Wicked China

Colleen, Karen and Fiona - creators, designers and waxers of Wicked China!! 
Pretty vintage china, lovingly transformed into scented candles! All have bath treats, and are carefully wrapped, bowed and tagged.

Wicked China on Facebook

Keep an eye out for Wicked China appearing on Folksy, but in the meantime you can check them out at Northern Ireland's Premier Vintage Fairs

www.northernirelandvintage.com

Future Dates:

June 13, Malone House

July 4, The Empire

August 1, The Empire

Sept 26, Holiday Inn

Nov 21, Holiday Inn

Folksy Giveaways!

Wall Envy Art - giveaway, check Louises Blog for more details!

check out Wall Envy Art on Folksy and on Facebook  

Amoeba Handmade - giveaway, check Emma's Blog for details!
check out Amoeba Handmade on Folksy

Victoria McDonald - giveaway, check Victorias Blog for details!

Check out Victorias 2 shops on Folksy Victoria McDonald Art and PaperMashYeti

Seamingly Possible - Giveaway, check Carolines blog for details!

check out Seamingly Possible on Folksy

Hamespun - Giveaway, check Kay's facebook for details!

also check out Hamespun on Folksy

Ulster Museum, Belfast

I first visited the museum when I was at Primary School, we got a big coach up to Belfast from Portrush, I think I was only 6 or 7 at the time... I remember entering the room that housed the mummy, it took me a while to pluck up the courage to walk over and view her, I think I just stood there examining every detail, her hair, skin, teeth, I eventually had to be dragged away by my teacher!  The only other things that I can recall from this visit were the items I bought in the gift shop... crystals I thought looked like cola bottles and a holographic dinosaur ruler (you know the kind, which when tilted show another image, and as if by magic the dinosaurs 'moved').....oh, and sitting on the big steps outside eating our packed lunch :)

My next visit to the museum was many years later, when I moved to Belfast to attend Art College, I lived in the 'Holy Lands' area in Botanic, and the museum was practically on my doorstep...as a pennyless student I spent many days roaming the corridors for inspirartion, never tiring of the exhibits. 

The museum was closed for nearly three years while it under went renovation works and it re-opened on 22 October 2009, on its 80th anniversary. I couldnt wait for the re-opening, and I followed the blog religiously, watching the packing up of the exhibits and the sneaky peaks they slowly revealed. Id told my nieces and nephews all about it, and the excitement grew within each of them, the museum was about to be opened up to a whole new generation of kiddiewinkles who could only imagine what those vast concrete walls held....

........more soon :)

The relaunched Ulster Museum has been the most talked about new experience in Northern Ireland and it has been nominated for the prestigious Art Fund Prize for its spectacular redevelopment.

Please vote for the Ulster Museum here!

thank you :)

Folksy Friday #9

Little Ships.....

Just a quick one this week as Ive spent ages posting my Donegal pics...Bloggers being a bit mean tonight! :(

This week marks the 70th anniversary of The little ships of Dunkirk.  700 private boats sailed from Ramsgate in England to Dunkirk in France between May 26 and June 4, 1940 as part of Operation Dynamo, they rescued more than 338,000 British and French soldiers, who were trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk during the Second World War.

 "We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender"   - Churchill


So a huge salute to the Little Ships (pinks the link)

  

Make Do and Mend stitched Artwork by Make, Create & Illustrate

Personalised Fine Silver Dog Tag Necklace by All Those Threes

Poppy Earrings by Dream Beads

Little Wooden Boat by Elli Moody

Rose Darling Hairband by Tinkers Infinity

Olive Green Satchel by Clutterbux

Red Cotton Prairie Dress by Dig For Victory

Union Jack Cupcake Toppers by Darling Dilly Dilly

Inishowen Peninsula, Donegal

Been meaning to post these all week!

Some photographs from our lovely weekend away in Donegal.  We rented the gorgeous 'River Cottage' in Greencastle, owned by Heather & William, so homely!  We took the Lough Foyle Ferry from Magilligan Point to Greencastle at lunchtime on the Friday....sailing was at 2.15pm (which we just made and no more) Its only a short 15 minute journey across and costs £15 for a car return.

 

On the Friday night we decided to take a walk into the village and had dinner at Kealy's Seafood Bar & Restaurant, both opting for the Monk Fish.  After more than a few Guinness, we had an interesting walk along the dark country roads back to the cottage!

