of the bed and a second bedroom, with bunk-beds, a striking Mustard Made yellow locker and vintage tennis rackets comfortably fixed on the walls. These are the types of details I love to capture and the details that are only found in an Airbnb owned by Olive.
After my stay at Broad Skies, I asked Olive some questions on what inspired this comforting Cabin.
Keep scrolling to read more about Olive’s insight into creating this unique stay...
Hello again Olive, first of all can you give us a bit of insight into the name Broad Skies and how it came to be?
The cabin at Broad Skies is all about relaxing in a secluded rural setting and soaking in the amazing views over Portballintrae and the surrounding countryside. What is most striking to visitors are the big skies that are always changing, like an ever changing painting and we thought the name 'Broad Skies' perfectly encapsulated that sentiment.
I said a few words above about your amazing eye for interiors. Was there any interior inspiration behind the styling of it?
I looked to the style of lots of rural retreats that I admire for inspiration, like the Soho House properties and The Pig hotel group. I also love the electric styling that the Artists Residence Hotels use to decorate their spaces. Sustainability was an important factor in design decisions as well, choosing to re-purpose, reuse and use secondhand where possible.
If you could sum up the style/ feel of this cozy space in 3 words , what would they be?
Relaxed, Rustic, Calming
The details are all so unique, where do you find these amazing one off pieces?
Almost all the decor details in the cabin are second hand, vintage or antique. I like to buy secondhand as it allows me to customise pieces to suit the look I am trying to create and gives a more unique feel. Most of the furniture was bought via Facebook marketplace and then refinished, for example the sofa was being offered for free but I knew it was a really good quality make so we grabbed it and my mum made new linen covers for it. The paintings in the house were all eBay, house clearance and auction finds, we live very close to North Coast Auctions and I do keep a close eye on their weekly sales! I also like to support local designers too and have a number of pieces and prints in the cabin created by craftspeople.
Do you have a favourite detail in your Airbnb?
I have to say it's that view! And the wooden hot tub, perfectly positioned to enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Broad Skies is situated in such an amazing location. For guests coming to stay can you recommend any places to visit nearby?
The Giants Causeway is very close to the cabin, as are all the popular attractions of the North Coast, so you won't ever be stuck for something to do Whitepark Bay is just a short drive away and can be teamed with a pit stop at Bothy Coffee. The walk from Portballintrae to the Causeway is well worth doing and not steep so suitable for everyone to enjoy.
Thanks so much to Olive for having me to stay at the cozy cabin and for chatting to me about those striking details, unique decor and of course that wonderful view!
During my stay, we didn’t have the best weather with rain and wind. We didn’t venture out to have dinner however with my seven month old in tow we decided to try one of the local takeaways. We got some beautiful fish and chips from Flash in the Pan, Bushmills. In the morning we took ourselves off to Portrush to Magercross viewpoint and grabbed a coffee at Babushka. On our way home we stopped into Fidela Coffee Roasters for brunch and couldn’t resist popping to my favourite Interiors shop BTS Concept Store.
It was a wonderful stay and I highly recommend you add it your list of places to stay in Northern Ireland. It has all the amenities for you to bring your own groceries and cook for yourself but its also the location to treat yourself and eat out.
The Oat Box
My latest Local Natives blog featuring The Oat Box. An old horse box converted into a unique Airbnb based in the North Coast of Ireland.
Last Weekend I had the absolute pleasure of staying at the ‘The Oat Box’. It was such a delightful experience, both to capture and to stay in. ‘The Oat Box’ is so full of character and style…I came away thinking how fun it must have been to create and design somewhere so unique.
The Airbnb is located a little inland from Portrush, with the beautiful North Coast beaches, Coffee Shops and Restaurants just a short drive away. ‘The Oat Box’ sits just off Olive’s family home, beside a big open field and from the very moment I arrived, I was excited to capture this little treasure…
Stepping into ‘The Oat Box’ for the first time was mesmerising, not only were the colours and decor perfect but the smell of ginger and lemongrass from the soap in bathroom made the place smell so fresh.
