We have lift off!!

Hurray! My website is finally launched,my on-line portfolio is at last available to view through this link here : www.ursulaoconnor.com.

A tissue, a tissue, we all want to win an i-pod!

O.k, I have been a tad neglectful of my blog of late. I have had limited (very limited) access to the internet for the past month and so, have had to make-do with using my laptop as a tool for creating new and fantastic designs! Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Anyhoo, I was on a shopping trip to Tesco recently, when I saw an advertisement for a Kleenex competition, it's to design your own cube, and be in with a chance to win an apple i-pod. Fantastic. So here's a version of my design that I thought I would share with the general public...

The London Look Part II

So where was I?...yeah here's some more form the RCA Graduate exhibition...

The outfit in the centre of the pic above is the work of Katie Eary, her take on menswear was definitely eye-catching, this pic off the Vand A webite shows it in greater detail...

Previously, my visits to the Vand A have been purely fashion focused but this time I was lucky enough to have tea and scones (well ,erm cappucino and scone/brownie) in the William Morris tearooms, and what a delight it was...

An expected treat we stumbled across whilst London bound, was an exhibition of graduate surface designers at free range, a really beautiful exhibition, I felt like a kid in a candy store!!

The work above is from surface designer Geraldine Gunning, truly delectable!

These beautiful textile prints above, are the labours of Samantha Johns.

The London Look Part I

My weekend in London was a fantastic whirlwind affair. I think it's best if I just upload the pics, they speak louder than words in most intances bar one - the sighting of Iekeliene Stange in Brick Lane carrying... sunflowers? (if my memory serves me right). Yes, I failed to whip out the fuji in time due to 'isn't that?' 'I think it's' 'looks like' moments of hesitation, but also felt I didn't want to intrude on the perfect honey image of golden Iekeliene and the sunflowers.So on that note...

Sorry couldn't resist...that was part of the V&A exhibition by the way, some rather spectacular musical instruments.

Some shots of RCA graduate work, I was most impressed by the work of Iacopo Calamandrei...

His work was inspired by the Renaissance, a fitting theme for an Italian, his prints were most impressive. A definite one to watch.

Image courtesy of : www.vam.ac.uk

Getting Shirty

Everytime I pop into Oasis in Dundrum I can't help but be sucked into the shirt tales capsule collection section. I just lurve a new twist on an old staple, it gets me every time. I love the simplicity of the fabric combined with a few complex details, it's fresh and innovative and oh-s0-wearable at the same time. With all the print-on-prints, digital and otherwise flying about these days sometimes you just can't beat block colours with a little fabric manipulation to get the juices flowing!

Image courtesy of: www.oasis-stores.com

Car Boot Loot

What a glorious day it was on Saturday, the perfect day to wander to the ToeJam car boot sale for a bit of a gander. It was my first time to visit this haunt and I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised when I apprehensively ascended the dark stairway of the George Bernard Shaw and was greeted with a plethora of colour and energy. It felt as though a little piece of Williamsburg had somehow been magically transplanted into the heart of Dublin; a veritable Narnia moment. Because I am impossibly skint at the moment, I had to be content with first base - mere garment fondling, I could not take it all the way and actually make a purchase. Although I did make exceptions for a) a really cute badge made by the lovely Angela and b) an extremely tasty pitta/c) a delicious piece of pear and almond cake!

Here's the purty lil badge/brooch, made by Tazmanian Angela Cuthill. I just love birds of the avaian kind at the moment so it was hard to resist this beauty!

Angela's charming wares are also available through her etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6482983

The fabulous Rush and I, doing a spot of basking!

All Images courtesy of: moi !

Countin the Costin

I don't know what exactly has spurred me on to write about Simon Costin this morning, I think it's just the memory of my visit to the Met last year is so profound, that I feel I ought to write about him, sooner rather than later. I know I won't do him justice with this snippet of info, but the truth is I hadn't heard of him until I beheld his magnificent pieces at the museum. I find his work captivating. I know his pieces embody many symbolic references but I just think they are just pure yummy to look at. You'd never guess that those pretty golden vessels were filled with human sperm, would you? I definitely think Costin has fully embraced the concept of 'trashion'!

Incubus Necklace, 1987. Silver, copper, Baroque pearls, and glass vials filled with samples of human sperm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Memento Mori Necklace, 1986. Black synthetic tulle with jet-bead and rock-crystal embroidery, two bird claws, carved black wood beads, and three rabbit skulls with hematite eyes. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Images Courtesy of: www.metmuseum.org