Hello 2013...

Yes, we're fairly late with this, I know! Cripes, where has the first five weeks of this year gone?

I checked the blog yesterday and was shocked to see I had to posted in this space since Xmas. I think that serves to show just how busy we have been... Same theme as usual, different year!

We're working on two huge projects at the moment - one is super secret brand collaboration, though soon to be revealed, and we've had two lovely interns in working with us that, which has been brilliant... And the second is a whole new range of products, including wallpaper, which will be launching shortly. We have been supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to make this collection, so it's very exciting indeed. I have been drawing like a mad woman during daylight hours, and then working in to the small wee hours of the night hand sewing... Yes, I am almost blind! ;)

I can't quite recall what it's like to not be working 12+ hour days, but it's a hugely exciting time for abigail*ryan, so we're grinning and bearing it!

In other nice news, our Hydrangea tea towel in avocado was in The Sunday Times a few weekends ago! Very lovely indeed.

Above, you'll find a little selection of shots from life and work over the last few weeks. The new face is our intern, Grace! Sleep deprivation aside, life is very exciting right now, so we are looking forward to revealing everything over the coming weeks...

Happy 2013 everyone!

A&R

Christmas Cheer...

Wanted to stop by and share some scenes from our Christmas Day... spoilt rotten with amazing presents all round, delicious food and drink, and friends and family in our lives.

We are insanely happy, and blessed, with all the good things, people and opportunities in our lives - 2012 has been an amazing year, from our engagement last Christmas Day to our Wedding in September, we have had a whirlwind 365 days! Looking forward to another day off tomorrow with yummy xmas leftovers, then getting back to it, to work hard and make 2013 even better, if that's possible...

Hope you all had an amazing, AMAZING, Christmas Day, wherever you are, and thank you so much for your support throughout 2012.

Happy Holidays from a*r HQ!! xo

p.s. Ryan is asking me 'WHY' I always want to take our photo ;))) Can you tell?

Intern Position OPEN...

Starting from the beginning of January 2013, abigail*ryan, are looking for an exceptionally lovely individual to fill an Intern position...

We are flexible, but are looking to fill anything between full time hours for a couple of weeks, to several days a week (even evenings). We have a large job on, and need all hands on deck.

Experience working with fabric and textiles, and basic sewing machine skills preferred/minimum requirements. Background training/interest in the design industry helpful.

The person we are looking for will be punctual, hard-working, happy to muck in with all aspects of running a homewares business and manufacturing product, and be nice to spend time with!

This is an unpaid position, but we will pay expenses, give you lunch + tea/coffee, let you play with our little dog, which is awesome stress relief, AND be able to offer you valuable insight in to running a successful design business.

Is this YOU? 

Send us an email to abigailryandesigns@gmail.com and introduce yourself, along with a copy of your CV.

We are based in Greenisland, Carrickfergus.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Abigail & Ryan

More Mani's...

Some more mani's I did this week... using my Red Carpet Manicure gel kit, and Martha Stewart Glitter. Smokey, bronze tones on me and duck-egg blue on my mother in law! 

Having so much fun with these, I can't wait to change them ;) 

A@a*r

Peanut butter banana dairy free muffins...

I love you.

I do. 

Each and everyone of you. 

I know that, right now, you might not believe me. You might be thinking, "how could that possibly be true?? He doesn't even know me!"... 

Well, just bake these. 

Just bake these (go on, you probably even have all the ingredients to hand)... Then come back and tell me you don't feel loved- I dare you ;) 

These are good. Seriously good. And multi-functional, too. 

Add the glaze and you have a decadent sweet treat, rich enough to rectify even the worst sugar craving, but, leave it off, and you have a (almost) virtuous confection- bursting with the goodness of oats and bananas, and both low in fat and sugar, too! 

In fact, they're even dairy free, and with the gentlest of tweaking, could be made vegan, too. 

Now, really, you couldn't ask for more than that, could you??

So, you need (makes 12): 

Muffins: 

2 Bananas (the worse they look, the better they'll be- trust me!) 
2 Eggs (to make a vegan version, just replace these with another banana) 
125g Peanut Butter (crunchy is my preference for the added texture) 
150g Sugar (brown adds a nice extra flavour, but it really doesn't matter) 
50g Fat (we use Pure) 
250ml "Milk" (we use Kara) 
275g Plain Flour 
50g Oats 
1 tbsp Baking Powder 

Glaze: 

1 extra heaped tbsp* Peanut Butter (smooth for a smooth glaze, if preferred) 
1 extra heaped tbsp* Fat (Pure, again!) 
2 tbsp* golden syrup 
6 extra heaped tbsp* icing sugar 

Start the muffins: 

Preheat the oven to 190c (really preheat it- it makes a difference!). 

