In August 2026, I celebrated the launch of Indigo Jay Studio by transforming three garden tables at The Lodge Coffee House in Edinburgh with colourful, detailed artwork.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello and helped me add a little creative magic to this much-loved coffee spot.
Each hand-painted table was a labour of love: the first took six days to complete, the second around 36 hours, and the third four weekends.
I hope you enjoy discovering all the little details on your next visit!
I hope you enjoy discovering all the little details on your next visit!
✨ Click on the photos below to discover the full story. ✨
Why not photograph your favourite drink on the new tables and tag me on Instagram? @indigojaystudio
First garden table project
Some sanding required
A good primer next
The creative part finally begins!
Slowly...
Painting in the sunshine
The bright colours have been added
2 coatings...
Lovely!
Finally some pen work!
Love this pen
And the sun stayed on!
Those shapes really pop now!
Adding some pen work...
to each coloured shape...
finding inspiration...
in the natural world around us!
Over 150 shapes to fill in!
Like this one
or these ones
That's a lot!
Final details applied
so many!
And a proud moment for me too!
The table is now ready
for you to enjoy!
Second garden table project
Perfect canvas selected
Finding inspiration around
My favourite part of the process
seeing ideas come together
Slowly bringing elements together
refining the composition
Colours to choose
Adding patterns
Fixing mistakes!
almost done!
tadaaaa!
Thank you
for your kind support
and suggestions
they really help!
Detailed leaves to evoke Art Deco style
inspired by Nasturtium
patterns and butterflies
at the Lodge Coffee House
Adding details to flowers
and vines
Incredible inspirational moment here!
and talented helpers!
rallying around to help
get this project across the finish line...
Finally some varnish! AND DONE!
Third garden table project
Another table picked
and prepared
A design taking shape
inspired by
all the beautiful
items you love
collecting on your walk in a park!
Some pattern elements picked from
the other 2 tables made
to create a set at the Lodge Coffee House.
This large poppy
is really stealing the show
full of details and carefully drawn
all painted slowly
layer
upon
layer
Something is not right...
the "Messy middle"
can be a tricky challenge but erasing previous work
can help correct the design
and let the artwork "breathe".
This corner of the table filled in beautifully
with all sort of leaves, flowers and even a butterfly
and a cute caterpillar!
Adding final touches to the backgrounds
and a special mention for the Lodge Coffee House
more details added to the fern
and correcting any smudges (quite a few actually!)
before varnishing
