House of Kerry

The Boy, the Lamb and the Magic Scarf

Christine O'Donoghue de Vries — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 08:36:52 +0000

I can’t believe that summer has escaped us yet again and the scramble for school crests and sizing uniforms is upon us! Reminiscing now on the highlights of my summer on the farm and my creating world….

There lives a little boy in House of Kerry who has a pet lamb. Throughout the summer the little boy fed his pet lamb milk and the lamb grew quite big! The lamb followed him everywhere.

The little boy worried about his lamb being alone especially when he returned to school. The little boy had a plan. The boy’s mam created beautiful scarves inspired by the Irish landscape and our heritage – one of them was a special scarf called “the Magic of the Skellig Ring”. It was made of silk and contained a watercolour painting of traditional striped fields hemmed in by hand built stone walls against the backdrop of the Atlantic coast and Blasket Islands. It shimmered in the light. The little boy knew the Skellig Ring well as he had often visited there with his parents and young sister.

The little boy heard that far away in Dublin, in the RDS, the magic scarf had been chosen for display and put in a glass case to protect its special qualities and so everyone from near and far away lands could see it. One day, the little boy took the magic scarf with all the colours of his landscape and whispered in the lamb’s ear “wear the Magic of the Skellig Ring” scarf, it has special powers and it will keep you safe always and when I am not there….” The lamb was delighted and the scarf blended back in with the colours and patterns of the landscape.

All photography by Christine O’Donoghue de Vries
(save for one excerpt from scarf as appears in the RDS Craft Awards catalogue by Roland Paschhof courtesy of the RDS, Dublin)

Miracles at dawn and weather watching

Christine O'Donoghue de Vries — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 13:35:04 +0000

I’m coming up for air, the lambing season is underway. For ages the weather was too unsettled to leave the little creatures out. It was labour intensive keeping the ewes and their lambs indoors. The stony faced barn gives nothing away as to the breathing life inside except for the red glow of the old bonham light used to warm up the little bodies.
We waited in hope that the weather would improve and finally the little lambs were rewarded with some sunshine and mild weather before St. Patrick’s Day. I go down to the Lower Orchard, the field by the old barn in the morning an hour before the dawn in anticipation of new lambs. Most of the ewes have made their way in for shelter to the old barn for the night so there is a rush of adrenalin when the torch catches a pair of eyes gleaming from the depths of the darkness out in the field as the ewes isolate themselves when near lambing. There is another rush when I catch another pair of eyes (or maybe two!) this time closer to the ground –another miracle at dawn. I go to check that they’re ok and bring them all in to a new nest of straw in the barn. Shimmers of pale gold, pink and grey are on the horizon. The stagnant rows of starlings in the open air shed stir as I walk past and a pheasant calls out to make their presence known.
Now that the stronger lambs have been left out we can only try and keep one step ahead of the weather to see whether they should be brought in for the night. Sporadic sleety showers means we brought them in last night. There was momentarily chaos and furious bleating as some lambs got separated from their mothers in the rush to come in. And then later on silence as the darkness took hold and we all breathed a sigh of relief for the welcome shelter. A busy busy time but ultimately rewarding being close to nature and lots of inspiration for future collections-watch this space!

These country lights! -Gooseneck Geometric lampshade!

Christine O'Donoghue de Vries — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 22:05:34 +0000

Coming soon we will have an inspiring collection of lampshades inspired by the landscape of Kerry! You can be the first to see them at our pop up event at the Muckross Park Hotel Sunday 5 February next 12-5pm. We searched high and low in Ireland but there were no digital fabric printers to suit our needs. We turned to London and so it is in a studio there we printed the designs on a linen/cotton blend which gives a very crisp edge to the colours. To give you a little preview of the collection I have included pictures of the design called the Goose neck Geometric lampshade. Christine has taken the image of the iconic gooseneck lamp on the corner of the farmhouse and made a geometric design with it which is right on trend right now. The old gooseneck lamp has weathered many storms and some glass has now broken on the edges. This particular lamp is not made anymore but it is irreplaceable us! The blue azure background with rust elements gives the shade texture and was inspired by old machinery parts in the farmyard! This large lampshade is in an elegant drum shape and would work equally well as a large statement table lamp or floor lamp. It is embellished with the phrase “These country lights!”.

Eco design for now and for the future

Christine O'Donoghue de Vries — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 11:20:09 +0000

I have been working on a project designing textiles (chair covers) for Gooseisland workshop’s (Castlegregory, Co. Kerry) beautiful handcrafted chairs and stools. Like me they work with the traditional and bring a contemporary twist to their designs! Please see the image of the “milking stool”. Of course these speak to me because the generations before my father, my grandfather and great grandfather would have used something like these to milk the cows. The wood is from ash and poplar trees. Gooseisland replant the trees they cut down for making their furniture. House of Kerry does it’s bit for the environment too. The design is a hand drawn image of “Lady luck” our cat by me which is screenprinted using water based inks and then translated onto fabric. The fabric is made from landfill waste material! It is also embellished with the words “The best seat in the house” !Our cat certainly gets the cosiest spot. This would make a special gift to mark a special occasion.

