Gifts and Goodies ★

so today i worked on some new stuff at college + managed to decorate most of my desk board (photos tomorrow) 

and then after college i popped to Just Enough in Laxey (you can read more about this amazing shop here - Just Enough) to pick up some haberdashery bits

the very lovely and super duper Justine was there and as we got chatting i noticed that the absolutely gooooorgeous little Betty Boop figurines she stocks, were in the sale!!!!

i am a MASSIVE Betty Boop fan/collector, my room is full of Betty stuff (and i used to wear Betty Boop t-shirts/pyjamas/socks/handbags etc aaaalll the time when i was younger!) so i always have a look at the Betty stuff in Just Enough every time i visit

however... today i couldn't resist treating myself to a lovely little Diner Girl figurine!

isn't she divine! aaaaahhh i love it! not sure where i'll fit it in my room full of stuff but i'm sure i'll find a spot for her! you can see her here with one of her 'sisters' a lovely Betty Boop statuette (that my sister Nicola got me for my thirteenth birthday!!!)

while i was in the shop i also spotted this gorrrgeous polka dot apron (made by Justine herself) and knew i'd have to have it as well! 

it's just so pretty and ruffled and that darling ric-rac trimmed heart pocket... so cute!

we all know what a sucker i am for red and white polka dots!!! i couldn't resist... and i know, i know... i already have two lovely cooking aprons (including the gorgeous polka dot one my friend Charlotte got me for Xmas last year, see below ) but i just HAD to have this one as well!!!

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anyway, once i got home it turned out there was an even bigger treat waiting for me!!!

my darling, wonderful, amazing Godmother Kath had sent me a little surprise...

a brand new Gucci Indy handbag!!! (squueeeeeeeeeeeee)

it is soooo beautiful!!! i love love LOVE it!

golly gosh she spoils me so much... 

those of you that follow the blog may remember the other Gucci Indy handbag she gave me on my last day of Summer term at college (read more here - Freedom at Last)

well i spent the whole summer with that bag on my arm so it looks like i'll be spending the Autumn/Winter using this new one!!!

this now brings my 'super duper bag' count to four! 

two Chloé Paddington's and two Gucci Indy's

oh what a lucky duck i am!

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in other news, i've been sewing stuff lately but i'll tell you all about that tomorrow! promise...

oh and i also set up a BRAND NEW deviantART page so if you're on DA be sure to go ahead and add me, i'll add you back of course! there aren't that many illustrations on there yet what with it being NEW and all but add me anyway you creative types- Jade Boylan on deviantART

right then, back tomorrow! so until then, that's all folks... ◕‿◕ ★ xX

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

Sweet Ginger Style ★

so of course. . . it was my Birthday this week at long  last!

Can't believe i'm actually 20 now! absolutely insane!!! i'm still about 8 in my head i think!

I got some really lovely Birthday messages though, I woke up to dozens on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr which was nice, so big thanks to all of you that wished me a Happy Birthday on Tuesday

also apologies for the disappearing act i've pulled over the past few days! Birthday's make me very grumpy and i just couldn't think of anything to blog about!

anyway. . .

today i have some awesome photos to share with you all!

over at the 'Sweet Ginger Emporium' they've been busy whipping up an amazing fashion shoot to showcase some of the shops super duper handmade items!

the clothes and accessories were modeled by Shauna McCallion and Sarah Hendy, 

dresses by the talented Jonee Fisher (+ some funky up-cycled pieces by Ciara Kilgallon and Julie James)

accessories by Danielle Lowell, Janet Withey and Jade Boylan (aka me!)

the photos were snapped by local photography mastermind and renowned genius, Phil Kneen

this was the result. . .

pretty darn AMAZING right!!!

Phil very VERY kindly sent me a set of the photos to put on here but obviously, full copyright belongs to him so do not, under ANY circumstances copy of steal these pictures. . . because he will hunt you down and beat you with a light stand or camera tripod! 

seriously. . . he will! so don't even think about nabbing any of these lovely shots!

also, i suggest you go and check out some more of Phil's amazing photography right now via this link, just keep scrolling down the page for more and more amazingness! - Phil Kneen

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in other news, those of you with beady eyes on facebook/twitter/tumblr may have noticed that i drew the winner of the 'May Giveaway' on Wednesday morning!

in the end after much adding up and many scientific calculations (as if!!!) it turned out that there was a whopping total of 182 entries!!!

just wow guys. . . 

you all Liked, retweeted, blogged, reblogged and commented for it loads and loooads!

it also really blew up on tumblr this time, in fact i think the most entries came from people reblogging it on there!

anyway, massive thanks to all those who entered but the winner was number 33 . . . Kat Rego from Ontario, Canada

i drew the winner using random.org and as you can see, number 33 was the lucky number!

so i'll be posting the giveaway goodies out to Kat first thing tomorrow morning!

don't lose heart though folks, i'll be holding another giveaway this summer when i go back to Ireland in August, i'm hoping to gather lots of goodies from my travels around Waterford, Cork and Dublin to make up a super duper giveaway bundle of prizes!

so stay tuned for that . . .

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speaking of giveaways, do you remember the sheer ruddy marvel that is Rockalily Lipstick???

let me re-jog your memory, have a look at this blog post i wrote at the beginning of April - Hairclips and Lipsticks

well the lovely ReeRee (super genius behind Rockalily Lipsticks) is holding a little giveaway on her website giving some of YOU the chance to win a Rockalily Lipstick of your very own!!!

the competition is all about tattoos and to enter all you have to do is upload a picture of your ink (+ tag yourself in the photo) to the Rockalily Facebook Page saying why YOU think you and your tattoo deserve to win 

she's going to pick three winners who will all win a Rockalily Lipstick!

ReeRee is also going to randomly choose one person who retweets 'Have you entered your tattoo to win a @RockalilyLondon lipstick? http://ow.ly/58y3d RT for an extra chance to win. #rockalily'

for full details on how to enter + terms and conditions, head on over to the site - Rockalily

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not much else to report on today dearies, heading into college tomorrow to hand in my final draft essay then i'm off for a week due to it being TT race week!

i'll try to resume normal blogging from now on!

i don't know why you all put up with me i really don't!

anyway, that's all folks . . . ◕‿◕ ★ xX