fridge magnetism

Dear Avid Nicholas Mosse fan,

Autumn has come without Summer showing us a sunny face.
But No Matter!
We can cope with the tail of terrible Irene sweeping across the country, rustling the russet-and-ruby-turning leaves of the shaking, terrified trees.
Well, that’s the poetic bit over with early this month! Phew!

I thought you’d like to see something new….





These are our fridge magnets, available here at our Bennettsbridge shop at only €5.00 each.
They come in an assortment of our patterns and in cute shapes…about 2.5inches across.
Great fun, great mini-gifts; great stocking-fillers.
Oh no oh no oh no I’m thinking about Christmas!! Already!!

Well, our website is being revamped, little by little, bit by bit; so I’m handing over the blog bit to the lovely Lisa whose writing and photographic skills far out-do my own. (Although to be honest so do the skills of most people!!)
Have fun. Be happy.
Carol

I blinked and I missed Summer...

Dear Avid Nicholas Mosse fan,

Back from my annual holiday: with no tan, fake or otherwise.
But staying at home in Ireland has to be the most relaxing way to holiday, whatever the weather. And why pay to be somewhere else, when I live in such a tranquil haven?

And talking of pleasure, and delight……..let’s talk weddings!!
Ah, wedded bliss….!!............. Aren’t so many people getting married lately?!
And, to judge by the amount of gift boxes and gift baskets we’ve been wrapping for you over the last while, many of those couples will be starting their shared life well-equipped with Nicholas Mosse tableware.
And what more useful and beautiful gift could you give; or would you want to give? Really!
Because I know for us Nicholas Mosse addicts, any joyful occasion, be it a Wedding or a Birthday (or a Monday or a Tuesday..!!) is a wonderful reason to come and shop for pottery.

(A friend of mine and her husband recently celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary.
She said, ’We’ve shared 21 years of happiness………… 20 for him…and just 1 for me!’)


Meanwhile, the swans that live beside us on the River Nore have had babies………5 cygnets, all healthy and growing fast. The wheel of life is ever-turning.

Time to talk about pottery….after all, it’s what you came here to read about!!
GOOD NEWS....
Did you know?……This year, 2011, is the Year of Craft; and June was the month of Ceramicists (try saying that after 3 gin and tonics!)

On show cards and posters, Nick’s face is popping up all over the place.
I’ve passed many a gift shop lately and seen his face grinning out at me from the window. Or is he stalking me?
Here’s that picture of 10 of Ireland’s top ceramicists….it includes our own strikingly photogenic Nick………








BETTER NEWS
Some of the new pottery shapes that were launched in the New Year are now available in our ‘seconds’ area.
So the new ‘classic’ vase, the salt kit and the storage jars are all on the shop ‘seconds’ shelves in several patterns.
It’s another reason, (apart from the café with its yummy scones, the river view, the very friendly (but very modest) staff, the array of giftware and the experience of being at the heart of Mosse Pottery) to come back for another visit to Bennettsbridge.
I hope to see you soon...
Till next time,
Carol

home sweet home is where the heart is

Dear Avid Nicholas Mosse fan,

The storage jars are here!! The storage jars are here!!

You’ve been requesting them for some time now ……..and here they are …

..air-tight lidded jars .…. in two sizes!
Perfect. What every smart kitchen should be wearing!!


Isn’t it great when life gives you what you want?


Isn’t life great anyway?



Well personally I am very, very happy, as I’ve just moved into a new house and can think and talk of nothing else.

The little devil in me is right now sitting on my shoulder, nudging me to upload a photograph of the avenue leading to my hidden paradise of a cottage so you can see how beautiful it is……


But I’d get into trouble!! This isn’t about me! But I’d love you to see it!



Oh Let's do it! And I promise next month to blog exclusively about the decorators;and will show you their sponging skills, and the wonderful intricacies of the detailed patterns they oh so magically produce.

So, until next time,
Carol

art for art's sake

Dear Avid Nicholas Mosse fan,

Spring is holding its early promise and the sunny days seem never-ending.
Bennettsbridge has never looked more beautiful. Feels like Summer!

Here in the shop, (with its newly castellated terrace wall) the ground floor ‘garden’ area includes two laid back chairs, just made for this relaxing weather.
I just had to snap and share them with you…
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And further into that same garden area is a table full of pretty, rosy garden accessories that every self-respecting girly gardener wouldn’t do without…





….and if you look closely at the corner of that same photo, you’ll see on the TV screen, a still of Michael Holden, our head decorator, loading up a kiln…

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Michael is a modest man with huge talents.
During the last couple of years he has been encouraged by Nick to expand his painterly gifts.

Some of Michael’s exquisite water colours on Nicholas Mosse pottery are now on display in the shop.

Just look at a couple at his works of art!

