Autumn Cottage Diarist

Another "Little Something" from the Arcade

A busy week so fars, not much time to write here - so I thought you would just like to see this little curio I picked up at the Antiques Arcade last week. Encased in a turned wood scroll box, it is a paper scroll about a metre long, depicting the waterfront in Copenhagen, sometime after 1912 - which is the latest date I can see printed on it.

I think it was sold as a souvenir from the Tivoli Pleasure Gardens, since the panorama starts from there, and the place name is also printed on a very faded label on the outside of the box.

For anyone who has visited Copenhagen - do you recognise any of the buildings? For the rest of us - just enjoy!

Another Winter Walk at the Arboretum

Wolud you care to take another photo-walk with me around the Sir Harold Hillier Arboretum and gardens? We were only there three weeks ago, but already there are changes, and new things to see....

Some of the multitude of hellebores now flourishing in the gardens

Helleborus "Slate Blue" - and it was!

Tiny, species Narcissi

Balls woven from willow and ?, a metre or so across, hidden under the trees on the "Sculpture Walk"

Stunning white birch bark against a blue, blue sky - and one of many traceries only visible in winter

"The Bathing Girl" catching her death in the frozen pond!

The deliciously gnarled burrs on an aged tree trunk

The watercourse outside the Education Centre - the stones engraved with a multitude of plant names

Pebbles in the sunlit water

Pinus engelmanii - looking like a tropical offering in the winter chill

The Most Beautiful Dining Room in the World?

I was entranced, over the weekend, by this immensely beautiful photograph of the refectory of one of the monasteries on Mount Athos in Greece. It came from a two part supplement to “The Guardian” newspaper, in which some facts about the health and diet of the monks living there were discussed – being described as “The World’s Healthiest People”.

There were some very impressive details from studies that have been carried out with the inhabitants of Athos. A five year study of 2000 monks found virtually no incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, with exceptionally low rates of heart disease and “unusually low rates” of many different kinds of cancers.

One of the reasons cited for their exceptional vigour is that they eat a modest diet with no meat, totally fresh foods, semi-fast every otherl day and live under conditions of very low stress.

I would suggest that being surrounded by the extraordinary beauty of these wall paintings – living in an environment where beauty was seen as necessary to the health of the whole person, would make its own contribution to peace and tranquillity, which surely can only be beneficial to the wellbeing of body and soul?

Photograph by Mark Read, Guardian/Observer supplement, Sunday 17th Feb 08

Extreme Altered Books

Image from centripetalnotion.com

Got the bug for Altered books, so I've been doing a little surfing - and came across these amazing works.

Brian Dettmer not only alters books - he alters other used items - cassette tapes, old maps - anything he can carve into, melt or otherwise modify. More of his works here and here and his Wikipedibio here

Days of Innocence

In my previous life as an antiquarian book and print dealer, I acquired a number of old, illustrated children’s books. I am now in the (long) process of sorting through my stock, to decide what to keep and what to finally move on – and in the process, I am coming across some favourite books that I have collected in this area of my own personal interest.

I thought you might enjoy looking at some of them, so I offer these images in an occasional series of flights back to a more innocent time. I am also including the text pages accompanying the illustrations, as you may wish to present them together.

These first images come from “The Rosie-Posie Book” published by Nelson in 1911, with Illustrations by Anne Anderson. Right-clicking on the pictures will give you a higher definition image which may be downloaded as my gift to you, for use in collage, art journaling etc. or just to frame for a child's bedrrom or playroom.

Fly back to simpler childhood days with me - Get out your scissors, art-journals, picture frames - Enjoy!

Oops - did Incy-wincy Spider sneak in from another page??

The Kindness of Strangers - who Turn into Friends

The Box of Delights

I don’t normally receive an intriguing “knock on the door” on Valentines’ Day – but this year, I did. Then, when I saw the carrier standing there with an enormous parcel, I assumed that it was a clothing order for Alec. It was only when I brought it inside, and saw my name on the label, that I knew that something special might be lurking inside.

