Sunday 11 September 2011

We meet every day at the same cafe, six thirty and no-one knows she'll be there....

Hello!

The current husband and I had a really lovely day out yesterday and I wanted to tell you about it.
Herefordshire is an hour away by car and every September they hold h-Art ... Open Studios and other art based events.   So guide book in hand, off we go...
First stop theliongallery at Leominster


Lovely Gallery filled with very desirable pieces...I was allowed to take a few pictures, please excuse quality...
Does your heart quicken when you see a rack of gorgeous greetings cards like these eric ravilious cards?  
How I adore his work.


 and more gorgeous cards.
 Stunning handmade scarves.  Apologies for not knowing who the artist is.
 Oh and more cards
lynnmuirs work always makes me happy



I really like how the ladies have bossoms.   So clever.
 Ceramics to cry for.



 Again, apologies for not knowing the artist's names.
These pieces are so highly detailed, very beautiful.
 So out of the Gallery and look, this lovely, hairy beast reminded me of 'Dirk'!
Leominster is a smashing town, chock full of antiques centres and quirky little shops.




 This shop below is a fairly new one to Leominster...
Just look at the darling bunnies in their beds, in the window!


Onto my favourite village in all England... eardisland  
The current husband doesn't know it yet, but we will be moving here sooner or later :-)





Here is he...one man and his dog...
 We left Daisy at home with Lucy, as Daisy does not 'do' travelling...
So here is the Button Nose,
 cooling off on a very warm, muggy day...
 I do so love this place.
 Finally, onto therodd The Rodd is the home of the Sidney Nolan Trust.   The Sidney Nolan Trust is a registered charity, established by Sidney Nolan in 1985 for the purpose of supporting the work and development of creative artists and musicians.
Printmaking and Book Arts ...we were here to see.

 View from car park ...
 The exhibition is held in an incredibly beautiful barn.
 I am very proud to say that my sister had an exhibition of her paper cut work.  
Unfortunately, the photos I took of her work did not come out very well, so here is her web site
Deckle-Edged.  
 By now the weather had taken 'a turn' and was throwing it down, which always puts a dampner of things, so home we went.  
Really enjoyed the day and topped up my inspiration and mojo levels.
~0~
I have been making needlecases, using vintage French mangle cloth...
it has a beautifully smooth soft cotton feel to it, with a nice red stripe running along one edge.  Love.
 Felt in the mood to collage a few envelopes too!


Well, I have to thank everyone very much, who took the time and trouble to leave wonderfully kind and supportive comments on my last post.  
Thank you so much to each and every one of you.
Thank you too to new Followers and all you lovely folks that stop by for a read too.
xxx

30 comments:

Magic Bean said...

Think I'll be moving there too- it's gorgeous.
Have a happy week, Ax

Anonymous said...

What a delightful place. I can see why you liked it so much. Thanks for showing us around. I love your needlecases too.
Penny

Hesta Nesta said...

What wonderful work Viv, very talented people, you should be exhibiting there too with your gorgeous work....I love the collaged envelopes. Love the pic of one man and his dog!Have a great week and I hope you are feeling better.
Love
Jo xx

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful place to visit,I would love to go there....I love your work,what talent,I especially love the collage envelopes;0xxx

Jennie Louise said...

Absolutely adorable post! It reminded me of the post Ive recently done about Wendover (buckinghamshire) and Oxford -- Please take a look.
I agree with you though, my heart races a little when i see quirky little shops with handmade gifts. *sighs* I spent waaaay to much money, always. *giggles*
lovely post.

Twiglet said...

Another fab post - makes me want to pop down there myself! The latest little works of art are fab.

Wanda Maria said...

Oh, my gosh - it looks like you had a great time! I love little shops like the ones you visited. And, I don't know who made those little dolls, but I'd love to add one or two of them to my collection. Very, very cute!!!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful pictures Viv, I was in Leominster on Friday LOL weather was nice not like to day raining cats & dogs & blowing a gale between the rain.

Pam

fee @ chipper nelly said...

what a lovely tour round a beautiful part of our little island. I loved the ladies with pert round bosoms - just where they should be (they were the days!)
I'm so loving your envelopes too - got them on my wish list!
Hope you are feeling ok - and have a good new week.
love fee x

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

Wonderful new work!
About the postcards you photographed - interesting that they look emroidered too!

Also it makes me cry a little to see the price tag on one of the mugs and think that the gallery probably takes almost half, and then sales tax, and tax... and the need to keep prices reasonable, or wanting to do so in order for people to be able to buy one's work...

Claire said...

Hey Viv, what a lovely day out, so many beautiful and creative things to see.

Love, love,love those ceramics, birds, nests with eggs, flowers all gorgeous.

Such beautiful and quaint villages and picturesque countryside, I feel a tad envious.......

Wonderful when inspirations strikes, hope you are well.

Claire :]

Emma Thomsen said...

Wowser! What a beautiful trip, surrounded by so much creativity and inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing!

Hen House Studio said...

I sit here on the NW part of the United States and thank you for the quick vacation in your country. Loved it!!

Andi's English Attic said...

Leominster has gone on my list of 'must visit'. xx

Helmi said...

Great blog post, thanks for sharing!

Jane said...

Thanks for the fab tour, Viv. So nice to get out and about with you. But my, I am so distracted by those gorgeous needlecases and envelopes. Just splendid. J x

A time to dance said...

Oh my Viv it's looks wonderful just my kind of place .... I would love a trip there ... I am still coming round to school
Life ... I start my course on Saturday eeeek

Lynn Holland said...

I have two pieces of Lynn Muirs work, they are great. Have you seen the work of OPI toymaker (she is a friend of Lynn's). Jane makes wooden pieces that are mechanical. I bought a piece at Art In Action at Waterperry and have just received a commissioned piece for my sisters birthday present. They are really quirky and stunning. You look like you are having a great time.
Lynn x

Unknown said...

Your embroideries are really beautiful. It really lovely to see a a fellow crafter and midlander. Hereford is really beautiful and the shops are lovely.

Thanks for sharing

Sheeprustler said...

Lovely pictures, especially the Irish Wolfhound! Makes me miss Engl;and.

Murgatroyd said...

Ahh, Leominster. A little shabby around the edges but always worth a visit, H.Art or not. I always come home with a treasure.
Come join us in the 'Shire soon Viv, there will be a warm welcome for you!

Emma Herian said...

Hi
Gorgeous post, full of beautiful and tempting delights!
The highly decorated ceramics are by http://www.muddypumpkin.co.uk/ Stacy Manser Knight
I love her ceramics, so detailed and gorgeous to hold!
Emx

gunnelsvensson said...

So much beauty! And as usual so nice blogpost! Congrats on the article! You know how much I love your collage and stitched envelopes. I didn't know you have fibromyalgia too?! I also have it. I have had it for 16-17 years now. But I am better now, since I left my daywork. Less money but also less pain. You have to learn to live with it. Don't stress. Take care / Gunnel

Lyn said...

We went to the Lion Gallery in June while we were in Shropshire it is a lovely place full to the brim of wonderful things!
xxx

Lynn Holland said...

We must be on the same way length again...... I have a copy of Julie Arkells book on my desk along with some postcards from when I saw her exhibition in Rochdale some years ago. I picked it off the shelf only yesterday.
Lynn (holland) xxx hee hee, don't want you to get confused again Viv

Evie said...

I'm eyeing my vintage kid gloves with rather sinister thoughts!! Love your ideas and inspirational work!

edyB said...

Just found your Blog and what a terrific post this one is ... love the village photos. Wish I could visit.
Your work is so pretty and romatic ~ love all the vintage pieces you have used and the sweet needlework.

Jackie said...

I'm rather late to this Viv but have really enjoyed the visit. I hope you get to move to eardisland. It looks wonderful, but in the meantime these days trips are great for the soul.

Jackie said...

ps: I think the scarves are by Trisha Needham, I was next to her at 'Sparkle' a couple of years ago.

Anonymous said...

oh my goodness...
i finally found you...
the artist of this
darling sweet and
very beautiful envelopes!
i want to make them
to...this is grand...
i discovered you...just
grand...blessings my
creative commrade!
xoxo EdenClare