Line a 12 hole muffin tin. 

In one large bowl, mash the bananas together with the sugar, eggs, peanut butter and melted fat. Then stir in the milk. 

In another large bowl, combine the flour, oats and baking powder. 

Now, fold the dry ingredients in to the wet (or vice-versa, depending on which is the larger bowl!). 

Stir this gently, and do it by hand- over-mixing will make the muffins tough and heavy. Stop as soon as the flour has been incorporated (but don't worry about the odd streak left here and there- it'll bake out). 

Bake for 18-24 mins (in my oven, it's 19 exactly!) until a tester comes out clean. 

Leave to cool. 

Once cool(-ish), start making the glaze. 

Glaze: 

*I've listed the measurements for the glaze as tablespoons, but, unlike the muffin recipe, I don't mean the real, 15ml tablespoon. Here, just use the big spoon you would eat with! 

I am bad and wicked and evil, so I use a microwave for this step- just adapt the directions to suit your preferences. 

In a medium bowl, melt together the peanut butter, fat and golden syrup. Once melted, stir in the icing sugar, and give it a good beating to remove any lumps (of icing sugar- you'll be beating a long time if you're trying to beat out the nuts from the peanut butter!). 

You should end up with a thick, glossy, spreadable glaze. 

Top each muffin with a dollop and spread with the back of a spoon. 

 Now eat (as with all muffins, there are best the day they're made). 

 r@a*r

Bubbacue, Belfast... a review!

Today, Abigail and I were lucky enough to be invited along to Bubbacue, Boojum's sister pop-up restaurant, so, along with my parent's, we aimed to sample everything on the menu- for purely journalistic purposes, of course!

Strictly a meat-lover's joint, the main focus of the menu is the pork and beef prepared in the, shipped over from America specially, smoker. Each option, except the ribs, is available as both a platter, or a sandwich- embracing the same stripped back menu style that enjoyed such success in Boojum. As manager Fiona said, by reducing the options, they can specialise, focusing their attention at being the very best at what they do.

As you can see (hopefully!) from the photo's above, prices here are slightly higher than the usual for lunch in Belfast, with sandwiches being around £6, and platters being around £10, making it a bit more of a consideration than just nipping in for a quick bite. However, in exchange, you do get to sit down, enjoy the ambience, absorb the paired back, rustic decor, and relax...which on a bustling, hectic day like today, in Belfast, was a huge perk!

So, the food?

Well, this was a very difficult review to write...I don't ever want to be in the position of not being able to get a table, so I don't really want everyone to know just how good it was!

The pulled pork was as moist, tender, flavourful and delicious as that we've seen on "Triple D", the brisket was, again, moist, tender, and served in thin, juicy slices, but with a bit more chew than the pork- for those who like their meat with a bit of bite. The other option we sampled was, in our opinion, the absolute star of the show- the Barbeque Ribs.

These were, simply, incredible. Glazed and sticky with a sweet, subtly smokey flavour, the meat just fell from the bone in moist, intensely savoury mouthfuls of deliciousness.

As a sandwich, your choice of meat comes in a soft, floury bread roll, with a mound of coleslaw, a crisp, sharp counter to the rich meat, and a slice of dill pickle. In platter form, your meat comes with coleslaw, richly spiced and moreish baked beans, intensely cheesey, creamy mac & cheese, and, our other star, some astounding corn bread...cornbread so good that, instead of dessert, one of our (rather sweet-toothed) party ordered more!

The portions aren't huge, but certainly satisfying, and for those who are extra hungry, the cornbread, mac & cheese, and coleslaw, are all available (in larger portions than those served with the platter), along with skinny-cut french fries and chicken wings, as sides.

The two options for dessert, in true american style, were pies!

The key lime was fragrant, fresh and zesty, with just the right amount of sweetness, while the Mississippi Mud was dense, creamy, and gorgeously chocolately. Either option acting as the perfect complement to what has gone before.

In all honesty, Bubbacue does what it sets out to do with great success. The atmosphere is laid-back and comfortable, and the food, all the way down to the four special sauces, is delicious. It may not be the cheapest option for lunch, but, from what we've experienced, you're ensured a fantastically tasty meal and great, helpful, service in a central location. Only guaranteed to be there for the next three months, Abi and I recommend you get down to Callender Street NOW!

r@a*r

Weekend Manicure...

This is my new gel manicure! Going out tonight to see friends, so I thought I would preen a little ;)

This one is created with my Red Carpet Manicure gel kit, as detailed in my last post, and Martha Stewart Craft glitter in Onyx, dusted on to create the ombré! I was a little worried this would look like I had been digging in dirt, but I kind of like it, so I think I got away with it...

Fancy nails are a girls best friend!
Happy w/end, all.

A@a*r