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By all accounts I consider myself a naff tourist. I have toured countries without as much as reading a single brochure or website. Made no attempt to learn the native tongue, often resorting to pointing like a mute child to place my orders. Or catching a train to somewhere on just the allure of it’s name alone. It’s always last minute with us and as a result research is rarely done.

Whilst most would never dream of not being a touch savvy about where their going on their holidays, I find that its often my ignorance about a place which opens up every experience to new discoveries. Now a lot of times the places you end up are uninspiring and just plain drab and dull but every now and again you uncover little hidden gems that make you stop and smile. You feel like you’ve uncovered a countries best kept secret and if you weren’t careful you’d walk out of that pub or little local boutique bankrupt.

A last minute long weekend to Dublin, proved just one of those experiences. We came to Dublin with only two events on the itinerary : A Muse concert and the all important visit to the Guinness storehouse. Everything else in between formed the bases for the perfect four day break- no research before hand just all happy coincidence and the recommendations of a cheery taxi driver. On that alone we had a knee slapping, Guinness fuelled night in the charismatic company of a genuine group of local musicians at the O’donoghues pub. Beach-combed the quite sandy estuary of the small seaside town Malahide and stroll through the Malahide Castle forests and grounds (just 20 minutes out if Dublin by train). Sampled Guinness whilst taking in the cities far-reaching beauty from the top floor of the storehouses. Stuffed ourselves silly on local cakes and deserts at KC Peaches cafe and stumbled on the most enchanting boutiques and Irish high street shops such as Killkennys.

It was in these shops and pop-up Christmas markets that I uncovered a pleather of local design and crafts that amazed and excited me. I’m not talking about the mass produced paraphernalia aimed at tourists of lucky charms and the cliché laprikons, but the local brands and designs popular with the locals (and I’m sure the tourists)
Brands I now love like:-

Foxford woollen blankets www.foxfordwoollenmills.com

The Floral fancy range from Sharonbridge pottery - www.shannonbridgepottery.com

The whimsical animal jewellery of Geraldine murphy - www.saba.ie/

The awesomeness that is Avoca - www.avoca.ie

Mouthwatering beautiful packaging of Pandora bell confectionary - www.pandorabell.ie

Mind boggling beautiful, inspired sculptures by artist Barry Lewis at the “You are what you eat” exhibition at the Grant Bradley Galley in Bedminster.

Last Sunday (16-18th Nov)I, along with hundreds of other art and craft lovers, took to the streets and indulged in a beautiful Autumn afternoon of art appreciation :) I think art trails are an ingenious way to showcase work you wouldn’t normally see and in Bristol there is a whole bounty of trails and open houses throughout the year. This year we picked up a map for the Totterdown Front Room Art Trail ( www.frontroom.org.uk )that showcased 90 local artists, performers and crafters in the South Bristol area.  Here are a just a few of my favourites from the day:

Paul Farrell www.paul-farrell.co.uk

Amy Hostler www.amyhostler.co.uk

Cordelia Hutchinson www.cordeliahutchison.com

Sarah Jordon www.frontroom.org.uk/index.php?view=show_artist&id=121

Emily Ketteringham http://www.frontroom.org.uk/index.php?view=show_artist&id=42

Amy Spicer http://www.frontroom.org.uk/index.php?view=show_artist&id=245

Adrian Sykes  http://www.adriansykes.co.uk/

Meryl Till http://www.meryltill.co.uk

Victoria taylor http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandsomeVintage