Sarah McKenna Ceramics
award winning gifts
Sarah McKenna Ceramics Bridge Street Studios 97 Bridge Street, Dundalk, Co Louth, Ireland +353 42 9351712 info@sarahmckenna.ie
Welcome I'm Sarah and I have been making Irish pottery and homewares in my studios, a 250 year old stone grain store in Dundalk, Co Louth since 1999. My pottery & homewares have layers of messages created using patterns and text which subtly say little things people want to tell each other without having to say it out loud! Everyone wants to give a gift which makes people happy, little reminders of joy once known. So I impress text into the clay pieces - inspiring quotes, poetry and sentimental lyrics to tug on the heartstrings and make people smile. The patterns and text link memories and sentiment to modern functional forms. All this nostalgia transforms an everyday object into a special gift which will be cherished now and as an heirloom in the future. As modern shoppers provenance of the objects in our homes and combating wastefulness is at the heart of our decisions, I produce durable, ethical and meaningful alternatives to trendy mass-produced gifts. If this sounds like what you want, read on and see all the collections!
IRISH COAST COLLECTION Adding to the Collection this year is two tiles “Oíche geal – Bright night” and “Scáth na gealaí – Moon shadow”, they perfectly complement the “Winter Tide” Vases already in this range. “I love the outdoors, and like nothing better than hiking through the Cooley mountains and soaking in the breathtaking scenery. This collection is inspired by a lifetime of being surrounded by the amazing colours in the Irish sky, sea, and landscape. I wanted to capture the changing colour palettes and incorporate these elements into my collection.”
Conscious that more and more people are choosing smaller gifts that take up less space but still make a beautiful impact, I developed the Winter Tide vases. three conical vases starting with a petite vase 6cm tall going up a 16cm bud vase and a 28cm tall bottle. Individually or together as a set, the vases tell the story of the rugged Irish coast with its magnificent vibrant elements. They are functional as well as decorative holding a tiny sprig, a small posy or three tall stems.
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COMPASS COLLECTION These pieces are all about finding your passion and following your own compass to find your way in life A textured tile with an abstract line drawing of a map with 24ct gold lustre
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MOUNTAIN COLLECTION
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JOURNEY A handmade ceramic tile impressed with a modern geometric pattern, adorned with a simple line drawing of a road winding off into the distance with a bright yellow glossy moon in the sky. The imprinted text “enjoy the journey embrace the detours” "what is for you won't pass you" or "Go n-éirí an bóthar leat" (may the road rise to meet you) is a reminder that we should have fun and enjoy the bends that appear on our journey. The ceramic tiles, which are textured with wallpaper patterns are formed from flat pieces of clay which framed in white wooden frames made in Dundalk.
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HOME COMFORTS The simple linedrawn houses sit on the ceramic pieces with a colourful lace texture and have a bright glossy red heart to draw the eye.
The tiles features well known & familiar phrases about the home such as 'home is wherever I am with you' & 'Home is where the heart is' “I love to use a line or quote that strikes a happy cord in your memory"
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IMPRESSED COLLECTION The Impressed range continues to be a bestseller and a standout range for colour loving foodies! The floral wallpaper patterns are paired with the jewel colours of green seeds, ruby damask and blue deco to produce a range of simple pieces with function and beauty. The patterns and text link memories and sentiment to modern functional forms. All this nostalgia transforms an everyday object into a special gift which will be cherished now and as an heirloom in the future.
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