We came across Matt Jone's work a few years back and were immediately drawn to the objects he was making, the incredible craftsmanship, and obvious love and respect for the material.

He began making the twig pots we sell out of off-cuts from larger pieces, but they proved so popular he had to start ordering timber in specifically for them. Recently he began making salt and pepper grinders with ceramic mechanisms, and is always producing incredible large bowls and vessels, often recording the progress of a piece on facebook

He now makes beautiful wall hooks exclusively available at the Irish Design Shop, click here to shop or just have a look.

We caught up with Matt on our visit to Sligo last year and asked him a few questions......

If you could tell me a little about your journey from growing up in Wales to ending up in rural Sligo turning wood? 

I grew up in Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, which is a coastal region in South West Wales. All my early memories are associated with the beach and the sea. By my teens I was certain of a career as an artist and drew constantly. I studied Painting at Chelsea and after I graduated I combined work with my art practice and playing music. Eventually I started earning money as a musician and it became impossible to make art and I wasn't enjoying it by that stage anyway. The London contemporary art scene robbed me of the simple pleasure of making things. I met Imelda in college (she was PA to the Dean) and our first child arrived before I graduated! Imelda grew up in Sligo although she was born in Dublin. By 2000 we had bought a house in Carmarthen in Wales. I was travelling a lot but was also spending long periods at home.

I wanted to get back into making and I had a feeling that craft would be a better fit for me that fine art. I think there's less bullshit. You cant convince someone that your a good craftsperson, the work speaks for itself. I attended an evening class in woodturning after borrowing the Tony Boase book on woodturning from the library. The book featured the best bowl turners from Europe and included Liam Flynn, David Comerford and Ciaran Forbes all Irish Masters. The band I was playing in imploded in 2004 and Imelda and I were ready for another change. Imeldas mother gifted an old ruin to us which I renovated. We moved in in 2008. I built my workshop soon after and started turning again.

Wales also has a very strong craft heritage, are there any Welsh craft workers you admire? 

Theres a turner in Wales called Paul Clare whom I admire and Louise Hibbert is probably the best known Welsh turner. I absolutely love the work of Anthony Bryant a woodturner from Cornwall ( a celtic nation too) I'm going to visit him in April to pick his brains.

We have found some people have a negative view of the word "craft" and would rather use terms like "applied arts" - your thoughts?

I don't see any negative associations with the word craft. Some people get very perplexed about the label that is applied to them, I don't understand why.

Do you feel that your musical background influences your work in any way?

Music still pays an important part in my life. There are similarities. Both rely on very sensitive hand eye coordination, rhythm and a sort of detachment of the mind which is very peaceful.

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

Chicken a là King, curry chips and sausage rolls, the canteen staples we all remember fondly in NCAD. To say a transformation has taken place in the heart of the college is an understatement. Past pupil & visual artist Jennie Moran considered her toughest challenge to be altering students tastes when establishing her newly opened Luncheonette, but, “it turns out there is no love lost for sausage rolls OR chicken curry”.

Luncheonette offers customers colourful, seasonal and comforting food at affordable prices which changes daily. Expect such delights as: Flatbread and thyme braised mushrooms, sumac barley, lemon ricotta for €3, lemon and almond cake for €2, and tea or coffee for one and two euro. Captivated by the food and atmosphere of Luncheonette, we asked Jennie to tell us a little about her project:

“Last year I got wind that NCAD had lost its canteen. This was a bad scene – like taking a kitchen out of a house. I know how tough days can be in those studios and how vital it is to be able to wander over, covered in plaster and be fed or handed tea. So - irate, I decided to operate a Wednesday soup stand in the college. One such lunchtime, I was handing soup to the director of the college and heard the words "I should reopen that canteen" come out of my mouth. And, remarkably, here I am.”

A homely atmosphere is achieved in Luncheonette’s basement space with communal wooden tables, quirky lampshades which incorporate recycled plastic containers and china tea cups. Fresh vegetables are visible from the counter where tempting baked goods are on display along with the days specials.                          

Questioned on the most popular dishes, Jennie explains: “The most popular additions to the menu are those that come from students. Today we served Inam from textiles Iraqi Biryani with lamb and peas.” 

Hungry members of the public are welcome in Luncheonette, it is not just an eatery for NCAD staff and students. Hours of trading are 8.30am-3.45pm, Monday to Friday. Plans are afoot for some special weekend hospitality around the NCAD Degree exhibition in June. But don't leave it till then to sample the culinary delights Luncheonette has to offer. We’re looking forward to a second visit and checking out their new drinking glasses made from beer bottles, cut and finished by Andy in glass. 

Follow Luncheonette on facebook or twitter.

Finally, thanks so much to Kaethe Burt-O'Dea for allowing us to use her beautiful photos of Luncheonette. Check out Kaethe's website for information on the many collaborative projects she is involved in.

To celebrate our national holiday, a beautiful video made up of shots of Dublin taken over one full year........