On our recent travels around the country visiting various crafters and mischief makers, we have become increasingly aware of pockets of creativity popping up all over Ireland. No longer confined to our major towns & cities, design companies with far reaching appeal are operating from idyllic rural locations. From Strandhill in Sligo, to Connemara and it's islands down to West Cork, along the southern coast through Waterford, and up into Kilkenny and Carlow, makers and designers, aided by a little known platform called 'the internet' are growing in numbers. 

One such area, is West Wicklow, Donard to be precise. Up the road from this scenic Wicklow village, is brand new furniture company Snug. Set up by locals Conor and Nell from their home in Snugboro, Snug produce affordable, beautifully made pieces of furniture. From milking stools to bedside lockers and writing desks, each piece is handcrafted in their enviable studio which looks out on the Wicklow mountains. The furniture Snug produce reflect Conor and Nell's personalities. Conor 'has a great knack for making things' whereas Nell has a colour obsession and an interest in all aspects of design. This furniture fills a very important gap in the Irish furniture/product design market, that being between cheap and cheerful flatpack to high end commission pieces. From a coat hook for €20 to a smart chest for €565, each snug piece is made with the same care and attention to detail. Since launching a little over a month ago, they are receiving high praise from customers and press alike. Feeling slightly surprised by their new found following, Nell and Conor are rather modest about their fledgling company but are taking this growth in their stride.

Having a complimentary business run by your best friends, Gavin and Linda down the road is pretty handy also. Hell's Kettle Farm prides itself on sensible food production, with an emphasis on providing their cattle and turkeys with the best possible environment in which to grow. Both business' are of a similar scale and share a similar appreciation for their craft. Therefore sharing ideas and experiences is invaluable (and sometimes you just need reassurance that what you're doing isn't mad.) This exchange and support between creatives is essential, and provides the maker/crafter/farmer/thinker with a confidence & determination to do something a little bit different in a place possibly a little off the beaten track.

Over the coming months and year's we are going to witness many more Donard's, Strandhill's and Inis Meain's popping up around the country. (Fingers crossed anyway, we can always hope)

To find out more about Snug, check out their fancy website. To get a closer look at their covetable product range, Irish Design Shop will be showacasing a selection of their pieces for the month of May in Drury street. 

For more on Hell's Kettle Farm, and their seasonal offerings, check out their equally fancy pants website for details.

Iseult O’ Clery and her father Edward run Saturday Workshop from a shed in their garden in Sandymount. The pair make beautifully simplistic childlike objects that are modern and functional. Each piece is precisely cut by their CNC router and then hand finished. I recently caught up with Iseult and Edward to find out more about life at Saturday Workshop.  

Tell us a little bit about both of your design backgrounds?

Iseult I am an architect, I studied in UCD and currently work in Dublin. I have always been making and designing things ever since I can remember, Saturday Workshop is a great outlet to do this on a smaller scale than Architecture. Its amazing that you can draw something in the morning and have fully finished product by the end of the day!

Edward I am a structural engineer. I studied architecture in UCD for a few years, then emigrated to Australia. After my return to Ireland, I worked with various engineering firms and then studied engineering at Edinburgh University.

What sparked the idea to set up Saturday Workshop?

Iseult I was on a team of designers curating the Irish Pavillion at the International World Design Capital Exhibition in Helsinki in 2012. One of the objects we brought over was a chair (designed by James McBennet) which was CNC cut. When I went to get it made with a company in Delgany I couldn't fit the plywood in my car so Dad drove instead. He was amazed by the technology and we started talking about getting our own machine...

Edward I have always made stuff. Making model boats, when I was young. Later, making real boats & furniture. The visit to Delgany with Iseult was a revelation. Seeing timber being cut so precisely, opened new possibilities.

Working with family isn't for everyone, how are ye finding it?

Edward We have different interests. Iseult likes to design. I like to make things.  It works out fine.

You mention on your website that you use a mix of old and new techniques, can you explain the process in some more detail?

Iseult We have a CNC machine which is essentially a computer controlled router. This means we draw CAD files and the machine cuts them very precisely. Having the machinery means that we can do a lot more without having access to a full workshop. All of the finishing is done by hand though. The things we make are inspired by the simplicity of traditional objects and toys that have disappeared a bit in modern society.

Edward I made models with balsa wood, boats with timber, canvas, and plywood – and also furniture. We are now doing the same thing. However, we can now make prototypes quickly, and continue into production.

You do commission work also, what sort of things have you been asked to do so far?

Iseult We have done quite a few wooden signs, a teepee pavillion for electric picnic, and most recently some objects for the wedding of Kate O'Dowd (BASH magazine editor). Its great to have different projects on the go and we are really open to doing collaborations.

What plans do Saturday Workshop have for the future?

Iseult We would like to do a lot more in Irish hardwoods, like our Beech Eggcups, its great to know that our materials are all sustainably sourced in Ireland. We are currently developing a few ideas for wooden toys, and looking forward to future collaborations.

Edward We both like to experiment with wood. There are endless possibilities. I saw a traditional Galway Hooker boat on exhibition in the new museum in Galway. Detailed construction plans are available. Maybe, a model or full-size one, could appear.

We have a selection of pieces from Saturday Workshop both in store and from our website. 

Follow Saturday Workshop on twitter. Or shop their Irish Design Shop collection HERE

Back in August 2013 team Irish Design Shop decided to head west for a bit of an adventure. After a quick trip to Westport to try out the infamous Greenway route on our bikes, we headed north to Co. Sligo.

It was in Strandhill where we set down to visit the lovely folk at Shell’s café. Facing the amazing beach, which is the perfect haven for surfing enthusiasts, Shells not only serves up the most delicious food all day long, but also houses a small gift shop selling everything from homemade brown bread to hand-made jewellery and homewares.

Jane and Myles opened Shells back in March 2010 having travelled the world to find the ideal spot to settle down, with the goal to create a special place for people to come and eat simple hearty food after a long day on the waves. On arrival to Strandhill you may also pass their beautiful home which is an extended old cottage, with concrete floor and countertops, the kitchen is really at the centre of this small but perfectly formed home. We were lucky enough to be invited to a small barbeque with a wonderfully diverse guest list. It was there that we met the owners of Voya Seaweed baths.

The highlight of the trip was a hike up Knocknarea mountain to see the burial mound of the legendary Queen Maeve. For those of you who don’t know the the story behind this celtic queen allow me to give you a brief outline:

There is the mythological Queen Maeve and a real counterpart whose stories appear to overlap. The real-life Meave was a very ambitious woman, born in Rathcroghan Co. Roscommon, daughter of the King of Connacht. When her father died and her sister Clothra was named Queen she murder her pregnant sister in order to take the throne by force. Maeve married several times, most famously to Conor, King of Ulster, and apparently lived to 120 when she was eventually murdered by her sister’s son. Her legend was used to inspire warriors through the ages, when women were allowed to partake in battles.

When we visited the cairn up on Knocknarea a creepy dense mist came in from the sea (the ghost of Queen Maeve perhaps?!)

The final morning of our trip we paid a visit to the aforementioned Voya seaweed baths to rid our bodies of all of the alcohol related toxins we had forced upon ourselves. Not knowing what to expect from it at all, I was totally amazed, and really can't recommend it enough!

On the route home we dropped in to visit Elizabeth who makes the amazing “Salt of the Earth” plywood jewellery we sell in store. She is currently “minding” in her (architect) uncle’s incredible home just outside Strandhill, with the most amazing views of the beach. You couldnt choose a more inspiring spot to create from.

One more stop before the long journey back to Dublin. We called in to Matt Jones, woodturner in the sleepy village of Riverstown, to have a nose around and pick up an order of twig pots. Matt has his home and workshop just behind the local parish hall. The workshop is kitted out with a variety of wood-turning lathes and chisels that we spent the afternoon coveting. Here he creates the most incredible hand turned bowls and vessels.

Our highlights and tips for a trip West:

•  A cycle along the Greenway (we went from Mulranny to Achill)
•  A hike up Knocknarea to see Queen Maeve’s tomb.
•  Visit Dolly’s cottage (a 200 yr old preserved thatched cottage)
•  Dinner or Brunch in Shell’s café (we tried both).
•  Take a seaweed bath at Voya 
•  Surfing in Strandhill of course!

‘Holi...what?’
‘Holibops Manuel, it’s a Dublin term meaning holidays’.
Indeed Manuel (our photography intern from Spain) learned a few more Dublin terms as we made our way through the sea of green that was Dolphins Barn pre Euro 2012 on our one day holibop to Waterford.

Back in January, we approached the Irish Handmade Glass Company about producing a range of glassware exclusive to our shop. Simple forms in beautiful colours was the brief. The results were exactly that, so we were feeling pretty excited about visiting the studio that produced our range having previously only communicated via email. The perfect opportunity to visit coincided with Manuel’s internship with us, so off we went, struggling at times with communication, but I think we all learnt a thing or two on that car journey. Manuel learnt some new words and we learnt that all pints are €2 in Dicey’s every Tuesday!

The Irish Handmade Glass studio is based in the heart of the medieval city of Waterford, a stones throw away from the Disneylandesque Waterford Crystal visitor centre. On arrival, we felt immediately welcome by the lads despite the fact that we were totally in the way as master glass blower Richard Rowe attempted to work around our awkward decamping of bags and coats. Manuel got straight to work while we made chit chat with master glass maker Tony Hayes.

The company consists of three major glassmakers and one master glasscutter, all ex-Waterford crystal empolyees who have a combined experience of 130 years of glass making. Each skilled worker, glide with ease, poles of molten glass in hand around the workshop in a relaxed yet orderly manner, producing finely crafted pieces at a factory line pace. The pride and enthusiasm that these makers display for their craft is a pleasure to see.

Established in 2009, they are obviously relishing the opportunity to run a business which they have full control over. Emphasis is on the quality of glassware which is produced from non-lead based crystal, melted from its pellet form in a purpose built kiln. Molten glass is either blown at this stage or dipped in high quality pigment to produce vibrantly coloured pieces. Once blown pieces are cooled, they are then passed to master cutter Danny Murphy who cuts and finishes each piece with steely concentration. Intrigued by the various stages of manufacturing, we began thinking up all sorts of possibilities. It has been such a pleasure working with this glass company that we would like to see this as the beginning of a whole host of possible products.

As we packed up our things, we left with the thought, just think of the possible Christmas baubles!

Special thanks to all at the Irish Handmade Glass Company: Danny Murphy, Derek Smith, Tony Hayes & Richard Rowe.

HUGE thanks to Manuel Gutiérrez for taking such amazing photos.

Alex Synge is one of those guys you’d love to go for a pint with. A witty, unassuming, super talented chap with an eye for clean, uncluttered design, Alex is a man fond of a craft beer and a Fox’s classic. He is also quite tall.

A couple of weeks back, we invited Alex and his motley crew of Keep Sketchers to decorate our RHA windows with their unmistakable doodles. The cast included: Fuchsia Macaree, Dave Comiskey, Ross Henderson & Mark Crawford. They sketched, Alex photographed the action unfolding. He also produced a rather lovely video from the day, here is a link to view it: http://vimeo.com/43115078 It was such a fantastic day that we have decided to make it a regular event, keep up to date on facebook/twitter for future Keep Sketch drawing days.

Preferring to remain in the background, we decided to drag Alex Synge out of his comfort zone with our series of questions which reveal the man of mystery behind ‘Keep Sketch’.

How did it all start? (keep sketch that is)
I wanted to make some small, self-promotional item to be able to give to people instead of just getting a business card done. I’d been thinking about getting some pencils made with the words "Keep Sketch" on for a while, so finally just went with that. They seemed to strike a chord with people,  and got a nice reaction, being featured in Totally Dublin and a few other places. While it didn’t exactly end up promoting my own work directly, it did inadvertently create the Keep Sketch brand, which was all-the-better really.

