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

Four Wheels On My Wagon

And I'm still rolling along!

So sorry for my lack of posts lately, my little booth, and workshops are taking up a lot of my time, but it's all good. I found this little cart for outside the shop to put my plants in, I painted it up and am rather pleased with it.

It may be a little early for some of these plants as it is still a little cold here, but I couldn't resist a splash of colour.

A recent view of my booth.

Spring must be in the air as I have been selling furniture at the moment, a little nest building going on.

This is my new area at the front of the shop.

The furniture painting workshops are proving very popular. These were taken at our last class.

My niece had her baby a little girl called Emili Ann, she is just gorgeous, and we are all a little bit in love.

I just wanted to let you know what I've been up to. Now I am off to see what you have all been up to. I hope you all have a wonderful week, love Linda x.

Warm Valentine Wishes

A mossy wreath with ivy, clematis vine and Hellebores.

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's day tomorrow, whether you have that special someone in your life or not. My husband has no time for Valentine's Day and dismisses it as a day to be 'ripped off', but I disagree, I think of it as a day to celebrate those you love and often take for granted. You can do some little kindness, make something, pick some flowers, bake a cake, whatever, it need not cost any money, it is after all  THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS.
I will make a little card for my daughter and give her some of her favourite chocolate, to let her know she is my sweetheart. My mum always gave her children Valentine's, we knew they were from her, she didn't try to pretend they were from someone else, and though we used to laugh and think she was silly, they got me through many's a sad and lonely time.
January, has been a whirl of activity for me, the year has really hit the ground running. The owner of the shop where I have a little booth, decided to change things around and paint and refresh everything, so we have both been busy with that. It worked out very well for me, as my area has been moved from the back of the shop  to the front, and I also have some window space.
My daughter will be moving from Primary school to High School in September, so we have been doing all the school open days. She failed her exam which means she will not be able to go to the school we hoped she would be going to, so there has been a lot of angst and worry and soul searching. We are now decided on a school and are all happy with the choice. HOORAH!
I have been painting some Nursery furniture and a mural for my niece as there is soon to be a new baby in the family, so it really is all happening. I haven't read any blogs for ages I am ashamed to say, but hopefully I will get on to it now as things have calmed down a little.

Have a wonderful weekend, and remember to be your own sweetheart, love Linda x

Do You Believe in Magic?

I do!
My mother did. She loved 1940's and 1950's Movies, she believed that world of glamour was real. Sometimes I think real life disappointed her a little. When it came to Christmas my mum tried so hard with her very limited means to make it special for us.
When it comes to Christmas I always get the urge to create a magical environment, a place where anything can happen. Little corners of mystery with candlelight and reflections and frosted snowflakes. Christmas on the beach is not for me, it has to be cold and frosty or it holds no magic.
I felt the urge extremely strongly this year, even though I was busy with the shop. I managed to get my living room looking a little like a Ski Lodge or Cabin in the Woods, and repainted our draughty hall a lovely rich pinky red. We had a wonderful time with family and friends and I feel revived and ready to go again. I am sorry I did not manage to post before Christmas to wish all you lovely readers and followers the Compliments of the Season, we were unfortunately without the Internet for about 10 days. I do hope you all had a wonderful, peaceful Christmas with a little touch of magic about it.

Here a a few photos of home.

I look forward to catching up with you all and would like to wish you  a 'Magical New Year'! With all my love, Linda x

Maker of things

A pretty pink angel, with moonbeams in a little jar.

So sorry for my absence dear friends, I have been having too good a time as the 'maker of things'. The shop where I have a little booth, had a couple of Open Days and I had to get my act together and get some stuff made. I do buy in some things, but try as much as possible to make a variety of things, so that my space is ever changing and different. It is labour intensive, and frustrating at times, but I love the variety of it.

Hand painted stockings.

A rosy wreath.

A hessian wreath complete with toadstools, and a very tired Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

A little nutcracker decoration, minus the scary teeth!

The hessian wreaths, I have been admiring for a while on Pinterest, so I thought I would have a go, they are really quite easy to make, and are a change from silk or fresh ones. I added my own little touch with some toadstools and dried hydrangea.

Irish Blessing Cushion.

You have seen this little fella before, but now it's finished!

These are brushes which I painted and then decided to add a tea towel and mug and package them for a domestic
goddess.

There are going to be another 2 Open Days next week, so the pressure is on again. I have been doing various Workshops on painted furniture, flower arranging, and various crafty things, and although they are at night, they have been taking a lot of my time, in their preparation. I am enjoying it all though, it is good to be creative.

I do feel a little unhappy with my home , it has been neglected, and now that Christmas is coming, my nesting instincts are kicking in. I do realize that you can't 'do it all',but I will certainly have a crack at it. I know that once Christmas is over, things will be very quiet in the shop, so I can concentrate on my home then, but I kind of would like it to look cosy and lovely for the holidays. We shall see. I am certainly not going to stress over it.

I am very behind with my blog reading, but am looking forward to catching up with you all and seeing what is happening in your lives.Wishing you all a happy week ahead, and less of this awful weather we have been experiencing.

                                              With love, Linda x.