A Snippet About Kilkenny Marble

Kilkenny marble heart pendant, Dubh Linn

Irish, Kilkenny marble is a black, carboniferous limestone laced with ancient fossils. Indigenous to Ireland, this stone has been mined in the midlands for centuries. Most commonly, it is used as a building material, but also for carving statues, mantle pieces, rosary beads, candlesticks etc, and today, a limited amount is used in Irish jewellery. It takes a high polish but is equally lovely left in a matte state.

 

Historically, there were several marble quarries in the Kilkenny region including Gallows Hill, Archers Grove, Black Quarry Hill and Butlers Grove outside Gowran. The latter is the only working quarry in the area that is mining Kilkenny black marble. A pure black version of the stone is found further West around Galway.

Kilkenny is known as The Marble City as many of the pavements (sidewalks), curbs and public buildings of the town feature this locally sourced, dark stone.  When it rains, the black footpaths glisten and reflect the street lights beautifully.

Daniel O'Connell's Monument

 In Dublin, it is famously incorporated into the burial site at Glasnevin cemetery of Daniel O'Connell, champion for Catholic rights,

Kilkenny marble earrings

I'm proud to include this Irish marble in my jewellery whenever I can get my hands on the rare beads. 

 

To read about Connemara marble Click HERE 
To read a snippet on Cork Red marble Click HERE

Irish fairy and angel jewelry

Look what fluttered in!

Irish Connemara marble angel or fairy pendant

This little lady is made from rare, Irish Connemara marble. You can read about this ancient stone in my previous post A snippet about Connemara marble.

Irish sea glass fairy or Christmas angel

Sea glass is recycling at it's best as it is a material recycled and improved by nature! It takes decades for the ocean to naturally tumble a piece of glass, buffing and frosting it until it is fit for use in jewelry and other decorative items. This beautiful sea glass fairy or angel works as a sun catcher or a Christmas ornament. 

blue fairy pendant

The blue fairy makes a pretty pendant. As her skirt is semi transparent she too would look fantastic surrounded by fairy lights or hung in the window where she can catch the sunlight. 

Dun Laoghaire Pier Lighthouse. Caught My Eye no.36

Caught My Eye  is a series of blog posts showing scenes I found interesting, odd, curious or beautiful. Please do enjoy a snapshot glimpse of the world through my creative eyes. 

Dun Laoghaire (Dun Laoire) is one of Dublin's ferry ports, a large, lively town and a favourite among city dwellers for a day out. It has two long piers where you can go for bracing walks with the reward of a whipped icecream cone at the end.  Just about anyone who grew up in Dublin in the last 50 years or so will nod and smile at the words 'Teddy's Ice cream.'  The humble little shop with a hatch window facing out onto the coast road is an indelible childhood memory.

Nowadays you can claim your ice cold prize at the end of the pier if you wish. Teddy's has an impermanent annex tucked behind the East Pier lighthouse. 

Dun Laoghaire Lighthouse, East Pier, own photo, Spring 2015

The lighthouse was built in 1847. Keepers and their families once lived in the dwellings at the base, though in 1955, the two families were removed and only the keepers lived and worked there in shifts. In the 70s the lighthouse became fully automated.

detail of surrounding wall, railings, steps

I last took this walk in the late Spring, accompanied by an Etsy friend, out for a crafty chat. We slurped our '99' cones, perched on a cold stone step facing the base of the lighthouse. The two hook-like structures on the opposite wall caught my eye. They call to mind snakes or birds, maybe even swans, spying on the people below and hoping for a crumb of wafer. 

They also remind me of long, sleek earring wires. In my mind's eye I added some dangly beading........if you ever take this walk and find such an addition, twasn't me...I was nowhere near the vicinity Officer....

White sea glass - ray of sunshine

I found this unusual piece of sea glass on a Dublin shore a couple of years ago. The lines fan out like rays of sunshine. At a guess, it comes from the bottom of a vase or bowl. It reminds me of a Dublin Crystal fruit bowl my mother won for fish cookery or some such thing when I was a teenager.

I confess I was a little scared to wire wrap such an interesting piece lest I spoil the radiating lines and so I did nothing but admire it until now. 

Then out of nowhere I lost my fear and got the urge to do this with it in silver wire. I had the swirl of the ocean in mind when wire wrapping it. 

 

Sunbeam sea glass pendant on cotton chain

Yes, I had to wrap over the rays but you can see the shape of the lines through the wire, just like rays of sunshine penetrating deep waters. It works. Sometimes you just have to go for it.

Romantic summer night jewelry

Heading off to the sun or just enjoying hazy summer nights at home? Or perhaps you are a guy looking for a romantic piece of jewelry for your loved one's birthday and that's how you landed on this page.

Well, I better deliver what it says in the title so. I hope you find what you were looking for in this collection of romantic, summer night jewelry, all handmade in Ireland.

pink moss agate heart earrings

Dainty, pinky-brown, moss agate heart earrings will warm the heart of any girly girl. The shade of dusty pink is so dark it is close to brown with purple undertones. Sweet Dream earrings will go with a lot of other warm colours but also contrast well with summer linens and whites. These ear candies are one of a kind, never to be found again so grab them fast! 

Cork red marble heart pendant

Cork red marble is a very rare stone, found only in Southern Ireland. It is more often seen in churches and other public buildings than in jewelry. This marble heart is the last one I have in stock. It is a pale, brownish pink. I gave it a Celtic twist with a spiral bead and spiral wrapping on one side. You decide which is the back and which is the front. 

Connemara marble heart pendant, Love Spirals

Connemara marble is unmistakably Irish. This green heart pendant is also decorated with a hand-formed silver spiral and matched with a Swarovski crystal emerald bead. Hearts and heritage - how special is that?

Forever earrings, Connemara marble and Celtic hearts 

Celtic hearts matched with Connemara marble beads make for beautiful, Irish jewelry. 

blue pearl and heart purse charm

If you are seeking a small token maybe even that something blue, this blue pearl and silver heart charm is exactly that. The discs are mother of pearl and the rounds are peacock blue freshwater pearls. Just clip this onto a bag or purse, or even a bouquet of flowers. It would also work as a rear view mirror charm.

Let's not forget the little girls. This pretty, pink, ceramic heart ornament will delight your mini princess. Hang it in her bedroom window so the crystal bead sparkles in the sunlight.

Sea glass jewelry sneak peak

Let's take a sneaky look at the sea glass jewelry I've been wire wrapping this week. Focusing on the details in the design, here is a wee glimpse of things to come...

That's all I can show you for now until the pendants are listed! In the meantime, if you like what you see you can click here to view Irish sea glass jewelry already available in my Etsy shop.

Celtic earrings featured on Auld Irish Artisan team page

The Auld Irish Artisans team on Etsy have kindly included my recently listed, Connemara marble and Celtic heart earrings, Forever, on their team page list.  There they are, top left. Thanks so much team!

Irish/Celtic curated by The Auld Irish Artisan Team Page on Etsy