We Were Green Before Green Was Cool
Posted on October 6, 2008
Filed Under General | Leave a Comment
OK, so a little play on words there - we offer Irish gifts, and a lot of what we sell is, of course, green. But, I was actually after a more serious topic. By our very nature as an online retailer, we’re in a position to either:
1) do a lot of good for the environment, or
2) do a lot of damage to the environment
As responsible business owners, Julie and I have chosen option #1. Where we can make the largest impact is in how we run our warehouse. We receive a lot of product into it, and we ship a lot of product back out. What we’ve done is added large sorting bins to the receiving area in order that we can “salvage” the packing material used in our deliveries. Obviously, we only keep the stuff that still has life left in it. But, if it is perfectly good, why discard it?
When we ship, we re-use the material from the bins (they have wheels that make life a bit easier…) in some of the outbound packages. Naturally, not all of them are suitable candidates. Kraft paper, for example can be less than optimum material for long flat items, etc.
The boxes are another story - we normally have to recycle them. Most of them are simply too big to be re-used, but every now and then, we do get the chance. Mainly, they are stacked for weekly deliveries at the local recycling center. I cringe when I see other businesses simply fill dumpsters with cardboard boxes. It just seems like such a waste. Recycling is also the name of the game for office paper - even the shredded, cross-cut stuff.
You’d be surprised what a difference the above makes, compared to what it could be. For the most part, our only trash is the normal stuff that people discard. I’d ask you to think along the same lines when you receive a package from us, or anyone else, for that matter. Perhaps you’ll be mailing packages at Christmas that you can use the boxes and materials for. What about storage? None of us ever seem to have enough!
Whatever the use, there is an excellent chance that both the box and the packing material have another trip or two left in them. I’m convinced that small steps like this can make a long term difference on the planet that we all share. So don’t forget to go green with an Irish gift!
Belleek, Belleek, & Yes…More Belleek
Posted on October 6, 2008
Filed Under Irish Home Decor | Leave a Comment
We’ve really been ramping-up our selection of Ireland’s Belleek Parian China as of late. I have to say that this is one manufacturer that is no stranger to quality at all. It is one of the most popular Irish gifts that we offer, and there is no shortage of styles in their range.
Belleek’s founder, John Caldwell Bloomfield, laid down strict policies for his company. He was adamant that any piece that was not literally perfect, was to be destroyed. To this day, that policy remains in place. The result is a guarantee of quality, and many would say - simply perfection!
It’s Never Too Early For Christmas Decor
Posted on October 5, 2008
Filed Under Irish Home Decor | Leave a Comment
There are 80 days left until Christmas! I don’t know about everyone else, but Christmas is my all-time favorite part of the year. It has something to do with the chill in the air, and then getting inside to a nice warm house. It also marks the end of the busiest time of the year for us, with tons of people shopping for Irish gifts!
At any rate, my reason for posting was to let you know that we have added a great deal of new Christmas items to our Irish Christmas section this year. More animated treetoppers (Santas and Angels), more Christmas ornaments, and more of just about everything else. I wanted to just let you know that as most of these items are seasonal in nature, and when they are gone…they are gone. In most cases, there won’t be any additional stock coming in as most of the distributors will be out too.
So, don’t delay this year. It might be a bit early to celebrate Christmas, but its not too early to get a jump on your favorite Irish Christmas decor!
Irish Baby Gifts - Belleek Bowl & Spoon
Posted on October 5, 2008
Filed Under Irish Baby Gifts | Leave a Comment
I think that its fair to say that one of everyone’s favorite Irish gifts to buy is those for baby. Belleek China has a darling bowl and spoon set that’s just perfect to welcome a newborn into the world, or as an Irish Christening gift.
The detail on each piece is just wonderful. The bowl features a basketweave pattern, and is adorned with handpainted shamrocks. The spoon proudly displays the same shamrock, and is accented with a Celtic knotwork pattern. As a finishing touch, Baby is set in gold onto the bowl.
The bowl has a diameter of 4.4 inches and the spoon is 4.5 inches in length. Together, these will serve as a wonderful keepsake for years to come, and an heirloom for generations after that!
Celtic Wedding Bands For Friends
Posted on October 3, 2008
Filed Under Irish Jewelry, Irish Weddings | Leave a Comment
Last week, some friends of of ours were looking for Celtic wedding bands in order to mark their upcoming wedding in mid September. They were looking for something that had a two-tone yellow and white gold design, and that incorporated traditional Irish symbols. Traditional Irish and Celtic symbols include:
Now, there are other Irish and Celtic symbols, but the three above are definitely the most sought after. We looked through an exhaustive selection of different styles, and combinations before finding the perfect set for them. The ring shown above is the man’s version, but there is a matching wedding band for women. They chose the 14K gold (18K is also available) set and I’m sure that they’ll be very happy with them for years and years to come.
A New Way To Find Irish Gifts
Posted on October 3, 2008
Filed Under Irish Gifts | Leave a Comment
It’s that time of year again where Christmas is fast approaching. Time also to think about Irish gifts for Christmas. To help you, we’ve recently added a Gift Finder on our front page that we believe will save you time when searching for that perfect Irish gift.
At the top of the Gift Finder, you’ll see three choices – “Shop By Recipient”, “Shop By Price”, or “Shop By Occasion”. Naturally, you can choose from any of these choices and choose the scenario that best suits your needs. When asked, we often recommend starting with the “Shop By Recipient” tab as you really want your Irish gifts to be personal and as applicable as possible to the recipient.
