Ightham Mote and the Bluebell Wood

Last week I visited a favourite National Trust (NT) property of mine, Igtham Mote in Kent. If you ever find yourselves in Kent it should be on your must see list. The property is one of the few moated houses which still exist in the UK and it dates from the 14th Century. It was left to the National trust by Charles Robinson a wealthy Canadian who saved it from ruin and re development.  After they inherited it in 1985 the NT spent millions bringing it back from the brink of decay. I visit this house most years with my parents and I have been delighted to see all the restoration take place. This is now finished and the house stands in all its glory.

The medieval house is completely surround by the moat.

The entrance of course is over the (now permanent and made of stone) draw bridge

It is a large house set around a quadrangle. The photo below is looking back from the inside to the photo above, if that makes sense?

The rooms are quite amazing and one of my favourite is the ancient chapel on the top floor which you can see from the outside in the photo above. You can see some of the stained glass there too.
The grand entrance hall has a picture of the lady of the house dating from the 15th Century.

There was a fire burning in the fireplace that day but the fireplace was a later addition. When the house was first built the fire would have been in the centre of the "hall" and there would have been an opening in the ceiling of the room. How cold these houses must have been in the winter. We also learnt that the reason the 4 poster beds had canopies was not just to keep the cold out but to stop the bat and occasional bird droppings falling on you as your slept ;0)

Here is one of the Selby family ladies. The family  lived in the house from the 1591 until 1889.
We have seen the inside of the house many times so I did not take lots of photos as the other reason we had come to Ightham was to see the renowned bluebells on their estate.
The grounds around the house are also worthy of a visit. Here are a couple of photos I took en route to the woods.

The one advantage of all the rain we have had is how lush and green the English coutryside is looking at the moment. I really love the photo above....Constable would have enjoyed painting that wouldn't he with those fluffy marshmallow clouds in the sky.

We walked the short walk up through the estate to the woods are were totally delighted at what we saw as the bluebells were out in all their wonderful glory.

There were drift upon drift of these amazing English bluebells and the sweet scent hung on the air. It really was a sight to behold and it took my breath away. I have mentioned this before, real English bluebells have their flowers only on one side of their stalk. Sadly the continental bluebell is fast hybridizing our gardens  so you really need to get out to the woodlands to find the original English bluebells.

Here is a close up and you can see how the flowers hang just on one side of the stalk. Sooo pretty.

There were lots of different blue shades

and we even found a patch of white..perhaps these are albino?

It was hard to tear ourselves away as it was so beautiful. However our tummies were calling us for our packed lunch which we sat and ate in the picnic spot whilst the birds sang from the trees to us. It was a wonderful day out in the English countryside.

My card today is inspired by English gardens and is one using a great digi stamp by Ladybug Crafts ink

This image has been very popular in my Etsy shop and I have sold several colour ways. This colour way just had to be blue, as inspired by the bluebell woods.
I have coloured it with my Promarkers and highlighted with my Prismacolor pencils.
I have used pretty Prima Papers from the Jack and Jill set.and added a LOTV sentiment.

It is for sale here in my Etsy shop and just for this week I am offering FREE shipping to anyone in the UK. Sadly I cannot offer this to my overseas buyers as postage is so expensive now but as a thank you to all my overseas blog readers I will take off £1.10 (the equivalent of the UK shipping charge). This applies to all my cards, jewellery and bag charms in my shop so do take a browse. The code to use is BLUEBELLS2013 for UK buyers. If you are abroad please email me or contact me via Etsy before purchasing as this code will not work for you. I will re list the item with the money taken off. If there are any problems I will refund any overcharged monies via PayPal.

I would like to enter my card into the following card challenges;

Whimsy card challenge anything goes #59
Papertake Weekly The sound of music My song inspiration just has to be the 1960s tune "English country garden" by Jimmie Rodgers...I can't get it out of my head now. Put it into Google and you will find it on You Tube.....LOL a real 60s classic ;0) I can remember it as a kid.
Natalie and Amy things with wings #9
The Cupboard trilogy Spring Flowers
Emerald Faeries Ribbon #43
Simon Says Stamp flower power
Crafts and Me Use a digi #133
I love Promarkers Simpy does it #168


Thanks for visiting me. Do remember that I have a candy running on this post. You could win the sweet baby digi stamp I used for my card there. Just leave a comment on that post and I will be back with the 2 winners and another of my Guest Design cards for Ladybug Crafts Ink on Tuesday.

I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit with me to the beautiful English countryside. All we need now is some sustained sunny weather...hmmm, that's another story I think. Enjoy the upcoming weekend. I have the day off from work as does my daughter. We are meeting half way to enjoy Ladies' lunch and a little retail therapy ;0)

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

My 2nd Baby Billie Guest Designer card

Yes it's already Tuesday again which means that I am posting my second card for the new Ladybug Craft Ink Baby release. Kerry asked if this week we could make a boy version of the image I showcased last week. I put away all my pink things and got out the blues! It's funny how we associate certain colours with boy and girl babies. I had such fun with my patchwork I have been making that I decided (I must be mad I  know) to take the time to make some more. This time I used some really cute first edition papers called animal antics.Just look at that sweet giraffe ;0)  If you want to see how I made my patchwork for my last GD card do have a look here.

So with out delay here is my card for today.

Shhh don't read too loudy you may wake Billie ;0)

This time I made a gatefold card.

Here is the sweet image which I coloured with my Promarkers and highlighted with my Prismacolor pencils.
Again I paper pieced the little blanket and glittered the lace edge.

