Sunday 11 July 2010

Princess Peaches

Just wanted to show you the gorgeous Princess Peaches....my daughter's new kitten. She brought her to show me yesterday and had great difficulty getting her out of my clutches to take her home!  DH is being very boring sensible and pointing out all the reasons why we can't have another cat. Boooo.......
Looks like I'll be visiting DD a lot :-)
We've been making the most of the glorious weather recently by using our National Trust card. Last week we went to Calke Abbey in Derbyshire (more of that in another post.....DH took the photos on his camera phone and has mislaid the download cable. There are some amazing wall textures on it for digital collage which I'll share! )
Today we went to the lovely Belton House near Grantham and enjoyed the sunshine, gardens, interior, home-made soup, ice cream, tea and biscuits (but not all at once :-)
The house was built late 17th century....'a fine example of Restoration architecture' and was used in the TV adaption of Pride and Prejudice. Just think, Colin Firth may have stood on those lawns......but you'll have to make do with me.


I'm always fascinated by the amazing beds in these places...my favourite is the blue bed at Calke Abbey which has a brilliant story to it  (next time :-) but this was the best one at Belton......in the Chinese room where the walls are covered in hand-painted silk wallpaper.
But this is my favourite photo of all. We bought a very tall echinacea at the plant stall and DH kindly carried it back to the car. He wondered why I wanted to stop and take a photo of him on the way..........
And finally.......I decided to join KiwiCaroles journal workshop last week, click here for  link.
I love all the vintage stuff thats being done but I'm not so good at that so I'm being a bit of a rebel.
Here are my hand-made papers ready to be embellished (they are grouped into signatures.....I've learned something already!) My book is going to be about my garden.......
I had great fun splattering ink and salt on watercolour paper.......
More next time!

34 comments:

ShabbyChicShaz said...

Princess Peaches is just adorable, what a sweetie! Nice signatures, Caroles class looks so much fun, been seeing other classmates of yours and their books, looks a lovely class :)

Jill said...

Can't decide what I love the most - kitten or beautiful paper - kitten or ...

Judy S. said...

Nice photos, Linda. That little kitty is adorable; I can see why you wanted to keep her!

Netty said...

Linda all the pictures are great and I love the papers you've made, brilliant. Annette x

Janet Ghio said...

So much to comment on. First--Princess Peaches--nothing cuter than a kitten and I'm not even particularly fond of cats--the mansion-fabulous and that bedroom!! Love the pages you made for Carols class--I have it bookmarked for the next class I take!!

Mary S. Hunt said...

GORGEOUS photos ummm what a bed!!!
adorable kitten !!!
i would not have wanted to give her back either

good job of salting the colors!
:)

so many classes how can we choose!!!
lol

Heather said...

Super post - adorable kitten, lovely photos and more to come. Your papers for the journal workshop are absolutely gorgeous. I keep coming across wonderful journals on various blogs and would really like to have a go myself, but am too busy with other things right now. Looking forward to seeing your journal take shape.

Diane said...

What a great post--a little something for everyone. Those photos of the Belton House are beautiful--I love going to places like this. And, I'm ALWAYS inspired by any thing you touch!
P.S. Love that that sweet little kitten too--I can understand why you would like to adopt another one.

claire barone art said...

toooo cute !!!! just get another kitten I did even though hubby didnt really want one now he loves
him x

Terri said...

P.P is a darling little kitty, and I wouldn't want to let her go either!

Thank you for sharing your photos of your NT trip. Beautiful! I hope to be in England this fall and I am sure I would love to see this place too.

Your new journal is stunning! I have a split art personality, I love to do vintage art, but I have a deep love of color! Your journal gets me all inspired! I would love to join this class, but I am intent on sewing my first cloth doll. I have the pieces cut out and I hope to begin today : )
Otherwise, it looks like a fab class, and your journal is going to be incredible! I can tell you are loving it, and that is a good thing.
Hugs,
Terri

Jo said...

Oh my, such gorgeousness today!! Little PP is so exceedingly cute, your NT 'adventures' look wonderful and as for your creations, well, you surpass yourself everytime, my dear friend. So looking forward to seeing more peaks inside your new journal.
Huge hugs xxxx

Anonymous said...

Sweet, sweet kittie and what a perfect name since her fur looks so peachy colored. Gardens and houses are marvelous. And Colin Firth, be still my heart...
Like your salt and ink, looks a riot of flowers to me!

Shashi Nayagam said...

I am very partial to cats so I think she is absolutely delicious looking.
Looks like you had a wonderful day.
I love your water colour papers for your book. The colours are so very vibrant.

Catharina Maria said...

Ohh that little cat , that is love at the first place .

The workshop looks good with you beautiful colored papers .

