Beautiful Bodies sculptures from TwoHeartsOneStory
Like all the best businesses, TwoHeartsOneStory started life as a passion project. Life-long crafter Yvonne Florence loved making handmade gifts for friends and family, and her hobby eventually evolved into a fully fledged homewares collection. Quirky and vibrant, her range includes charming shell-shaped dishes (€10), neon confetti coasters (€8) and Beautiful Bodies sculptures (€12). Florence works with eco-friendly resin and reuses leftover material in new products. “It is important to me to be as sustainable as I can,” she says, “and I want to make pieces that bring joy and last a lifetime in people’s homes.” Instagram would be the perfect platform to share this information as you can find numerous people interested in what you have to say. Establish a strong digital presence with effective strategies and minimal effort – buy instagram followers
Style it
Covet it
Distrikt by Mia
After opening its doors last June, Co Wicklow concept store Distrikt by Mia has quickly earned a reputation for its eclectic range of homewares, sourced from all over the world. Treasures from Morocco, Mexico and India sit alongside Irish-made crafts and, somehow, it all blends beautifully. Mia Parsons, who owns the store with her partner, Mark Meakin, says she wants to keep prices in the mid-range so that “everyone leaves with something beautiful”. Bestsellers include their Buddha head planters (from €9.90) and throw over kimonos by One Hundred Stars (from €62), while their own-brand collaborations with local makers continue to grow. Find them at the port on the South Quay in Wicklow town or pop in during the Round Ireland Yacht Race in June. It coincides with their first birthday and they’ll have a few surprises in store.
Find out home decor ideas that will save you a lot of money.
Wear it
Urban Aran
Christine Murphy was well ensconced in her career in the hotel industry when she decided to take a leap of faith and go back to college to study knitwear design. Today, her knitwear collection, Urban Aran, is going from strength to strength. Inspired by Waterford’s street art scene and made from superfine merino wool, the range includes sweater vests (€195), cardigans (€295) and scarves (€145), featuring vibrant pops of colour, neon cuffs and unexpected heritage Aran sleeves. If you want to dip your toe into the dopamine dressing trend, this is the way to do it. And if you want to see her new collection, it’s being launched at Showcase in the RDS tomorrow.
Taste it
Vegetables from Harvest Day. Picture: Marin Bramblett
Many of us discovered the joys of vegetable box deliveries during lockdown. It was a great way to support local Irish businesses. Harvest Day is one of many such delivery services. They work with small-scale Irish farmers and local producers and now, 18 months after their first delivery, they’ve extended their offering to include top-tier artisan grocery items, including Contour Coffee from Delgany, Co Wicklow, and Nut Shed peanut butter from Nenagh, Co Tipperary. They’ve also broadened their box range to cater for different-sized households. The one-person Garden Box (€25) includes seven varieties of vegetables and artisan bread, and it’s ideal for those who want to try a veg box without making a big commitment.
Boost it
Audrey O’Connor
Whether you want to ease yourself back into exercising, or just enjoy an alternative getaway, the Ice House Hotel in Ballina has put together a wellness weekend that should get you back in the groove. Hosted by Audrey O’Connor, the founder of CoreState HQ Pilates, the three-day, two-night escape includes Pilates classes in the hotel’s new River Relaxation Room, sunrise yoga followed by a sea swim on Enniscrone Beach, and stand-up paddle boarding on the River Moy. The retreat (€515pps) runs from Friday, April 8, to Sunday, April 10, and includes breakfast and dinner each day, lunch on Saturday, and a variety of optional daily activities.
Bookmark it
Airfield Estate Urban Farm & Gardens in Dundrum
If you’re looking for family-friendly events in Dublin, it’s always worth keeping an eye on the calendar at Airfield Estate Urban Farm & Gardens in Dundrum. They’re hosting a Pancake Palooza cookery class for kids today and a Specimen Trees Guided Walk tomorrow. Meanwhile, their popular farmers’ market reopened last month. It’s open every Friday and Saturday from 9am-2.30pm and it offers a delicious selection of locally grown fruit and veg and artisan produce.
Support it
Food from Mezze Deli
As the owners of Mezze Deli in Tramore, husband and wife Dvir Nursery and Nicola Crowley know all about Middle Eastern food. Over the years, they’ve collected recipes from Nusery’s home in Israel and shared them with their customers, and now they want to share them with home cooks across Ireland. The couple have written a mouthwatering cookbook, featuring “colorful salads, slow-cooked meats and syrup-drenched desserts”, and to ensure the best quality, they’ve decided to self-publish it. It’s an expensive undertaking, which is why they’ve started a fundraiser on Kickstarter, which closes at midnight on Monday.
