Coton Manor - an English country garden
30 May 2016
Sunday here in Blighty did not bode well weather wise. There was chillsome nip in the air despite the fact that it is almost June.
But it was a bank holiday weekend and it also happened to be the first weekend that I was up here in my home from home (I moved in a month ago, but due to family issues I have been up and down to Portsmouth a lot since). I was supposed to be cutting the monster of a front hedge.
But instead we (that is my good friends Rob and Andy) decided to visit what must be one of my favourite gardens (actually, it probably is my favourite garden) - Coton Manor, just north of Northampton. As always, it did not disappoint!
I am no plantsman, so don't ask me to name that Rose - but it had the smallest and most exquisitely perfect little yellow flowers. It was scrambling up the garden wall.
Every detail is thought through - the plant support were woven willow.
I have been several times before but never quite this early in the year and consequently saw the very best of the irises (though sadly the bluebell wood had 'gone over', though it was easy to get a sense of how it would have looked a couple of weeks before).
And little stone troughs planted up with jewels.
And possibly one of the best pelargonium collections - both hardy and tender (this one was such a hit that Rob bought a couple from the nursery on site. A fabulous place to buy plants because they all really love plants and gardening and it shows in the quality and selection of plants available.)
What I love about the garden is both it's domestic nature (it all feels as though you can re-create bits of this at home) and that round every corner there is a surprise.
And we found a rill, the sun came out so an opportunity for a bit of posing.
And bantams keeping the slugs and snails at bay (though I did keep wondering how they manage with the foxes) and even flamingoes! But no photos of those.
And the odd primordial gunnera!
And there is a beautiful wild flower meadow. Clearly they struggle to maintain the balance of flowers so this year there was a family of longhorns - an ancient and once endangered breed of cattle - happily grazing in there.
The bull was a chap of immense bulk! With spectacular horns! But he would not oblige for a photo so here is his rear end! Rump steak anyone?
The garden is on a sloping site - in the heart of such a beautiful county (it had a bit of a feel of Devon about it!) and makes so much of the borrowed adjacent landscapes.
Native tulips in a walk way leading to the plant sales area (even the sales area looks lovely)
That's a real house - as in people actually live there! Jealous? Moi?
And time to sit and ponder on life, the universe and ducks!
Go visit. But normally it is only open Tuesday to Saturday - only on Bank Holidays is it open Sunday and Mondays too. (So you will have to now wait until August for the next open Sunday - but so very worth it!)
Order is beginning to emerge from under the boxes
27 May 2016
Progress had been swift and dynamic.
Both originally designed as cushion covers. The bottom one is a bit 'meh' but that top one sings out (and it's the photo that is slightly on the squiff, not the quilt). It was a scrap of silk, coloured with fabric paints (on damp fabric so they 'ran', but not too much) quilted and then the hearts were hand painted.
The move started off so well. We were fairly cantering along ( in the sense that boxes were evaporating before my very eyes, or so it seemed.)
But then, for a number of reasons I won't go into here, it all rather ground to a bit of a halt.
But I have woken up this morning refreshed after a good nights sleep ( and a delicious Chinese meal) And the birds are singing and the sun is shining (literally, though that does all sound a bit "la la la"!) and wandered into my studio.
And it's nearly ready to use. It's almost emerged from under the chaos - and I'm itching to get in there and make some new work. ( Yes I know the tool box is still on the table, along with other detritus, but mere details, dear reader, mere details!)
And just to spur me on two older pieces heavily quilted and then painted.
Both originally designed as cushion covers. The bottom one is a bit 'meh' but that top one sings out (and it's the photo that is slightly on the squiff, not the quilt). It was a scrap of silk, coloured with fabric paints (on damp fabric so they 'ran', but not too much) quilted and then the hearts were hand painted.
I think I will frame that one for the upcoming Open Studios.
A sunny afternoon in Southsea
14 May 2016
In my last post I mentioned how I had to drop everything and head home to the South Coast.
It wasn't all bad. I took the opportunity to mooch around Southsea with Daughter No 1 in the glorious sunshine that suddenly descended on Blighty.
And we found the most fabulous coffee shop - Home Coffee. It is tiny and tucked in beside the Theatre on the Albert Road. (and I think they may be opening a new one in Cosham too!)
