Author: Rose

Rosehttp://www.phoenixrosedesign.com/

Walk On, Aoife!

Aoife's up to mischief

Today I’d like to take a minute and introduce you to one of my friends, Aoife, and tell you about this amazing woman. Those of you in the know realize that Aoife and I have been on a few adventures together in Ireland, and even went to Morocco together for a few days.

MOROCCO
In Marrakech

Earlier this year, she was made redundant at work after 10 years of employment. After taking care of some family business, Aoife was unsure of what she wanted to do with herself or what she wanted to do with her career. Her brother encouraged her to take some time to herself, and I think she made the right choice.

Untitled
At Cahir castle

On April 21st, Aoife set off to walk the Camino way. Today, Aoife reaches 2 weeks into her Pilgrimage trek. A milestone. Each day in addition to walking 20+ KM (about 10-12 miles) Aoife manages to find time to write. In her blog, she photographs the places she’s walked, how many km she’s walked, and points of interest along the way. I am very proud of her for taking this very personal journey – and for making me feel I’m right there along side her, as this is something I’d like to do one day. I just want to give her a shout out of WALK ON, AOIFE! 🙂

Please be sure to check out her blog at: https://haughaoife.wordpress.com/

and be sure to leave her a comment of encouragement. She has 500 KM to go yet! 🙂

Holi One Festival Dublin with Anna & Aoife
Aoife and I at the Holi One festival 2014

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Variety Stitch Crib blanket

Variety stitch crochet crib blanket. My own design. Completed 7/2014. #phoenixrosedesign #crochet #blanket #afghan #crib #baby #genderneutral #babylove #babygift #gift #fortheboss #babyshower #newborn #pastels

Back in July of 2014, I started work on a pretty pastel baby blanket that would be suitable for a boy or a girl. I had the prettiest butter yellow, pale green, and light lavender. It reminds me a bit of an Easter egg in how it turned out.

Variety stitch crib blanket completed July 30, 2014

The stitches done for this are a selection of triple V stitches, standard doubles, shells, and Criss-Crosses.

Variety stitch crib blanket completed July 30, 2014

The edging for it was done with a simple 5 double crochet stitch & chain 1, then chain 5, single crochet in each chain one around. It made for a smooth flat laying edge.

Variety stitch crib blanket completed July 30, 2014

I enjoyed making this blanket as it whipped up quickly and the colors are some of the prettiest I’ve worked with so far. Plus, because it was double strand, it worked up to a lofty thick blanket.

Variety stitch crib blanket completed July 30, 2014

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Dublin Street Art

A little bit of street art in Dublin. #dublin #ireland #streetart #sugarskull #skull #graffitiart #graffiti #moustache #movember

Wandering around the city this week, I took a few pictures of some graffiti. Now to me, I don’t like tagging, but a good bit of street art in graffiti style murals will make me pause and enjoy. It can be a political statement, a decoration, or just a bit of abstract art – and viola – it simply adds a bit of “alt-culture” to the area – and to me, enriches the entire experience of city life. Basically, it breaks up the grey concrete that is urbanity and replaces it with… COLOR!

Street art in Dublin, Ireland

The thing is that street art – proper street art – while created with the basics of a design and spray paint – is actually proper art. It takes practice, it takes vision, and it takes a certain amount of balls to go to a business owner and ask hey, do you mind if… (or even more so if you’re doing an entire mural in the dark of night). Note that I don’t agree with illegal activity – nor with vandalism in general. That leads me to the quesiton – is art vandalism… well. That’s not for me to decide. I suppose in this case, it’s all in the eye of the beholder. (Or is it in the case the “bolder?”)

Street art in Dublin, Ireland


My advice to those that are in cities – be bold, work with the community, and put up more street art. 🙂

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