Autumn at Kilruddery

One of my favourite past times is to venture off into the beautiful neighbouring county of Wicklow. Known as the 'Garden of Ireland', Wicklow has many delights to offer those who possess a sense of constant wanderlust. 

Kilruddery House in Bray, is one of those places that pulls you back to a forgotten time. The estate features an imposing 17th century mansion and rolling vistas, which plunge deep into the distant mountainous abyss. After a stroll around the estate, the enchanting tea rooms offer a restorative fix in the form of sweet treats and hot cups of frothy cappuccinos. The pretty little vases of flowers on each table were the icing on the cake (or should I say almond cookie). The gardens in high summer are a blissful place, but autumn too has its own sense of magic.

The last traces of summer are evident with the yarrow, roses and cosmos peaking through the fallen shrubbery. The floral specimens are peculiarly juxtaposed with tumbling amber toned leaves, scattered acorns, and mushrooms protruding from the soft manicured lawns. The overall feel is one of beautiful unbridled transition, and reaffirms my love for nature and the curious and intriguing changes it manifests. 

In my hands

October is finally here; my favourite month. Not only was I born in October (which entitles me to love it even more) it also radiates a dazzling spectrum of colours, and possesses a palpable sense of 'hygge'. Furthermore, it marks the end of the foraging season for me. The next few weeks will be a busy time stocking up.

Wherever I go I'm always scanning my surroundings for that one exquisite find. Mother Nature is my supply closet, and I usually end each day with a handful of curiosities from her seasonal collection. Here's a few of those treasures; from blackberries, acer seeds, hawthorn berries to the first fallen autumn leaves. 

Wild Irish Rose

One of my all time favourite flowers are roses; they hold such elegance, vibrant colour, and wonderful heady aromas. 'My dear rose' is a piece inspired by their eternal beauty.

It is one-of-a-kind piece, created just for you to treasure and wear close to your heart. The bottle pendant was skilfully cast by myself using a handmade mold of a vintage Chanel No.5 perfume bottle. An original concept I devised a few years ago. The pendant was then constructed in natural resin using my advanced casting technique to ensure a premium crystal clear finish. Within the lightweight resin bottle are three deep pink rose buds suspended in eternal motion. The buds were picked from my garden last summer and have been preserved to showcase their fragile form and delicate details.

A fine scattering of 24k gold leaf speckles float amongst this miniature scene, along with romantic swirls of pink dye, which enrapture the roses and accentuate their lively colour. You can almost imagine the sweet floral scent trapped forever within this wonderfully tactile bottle. It's only available at this link. 

While wandering through the rose gardens at Powerscourt, I snapped my 'Wild Irish heart' necklace against the rose lined walled garden. This piece is available in the Design Loft in Powerscourt House and also in store now. It's such a pretty and romantic piece, and I adore how the heather buds dance within the bottle with every step you take. A truly dynamic and intriguing piece of botanical art.