Art Flashback ....

I had been thinking of my artwork

recently , and how it has developed from

when i was a teenager . Art has always been with me,

i got my drawing from my dad . Seeing him draw ,

then keeping the piece of wooden board for myself ,

that he made , so i could use myself . I took art and design

as a subject at school , and got a grade A in my final exam .

However , i did not choose to pursue art as a career , i

chose the catering trade - as i loved cooking just a little

more . Which was one of my only regrets in life .

Having said that - things happen for a reason , other life

things take over , and it got pushed aside for my years .

Also realising now , that this blog may not have even

exisited ,and the people who i have met on here -

of which i am eternally grateful to , has made it a

pleasure to do ....

It could have turned out a cooking blog ! !

I have kept some of my artwork , from school - some

25 years ago now !!

So ... i thought i would show you a piece . My subject

was parts of the body - for my exam , done in pastels .

This has been in the attic for years , mounted in an

old frame , which was found in a garage . So my

dad and I varnished the wood .

It was a magazine cutting advertising leg hair remover ,

and because i found the feet difficult to do - i just made it

look like a piece of material was over her feet ! Or maybe ,

i couldn`t be bothered to do it - more likely !!

I tried to get the best picture , without taking it out ,

but there is reflection in parts ....

I am still quite surprised , that it is still in good condition ,

after so many years . And i may just have to get my

pastels out once again !

Small IS Beautiful ....

Looking at the smaller things in life ...

A minature rose plant - just 3" high .....

Minature gerba daisy - in salmon pink ....

An attempt at a vase of roses - on 3" square board

An great progress on my chilli plant !! Whoo hoo !
Small - but hopefully a hot one !! ;o)

Worcester was our next stop .

The river Severn , and where the cathederal

looks down upon ...

I had never seen so many swans !!

And a robin in the grounds ....

which seems to be an "in thing " as we

see one everywhere we go !!

Isn`t he a cute one Rhonda !! ?

The gigantic door ....

And myself waiting to go in ,

once i had eaten my crisps !! LOL !

I was starving , as we had an early breakfast ,

and it was 5pm when we finally got to eat something !!

One of the many stained glassed windows ...





Next onto Bath - where we just spent a few hours ......
Jane Austin lived there for a few years ,

and the artist Gainsborough .

The Abbey ....

The architecture of the ceiling
was magnificent .....




ornate wooden pews ....









We then visited The Roman Baths ....

One of partial mosaic flooring left ...





Looking down onto the main bath ....
It was originally covered , but with sunlight and open
exposure , algae has made the water green - it would
have been clear and warm ...





A small clip of the bath .

Apology`s for it being abit all over and not smooth !

I am just in the shot right at the beginning !

My other half had a bit of a dither going i think !!

And Bath Abbey can be seen , as it is situated

just across a small square ...

A scanned postcard of The circus - which is the

round housing , and The Crescent - top

left hand corner . Bath has many georgian houses

dating fron the late 18th century - these included .

The Royal Crescent is a notable residential road of 30 houses, laid out in a crescent, in the city of Bath. It was designed by the architect John Wood the Younge and built between 1767 and 1774 It is amongst the greatest examples of Georgian architectureto be found in the United Kingdom and is a grade I listed building

And one of our views ....

photo of the back ( Wikepedia )

It is not as grand as the front .

An end view of The Crescent

Another long post done !! .. But ...

I have 2 stone cirlces to come

One is Stone Henge !!

Visiting Witley Court ....

Witley Court was our first stop , on our way down

to Bath / Oxford region .

We try and visit places that interest us ,

and hopefully you too - photographic wise .

Here - i just chose a few , as we ended up

with over 350 photos of our few days away !

As it looked around 1860 ...

There is a small video clip , of the fountain ,

at the end of this post !!

A hundred years ago, Witley Court was one of England's great country houses, hosting many extravagant parties. Today it is a spectacular ruin, the result of a disastrous fire in 1937. Restoration work to the West Wing has made several new rooms accessible to the public.The vast and rambling remains of the palatial 19th-century mansion are surrounded by magnificent landscaped gardens - the 'Monster Work' of William Nesfield - which still contain huge stone fountains. The largest, representing Perseus and Andromeda, which has been restored, was described as making the 'noise of an express train' when fired.

