Last days of summer 2020

Well here we are in the final days of summer 2020. Night draws in earlier every day as autumn beckons. There is a definite nip in the air but for the last week or so we have been blessed with some gorgeous sunshine and blue skies day. My Hb and I had a couple of days out during our recent "Staycation", not quite like being in Rhodes but we really did enjoy some great visits and beautiful countryside. We visited Hever Castle, Wisely RHS gardens and Polesdon Lacey and I thought I would share some photos from these visits here on my blog. I have shared some photos already on Instagram, you can follow my journey there via this link. 

First up is our day out at Hever Castle in Kent where there was also the bonus of a craft fair being held in the grounds. Everything was very well managed and socially distanced. There was a one way system and it was good to have space to see everything without the usual pushing crowds you would have had in pre Covid19 times. We were also lucky to be able to upgrade our gardens only tickets to seeing inside the castle, which is an absolute historical gem.

 Hever was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and also where Henry V111 visited her as he tried to woo her. Some of their love letters are on display as is the final letter she wrote to him as she awaited her execution. Henry certainly did have some extremes of emotions! It's a genuine moated castle complete with drawbridge. 

The castle was built in the 13th century by the Boleyn family. It was saved from ruin by Viscount Astor in the early 1900s. He was the richest man in America and came looking for a new life and home in England.  His fortune was $100 million in the late 1898...quite astonishing. The house, grounds and a "Tudor village" were created and refurbished by a huge workforce into a cozy family home. Photographs were allowed inside but with no flash so apologies for some, which are a little blurry. 

                                       Some  historical elements were retained by Astor.

   In the grounds Astor also recreated an Italian garden complete with authentic Roman marble and even a lake, hand dug out by the extensive work force. 

We really enjoyed our lovely day out and catching with some English history. 

My make today was inspired by our Staycation and the new deliver of the awesome new distress colour Crackling campfire which the postie recently delivered. 

As I did with Speckled egg I challenge myself to made 3 tags using all the products in the range; ie inks, sprays, glaze and paint. Here is my first;

I used all Tim Holtz products including the stamps and stencil.

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges;

Pixie's snippets playground  #387 I have used lots of snippets of paper to make my field notes tags as well as the dimensional leaf. 

Stamping sensations 1/3 the great outdoors

The Funkie junkie boutique blog staying in the background I used Tim's leaf mini stencil and distress stain spray plus labels made with his field notes set to make my background

I will be sharing my other 2 tags over the coming week or so.

We really did have a great day out. I will share our Wisley trip soon.

Take care,

Stay safe,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Create it, Farnborough craft and hobbies show 21-22 February 2020

In 2 weeks time I will be  back on the road with James Dennison of Stampers Grove demonstrating for him. The first show of 2020 for me will be at the Create it Show in Farnborough at the International Exhibition Centre.

 The show is open on Friday 21st and Saturday 22 February and I will be there both days. I am demonstrating Visible Image stamps and stencils with all the wonderful products that James sells including distress oxides, alcohol inks, PaperArty Infusions and Brushos.  Plus many other stamping and crafting products too. It would be lovely if you are in the area to stop by and say hello. 

At my first show at Ally Pally in 2018, when I demonstrated with Mark Alexander (aka Mr Visible Image) I made some artist trading card badges for Mark and Helen Alexander. Since then it has become a "thing" for me to create a new Visible Image badge especially for each show I demonstrate  at. 

As Farnborough is near to where my daughter and her family live and we are forever driving up and down the A3 I thought the awesome Visible Image "The right direction" stamp set would be perfect to use. I think my car could drive itself up and down the A3! 

Here is my badge....made using distress oxide inks. In the background is the "strobes" stencil

and some more artist trading coins I have made with the set which I will be taking with me. 

I would like to enter my coins into the following challenges;

Lil patch of crafting friends 3/3 anything goes

Crafter's castle 3/3 anything goes

Love to craft 1/3 anything goes

Through the craft room door 2/3 anything goes

Crafty sentiments 2/3 anything goes

Unicorn blog 2/3 anything goes

Cute card Thursday 1/3 anything goes
We love 2 create 1/3 anything goes

 I will be showing a couple more sneak peeks of my samples and demos for the shows here on my blog in the coming days.  I am so looking forward to sharing lots of ideas and projects at the show.

All the brand new February release Visible Image stamps and stencils will be available to buy on the Stampers Grove stand at the show and I will have everything with me to demonstrate with. 

James also has exclusive "show offers" too so if you are thinking of coming why not get your ticket in advance and I will look forward to seeing you there. Tickets are of course also available on the day. I really love the buzz of a show and meeting so many lovely crafters...it really is my "happy place!"

So if you are coming to the show..."steer yourself in the right direction" to the Stampers Grove stand.....you will find me behind the badge!

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

A trip down memory lane to Horniman's Museum

On my husband's actual birthday last Monday we decided to visit a museum that neither of us had set foot in for nearly 50 years! As a child I lived in Peckham, South East London and 2 of my cousins lived at Forest Hill right next to Horniman's Park and museum. My brother and I spend countless days playing in the park with our 2 cousins. Those were the days when you went out to play and only went home when it got dark.

We were so lucky with the weather, it was cold but gloriously sunny. I looked up at the old part of the museum and the memories flooded back.

 This original part of the museum opened in 1901. If you are interest this is a link to the museum web site 

However with lottery funding there are now 2 fabulous extensions. 

 The gardens are gorgeous and the old band stand has been restored. When I was a child in the summer on a Sunday seating was put out and a band played to the gathered audience.

 The view from the summit of the gardens looks right out across London. When I was a child there was no Shard to be seen! Now the city is clearly visible in the distance.

Inside the old part of the museum still looked just as it did to me as a child but things have had a lick of paint and a tidy up. Even the old stuffed walrus is still there!

There are treasures from all around the world.

We had a delicious lunch in the Victorian conservatory

and visited the aquarium which although it has been completely modernised has an original "aquarium" from the Victorian era.

How delightful is this?

It was full of sweet anemones. 

There were other fantastic tanks too.

and yes some of my favourite sea creature, sea horses.

We had such a wonderful day and before we drove home we took a further trip down memory lane driving past my old family home and childhood haunts.

My card is one inspired by this gorgeous museum and Victorian era in which it opened. I used one of my treasured Tim Holtz paper doll and used a gellprint background from my stash. Extra stamping including the sentiment are from my Visible Image stash.. The world die is also by Tim Holtz..one of my favourite ever dies.

I could imagine this being a young Frederick Horniman, thinking about his future grand tours around the world where he would be able to buy artifacts to share in his amazing museum.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Pixie's snippets challenge #370
Through the craft room door 1/3 anything goes
Creative fingers 1/3 anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to leave your kind comments. Have a lovely week ahead. I am off to meet my dear blogging friend Brenda at Wisley today and enjoy the latest splendours Mother Nature will share with us here..and yes my camera is packed.

Back soon,

Bue for now,

Jane x