Dublin

So got back from a long weekend trip to Dublin to visit some old friends, had a wonderful time; though my searches for a specific garment construction book were not fruitful (have decided to just order it from Amazon while I’m back in the states, cheapest alternative). Did happen upon some interesting things while I was up there; the first you can see in the picture (though not very well); I was out walking around Sunday morning waiting for my host to wake up and as I passed a side street I noticed a bunch of (mostly older) men milling about, and so it seems I stumbled into a mini pet bird market. No stalls or anything, just the cages hung up against some boarded doors. Odd yes? But then again, M’s mom saw someone in her town in Illinois with a chicken on a leash … ☺ (oh! i just found a link! bird market)
Also, after a lovely picturesque walk around Killiney hills we drove by (sadly on the last day of the show and only about an hour before closing) the Knitting and Stitching show. Nevertheless I’m glad I got to walk through it, picked up some business cards and such, didn’t buy anything (because I’m tight on funds right now) but there was a lovely exhibition of textile art at the back and some graduate work upstairs that I thought was inspiring.
Other than that I visited some great shops for yarn and sewing supplies, I liked the one on the north side of Ha’ Penny bridge, think its called the Woolen Mills. Also discovered the Dublin equivalent of a young designers market located in the Powerscourt Shopping center, the market is called the Loft and I saw some interesting things being sold. In particular, there was a beautiful little selection of hand knit garments.
Last, I visited the Singer sewing machine shop on Talbot St. and was pleased to discover that they have a good selection of used machines at pretty reasonable prices; unfortunately they don’t ship so we’re going to have to rent a car at some point soon I think. The Singer center down here in Cork is good too, I should mention (and very friendly and helpful) but unfortunately they don’t have any secondhand machines right now…
Have heard there is a market for crafts and things somewhere near Cork but haven’t figured out where yet, also want to get out to Blarney Woolen Mills and see what their yarn selection is like. So these will be some of my next adventures; but probably not till the new year as I head back to the states in 9 days for the holidays!