After my stay, I was able to ask Olive some questions about how she went about creating ‘The Oat Box’.
Continue reading below to get some insight into how it all began…
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how ‘The Oat Box’ came to be?
I’m a product designer and left work when I had my third child as the price of childcare was just too high! I was looking for a business I could run while the children are small and that could be based at home. I also really love renovating vintage furniture and collecting anything with a bit of history to it, so I wanted to utilise those skills into whatever project I took on.
The idea of an Airbnb always came to my mind as we are in an ideal location, being on the North Coast of Ireland. I researched renovating outbuildings and then moved on to investigating various types of quirky accommodation, collating numerous Pinterest boards along the way. Eventually I came to the conclusion that a horsebox conversion would give me the greatest freedom to customise a small space exactly how I wanted to.
How or where did you manage to find an old Horse box to renovate?
I kept an eye on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace for a good few months, but it was Ebay that came up with the goods in the end! I bid on our horse lorry pretty much on a whim, thinking I wouldn’t get it and someone else would beat me to it at the last second, as that’s what usually happens but they didn’t, and I won the auction! I then had to figure out how to tell my husband what I’d just bought and also how to get it from the South of England across to us in Northern Ireland!! Thankfully the seller was really accommodating and helpful at getting the lorry safely over to us!
What was your inspiration behind the style of ‘The Oat Box’?
I knew I wanted to use salvaged materials and vintage finds as far as possible in the design of the interior, but I did struggle to find a starting point!
The ceiling and floor of the lorry are original, and it was important to make anything we added in enhance these features. Once I sourced the wooden panelling from a church renovation, everything else seemed to fall into place around that. I think the warm wood panelling really helps to achieve the cosy cabin vibe I was aiming for.
Do you have a favourite aspect of ‘The Oat Box’, a decoration or piece of furniture?
I love the kitchen splash-back tiles because they are antique and hand painted. Each one is a little bit wonky and just slightly different to the next when you study them closely. I also love the fact I found them in a house clearance for £10!
For guests coming to stay at ‘The Oat Box’, where would you recommend as good places to visit nearby?
We have lots of gorgeous places to visit on the North Coast.. the beach at White Rocks, Ballintoy Harbour, White Park Bay, The Giant’s Causeway of course, and I just love the drive from Bushmills to Ballycastle via the coast, it’s beautiful!
What advice would you give others who may want to create their own unique Airbnb?
To keep in mind that you are creating a little escape from reality for your guests for a couple of days. I think people are searching for places that can transport them to another world, even if they haven’t traveled far to get there. I found it really helpful to write a list of all the things that I found memorable about various places I had stayed in over the years to figure out what it is that really makes a lasting impression. There are enough bland spaces out there already for people to stay in, push the boundaries and create your own dream space and guests will respond to that.
‘The Oat Box’ is such a unique and wonderful stay. Do you have any other renovation plans for the future, either changes to ‘The Oat Box’ or any new project ideas?
Oh my head is always swimming with too many ideas!! We have plans to plant a wildflower meadow around the oat box and hope to add an outdoor bath next spring.
I also have a couple of vintage caravans that I’m renovating at the minute and eventually would love to run creative workshops from my studio on the farm.
One of my favourite parts about this stay was ending the evening outside beside the fire pit, watching the stars and toasting marshmallows. ‘The Oat Box’ is the perfect little getaway for two!
Native Ivy & Dixies Yard Bathroom Styling
Behind the scenes of my sustainable & Local Styling video with Dixies Yard.
Last month I had an exciting Collaboration with Dixies Yard.
As you may know already…A few months ago I started making styling videos. So I was really excited to join with Laura and Mike to use their beautiful pink bathroom as the canvas for our sustainable and local product styling video.
Below are some photographs from the shoot and the final styling video.
Laura’s bathroom is a 1920’s dream! They have saved some really lovely original features while putting their own stamp on it. The pink decor with the greenery from the plants is a perfect combination.
