T Stands for the Tribute

Hi everyone, I started to write my T day Post yesterday and it was a lot different to this one.

This morning I had some upsetting news. You may remember last September our dear friend died, we had many adventures with him and his wife and continued to go out with her after his death...then Covid 19 came along and we kept in touch by phone or WhatsApp. A few weeks ago she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and went into a hospice. This morning her daughter got in touch to say she had passed away last night. I have had a pile of books and a scarf I knitted for her waiting for a chance to go and visit - we had one planned before all the restrictions came back again!

In my post previous to this one I said we must appreciate what we have, this has so much more meaning today! I shall miss my friend so much, we had talked about the places we were going to take her to once it was OK to do so and this journal page is my tribute to her.

It's the last one I shall be making for Jo's 'Texture theme at Art Journal Journey. It's been a brilliant theme Jo and as it often does time just ran out for me!

I used sponges and paint to create the background and then added a piece of napkin with Autumn leaves on it - I pulled away some of the napkin to expose the background.I added a few die cut flowers and some 'ground' Sheila was an elegant lady and this paper doll seemed to be appropriate as we are getting our warmer clothes out.

The words are just another reminder to make the most of life!

I also have a tag for Tag Tuesday where Sandie's theme is 'Book Print'

 The tag was one with a pink background that has kept getting in my way for a while now! I added some book page, a snippet of a gelli print from way back, a piece of washi tape and before I added the Tracy Evans flower(an Aall and Create stamp) I spattered the tag with Festive Berries and Spiced Marmalade DIs. I am hoping that my new Crackling Campfire products will arrive soon!

We met up with my youngest son this morning at Fletcher Moss for a walk and coffee and I will show you more next week.

We started in the Parsonage gardens which I told you about a little while ago.

Hubby and I also went on Sunday after I had been to the hairdressers(she is on a rota and her day is Sunday, only one other person was there and it was very COVID safe.)as it was a lovely sunny day.

Just  few photos for now, the gardens are small but definitely worth taking my time to show you, not just rushing in like I am now!

This is on the front of the wooden carving you can see in the previous photo

There are lots of interesting features in this garden that I will save for next time.

Last Thursday hubby and I went to the garden centre for lunch.It is here where I will join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands For Tuesday.

Here is hubby waiting for our meal to arrive, as you can see, we opted for water with our meal.

The tables are now separated with a clear screen which is mounted on a strong cardboard stand, fully recyclable and we felt very safe as there is enough space for our food to be served from the side.

I hope that you will pop by on Thursday so that I can share some exciting news with you! 

Thanks for looking, Chris

 
  

Colours of Autumn

It's officially Autumn now so let's enjoy the 'Colours of Autumn' in our new challenge at Try It On Tuesday!  The Design Team have been enjoying the start of this colourful season here.

I made a card using some Paper Artsy stamps that are always on my desk at this time of year especially. 

I stamped a couple of poems - one about the months of the year and another about the seasons. 

I used a Sycamore leaf stamp and different coloured inks as I think Sycamore especially have such a variety of Autumn shades (they are a nuisance to sweep up - glad I don't have to do that any more!)

I hope you will share your Autumn colours with us, any medium is acceptable as long as you keep to the TIOT theme.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Live in the moment!

In these days of restrictions and taking care of ourselves and each other it's difficult to remember to enjoy life as it is.

Let's face it though, Covid 19 is here and will stay as long as we let it! 

There is so much around us at the moment though that we can still appreciate - the sunny days, (even if they seem little colder), the changing colours of the leaves on trees and plants, the stars in the clear skies at night(even on the edge of the city as we are) are shining brightly, the last blooms of the year are still around to cheer us, and, as the days get shorter, it becomes easier to accept staying in.

My page is my way of showing some Autumn beauty.

It was inspired by seeing this at Tatton Park earlier this week.

It started with this gelli print that I have been wanting to use for a while now, it took some patience to get to the stage of pulling off just part of the paint on the Gelli plate.

I added some random text and some stencilling through an Aall and Create hexagon stencil.                

The  rose image is from a Studiolight collection. I stamped it onto some cream card, coloured with Derwent metallic paints and fussy cut it. I added it to my page with a piece of corrugated card to which I had also added some metallic paints and a scrap of cheesecloth that was on my desk.

The quote is by Visible Images and is one of my favourites.

I am entering at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge - with Cec's theme 'Staying in the Background'

Here's some of the Autumn colour we've been seeing lately...

at Tatton Park....

Fletcher Moss Gardens.....

and Quarrybank Mill.

I am also joining in at 

Art Journal Journey with Jo's 'Texture' theme.

More Mixed Media Challenge - optional Brown

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands for.......the picnic

Hi everyone, I don't know how the time flies by so quickly but it does.

I intended posting this journal page yesterday!

It has texture paste, paint, ink stencilling and lace and is for Jo's 'Texture' theme at Art Journal Journey

The quote is from one of Alison Bomber's ('Words and Pictures')new sets.

Last Friday we had a lovely outing to Tatton Park.

Looking across at the sunflowers

A look at the pond with green stick like plants sticking up through the water!

Parts of the little stream around the Japanese Garden have turned green

Outside to inside...

Inside to outside..

We walked to the other side of the garden

This gate leads to the front of the Mansion

Even the best of gardens get moles!!!

We called to the Housekeepers store for some fresh veggies and one or two other goodies!

Lots of folk were enjoying takeaways from the Stables restaurant....but not us..

I'm joining Elizabeth and Bleubeard for T Stands for Tuesday with our picnic down by the big lake in the grounds of the Tatton Estate.

Hubby caught me wrestling the lid from our box with cheese and pickle bagels and tomatoes.

We also had a box with potato crisps(chips) and cheesy nibble biscuits 
Our drink was coffee that we put up on top of the dashboard.

Can you see the young stag through our dusty windscreen?

We were allowed to get quite close 

The ducks and geese were preening on the little landing stage 

I caught hubby's hand on my long lake pic...

Here he is!

We saw these three by the path on the way back to the car - the other two were still together on the other side.

I hope I haven't overdone it again! 

Thanks for taking this long look today, Chris