Inspiration for my latest capsule collection with Nour & the Merchant began with the phrase “pretty but deadly.” I was reading a lot of folktales and stories about the fae which embody that dichotomy well; the fae are often described as beautiful and alluring, but also incredibly dangerous. Humans were always tempted into dire straits by magical beings—sirens luring men beneath the waves, fairy songs making mortals dance until death, etc. I wanted to design a collection of clothing that celebrated some of the beautiful elements in the natural and magical world that appeal to our eye but also pose a threat to our lives. Something beautiful with a nod to the deadly and dangerous, clothes for women who like feminine, “soft” silhouettes but hide daggers up their sleeves.
We started with the “Poison Garden” dress featuring our custom print of deadly flowers. Foxgloves, lily of the valley, deadly nightshade, and oleander blossoms weave a pattern around a sly wolf, a spade, and scissors. The story of the print is those beautiful, poisonous flowers, but also the gardener how grows and harvests them. A clever, dangerous woman perhaps and who knows what purpose she finds for these poisons. The dress silhouette is romantic and breezy with elastic ruching in the front and back for a flexible fit for a variety of body sizes and silhouettes. I love how the overall design reads as something pretty and romantic, puff sleeves and a flowing skirt, but only those who look a bit closer will see the danger in the design—its beauty as deceptive as the delicate bells on lily of the valley.
Thinking of the woman who grew her own poison garden helped inspire the next dress in the collection: the “Apothecary’s Apron.” This flattering dress in tan linen is reminiscent of a workman’s apron donned in a dusty apothecary where dried herbs hang overhead and a cluttered workbench is filled with mortar and pestle and dozens of tiny bottles with yellowed handwritten labels. We didn’t want to limit this dress to a more literal apron style that needed a dress or blouse underneath to be worn, so it’s cut so perfectly to be worn alone with no other clothes, but it can also be styled with a blouse or dress underneath. A really versatile little dress in a light brown shade perfect for summer, but also wearable into autumn and winter. I also love the contrast between the more durable linen and the satin-sheen of the ribbon detail too, another play in contrasts and dichotomy of elements.
The last piece is a real dream design for me—a printed chemise. The “Mystical Beasts” chemise is cut in a classic billowy chemise silhouette, but in a custom print of magical animals. I love a classic loose blouse or chemise and feature them in so many of my outfits, but I always wanted a printed version to make outfits a wee bit more interesting. I’ve never been able to find any in stores, so being able to design this one with Nour & the Merchant was such a pleasure. It has all the wearability of a classic chemise dress that looks good alone, or belted, or with a corset, or layered under a skirt, or styled with a pinafore, but a bit more spice because of the unique print. The custom print goes back to the “pretty but deadly” inspiration while taking the more magical angle then the other pieces, with thorny roses weaving between a dragon, gryphon, and kelpie. All awe-inspiring magical creatures one would love to see, but incredibly dangerous creatures best avoided. The pattern also manages to weave together all four elements with the roses representing earth, the kelpie a creature of the sea (water), the gryphon symbolizing air, and the dragon, fire. Each figure also has a different heraldic meaning, but I also wanted the print to be fairly neutral in tone to work with a wide variety of garments and span the seasons. I think despite the print it’s such a versatile little dress that you can wear in so many ways.
It’s been so wonderful designing pieces with Nour & the Merchant and I love what we’ve come up with this season. Hopefully it will do well as we always put our heart into these pieces—sometimes I think I’m going to drive Cristina mad with the nitpicking over the print designs and colors or the exact sleeve length! We’ve also created an exclusive discount for the first 50 customers to purchase something from this collection. Use code “poison” to save 10% and you’ll also get a free headscarf in one of our custom prints.
One question I get asked again and again is: what should I bring with me on my holiday to Ireland? I always hesitate to give advice on packing because try as I might, I am far from an efficient packer! I inevitably come home from a holiday with a bag full of clothes I didn’t wear and things I regret bringing! The same happened to me again recently when visiting some of our favorite parts of Ireland with friends from abroad, but one pair of shoes I was quite glad I brought on all my adventures was the Vivaia Aria 5° flats. They were so perfect for gentler walks and still felt chic when I wore them with a dress in the evening to go to dinner. This pair is also made from hemp, making it breathable and perfect for the warmer weather we’ve been experiencing lately. I’m definitely including a pair of Vivaia flats on future trips as well (they’re also handy with how light they are so they barely take up any space in my suitcase) and thought I should share some other tips on what to bring with you on your trip to Ireland.
wearing Emmy Design Sweden cardigan, AmyJoyLondon dress, Aria 5° Hemp Flat Shoes by Vivaia, old basket
Always bring a rain jacket! No matter the season you visit Ireland in or type of activities you prefer, waterproofs are a must. Winter can be mild, summer can be cold, but you will almost always get rain. Sometimes it’s only a gentle mizzling rain, sometimes it’s lashing at you sideways on the top of the Cliffs of Moher! A good rain jacket will help keep you dry no matter the conditions while also being lightweight compared to an umbrella. I don’t often feature my rain jackets since I don’t like taking pictures in the rain to avoid damaging my camera, but they’re probably some of the most worn pieces in my closet and I never go on a trip around Ireland without one.
