Chicago to Dublin to Wicklow to Waterford...

I keep forgetting to blog about my recent trip to Ireland, I've been so busy! Here's a quick peek from my first 2 days there, along with the moon over Chicago as we were leaving :)

The view from my friend Heli's house in Delgany, Co. Wicklow. I couldn't find her [hidden] house, so the local butchers let me use their phone to call her. I then mistakenly called my friend Ruth from Limerick (who was actually in Kildare when I called), thinking it was Heli and we spent the next 5 minutes on the phone in total confusion, her wondering why I would be looking for her in Wicklow! I bought some Thai chili sauce from the butchers for being so kind and left them looking totally bewildered as to what just happened. Still not sure how they didn't know my friend,  the only modelesque Finnish girl in town!

On a walk with a whole crew in Bunmahon, Co. Waterford...there's lots more to this story, I'll make sure to post about it later! (involves me wearing a pair of mens shoes and a mountain rescue mission...type of thing that always happens when I visit).

My friends at The Art Hand have the coolest modern house. This is our fabulous dinner that Miranda, the lady of the house, cooked for us our first night...it was so divine I had to take a pic :)

My friend Bonzie's studio in Waterford City, pretty much the dreamiest little shop in the universe...

Looking out from Bonzie's shop...this is a fraction of the cats that come out from beyond the park gates everyday to get their meals, thanks to the nice lady that lives in the alley...

Geoff's Bar in Waterford has an amazing old atmosphere, the dark woodwork inside is a million years old and their food is really fantastic. Had a nice mellow night with some of my girlfriends here and liked it so much, we went back the next day for lunch...

having my Red Lemonade inside Geoff's...

Walking down to visit Agnes at Vintage Trig... you can find my handmade jewelry in her shop :) Along with the best vintage clothing selection in Waterford!

Post Cards...

A few months ago I mentioned my little hoarding problem and showed you some of my vintage photo collection, I said that I'd be back one day to show some of my postcards and stamps. I was just digging through my stuff last week, looking for a postcard with some particularly pretty doves since a friend asked me to make a locket in honor of her mother who has recently passed. Her mom loved doves, so I knew I had the perfect thing in my stash for the front of the locket...somewhere! I prefer to use images from my own collection rather than ones you can find online, I feel that it makes my pieces more special. So I found the one I needed and was left looking at all of these gorgeous images that I haven't seen in awhile. So I decided to take some pix while they were out and today I'll be showing you some of them :)

Mind you, all the photos here are from just one of my sets of postcards... I've got a few boxes of them, so I'm sure if I counted there would be several hundred all together! Most of my postcards were collected over the years from antique shops and flea markets, but this particular collection was given to me by my Aunt Mary. Alot of the ones in this box belonged to her Uncle Marty and his wife Florence who was from Montreal, so I love that alot of the correspondence is in French. (for any of my younger cousins that may be reading, Uncle Marty was Grandma O'Neil's brother)

My Aunt Mary is my hero for saving these old postcards, there's many from different family members...I think I'll start posting some here and there, sure my family will get a kick out of it. And so will people like me who love to dive into the past via peoples photos and letters :) Here's the front, it's a photo of The California Zephyr:

 Addressed to Uncle Marty c/o The Kuehls on 79th & Winchester (from Nebraska in April, but can't make out the year...4 cent stamp with bust of Abe Lincoln :):

"Hi Mart, Having a wonderful time. The base is the biggest I've ever seen. Went there for dinner Sunday "Officer's Club" for David's Birthday. Going to "Boys Town" this week end. Playing cards every night, progressive Rummy - Hate and Kings - Tell Mary to call Dave if she gets a chance, he gets lonesome. Love Marge"

IRELAND bound!

Ok, so I've still got a few weeks before I leave yet...but I'm getting SO excited! It'll be my first kidless trip to Ireland in 13 years, I'm afraid I won't even know how to act! I've got quite a bit going on there this time, including the 3 day decoupage course that I'll be teaching at The Art Hand in Bunmahon, Co. Waterford. It's going to be a small and cozy class where I'll be teaching students the techniques I use to design my art boxes.

 We're also going to be taking photos of the area for another special thing that I haven't quite told them about yet...a lovely commemorative piece that they can hang on the wall to remember our intimate Irish times together! hehe I guess that was sorta tellin' though :P

I'm also totally thrilled to announce that a line of my jewelry is now being sold in Waterford at the fabulous retro clothing boutique, Vintage Trig. The lovely proprietor, Agnes, stocks a whole delicious shop full of  vintage dresses, shoes and stunning accessories. I'm really looking forward to some nights out on the town with my friends down there, including my fashionista friend Bonzie who has also just opened her brand new clothing shop in town. 

I'm buying a new fancy shmancy camera this week so I can bring home a whole new collection of Irish landscape photos too. I hope to be able to show you some fun pix from my nights out with the girls, should be a hoot! 

From Waterford we'll be heading over to Tralee to visit my super lovely friend Sarah for a few days and I can't wait to cruise around the amazing Ring of Kerry again! The last few days of our trip will be back on the east coast in Slane, where we'll stay with my friend Ann and meet up in Dublin with some of my friends that are driving in from Co. Down. I'll be meeting up with lots of other friends out there and can't wait to come back and blog all about their awesome crafts, shops and the drinky shenanigans we'll get up to! xxx

Some new colorful and exotic earrings...

Phyllo success!

A few years ago I had a little phyllo "incident" and have been afraid to make anything with the stuff since. While grocery shopping the other day, I spotted the long awkward box in the freezer and was determined that I should have another go at conquering this bitch. I would make some kind of simple savory meat pie, nothing too layered or fancy. Well this time it worked and I'm very proud to show off my little masterpieces! 

I also made a little tzatziki type sauce with Greek yogurt, sour cream, garlic and tiny bits of cucumber. A quick tomato, cucumber and onion salad was perfect with it (tossed with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a little garlic salt)

The Balkanesque meat roll turned out so good that I decided to try a little dessert...triumphant again! I filled it with sliced bananas and little crushed bits of a dark chocolate bar that I smashed with a mallet. Drizzled butter on all the edges to seal it up and cooked at 325F until it started to turn a nice golden brown. Served it up with some whipped cream and sliced strawberries...so easy and SO good!!

Colorful towns throughout Munster: a mini Irish holiday!

I just wanted to take you on a quick trip through the southwest of Ireland, the region also known as Munster. These colorful street scenes were taken throughout Co. Cork and Co. Kerry. The top photo is available in my shop, the rest are just here for your viewing pleasure :) 

Some new earrings in the shop...