Ashbourne family business using reclaimed materials to create unique designs

A UNIQUE family run business based in Ashbourne is using reclaimed and biodegradable materials in its designs for home decor, blankets and clothing range.

Pumpkin Lodge Crafts uses reclaimed and biodegradable materials in the designs of all items available on their online platforms.

Materials are sourced from local businesses, saving more items from landfill, and re-purpose them to create beautiful, unique pieces.

They have small amounts of vegan wool which they used to create their crocheted items, giving a truly one-of-a-kind piece.

Some of the wool has even been inherited from family members so that it can have a new life.

Pumpkin Lodge Crafts was set up in 2021 by couple Joe Holland and Lainey Ní Mhórdha, who wanted to create home decor that was sustainably made rather than mass produced.

Their first piece was made from a broken wardrobe, sparking the idea of creating items to sell.

Wanting to fully commit to their view of sustainably made products, they sourced waste wood from pallets that were being thrown away.

Signs were the first items available from Pumpkin Lodge Crafts. Pumpkins, farmhouse designs and Irish language pieces all feature in the sign collection.

Having learned to crochet during lockdowns, Lainey added her yarn creations to the business, starting with pumpkins and then moving to blankets and clothing.

"Designing clothing has always been a dream of mine and I feel so grateful that our customers are wearing slow fashion pieces I made for them.

The latest release from Pumpkin Lodge Crafts are horseshoes. These shoes were sourced from a local farrier and were destined for landfill. Cleaning and painting the shoes gave them a new lease of life and allows customers to bring a piece of Irish tradition and folklore to their space.

Available in a wide range of designs and themes, these unique horseshoes are now available to purchase and are presented in a recyclable and reusable giftbox with a custom-made print.

10 per cent of all sales is also donated to My Lovely Horse Rescue which is an animal welfare organisation that rescues, rehabilitate and rehomes unwanted, neglected and abused animals.

As Pumpkin Lodge Crafts make all of the items themselves, you can be sure that you are supporting a small and ethical business.

Recently Lainey wrote a journal which they are selling through Pumpkin Lodge and is also sustainably made.

Decorated with spooky witchy themes, this journal is designed to help you track your thoughts, behaviours, emotions, and feelings.

It is printed through a sustainable reading programme (in partnership with Ecologi) meaning it has a low environmental impact.

There is no physical store for customers to visit, only online on crafts.pumpkinlodge.ie