Guilty Pleasure Saturday

Is there anything that you do that you know is either pointless or bad for you but you still love it? Here's mine

Crime Dramas: I've gotten really addicted lately to awful crime dramas. We haven't had a tv for a year but since we got really fast internet I can watch them online. So I got totally hooked on Wire in the Blood, a drastically terrible ITV cop crime mini-series that was shot about 10 years ago. When we had tv they used to show it a 3am on RTE and I loved it, but I only ever saw about 3 of them. It's based around a female detective and a male crime psychologist played by Robson Green. It's really terrible but the faux gritty realism and comforting predictability and scooby-doo structure is brilliantly addictive. I only have 1 episode left to watch, and I'm traumatised that it's over!

Farmville: Yes I'm one of those crazy people that's addicted to that stupid facebook game!! For those of you blissfully unaware of what it is, farmville is a basic game connected to facebook that is quite like The Sims except it's on a farm, so you grow crops, raise animals, buy cottages etc. It's no way near as complicated as Sims but it's feeding upon the same addictive logic. I totally blame my friend Laura for my addiction, she came to stay one weekend and she got me totally hooked. I actually stopped playing it for months, and then recently when I had a really nasty cold and couldn't work or think I started playing it again!!

4 in 1: This will take some explaining. Back when I was growing up in Celbridge we had a Chinese takeaway that served something called a 3 in 1, which was fried rice, chips, and curry sauce all in the same container, also called 'a long tray'. It was a rare treat when we got to have it; total junk food but it takes fantastic. I didn't realise how in love with it I was until I moved to Limerick 10 years ago and I discovered that you couldn't buy a 3 in 1!!! Well you could, but it would cost you loads extra to buy all the bits separetly, and it never tasted quite as good. There were other things like good white pudding, and Brennans batch loaf that seemed impossible to buy down here too, much to my annoyance. Anyway about a year ago a local Chinese started serving a 4 in 1, wow, low and behold they managed to top my childhood love by adding some chicken into that mix too. It's perfect, all the lovely bits of a curry for a fiver, and not too big cos it all fits into one of their small containers. Obviously I don't eat it all the time, but it's good to know after 10 years of it's absence in Limerick, that if I ever get a craving that it's only down the road.

Fantasy: Reading fantasy books as a woman in her late 20s isn't as unusual as it once was, in the last few years the world has fallen in love with Harry Potter, Twilight and Lord of the Rings. But there is still a part of me that feels I should be reading something slightly more intellectual, especially when I whip out my book in a coffee shop and it's got one of those nasty illustrations on the front. I feel like I should have a badge that says 'No really I am smart, I do know this is trash, but I still love them'. I weirdly got into fantasy when I was 18 and my friend gave me lots of David Gemmell books, I then tried some Ursula Le Guin, Tad Williams, and J.R.R.Tolkien. A few years ago I started the epic Wheel of Time series, 12 books and still going. A few of the things I hate within fantasy are that they are mostly written by men for teenage boys, and have awful female characterization, there's a disproportionate mentioning of heaving bussoms and firey tempers. But I love the scope and detail of the stories, and the freedom within the narrative of making up your own rules, magic and myth are part of the everyday. At the moment I'm at a loose end book wise, so if anyone can recommend a good series let me know, I just read the last installment of the Wheel of Time, so it will have a lot to live up to.

Note: To any Wheel of Time fans I recently stumbled upon these new series of covers for ebooks. Still quite traditional fantasy work, but a huge improvement on the originals, with a couple of real stunners aswell. Click this link, scroll about half way down, and each of the links is an article of the illustration with background sketches etc. facinating stuff for any fellow nerds!

New Tweaks to Blog Design, and a Spot of Knitting

Oh I'm so impressed with the new layout function that they introduced on blogspot today. I've been wanting to change the blog for ages, but there were a few little things that I couldn't get right. I think I'm most impressed with how much better the tabs look now, and I totally love the rounded edges. I know they are only little things but the designer in me is a happy camper now because of them!

I was inspired by all the knitting needles I have lying about the studio at the moment, and while I was watching a particularly unentertaining film the other night I decided to try my hand at a bit of knitting. Weridly I've been hoarding wool since I was 15 (that was the last time I knitted) so I had a few balls to choose from, I went for this crazy electric pink. After digging out my craft book to remind me how to cast on I was away and happily knitting for the evening. I used the circular needles so I can made a snood(here's a picture in case you're not sure what a snood is), so at least it will be functional. I've already decided that when I'm finished I want to make myself some sleeves/wristlets. I don't profess to be a great or fast knitter, but it's nice to do it while watching a cheesy crime drama, and just let my brain go to sleep for a while. I doubt I'll turn into an avid knitter like all of my Aunts, but there something nice about putting on a cozy scarf that you know you've made yourself., here's hoping I get it finished by Winter!!

I like to Polka

How cute are these notebooks? I was in Tesco yesterday and I just had to buy them, and they were cheap as chips at only about a fiver for the two of them. The little pink polka dot one is to use at the new market, and it comes with a handy pen. And well the other one was just too adorable to leave in the shop, I knew it needed to join my ever growing collection of notebooks....but as all stationary addicts know you can never have too many notebooks!

Etsy Ireland Team Treasuries

Earthy Romance

It's treasury time again. All the treasuries here are picks from the Etsy Ireland Team, I'm really impressed with how diverse the team has gotten, there are so many things to choose from now. Now that we have over 150 members to choose from it's a real pleasure to make treasuries. I wanted to make an earthy romantic collection, so I chose browns, and textured or aged looking items.

