Tuesday 20 May 2014

Sunny Days and a Very Old House

We have had so many sunny days lately that we don't even mind the odd shower or two.........
 ..............it has been a lovely time to explore the countryside round about and enjoy seeing the lambs, the trees filled with blossom and the hedgerows frothy with cow parsley................
 ...............we visited this beautiful old, old house (built in tudor times) which looks like a fairytale illustration...........it is a moated manor house and you walk over a little sandstone bridge to enter the building.........the moat has goldfish swimming in it and ducks and ducklings too............
 .............this window is in the long gallery looking out toward the field of sheep in the top picture.....

 ...........at the back of the manor house is a small knot garden........... in the central courtyard are pots of peachy coloured tulips..........i have always been inspired by the design of tudor buildings  and tudor embroidery which echoed the black and white patterns...... years ago when i wrote my first book (*the new cross stitch sampler book*) i designed a whole sampler in blackwork and made lots of small things exploring counted thread embroidery like the key keeper below....... 


 ...........and of course we had afternoon tea in the tearoom.......though i didn't take any pictures of that so here is our own tea tray at home on another sunny afternoon...........cups of tea, small vanilla cakes......and some stitching in the garden...............
                              .............a little embroidery being added to my garden quilt.............
 ................strawberries are one of my favourite motifs for all kinds of stitchery..........
 ................the garden is just about to open all its early summer flowers this week......roses especially...........here are the last of the gorgeous forget me nots, just beginning to fade.......i love how they self seed and pop up all over the place................
 ................the potting shed is a lovely place to while away an hour or two, very quiet and secluded as it is tucked into the corner of the garden............if you sit quietly birds soon appear and it feels miles from anywhere even though it isn't really.........
..............thank you for visiting me here, lovely readers, it is always a pleasure to see you.........i do really appreciate your sweet comments too, knowing how busy everyone is :).................i hope you are enjoying a happy week with plenty of flowers and sunny days.......back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxx

48 comments:

Cindy said...

What a beautiful old house to visit! And I love knot gardens. I like that black and white cross stitch - very pretty. I'm glad you are having good weather. We are too and lots of gardening is getting done:)

Christine B said...

I love tudor houses and designs too and I love your little key keeper. Can't wait to see your garden quilt completed, it is looking lovely! xxx

Amy at love made my home said...

It is a beautiful house, so lovely to see your photos. I really like your blackwork key keeper, very pretty indeed and a great unusual alternative to a keyring! Thank you for such prettiness Helen. xx

Wilfing Mum said...

We visited Little Moreton Hall a few years ago (I think we may have been on the way back from the Lake District). It really is a stunning property - amazing how wll preserved it is considering how old it is & all the people trampling through it.

Loving the garden at this time of year - everything is so full of promise & fresh looking.

Heather LeFebvre said...

That tudor house is amazing! Just beautiful! So is the idea of tea afterward! Love your quilt too!

Things and Thoughts said...

Those old houses hide so much beauty and your captures are marvelous Helen!Your key keeper is unique! How can you look after all those tiny details? You are a real perfectionist!

forgetmenotsblue said...

Looks like an interesting house. Always nice to have a look into different buildings from different times. Your tea tray looks very lovely lots of my favourite prints in the photo. Your quilt looks lovely the strawberries are very cute. Forget me nots of course are looking fab xx

Hannapat said...

Hello lovely Helen, so lovely to be back here catching up on all your news. As always there is an array of gorgeous Spring colours and handmade beauties that spoils the eye and how I love Little Moreton Hall, it is just such a pretty and quaint place. I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit there, and in fact it has reminded me that we could do with a visit soon. Hope you have a lovely week xoxo

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

How have I been on the planet for 53 years and never seen tudor embroidery? That house is amazing and I LOVE the knot garden. But your key keeper? With the black and white design and STRAWBERRIES?!?! Oh, Helen, I just love that.

Frances said...

Helen, the Tudor house is magnificent. What a wonderful place to visit at this time of the year! I keep wondering what it might be like to actually live there! Lots to areas inside and out to take care of, that's for sure.

I agree with you about all the Tudor era designs. They definitely translate well into all sorts of needlework designs. Your embroidery is beautiful.

Enjoy you time in the garden with the flowers and birds! xo

Mickie said...

Helen,
Your post always brighten my day and this one especially does. Love the photos of the tudor house and of course your lovely needle works. Your garden quilt is wonderful, you are a pro at choosing just the perfect color and design combinations. Thank you for sharing.
Mickie in Indiana, USA

gillyflower said...

That looked an interesting place to visit Helen,both house and garden.
The blackwork is stunning, it is very dramatic and simple against the plain background, and so neat! It is fascinating how many different types and styles of embroidery there are.
Enjoying all the lovely photos here, especially those of your pretty quilt!
Have a great week Helen, whatever the weather, but I'm hoping we don't get rain tomorrow as i'm off to Chelsea Flower show!
Gill xx

Anonymous said...

Olá visitar seu blog é sempre um enorme prazer.Tantas imagens lindas de coisas que eu gosto muito.A colcha está ficando muito bonita bjs e uma boa semana !

Ingrid Orens said...

That tudor house is magnificent... How lovely, the tudor-based embroidery !! I have never seen it - hm, idea for a next little project !
Have a nice sunny week !

Ali said...

Beautiful photos - your stitching looks lovely and summery. How sweet is the house - enjoy the sunshine xxx

Chrysalis said...

What a lovely house - and I love the blackwork, too. Thanks for sharing, Chris xx

Simone said...

We've been spoilt for sunshine recently haven't we? I like your blackwork piece - I think blackwork can look very effective. Lovely tudor house and gardens. x

Hazel said...

