About Me

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antrim, antrim, Ireland
Hello and welcome to my blog. If you like flowers and gardens, housey stuff, food and banter, then this is the place for you. I am a decorative artist, florist and maker of things. I sell painted furniture, plants and crafts, through a local retail shop, in my native Ireland, and wedding flowers from home. I am married to a lovely patient man and have a smashing little girl. I blog for the fun of it. Thank you for listening.

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Wreath making.



I have been wreath making. I love wreaths, for every occasion and season. They signify the circle of life. I love circles, spots, curving lines, but I know people who love straight lines, symmetry, nothing flowery or fussy. I find it fascinating, also I find fascinating the thing about how you apply your lipstick. Mine is always rounded because I turn it round as I apply. My mum's was always pointy as she applied it the same way every time. What about you? How does your lipstick look, and do you love straight lines or curves? It must say something about us, but I am not sure what.




I have been working on bringing in a little Christmas business by having wreaths in a few local shops .
I have finally decided my theme for the Wedding Fair in February. I am going for the Classic Country theme, but with a period feel, think 'Tussie Mussie' bouquets and Empire line dresses, ribbons and roses. This is my inspiration collage, but I don't want to give too much away, so I will leave it at that.

I also have been re-discovering Annie Sloan paint. I have used it about 25 years ago, when I used to paint for the Paint Magic shop in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Back then when people were so interested in paint effects I was using so many different kinds of paint, American Milk Paint, Chalk Paint, Linseed Oil Paint, Distemper, Limewash etc. I even remember making my own with egg yolks and pigment. So needless to say, Annie Sloan got forgotten about. It has featured so heavily of late on so many different blogs, that I thought I needed to try it again. As luck would have it I discovered that a  shop in a local village was selling it.Vintage in Vogue.

I must say I absolutely love it, it is so chalky and soft and yet it sticks like glue to whatever you paint and distresses beautifully. What really sells it to me is that you don't need a primer and it covers so well in a couple of coats...hurrah! So this is what I have been painting at home.

My kitchen has had a few more lavender touches added, I made the curtain for the back door, the lampshade and recovered the dining chairs. The far wall in the kitchen, I have never been totally happy with as it always seems a bit blank, I felt it needed a large piece of furniture. So I repainted my chest of drawers, using Annie Sloan 'Pure' and also a plate rack that was in the hall. The display needs to be worked on a little, but I am happy with the overall look.

My egg basket got a little makeover, I added a heather trim, which will just dry, and stay looking good for a few months at least.



My table top, which was a plain charcoal grey, has been prettied up with a little hand painting.



I added a little plaster decoration to my larder cupboard, which has a lovely scent and little lavender flowers on it.


So inspired was I with the kitchen that I gave the hall a makeover also. The panelling and doors were painted 'Paris Grey', and then I decided it was all looking quite 'Gustavian', so I needed to do something with the floor. It was already painted with a stone coloured wash, so I added some little black tiles.



I really dislike my doors, which are those awful preesed things that reverberate through the whole house when you shut them. However, I don't mind them like this, especially with a little wreath added.

This year, for Christmas I am going for a shoe theme. I don't know what has come over me, I am not one of those people who has a shoe fetish. I do however love baby shoes and I saw some adorable ones with little Christmas puddings on, and I think that is what set me off! I normally am very traditional, red and green, and bring my old faithful decorations out year upon year. This year though, I wanted a change, so I have made a lot of shoe decorations, which I shall show you in a later post. I didn't want to spend a load of money, so I have just found lovely images on the internet and printed them, or made them from scraps of fabric. The image below is from http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com.which I printed and then glued to cardboard and added some ribbon and rhinestone decoration and a little Paris tag, also from Graphic's Fairy.The joyeux noel is handwritten by me unto an old ledger page, I printed and distressed with coffee. It has been fun. I just hope that when the tree goes up I won't be missing my old faithful's!
Sorry, this is a bit of a long post, but I had a little catching up to do. Welcome to my new follwers, and wishing you all a stress free and wonderful week. With love, Linda x.




Oh I nearly forgot, and Lois would not be pleased! Lois (my 10 year old daughter), made the arrangement with the fir and frosted pinecones, sitting on the hall table, ALL BY HERSELF!! 



22 comments:

  1. OMGoodness! Linda! You display such beauty and talent today! Your home is looking so lovely! The tabletop is amazing! All of it...beautiful!

    The wedding fair theme is very Jane Austen. Classic romance. How perfect!

    and...Miss Lois, you are displaying the very creative traits from your Mum, with your own special touch!

    The best of blessings to all of you! Thank you so very much for your well wishes for my Mother.
    ~Lynne
    w.L.

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  2. I love your wreath with the shoe and handwritten note!! If you ever need any more ledger paper I have pages and pages from a country auction ledger......fascinating reading if nothing else..... just let me know and I'll send you some.

    Lois I love your arrangement....fabulous work.