Don’t forget to wear layers. I might dander about in a dress many days of spring and summer, but I always have a sweater or jacket within handy reach because when it cools off here it cools off quickly. Many people visiting from warmer climates will also find the Irish summer quite mild, so while the locals might bare their legs the moment the sun comes out, it’s really not that warm compared to many countries so don’t be deceived and pack clothes that will allow you to bundle up. Even when the morning is bright and clear, as an island the weather in Ireland is very changeable so layers and are absolute must!
Comfortable flat shoes. I pretty much abandoned my penchant for high heels when I moved to Ireland as cobblestones and gravel paths were killing my ankles! Even if you’re not hiking it still makes sense to pack sensible, flat shoes. The Aria 5° Hemp flat shoes by Vivaia have the look of an elegant flat but are lightweight and breathable because they’re made of natural fibers—and they have a decent amount of padding and support so they’re perfect for long days exploring. I have been wearing flats for years, but these are the most functional ones I own for extensive walking since hemp is naturally antimicrobial and moisture-wicking. One of the reasons I love Vivaia so much is their dedication to environmentally friendly shoes; many of their shoes are made with recycled materials and this limited collection in hemp is another step towards sustainable footwear. I can comfortably wear these all day walking down stone paths along the shore, or into town in the evenings to poke around the shops and enjoy a bite to eat. An absolute genius element of these shoes as well is that they are machine washable! So even if you get them muddy on your adventures through a grassy field, they’re super easy to clean. I also love the neutral color of these because they go with everything!
wearing Emmy Design Sweden cardigan, AmyJoyLondon dress, Aria 5° Hemp Flat Shoes, old basket
Carry cash. Most places in Ireland will accept card payments, but there are still some shops that are cash only as well as tolls on the roads if you’re driving, so it’s wise to have some Euros on hand if you’re traveling around Ireland and pounds if you head up to Northern Ireland. I wouldn’t carry much, but even when we were visiting Garnish, an Irish island off the coast of Cork, we were informed just before our ferry ride that the entrance into the gardens on the island was cash only. Definitely something you need to know before you get on a boat and head across the water! Again, it’s not very common these days, but it does happen and I never regret having a small wallet of Euros on hand when we travel around Ireland.
Bring binoculars. If you love nature there’s so many beautiful places to explore in Ireland and you might be surprised by the variety of wildlife as well. On recent ferry trips we saw dolphins and seals along the coast. Some Irish islands also host puffins in certain months of the year and basking sharks are often spotted off of Cape Clear Island. I usually forget my binoculars at home and inevitably regret it! Even when just spying on more common sea birds off the coast or Irish hares in the field, it’s fun to be able to get a closer look at the wildlife.
There’s probably loads more things that would be handy for you to bring on your trip to Ireland, but that’s the quick list that comes to my mind, especially based on my recent adventures. I got so much use out of my rain jacket this month and wore my Vivaia flats on many seaside trails like the ones in these pictures. I love how many paths along the shore are lined with stones and the way the wild canola seed flowers come all the way down to the water’s edge. It’s also one of Solomon’s favorite areas to explore as well, although he’s partial to a sandy beach with tall dunes he can run down! Vivaia is having an anniversary sale right now and you can use my code ACH15 to save up to 33%!
wearing LittleWomenAtelier dress, Voriagh bodice, Aria 5° Hemp Flat Shoes by Vivaia, old basket
When I shared my cakes last spring with the edible flowers on them I got so many comments about “was I really going to eat those cakes with the flowers on them?!” And the answer is, “yes, of course!” I did my research to make sure every flower I used was edible and I put a lot of work into picking, cleaning, and using them to decorate my cakes so I definitely wasn’t going to throw that hard work away! From personal experience I’d add that flowers used as decoration don’t affect the flavor of cakes very much; they’re more there for decoration and texture. When you really want to get the flavor of a flower you usually want to distill it down to a syrup and then use that syrup when mixing drinks, flavoring cakes, icings, etc. Still it can be quite intimidating to start foraging and I often find that guides to certain plants don’t really tell us what they taste like—for example what is good in a salad and what’s better with sweets? So here’s a very small guide to a few easily identifiable spring flowers and what they taste like raw. Some flowers like lilac as well is something you almost smell more than you taste. I found all of these flowers on one walk and they should be in season for most of May.
