Monday 24 October 2016

Viewing Essex through the eyes of Constable

Last weekend we visited friends in Essex and they took us to Constable Country aka Flatford Mill where John Constable painted many of his glorious landscapes. It is now owned by the National Trust and if you ever venture to Essex/Suffolk I would highly recommend a visit.

We were blessed with lovely autumnal sunshine and I can see how Constable found the surrounding countryside so pleasing to paint. Constable's father owned Flatford Mill.
Constable painted many views of the river Stour and I appreciated why he loved it so much.





We enjoyed a lovely walk
 marvelling at the autumn colours
and also enjoyed visiting  the Mill and the spot where Constable painted the famous Hay Wain..I have added a link to see the original painting here

The house on the left was lived in by a tenant Willy Lott.
It has remained just as it was in Constable's time but none of the trees are the original


After our walk we ended up back at the tea rooms.
We even found walnuts which the wind had blown off a lovely walnut tree.
We enjoyed a different view of the river as we sat and chatted. It was such a lovely day.

I was so inspired by our visit that I knew my next Art Journal page would feature a photo from our day. I also wanted to enter some of my favourite challenges.  The dictionary letter over at the Craft Barn for this fortnight is V and lots of challenges are asking for autumn themed projects. I decided to use the word "View" from my vintage dictionary. Do read this definition and you will understand why my creative mind came up with the elements my page contains.
When I read the definition I knew that my Visible image "eye" stamp would work perfectly for this. As well as the "reach of the eye" I wanted to include a landscape photo so I chose my favourite of the day. I loved this view visible through these amazing entwined trees.


I also thought "View" could be through the lens of my beloved camera..you will see how I incorporated that later.

So I set to making a background....I wanted to incorporate the amazing clouds we saw that day..
I made a +ve and -ve stencil from a MB cloud die cut



I then used distress inks to create my clouds in the sky...












I added paints and texture with Crackle Paste to a Tim Holtz die cut tree

I used inky snippet mop ups of card for my leaf die cuts. I added Crackle Paste to some of these too. 

To represent my view through my camera I  stamped and fussy cut out my  Visible Image camera.

Then I put on my creative hat to put all my elements together and came up with this page for my journal. The sentiment which comes with the VI camera was so apt. The newest version of this set even has an extra Smile stamp...I will be using that soon.

You will see that I added a Tim Holtz baroque frame to add to the feeling of looking at a view. I loved this photo as I spotted the trees in the distance through these amazing trees...a  view within a view.
A few close ups......


It really was a fabulous autumn day and unlike Constable, who had to stand and paint his views of the Suffolk countryside, I was able to capture them with my trusty camera and use my photo in my Moment for Jane's Journal. I really was able to "Capture the moment and make it last forever" it was such a perfect sentiment stamp.

I would like to enter my Moment into the following challenges.

The Craft Barn dictionary challenge V my V is for View
Anything but cute an autumn day
Pixies's snippets playground #252
Stamping sensations autumn
Penny Black and More autumn
Dies r us 1/3  fall
Stamps and stencils elements of nature
Fashionable stamping 2/3 trees
Fussy and Fancy 1/3 shades of autumn

Thanks so much for visiting today and for the kind comments which you take the time to leave. It's been the most glorious sunny weekend again although today the sun has decided to take some time off. Enjoy the week ahead.
EDIT; I remembered after publishing that of course Flatford Mill is in Suffolk (just) not Essex. Rather than change the blog title and breaking lots of links I have left it alone :0) (Thanks Di ;0) xx

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x


33 comments:

  1. WOW! You are one very talented lady...thank you for sharing this, your photos are wonderful and I especially think the one through the arched tree is brilliant! Your page certainly reflects your day out in every way imaginable...absolutely jaw dropping!!

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  2. Faboulas page Jane.you have captured so much in your photos then put them into a wonderful page.
    Lot of time a dedication put into your work to make it just perfect. Always enjoy looking a your work each time you blog.
    Thank you for sharing with Fussy and Fancy.
    Best wishes
    Jules xx

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  3. Yowza! What a beautiful creation and awesome photos you have shared! It was like taking the nature walk with you! Great job! Thanks so much for playing in our ‘FALL including Halloween’ challenge at Dies R Us! Please come back again soon!

    Darlene (DRU Blog Leader)
    DIES R US CHALLENGE BLOG
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please come for a visit.

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  4. Wow! Thanks for sharing these awesome photographs and I love how you've done your page with the definition, wonderful tree and leaves and that eye on all of it!

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  5. Absolutely beautiful post, photos and also your snippets layout Jane! I love how you have such a great eye (no pun intended!) and can always pick out the best details.

    I was about halfway through a huge and very small count tapestry of 'The Haywain' and sort of gave up. A friend offered to finish it for me so the tapestry and floor stand were handed over. Sadly though, after a few years and then some long spells of illness, she died before finishing it and I've never liked to ask about it.

    And, I suspect that Len's 'outlaws' would be up in arms as am pretty much sure Constable country is really considered to be Suffolk, where they live? Probably on the borders truth be known and I bet the two counties fight over him! Such wonderful scenery as I know from our visits to see the 'outlaws'.

    Hugs

    Di xx

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    Replies
    1. Di you are absolutely correct...yes Flatford Mill is just in Suffolk, I have added an edit to my post. Thanks for reminding me...our friends live in Essex and it's just over the border. Hugs xx

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  6. Wonderful photos and layouts. I love how you incorporated the camera with the photos and all the wonderful embellishments. Thanks for sharing all the particulars of how you came up with the design and linking with us at Dies R Us Challenge. We hope to see more of your creations.
    Kathy
    DRU DT A

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  7. Your photos are worthy of any Constable painting Jane...really beautiful.
    You captured your day perfectly...love the clouds and the leaves!!
    I love how all good walks end up at a tea room! :)
    Enjoy your week,
    V x

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  8. Wow, such a lovely place Jane and your photos are really amazing! Isn't it funny how we ended up on opposite sides of photography, for me, the closer the better. lol. You chose my favourite photo to use on your page, and how perfect is the camera for your word choice!! Beautiful! hugs :)

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  9. Such gorgeous photos Jane! I have visited Flatford Mill and Constable country is so beautiful it is very inspiring! Your page is a lovely evocation of the day and the place....I love the idea of looking through at that beautiful view. Enjoy your week.
    Helen xox

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  10. Wow fabulous page. You've incorporated so many themes and elements, a stunning work of art xx

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  11. Absolutely love this one - the way you've framed your photo and added all the other 'view' elements is fantastic. It's a great view for all of us too!!

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  12. A beautiful page, fabulous photos and love the use of the camera stamp and the sentiment , just perfect

    Thanks for joining us at Stamping Sensations this month

    Joan

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  13. Beautiful photos Jane , I particularly love the one of the mill and reflections of the sky, it is amazing. I adore your cleverly designed moment page, the design and finished result is brilliant xxx

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  14. A super Autumn inspired creation and perfect for our themes this month, many thanks for joining us at Stamping Sensations, Fashionable Stamping and Penny Black and More challenges.

    B x

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  15. This is a wonderful journal page, you've captured everything perfectly and brought all the elements together to form a lovely memory, thank you for sharing this with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges, Leanne DT.

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  16. I am loving these pictures and they do remind me of this painter. Great journal page since you have captured the feeling of the photos.

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  17. I just LOVE your journal page Jane and your pictures are like paintings!
    Oh how I wish I were there!!
    xx

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  18. Such amazing pictures Jane!! And you have created such a beautiful page. Wonderful details!
    Thanks for sharing at Penny Black and More!

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  19. A fabulous journal page Jane, so thoughtfully put together!!! Nice stamp choices too! I think my fav pic is the reflection of the house in the water...and thanks for including the link to the original painting.
    Thanks for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.
    Dot x

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  20. Beautiful view, beautiful page. Loved looking at your photos of your day out too! Thank you for joining the Craft Barn Alpha Challenge xx

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  21. Fabulous photos - we are having a good autumn this year. And great page - stunning!

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  22. Fantastic page and photographs. Love the layout of your page, brilliant.

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  23. An amazing page. You have combined all the elements so well.

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  24. Your beautiful pics have convinced me I need to take a trip in Constable country! I love your layout too, lots of great details, it's a fabulous page.

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  25. This is such a beautiful piece of art. Your trip to Constable's part of the country and the amazing photos really do make me want to go visit. There is so much thought in this page, I love it.

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  26. Wonderful and artistic creation. I loved your pictures and only wish I could go on this walk!
    sandy XX

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  27. Fabulous piece and love the combination of elements you have used. Wonder what Constable would have made of today's cameras??!!

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  28. A lovely journal page with a fabulous background that frames your photo beautifully.
    Thanks for sharing with us at FSC
    Avril

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  29. So cute autumn card! Thank for playing with us at Fussy & Fancy challenge.
    Nathalie DT

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  30. I love the way you build up and illustrate your pages. This Is another fabulous piece.

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  31. What a fun collage and beautiful photography! We are so thankful that you shared with us at Anything But Cute. Hugs, Autumn

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  32. Really like the composition on this one, another beautiful interpretation, thanks again for joining us at Stamps and Stencils. Ruth x

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Jane x