Following the disastrous fire in 1937 the Witley Estate, including its gardens, fell into long decline. English Heritage has restored the south garden.

Attached to Witley Court is Great Witley Church, which has an amazing Italianate Baroque interior .




The side lake ...

Entrance ... a shame that the fence was in the way !!

Because of the fire , and selling off of items -

it is mostly in a ruin state now . However , they have photo

boards of what it did look like . It is such a shame that

it is not in a better state to see how it actually

looked , or at least one room . So you can fully appreciate

the beauty of the place , and got a " feel " for it .

i was looking at these , and trying hard to imagine

how beautiful it would have been here ...

If only you could go back in time to it . ....

The ball room - as it was ......

And how it is now .......

The conservatory - at the back .....

Long view - with the fountain just in view ....

Entrance hall .....






Stone gazebo ... set back and

placed either side of the fountain .....

Looking up inside with sunlight shining through it ....

The great Witley church ....



One of the stained glass windows ...

Kneeling angels font ......

Scanned postcard of inside ....

scanned postcard of the ceiling oil painting

called " The accension "

And here is a video clip of the fountain - which we
arrived in time when they turn it on at intervals
during the day !! Partically restored - with not all of the jets
working yet - but it was a sight to see and hear ,
and i cannot imagine how truly magnificent it was
back when it was working fully .

More to follow .....

I Need A Break From My Holiday !

After nearly 800 miles travelling , 3 loads of

washing done , we are home at last !

I need a few days to recover from all the

places we packed into sight seeing !

I will be back soon - but just as a taster -

here is a photo from the first place

we visited in Worcestershire - Witley Court ......

Mind Wide Open Reminder ...

Here is just a reminder -

I am still away on holiday , but if you have time to visit

Gails blog

I would love your vote on my above

piece i created !!

You have until 14th July !!

I will be back on saturday with photos

of my adventures ..

Thankyou to all !!

Going Away And Keeping My Mind Wide Open .....

My bags are packed , and i`m ready to go !

Well ... Almost !!

I will be away from 6th - 11th July .

We are heading " down south " as we say .

To Oxford , and Bath region , both of these have

wonderful architecture , museums , castles

and Blenheim Palace .

So i will be sure to take lots of photographs for you !!

It is just a few days away , but i am ready

for this . A change of scenery , recharge my

mind and body , and away from my computer !

Sometimes i feel tied to it !!

So a break is welcomed .

This is the banner of Gail Schmidt`s new

inspirational blog - Mind Wide Open -

The multi talented Gail has started a new inspiring blog .

Along with teaching how too`s for anyone needing help

and sometimes a much needed "push " to try

something new . And as the title suggests -

keep your mind wide open - to all

and any possibilties .

Every month , Gail is doing a creative challenge .

Where she chooses a subject / photo etc -

and asks for our interpretation of it .

Anyone can join in this - to get your muse going -

Having a week to complete it , you email a scan or photo ,

of which Gail will do a post and show all the artists entered .

You have a chance to vote for your favourite

contribution , of which the " winner " , with the most

votes , wins a prize . Set by Gail herself - A

$20 to spend in her shop !

You can vote from july 8th .

I wanted to take part in the first challenge ,

before i go away , and mine is below ...

The digital picture Gail provided us with ,

and the word " Remembrance "

" Emily Rose "

An 8 " squared canvas - with vintage music and rose

paper background - bronze tulle material overlay .

Vintage lace , buttons , pearly pin .

With printed words done by myself ,

and i named her Emily Rose ...

This will be amoungst my new items

in my shop - once i get back ....

So ... I am asking any of my readers to

vote for my piece please - if you wish to do so !

Of course i will not be offended if you wish to vote

for another artist . It is the taking part in this that i

feel that i need . To grow and challenge myself ,

to see what i can do , and things that i didn`t imagine i could do .

Have a wonderful week ahead everyone -

I will catch up with you all soon !!

I will schedule a reminder on here

Thankyou !!

xxxxx