List of Sustainable and Local products used in this shoot -
Field Day Ireland
So Soy Candles
Sostrene Grene
Refill Quarter
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Scurry Home & Paper
Deborah Neill Handmade Skincare
Ikea
Eco Panda
Leaf Boat UK
Cozy Corner Styling Video
A look at some of the photographs taken while creating my Cozy Corner Styling Video.
In December I created my favourite styling video so far. This Cozy Corner styling video was inspired by a lot of my favourite home products.
I searched for a very long time for the perfect wicker chair. I eventually found this one on Facebook Marketplace in late November. It was definitely the main inspiration behind planning this cozy corner shoot.
Below are a handful of photos I took while creating this shoot
You can find the final styling video at the end of this blog and the list of local products featured.
List of Products featured -
Wicker Chair - Facebook Marketplace
Wicker Plant Stand - Facebook Marketplace
Fur Rug - Amazon
Cushion Cover - Ikea
Hanging Plant - WildThing
Macrame Plant Hanger - ASTRL Fibres
Pouffe - TKMaxx
Blanket Ladder - Sostrene Grene
Botanic Gardens Print - Rhea Hanlon Art
Enamel Mug - Born & Bred
Candle - Clean Slate Candles
Plant and Pot - Ikea
Brent Cove Airbnb
Chris & Marty are the owners of the beautiful Brent Cove, a luxury 5* Airbnb on the edge of Strangford Lough.
I had the pleasure of spending a lovely evening at the beautiful Brent Cove last week. For all the size of this little house it is one of the most warm and relaxing stays I have ever had. Located on the shoreline of Strangford lough this quaint stay offers you the best view to wake up to!
After a short and sweet stay at this luxury 5 star Airbnb I wanted to ask Chris & Marty a few questions about themselves and what inspired them to build Brent Cove.
Tell us a little bit about yourselves and what inspired you to build your luxury accommodation?
“We are Chris & Marty, vehicle restorer and teacher by day, luxury food and travel blogger and Airbnb hosts by evening/anytime that’s not the day job! We recently moved into our new home and renovated the entire property from top to bottom. There was a garage on site that was pretty much a store for all of the left over building material so we decided to put it to good use - and that’s how Brent Cove was born! We modeled the renovations on our own house, cladding the building in black corrugated metal. I love the idea of historic buildings having a smaller replica as their gate house and we feel that we share this sentiment with our home and Brent Cove.”
How did you decide on the name Brent Cove? Is there a story behind the name?
“For us, the naming of the property was integral to the build and the overall process of the project. Every year, thousands of Brent geese make the flight from the arctic to seek warmer climes and to feast on our abundance of eel grass - and it just so happens that they land right on our doorstep, Strangford Lough. The ‘Cove’ portion comes from our location on the Lough; a selection of 5 houses on a bend on the coastline that inspired the name. “
I absolutely loved the style of your Airbnb! Did you take any inspiration from other homes when designing the style of Brent Cove?
“When renovating our home, I poured countless hours into designing and sourcing furniture and objet that fitted my ideal design aesthetic. I would consider our home to be eclectic, and I think that some of this has fed into the design of Brent Cove. We wanted to draw on the hygge vibe with us being on Strangford Lough, with its strong Nordic roots. We wanted to nurture a cosiness with the space being small whilst bringing the outside indoors with the views and features inspired by the landscape. We used fur, animal inspired objet, greenery and clean, minimalist furniture. The overall result being a cosy, tiny home that maximises the views while remaining inviting and feeling like a home from home.“
I see that you are now a super host! How does that feel?
“It feels amazing! We had only been open three months when we were awarded the status and it validated all of our hard work! I doesn’t matter which project we take on, we always pour our heart into it 100% and I think our guests can see and feel that when they stay with us.”
Do you have any recommendations of where to visit for guests staying at Brent Cove (Locations, Coffee shops or restaurants)?
