Take 3: Etsy shops in Ireland

Etsy = my dream store. For the uninitiated, it's where artists, designers and crafters from all over the world reside. Etsy is a treasure trove of one-off, limited edition and personalised items for the home, along with fashion, craft supplies, toys, jewellery and lots else.

Many of the people behind Etsy's shops are based in America, which can result in high postage costs. A handy way to search for items closer to home is to use the 'Shop Local' search term. But sometimes searching for Dublin can yield results of places in the United States named after our fair city!

Here's a little selection of some of the lovely Irish makers and shakers selling their wares on Etsy:

1. handmade by me
Gorgeous fabrics made with eco-friendly dyes and printed onto a linen-cotton fabric, Dublin-based Sera sells napkins, cushion covers and fabric for curtains. Check out her blog at handmadebymeblog.com

DREAM LIVING SPACE: A galaxy filled with rockets, planets and alien craft, this colourful Space Rocket Solar System Cushion Cover (€35.81 plus delivery and also available for curtain material) from handmade by me was designed for a five-year-old boy.  

2. Jo Fulham Textiles
Based in Mullingar, Jo's shop has the cute name mojosewsew and sells purses, handbags and cushion covers made in fab fabrics. She can also personalise items as per request.

 TWIT-TWOO: This beautiful Retro Owl Cushion (€31.14) by Jo Fulham Textiles is made from a variety of fabrics, love the corduroy. I know my owl pal Aoife will want this.

3. karoArt
Creating stunning ceramics and pottery, karoArt in Dublin makes unique sculptural artworks. I think her personalised hearts tile would make a beautiful St. Valentine's Day or wedding present.

S-TILE-ISH: Made to order with a custom number of fish, the School of Fish ceramic tile (€76 plus delivery) is by karoArt

Easy peasy lemon squeezy

Cup cakes / fairy cakes / queen cakes / small flour and sugar based round treats... the *secret* Cake Café ... rising star Bake My Cake ... bascially, cakes are on the brain.

I recently made my first cake at home (it's been three years since we moved in!).

New to this game, I choose a simple recipe from the excellent BBC Good Food, Tana Ramsay's Lemon Drizzle Cake. 

SHIZZLE MY DRIZZLE: Tana Ramsay's Lemon Drizzle Cake

Very simple, but I would add an extra lemon and cut back on the sugar.

Sadly, there's no photo of my attempt. It disappeared rather quickly! 

Here are some citrus-inspired finds on Etsy:

1. Remember cutting out lino (or potato shapes) in primary school? This linocut print ($20) by thebigharumph that puts my younger self's efforts to shame.

STEAL THE LINO-LIGHT: Lemon Yellow Linocut

2. I'm very fond of slogan prints (check out Bold & Noble where each is helpfully sized to fit IKEA frames). This cute tea towel ($15) by Dear Colleen subverts the 'when life hands you lemons' saying to substitute lemonade for a G&T. 

EVEN BITTER: When Life Hands You Lemons tea towel

3. Using Alexander Henry's Juicy fabric, this ironing board cover ($24) by Compelled to Craft has a sweet '60s feel. I love the pip insets.

PIPPED TO THE POST: Ironing board cover

4. And here's something that combines lemons, cakes and homewares: these deceptively delicious lemon sugar cupcake soaps ($3.99 each) by Barringer Bath and Body. 

JUICE LIKE THE REAL THING: Lemon sugar cupcake soaps

The Cat's Pyjamas

On the sofa, footstool, window sill, crumpled jumper, carpet or that newspaper you're trying to read - our cat Waffles loves to snooze. Though your average house kitty is fond of a good kip, few are clock up as many hours as our five-year-old brown tabby.

Here is a photo of Waffles taken by my super talented friend Nathalie Márquez Courtney - check out her amazing photography here.

WAFFLY VERSATILE: Waffles can sleep anywhere
(By Nathalie Márquez Courtney)

I've been planning on getting him a proper cat bed (though am worried that he will bypass it for our sofa, just as he does the scratching pole!).

Where it not for the fact that there is no option to deliver to Ireland, I would be very tempted to get him a suitably stylish cat bed fashioned out of a vintage suitcase from the Love Nostalgic Whimsy shop on Etsy.

I'm sure Waffles would snooze quite contentedly in this baby blue beauty (€44.84).

WHISK' ME AWAY: Love Nostalgic Whimsy's vintage styling is purrfect (Etsy)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84822701/cozy-cargo-suitcase-pet-bed-pretty-blue