Moving on...

Hello there! If there is anyone out there still checking in I just wanted to let you know that I have moved to a new blog...same name but different address!   I mentioned before that I wanted to change things up a bit around here and I have finally done it!  I hope you will come visit me at the new blog!

You will find the new Six Black Dots here!

Martina
x 

Orla Kiely

Edit! To protect your privacy, I won't be publishing comments that include email addresses...just in case you are worried! Thanks :)

If there is still anybody out there taking the odd little peek here and if you have visited in the past you will most likely know that I am a serious Oral Kiely fan! I have too many bags to count!! However, I am doing a bit of a clear out and as I don't use most of them anymore (they would generally just have been used for a season), I can't really justify keeping them. I have been thinking of putting them up on e-bay but appear to have a weird mental block about selling on e-bay. I absolutely cannot explain it but, essentially, it scares me!! I have bought stuff on e-bay and any transactions I had went smoothly so there is no rhyme or reason for this block!

Anyway, I thought I would throw a few pictures up here to see if anyone is interested. Some of them are actually brand new, still with tags, ie the two clutch bags...which are very "now" with their neon orange and pink touches! Also, the book bag / laptop bag in a brownish colour. The dark grey tote was used about 4 times I'd say. The others are used but in fairly good condition. So, I'm putting a little selection up here in case anyone is interested in owning a classic Orla Kiely bag. By the way, the suede bags with the neon pops are really rare...I have never seen one before. I bought mine in a little store in Boulder, Colorado!!

If you are interested, leave a comment with a contact email address. The new bags, I would sell at a slight discount from their as new price and the others they would sell from 35 euros up plus postage. I will think about the prices a little harder if anyone shows any interest!

Even if you have no interest whatsoever, you might just enjoy a little peak into my own little Orla-Land!!











I took these at top speed without much care and attention and with my iPhone! If you click on the picture you will see a bigger version. If interested, I can show more detailed pictures and point out if there are any marks etc. Equally, there are more that I can post on here!

Hope you are having a good week. I am off to Amsterdam with work on Sunday...have never been so quite looking forward to it. I just hope I will find some time to do a little exploring!

Hello!

It's been months since I posted! I think I am just completely bored with my blog so I am going to change it up, buy a nice design and move it...hopefully, that will motivate me to post more regularly! I like to have my blog to look back on and of course it's nice to meet the odd person who drops by to say hello too so I do want to continue - I'll just do it in a different way and maybe with a different name...we'll see!

In the meantime, if there is anyone still out there, here are a few snaps from around my home that I took using Instagram recently!

About the house...

Just some shots from around the house, enjoying the light.  And...who has been sleeping in my bed...cheeky little mutt!!

The weekend...

Lots of food, ice cream and desserts!  Sunday morning out in Dun Laoghaire for a walk on the pier...sunny with a brisk breeze...very refreshing after a late Saturday night!

 

And, Sunday out at the pier would not be the same without a 99 from Teddy's!

Have a good week :)

All about the print...

So, I am liking the trend for prints this summer but won't be getting too involved as I tend not to follow trends too much and like to buy things that last for a few years.  However, I fell big time for this coat from Cos.  I had been eyeballing it online for a while and then it disappeared (yikes) so when I found one in our local Cos store, I tried it on, loved it and bought it!  It looks great with a crisp white cotton top underneath and would look great with some dark grey jeans, which I can't find anywhere, so will wear with some good, dark jeans and silver / grey / white shoes (that I am hunting for).  The colors are a little bit hard but I love them anyway!  Plan to wear it to my niece's First Communion at end May.

Not sure if this photo does it justice but I promise it's lovely!  Will maybe take a photo with it on me at some point.  Enjoy your day :)

Hot Pink...

Always been a fan of pink but have really noticed that neon pink is everywhere on the web these days!  I bought a neon pink scarf in Zara recently (when it looked like we might finally get some good weather and I was feeling summery and all..it didn't last!).  I also have a hot pink case for my iPhone and yesterday whilst in the local chemist picked up some hot pink nail varnish.  It cheers me up.  I was trying to photograph my hands and they looked hideous so grabbed my mouse to show my nails...still don't look so hot but better than the other shots!  Also, how about these gorgeous note cards by Lisa Stickley...love them so much...might just have to frame one of each.  Have a good day :)

Hello..

Well, it's been a while.  I just wasn't in the mood to be frank.  I really think that I am only now coming out of a post-Christmas funk.  I couldn't wait for March to be over with and for Spring to begin and I am feeling a bit more upbeat now...thank goodness!  A little more motivated and a little more optimistic too.  A number of nice things are happening...mainly, we have booked a holiday to south of France for two weeks in June...this is very exciting as, apart from a few weekends, we haven't gone overseas for a holiday since 2008 when we went to Colorado!  I am so happy and so excited!  Also, I finally got around to tidying the library/snug (which had become a bit of a dumping ground).  I did a big spring clear out as well and sent eight bags off to the Charity Shop - these are the kind of things that clear my fug and get me in a good groove again!  Some pictures from library/snug below.  Both myself and B are working on our French too which is good :)  Hope you have a good week :)

Sunday morning...

It's a beautiful day... it's so long since we have seen blue skies and sunshine!  B is still in bed (with a sore head from last night!) so I am here downstairs, listening to some gentle music, enjoying the stillness, eating a leisurely breakfast and having some good coffee.  The woofers are resting on the sofa...they have been very sick for the past two weeks but seem to be on the mend again.  I think we might go up the mountains today or maybe down to the sea...not sure, whatever, hopefully the sunshine will last :)

Shrewsbury and the Bullring..

Just a few photos from Shrewsbury.  We flew in and out of Birmingham so I made some time to check out the Bullring, designed by Future Systems.  So cool.  Have a good weekend!

Shrewsbury...

So, we went to Shrewsbury, Shropshire for 5 days.  Hubby signed up to do a fine box making course.  The course took place in barn/workshop on a farm near a little village called Church Stretton...a lovely little place to do a course and he loved it!  And he produced a beautiful walnut box with maple and blackwood inlay..which was a present for me for Valentine's Day!  It isn't quite finished yet as it needs to be lined and the hinges need to be added plus it needs some more very fine sanding and finally finishing with oil (will proudly post pictures when complete!).

Shrewsbury is a beautiful town dating back to the 15th century and is full of beautiful timber-framed, lopsided buildings...lots of hills, winding alleys and the River Severn runs along beside it.  I took lots of pictures but unfortunately, for the entire time we were there it was grey and wet...never mind, we still had a lovely time.

The hotel we stayed in was gorgeous...part of it dating back to medieval times.  It was recently refurbished (very sensitively) and what a great job!  I spent lots of time hanging out in the bar/bistro area, close to the huge open fire, reading writing and generally stuffing my face and having decadent glasses of wine in the middle of the afternoon!

I loved the decor...white and grey, painted furniture, tongue and groove panelling, oak floors with a little industrial edge thrown in with the addition of the tolix chairs and stools in the bar/bistro/cafe area.  The bedside lamps in our room were the ghost ones by Philip Stark.  There was a little seating area on the landing upstairs and I noticed Ikea Karlstad armchairs and some Ikea rugs.  The entire look was put together really thoughtfully and worked beautifully.  It really was a delight to be there.

Some of hotel below - will post photos from around Shrewsbury later.

Hope you are having a great weekend :)