It’s well into January now and as always, it comes as a shock how time just marches on at such a rapid rate. I am one of those folks who loves January. One of the reasons is the feeling that I’ve come to the top of a steep mountain, I can see new possibilities where they didn’t seem to exist before, and I can feel the joy of the impending springtime, the light, the new growth and the warmth that is sure to start seeping in.
I sat in my cosy bed one morning during the Christmas break, with one of my gorgeous new notebooks. I could feel the excitement grow as I was gathering up my visions for this new year. I have never been a great one for New Year’s resolutions but for some reason this year it feels different. I am bursting with ideas, so many things I want to achieve in the coming months. Maybe I am being a little too ambitious but as it is written ‘without a vision, the people perish’ never a truer word spoken. I remember being in Caherdaniel Co. Kerry back in the late 70’s, in a pub called Freddie’s. There, in a shadowy alcove, hung a dart board with a little blackboard beside it to keep the scores. Written in chalk on the board was this inscription ‘if you aim at nothing, you’re sure to hit it’. It made its way in and through me and has never left me. Simple but profound advice.
Amongst other things, I am a jewellery designer, primarily I design statement earrings. My jewellery design practice has unfortunately taken a back seat since we opened ‘Distrikt by Mia’ back in June 2021. That’s coming up to four years this June. My designer side has been fed by creating the bohemian aesthetic here in store and of course styling people’s homes. It’s been wonderful, not to mention the thrill of choosing, buying and growing an understanding of what works for our customers. I’ve endeavoured to be true to my decision, made when we first opened, that I would only buy products that I loved and not to follow trends. I just want Distrikt to be filled with the energy of a warm, welcoming, comfortable and aesthetically beautiful home. I feel that we have achieved this. We often hear customers sigh to their partners, friends, parents etc., saying they would love to live here. High praise indeed. The visuals, along with the gentle waft of incense and the choice of music, all combine to create the distinctive cosy, boho home feeling.
I won’t put in print all of the visions that I wrote in my notebook that morning as I don’t want to jinx them. I can, however, share one of them. With the best will in the world, I am always too tired when I get home to go out to my studio and start designing and making. And so…Drum roll please….. I am bringing my jewellery design studio to Distrikt so that I can start to design and make my pieces again. This is so exciting for me. Mark and I have designed a space within the shop for me to work away and evolve my practice. As always, Mark will build this for me, I will help of course but he is the genius who brings my visions to fruition. (Everyone should have a Mark in their lives) We are planning to implement this plan at the end of January after the sale ends. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this, I have missed making so much.
Speaking of Mark, there has been a great demand for his home services. We knew there was a need out there for someone like him to do the small jobs like hanging mirrors, shelves, light fittings and other small jobs that accumulate around our homes, but we never foresaw how huge the demand would be. His books are open for 2025 so if you’re thinking you might need him get your name on the list! *
So, as time goes by, I will reveal some of my other visions but for now I want to get this one up and running. I look forward to hearing all about your visions for 2025 when you have time to pop in to us here at Distrikt. I love the chats, as you know if you’ve been in. It’s an aspect of owning a shop that I absolutely love. Meeting people, being inspired by you and sharing stories. I never tire of it.
Until we meet again, on behalf of Mark and I, Jennifer and Barbara, I would like to extend our heartfelt good wishes for a peaceful, abundant, safe 2025, full of love and all the things that truly matter.
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*You can email us at contact@distriktbymia.ie with all your enquiries.