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

Resort Report!

It's that time of year again folks, when the designers, still jaded from their previous collections attempt to scrape together Resort (that in-between-pointless-but-good business move -compilation) I have to admit when I received the usual newsletter update from style.com, I thought I would be hard presssed to find anything interesting, but I have to admit that there were a few little gems to behold amid the usual snore. Zac Posen made me fall in love all over again with him, he added a few sculptural vivienne Westwood-esque drapes, that can only be described as "wowzers"(his favouite phrase circa 2006).

What a lovely printed top...

Ooooooooooooh there's that print again!...mmmm

I am obsessed with prints on solids, just love it!!

And for the piece de resistance...

Stunning

Images courtesy of: www.style.com

Desperately Seeking Sandals

I've been on a hunt for almost a month now. My mission? to find my 'dream' sandals. Previously it was 'dream' sunglasses and previous to this it was my 'dream' watch (which turned out to be a marc by marc jacobs 'Molly' number, popping my ebay cherry for the first time). Those last couple of times I had a result, this time, with further shrinkage in the vintage Bosca, I'm not so confident. Although there might be grim prospects ahead and small chance of victory the search boldly goes on. Here are some of the brave contenders...

BCBG Max Azria

Giuseppe Zanotti

Perfect for a night on the town...

Michael Kors

A cloggy Rick Owens; a designer you won't come across too often on this blog but just couldn't resist that sumptuous black leather...AND FINALLY...

This lacquered beaut from Vince Camutto Basso

Nice

Images courtesy of: the darling that is Polyvore

Mimco Musings

Maybe I've been hiding under a stone for the past year but until recently I had no clue that Australian accessories brand Mimco even existed. Now that I've been enlightened, I am a recurring apparition at the altar of Mimco (aka counter at HOF,Dundrum), forever venerating those divine wallets, wonderful handbags and glorious jewels.

Then I discovered online they also do shoes, that's when the gates of heaven really opened...


Black and Tan; I'm a fan!

Images Courtesy of :www.mimco.co.au

Keen on Kiely

Flitting through Dublin Airport on a sojourn to my sis recently, I couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised by the latest additions to the Orla Kiely bag range. I've had a penchant for her prints for quite a while now, but have to admit that recently was losing count of how many 'yummy mummies' I had seen sporting her signature sac. My wavering faith has now once again been restored with this latest spring/summer collection ...

Mmm smarties...

Pretty yummy I'm sure you'll agree, but truly delectable in the flesh!

Check out her clothing range for Spring/Summer 09 for some more tantalizing treats...

Images: courtesy of www.orlakiely.com

An Ode to Angeline

From an early age, I have appreciated the wonderful art of mark-making. Many of us girls, and a few boys too, have delighted in the pleasure of scrawling the meringue ballgown sported by the match-stick lady( the original size zero). Mine usually had a sweet-heart neckline, a scalloped hem and a zillion bows;one strategically placed at each peak. Sweet, innocent and simple these drawings were... proportionate and accurate, they were not. This sense of whimsy appears to have never been lost by the illustrator Angeline Melin, her drawings manage to combine the correct measure of childlike simplicity and slick, sophistication. Her figures are exquisitely drawn with minimum line but always beautiful proportion.

Such a cute colour palette too...

Impressive Preston

I love fabric, I love colour and I love texture and I tend to get a tad over-excited when these three combine to create perfection; this is exactly what happened when I stumbled across the designer Jessica Preston. http://www.jessicapreston.com/Her origami-type creations are to die for, I am obsesssed by how intricate and perfectly formed they are. As a person who knows all too well the torture that is fabric-folding (flashback: Degree collection 2007...cathedral patchwork... ouch!) I can truly appreciate the patience, pain and determination that brought these little beauties bounding forth into this world.

Impressive, I'm sure you'll agree...

Images:http://www.jessicapreston.com/

Zip Zip Array!

In preparation for creating the logo for this blog I did some research, I typed 'zippers' in the google image search box, hit 'enter' and this is what appeared...

Low and behold a beautiful creation, courtesy of Ms.Kate Cusack, I checked out her website:http://www.katecusack.com/zippers.html and was duly impressed with her array of creations:sculpture, apparel, jewellery, and head-pieces combine to make some delectable eye-candy.

Ahoy There Maties!

It's all aboard for me, as I set upon my maiden voyage into the depths of the bloglantic ocean! My main interests are fashion and style but I shall be crossing new horizons with thoughts on culture, craft, gastronomy and whatever shivers my timbers in between! So hoist those sails and kiss this port goodbye as we depart on our new adventure...Zip Zip Array!

Image courtesy Seattletim/Flickr