Violets: sweet, perfumed flavor, like a burst of floral on your tongue.
Wild garlic: tastes like garlic or onion; all parts of the plant are edible so you can use the leaf and flower in recipes.
Dandelions: sweetest when young they have a mild honey flavor, but the green parts are often bitter so try to harvest only the yellow petals.
Daisy: relatively tasteless, but still pretty on cakes or in salads.
Cuckoo flowers: similar flavor to watercress, peppery with a bit of a hot kick.
Lilac: floral and perfume-y with hints of citrus; very pretty smelling.
Forget-me-nots: very mild floral taste, some describe them as slightly nutty.
Primrose: mild and sweet flowers; the leaves are also edible and are a bit spicy and anise flavored.
Red clover: Sweet flavor with a hint of bean flavor when eaten raw.
I still hesitate to call myself a local in Ireland despite living here for seven years, however I do have the benefit of a true local (my husband) to offer travel advice. We’ve visited Wicklow a few times now and no matter the season it is one of my favorite counties in Ireland with truly breathtaking scenery and so much history. We visited recently in May which confirmed my personal theory that May is one of the best months to explore Ireland—in May every where is green again; the hedgerows are full of blooming hawthorn trees and cow parsley and the woods are dotted with bluebells. Wicklow is an especially lovely place to visit in this month because of all of the lovely gardens that populate this region. Here are some of my top tips for exploring this county with suggestions on what to see and where to eat.
The best time to visit Glendalough
Glendalough, an early medieval monastic settlement that dates back to the 6th century is well worth the visit, however if you go in the middle of the day brace yourself for some crowds. Thankfully from May through to September sunset is late in Ireland, so you don’t need to visit here in the prime hours to get a good view. Weave between the tumbling gravestones and scenic trails down to the water from 6PM onwards and you’ll barely see another soul. In the summer months sunset will be between 9-10PM so you’ll have several hours to explore by yourself.
Where to eat
Just down the road from Glendalough’s Monastic City you’ll find the charming, family-run Wicklow Heather restaurant. This spot is very popular and tables fill fast so try to book in advance. The restaurant is filled to the brim with antiques and charming decor—and one of the rooms is dedicated to Irish authors. The menu features a lot of local and fresh ingredients and the desserts are worth saving space for.
Best garden
Wicklow is known as the “Garden of Ireland” so visiting a garden on your visit to this county is a must and there are many to choose from. My top pick is Mount Usher; around 22 acres of a sprawling Robinsonian style garden designed along the banks of the River Varty. It has a beautiful, informal design that complements the natural landscape and boasts a wide variety of trees and flowering plants. You can also browse a small shopping center at the start of the garden with everything from plants to linen clothes and local produce.
Don’t miss Avoca
Avoca Handweavers is the oldest working woolen mills in Ireland and one of the world’s oldest manufacturing companies. While Avoca still makes woolen garments today, the shop has become so much more with a mix of retail and food and legendary cooking books. Avoca started in Wicklow and there are a few of their shops scattered around the county (including one in Mount Usher), but for the full experience head to their flagship store in Avoca Village. On the banks of Avoca river you’ll find their store, cafe, and mill. At this location you can see a demonstration of handwaving at the visitor centre and walk through some of the history of the region. One of the real draws of any Avoca store though is it’s cafe.
Find a folly
For a more formal garden with ornate fountains and Grecian sculptures stop by Powerscourt Estate and Gardens. One of my favorite features in this majestic garden was the Pepperpot—a miniature castle folly. Follies are buildings (and bridges and roads) built for decorative purposes and designed to look old; some resemble ruined walls and churches, while others like the Pepperpot take inspiration from fairytale castles. Around the corner you’ll also find the Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s highest waterfall cascading at the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains.
For the art lover
Scene of one of the most infamous art heists in Irish history, Russborough House is stunning Georgian house in the heart of West Wicklow built in the mid-1700s. Today is holds one of the largest private collections of European fine and decorative arts in Ireland. The Beit family were among the most important collectors of the late 19th and 20th centuries and their collection can still be appreciated in the house and beyond today. Many works are on loan to various museums, but the house is still brimming with Dutch masters and even a Singer Sargent portrait.
A hidden gem
Just over the border in Carlow, the Altamont Gardens are well worth the scenic drive into the countryside. This Robinsonian style garden has no admission fee (you pay a small fee for parking) and features a unique Bog Garden and Ice Age Glen, sheltered by ancient oaks and flanked by huge stone outcrops leading to the banks of the River Slaney. If you’re visiting in May (or any other season) stop by the cafe afterwards for a tray bake and to walk under the majestic canopy of laburnum to the tables in the walled garden.
