A Warm Welcome at Kilkenny Design: Our Pop-Up Story

We came away from our pop-up at Kilkenny Design on Nassau Street with plenty of stories, some very helpful advice and one particularly clear request: more dogs!

For a small creative business, stepping out of the studio for the first time and meeting the people who choose your work is something special. We spend so much time considering the artwork, paper and little details of each product, but rarely get to hear someone’s first impressions in person. Our time at Kilkenny Design gave us that opportunity, and the welcome was more than we could have hoped for.

A Rather Wonderful Neighbour

One of our first surprises was discovering that our pop-up was situated beside Jim Scully’s work. His paintings of Dublin and Irish landmarks are so familiar and much loved, and we could hardly believe we would be setting up alongside them.

Even better, Jim himself visited the store, and we had the pleasure of chatting with him. He was so generous with his advice, sharing tips with an artist still finding her feet in retail. It was a lovely encounter and an encouraging reminder of how much kindness and experience there is within Ireland’s creative community.

Familiar Faces and New Connections

We were especially touched to discover that some visitors had made the trip into the shop specifically to see us. When you are usually working away behind the scenes, hearing that someone has come in for your little pop-up means a great deal.

There was a lovely family moment too when Ailbhe’s dad came in to see us. Visiting this branch of Kilkenny Design is a weekly tradition for him, which made it extra special for Ailbhe to be there with her own artwork and stationery. We captured a lovely photo together — a keepsake from a day when his familiar routine became part of a new memory for us.

Throughout our time there, we met American visitors enjoying their holidays, people spending a day shopping in Dublin, and locals stopping by for a browse. We had so many lovely conversations about art, stationery, gifts, and the designs that caught people’s attention.

Listening, Learning and Taking Notes

The response to the collection was incredibly encouraging, but the honest feedback was just as valuable.

Our greeting cards, art prints, writing sets and notelets proved particularly popular. Seeing people take their time over the illustrations and choose something for themselves or someone else was a real pleasure.

We heard what people loved, what wasn’t quite for them and what they would like to see us create next. Those conversations are so useful to us: they help us understand how our work finds a place in people’s homes and everyday lives.

And the most memorable request? Dogs. Lots of dogs! We have certainly taken that one back to the studio.

Ailbhe received so many kind compliments on her artwork. One particularly special conversation was with someone who had recently received their new Irish passport. Hearing their appreciation of her illustrations in person was a lovely moment, bringing another part of her work into our little corner of the shop.

Thank You for Making Us Feel at Home

The team at Kilkenny Design couldn’t have been more welcoming or helpful. From their kind words about our products to the practical tips they shared, they made us feel at home and helped us learn so much along the way.

Thank you to everyone who stopped to chat, browsed the collection, chose something to take home or came in especially to see us. Your interest, encouragement and thoughtful feedback meant so much.

We returned to the studio with fresh ideas, a little more retail experience and a growing list of dogs to draw.

Where to see us next?

We will be popping up in Kilkenny Design Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre

Friday 13th and Saturday 14th November 2026.

We'd love it if you pop by if you're in the area!