We also do a bespoke service and will do our best to create a design with meaning for you or the person you’re gifting. The stools would be great for engagement, house warming, birthday or retirement gifts. We can also place a personal message in the design. Please contact christinedevries.hofk@gmail.com

2017: Do what inspires you!

Christine O'Donoghue de Vries — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 22:10:55 +0000

Happy New Year from House of Kerry everyone. It’s that time of year when we are planning, trying to motivate ourselves, trying to think maybe how we can improve our lot? One of House of Kerry’s aims is to encourage you to “do what inspires you!” Change can be daunting whether it’s career change (I know this one), lifestyle change or changing your mindset it is not easy. All we can do is invest some time in ourselves by researching and thinking how to put the best foot forward, come up with a plan and follow it! Best of luck on setting your goals for 2017! I hope our collection of prints scarves and tweed cushions will provide you with a piece of inspiration on the way. If I can inspire just one… For me, nature and the landscape are a constant source of inspiration.

Glucksman Gallery Craft and Design Fair at University College Cork

Christine O'Donoghue de Vries — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:25:19 +0000

House of Kerry was selected to participate in this year’s Craft and Design Fair and we were overwhelmed with the response to our designs. Thank you to everyone who supported us and the other stand holders who made it a lovely experience for us.

On another note a certain tweed backed cushion with the words “Please Sir, Could we have some more midwives” caught the attention of a lecturer in midwifery. It was a magical meeting of minds. My idea for the design of the cushion was that if the Minister for Health was presented with this request in a different fashion, he might sit up and take notice! It is shocking that in 2016 we have a shortage of midwives in Ireland. This issue needs to be addressed. Watch this space. Please see the link that the Glucksman Gallery shared Glucksman Gallery post

I have added some pictures from the Glucksman Gallery. Thank you for a memorable experience!

Get out for a walk

Christine O'Donoghue de Vries — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 11:40:05 +0000

Well the weather is back to what one would expect, blustery rainy winterish!!Lots of talk about Christmas on the radio but can’t think that far ahead yet!I love Christmas but I am all for trying to enjoy the present moment. And there it was, a break in the weather the stormy clouds parted and I dressed for the elements. Might as well get a brisk walk in and see how the animals doing too! The cattle were fine beautiful white washed coats from the elements. Not long now I suppose till they are in again for the winter. Far nicer to be outdoors! So much inspiration in nature, magical the way the raindrops clung to the bright red haw berries- very Christmasy in fact -no won’t think about that yet. Well, I cleared my head and forgot temporarily little niggly things while nature gazing, just what I needed.

November sun

Christine O'Donoghue de Vries — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 11:00:07 +0000

It is strange weather for November, beautiful and mild. I said to Dad I’d keep an eye on the cattle we had just moved up from the field by the lake yesterday. They are down by the road and surrounded by other neighbours’ cattle nearby and could get up to some mischief! I decided I might as well go for a run and take a left up the narrow road which divides the fields where the cattle are and watch out for them. November and the sun was shining on my back! I took long strides it was great to get out and stretch the legs, therapeutic. The leaves are still on the trees gorgeous russet and gold colours and contrasted with the greyish hues on the green grass from the morning dew. There were sheets of spiders webs everywhere covered in dew decorating the grass and gorse. I continued up by the river, it was moving quickly noisily from the rains in the last few days. However, it was in contrast with today’s blue skies and the ethereal fluffy white cloud that had descended over Crohane. The sun shining high in the sky was blinding. I spied the cattle in the small field near the road. It’s called Cait na Naomh I think must ask Dad. They were happily munching as I looked in from the road through the scarred trunks of the silver birch trees. They were all there. Grand, keeping out of trouble. I continued on my path, sheep scattered to my left and right. I stopped to catch my breath and take a sip of water. I looked up towards the farm, the belt of evergreen trees planted by Granda made a striking outline against the blue sky. I reckon he had a touch of an artist in him – a very well laid out design! Time to turn back-there were the neighbour’s new cattle on my right -lovely black fur glistening in the sun. They stared out at me curiously. The sun was making everything see through-there was lots of flies lit up like little fire flies and glints of spider webs-little limbs lingering and sparkling in the air. I gave one last look in at the cattle. Only one of them looked up at me but content she continued to fill her belly. And now back to the sounds of children getting ready for lunch at the house. I love Kerry

Welcome to our Blog

Administrator — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 10:00:20 +0000

We are really excited on the launch of our new website. This blog is a journal of sorts of what inspires the creation of our new images and products. It contains inspiring imagery from Co.Kerry as well as thoughts on daily living in the countryside and Christine’s experiences in Co. Kerry. A long time ago Christine’s great grandfather Florence O’Donoghue who lived in the old farmhouse she renovated was inspired to write a journal on daily life on the farm. In the same vein Christine brings you contemporary images and her thoughts on day to day living in Co. Kerry, Ireland. Don’t forget to check back regularly for updates and insight in to what we are up to.