Here is a map of the Albert Road by Floramora of Southsea - a lovely mixed media artist based down there. Can you spot Home Coffee?
What is so fab?
Well they are dog friendly! So we ordered two coffees and two cakes and as well as our refreshments they brought fresh water and Gravy Bones for the dogs! (we had two dogs with us!). That ticks so many boxes for me!
And they have a tiny but such a pretty little garden with lots of up-cycling.
It wasn't all bad. I took the opportunity to mooch around Southsea with Daughter No 1 in the glorious sunshine that suddenly descended on Blighty.
And we found the most fabulous coffee shop - Home Coffee. It is tiny and tucked in beside the Theatre on the Albert Road. (and I think they may be opening a new one in Cosham too!)
Here is a map of the Albert Road by Floramora of Southsea - a lovely mixed media artist based down there. Can you spot Home Coffee?
What is so fab?
Well they are dog friendly! So we ordered two coffees and two cakes and as well as our refreshments they brought fresh water and Gravy Bones for the dogs! (we had two dogs with us!). That ticks so many boxes for me!
And they have a tiny but such a pretty little garden with lots of up-cycling.
And they are vegan friendly - which ticks all the boxes for Daughter No 1.
And then we went to peer at the new artists spaces being created at the Hotwalls.
There is a bit more about it here too. I am pretty certain that the lovely Emma Nicol has bagged herself one of the studios.
It is going to be fabulous. Portsmouth has been lacking a bit of creative oomph! Well it has been there, just hidden! Now it will be easy to access. I am really quite excited for my home town.
The door of Portsmouth Cathedral - just round the corner from the new Hotwalls galleries and studios.
Did you miss me?
12 May 2016
Dear Reader - my very sincere apologies for the radio silence.
I moved house!
And with it studio.
And said studio is still somewhat in boxes and bags, which is all a bit frustrating!
First of all it was putting things into the boxes in the first place - and what a chore that was. I seem to have accumulated so much over the last two years. Stuff had to be edited out. Probably more than I actually managed to achieve. I seem to have an awful lot of art stuff.
And then it is the chore of getting things out again at the other end - finding new homes for things.
Understandably I have not given priority to the studio. The kitchen came first, closely followed by my bedroom and then my work clothes. A girl has to have priorities, and sadly those priorities aren't always the ones we would choose.
But we did manage to hang some art on the living and dining room walls, and indeed in my bedroom.
And then we had the great fun of deciding which of my vintage american quilts should go into which of the guest bedrooms.
I moved house!
And with it studio.
And said studio is still somewhat in boxes and bags, which is all a bit frustrating!
And then it is the chore of getting things out again at the other end - finding new homes for things.
Understandably I have not given priority to the studio. The kitchen came first, closely followed by my bedroom and then my work clothes. A girl has to have priorities, and sadly those priorities aren't always the ones we would choose.
But we did manage to hang some art on the living and dining room walls, and indeed in my bedroom.
And then we had the great fun of deciding which of my vintage american quilts should go into which of the guest bedrooms.
The dusky pink curtains were already here, and that quilt goes beautifully don't you think? (Acquired some years ago by Son No 1 on a trip to San Francisco)
By 'we' I mean my lovely friends Rob and Andy, they of the china business. They spent two days with me, unpacking boxes, brewing tea and generally keeping me going. Although it was a chore, I have to say that it was such fun. They are such good company.
And then we had a leak!
I have to say that I did not envisage buckets during my first week.
And then it all rather ground to a halt! There was a family crisis at home (for this moving lark is at my 'home from home') and I had to drop everything and rush down to Portsmouth. I have got to do the same thing this weekend, so progress has gone painfully slowly and I still have boxes and boxes to see to and also, sadly, no new creative work to share with you.
But I am getting there!
And then we had a leak!
I have to say that I did not envisage buckets during my first week.
It turns out we have dodgy taps in the ensuite. Said taps are fixed and no longer leaking, but we might need new taps (or even a new ensuite if the taps prove impossible to reach!) It is a rented house. I am not getting too excited either way. So long as they no longer leak!
And then it all rather ground to a halt! There was a family crisis at home (for this moving lark is at my 'home from home') and I had to drop everything and rush down to Portsmouth. I have got to do the same thing this weekend, so progress has gone painfully slowly and I still have boxes and boxes to see to and also, sadly, no new creative work to share with you.
But I am getting there!
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