Viviann's Gifts From The Heart

There are numerous home based businesses located throughout Co. Louth and the latest to have crossed my path is Viviann's Gifts From The Heart, located just north of Dundalk in Annaskeagh, Feade.

In a converted room at the side of Viviann's house is a workshop and showroom containing lovingly created creatures, toys, hearts and buntings, angels, dolls and pictures of inspirational art.  The showroom has been planned with care and each of Viviann's creations hang or sit on display to their best vantage.  It's easy to see the love she has for what she does in the meticulous attention she pays to the most minute of detail on each handmade piece.  Every item on display has its own character or personality.  As a photographer, this was very appealing to me and it has been one of the most enjoyable shoots I have done.  There was a photograph to be captured in every character in every corner of the room.

At the age of 12 in her native country Norway, Viviann discovered a talent for Arts and Crafts that has matured in parallel with her own personal growth.  She has an extensive stock of colourful and patterned fabrics, buttons, ribbons and other materials associated with craftwork in her workshop and  having the workshop at home means Viviann can keep her own hours and work when inspiration comes.  And it comes regularly. Viviann finds the creative process of actually making her crafts makes her happy, content and is almost an antidote to the stresses that life can bring.

The talent Viviann discovered at an early age was formalised when she was educated at a drawing school in Norway.  Sewing was one of the subjects she took there.  Her sewing skill is very evident in the teddies, dolls, bunnies and cats.  She then studied graphic design and mac design to finish her education and then worked as an art director for various advertising agencies.  After settling down in Ireland and now with three children, who are her priority, her home based craft business is ideal, allowing her to indulge in her passion while still being able to tend to her family.

Viviann's Gifts From The Heart can be contacted by phone 085 1478016 or you can contact Viviann via her Facebook page.  It's really a worthwhile trip out to Feede just to witness the delights in the showroom.  Click on any of the above pictures to see a bigger version, or click here to see more of Vivian's creations on the LoCo Happenings FlickR gallery.

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Caroline Duffy Designs

Introduction

I had the pleasure of visiting the home and workplace of Caroline Duffy of Caroline Duffy Designs.  I asked Caroline what if any motto she lived her life by and her answer was immediate and simple. 
"Love what you do".

She feels that by spending time every day doing what she loves, she will live a long and happy life.  The fact that Caroline works from home allows her to combine the things she loves in life, her family and her work.  To that end Caroline has converted her attic space into a bright and airy office, allowing her to use her time more effectively.

Origins

The passion for art and design started at an early age, sitting at the kitchen table drawing with her Mother and looking at her whipping up beautiful creations on the sewing machine. 

After studying Printed Textiles in N.C.A.D in Dublin, Caroline worked in the fashion industry in New York, London and Australia. While there I designed fabric prints for high end designers like, Louis Vuitton, Raulph Lauren and David Lawrence, Also high streets labels like Monsoon, River Island and Top Shop.

If you have shopped in and are wearing clothes from any of these labels, you could very well be wearing clothes adorned with Caroline's patterns.

Going It Alone

The love of an Irish man brought Caroline back to Irish shores in 2006 and Caroline decided to establish her own customer base.  Caroline Duffy Designs was born.

Caroline says, "I have specialised in textile design for the last 10 years, but ever since designing my own wedding invitations three years ago I have a huge passion for everything ‘Weddingy’. So now after the birth of my son and daughter I am excited to be launching ‘Caroline Duffy Stationery Boutique’. Here I offer chic, contemporary and classic, couture wedding stationery. My aim is to lovingly design stationery that is easy on the purse and envious to the eye. The stationery designs are very trend driven from whats happening in the fashion and interior design world".

Wedding Stationery

Planning the perfect day can be exciting, fun and hectic, so Caroline provides an elegant and contemporary, hassle free service for you. All the stationery comes in various colour-ways and co-ordinating designs, Save the dates, Invites, Mass booklets/Order of Service, Table Plans, Table numbers, Thank you's and more.

Customers can submit their own photographs, pictures of venues, maps or anything else they think of, to Caroline for inclusion on their stationery, making this service as unique and bespoke as is possible.

The Stationery Boutique is also filled with very cute personalised Baby Illustrations and beautiful invites for babies, parties and life.

Wedding stationery has had a tendency to be expensive, especially if sourced from traditional suppliers, but Caroline's range of uniquely designed stationery is very competitively priced and affordable.

Range of Designs

If you would like to view more of Caroline's designs and new range of stationery please click here to view the range on her FlickR gallery.

Contact

Caroline can be contacted 

by phone on 087 9603753

by email: info@carolineduffydesigns.com
on the web: www.carolineduffydesigns.com
or visit her Facebook page

www.facebook.com/carolineduffystationeryboutique

If you would like your business featured here on 
LoCo Happenings, kindly contact 

us on 087 2557754 or you can find us on Facebook

Remember.  This is a Free Service.  No catches