On Saturday we decided to go for a drive around the peninsula...first port of call was Culdaff, and the blowy Bay of Kinnego

Then it was onto Portaleen, a small harbour village, where I spent many a Sunday as a wee girl sitting on the harbour wall watching my daddy fixing the fishing boats... Nothing much has changed, as soon as wee drove to the harbour all those memories came flooding back, climbing up the wall to see the vast ocean on the other side, the lobster pots stacked and the smell of  engine oil and fish.                                                                                                     Next port of call was Malin Head.  Malin Head is the most northernly point in Ireland. It seems as though you are standing on the end of the Earth, with rugged landscape as far as the eye can see...It is remote, desolate and sparsely populated, making it a special and quiet sort of place...during WWII the Irish government allowed the British to site two radio direction finders on the head, it was then used by the Irish Meteorological Service...and the ruins of the towers still stand today.  Another reminder from the war is the large EIRE spelt out in white stone on the fields below, this was to signal neutral ground to overhead craft.  When you look down over the cliffs, you can see where many a visior has left their own similar mark on the field (see photos below)

From Malin Head we travelled onwards to Carndonagh for lunch...oh and they had a wee shoe shop too, so, yip, i even managed to buy shoes in the Donegal countryside :) hehee

From Carndonagh we travelled West again to the Isle of Doagh, I cant ever remember being here before, the scenery was stunning, the most beautiful little hidden coves, thatched cottages and dramatic stretches of beach.......oh and not to forget the famine village, which we just glanced over the wall at...the tour lasted 45mins and you got tea and a toasted soda farl included in the price...but we'd just eaten and still had lots to explore...so onwards to Trawbreaga Bay, Dunaff Head, the Five Fingers Strand and Dunree!

Now the next part of our wee journey took us through some tiny country roads, where its virtually impossible to pass another car, let alone a tractor...we followed the route on the map which was telling us the way to Buncrana was over the Mamore Gap...fair enough you might think, just up and over a mountain...well, when you're not even sure what you are driving on is even a road anymore and all the road signs have been shot, the only other living thing is a sheep, (and he was useless at directions!) and you are climbing a very windy hillside at a 45 degree angle, with a wall of rock either side...well, i gave up, i couldnt even look, the Mamore gap is as creepy as shit!!  When we did eventually get to the top, we probably should have stopped for the view, but both agreed it felt like something out of 'The Hills Have Eyes!!' and then.........we saw the statues of Padre Pio and The Virgin Mary, well that was it, we cacked ourselves and put the pedals down and got the hell off that mountain....everyone we've spoke to about it since coming home doesnt get it, they said its beautiful and the views are outstanding....well, when you're terrified,like we were all you wanna do is get the frig outta there!  Buncrana was a bit of a sad site, a seaside town past its glory, besides the weather had taken a change for the worse so we headed back to Greencastle and the safety of our wee cottage, lit the fire and nipped out for a fish supper and some beers and settled down to watch the telly....and finished off the bottle of Rum!  :)

 On Sunday morning, after a huge Ulster Fry, we decided to go for a walk along the road outside the cottage.  Then it was back to pack and head for the ferry home....

Folksy Friday #8

Love is...

This Saturday marks our 14th anniversary together...we were only 18 years old when we first met on the Art Foundation Course and became the best of friends....it took us until the last week of our course to actually get together!  We have never got married, he is my best friend......and I wouldn't change him for the world  :)

We rented a wee cottage in Greencastle last weekend....I'll post some Donegal pictures later in the week...

so a little loved up theme this week (pinks the link)

All you need is love Card by Bonbi Forest

  

 Love Cushion by Snowdon

Mimi 'Pinkee' Bunny Plushie by Cute Designs

Love Bird with jute Bag by Tania Holland Gallery

'We belong together' Stitch Picture by Stitcher Scribbler

Together Greetings Card by Dig The Earth

 You and Me 5 x 7" Print by Lola's Room

 Love is Forgiving Pendant by The Beespoke

Big Blog Card Swap

As you know I recently took part in Naomi & Sarah's Big Blog Card Swap, well Naomi has now posted all the cards and links back to the participants blogs & websites...check out her blog for lots of gorgeous pics....she took a far better pic of my card than I did myself, so I stole hers :)   cheers Naomi!

You can also see my previous post about the swap and what I recieved here

Thanking you......

Id just like to send out a big thank you to all the lovely people that have included me in their blogs this week! :)

Sophie at Trinket Box featured my little Owl Domino Brooch

Sue at Sorcery & Sparkle featured my Tea Party Bookmark

Natalie at NOfkantsCurios featured my Toadstool Bagcharm

and finally.... Shaz at OddSox has been amazing, tirelessly featuring lots of Folksy Sellers in a set of 10 quickfire Q’s  (no more than 3 words per answer) on her blog why not pop over and show your support to some fellow folksters!

...my full set of answers can be viewed here 

thank you to everyone...It's such a lovely feeling to get featured! x