Edward Cook is a Silversmith based in skerries watch the video below to see his story

Wayland’s forge is a Silversmithing and Jewellery workshop set up by Edward Cook in the small harbour town of Skerries, North County Dublin.
Edward has over 15 years experience in making and designing Silvers Jewellery.
His Jewellery workshop set is in the small harbour town of Skerries, North County Dublin.

He was introduced to the craft of Silversmithing by his Art teacher and her husband one of Wales leading silversmiths, Peter Cosslett.
He carried on his studies at NCAD in Dublin and graduated with Honours in 1999.

He has traveled around the world gaining valuable education and insights into the visual Arts of diverse cultures, both prehistoric and contemporary.

Since arriving in Ireland he has worked with some of the worlds leading Silversmiths, Jeweller’s and Bronze Sculptors before setting up his own workshop.
Wayland’s Forge also specialises in making awards and presentation pieces as well as limited edition small-scale silverware for everyday use in the home.

His style of Silversmithing relies on the use of specialist hammers and stakes, this is apparent in the finished pieces. The hammer marks remain visible on the surface of the metal. This gives them a tactile quality lacking in mass produced silverware.

Wayland’s Forge’s coffee spoons were selected for “Index 100” at “Showcase 2004” as being one of the shows top 100 new products.

Edward Cook is also renowned for his sea glass jewelery they are made from glass washed up on the beach in Skerries

Beach Glass Ring

To See our full range of Edward Cook Jewelry click here

So here it is:

The winner will receive these beautifully handcrafted Solid Silver Celtic Swirl design Cuff links by Declan Killen a renowned Dublin Gold and Silversmith.

Solid Silver Cuff Links

So what do you have to do in order to win?

Simply tell us below why your Dad is the Greatest and we will pick the very best entry. we have started you off with a little ditty about why fathers Day is so special.

Good Luck..

If you can’t wait to see if you have won you can buy them Here or take a look at our full jewelry range Here.

She set up her own design and manufacturing business, mainly fashion, and worked from her home Workshop also teaching crafts, design and sewing while the children were small 1983-1994. The family moved to their new house in 1991, where Anna has her Studio Gallery.

She started a small craft company in November 1994, making a range of prints and cards from on her drawings. The current printed range is based on a series of black and white, pen and ink drawings and they feature the “Silhouette people”. All her drawings have a story – The words are printed and usually accompany the prints. The printed range includes Books, Limited and Open Edition Prints, Greeting and Postcards. They are all printed in Ireland, on high quality 250g recyclable character board and she uses recycled or recyclable papers wherever possible.

Her first Exhibition of Original Drawings was in The Renaissance III Gallery, Wicklow, in 1993. She has had many exhibitions since and she is a member of the IDI and the Crafts Council of Ireland.
In spring 2006 she had an exhibition in a small gallery in Paris. Summer 2007 her most recent exhibition was in Galleri Tavi, in her home town of Skagen, Denmark where she will again exhibit in 2008.

She has designed a range of ceramic pots made by potter Rob D’Eath in 2001 and two ranges of jewellery 2004/2005 with Dougal Hazel of Killen Jewellers. Currently on display her commissioned work includes a series of 11 images with words to be reproduced 65 meters wide and 2.4 meters high on a hoarding between two buliding sites in north county Dublin for Walls Residential in 2005 and a spectacular series of exclusive T-shirt designs for “bedifferent” a new Milano based Italian T-shirt manufacturer. She has just finished designing a range of greeting cards titled “Life by Anna Nielsen” for ‘Images and Editions’ to be launched early 2008 in UK. In 2008 she illustrated Filíocht Ghrá na Gaeilge – Love Poems in Irish for Cois Life. Rikki Tikki a Danish company have launched a series of 6 exclusive images produced as ikons for the Scandinavian market 2009.

Her first book, a limited edition of 500 Coffee Table format books titled “From ‘Life’ to ‘The Big Picture’ and beyond” was published in 2002. Her second book “Life is amazing” published 2004 was both a hardback limited edition of 1/500 each signed and numbered with complimentary print of the image on the cover and also an unlimited paperback version – both books contain: All prints published to printing date. Her third book ‘Serendipity’ was published June 2008 and is available in soft back as well as signed and numbered with complimentary exclusive print of the cover image

Some of her work is also available in German and Danish.

Ethel Kelly’s award winning range of hand painted OGHAM WISHES continue to enchant and delight. At her traditional workshop in Knockcroghery village in County Roscommon each Ogham is individually painted by Ethel on hand made paper and beautifully framed in a contemporary black wooden frame.
They are quite charming in their simplicity!

A child’s name painted in Ogham makes a thoughtful and unique gift for a newborn baby.

Before moving to Ballyartella outside Nenagh, Denis Hanly and his son John operated a number of hand looms in South County Tipperary, approx 40 miles from Nenagh. In 1893 they moved their machinery to Ballyartella in the North of the county. They took over a vacant mill beside the Nenagh River and a large wheel provided the power necessary to operate the machinery.

The business expanded to spinning and carding, the main products being flannels and blankets. At that time, all products were sold within Ireland and the UK under the guidance of the founder’s son, John Hanly who became Managing Director.

Business continued in this way for many years. Local farmers brought their fleeces to the mill for purchase. Spinning, carding and weaving took place within the six storey mill.

In 1950 the company suffered a major set back. A fire within the mill meant that the factory was virtually burned to the ground. The family home of John Hanly which was beside the mill was also destroyed by the flames. A two-storey structure was all that remained of the original six stories and this is still part of the existing mill and is now used to house the yarn for weaving.

After the fire it was decided to discontinue with the spinning and carding operations and the business now concentrated on the weaving trade and was built up from virtually nothing. It became necessary to buy in all raw materials and the cloth was designed and woven in the mill and finished by specialist finishing companies – this practice continues today.

The company first employed a full time designer in the 1950′s and began weaving more varied types of fabrics for the apparel trade. With the advent of free trade in the early 1960′s, John Hanly & Co Ltd joined two other Irish textile mills to export their products to mainland Europe and the USA. After many years of successful co-operation the companies went their separate ways but had built up useful contacts and agents in relevant markets.

Since the early 1970′s, the company has been involved in selling fabrics directly to Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, UK, USA and Japan. This impressive list has now expanded to include Korea, Australia and Scandinavia. In the late 1970′s the company introduced it’s first accessories range with a collection of blankets and lambswool scarves. However, at this stage fabric was still the main product being produced in Ballyartella. Around 75% of fabric production was for ladies wear and 25% for mens wear, this has been a continuous trend during the decades. The main end uses are mens sports jackets, womens jackets and skirts. Hanly fabric is normally of the classic type with the main colour themes of each season being used. John Hanly & Co Ltd export most of their fabrics to designers and well known brands all over the world.

In the late 1980′s the accessories line of scarves and throws was extended using different yarns offering customers a greater selection of products. During the early 1990′s the demand was so great for Hanly scarves & throws that a stock supported service was implemented for this side of the business. This means that in our warehouse all the scarves & throws that we manufacture are on shelves waiting for orders from our customers and agents around the world. With the growth of the accessories range, fabric production and accessories production is now 50/50. Hanly fabric and accessories are sold to top brands, designers and quality retailers around the world.

John Hanly & Co Ltd is steeped in tradition and guarantees that the products produced are of excellent craftsmanship, outstanding quality and are timeless in their beauty.

Everyone at Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen has a passion about what we do, and we are proud of our heritage. We have never lost sight of our main strengths which are our craftsmanship, and our culture for quality, which have been developed over generations. The combination of fine raw materials, skilled weavers, advanced loom technology and careful finishing has brought Thomas Ferguson a reputation, and a credibility, of which we are proud. To this day it stands for the best in linen damask and indeed Irish Linen, and both the Ferguson and Irish linen brands, built up over generations, allows the customer to purchase with confidence.

This is not to say we can’t make mistakes, but we hope if we ever we do, the way in which we handle our mistakes also helps us stand out as a quality company, and may not put people off coming back or recommending us to friends and relations. Irish Linen
If you want to be part of the rich heritage of Irish Linen and own your own piece of quality and history – remember it has to be woven in Ireland to be genuine Irish Linen . So always ask or look out for the Irish Linen Guild  ‘carpet beater symbol’, the mark of true Irish linen. You can be assured that Thomas Ferguson linen damasks are all woven in Ireland.

Internationally Acclaimed
Thomas Ferguson linens are supplied to top retail stores all over the world, and sold for uses such as wedding presents. In addition, they are often found in use in the finest hotels as well as palaces, embassies and stately homes. This is due to a unique combination of quality, custom, style, service and weaving to order. ]]> http://www.irishqualitygifts.com/blog/supplier-profiles-and-competitions/suppliers/thomas-fergusson-irish-linen/feed 0 http://www.irishqualitygifts.com/blog/supplier-profiles-and-competitions/competitions/competition/mothers-day-competition http://www.irishqualitygifts.com/blog/supplier-profiles-and-competitions/competitions/competition/mothers-day-competition#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:02:32 +0000 admin http://www.irishqualitygifts.com/?p=1528 Mothers day competition

In the USA, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, every year, this year it is on the 9th May. The day has been designated as a national holiday in America. Mother’s Day is the day to pamper your mother for all that she has done for you, over the years.

Because of this special Day Irish Quality Gifts is running a special competition giving you the opportunity to win this beautiful handcrafted Irish “Salmon of Knowledge”pendant.

So why not tell us in a few words why your mum deserves to win this Celtic designed Salmon of knowledge pendant.

What a surprise for your mum on mothers Day

All you have to do to win is leave a comment about why your mum is so Great before the closing date of the 30th April