Saturday 23 July 2011

I like a good beer buzz early in the morning...



Hello!
If you are a gardener, or love gardens, I'm sure you will know of David Austin Roses.
As the Nursery HQ is just 15 minutes drive from where I live,
I thought you may like to accompany me on a visit.
 The above building is newish and very posh.  
 The British weather has played havoc with the roses,
so I have missed the best of the flowering season
 and the roses that were in bloom, were looking pretty sorry.
 There are gardens that you can walk around,
which is great because you obviously get a sense of the scale/size of the plant.
 There are plenty of vistas with sculptures.


 I could have happily bought every rose, they are all so pretty and smell so sweetly.
As you can see, they are all very well labelled, within the gardens.  



Below, Anne Boleyn rose, no blooms to see, as she had been dead headed!

~0~
Moving swiftly on...
more sketchbook thoughts... 'Livina Lop Eared Lovely'?
Sewn onto vtg cotton, to be made into a Gadget Pocket.

 I free machine embroidered this design onto a Polish envelope from the 60's...
Text says : "She is devoted to her dear little dog and he to her".
 This piece of old paper ephemera is from the States, a gift, which I have again,
free machine embroidered ...
Text : 'She has a passion for buttons and red lipstick'.  
Oh, how I keep myself amused :-)
 Another envelope collage...
Text : 'She loves her dog.   His name is England'.


The onto a Gadget Pocket...
front
 back
Now, Lady Lavender here,  is really much nicer than she looks. 
She is thinking very hard and her eyes skew a little when she concentrates.  
You see, she has mislaid her lipstick and she is trying to remember which handbag she left it in.
Text : 'Her favourite lipstick is Cherry Red'.


Well that's it for today.
Thank you so much to everyone who has been kindly leaving lovely comments.
So sorry if I have not written back personally to thank you,
but you know how much I appreciate you stopping by. x

29 comments:

Selfsewn said...

Oh jealous, wish I lived so close to the king of roses!!

Then again maybe not LOL

Really love your creativity

Twiglet said...

Fab rose garden. Your little embroidered items are so unique!

Greenorchid said...

You are inspirational... just adore your style...

lemonade kitty said...

I love those gadget pockets, imagine the envious looks you'd get as you pulled it out of your bag, Lucey x

Trixie@ the vintage bothy said...

VIV I LOVE ENGLAND! xxxx
T xxx

lettice leaf said...

Who has ever heard of a blooming dog called England, I ask you? Nearly did a whoopsy on the carpet laughing!
Mind you who has ever heard of a dog called Lettice? Here's looking at you kid! LLX

carole johnston said...

I Love the names that you come up with for your little stitch family members,they have all become much loved by us followers just as England will lol.

Unknown said...

I too love what you do and love the names and little stories. Sue x

Victoria said...

Even more lovelies. Your visit to the roses makes me wish I had visited our local rose garden, Mottisfont, earlier in the season. x

fee @ chipper nelly said...

ah yes - my beautiful rambling rose has struggled to hold its own against the heavy rain and is rather droopy!
I love that dog called England - you are a genius!
fee x
(wonder if you've seen the embroidery on my current post?)

sarah-jane down the lane said...

I really love the "freeness" of the new dogs and ladies Viv.... as for the roses LUCKY YOU! I am trying to simplify my drawing, it's hard as I love detail so much - hence the spriggedyness!

Sarah x

Jane said...

Oh, Viv! Your humour has me in giggles. I adore seeing your creativity in full flow. J x

Lynne said...

How thoughtful of you to take us on a trip to smell the roses with you. Delightful, as are your little creations. The dog named 'England' made me smile.

Sandies' Patch said...

I love visiting those rose gardens and my favourite bit is where the 'Ladies' sculpture is int he junction of four pathways.
I too could buy every rose IF I had the space to plant and of course the money to buy them LOL!
I envy you living nearby to them though....
You have been busy again, love the one with the dog on and Lady lavenders' expression!

Sandie xx

Flaming Nora said...

Oh how I love your embroidery. When I win the lottery I'm going to have IT ALL!

Sheeprustler said...

Oh how I wish I could visit that garden!!! And your work is so cute, as usual :)

Emma Thomsen said...

I love roses, what joy to join you in your walk thank you for sharing. And Lady Lavender is divine!!! By the way bunnies rock! (we have 2).

A time to dance said...

love and hugs from one who really does love red lipstick and buttons....great gadget cases for gadget do I read iphone??

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

Viv, which rose did you succumb to?
The new work is a JOY. A dog named England. He must be a very loyal and handsome chap.
xx
julie

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

this was timely...i was just at the david austen website looking at roses...

i love and admire your work

it's lovely

kary

Anonymous said...

What a lovely new banner! I must say, I was tickled by '..his name is England' xxx

ale said...

hola viv!!! today l know you in the blog kickan & konkers...and l adore your art!!! is so so lovelyyyyy!!! ...l will follow you and feel happy to meet you!!! lots of kisses from buenos aires,argentina!!!! besos y hasta muy pronto!!!!!!!!!!ale.

Cro Magnon said...

What larks indeed. Vandee or Vendée, it's all the same to me (almost).

Niki Fretwell said...

Wonderful work as usual Viv! You have such an active imagination...can you send some my way...as I feel lacking at the moment!

Loved the tour of David Austin's...I've been recommended it several times, but as yet, have not managed a visit...it is on the list!

Happy crafting,
Niki x

protein said...

your work is too awsome

TCP

keshling said...

Hi Viv

There is an award for you on my latest post. If you like that kind of thing...!

K xx

Sue said...

Lucky you, living so close to David Austin Roses! It must be a favourite place to visit. Lots of lovely creations as well, you have been busy.

Jennie Louise said...

Woweee... Your creations are so unusual and delicate, superbly designed. Just found your blog... Going to follow too! Maybe you would be kinda enough to takmine look at mine... Just Starting out and I would love a little support. http://www.snapdragonshots.com/ X

Puma said...

Невероятно! Так просто и так удивительно интересно смотрятся эти вышивки!