The 3 treasuries below are collections made by fellow team members this week that were nice enough to include me. The first beautiful grey themed one was currated by Homespun Ireland. I really love her work , and I'm not surprised that she put together such an elegant collection.
The Moon Coming Home
The Emerald Isle

This beautiful collection was made by CherryBlossomTattoo.
Sunglasses Not Included

Lastly this riot of rainbow colours was put together by TanyaMac

I also made this non team treasury the other day as an ode to my button obsession

Hi my name is Ruth, and I'm a button addict

Handmade Knitting Needle Case

Since I was offered the large lot of vintage knitting needles I've had it in the back of my mind to make handmade cases for them. I had a little root around the bundles of my material in my studio, and I found this cute red and white striped poly cotton. After fiddling around with sizes and measurements for a while I figured out a pattern to make this needle holder.

I've included 5 circular needles, two sets of 4 double pointed needles, 2 bodkins and a needle gauge in the set. I think it's a great present for crafty people cos you get your different sized needles with the case. I listed it in my etsy shop the other day, I really hope they are popular because I loved making it and it would be great to have an excuse to go buy lots of pretty fabrics!!

Paintings:Work in Progress

Yesterday I had to cancel my market due to really horrible cramps, it was a shame not to be there on the last day, but I would have scared the customers away with my pained expression. I tried to just chill out here instead but I got really restless, so after taking lots of very strong painkillers, and strapping a hot water bottle to myself I went into the studio.

It's been ages since I did any painting, and I really love it, I don't claim to be any expert since I did very little of it when I was in college. It was mostly after I graduated that I started tinkering around with small canvases and my flat mates paints. But when Nice Day Designs took off it meant I didn't have any time for it anymore. It was really lovely just to be painting with no real goal in mind. I revisited a project that I worked on in college, childrens illustration style. I just wanted the relaxation of doing something and not that pressure of what to put on a blank canvas.

I worked on the 4 of them at one, swapping over as the layers were drying. They are all still very much works in progress but I thought I would show you some half way point pictures anyhow. The square pieces are just 6" x 6" and the longer one is about 15" x 6".

Win, Win, Win....stuff

Do you wanna win free things???

I'm having a giveaway on my facebook page for a $25 voucher for either of my shops, just head on over to my page, click 'like', and leave a comment on my wall saying that you want to be entered.

Question: How easy is that??

Answer: Very!!

The Big Move for The Sunday Market

I went down to the Milk Market today to have a look at the fancy new interior and I'm so impressed. I met one of the organisers, Chris, and we had a chat about the stalls, layout and the facilities there. We will all be provided with our own stand, and even tables, which will make my life so much easier since I haul down all my stock on a trolly. He is also encouraging people to have their logos printed on vinyle sheeting, so that wel all look colourful and disttinctive from each other. When it's all totally finished it going to look really amazing and I'm so excited to be moving into it.

When I heard that they were putting a roof on it I was delighted because of the weather cover it will provide, but to be honest a part of me was concerned that it would be dark and gloomy. But I was delighted to see today how light and airy the space feels, and the canopy nearly adds a glowing white light to the space...very serene and stat treky looking.

The dates for the opening are slightly different than what I had thought initially. Tomorrow will be my last Suday at the Bedford Row market, and we will be taking a break for one week, and then we will commence trading on Sunday 20th of June. A small part of me will be a little sad to leave Bedford Row after 3 years of trading there every week, but what we are getting in exchange far out weighs that.

Vintage Supplies Arrive

At long last my second delivery of vintage supplies arrived this week. I got hundreds of knitting needles, thimbles, circular knitting needles, and loads more buttons. It's not quite the same amount as I got the first time round but it was still very exciting to root through all the boxes. I'm not a knitter so to be honest some of the more esoteric tools confounded me, but after some googling and asking people on facebook I found out what they are for and how to price them. I did discover that a circular needle is practically impossible to make look pretty in a photograph. I'll have to try to shoot them again because I'm really not happy with these pics that I took. I've a fair bit of sorting to do, but I have listed a few of the needles in my shop already.

Also this week some of my novelty buttons arrived, that means that my Hello Kitty buttons have returned to my shop, and I now have rabbit, and teddy bear buttons too.

Milk Market

I've lots of news about my market stall. At the moment they are just finishing a massive refurbishment of the historical Milk Market in Limerick city. At the end of June we will be moving from our regular spot down on Bedford row up to the new posh premises on Cornmarket Row. I'm really excited to move to the new market, not only will we have a roof, but also our own little designated stands, I can't wait to see it. After years of trading in the unrelenting Irish weather I'm SO GLAD that there is a roof, I'll never forget selling in -5 degree temperatures over Christmas!!!

I just got off the phone to one of the organisers and I have a confirmed stand at the Friday market, and the Sunday one too, I will also be taking part in a monthly craft market that will be held on the last Thursday on every month.

It sounds like they have lots of lovely things organised like face painters, musicians and magicians, so any of the days would be a great day out for the family. I've been so tired of seeing people flock to the shopping centres outside the city, hopefully this will attract people back into the city centre again. So on all fronts this market appeals to my hippy sensibilities!!

The market will be opening on Friday 25th on June (but I will be at a wedding that day so I can't go), but I will be there on the 27th. If you want to check out there fancy new website click here, there is loads of info on the traders and the facinating history behind the venue.