*this post was originally shared on my Patreon, for more regular blog posts, exclusive content, photography & travel advice become a Patron for as little as $3 and no long term commitment
File these under: utterly impractical but equally delightful. A handpainted candle that is so pretty you'd probably never want to burn it has to be one of the least necessary home goods, but at the same time I find myself contemplating whether I should get one or half a dozen. They're so pretty and give the best cottagecore vibes. They could be arranged in elegant candleholders alongside fresh and dried flowers on your mantleplace in a pretty spring display. I think my favorite might be these green candles with the daisy pattern, or these colorful bouquet candles. This shop has an excellent selection and a wide variety of candle colors. But perhaps most intriguing is this candle painting tutorial by Orna; she goes into detail on what tools she uses, as well as the specific paint, and methods! Perhaps instead of buying myself half a dozen painted candles I should take her wee class and learn to make my own...
*this post was originally shared on my Patreon page; for more exclusive posts and early access to shoots in addition to downloads, wallpapers, postcards and more check out my Patreon page.
According to Celtic calendars spring starts in February with Imbolc; the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It always still feels like winter to me until at least midway through April, but already signs of spring have begun to emerge in the countryside—graceful snowdrops daring to bloom even through frosty mornings and the first crocuses emerging from the soil in a burst of vivid purples. Slowly but steadily the landscape is transforming. Already I have seen the first buds of the blackthorn beginning to sprout on the spindly branches in the hedgerows and tiny lambs are beginning to appear in the fields as well. When Vivaia asked me if I wanted a new pair of flats to wear this spring I immediately honed in on this gorgeous green pair. This is the Aria 5° style flat, the first flat Vivaia made and their best seller, updated and in fresh new shades for spring. This perfect shade of mossy green is one of my favorite colors to wear in every season, but perhaps most especially in spring where it echoes the young wild garlic and thimbleweed leaves emerging in our woodlands. It is the green of spring; of growing things, of buds, and unfurling leaves and life slowly returning to the land. The fact that Vivaia shoes are machine washable as well means this is one green flat also made for those spring paths so often rife with muddy puddles!
While I’m usually more comfortable in dresses and skirts I have been drawn to the newer silhouettes of jeans lately—like this straight, wide cut pair. I’m not sure it’s the best shape for someone with my body type and height, but it does feel refreshing to wear something so loose after skinny jeans for so many years! The green Vivaia flats here are a nice pop of color against the dark blue of the jeans and the white of the blouse. The cardigan is also a bit looser and bigger than the usual spring layers I’d choose, but I couldn’t resist the exuberance of this oversized knit with its adorable mushroom pattern. It’s not only cute though, the size and thickness of this knit does make this a surprisingly warm layer perfect for these months when you’re tired of wearing a heavy winter coat but it’s still too cold to leave the house without some layers. wearing: MyRacle handmade mushroom cardigan, old blouse, Vivaia “Aria” flats, SimpleRetro jeans
My other spring look is much more of my typical “cottagecore” style and my comfort zone when it comes to getting dressed. It’s funny looking at these two very different outfits I feel like most people would find the jeans outfit more “normal” but for me that silhouette and style is my getting out of my comfort zone and trying something different. The outfit I would wear most days and not think much about is definitely this one with the full skirt and floral print corset. Everyone’s normal and area of comfort is so completely different! I love how the Aria 5° flats work so well with both looks—it’s a classic ballet flat style that can be styled into a more modern look, or something vintage-inspired like this outfit. And the new design of this popular style has a wider toe box with a 5° inward adjustment so its even more comfortable than the original. I think it would also look very cute styled with some ribbons laced around the ankles.
One of the things I’m most looking forward to this spring is getting back to foraging. I do some foraging in the winter, but mostly for making things like dried flower crowns and wreaths. I’m not a very experienced forager so I never find much in the woodlands to eat or cook with in winter. I have bought a few new foraging books from more experienced people based in the UK though and I’m excited to take them out and see what I can find. I already did my first forage of the new year by making a simple syrup with gorse blossoms (I shared this recipe on my Patreon page). I think next up I’d like to finally make something with stinging nettles; they grow in abundance in my area but I’ve always been too intimidated by the stings to try picking them and I’m not a huge fan of most greens so I wasn’t sure what to do with them. I found a recipe recently for stinging nettle cake though and I feel like that would be a good way to use nettles but actually enjoy eating them. Next I just need to get some proper gloves so I don’t horribly sting myself while collecting them! The wild garlic has also started to appear in our woods and that’s one plant I’m very confident foraging. I usually make wild garlic butter which is delicious with potatoes and one of Thomas’s favorite things to eat. We both find it very fun to be able to go out in nature, recognize a plant and then go home and make something we can eat from it. It makes me feel more connected to the land around me and self-sufficient.