A DREAM of 30 years has come true for a mother-of-two as she launched her new business.
Marilyn Tea worked as an accountant for years while she brought up her daughter Hayley and son Matthew.
But the Redhill resident comes from a family of artists and the desire for her own gallery and place to showcase her work had always burned brightly.
On July 26, that dream came true as Marilyn opened the doors of Lemonade Lane, on Linkfield Corner, for the first time.
"It has been decades in the making," she told the Mirror.
"It is something I have wanted to do for a long time and I found myself in a position where the time was right.
"I am hoping it is something which will bring together the local community and I am very interested in supporting local artists."
In the store, Marilyn sells hand-made gifts including jewellery, plates and tea sets and some unique bird feeders, consisting of large cups attached to the top of poles.
All the gifts are specially made for the store – many by Marilyn herself – and she is also planning to showcase art by both herself and other artists.
She told the Mirror: "People need to see the shop to know what it is about. The things in here are quite beautiful and I am getting an amazing response from the local community."
Marilyn, who is in her late 50s, currently runs the shop with some help from daughter Hayley. She hopes the shop will grow to the point where she needs more staff but, for now, she is basking in of realising her dream.
"It is a dream 30 years in the making for me," she said. "I thought of the idea for the name about ten years ago and wrote it down.
"All my family are, or have been, involved in the arts, so I have followed in their footsteps. I love being around artists and the work they produce.
"I first saw this building a while ago and it had been empty for some time and I hoped it would come on the market. Eventually it did. This is what I have always wanted, it is what I've been working towards."
Visit www.lemonade-lane.com for more details
