This little number was released in October. But we only made a mere 4 skirts – I really wasn’t sure if people would love the pink as much as I did. Turns out you loved them! So because it’s my birthday month, (and you’re allowed to do things you said you wouldn’t on your birthday) we’ve made another 10.
I’ve said before that I’ve always thought that mulled punch is a perfectly acceptable warming drink. And here in Ireland, in these chilly windy days of February, I think a little warming punch could cheer us all up!
mulled punch: the detail
outer: fine bright pink baby cord
lining: polycotton
hem: 100% cotton
machine washable @ 30
concealed side zip
flattering a-line shape
length finishes at knee (23″ long)
sits on hips
SO. I have been away. And while I was away – this little fella appeared.
This, my sciorta friends, is the very cuddly Aithin Luke, and he was 6 weeks this week. Before he arrived I made a small entirely negotiable and get-outtable-of deal with myself that I would write something, even if it was just a few words by the time we got to 6 weeks. AND so here we are. And it’s almost 7 weeks. : )
There has, I can safely say, been absolutely no skirt making or designing in the last 6 weeks. There has been lots of Christmas, snow, sledging (but not by me), c-sections and sore bellies, a turkey or two, but absolutely nothing to do with a-line skirts. (well ok a few middle of the night feed-inspired drowsy designs flirting around my head : ) )
So, to celebrate the arrival of Aithin Luke, (and the fact that I managed to write something before the 6th week deadline was up) we are having a sciorta sale! All our winter skirts are reduced from £89 to £59.
Go – check them out!
December is all about sparkle. Twinkling lights, candles, glittery cards, torch lit walks and usually clear, starry but rather freezing nights. This is what this sciorta is all about. Deep black baby cord with a chunky dotty hem. No actual glitter on this a-line skirt, but I’m quite sure you can add your own. : )
Looks completely gorgeous with black polo neck, black boots and glass of something fizzy in hand.
december sparkle: the detail
outer: blackest of black baby cord (the fine fine stuff), with dotty cotton trim
lining: polycotton
hem: cotton
machine washable @ 30
concealed side zip
flattering a-line shape
length finishes at knee (23″ long)
sits on hips
This little number is fantastically red. Red red red, with a big chunky hem of green, red, cream, and an ever so slight hint of pink, giving you oh-so-many options of what to wear with it.
This is a perfect ‘advent’ sciorta. It reminds me of the build up to Christmas, the waiting, the expectation, the planning. The lighting of advent candles and the gradual decoration of our homes with greenery and berries.
Which brings me to the name of this sciorta. Flor di Navidad or Poinsietta in English – you know, that red Christmas flower – sometimes it can seem a bit outdated- are you with me? Apparently the poinsietta is a native of Mexico. When I was growing up, this was always the first Christmassy thing that was allowed in our house in the run up to Christmas – and it didn’t arrive on the hall table much before December 1st. We usually bought several: one for our house, one each for the grannies and a few more for good luck. This sciorta just reminded me so much of this flower.
I’d wear this one with a simple polo neck, or with a tank top over a beautifully made white shirt. And of course with your usual tights and boots.
flor di navidad: the detail
outer: deep red baby cord (the fine fine stuff)
lining: polycotton
hem: cotton
machine washable @ 30
concealed side zip
flattering a-line shape
length finishes at knee (23″ long)
sits on hips
A lot of people have asked me who did the sciorta photography, because it TOTALLY rocks. There were 2 main photographers on our shoot. My very fine and talented husband Kenny who has been shooting since his was 16 and goes all geeky about lights, boom lifts and nice glass and Chris Nelson a great friend whom we have got to know through the photography world and whose beautiful work you can see on his website. If you need a pro photographer – BOOK HIM!
Lots of people have asked what gear we use, and while we do have good gear, here’s the thing, great photography is NOT about the gear. I repeat, great photography is NOT about the gear. If you are a naturally techy person and love getting all hyped up about techy specifications and geeky gear, then great. Go, enjoy. But I am definitely not all about the gear – it took me ages to remember that I was shooting on a Canon 5D and not a Canon D5. Yeah, tragic I know. Here’s the thing, great photography is all about the light. You could shoot the most gorgeous picture of your child/partner/iPad using an iPhone (or a small simple point and shoot) and some amazing natural light. As long as you understand light you will get great results.
