Meet the Maker

Published on June 07, 2023

Meet the MarketStreet.ie Maker Suzette, The Farrow Collection, Co. Cork. The Farrow Collection is a family business, run by a husband and wife team in county Cork. They handmake luxurious candles and wax melts with 100% plant-based wax. A huge part of their motivation in running their venture is that they are totally involved in the creation of their products from conception to manufacturing to delivery. They are very conscious of the materials used to make their products, ensuring raw materials are sourced from well-established suppliers who are much more attuned to working sustainably. This is a key component in their business philosophy and are creating features in their products that allow customers to re-purpose them. How did you start out making your product? My passion for candles and home fragrances has always been with me since I was young. I would always want a pleasant smell in my space and would buy loads of candles. I love the feeling that a candle can give you and how a scent can evoke loads of memories. One day I was curious about how candles are made so I bought some cheap wax, fragrance, and wicks and made a few candles. The results were disastrous ???? I had no scent coming from any of them and they burnt unevenly. It was then that I started researching candle making, I watched loads of videos too. I was getting more interested in the subject and I began getting the idea of starting a hobby, making candles. At the time I and my family had decided to move to Ireland, so I and my husband had the idea of starting a family business and ultimately it ended up in a business. I am very environmentally conscious, so I wanted to be sure that the product I make would be an eco-friendly brand. How long have you been making your product for? I started testing my first candle and wax melts in February 2021, this was when I stopped working full-time to focus on the business. Home fragrances need a lot of testing to get the perfect scent and burn. What did you do before making your product? Before I started candle making, I worked in Social Care I managed a residential home in Malta. The residence catered to young people living in alternative care. The job was very stressful but very rewarding and I am still in contact with the young people who lived there. Seeing them grow and succeed in life is more rewarding. What helps you work better? There are a few factors that help me work better. I love working in an organised space, planning my week, and having structure and routine definitely helps me work better. While self-care is an important part of my life that I feel helps me work better, it also helps me in different areas of my life. What's your favourite thing to do on the weekends? This always depends on my mood, I am very moody hahaha. There are weekends when I love staying in and just snuggling on the couch watching a film with my husband and Son, mostly in winter when the weather is rainy or grey. Some weekends I love exploring nature and going for nice walks and treks around Ireland, I love going to the beaches too. I love the sea! While there are weekends when I love cooking good food at home. Meet the MarketStreet Maker, The Farrow Collection What’s your favourite holiday to celebrate? Christmas! I love Christmas, all the lights, meeting family, and the Christmas spirit. What is the most interesting fact about you that many people don’t know? The fact that I am a criminologist. What is the weirdest fact you know? I just recently found out that the acid in our stomach can melt metal! Now that is mind-blowing and so weird! What is the weirdest skill you have learnt? I think the weirdest skill I have ever learned was that of removing sea urchins with a fork from the bottom of the sea. Living in Malta, my summer holiday was at sea. So I learned to remove the sea urchins with a fork to eat them. This is not an easy skill, because most of the time they break! VIEW THE FARROW COLLECTION

Published on May 29, 2023

Meet the MarketStreet.ie Maker Ann, Button Pics, Co. Dublin. Introducing Ann of Button Pics, from Donebate in North County Dublin. Button Pics are handmade pictures crafted using buttons, embellishments and other specially chosen materials. Beautifully finished in a white solid wood box frame that can stand or be hung on a wall. While Ann sources her frames and paper from Irish suppliers, she sources buttons and embellishments from all over the world and has even been known to buy clothes just to take the buttons off for use in her pictures! All Button Pics are guaranteed Irish, lovingly handmade by Ann. Each Button Pic is unique. How did you start out making your product? The very first Button Pic I made was of the quote ‘Blossom Where You’re Planted’ and it was in memory of my Mam Eileen. This was one of her favourite sayings and the picture reminds me that I should try to make the best of every situation I’m in. I then started making pics as gifts for family and friends and soon people were asking me to make pics for them and it just grew steadily from there. How long have you been making your product for? Over 10 years now. I started in a small corner of my sitting room and gradually took over more and more space in the house until my husband created my own craft room for me and my thousands of buttons! What did you do before making your product? I work in the corporate sector in financial services. My role is demanding and people orientated so its nice to have a quiet space doing something so creative just for me. What helps you work better? I find that actually making the pictures is incredibly relaxing and mindful. It doesn’t feel like work as I can literally get lost in making the pictures and forget about any worries I may have. What's your favourite thing to do on the weekends? If it's not too cold I enjoy going for a walk with my husband and dog on one of the beaches near my home. The fresh air and sense of space is a great tonic. What’s your favourite holiday to celebrate? I’m a big fan of birthdays and enjoy celebrating with my family. I particularly love balloons and will always find an excuse to get some! What is the most interesting fact about you that many people don’t know? I like to buy second hand clothes with interesting buttons so I can then use the buttons in my pictures. What is the weirdest fact you know? I recently discovered that dogs are in fact able to see colour (like most people I used to think they are colour blind but they’re not!) What is the weirdest skill you have learnt? I’ve always been curious about how to create and make things. Over the years I’ve tried my hand at many different crafts and DIY projects. The weirdest one was giant paper marbling – I’m only saying it was weird because I made an incredible mess and the results were strange (& not in a good way!)

