Bank holiday day out.

Queen's University Belfast, designed by Charles Lanyon.

We were all off work and school today and decided to get in the car and go somewhere. My favourite place to go are the beaches of Cushendall or Cushendun on the north coast, but the weather was pretty wet and dismal, so it was agreed a visit to the Ulster museum would be more agreeable.
We parked nearby and walked and I couldn't resist a photograph of the university, which is such a handsome building.
Entrance to the museum is free and so it is always pretty packed on high days and holidays. Some complain that it isn't very good, but I always find something to interest me.

Some lovely early delftware and creamware caught my eye today. Although Paul and Lois were more in to the stuffed animals and birds.

We ate our pic-nic in the car, some sandwiches and home made buns, washed down with flask coffee, you couldn't beat it with a big stick! Then we venture into Botanic Gardens for a mooch in the hothouse.

The Palm House, designed by Charles Lanyon and built by Richard Turner of Dublin (who went on to build the great Palm House at Kew.) Built in 1800's it is one of the earliest examples of a curvilinear cast iron greenhouse. (Pretty fancy huh!)

Enormous cactii and ferns. My husband just couldn't get over how small the containers were holding these giants.

I was most astounded to find a lovely Frangipani tree in the greenhouse, we have always admired these on holiday in Madeira.
We all had a great day out and it was free! Sometimes these unplanned days can be the best.

I hope you all had a lovely day too. Love Linda x

Sweet old-fashioned violets.

I have been painting a corner cupboard for the shop, and was inspired by the way it looks to make it

very old-fashioned, by painting the inside with stripes and violets, to look like wallpaper and line the edge of the shelves with antique lace. I think it would look pretty in any room.

Sorry about the plug, I should have got rid of that!

The bottom doors on these cupboards are often very flat and featureless so I added a painted line and a vintage looking tin soap sign.

A little posy of mixed flowers from the garden, very fragrant with the lavender, sage and old fashioned roses.

The cupboard is painted using Autentico chalk paint in Lavender. I have taken to rubbing a little essential oil on the back of cupboards or underneath drawers on old pieces, as they often have a bit of an 'old furniture' smell, which I find offensive. I would love to have had some violet oil, but lavender worked quite nicely.

I am very pleased to have found a purple poppy for my garden, after lusting after it when I saw it on Pinterest, mine is actually more of a plum colour.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday, with love, Linda x

Before and After

My newest addition to the shop is a beautiful mahogany tilt-top breakfast table and chairs. I know some of you will be horrified that I painted them, when they are antique. The thing is, the table had been refinished badly and was a bit unloved, so I caressed it and loved it and painted it!
 For once in my life I actually remembered to photograph it before and after, but the quality of picture is not great...sorry!
The chairs are beech, stained to like like mahogany, and although the velvet seat pads were in very good nick, I decided they needed updating and covered them in a natural linen.

Apologies for my long absence....balance, balance, I need to find you!
Wishing you all a happy week ahead, with love, Linda xx