Ideal Summer Picnic

The weather has been ridiculously good for the past few days here in Dublin. Thankfully, I'm now finished my exams and got to spend a lovely day in the park yesterday, relaxing and reading.
This is what my ideal summer picnic would look like, if I could afford it.

lace shirt dress - Topshop
picnic basket 
diana coral camera
gimlet cocktail

Dublin Street Art

One of my favourite things about living in Dublin city is watching the street art spring up. Sometimes it's big and bold and other times it's subtle, funny, insightful. On almost every bridge in the city centre someone has spraypainted "Troll Below?", it makes me smile every time I see it. There is a house on Abbey Street where an artist lives (pictured below) that is so colourful, it really shows the life in the city.

In the bottom left picture you can see a painting that was actually framed and put up on a wall outside near a busy Luas (tram) stop.

Has anyone else noticed any funny/clever street art around Dublin, or in your city?

Pancake Tuesday

It's Shrove Tuesday and that means one thing - pancakes! I've been making pancakes since I was about three, stirring the batter while my lovely Mum talked on the phone, resulting in possibly the best, smoothest batter in the world. I pride myself in "speed-crêpes", I can make the batter and have all the dishes done in well under 10 minutes. So I thought I would share my fool-proof recipe for beautiful, papery thin crêpes. This recipe can be used for both savoury and sweet crêpes.

image via

ingredients

• 2 medium free-range eggs (organic if possible)
• 210g / 7oz plain flour
• 280ml milk
• pinch of salt

method:

1. Sieve the flour and salt into a large bowl
2. Beat the eggs in a small, separate bowl
3. Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour in the eggs
4. Mix briskly with a spoon
5. Add the milk in slowly, stirring while you pour
6. Whisk the mixture until smooth with no lumps
7. Cover with cling film or tin foil and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

To make the crêpes, pour a ladleful of the chilled mixture into a hot pan that has been lightly oiled. Rotate the pan so the batter reaches the edges, turn once the mixture on top solidifies (this will take approx 30 seconds), cook on the other side for 20-30 seconds.
Serve hot and enjoy!

I like to have my crêpes the traditional way with lemon and sugar, but I'd love to hear what you put on yours!

Chalkboard

I have a whole collection of jars in my kitchen for salt, sugar, spices and an overwhelming number of different varieties of tea. To be honest I usually remember what is in which jar, but it does get a little confusing with tea (without doing a sniff test!). I just love the idea of chalkboard labels because they are erasable, meaning I can swap and change jars to my hearts content. I am debating whether to buy pre-cut labels, or a tin of chalkboard paint and make up some stencils. Either way, I would love my new kitchen to be filled with lovely things like this!

1: Colourful swing bottle//urbanbellecouture
2: Chalkboard labels//angiecherryhi
3: Vinyl chalkboard labels//letstalkchalk
4: Chalkboard labels//bradensgrace

Inspiring Organisation

I am getting an entirely new bathroom, new kitchen floor and getting rid of one out of place wall in the next fortnight and I could not be more excited. I'm also excited to come up with some great new storage ideas, as I've been living with practically no storage (save bags of things lying around the floor!). My bedroom is my craft room as I live in an apartment, so I really need to get creative with wall space to make to most of the narrow space. So, of course, I have been looking to etsy for inspiration. So here are a few of my favourite stylish and ingenious methods of keeping everything in its place!

1: Vintage yarn organiser//uncommonvintage

2: Vintage wood drawer//whitebarnvintage

3: Mailbox//customwoodconcepts

4: Washi tape organiser//464handmade

Etsy Ireland Craft Exchange

Hey, I've just launched the Etsy Ireland Craft Exchange here. If you are a member of the Etsy Ireland team you can sign up to send a lovely free handmade gift to a member of the Etsy Ireland team and receive a gift in return.

Irish Blue Treasury

I was inspired by all the beautiful hues of blue in the items of the crafty Ireland team, you can follow the Etsy Ireland Blog here. This treasury features candles, shoe clips, jewellery and more! Check it out here.