Sunday, June 24, 2012

Sometimes, when I'm taking the dog for a walk I take it upon myself to do a bit of tip pruning for the neighbours. I'm nice like that. Ahem.

Ok, while I know and you know my actions aren't entirely altruistic, I only take "bits" that are poking through fences, growing on verges etc. Honestly. 

(I know someone who used the local war memorial rose garden as her personal flower shop. Secateurs in hand, she'd sneak out while it was still dark, and fill her vases before Home Opens when she was selling her house. That's not nice is it?)

Anyway, a few days ago I spotted this growing over someone's fence




Isn't it amazing.

If you can tell me what it is, I'll send you a prize.

In other scintilating news I've been painting this


Lucy Violet's old hall cupboard. Our new pantry. I know she wouldn't mince words regarding my colour choice(!) but I'm thrilled with how it's come up.

Anyway love it or hate it, Lucy's old cupboard has had four coats of enamel paint (which is a you-know-what to work with) so it's staying.

Look at the wallpaper Lucy V lined its shelves with 


it's staying too, in case you were wondering.


p.s. you can see the original colour of Lucy's cupboard in the top pic.

p.p.s. Galit has let me know that my pilfered flower is called Hakea laurina - native to Western Australia. Thanks Galit, now I can hunt it down and hopefully grow my own. 

25 comments:

  1. Oh hello sunshiney perfection. Worth evey brushstroke of it's four coats.

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  2. Wow Kylie...that flower is amazing and the yellow cupboard is sure to brighten up any day. Cheerful things at your place. Happy Sunday :)

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  3. I've had a secret love of that shade of yellow for a while now - it such a happy, glorious shade of yellow.

    It's lovely Kylie - and I have a roll of vintage wallpaper very similar I think, to the one lining the shelves of that cupboard - I got it for £1 at a boot sale.

    Have no idea about your flower - but it's incredible. Like a sea creature. Never seen a flower like that.

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  4. What a cheery, sunny colour!! And I love that vase now housing your stolen goods.

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  5. Such a bright spot in your kitchen! I don't know what the flower is, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's some variety of pincushion flower.

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  6. Lucy dear! I love flowers so much and your post made me smile!
    Your flower is called Hakea laurina - native to Western Australia. One of the most beautiful native Australian flowers to my opinion.
    Hope your weekend is super lovely! xx

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  7. By the way, LOVE the grey vase!!!

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  8. I would keep the wall paper too! Looks great.

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  9. YAY for yellow, let's paint everything yellow I think, especially when this dull winter is still running its course! And never seen that kind of flower before - cool post :)

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  10. That is an amazing flower - absolutely gorgeous!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  11. Oh someone beat me ... I think it is a pincushion ....Hakea . My dad just lost his beautiful bush in the storms....I am sure the neighbours don't mind sharing it's beauty. xx

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  12. so glad someone knew the name of the flower. must draw that, such an inspirational pincushion i have never seen!!!!
    the yellow is very in my face, so much in my face i have just begun liking it.
    hello there!
    n♥

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  13. The yellow is utterly fantastic Kylie, definitely my sort of yellow and I would be keeping that wall paper too!! :-)

    Jem xXx

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  14. Oh that bloom is so pretty and usual, I have never seen anything like it.
    I absolutely love the yellow of your pantry, it's so bright and cheery. I have a piece here that I have debated painting yellow, I think I am convinced now :)
    x

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  15. Oh that lemon yellow pantry is superb- and enamel looks so much better, I can just never be bothered with the turps cleanup. And wallpaper lining is pretty cool- although if you want some yellow/orange retro flower wallpaper to match I have some spare i can send you- it is on the roof of my birdhouse that i just posted. And the flower is glorious - sneak back and try and pilfer a whole bunch. Blame me if you get busted. By the way, the skirt did arrive, it is gorgeous and is coming in a blog post I am just very disorganized at present. melx

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  16. Oh those flowers just wanted to play with that gorgeous vase!!!!!! Just beautiful.
    The cupboard is so happy!!!! The yellow is perfect, and I love the wallpaper.
    Love v
    PS I miss tea towell Tuesday. Every time I see any in a op-shop I think of you.
    V

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  17. Beautiful flower, glad someone knew what it is (I had no clue!)
    Your cupboard looks so bright and cheery, that's a great shade, and the wallpaper lining is gorgeous.
    Missed your last post somehow, but it made me chuckle. Loved the advert. Tu et la bomb, Kylie!
    PS. So sorry but no parcel has appeared... I'll try again with Royal Mail. Gutted! xxxx

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  18. Hi Kylie, great news, you are one of the winners of my recent giveaway. Please could you email me your address details and I'll get Urbanara to do the rest? Congrats!

    Kate x

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  19. Wow that flower is amazing its a work of art in its self ;-) I have never seen anything like that before so thank you for sharing. My mum is always taking a little spade with her when she goes and out and bout in the car or on her walks she is always coming back with a little something she has taken off the road side or from the fields on her walks bless her ;-)) loving your larder to that is gorgeous. dee x

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  20. Wow, the flower even has a pretty name! It looks so alien, yet natural and delicate.
    The finish on your cupboard is wonderful, so professional looking - surely you didn't use a brush? It almost looks laminated. Yellow isn't a colour I'm naturally drawn to, but that's a 'proper' yellow, not wishy-washy or nauseating. Impressive.

    I want a garden full of flowers like that, so my vases are always alive with interesting displays. Dried-up carnations just don't cut it!

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  21. I too, are a sidewalk pruner! It's a calling! I love the yellow, my fave colour, the cupboard looks amazing, good work! .....Kylie I would have scaled the fence for that flower! :)

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  22. I love that flower, and have never seen anything like it. Let me say, I'm BIG on Australian natives and would gladly set fire to a rose bush if I could have my own Australian native garden aka how they were done in the giddy hey-days of the 70s.

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  23. Yellow is so underrated, I love it. What a great looking flower. don't have a clue what it is, as I have a black thumb, but looks terriffic.

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  24. oh my, I do love that vase. I love taking a little here and there. I have a favourite lemon, jasmine and wattle tree that I pick from. Now I just have to find a frangipani.

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  25. Hmmmm thinking I may paint my kitchen wall in canary too - or maybe the lounge - or maybe mustard - either way I'm not asking the husband before I do it haha
    Mxo

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