Thursday 23 September 2010

Catching Up.....

We've been making the most of the last days of summer this year and decided to visit some more National Trust properties. First stop was Hidcote Manor Gardens in Gloucestershire......designed and created by the horticulturist Lawrence Johnston in the Arts & Crafts style, it is made up of exquisite garden rooms, each one possessing its own special character.
 


We stayed overnight at a wonderful B&B called The Kissing Gate in the nearby village of  Ebrington. It's one of the cleanest, most beautifully decorated places I've ever stayed in. (If you're interested you can read my review on Trip Advisor). The house is fairly new but Ebrington is a traditional Cotswold village with many beautiful thatched cottages. We had dinner at the Ebrington Arms...gorgeous place!

 
The next day we visited Chipping Campden and Broadway.......
 
 and finally Snowshill Manor....my favourite place of all. You can read about it here.

I haven't forgotten about 'the mystery photo' from my last post :-)
Heather was absolutely right when she guessed waterlily seed pod.
We spotted these little green 'bottles' bobbing around on our local canal ......


I found a picture of the flower on Wikimedia Commons....you can see the seed pod starting to grow in the centre.
So there you go...well done Heather!

I taught a mixed-media collage class last week at the Beetroot Tree and met a new blogging friend there called Donna. We've 'known' each other for a while through the Suzi Blu classes, but only recently became aware that we lived fairly near to each other. You can see the scrummy collage she created on her blog here.

I showed some of my examples on this blog post...here's another I did for the class; this one is mounted onto wood so is actually finished!
The others are waiting patiently for DH to get his special electric saw out and cut up some more wood......

 

And FINALLY (are you still here?) .......a Peachy update. He stayed with us last weekend -
and he's growing too quickly......

"I'm sure I fitted into this box last time I stayed here......."

31 comments:

Jo Capper-Sandon said...

In awe as always. Fabulous photos, beautifully presented and amazing artwork.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful architecture and gardens, swoon. I live the digital piece on Hidecote. Also, I should have recognized the water lily pod, they are outside my house. Strange how you don't pick up on things out of context. Wonderful trip thanks for sharing your bits of UK with us across the pond. xox Corrine

Terri said...

Hello Linda,
I would have never guessed water lily, how cool is that!

You really have been busy visiting amazing places. Next time I go to England I am definitely looking up these places as well as the Kissing Gate. Thank you for the advice.

I love your art piece, it looks perfect mounted on the wood. All your layers and sewing make it so special.

Hugs,
Terri

Lori Saul said...

What gorgeous photos and beautiful subjects to use in your wonderful digital and mixed media art Linda. Love the card you made and can't wait to see more inspired pieces. Happy Autumn to you and yours!

AmyK said...

My goodness, those pictures are entirely lovely. And kitty is soo cute! And getting a little bigger than he thinks!

Heather said...

Lovely pics from your trip round the Cotswolds - all my favourite places. There used to be a wonderful embroidery shop in Chipping Campden but sadly it closed. I love your mixed media collage and the pics of Peachy bring to mind that saying about getting a quart into a pint pot!

Jan said...

I'd love to be able to come over there and visit these places. Probably never happen so I shall just enjoy your photos. I love that finished piece you posted. And the Peachy photos are adorable! The pod bottles are cute, I'll bet you will find something interesting to do with them.

Marigold Jam said...

What a cute cat - lovely markings. Your mosaics of the properties you visited are also beautiful - made me want to go and see it for myself. And I love the mixed media art - thanks for sharing so much lovlienss!

Jane

Jill said...

Peachy is a heart breaker - he is one gorgeous cat - he almost made me forget your great mosaics of the houses and gardens you visited - what a beautiful part of the country it is! And I love your collage, great post.

*jean* said...

oo how i would love to visit there someday...sigh...love your mixed media panels..and peachy is getting so big! adorable!

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting your great pics. They really make me want to visit there. And I love the photos of Peachy because he's about the same age as my kittens. Isn't it funny how cats always want to curl up in boxes, no matter what size they are (the boxes, I mean). Anything from a shoebox to a suitcase is a likely resting place for a cat.

Sandies' Patch said...

Hi Linda,
would have loved to have attended your collage class last week, I saw it advertised when I went to the Beetroot Tree but couldn't afford it in time or money...one day!
I saw your gorgeous Lotus books, they are fabulous!

Peachy is growing too fast, they don't stay kittens for long, just kittenish.

Take care,

Sandie xx

ShabbyChicShaz said...

Don't worry, Peachy will make himself fit, cats all have a bit of Houdini in them, lol. He's a handsome boy! Thanks for sharing your trips with us. My friend and I like getting out for the day so we might get ourselves over to Hidcote Manor one day as it looks lovely. Gardens, architecture, what more could you want? Looks like your class went well, love your piece. Seed pods are so inspirational, love the shape.