Altered book pages

It all started a few weeks ago, when I mentioned here on the blog that I am preparing new courses and workshops, and that one of the things that I did was to run “Memory book” and “Memory Box” workshops. I mentioned how costly “art” papers and scrapbooking materials can be – and received in return some very welcome and helpful thoughts on how to create or discover inexpensive materials.

More pages from the delicious altered travel book

I also had a kind message from Rachel Scott – we have exchanged half a dozen emails over my last couple of years blogging, and she generously offered to send me some items from her own “stash” of scrapbooking and art journaling resources. I awaited an envelope, but, being under the influence of “elderbrain syndrome”, completely forgot about the offer within days – a lot of other “stuff” was invading my life and demanding priority attention at the time.

So when the parcel, which measures something like 18”x 15” x 4” and weighs a LOT, arrived, it was not until I saw Rachel’s signature on the paperwork that I put two and two together.

Papers from Rachel's "Ladies" collection

And when I opened the box? “I looked in and all around, saw wondrous things”

I’m still gasping. As I took all the items out this morning to take these photographs, I am enthralled by the art-making possibilities, but I am also amazed at Rachel’s generosity. “Thank you, thank you; thank you!!” seems all too little an expression of gratitude.

But I think there will be many other people who will also be touched by Rachel’s generosity - all the friends and clients who will attend my workshops.

"Travel" inspirations

I will put part of the materials to practical use, but I will also keep a selection of each sort of item (art papers, wallpaper borders, tags, tiles, embellishments, altered book) in the box, just as they are, to become a travelling exhibition of “what to use, how to use it, what to look out for” whenever I am giving a workshop or talk. The story of how the items came to me will always be told.

Tiles

In a few weeks time, I will be visiting the Cancer Care day centre at my local hospital to run just these sorts of workshops – be very sure that this box, and the story of how kindness and generosity have stretched their embracing arms across the Atlantic ocean to touch the hearts of many here in England, will go with me.

Thank you Rachel – your gift is deeply appreciated.

Lovely Lavender!

Lavender "Hidcote" - (image from T&M online catalogue).

The new kitchen & herb garden exists, but only in its "bare bones" state at the moment. One of the major improvements I want to make is to plant a lavender hedge in front of the picket fence.
Unfortunately, I did not take lavender cuttings in the autumn, and anyway want a different variety for the hedge. So I have ordered 72 (plus 12 free!) plug plants of lavender "Hidcote" from the excellent Thompson and Morgan seed and plant catalogue, which is now online.
As plug plants, they will indeed be small when they arrive in March - but just  think of the fun I will have when I pot them up and watch them grow through the summer. I'll plant them out in early autumn (earlier than that if they make good progress). It is a little while to wait - but who said gardening was instant anyway? And who can complain of 84 lavender plants for 15.00 UK pounds ($30.00) ??
Here's an image of the fence as the last apples were falling in the autumn garden - imagine what it will look like with this gorgeous purple lavender at its base. Watch this space!

Spring Fever

Crocuses

There’s just no staying indoors this afternoon – the sun is bright and warm, the flowers are bursting out, the cats are being silly in the garden. Spring is here! just a few pictures to share with you to show how bright and beautiful things are this fine February day at Autumn Cottage

A drift of snowdrops under the apple tree

Lily & Lissie, deciding who saw whom first, and who will leap on the other one first.(It was Lily, who was then duly swatted by Lissie!)

And while the silly girls play by the pond, Pippin undertakes the onerous task of guarding the bird feeders, in case any wicked blue tit or robin should pass by. (er - that is, until he fell out of the tree - ahem).

Carnivale Time In Venezia!

It’s that time of the year again – Lent approaches, but for the moment, Carnivale is here!

Each year, this wonderful site is updated daily with images from Venice, showing the glorious, magical colours of the modern Venetian carnival. The masks, the textiles, the exuberance of it all. Though I wonder how exuberant they are feeling at the moment – arctic winds are blowing down over the UK – is it the same in Venice? If so, I hope they are wearing their thermals under all their finery!

The image above is my own, of a puppet and mask makers shop from my visit in October 06, but click above to browse all the real people and costumes for this week – you have four more days offerings to savour!