Dreamer (and a hint of what's to come)

I have a final page for Art Journal Journey for Eileen's fabulous theme 'Dreams or Wishes' that closes today.Thanks for coming up with such a brilliant theme!

I used some Carabelle Studio background stamps (influenced by watching Leonie on Hochanda yesterday)

 I used book paper, a napkin and some mop up paper on top - it reminded me of being at Kew in the indoor plant areas and how large some of the plants were!
This young man visited too, and came away with dreams of visiting the jungle...although it does look as though it may remain a dream! 
We saw some beautiful flowers at Kew..

..and I'll be back soon with more photos!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Kew- Part 2

Sorry if I tricked you in my last post!
I knew you wouldn't have to wait long as I had already written most of this post!
After we left the Princess of Wales Conservatory we headed for coffee, passing by the lake and my first sight of a Chihuly.

 It looked different in every shot with the amazing Palm House behind it!

I think though, that this is my favourite lake shot!
Refreshed we continued our walk. 

 The sun made the Saphire Star sparkle!

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Hubby got a really sparkly shot!
We came to the Shirley Sherwood gallery - lots to see here and hubby enjoyed this as much as I did

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 This was one of my favourites...

 ...and these..

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Hubby got a good shot of these pears!
We did spend a long time here but dragged ourselves away to walk to the Pagoda.

I saw someone else having a photo taken on this seat so when they moved I went to sit down - and some lovely leaves fell right by me.

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The Lime Crystal Tower reminds me of a pile of sticky sweets 

My first sight of the Pagoda is where I will leave you this time!

Looking through the photos we still have I think this may be 2 of 5!!!

Back soon. Thanks for looking, Chris

Dreams of Kew Part 2

I was showing my son some of my Kew Garden photos when he asked where there lots of birds around - I had a think and only recall seeing a robin right near the start of our walk, peacocks, geese and parakeets...Oh! and the big birds flying over to Heathrow. 
My journal page was made yesterday after walk around Styall Mill gardens where there were birds singing all around even though we were close to Manchester Airport.

I started this page with a bit of blue ink through a stencil then stamped Crafty Individuals leaves randomly over the page with different coloured inks and added a Crafty Individuals branch

I added another CI bird that I stamped onto some Ciao Bella 'Collateral rust' paper that I stuck over a piece of gelli print (torn in half to extend it.)

CI words were stamped onto some paper scraps and this is where I left it when the it went too dark to work without artificial light.

I had a restless night so at 3 o'clock I got up and added some spatters (no specs on!)and went back to bed and slept well!

This morning I added fibres and some leaves, the same ones I used for the background.
I decided some leaves would be good added to the frame so I stamped some onto another piece of gelli print and to give them some sheen I spread some gloss gel onto my plate and dipped them in.

I could probably have done this on my mat but there a bit of bounce with the plate
I used some glitter pens and Perfect Pearls to add some more Autumn shine to my page.

I often can't decide whether my favourite season is Spring or Autumn - today it is Autumn!!

This page is for Art Journal Journey - Dreams or Wishes - I have loved Eileen's theme but once again I had so little time for crafting!
I would also like to enter at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Art Journaling
More Mixed Media Challenge - Anything goes with  optional Orange
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Also a reminder that Try It On Tuesday has a new topic - Colours of Autumn


Now, these dreams of Kew...Part 2 is coming up in my next post...

Thanks for looking, Chris

Autumn colour at TIOT

Hi everyone, our new theme at Try It On Tuesday is all about the Colours of Autumn!
The Design Team have really excelled themselves this time with all the glories of Autumn.
I was lucky enough to get a stamp that made me think of Autumn days straight away.
I have always had a fascination for barns, garden sheds, stables ....anywhere connected with the storage of farm or gardening equipment but my dream has always been to visit a barn of the style of barns found in the USA.

The stamp has one tall tree in front of the barn but with a bit of  masking I have added it again on the right as well as at the side of the barn.
This is my idea of an ideal Autumn - coloured leaves blowing onto the ground right in front of my barn.
Unfortunately the frost arrived this morning and a lot more leaves are just falling from the trees

We have seen our fair share of Autumn colours already this year at Kew Gardens and at Dunham Massey - both featured earlier in my blog but I still dream of visiting New England in the Autumn...or should I say Fall?

I am entering this at 
Art Journal Journey, for Eileen's Dreams or Wishes theme.
Stamping Sensations - Trees, Leaves Autumn theme
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Fall/Autumn colours

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands for....the surprise

It's T day already - after being away in London and visiting Kew we were home for two days before heading to our Static caravan/mobile home to spend some time with our grandchildren and my son. The weather brightened as they were leaving but we did manage to have some fun. We woke up to frost this morning and we are home now!

On the 3rd July on our way to Chateau d'Oiron we called in to see this church that our friends had described as run down and damp but worth a look!

 The outside was impressive...previously an abbey, built in 1095..

 ..with lovely cloisters..

 ..and a huge door.

 It was when we entered the church that our friends got a surprise, since their last visit several years ago the inside has been cleaned up and had ramps put in.

There is the one we walked down to get in.

This is the part I really found fascinating - the seats around the cross and lectern had carvings in them.

Okay...I'll stop......but there were so many more!!

Things to look out for!

We thought that these had been carved recently by referring to old photos.

This contains a saint's bones

You can see here how dirty it must have been, as this has been cleaned and the years of damp have taken their toll.

Even though it was a hot day we wanted to see the other side of the church...

 ..and the view from the back!

For my drink in order to join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T stands for Tuesday I am taking you back a few weeks to one of our shopping trips where we stopped halfway round for coffee and pastries

We usually have a smaller breakfast so by the time we are are shopping we are ready for a bite to eat! Hubby had cherry flavoured twist while I had my favourite - Almond croissant, although I do prefer the ones they do without sugar piled on top! I had a plain old Americano - Hubby had a fancy Latte!


I will be back soon with my TIOT post and then Kew Part 2 hopefully! ( think there may have to be a part 3 and 4 after that!)

Thanks for looking, Chris