“There are so many things to do while staying at Brent Cove that it’s hard to list them all; but I will give our perfect day…
We would start with a walk around Mount Stewart, a national trust park and stately home that is mind blowing! It’s our local park and dog park so we are there nearly every day, but it’s beauty still catches us unaware as it is constantly changing.
We would then head to Haptik, a local landmark for coffee and in our opinion, the best brunch available anywhere in The country - trust us, we’ve tried them all .
Then we would walk around the town centre for a browse in some of the shops, Wardens especially as their kitchen shop is amazing!
Then finish off with supper at TukTuk Bistro, an authentic Asian restaurant serving the freshest Asian food you will find! Delicious.”
Do you have any future plans for Brent Cove?
“We have toyed with the idea of installing a more ‘out there’ rental property on site, like a tree-house or cabin - but we are so busy with our dishyouwerehere supper-clubs, working full time, singing in our folk group and Brent Cove that we would have to consider the idea before building. But never say never!”
Bookings for Brent Cove are available through Airbnb. I couldn’t recommend staying there enough. From amazing views of Strangford lough an the Mournes on your doorstep, to minimal warm interiors highlighted by some comforting house plant greenery.. what more could you want for a relaxing stay at a home away from home!
Follow Brent Cove on Instagram to see regular updates.
Tanya Vacarda Designs
A series of images from my styled shoot with Tanya Vacarda & This Old Home.
Last week I had the pleasure of working with Tanya on a styled shoot to showcase a range of her stunning textured wall pieces.
The shoot was styled by the amazing This Old Home in their new studio at Blackstaff Mill in Belfast. These guys are so incredibly talented, I loved having the opportunity to work alongside them.
Below is a selection of photographs from our morning at The Mill.
ASTRL Fibres
A small insight into my photoshoot with Alison. A Belfast based Macramé Artist.
Last week I had the pleasure of photographing ASTRL Fibres. A local Belfast based business making and selling Macramé products.
Meeting and working with Alison these last couple of weeks has been a blast! I love chatting to her about what she does, her working process and also just having general life conversation in between shots.
Alison makes beautiful Macramé products for your home. As I have said before.. I am a little bit house plant obsessed! So of course I jumped at the chance to work with Alison and to capture her amazing handmade home-ware and accessories in her cozy space in Studio Souk.
I loved watching Alison zone into making her macramé plant holder and I was fascinated by each fold and knot of string and rope she uses to create these beautiful home items. So much time and precision is used to make each piece, the whole process was so interesting to watch and capture!
It is so special to know and learn how much time and work goes into independently made products and to have the opportunity to support that.
Flaxfox
Danielle from Flax Fox is an Artist and Illustrator based in Belfast.
Ahhh the feeling when you finally get to work with someone you have been following for years... That's how I feel about Danielle from FlaxFox.
Danielle is an artist living in Belfast, she mostly sketches iconic buildings and landmarks around Northern Ireland. She sells her drawings as giclee prints and as original screenprints. These reproductions are also printed onto tea towels, mugs and postcards.
Danielle has a stall set up at St. Georges market every weekend. She also sells her products in lots of local galleries and gift shops around Northern Ireland such as Yard Gallery, Studio Souk and In Klover.
One of the top things I love about photographing local makers is being able to see a tiny glimpse into their world, where they work and how they work.
When I go to an artist or a makers space to take photographs I never quite know what to expect but meeting Danielle at her lovely home in Belfast was beyond what I was hoping for.
As I followed her through her hallway (with dream floor tiles) and into her home, meeting a little human on the way, we stopped at her garden studio that she shares with her videographer husband Ben.
Stepping into Danielle's outdoor studio was a a dream. Her work space was full of character. Pieces she has been working on, complete paintings, paints, brushes and chalks all the tools she needs to create her wonderful original drawings.
It was hard not to get carried away chatting to Danielle as I photographed her making some adjustments to some paintings she has already started, she talks to passionately about what she does and she gladly told me how it all began for her and Flax Fox Designs.