Published on May 26, 2023

Meet the MarketStreet.ie Maker Andria, Wild Watermelon, Co. Dublin. Introducing Andria of Wild Watermelon, a creative business that produces greeting cards and A4 prints on high quality, recycled stock. Printed and designed in Ireland for those who care about family, friends and the planet. How did you start out making your product? I’ve always loved stationery, who remembers their fancy paper collection?! Over the years I’d always designed my own cards for St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas for family and friends to keep in touch. How long have you been making your product for? I’ve been illustrating my cards for many moons, but officially started up my business just before the pandemic. What did you do before making your product? I went to DIT and studied Display Design which was an amazing course that covered so many aspects of design such as illustrating, pattern making and many more practices that add to my skillset. But oddly after college, I found myself in customer service roles in a variety of industries, including Financial Reporting! For someone who was terrible at Maths, it was a good fit as I loved working with clients and colleagues to achieve the best outcome. However, the call of illustrating was always there... the rest is history! What helps you work better? A daily walk! Clears the head and gets you focused on the day-to-day to-do list! I’m a member of a great creative group that helps with best business practices. Plus other card makers and designers really motivates me! Despite being a highly competitive marketplace, everyone in the greeting card industry is supportive and encouraging - it’s so unique in that way. What's your favourite thing to do on the weekends? With two little boys, we spend our time out and about which is great... especially as I don’t have to confront the house work or stand on Lego pieces! What’s your favourite holiday to celebrate? Being a greeting card designer, I love all holidays as there’s always a reason to send a card! But if I had to pick one, it would be Halloween... especially with the kids! Living in Ireland, it makes it an extra special time due to its heritage and connection to one of our ancient celebrations. What is the most interesting fact about you that many people don’t know? I love winter, I’m a winter kinda gal... not to say that I dislike summer, but much prefer wintertime. Especially those crisp, bright blue days! What is the weirdest fact you know? You can only fold a standard piece of paper in half 7 times, try it, I dare ya! What is the weirdest skill you have learnt? Apart from making evening dinners that the kids don’t eat? I’ve learnt how to emboss paper manually... and still trying to perfect it!

Published on May 15, 2023

Meet the MarketStreet.ie Maker Louise, Culu Design, Co. Wicklow Introducing Louise O'Hara of Culu Design, an Irish design studio that creates modern, colourful and eclectic handmade jewellery. Inspired by her love of colour, an out of control earring obsession and a desperate need to create! How did you start out making your product? I started out with polymer clay about 25 years ago as a teenager, looking for a creative outlet. I started making beads originally. This led to me doing a jewellery making course about 20 years ago which sparked the idea of setting up my own business. As is often the story, life then took over and I fell into a corporate job and set my dreams aside for another day, but I always made earrings for myself and as gifts over the years. How long have you been making your product for? I’ve been making earrings all my adult life, so for about 25 years on and off. I’ve always been obsessed with earrings and being a creative person generally it just made sense to me to make my own. What did you do before making your product? I’ve worked in an office full time since finishing my education. The dream of a creative career was always just that, a dream, I let fear hold me back from making the jump for too long. It’s not easy when you have bills and responsibilities! I was made redundant due to the pandemic and with that came an opportunity for a pivot, and here we are! What helps you work better? Oh there are many things.  I think being organised (annoyingly so at times!) has stood to me. My studio is teeny tiny, so I keep it in good order. I love spreadsheets, scrum boards and post it notes!  When I started my business everything was chaos, I think it needs to be like that at the beginning when you’re figuring everything out, but I am currently implementing processes to keep things flowing better, as I get busier and busier!  What's your favourite thing to do on the weekends? My very favourite thing to do at the weekend is eat with family and friends! There’s nothing better than a nice restaurant with my two favourite humans, my partner and my little apprentice, our five year old daughter. Also rambling about in nature, a walk in the woods with those two, and if we can involve a picnic too I’m in heaven! What’s your favourite holiday to celebrate? Christmas definitely! I’m not too concerned with Christmas itself exactly, but it’s the one time of year that all of my family get together and there’s lots of yummy food. What more can you ask for!  What is the most interesting fact about you that many people don’t know? Oh wow, I’m not that interesting at all! I think the most interesting things about me are my creations, and they’re free for the world to see. What is the weirdest fact you know? You can’t lick your elbow. Did you just try?! What is the weirdest skill you have learnt? I’m a boring old fart, I don’t have any weird skills. Unless you’d describe being able to fall asleep ANYWHERE a skill, my other half would! I’m always go go go, so if I sit (or stand) still for too long, there’s always a risk I might soon be snoring! VIEW CULU DESIGN