Q&A : Laura Caffrey

Laura is one of the founders of Irish Design Shop.

• —Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.
  Hi, I am Laura Caffrey. I graduated from NCAD Metals Department in 2002 with a range of tableware. After leaving college I set up a jewellery business ‘Lula Jewellery’ with Louise McKenna. We made and sold our own jewellery at Cows Lane Market and then the Loft Market. Recently I have decided to go back to my roots of making tableware. I will continue making jewellery, but I really enjoy making the bigger stuff!

  
  —Apart from creating things, what do you do?
  Not much time for extra curricular activities at the moment, but I love watching movies, drinking wine and catching up with friends when I get a chance!

  
  —What first made you want to become an artist?
  Probably an idealistic notion of a wonderful lifestyle of making a living from making beautiful things – I didn’t know about the hard work part!

  
  —Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.
  I have been working mostly in silver and wood for the past while, I was using ebony with my jewellery and am now using Irish beech in my tableware. I usually let an idea float around in my head or a while before I decide how I could make it, I might do a little scribble to see how it would work, but I generally work in 3D straight away and skip the drawing process (this got me in trouble a lot in college).

  
  —What handmade possession do you most cherish?
  A dolls house my Grandad made for me when I was little – nothing fancy about it at all, none of my dolls fitted in it, but it’s the thought and love that went in to it that makes it so special!

  
  —In ten years I’d like to be…
  ...enjoying earning enough money to survive from making and selling my own work.

  
  —How would you describe your style of design?
  I would describe it as quite simple, with clean lines and shapes, working with the material’s chacteristics.

  
  —Do you have another job?
  Yes, I work part-time at Juniors restaurant on Bath Avenue.

  
  —What’s your favorite day of the week?
  I don’t think I have a favorite day of the week, but my favorite day would be a day when I arrive in the studio and just get to make all day long without any distractions, and have something made at the end that I’m really happy with.

  
  —Are you living your ideal lifestyle right now? If not what is your ideal lifestyle?
  It’s getting there, slowly but surely!

  
  —What’s your favourite drink?
  When I’m sitting in of an evening I love white wine, but if I’m going all out on a night out I’d have to say Rum!

  
  —What would be a special treat for you?
  A week away in the sun!

  
  —What can’t you live without?
  Sunshine!
  

  —What’s your usual way of cooking a potato?
  Usual way would be baked – in the microwave (it’s quick) – but I will gladly eat potatoes in any shape or form!

  
  —Your favourite/most interesting supplier?
  NN Enterprises silver suppliers in Temple Bar – the staff are all mad, and look after their customers well!

  •