What impact has the Fund it campaign had on the business & could you have set up Keep Sketch without its support?
Without the Fund it campaign, Keep Sketch would not exist as it does today. While we would most likely have tried to do small runs of things and more event-based work, there’s no way we would have been able to fund the production of all the stuff that we were able to do thanks to the campaign and the support we got. We’re very much indebted to Fund it and everyone who supported the project through it. Even having the project up on the site was great in itself; we were only the second successfully funded project in the design section of the site (the first being the Open House Dublin book) and it definitely gave us a lot of exposure. They’re wonderfully enthusiastic and supportive people, and I can’t recommend them enough if any designers have an idea that they need a bit of help with to get it off the ground.

Collaboration is the backbone of Keep Sketch, how do you approach designers?
I never gave it much thought to be honest, but it’s always been pretty simple; if I like someone’s work and think we could do something nice together, I tell them I like their work and ask them if they’d like to work on something with us. The approach was the same for old friends, previous collaborators and strangers alike. I think there’s a lot to be said for telling someone you like what they do, whatever it is. You never know what it can lead to, and it’s good for the soul too. 

Who do you admire most in Irish Design, be it past or present? Who do you think is doing nice things at the moment?
It’s easy to take ancient Irish art for granted because its imagery has become some omnipresent these days, but I’m continuously blown away  the metalwork and illuminated manuscripts from hundreds of years ago. There’s so much care and attention to detail and insane geometry going on in all that stuff. Two big twentieth century figures that I admire are Michael Scott and Eileen Gray. At the other end of the scale, there are a lot of people working today whose work I love. At the risk of sounding like a total cheese-ball, I’m very proud to be part or the Irish Design Shop family; lots of amazing work coming out of there. The people who have contributed to Keep Sketch are all amazing. I love Designgoat’s work and am really excited to be working with them at the moment. There’s plenty of sterling work coming from small graphic design studios like AAD, Conor & David, Unthink and Detail too. There’s actually far too much too mention… I have a lot of very talented friends, and keep coming across great work all over the place. 

How do you see the future of Irish Design? Grim or exciting?
Exciting, definitely! There are so many people making amazing work in Ireland at the moment, from people in college, to those who have been working away for years and years. I’m genuinely excited about the future of Irish design, and happy to be around at a time where it really seems to be flourishing.

Future Keep Sketch projects?
There are one or two top-secret things that we can’t really talk about for now, but suffice to say, we’re very excited about them. Planning the RHA IDS window has been great, and we’d definitely like to do more large-scale and event-based projects like this. We’re always seeing work by very talented illustrators and designers too, so it would be great to collaborate with some new blood on some new projects in the near future too.

Favourite book?
John Berger’s "Ways Of Seeing" had a pretty big impact on me when I read it and re-read in it college. In terms of fiction, "So the Wind Won’t Blow It All Away" by Richard Brautigan is a book I enjoyed a lot that I hope to re-read again someday.

Favourite film?
Ghostbusters

Favourite Dublin pub?
Impossible to choose, but here are four that I like a lot; The Long Hall, The Lord Edward, the Shakespeare and the Blue Light.

Tipple of choice?
I’m quite partial to fancy craft beers, but I always come back to Guinness or a nice Irish whiskey. Failing that, pretty much any 4-cans-for-a-fiver deal will keep me happy.

Favourite font?
Hard to pick just one… It would probably be something classic like Gill Sans, although I can never fully give myself over to that font, because the man who created it was so vile. I have a soft spot for Didot, and am using a lot of Courier at the moment too. Too many other great fonts from small independent foundries to mention too!

Do you like to dance? Say, on a dance-floor?
Yes, and yes. Usually only with a suitable amount of Dutch courage though.

Favourite biscuit-bar?
Fox’s Classic.

Dogs or cats?
Dogs for their unquestioning loyalty and stamina for playing fetch on the beach; cats for making the internet the place it is today.

Favourite Irish bird?
Blue Tit.