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.

Saturday 2 March 2013

Tussie Mussie's



'Tussie Mussie's were introduced to England in the early 18th century. A small circular bouquet like a nosegay, but carries symbolic meaning, based upon the language of flowers, where specific flowers represent specific sentiments. They were commonly exchanged by lovers, who sent messages to one another.' Wikipedia.

I have been making Tussie Mussies's  for Nanabelle's Vintage Tearoom's in Antrim, some of the materials I have used in my arrangements have the following meanings : Lavender - devotion, distrust, Geranium - gentility, coral or orange Rose - desire, passion, Rosemary - remembrance, Thyme - thriftiness, purple Violet - daydreaming. I find the whole subject fascinating, and love the thought of those 18th century lovers sending little coded messages to eachother. Except if everyone knew the language then everyone would know what they were saying.

My home town of Antrim has been a little short of somewhere lovely to go and have a coffee or tea, but not anymore!. Nannabelle's  is a beautiful gift shop selling a variety of quality merchandise, for your home, or to give as gifts. The owner Kathleen McCurdy and her husband George,. decided that they would convert the store room at the back of the shop into a tearoom. Kathleen and her sister bake all the wonderful cakes themselves and Marie who manages the tearoom, bakes the scones. It is small, but totally delightful. They play 1940's music and the staff wear tea dresses and old fashioned apron's. The table's are prettily dressed and they use new china in a vintage style and silver teapots.
I think because it is small, and the staff are so friendly, that it somehow creates a family atmosphere and you end up getting into conversation with the other customers. I take my hat off to the owners, as I think they have created something rather wonderful.

They kindly agreed to showcase some of my work in return for some free publicity, and so this is why I have been making the Tussie Mussie's. I decided that because of lack of space, the best thing would be to make something small and low. I decided to use garden flowers ,as the scale is better, and they are so 'of the season'. I used some of my own little jugs and cups, but they would look equally nice in glasses or jam jars.





I hope if you are ever in Antrim you will call in to Nanabelle's  for an elegant morning coffee or afternoon tea? Enjoy your weekend. Love Linda x

10 comments:

  1. Linda!
    Your Tussie Mussie's are the perfect for Nanabelle's. I'll be there in my dreams!
    Have a lovely weekend!
    ~Lynne
    w/L.

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  2. If I am ever up North (which I might be this Summer)
    and if I am close by I will definitely call into Nanabelle's.

    The flowers look wonderful Linda and the tearooms sound like a dream!

    Thanks for letting us know about it.

    Have a great weekend. I'm sure Lois will keep you busy!!!


    xxx

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  3. What canI say, linda? i knew about "Say it with flowers" but Tussie Mussies I never heard of. It's quite fun, really! For example, say you wanted to tell someone they were a "pain in the backside" you would arrange a few cactus leaves (of the prickly pear kind) with a few really hot chillies and a bit of pyracantha, very thorny and painful to even touch!

    I love pink roses, but I love getting red roses from my husband. red is the colour of blood, passion and love!

    Linda, I love the little posies. They are very cute and yes, any kind of arrangement for a table should be low, so it doesn't get in the way, or like the ones they have in the dining room at Blickling Hall, placed on wonderful glass dishes with a very long stem, like a big Champagne glass. Very nice!

    The Cafè looks incredibly charming. As to 1940s music, it really excites me. LOVELY, LOVELY, LOVELY!
    CIAO!

    ANNA

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  4. Thanks to you I learned something new today :-)! I never heard of the words Tussie Mussie before. Is it Irish. It sounds lovely!

    Your little bouquets look enchanting. It must be fun making them!

    The pies in the café look really good too!

    Have a lovely weekend!

    Madelief x

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  5. Υour little compositions are so delightful and vivid!
    Yes, I'll call to Annabelle's,I'll not miss it.. if I'm ever in Antrim. Thanks for this post and for sharing it !
    Have a relaxing Sunday!

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  6. I do love your sweet little flower posies, such lovely combinations and containers. I've always loved tussie mussies too, the name as well as the flowers! Annabelle's sounds just the kind of tea shop I would love to visit!
    Wishing you a happy week ahead.
    helen x

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  7. Those are so sweet. I have lots of pretty little jugs and now have a use for them! :)

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  8. That tearoom sounds great - love the pictures. Love your little Tussie Mussies too - v sweet. Have a lovely Sunday X

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  9. Would LOVE to be there and have the tearoom experience. Your tussie mussies are so delightful.

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  10. Quelle jolie fleures j`adore !! MAGNIFIQUE !!! Tres jolie composition!!

    Merci de votre doux mot chez moi

    Bonne semaine!!

    xxx Maria xxx

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