    And as for Annie Sloan Paint.....I have to stp myself or there would be nothing left unpainted!!

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  3. I love your new header photo Linda, and what a lovely post for us today! Lois did so well with that decoration - she is obviously going to be talented like her mum! I will certainly have to try some of that Annie Sloan paint after such a good decoration. I have just started to distress a few little pieces. I love what you have done in your kitchen (and the hall!). That chest of drawers and plate rack looks really beautiful. Your wreaths are lovely as well. So many good things today! x

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  4. what a fabulous post Linda.....you have done so much it makes me feel quite lazy!!...loved the shoe on the wreath..gorgeous!

    many thanks for all your love;y comments on our blog, they are wonderful...xx

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  5. Dear Linda, this post is definitely not too long...I was sad to see it end ....beautiful, just beautiful, all your lovely handwork!! Your entry looks beautiful, so soft and pretty. I too love wreaths, and this year my inclinations are leaning to natural and more natural, twigs, branches, moss...I love your shoe wreath! How clever! By the way, my lipstick is angled, not rounded!
    What does that mean ?? N.xo

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  6. Oh I just love your work and your ideas, do pop over and do some for me. :)

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  7. Wow Linda, you have been so busy!
    Loving all that you have done (very much my sort of thing!), you are so talented and hard working to have achieved so much!
    Particularly loving the hall - the floor looks amazing, and the Paris Grey (my fav AS colour) perfect. Lois wreath is beautiful!
    Your wedding theme will be perfect I'm sure - the images are inspiring.
    Just going to catch up on all the other missed posts now!
    Gill xx

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  8. Everything looks so beautiful, calming and restful. Love the wreaths. And as for lipstick... don't wear it!

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  9. What a gorgeous post, Linda! I loved seeing those wonderful wreaths with the special touches of interst and colour like the fruits, the check ribbon, and the roses... how talented you are....and I see that Lois is taking after you too, her fir and frosted pine cones arrangement is delightful :) I do love your decorating style and the Annie Sloan paint suits it so well....very inspiring indeed!
    Have a happy week enjoying your lovely home.
    Helen x

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  10. This is fantastic stuff, Linda! So beautiful and stylish! you inspire me... you really do! Everything is so light and bright and gorgeous!

    I love the wreaths and I'm afraid mine is always too plain (though I always add a beautiful big red bow and, since last year, some sweet fairy lights.

    I feel bad, as I have not posted in over a month! Christmas recipes, soon!

    HUGS...

    ANNA

    xxx

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  11. your home is looking beautiful! I love your painting projects and your little decor touches. The wreath is so pretty and I love the idea of shoes . I wouldn't say I have a fetish either, but it's one of the few things I actually bought in Paris- a pair of shoes! :)

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  12. This post is so full of beautiful things, I don't know where to begin...
    I guess first of all I want to tell Lois that her arrangement is beautiful! How I wish I could make something this pretty!!! :)
    And Linda... I LOVE the wreath with the shoe. LOVE.
    I have been thinking and thinking about painting an armoire w/ Annie Sloan paint, and now I'm even more sure that this is what I should use. You really do some beautiful work, Linda. I love everything you've shared!!! And your Wedding Fair ideas? Sigh. Perfection.
    You are an inspiration, my friend! :)
    Hugs,
    Zuzu

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  13. It all looks so beautiful Linda - our home is stunning! And how fabulous that Lois is keen on arranging too - cracking display she made.

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    Replies
    1. I mean, your home is stunning - not our home....silly me. :)

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  14. Hi Linda! I love your inspiration and can't wait to see what you come up with. Xox
    Denise

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  15. I love your egg basket. I got to get a basket for my eggs.

    -Zane

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  16. I'll have to look out for Annie Sloane paint. I have never even heard of it but I am sure there are stockists here in London. Sounds like the kind of paint I have been looking for to brighten up my new home office environment

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  17. Hello Linda and Lois
    You have been busy and what beautiful results. I love your wreaths. You kitchen and all painting projects look wonderful and you have tied it all together so beautifully.
    I love your egg basket. Here in North America eggs are bought from the refrigerator and are immediately put in the regrigerator. When in Ireland, of course, they are stored at room temperature and my habit was to put them in the fridge, my brother has a full time job removing them from the fridge and lecturing me!! hee he

    Helen xx

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  18. Wow, you have been very busy and creative. I love all you have done and like the shoe theme. Darling wreath with the slipper. All your projects are impressive.

    Linda, Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  19. Dear Linda,

    You have been really busy! Your paint works looks lovely; the table, the chair the cupboard. I never used Annie Sloan Paint before, but perhaps I will use it next year when I would like to paint the garden cupboard.

    Your wreaths are beautiful too! It must be a busy time of year for you in the shop.

    Wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas! Enjoy!

    Madelief x

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  20. The shoe wreath is fabulous! You have so many wonderful ideas :)
    Merry Christmas

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  21. I love to have flowers on my table. It reduces my tensions. You can Visit this site.

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