5 faves from last year’s Dublin Flea Christmas Market and where to find them
By Penny Warnock
04th Nov 2019
04th Nov 2019
In the current issue of Image Interiors & Living, we pay homage to the talented makers of last year’s Dublin Flea Christmas Market and give all the details so you can continue to shop Irish this festive season.
From artisan food to craft, handmade toys to personalised jewellery, Dublin Flea was must-visit for seasonal shopping in Dublin. Whether you were buying, browsing or selling, the flea was a place to observe up-close just a taste of the fine craftspeople in this country. We, along with everyone else, were devastated to hear of its cancellation for 2019.
“It’s really terrible news that the Flea won’t be going ahead this year after all their hard work and huge success. It was such a colourful, energetic market to be a part of,” said Susan Meaney of Burren Flower Fairies and we couldn’t agree more.
However, hopefully this isn’t the end of the Christmas Flea and merely a pause. In the meantime, if you want to continue to shop Irish this festive season and support your local makers, we’ve included a functional tribute to the flea and its vendors in the current issue, including all of last year’s vendors’ details. We’ve uploaded the full list online to be found here.
So if you’re thinking about what and where you’d like to shop this Christmas, let this little taster of Irish makers and creatives tempt you in.
Red Rufus
From her home studio in South County Dublin Christina makes quirky handmade sock animals using traditional sewing and handcrafting techniques. It all started in 2009 when Christina decided to make her children gifts in the image of their new red setter, Rufus.
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Over ten years later there’s been many craft fairs, an abundance of sock animals, lots of learning and today Red Rufus is an established gang of adorable knitted pets. With sustainability in mind, each toy is packaged in a cotton Red Rufus tote bag in the hope to promote more quality and less stuff.
JANDO
If you frequent art shops in Dublin you should already be familiar with the multi-award winning studio JANDO. Founded in 2o15 by couple Julie and Owen McLoughlin, JANDO creates top-quality architecturally inspired fine art prints of iconic Dublin, Ireland and London landmarks.
Their work is eye-catching and unique to their brand due to their shared cinematic perspective, pop-culture sensibility and love of architecture. From their space in Chocolate Factory the duo blend traditional and modern printmaking techniques to create works that are accessible to all, with prices starting as low as €20.
Badly Made Books
From their charming shop in Cork, this publishers/stationers/designers/book factory store specialises in working with recycled papers. They aim to create the print essentials that allow creativity to still flourish whilst being eco-friendly.
The team create their notebooks and books from recycled coffee cups and proudly boast that their notebooks are 82.5% rubbish. With options for customisation, the group have worked with Ballymaloe Cookery School, The Glucksman Gallery and Giles Norman Gallery on individual projects.
Olannmor
Anouk O’Connell & Frederique van Buuren work together in the Wicklow Mountains to introduce beautiful chunky merino products to the Irish market. The Gaelic term for “big wool”, Olannmor produces a variety of chunky-knitted blankets, cushions, scarves and crocheted baskets as well as wreaths and DIY knit kits.
The two believe in only working with natural materials to create beautiful products whilst looking after our planet. Using high-quality un-spun merino wool has its benefits, with it being naturally water-, stain- and odour-resistant, breathable and hypoallergenic. These wreaths make for a wonderful wintry alternative to a garden wreath and will last you through the years.
Glint Glass Studio
This studio in the heart of Dublin city creates urban glasses and tableware upcycled from Dublin’s pub waste. Run by acclaimed glass artists Sinéad Brennan and Róisín de Buitléar, the studio is available for hire and also holds sustainable glassmaking workshops and glassmaking classes.
Both renowned for their own creative endeavours working with glass, the pair believe in repurposing glassware and promoting creativity within the community.
Related: Here are 6 women to watch in Irish design and craft
In our current climate, it’s important to invest in products and people who share the same values as us so be sure that this Christmas you invest in thoughtful, considered shopping.
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