Danielle does it all, as well as creating reproductions and original art pieces she also designs big commissions for businesses. In her spare time her passion is still burning as she loves to think and create new ideas that aren't necessarily for anyone else but to create time that is her own to put onto paper the ideas that have been inspiring her.
Danielle's work carries with it a sense of nostalgia. People love to buy something that reminds them of a place they have fond memories of and she loves drawing those places. Whether its a bar in Belfast or an iconic landscape in Ireland. If there is one person that understands that feeling of connecting to something it's this talented lady right here.
To keep up to date with Flax Fox follow Danielle on Instagram and Facebook.
Keep an eye on Native Ivy Instagram for more photos from this shoot.
Thanks for Reading.
R
Enrich & Endure
100% Irish linen products made in Northern Ireland.
When you find a business that is successfully run by a brother and sister, you know you have found something special.
Sarah and Lorcan started Enrich & Endure with a passion to rekindle the Linen Industry in Northern Ireland. They began by making homeware products that sold far and wide but knew there was something more for them out there.. Cue The Apron!
With a natural interest in coffee, Lorcan and Sarah started collaborating with a popular coffee shop in Dublin. Now they provide aprons for over sixty different cafe's in Southern and Northern Ireland.
As well as supplying aprons to the teams of some of the best coffee shops in Ireland, Enrich & Endure have broken into London, providing aprons for some of their top restaurants.
When Enrich & Endure start to collaborate with someone they make it their priority to get to know them and their style to provide them with the best product that is unique to their business.
All Enrich & Endure products are made of 100% Irish Linen and handcrafted in Northern Ireland. Lorcan and Sarah are based in Banbridge. This is where they hand prepare every home-ware order that they receive and give each package their personal touch.
They take immense care over each of their orders and prepare them with unique style and precision. Using their Linnet bird stamp to brand each order.
Enrich & Endure has become so much more than a brother and sister led company. Each product is made up of excellent design to last and to provide you with an apron that builds character with each use. Each apron is embroidered with a Linnet Bird, a stamp that marks all of the above characteristics onto each handmade product.
Meeting Sarah and Lorcan was such a treat! They have a real passion behind what they do and and it is reflected in their products. It is always a pleasure to meet people who love what they do and who's faces light up when talking about how far they have come from where they started in 2013.
Look at these happy faces!!
Roberta Marina Stitches
Roberta is an Embroidery & Fibre artist who makes and sells unique embroideries for your home
From the moment I stepped into Roberta's character filled home I knew we were going to get along just fine and being greeted at the door by her small pawed friend Trixie was an added bonus.
Its always a little bit nerve wracking meeting the faces to the products I love so much through the world of instagram. With Roberta I don't know whether it was the Lucy and Yak overalls or the embroidery of 'Moss' from the I.T Crowd but they both made me feel very at ease.
Roberta is an Embroidery and Fibre Artist. If you are a person who is into pop culture, great films, plants and furry small pawed friends then you are going to love her.
Roberta mostly takes on commissions but with each new commission comes a hand full of new inspiring ideas.
Recently Roberta has started sharing videos on instagram making some of her embroideries which I have found really interesting, I love learning about the making process. She has a great ability to personalise her business with her products, by embroidering idiosyncratic sayings and characters that people love but that also reflect her personality really well.
Roberta's home and work space was a such a dream to photograph. It had so much personality and she full-filled all of my house plants dreams. As well as making embroideries she has started to make and sell some wall banners. These are perfect displaying pins or as wall hangers for your home.
From meeting Roberta it has become completely obvious to me that she loves what she does, she puts time and love into each embroidery and makes something unique for each commission. I would recommend these as the perfect little gift for friends or a family. If you have an idea buzzing round your head of a personalised embroidery you would love to have get in touch with Roberta, she will make your ideas into reality.
If you want to see more embroideries by Roberta please visit her Etsy page. She has so many great pieces on there or if you are looking for a commission then send her a little message.
Follow Roberta on Instagram
Like Roberta on Facebook
Keep an eye on instagram for more photos from this shoot.
R