Under that tab, you’ll see the following selections:
For Him
Features great Irish gifts for men, including Guinness items, and men’s Irish jewelry.
For Her
In this section we’ve got Irish gifts suitable for women. You’ll find some wonderful pieces of Irish jewelry and beautiful gifts from Belleek.
For Kids
A great selection of Irish gifts - many of which are designed to teach children about their Irish heritage.
Baby / New Parents
A treasure trove of Irish baby gifts. Perfect for new arrivals, and Christenings.
Wedding / Engagement
Find the perfect Irish gift here for that couple who has become recently engaged. There’s also a great selection of items that are perfect as Irish wedding gifts.
Pets / Pet Lover
Treat your pets to their own Irish gifts. We have collars and bowls aimed at your favorite “Irish” pet!
Hopefully, you’ll be able to find some really great Irish gift ideas under each one of those selections. If not, you can always shop either by price, or by occasion. One way or another, we’re sure that you’ll find a wonderful range of Irish gifts – and more importantly, just the gift that you’re looking for!
A Special Irish Gift For Dad’s 60th!
Posted on October 2, 2008
Filed Under Irish Gifts, Irish Gifts For Men, Irish Jewelry | Leave a Comment
Dear Julie,
My Dad grew up in Dublin, before moving to the US when he was 12. He has fought for this country, and proudly flies the American flag in his front yard every day. Even after all this time, I know that he is incredibly proud of his Irish heritage. He is an amazing person who refuses to retire and still goes to work in a suit and tie every day without fail.Dad turns 60 on December 12th, and I’d like to get him something very special this year. Can you point me in the right direction?
Thanks,
Cindy in Ohio
60th Birthdays are always a special time. In many cases, it is an opportunity to reflect on life, your roots, accomplishments, how your priorities have changed, and the person that you have become. That person would not have been possible were it not for upbringing, guidance, and the luck and challenges that life presented.
I would definitely guide you towards a personalized piece of jewelry for your father. This would be a piece that proudly displayed his family coat of arms. Since you mentioned that your father wears both a shirt, and a tie, you could choose between cufflinks, or a tie-tack. Your father should be overjoyed with an Irish gift such as this, especially since it will be handed down from one generation to another.
Wonderful Choice For An Irish Christening
Posted on October 2, 2008
Filed Under Irish Baby Gifts | Leave a Comment
Christenings in Ireland are no small affair! There’s family to be notified, a church to be booked, and an after-party to be arranged. We were fortunate enough to be able to have our daughter Baptized in Ireland during a visit back home. It was an amazing experience!
Lately, it seems like almost everyone that we know is either expecting or has just had a baby! Shortly thereafter, of course, will be a Christening. One or two times, we’ve struggled with what would make the perfect Irish gift for such an occasion.
Fortunately, Belleek Parian China has come to our rescue with these wonderful Christening Cups. There is one for a baby girl, and one for a baby boy. They are indeed beautiful items (as is everything from Belleek)! Both cups are adorned with rabbits and rimmed in gold. The rabbits on the girl’s cup are accented with pink bows, while the boy’s version uses blue. These are sure to become a treasured family heirloom!
Shamrock Welcome Garden Stake - Irish Gift
Posted on October 2, 2008
Filed Under Irish Garden Decor, Irish Gifts | Leave a Comment
It is certainly the time of year to work in the garden. Warm temperatures, long evenings, and beautiful flowering plants. Why not consider adding some Irish charm to your garden this year?
Proudly display your Irish heritage to visitors with this “Welcome” Shamrock Garden Stake. Would also make an excellent Irish Gift. Features a lovely shamrock tile mounted on top of a long metal ground stake.
Wikipedia offers the following:
The shamrock, an unofficial symbol of Ireland, is a three-leafed old white clover, sometimes (rarely nowadays) Trifolium repens (white clover, known in Irish Gaelic as seamair bhán) but more usually today Trifolium dubium (lesser clover, Irish Gaelic: seamair bhuí). The diminutive version of the Gaelic word for “clover” (”seamair”) is “seamaróg”, which was anglicised as “shamrock”, representing a close approximation of the original Gaelic pronunciation. However, other three-leafed plants — such as black medic (Medicago lupulina), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and Common wood sorrel (genus Oxalis) — are sometimes designated as shamrocks. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medical properties and was a popular motif in Victorian times. It is also a common way to represent St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday celebrated on March 17. Shamrocks are said to bring good luck.
This stake is super-easy to assemble - if you can make a pot of tea, you can screw the pieces together. There is a dual prong at the base to ensure a firm footing. The shamrock tile is made from resin to ensure years of service. Measures almost 20″ in height.
Personalized Irish Pub Signs & Plaques
Posted on October 2, 2008
Filed Under Irish Jewelry | Leave a Comment
We’ve all seen those great traditional pub signs in Ireland. I wish they still made similar signs today. Well, they do and they make spectacular Irish Gifts! Personalized Irish Pub Signs are back. Wouldn’t one of these make the perfect Irish Gift? A variety of different Irish signs are available. You can choose from personalized Irish pub signs, Irish Bed & Breakfast signs, or just display your Irish family name. I should mention that the names do not have to be Irish - the manufacturer can handle just about anything!
These signs are extremely high-quality and have a unique look and feel. They are based upon actual late 19th century designs when trade signs were used just about everywhere. While these signs are brand new and made to order, most conform in shape, lettering, and style to that of old-time signs. Craftsmen put a lot of time into each individual sign, finishing the process by applying a hand-rubbed stain to the sign, giving each a perfectly “aged” look.
keep looking »Follow Celtic By Design on twitter!
Twitter / celticbydesign