Last week the weather was very spring like and on my day off I visited Ightham Mote in Kent with my Mum and Dad. We are all National Trust members and even though we have visited this medieval treasure many time we always see something different. I also love seeing these properties at different times of the year as the grounds look wonderful during the different seasons.
I have shown some history of Ightham in Jane's Journal before and if you are interested do have a look at the
link here . As a small recap it dates from the 14th Century and has been restored lovingly over the years by the National Trust. There are even some new rooms open this year. This as the view as we walked down the footpath.
The timber cladding is gorgeous and so typically medieval
We walked across the bridge and entered the house via the stone courtyard
Below is the only Grade 1 listed dog kennel...their hounds must have been huge.
The property has had many owners over the years and this room is nearly how it was left by the last owner, Mr Robinson.
There are so many pretty flower displays everywhere
The chapel is one of my favourite parts and the Tudor painted roof and leaded lights allow the sunlight to stream in.
All the staircases have carved figures and panels
I love all the photos dotted around showing past owners and their own belongings
and outside the grounds looked lush and green after the winter's rain.
There were very few visitors that days so we almost had the place to ourselves and as we walked around the sense of peace and the past was very potent. I decided when I got home to make a Moment of our day for my physical Jane's Journal.
I had the paper guide from our day so I as there are some great challenges encouraging us to use our junk or up-cycle I decided not to bin it but to use it in my Moment.
I used my Distress inks to blend several spring colours onto my CS and ripped up the guide and stuck these on the page.
Next I used my newest TH stencil and my new Forgotten Coral distress ink ( I LOVE this colour) it is so vibrant and goes with everything.
I needed something medieval so I remembered my Latin script stamp by The Artistic stamper and partially stamped it over the page in sepia Archieval ink. It couldn't be any other colour choice could it?
I wanted to somehow incorporate the medieval timber cladding so keeping with the deconstructing/recycling/junk theme I dug out some packaging which I cut up and ripped a little to "age" them.
I also had an old ribbon from a present from ages ago, which was heading for the bin which had flowers and pearls on. This seemed to also fit the bill for my Moment.
I am sure by now you wondering where on earth I am going with all this...so
here is my finished Moment...........
Here are a few close ups. The great quote is one of my Tim Holtz stamps, it seemed so appropriate. I stamped it onto a Cheery Lynn alpine border as I felt all the detailed cut outs of this die have such a medieval feel.
I tried to create a memory of the leaded stained glass in the chapel by using my lattice die. The sunny colours of my inked card shine from behind reminding me of the light streaming in through the windows. The clock charm represents the clock chiming in the distance as we walked around savoring the peace and quiet.
I inked the corrugated packaging to represent the medieval timber cladding of the house. I also tried to include the lovely gardens by making the bottom timbers more like fencing. I want to be peeping throught the fence into the pretty grounds of Ightham. I added some flowers and greenery using Cheery Lynn and Marianne dies which I coloured with DIs.
The feather was another nod back to the past.
Some touches of gilding wax added a little touch of history too
and you can see the upcycled ribbon above too.
and one final arty shot where you can see I even used my date stamp to add the day we visited.
I would like to enter my Moment into the following great challenges;
PaperArtsy
deconstruction #5 I was inspired by Leandra's video to look at using products in a way they were not designed for ie my corrugated card packaging became timber, the lattice die became stained glass windows and the guide was ripped up and used to make my mixed media background
Pan Pastel UK challenge,
alter it I have altered the guide, my corrugated card and the ribbon for my Moment
Cheery Lynn
celebrate my Moment is a celebration of life, and how to take the time to enjoy it.
The Artistic Stamper
spring is coming I have used my mini Artistic Stamper calligraphy sheet stamp
The Ribbon Girl
green my project not only features green ribbon, leaves and distress inks but is also green in the sense that most of it is made from recycling and deconstructing ;0)
I hope you enjoyed your visit with me to Ightham, if you are ever in that part of Kent it is a wonderful day out......and try to remember in this busy life we lead.....
Learn to pause, or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.....
Enjoy the week,
Back soon,
Bye for now,
Jane x
