Meet Joanne Mooney, one of Ireland’s most influential home interiors creatives
![Meet Joanne Mooney, one of Ireland’s most influential home interiors creatives Meet Joanne Mooney, one of Ireland’s most influential home interiors creatives](/cms_media/module_img/7692/3846349_5_articlesmall_Joanne_20Mooney_20with_20Cherry_20Sue_20and_20other_20punchneedle_20work_20-_20Photo_20Jessica_20Glynn.jpeg.jpg)
Joanne Mooney: 'Everyone thought I was mad when I gave up a secure pensionable job.'
We often think of the “side hustle” as a relatively recent concept.
Joanne’s first stepped across the threshold of the working world as a dental nurse. She would spend the nine-to-five attending to patients in the chrome and white of the surgery before slipping back into her technicolour artistic life in the evening and at weekends. “I worked with the Health Service Executive for 15 years,” she says. “Everyone thought I was mad when I gave up a secure pensionable job.”
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That was in 2005 when she decided to set up her own craft business. “I resigned from my job as a dental nurse to work from home — but I had already built up many clients by doing my crafts as a side hustle,” she says.
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“I would describe my home as colourful, containing objects, textures and art. My home is eclectic — filled with things that have a story to go with them.”
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As for her favourite colour? Anyone who’s ever taken even a passing glance at her Insta feed will know Joanne’s answer before she blurts it out. She is also renowned for her Joules yellow velvet Chesterfield sofa which she designed for DFS. “I have it in my living room. It’s like sunshine in my home all year round,” she says. “I also love a pop of yellow in all my rooms — it’s very subtle, like a yellow tea towel beside the oven or a yellow hand towel in the loo. It instantly makes me happy.”
“I am content when I am creating. It takes me back to my childhood. At first, I set up an online shop called Tinythings (since rebranded to joannemooney.ie) selling personalised handmade artwork for children, your home and special occasions.”
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Wool in Dealz or the Euro Shop is always good as you can create magical things from it.
Attic conversion. I took a bedroom for my studio so we needed an extra room. The attic in our house is really big. About 10 years ago we converted the attic. It’s a bedroom and the space is huge. I love it. My daughter sleeps there. When she moves out I think I’ll move up there.
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I hate household chores!
I wouldn’t call myself a DIY whizz. I will try my hand at anything (except electrics or plumbing). I don’t have any fear around DIY. I’d try it and if I fail (which I have in the past) I learn from it and move on.
Painting floor tiles in my ensuite. I didn’t think I would pull it off but I did. And they still look great to this day.
When I get bored of furniture in my home I like to give pieces a new look. I recently added a tassel cord trim to the base of an old navy velvet sofa I had and I was shocked at how gorgeous it turned out. It’s like a new sofa. This is one of my favourite projects to date.
Creativity! It’s running in my veins. I couldn’t work in an office or any other job other than what I’m doing now. I feel so lucky to get to use my superpower every single day.
Don’t be afraid to use colour in your home.
I met my husband when I was 16 and we’ve been together ever since.
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Joanne will hold two punch needle workshops on January 14 and 27, 2024, see https://joannemooney.ie
Joanne Mooney’s Punch Needle Extravaganza Exhibition sponsored by DFS in association with Alone takes place this weekend at Hen’s Teeth, Blackpitts, Dublin 8, D08A9FD. See www.hensteethstore.com