Lovely pictures and nice to see some of your blackwork. x

Anonymous said...

Hi Helen! I'm so happy to hear that you have lovely summer weather! Looks like you have visited most wonderful place! that window is like a quilt block I just saw ('Nelli's Knot' i think). It would make beautiful quilt! x Teje

Teresa Kasner said...

Oh my goodness. That Tudor house was amazing and what my English dreams are made of! I do so hope to get there some day and see all your historic homes and castles. Love all your projects and the colors bring me joy. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

crazydazy said...

The manor house is beautiful...an inspirational place to visit.

yarn and pencil said...

I have had a lovely visit today; thank you Helen :-) Have a great week,
Tracey xxx

A little happy place said...

That looks a lovely place to visit. Loving your embroidery and the strawberries are very sweet! Have a fabulous week, S xo

Jennifer Hays said...

The house is so beautiful. I would love to see it someday but the photos are wonderful too. It looks like something out of a fairy tale. I love your embroidery, the black on white is so striking. Thanks for sharing, Helen.

Jane said...

What a lovely visit you had Helen, it's great to visit NT properties they are always a delight. I am glad to see you are also enjoying some tea in the garden too amongst the flowers. Have a lovely week x

Unknown said...

What a fantastic visit! The house looks incredible, almost unreal, like something from a storybook! I am so fascinated by knit gardens, I just love them, and your key keeper is such a lovely reminder to link you to those other eras...and I also love what you're making in ths era, sweet berries! Chrissie x

Joy said...

That looks like the perfect place to visit, and in such lovely weather too! I'm loving your embroidery as well as your gorgeous quilt coming along there, complete with juicy strawberries. Your crockery is so very pretty, as is everything else on your post, Helen, thank you so much for sharing it all - it's just what I needed to see on another very wet morning! Joy x

Leanne said...

That house looks amazing, so much history. Love your other projects to,

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What a beautiful old house with so many architectural details and even a moat! How amazing! Love your sweet stitching and the key. Enjoy your week my friend! Sweet hugs, Diane

flowers on my table said...

Oh what loveliness, and black and white is a new side to you. I love the little scissor keeper. Our weather here hasn't been so nice, but I am ever hopeful! Much love to you Helen, Linda xx

vintage grey said...

A beautiful old house and such pretty scenery! Love your blackwork! So gorgeous and your quilt is just too sweet! Have a happy and crafty week! xo Heather

PamKittyMorning said...

It all looks so lush and lovely and green. I'm so envious of that. We're in a serious drought so not much is green around here. As usual your post is a delight.

Sigrun said...

What a beautiful house! Your post is a benefit for my eyes. Wonderful.

Sigrun

my4lilgirls said...

I love tudor houses, so beautifully built, so very artistic.
Enjoyed this post Helen, summery & cheery, just what the doctor ordered :)
Karen x

Magic Bean said...

Oh my, your key keeper is gorgeous. My aunt has an amazing black and white sampler that she made ages ago. They are very striking. Ax

Crafted by Carly said...

What a beautiful old house! And what lovely photos all-round! So summery and bright! Very cheerful indeed, Helen!!! :-)
Carly
x

Annerose said...

Hallo Helen, das Haus ist wirklich sehr romantisch und schön. Deine Decke wird sicher wieder super und ich liebe schon die kleinen Erdbeeren darauf.
Auch bei uns ist zur Zeit wunderschönes Wetter und die Blumen scheinen zu explodieren. Herrlich.
Liebe Grüße Annerose

Christine said...

What a beautiful pin cushion!!!! I will have to look up your first book. I really want to do more cross-stitch. All your picture are so lovely. I really love your tea pot and the strawberries.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I love that old house. What a treat to visit there. The style and design is so beautiful. And your little cross-stitch keeper is lovely. I love projects that use only one color. Have a great rest of the week. Tammy

flowers on my table said...

Thank you for your sweet words. I can't believe your blackwork is 20 years old. When you are such a prolific maker, you must come across things you have made for others and almost have forgotten them!
Enjoy the rest of the week, hope the weather holds out. We had a better day today, but it has been very wet, slugs and snails are loving it unfortunately. Love Linda x

claire said...

sew impressed with your sewing! i could never be that patient!

Pat said...

What a lovely old house! I love it :)and the blackstitch embroidery too!
Pat xx

Debbie said...

What a gorgeous post. Again... It seems I love all of your stuff!! I especially liked your picture of the tea and cakes with all those wonderful fabric patterns :)

I will soon be going out sewing machine shopping, and can't wait to relearn a bit of sewing, and then hopefully improve from there... I might even have a little book to help me out in my Amazon basket... ;)

Annie Cholewa said...

It's years since I've been to Little Moreton Hall, which is silly of me because it's not so very far away. We lived closer to it when the children were small and it was a favourite place for an outing. All those timbers, so beautiful.

I hope the sun is shining on you this weekend Helen.

Maddalena said...

Very nice photos ! Lovely old house and the time you spend in the garden!Maddy

Poppy Black said...

I hope I will get to see lovely old houses like that in real life one day. The garden quilt is looking divine. xxx

Unknown said...

Lovely Helen as always a fabulous post with so much to look at and savour. I have visited your lovely old house and agree that it is a wonderful place. I am so glad that you enjoyed your visit as I did. Your garden quilt is simply breath-taking Helen, no wonder you are an inspiration to me. You are so clever Helen - sorry I have not popped over to see you so much lately, hopefully work will be a little quieter for a while and I can come and visit you every post. Have a wonderful weekend Helen, big hugs, Dorothyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ladybird Diaries said...

What an amazing house to visit, it's beautiful. Your garden quilt is so pretty, I like the little strawberries.
Marianne x