Here is one of the flaps with my "hand" stiched aka inked stitching. Can you see those sweet giraffes...my son would love this ;0)

You can also see my Memory Box baby washing line die has been used again and also my new MB marshmallow cloud dies. I loooove these.

A close up of the flap above
and here is the inside below.

Thank you for all the really lovely comments you left me on my last baby card. I put the names into the hat and pulled out 2 winners who each win my Shh Billie is sleeping image.

Well done to

Caz 
and
Joey 

Please email me at the address on my blog and I will be delighted to email you your sleeping Billie digi stamp.

I am back again next Tuesday with my mid way reminder card for the Ladybug Girls O Baby Challenge. Remember you have a whole month to enter your cards.

Next Tuesday I will be showcasing my second digi and it will be for a little girl again.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Make it Monday Linky challenge
Stamping for the weekend Button it up
Ready Teddy Go Spring has sprung #22
My Mum's Craft shop Spots/stripes
Cupcake Craft lots of layers #242
Cards for Men Fancy Folds #10
Forever Friends pastel colours
Whimsy stamps anything goes #59
Papertake Weekly The sound of music my inspiration for my card is the John Lennon classic "Beautiful Boy"
Bearly Mine Lucky dip #86 I have chosen die cuts , faux stitching and pearls/gems as my lucky 3.

I would also like to mention the fab giveaway over at the generous Ribbon Girls blog, do pop over, their twine candy is just gorgeous.

Remember there is another chance this week to win my sleeping Billie image, just leave a comment and I will again put all the comments into the hat and pull out 2 lucky winners.

In the meantime I will be back later this week to share my photos from my trip to Ightham Moat and the Bluebell wood...I had such a great day and the scenery showed the  English Countryside at its very best.

Thanks for visiting,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Beautiful blossoms

I love my tiny garden and I really don't think I would have the time to manage anything bigger than my little outdoor space. I would need to have days with 48 hours in them! I only have one "large" specimen out there and that is a magnolia. We prune it hard after it has flowered in the spring to keep it relatively small and not to overpower the rest of the garden. Although I miss having big trees out there I can more than make up for this in my neighbourhood. I live in a London suburb and it is very leafy in my area and there are gorgeous trees everywhere.

I noticed how much glorious blossom there is around at the moment so I took my camera out for my walk round to my local shops over the bank holiday weekend to capture some photos.

This is a cherry tree in our road

and this beauty is just around the corner.

I am amazed at just how gorgeous these frillies are

It is not  just the trees which are showing off their beautiful blossoms. I also spotted others on my walk.

I was also amazed by how many shades of green nature has.....

the horse chestnut above is showing off its "candles" where my beloved conkers will ripen.

Such lush new leaf growth on this beech hedge above.

As I walked I was quickly inspired as to what card I would make when I got home. All those blossoms make me think of Cicely Barker's Flower Fairies. I bought a new fairy stamp at The Ally Pally Stamp show  last month  and decided it was time to ink her up and use some of my new stash. I also would go for really girlie pinks, just like that wonderful blossom I had seen. Here is my card creation

Those who remember the "small" new stash I showed you from Ally Pally may remember seeing the metallic gilding wax tubs. I bought 3 colours and here I have use the "pearl moon" colour to rub over the pink card which I embossed using a Spellbinder embossing folder. It gives a lovely sheen to the card which you can just make out in the photo. The fairy is a Lavinia stamp which I bought at the show. I lightly coloured her wings with my Promarkers and then added lots of glitter and Glossy Accents to them and to the moon. I can see me using this lovely stamp for lots of occasions including Christmas.  I also added Stickles to the stars. You will spot another new die, Memory Box's precious stars. I have the precious hearts dies and these are just as cute. Even my matting card is glittered. It is my niece's birthday on Sunday and although she will be 29 she still loves pink and fairies and I thought she might enjoy receiving this card. 

I used this great sketch on "A die for a Sketch Challenge blog" for my card. They are celebrating their first birthday and are also hosting a blog hop

You will also see some more of my "sewing" around my card. Don't be deceived, it is actually made by using a Sue Wilson piercing ruler which I also bought at Ally Pally. I pierced all around my card and I then created the "stitching" with a silver gel pen. I think it looks pretty realistic and no sewing machine was harmed in the making of my card ;0) 

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

A die for a sketch Birthday hop

Lavinia Stamps Challenge Pastel Colours #3

Stamping Sensations Embossing

Ribbon Girls add a button

Pan Pastels Fairyland #18

Cupcake Inspirations #209 I was inspired by the fairy and the pink and mauve colours.

My Mum's Craft shop spots and/or stripes I used fun stripey buttons

Penny Black and More Sew easy

Forever Friends pastel colours #61

Allsorts Challenge add some sparkle #205

Papertake Weekly anything goes

Divas by Designs anything goes

Simon says stamp things with wings

Natalie and Amy things with wings #9

Whimsy Stamps monthly challenge anything goes #59

Crafty Ribbons Challenge No designer paper #45

I would like to thank you all for your very kind comments you left me on my last post. You seem to like the GD card I made for Ladybug Crafts Ink new Billie Baby stamp release. I really enjoyed making it. I am working on my week 2 GD card as we speak and I show it to you on Tuesday. (A little insider info is that is a card for a baby boy this time and yes I have been making more patchwork! )If you missed that post do remember that you can win the image I used just by commenting  here. I will put all the names into a hat and announce the winner on Tuesday. Please make sure you leave any comments on that post by 8 pm on Monday night. 

After the most glorious May bank holiday weather we have some very strong winds to contend with today. I am sure that a lot of the beautiful blossom will be raining down today like magical fairy confetti. 

Happy Thursday,

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x