Lynn said...

LMBO at Peachy, I can't believe he already grew out of that box, he was sitting right in it last time he was with you.

Oh you lucky girl to be able to go visit all that history and stay in such a beautiful part of the country. I have never been down that way, maybe some day :) Love all the beautiful photos and the digitally altered one too, great work.

Beautiful collage on wood too, your students are so lucky to have you :)

Lizzie said...

It makes me home sick!There is nothing like it here in Southern California!

Caterina Giglio said...

still giggling over peachy!! so funny ... and the national trust properties sound absolutely amazing! would love to see your fav with you some time, what a collection, I am sure I would be stunned! xx's

Bunty said...

I enjoyed your post with all the lovely photos and the beautiful digital collage.

I am very lucky in that I live fairly near to both Hidcote & Chipping Campden and in fact we went to both last year! Snowshill is also one of our favourites too - it's especially lovely in the Summer when all the delphiniums and roses are out! It's such an intriguing place. Glad you enjoyed it!

Barbara

Lorraine said...

what a lovely collage..its handy having someone cut up the wood too isnt it. We are lucky that we have such beautiful country houses here in the UK..

In the Light of the Moon said...

Gosh..I look at your lovely photos and the places you visit and wish..wish I couls be a fly on the wall with you while you visit them..so beautiful and dreamlike..I feel almost transported into a different time as I look at these beautiful places.Thank you for sharing.Warmest Regards,Cat

Judy S. said...

We spent the last few days of summer in Chicago with the GK; your trip sounded much more relaxing! Great photos! That Peachy is too cute. WHat big ears he has!

Jaqi said...

Looks like you had a fab time, and who wouldnt ? Those houses and gardens are stunning, Im sure I was born into the wrong family lol.....
Bet you will be doing some great pieces with this fantastic collection of pictures, I cant wait.

Peachy sure looks alot bigger , longer legs hehehe, still as cute as can be though, and i bet he gets ruined.

Love the piece you have mounted onto wood, the colours are delicious as always, very Linda .....I love visiting your blog your work just gets better and better all the time , its beautiful linda thank you for sharing and for being such an inspiration , enjoy the rest of the weekend xx

Maggi said...

What lovely photos of your trip. I like the piece that you have mounted and finished too. They may grow up quickly but he is still just so cute.

Rosie said...

I love Snowshill too, and you've whetted my appetite for Hidcote which I've always wanted to see. You take such beautiful photos, and I love the treatment you give them in Photoshop. Peachy has grown amazingly fast - SO CUTE!

Mary S. Hunt said...

great trip and cool finds thanks for taking us along!!!
beautiful dwellings and the photos are lovely!

Gini said...

Yes I'm still here.
LOL about Prince's box!
It IS a shame kittens grow up so quickly.
Thank you so much for showing all the wonderful National Trust eye candy so artfully :-)
What a wonderful time you had.

Plus I notice that the catalogue man was in one of your photos, clever you to catch him.

Love your collage of a Rudebeccia (sp?) I think it is that flower, but I pretty much know diddly squat about flower names.
However I do know most flowers are pretty so I feel suitably vindicated.
Actually I know diddly squat about spelling too.
Or; maybe I just know diddly squat.
Who knows? I certainly don't :-)
Gini
xx

Emma said...

Glad the w/s went well, lucky peeps!

I'm quite homesick for the Cotswolds...sometimes (my parents live near Woodstock, on the edge of the C)but not for the volumes of people! Never managed Hidcote before I left, one day.

Might have to join the wood backing brigade as I don't think I'll get a grant for framing for my exhibition....next September. ;0

Top stitching defines a seam on the outside of the garment, apparently, in answer to your question!

Sandy said...

Oh wow Linda you are back with wonderful photos and great new art. Love them all. The photos are great. Have a lovely week my dear friend.

Heloise said...

Beautiful photographs of all the lovely places that you visited. Hidcote has such wonderful gardens. Glad you both enjoyed exploring the cotswolds.

Barbara said...

Beautiful art and I love all the places you visited. You must feel like you are transported back in time as you are walking around them.

Peachy is hilarious and so cute.

Ali H said...

Lovely creative work & great photos too - I love the way they are laid out in a grid - how do you get them grouped like this ?

Sharmon Davidson said...

What gorgeous photos- I would so love to visit all those places! Peachy is totally adorable!

Be filled with Wonder and Peace.....and Cosiness

I hope you're managing to embrace this change of season. I'm so much better at accepting the end of summer than I used to be. I&...