Meet the Donegal shop owner whose range celebrates art, family, folklore and place

From vibrant silk scarves to deer hide stools, Jerusha Marley’s shop has a delightful array of high quality products that ooze luxury while tapping into the deepest layers of our collective cultural psyche.

This is no accident. Indeed, celebrating motherhood, the divine feminine, mythology, and the connection to the land is very much at the heart of Jerusha's creativity, and it can be felt in every corner of this absolute gem of a shop in the Millcourt Mews in Donegal Town.

UK-born artist Jerusha was raised in neighbouring Fermanagh, and studied Fine and Applied Arts in Belfast. Her journey in developing her business included working for a time at Rathcormac Craft Village in Sligo, as well as designing boxes for Dutch baby-carrier company Artipoppe.

“When I moved to Donegal, I was looking for a shop, and it fell into place that I have this beautiful studio here,” she says.

Goods in the shop include printed fabrics such as silk scarves and linen cushions, as well as sumptuous tweeds, finely crafted wood products, deer hide furniture, and lots of little delights to suit a variety of tastes.

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There is also a range of prints full of rich colours and intricate drawings which are mirrored in many of the other items in store.

“Everything starts with a freehand drawing,” explains Jerusha. “That is where my passion is, where it all comes from. The divine feminine, motherhood, that is all really important and it is something that people seem to really like.”

She and her partner live exclusively off the land, growing or hunting their own food. The deer hide element of the business is a by-product of this lifestyle.

As if she wasn’t busy enough raising three children and running her own shop and creative design business, Jerusha also tans the deer hides. These are used along with recycled wood or timber from fallen trees to make a unique furniture range which is proving very popular with customers.

The couple also use fallen trees to make breadboards and other items. Some of these are available in the shop, others are bespoke creations, taking pride of place in homes around the country.

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Another element of her business is a collaboration with Molloy’s in Ardara.

“They are fourth generation weavers,” says Jerusha. “I created a tweed collection with them that is a nod to the tradition of Donegal tweed.

“I created three separate collections - the blanket shawls, baby wraps, and Brigid’s cloaks. They are inspired by the three goddesses, Eiru, Danu and Brigid.”

Working with an authentic Donegal tweed company is very much in keeping with Jerusha’s ethos.

“Transperency is very important to me,” she says. “It is about knowing where everything comes from and who is involved in making it, that people are getting paid properly for their work, and that there is an awareness of sustainability.”

Jerusha’s work can be viewed at at jerushamarley.com

This feature appeared in Donegal Life magazine earlier this year. The current issue is in shops now, packed with a fantastic selection of local interviews, travel, food and drink, entertainment and more.