Sometimes we were lucky enough to get beautiful natural light, like this one which Chris got.
There was a pool of light (see it?) and we put Joanna (our model) in the middle of it. Other times we had to get our light unnaturally. i.e. we faked it by reaching in the bag and grabbing those lights. Like this one – that Kenny shot.
And this one.
I am lucky enough that Kenny delights in understanding how to create great fake light. Both of these images would have looked flat and rubbish had we not controlled the light.
We were based in a small village called Strangford. In this fab house. It was just idyllic and perfect for our shoot. And we liked it so much we are off there again for this weekend for some resting and hanging out with pals. Yay!
Yes it’s true – tomorrow morning (Saturday 9th October) I’ll be chatting to the very lovely Alyson and Jenny on The Saturday Morning Show, on Feile FM. You can listen live here and hear me chat all about Sciorta. I promise I’ll be much better on the radio than that last time in 1989 when our teachers made us go on local radio to talk about how great our school was. Promise. You’ll be delighted to hear my dulcit tones so early on a Saturday morning!
Chestnuts (conkers) and blackberries are two of my favourite things around this time of year. This sciorta was almost named blackberry pie – but that didn’t sit too well with me. It just wasn’t purply enough. And I thought naming a sciorta conkers just sounded plain ridiculous – somehow writing the word conkers just makes me snigger like a 10 year old. Yeah and chestnut dawn doesn’t – I hear you, I hear you. But. There is something so very dawn like about the turquoise blue base baby cord in this one. It’s cold. There is a pale sun somewhere rising. There are no clouds and it is still. Oh yes. Very. Very. Still. There is definitely water – possibly the sea. But it’s barely moving. Somewhere there are geese slowly flying low through the air. There are conkers lying on the ground freshly opened at the base of a chestnut tree. They are shiny. Waiting to be found by small hands. Treasure. As the sun rises, the chestnuts shine out the pinky red they usually hide.
chestnut dawn: the detail
outer: turquoise blue 18 wale baby cord (the fine fine stuff)
lining: polycotton
hem: cotton
machine washable @ 30
concealed side zip
flattering a-line shape
length finishes at knee (23″ long)
sits on hips
When I was designing this one I wasn’t thinking of the kind of winter sun that you find in Tenerife. Oh no siree. I was thinking more about the type of winter sun we get here in wet rainy Ireland. Mostly in November I think. Pale sun, cold day, frozen mud, crunchy walking. This is a dark brown baby cord which works so well with the with the yellow. Excellent with brown boots/grey boots, or whatever boots you happen to have.
winter sun: the detail
outer: fine dark brown baby soft cord
lining: polycotton
circles: cotton
machine washable @ 30
concealed side zip
flattering a-line shape
length finishes at knee (23″ long)
sits on hips
I’ve always thought that mulled punch is a perfectly acceptable replacement for tea and coffee from about October onwards. Warm, comforting, and perfect for warding off the cold. Just like this sciorta. You can even wear with wellies for picking your apples. Or get your tights and these boots on – they’ll go perfectly.
mulled punch: the detail
outer: fine bright pink baby cord
lining: polycotton
hem: 100% cotton
machine washable @ 30
concealed side zip
flattering a-line shape
length finishes at knee (23″ long)
sits on hips
So this, my sciorta loving friends is my favourite sciorta of the collection. It’s big, bold and very PINK! Yup – pink. Surprised myself there for a moment. With wildly bold orange and pink dots and squares and all sorts of chaos. I love it. Best with a calm plain top – I think – but if you are the person who wears colour like a big bright thing – then go for it. Softest baby fine cord, with big splashes of orange and pink. YAY!
copper pink: the detail
outer: fine bright pink baby soft cord
lining: polycotton
circles: 100% cotton
machine washable @ 30
concealed side zip
flattering a-line shape
length finishes at knee (23″ long)
sits on hips