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…………....
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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

Brrrr!!

Dear avid Nicholas Mosse fan,

Brrr! But we're open! It's business as usual at Bennettsbridge. We've been slipping and sliding our way to work through the Winter Wonderland that is Ireland just now.

Here's our Snowman who stands at the front door!

As I write, he's a few days old already; but, apart from a few melted fingers and a decidedly runny nose, he's still standing tall!!

And this is the dazzling view from the cafe window......



We know that a lot of you, because of the bad weather, have been unable to come along to the shop.
So....we're shipping orders --worldwide -- for free -- until December 12th (December 10th is the latest for guaranteed Christmas deliveries outside Ireland). So sit back, relax by the fire, and shop at your leisure. We'll miss you, but they say the thaw is on its way....
Stay safe & stay warm, til next time,
Carol

Dear Avid Nicholas Mosse fan,
Our October customer event was a real success.
It was great to see so many of you; our loyal and dedicated customers.
A big THANK YOU from us to you, for responding to our invitation to come visit and bargain hunt.

And now the Christmas season is well and truly upon us, as evidenced by the sparkling window display on the ground floor.….


The 2 shop floors are a dazzle of pretty glittering lights and ornaments.
(Even when the news is glum, we mustn’t lose the capacity to feel festive and to let beauty gladden our hearts.)

Nowadays the shop is easier than ever to find.
The new M9 motorway has recently been extended and passes within just a few minutes of Bennettsbridge.
Leave the motorway at junction 9 (the Bennettsbridge exit).
Look out for the filter turn to the right. Drive for a couple of miles, and at the T junction at the bottom of the hill turn right. The mill will come into view almost immediately, on your left.

A warm welcome is waiting for you here.
Till next time,
Carol