Love ♥RINI♥

Caterina Giglio said...

princess is adorable and wonderful photos! the bed and the grounds are just incredible!!

LazyKay said...

GREAT pics and I can see why it was love at first sight with the kitten!

xxxxxxx

Sharon said...

Ages since I have been around to see what everyone has been doing...
Linda what an adorable kitten....
Love your handmade papers....your photos and the embroidery. I have missed out on so much and seeing what has been created.
Will pop by soon and take another peek.....

~*~Patty said...

I seem to be comment challenged the last two days...I shall try again here :)
Princess P is quite a little poser and so very precious too!
I am SO excited you've joined in Kiwi Carole's Journal Class Linda!
Your papers really are too pretty to cover up tho :)
Your dh's photo makes me giggle you two are fun and the places you visit ... oh so lovely too as are you dear friend!
oxo

Lorraine said...

look at that cute cat and what a purrfect photo..like the photo of your dh with the flower ha ha ha. Now that journal class sounds like me..madness and mess! love the salt and ink pages and glad I gave you an idea to use beads..I just use red line tape to stick a whole row of them on.

Lela said...

This is my first visit to your site. All I can say is WOW! Love your work. The fearlessness that you show in your use of and blending of color is inspiring. TFS. And the kitten is beyond precious.

Lela

Anonymous said...

Any chance you can sneak her into your bag on Friday? I am sorry but I cannot see that place without the image of Colin Firth on his wet shirt. Your journal pages are looking great.

Lynn said...

LMBO..... love the photo of Brian with the Plant, it suits him :)
Miss Princess is adorable, but listen to your husband girl.
As for your papers, they are amazing, and I can't wait to see what you do with them :)

Ragamuffin Gal said...

This my most favorite post that I have read today, probably all week! First the darling kitten, then the house used in an Jane Austen adaptation, and then your papers that you created so beautifully! Can a blog post contain more enticing elements?
I think not ~ Thanks for the Fabulous post today!

Blessings ~
Katie

Jaqi said...

Aw the kitty is so cute......I bet you end up with one too hehehe.
Your photos are fantastic , I used to be a member years ago, not having a car now makes it too difficult to get around places like that. I agree that bed is stunning , you can get so much inspiration from houses like that , Im sure I was born into the wrong family, I would love to live somewhere like that. Thanks for sharing your photos they are beautiful. Hannah has a painting in an exhibition, so we are off to the preview this evening. Have fun xx

*jean* said...

oo linda, you are too funny! i love the plant coming out of hubby's head!! a baby grandkitten...sqweezable!!! i adore kittens and would be the crazy cat lady if my family would let me...sigh...your papers are beautiful!!
glad you are enjoying your summer!

Sandy said...

Oh Linda she is so darling.
So beautiful princess. Thanks for sharing.
Your artwork is fantastic again. Love it.

Have a sunny weekend my dear friend.

Unknown said...

How exciting to stand on the lawn of the house that was used in P & P. The house is gorgeous, isn't it?

Funny photo of your hubby. :)

And I love your rebel pages. I have yet to join in the class. Been too busy with other things. (Three kids home for summer break!)

donnalouiserodgers said...

Hi Linda - sorry it's been a while - I've posted the head in vice jobbie -

your signatures are fab - are you using coptic stitching?

I think you have a very unique and really beautiful style - your work is shabby chic in a way that is also elegant - most people wouldn't even be able to copy it let alone originate it.....

really good photography too - hope like me your better half doesn't look at your blog!

hows your SB class going?

Artyjen said...

Gorgeous Peaches! :) Love the journal pages nice backgrounds for garden theme :)
xoxo Sioux

Joanna said...

I came from Katie at Ragamuffin Gal and I'm pleased I did! Princess Peaches (cool name) is just adorable and so cuddly. Great photos - kitten, bed, husband, inked/salted pages (what fantastic colours!)etc etc. I'm off now with a smile on my face. Enjoy your weekend.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Katie at Ragamuffin sent me over to read this post, and I'm glad she did. The kitten is so precious! Loved seeing the beautiful photos of your day, and the book pages you've created are so pretty! Have a wonderful weekend. laurie

carole brungar said...

Your pages are gorgeous!! I can see a garden full of flowers just looking at them!
I loved the photos of your trip too, those big old homes are amazing, we don't have anything like that here in NZ. Would love to visit them, especially the ones used in the film :))

Lynn said...

Linda, I forgot to tell you how much I love your hair, it looks lighter too and you look so fresh and energetic :)

Also could I do these papers with the Ranger inks to you think?

Gini said...

I wrote a long comment on Princess Peaches that blogger ate and even was cheeky enough to burp afterwards!
But now I notice that Princess is a Prince...
So anyway love the day of the triffid (sp?) photo and your latest inked papers.
Let's see if this one gets eaten or not.
Gini
xx

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