Art and Shopping ★

wow art AND shopping in one post... well they are two of my favourite things, what did you expect!!!

anyway, while i was in Kinsale yesterday i also took the opportunity to re-visit a fabulous little gallery shop i saw last year during my visit (see old post - kicking back in kinsale) 

this gallery always seems to be filled with the most incredible paintings and ceramic pieces, this year was no exception

(artwork shown here by: Ruthie Ashenhurst, Carolanne Crosbie, Lucia Parle, John Lawrence, Amélie Gagné, Sara Roberts, Adrian Wistreich, Julian Smith, Victor Richardson)

while i was there i also treated myself to this beautiful little ceramic heart brooch, made by wonderfully talented Irish artist Lucia Parle. isn't it pretty!!! 

here's some more of her gorgeous Ceramics work (images via Crafts Council of Ireland)

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so today i just wandered around Cork City Centre again for a few hours since i love the shops on St Patrick's street so much! super duper fun times!

anyway, since i've been out this week near so many wonderful shops, obviously i've ended up treating myself to one or two little bits and bobs!

i thought today i could show you some of the lovely stuff i've bought so far...

well there's the truly awesome pencil necklace and crayon bracelet!!! i figured that being an artist they'd be quite suitable! (Accessorize, Cork)

a colourful little pinwheel pencil! because let's face it... who doesn't love a pinwheel on a pencil!!! (Stationary Shop, Kinsale)

a big ol' yummy rainbow swirl lollipop! tutti frutti goodness!!! (Aunty Nellie's Sweet Shop, Kinsale)

a yummy cupcake scented air freshener. it's for my room... i already have a different strawberry cupcake one hanging from my calender! don't judge!!! (Accessorize, Cork)

a pair of gorgeous pencil cases/cosmetics bags that i couldn't resist! (Jello, Kinsale)

a lovely vintage glass beaded velvet and satin tie-up belt, loved the tasseled rope ties! (PaNdEmOnIuM, Kinsale) 

+ a pretty print, i spotted it in the window of a stationary shop in Kinsale and just knew i had to have it!!! 

it's by British Illustrator Julie Fletcher (print from James Ellis)

i've actually seen some of Julie's work once or twice before floating about online, i just loved the colours in this print though + the adorable little characters! love, love, love it

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anyway, since it was our last day in Cork, today my mum also decided to treat herself to something special! 

i met her outside Brown Thomas and after we had a lovely wander around the handbag hall, she eventually settled for a gorgeous Michael Kors handbag!

 it's a lovely bag, very smart with a fabulous metallic lining and pretty 'MK' charm on the front

very swish! we make quite the stylish pair, her with her MK tote and my with my new Gucci Indy :)

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oh and before i forget, i also popped back in to Peacock and Ruby + Miss Daisy Blue in the market today to say thanks again for being allowed to snap so many pictures of those gorgeous shops! so big thanks again to Breda at Miss Daisy Blue and Noelle (who i met today) and Jill at Peacock and Ruby, thank you :) x

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well i guess that's it for today! tomorrow we're packing up and heading up to Waterford for 2 days (which isn't nearly enough time!!!) so look out for pics of my adventures!

but until then, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

Vintage Treasures ★

so today was my first proper day in Cork in case you didn't know, i've come on holiday to Ireland for 10 days!

after spending almost 3 weeks in Cork, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire last August ( - Corky Cork Times) i wanted to come back here for a bit this summer

i'm only in Cork for 4 days this year though so today, the first place i headed out to (after Brown Thomas!) was 'The English Market' on St Patrick's street in the city centre.

i love the old market, not only is it full of lovely stores and stalls, it's also very beautiful inside, full of amazing architecture and decorative features

anyway, the main reason i went straight to the market was to go and visit Peacock & Ruby, the gorrrrrrgeous vintage shop i discovered during my trip last summer!

now those of you that have followed my blog for a while might remember when i visited this shop last year during my trip to Ireland, you can check out this post from last August to refresh your memory - Vintage Quest Times

but for the newbies out there, have no fear, i snapped LOTS of lovely photos of the shop this afternoon when i popped in for a bit

it really is one of the most divine shops i've ever been in! i think last year i described it as a 'treasure trove' and that's a great way to describe the place, it's bursting with the most gorgeous little gifts and treats as well as some of the most beautiful old vintage jewellery i've ever seen (i treated myself to a pair of pretty cameo earrings + a vintage hair flower during my trip last year!)

the shop layout was a bit different this year and there was even a little showroom upstairs as well! it's just all so magical! i love it :)

i am so in love with this shop!!! i want to move in and live amongst all the pretty little trinkets!

massive, MASSIVE thanks to the lovely Sarah who let me mooch around the shop taking photos this afternoon!

the shop is run by two super duper ladies, Jill and Noelle, but they weren't in today so i might have to pop in again before i go home to tell them how much i LOVE their shop!!!

for more info + to see more photos of the truly gorrrrrrrgeous shop, be sure to check out their Facebook Fan page here - Peacock & Ruby

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as if that weren't already enough! inside the market, a few units down from Peacock & Ruby is another amazing vintage store!!!

Miss Daisy Blue is a shop i also visited (and blogged about) last year but i was too shy to ask to take any photos inside the store!

so i thought that i'd ask this year...

it's a Vintage clothing shop and sells the most stunning vintage dresses, garments and accessories from many different decades! 

oh there were soooooo many gorgeous dresses i'd have loved to have worn! so soooo pretty! super duper stuff!

BIG thanks to the very lovely Breda who was kind enough to let me snap some picks of her beautiful shop!

be sure to check out her Facebook Fan Page for more photos of the amazing vintage finds on offer in-store + a brilliant fashion shoot featuring items from the shop - Miss Daisy Blue

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wow what a fabulous day!

as if all that weren't enough though, i also picked up 2 new bits to add to the August Giveaway bundle!!!

we have a set of candy coloured Kawaii bubble stickers from the Accessorize on St Patrick's street

and a verrrry cute little handmade notebook from Peacock & Ruby

yaaay! more prizes!!! you still have 16 days left to enter so get yourself over to the blog post explaining how YOU can enter to try and get your hands on some super duper goodies - August Giveaway

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not much else to report on today dearies, i'm heading out to Kinsale tomorrow to revisit a few more fabulous little stores, gallery shops and cafe's!

so soooo happy to be back in Ireland!!!

until then, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX