Beautiful ceramics and elegant speakers draw the eye of Esther N McCarthy this week
Exciting news for design lovers of West Cork – Little Green Dot Craft Studio has moved to Clonakilty. They are well worth a visit, browsing through their original and unique offers, all Irish, you will find handmade toys and handmade gifts. A good example is Annabel Seymour's fabulous aquatic theme plates from Cnoc Ceramics. They are available from 38 €, learn more about littlegreendot.ie
These unusual ceramics have caught my attention, they are part of the In Flux Ceramics diploma exhibition at the National Design & Craft Gallery. The exhibition showcases innovation and diversity in ceramic design by some of the new Irish designers. These are from the Northern Irish artist, Natasha Swan. She is particularly interested in the combination of markmaking and simple wheel-to-wheel shapes, and says her inspiration comes from a variety of sources, including graphic designers, painters and other ceramic manufacturers. In Flux runs at the National Design & Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny until August 6th.
Being the mother of three boys, I can not help but admire this copy Mother & Daughter by Alison B Illustrations. Would it have looked like a girl? Assorted outfits and no roar? The laws This can be found on the Irish website Cuando.ie and the print can be customized by choosing hair colors, and has an option to add names. The price starts at 20 €. www.cuando.ie
How cute is this printed glbad vase? Perfect for all these summer flowers. It's € 12 at Heatons.www.heatonsstores.com
Happy Birthday, Cath Kidston! To celebrate their 25th year of business, they have released a limited edition collection. My choice is this bold and beautiful embroidered rose cushion, it is 36 € in some stores and online at www.cathkidston.com
BeoSound 2 is a wireless speaker system from Bang & Olufsen, with a 360-degree sound performance and has built-in access to streaming and wireless technologies. This means that it connects to Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Integrated Chromecast and DNLA – your estimate is as good as mine. I like the form well. And you can unplug it and move it around the gaff to see where it's best. BeoSound 2 is available in three colors; Aluminum, Brbad and Infantry Green, with a suggested retail price of € 1,795, available in the Bang & Olufsen Duke Street, Dublin store or online www.nuconnect.ie
