Here in rural West Cork, there's a stretch in the days and signs of renewal in nature. Ordinarily, we'd be looking forward to venturing out from hibernation as the Summer Season gains a pace and our local markets pick up. However, as a global community, we're facing something we've never seen with the outbreak of Covid-19. None of us know what's ahead, but we've all been informed of what we should and shouldn't be doing regarding our civic responsibility to protect those that are most vulnerable to serious illness. Most of us are based at home now, limiting excursions to only the essential and paying extra attention to hand washing and household hygiene.

Luckily, my studio is at home, so I'm already working from home and don't need to go out in public places. As I write, the market at Skibbereen is now only open for food producers and I'm certainly going to miss the chats. Generally, I'm happy in my own company, but I know that having no social interaction at all will have an impact and I'm keeping in contact with family and friends, particularly those who live alone and are already isolated.

I’m sure this is a message you've heard, but I’ll say it anyway: if your income and security have not been impacted, I encourage you to continue supporting small businesses which will probably mean ordering online. Many of my friends are self-employed makers and are looking at other ways of keeping going, so if you no longer have the chance to buy from them in person, please do find out if they're able to deliver to you or arrange collection. To be candid, this is affecting me, too, so if you've been considering choosing a piece or having something made to measure, do let me know and we'll see what we can work out.

It's getting tougher for us all and the uncertainty of not knowing how long we'll be living this way can feel overwhelming. Personally, I'm very impressed with the Irish government's handling of the crisis and it's leadership. I can't help but reflect on our healthcare workers, whose professionalism we're entirely depending on, and hope once we're though this, at last get the recompense they are due. Ultimately, I'm optimistic and it is my hope that with a worldwide communal effort, we can slow and manage the impact of COVID-19, for everyone's sake and especially for those out there whose health and livelihoods are at risk.

Tamsin ✂️

In May and with some trepidation, I began getting up earlier on a Saturday morning to head off to Skibbereen Farmers Market. Having had several years experience of the bricks and mortar kind of retailing, being outside in what is basically an open tent and subjected to the weather, was a scenario that was a little daunting. However, my partner, Donagh Carey, a fine artist, was to join me and together we brought a combination of wares that possibly hadn't been seen together at Skibbereen Market before.

Skibbereen Farmers Market is everything you want a market to be. A diverse collection of local stallholders selling interesting things that you actually want to buy. For those who appreciate Slow Food, you can do your weekly shop at Skibbereen Market and be confident that you're buying from the person who has produced it and who has travelled just a few miles. You can only get fruit and veg that's in season, because you'll only find local food here. There are stalls specialising in collectable jewellery, glassware or china, secondhand books and vinyl records. There are contemporary ceramicists and knitters of hand dyed yarn, plus many stalls selling plants for the garden or polytunnel and a lady who grows her own flowers and sells the most charming cut flower bouquets. It's a real authentic market.

Having a website is grand, in fact in the 21st Century it's essential, but I was missing out on interacting with clients and getting feedback. It's one thing presenting images and descriptions online and a totally different experience meeting people one-to-one and hearing their responses and seeing how the clothes actually fit. And of course, for customers, it's much easier to know whether something is going to suit you if you have it right in front of you and can see and feel it. I've even customised a private fitting area complete with mirror and carpet so you can try things on.

There are many lovely aspects to spending a Saturday at Skibbereen Farmers Market and they are all connected to the people who are there, both stallholders and market goers. Having an opportunity to have conversations about sustainability and what it means, finding out what resonates and what is important to different people and explain how I'm approaching sustainability in the collection, all make for a very fulfilling day at the market. One lady, dreamily lost in her own thoughts whilst examining a garment made of printed cotton fabric, suddenly commented, "These remind me of clothes I use to wear". That will do for me.

We'll be at Skibbereen Farmers Market on the Fairfield off Bridge Street every Saturday from 9am to 2pm come rain or shine (but probably not hurricane). Contact me for me details on anything to do with the collection or the market. For more information about the work of Donagh Carey click here.

Tamsin