The Interior DIYer

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Image Interiors – September / October issue!

It seems like an age ago that I was excitedly [but mostly nervously] submitting my two pieces for the September / October issue of Image Interiors & Living. The autumn issue hit the shelves on Saturday morning, and I was barely able to contain my excitement as I legged it to the shops. 

My featured article [which is mentioned on the cover. NO BIG DEAL / EEEEEK / ACT COOL] is all about about decluttering and organising your home. I interviewed Sarah Reynolds of Organised Chaos, who dishes out her top tips for bringing calm to your chaos. Not only is she too a crazy cat lady, but I had a great time chatting with her and geeking out over getting organised. It’s something I’m kinda overly passionate about anyways, in case you didn’t notice.

And a little behind the scenes of me and Nathalie working on the title page image for Cut the Clutter …

I also wrote a cheeky little number about the perils of thrift shopping, which is accompanied by a pretty awesome illustration by the talented Naomi Wilkinson. When both my husband and my mom read the article on Saturday, they both had a couple of giggles and my mom guffawed a bit as I mention her once or twice [for the record, I think she was more so flattered than horrified. She hasn’t sent me any concerned texts since reading it, so it’s all good]. 
I just wanna finish this post by saying thank you Nathalie for thinking I’m cool enough to contribute to your magazine. Big time appreciating all up in here xx A
You can pick up a copy of the September / October issue of Image Interiors & Living in all good newsagents now. 
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Latest project – Avril Hutch Acrylic Art website

Avril and I have something in common in that we both work in offices during the day but once 17:30 comes around, we do something very different with our time. By night, Avril is an artist. And the term ‘artist‘ is a serious understatement. 

We had ranted, giggled and spoken in hushed voices about our alter-egos and alter-artists on many occasions, but on one particular occasion quite recently Avril confided some pretty big news to me. “Last weekend an RTE NationWide film crew came over, filmed me and my artwork and I’m going to be on TV”, she said with a slight look of excitement and multiple shades of panic in her eyes. After we finished freaking out, Avril told me she was told she’d need a website among other things before her debut. Eventually, I quite awkwardly piped up, “Well, I can make you a thing if you want?” So I made her a website. 

It was great to work with Avril because she had a clear idea of what she wanted incorporated into her site. We added a few bells and whistles, but ultimately her website stayed clean and simple so not to detract or distract from her amazing perspex artwork. 

For more information on Avril’s unreal artwork, check out her new website, Avril Hutch Acrylic Art here! She is one crazy talented gal. 

And of course, tune in to tonight’s NationWide [19:00 on RTE One] to see Avril’s interview and the history behind her art. Or check back here later, where I’m hoping to include a little snippet after it airs it out here! Best of luck Avril, and bottoms uuuuuuup! 😀 xx A
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Blogiversary – Hydrangea Girl turns 4!

This day four years ago I sat on our couch, wanting to create one of those blogs I had heard so much about and seen so many neat and inspiring things on. At the time I was working as an assistant in a finance department by day and studying for my BA in Interior Design at night. I was looking for an outlet for all of my creative ideas and musings so a blog seemed to fit the bill. I wish I could tell you what was going through my head when I chose the name for my blog because nothing conjures thoughts of interior design quite like the words ‘Hydrangea’ and ‘Girl’ … Massive fail on my behalf. But oh well, I suppose it’s too late to change it now. 

I casually mentioned to husband last week, “so my blogiversary is coming up and I may need like a little cake or something to you know, photograph. For my blog of course“. That message was recieved loud and clear. Husband came home the next day with a black forest gateau that would feed a medium to large family. Unfortunately, we got so carried away that I forgot to take blogiversary pictures with it and WE ATE THE WHOLE THING IN ONE DAY. Round two – four tiered mini pavlova with four cherries on top. I thought it best to snap this picture with Mozart doing what he does best because if I take one. more. picture. of the shelf above our TV, I wouldn’t blame you if you unfollowed me.
So happy birthday, Hydrangea Girl. You’ve opened a lot of doors for me and took me well and truly out of my comfort zone. xx A

p.s. If you’re particularly bored this Tuesday afternoon, you can check out my nerdy collection of images on evolution of the design of my blog. It’s equal parts cringe and what exactly was she thinking.