Here

The Four Courts
;


and here




St Canices in Kilkenny.

Michael tells me he is inspired by antique engravings, and by the paintings of George Miller and his ilk.

Here’s Michael at work, creating another masterpiece, and inspiring others with his passion.


Isn’t it funny how things happen?
Michael came to work for Nick way back in 1979, when he applied for, and got, a Summer job.
Some long Summer eh Michael?!!

Which brings us back to today….
Keep enjoying the sun, or if it’s cloudy, keep smiling sunnily!
Till next time,

Carol
(Oh, and before I go; a quick ‘Hello’ to Carol in the US, who is my own personal inspiration when it comes to knitting socks!!)

Dear Avid Nicholas Mosse Fan

I haven’t blogged for a while.
My lame excuses are twofold……..one is that I was away on holiday; and two is that I dropped the camera and broke it.
Some of you might call that ‘a Freudian slip’!
(Do I have cameraphobia?)




Anyway, I’m back now and have snapped (with reserve camera!) the colourful Easter shop displays………..


They have as highlights the bright delightful new season’s stock of giftware that is flooding in………



and just in time for Mothers’ Day.









On the ground floor, in the back room, we’ve erected three enormous information boards, that are full of facts and figures and interesting history. They answer all the questions a visitor here might have, and more besides.
I took a snap of them from behind the huge old mill wheel…………....
.








Tonight the clocks change (afraid I can never get my head round whether it’s forward or back that they go) but I know it means that from tomorrow we’ll be able to enjoy an extra hour’s daylight every evening. And as the weather so far this spring here in Ireland is beautifully balmy, that really is something to look forward to!!

Yes I'll be sitting out there in the garden, watching the long evening shadows spread lazily across the lawn, my glass of wine in hand........

Till next time,
Carol

STOP PRESS!! 4th February

Well, look!
Divine new products!
They’ve just arrived in stock today!
There’s a new clock (very decorative!),
a new cake-plate (outstanding!),
a new platter (very chic!),
a new mirror (in it I saw a very happy face!),
a new jug (you saw this beauty on our facebook page!),
a new vase (our first vase in apple!),
and a salt kit (sits pretty on the range and keeps salt dry!)
I’m sure you’ll be as excited as we all are when you come see them.
What a lovely time we’re going to have,
sharing ooohs and aaahs with you!!



2nd February 2011
Dear Avid Nicholas Mosse fan,


Love is in the air in Bennettsbridge!


Our romantic selection of heart pattern pottery, which is specially made for this shop for this time of year, is on the shelves now. Looks love---ly, doesn’t it?

The shop’s February draw is for this heart-warming “tea for two” mugs and plates set.

Any purchase made in store
gives you a chance to win!














Enough advertising!

Although I must just mention the colourful new signs that are currently being erected at roadsides around the village; giving clearer directions to the Pottery and Shop.
You’ll find us easily now!

Meanwhile, buying is underway for the different and delectable gift and home products that we stock to compliment our pottery. The store buyers are right now whizzing round Dublin, Paris and Frankfurt to find those pieces that make the shop such an interesting and beautiful place to browse around and shop. We can’t wait for the deliveries to start rolling in.

I’ve glimpsed some early samples of the new shapes for 2011; these I know you will fall in love with. There are two sizes of storage jars coming………exactly what you’ve been asking for and wishing for! Well, dreams come true….. and you won’t be disappointed!!

My camera is at the ready to snap some pictures and share them with you.
Watch this space.
Till next time, wishing you a Spring in your step and a smile on your face,
Carol

Dear Avid Nicholas Mosse fan

A Very Happy New Year to you from all of us here in the shop!

The shop Christmas decorations have been put away and have made room for the budding of spring stock……but, oh, if only the weather would catch up with us!

Hopefully the hardships we endured weather-wise over Christmas are behind us; although I’ve heard so many heart-warming stories of people caring and sharing and helping each other in such a good neighbourly way. But isn’t that what the Christmas message is all about; doing good without any regard for reward??

Whispers and glimpses of new shapes have reached down the corridors to me……………….
(new clock; new vase) ………but my lips are sealed and I couldn’t possibly give you even a hint……..(new platter; new jars)

Here’s a picture of the lovely Mary, who won 1st prize in our December raffle, and we were delighted that she came in to be presented with her big box of pottery.
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We posted off the second prize to County Roscommon and I hope Kieran got his reindeer pattern cake plate and yummy Christmas cake before the 25th

Upstairs on the first floor we’ve a few (NON-POTTERY) lines on sale to make room in our stock room………glass birds, a few throws…...things like that. If you’re coming in, take a look, they won’t be there for long, I’m sure.

Whether you come for a bargain, or just a browse or a coffee, we look forward to seeing you…
Till next time,
Carol