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Tell us about your work.

I am a textile artist living and working in Kilpedder, Co. Wicklow, and a committee member of the felt makers guild in Ireland. I teach felt making classes and workshops from my studio at home. I have just launched a new creative business, Create & Revive, with my talented friends Dorcas Barry and Adrienne Michel-long. We are hosting a pop up day with a series of craft workshops enhanced by a delicious organic lunch in the stunning setting of Trudder Lodge, Co. Wicklow, on February 8th. Beautifully presented gift vouchers are available to purchase through our website,?createandrevive.com.

What is your background in art/craft?

Having left the hectic world of software localisation behind it took time for my creative voice to surface. I came across a demonstration of felting techniques at a textile art show in London about ten years ago and was curious and excited about the possibilities. There is something pretty amazing about letting intuition guide your hands to shape and form the delicate merino wool fibres into a strong sculptural textural piece. I have attended many international workshops in Denmark and at home. More recently I have exhibited with the Crafts Council of Ireland and Feltmakers Ireland.

How do you decorate your house at Christmas?

My other passion in life is interiors and creating little zones of beauty in my home. I try not to limit myself by one particular style, but add a little bit of the things I like till it looks right to me. The cultures I am most drawn to for inspiration would be Scandinavian for their subtle colour palette and Moroccan, Indian for their intricate details. I have decorated my home this Christmas with a mix of felted bells and trees and scandinavian decorations and lots of greenery from my garden.

What is your Christmas Day like??

Christmas day is usually very full on as we have both my husbands and my family for dinner. When my brother comes home from Italy with his lovely family there are 23 of us around the table! We would usually have a mix of tapas style starters, my mum is basque and a great cook, followed by the big turkey dinner. My kids are past the santa stage so its a new era for us as a family.

Do you prefer Christmas or New Year’s?

We usually spend New Years with friends in Wexford which is always good fun. The most enjoyable part of the holidays for me is not having to rush around, long relaxed breakfasts and walks with the dog and I’m happy.

DO you prefer being a visitor or a hostess during the season? Or neither?!

This year we are not hosting Christmas at our house, which I’m quite relieved about, my mother in law has kindly offered to take it on. My daughter is coming home from Valencia and Im really looking forward to having time on christmas morning to relax and have a few laughs with my kids.