Monday 29 June 2015

Rosemary Cottage

 This is rosemary cottage, where we stayed last week, in a pretty little cotswold village.........
 .............it was warm and sunny, and the tiny cottage garden was filled with the scent of honeysuckle and the constant sound of birdsong............if you look closely at the little cottage gate below you will see the robin i managed to photograph before it flew off.......
 ..............we explored some of the towns and villages we haven't been to before............
 ..............and enjoyed a visit to kiftsgate gardens on a glorious day when the peonies especially were looking spectacular.............
 ...............and so were the roses and herbaceous plants............
 ............... i loved the pots of geraniums too and brought a new plant home with me..............
 ..................below is chastleton house which is an amazingly atmospheric jacobean country house (built 1607-1612) with some wonderful rooms and artefacts, left in an unrestored state which really captures the past...............this house was used as a location for filming *wolf hall* where it represented the home of the seymours..............
 ...............there is a topiary garden and a replanted kitchen garden here, and also a croquet lawn ........written on a blackboard in the garden was this.....'there was a pervading sense of neglect, which nonetheless had its own magic......a sleeping garden of great antiquity......'
 ...........back at rosemary cottage i picked a few flowers to enjoy on the window sill............
 .............and to paint in my tiny sketchbook..............
 .............there was time for crochet......and to eat strawberries in the sun.........
 .............i took some english paper piecing with me to work on but didn't finish anything so here is the work in progress............
 ..............this is the beginning of a pentagon ball...........love how the shapes fit together....
...............there will be lots more patchwork coming soon..............below is one of my favourite pictures of the entrance hall at chastleton house...............i love the vintage feel of this.........
..............it is good to be back after my blog break, dear readers, and thank you for visiting me here and your sweet comments.............i have lots of emails to answer now, and lots of lovely blogs to catch up with too............wishing you a wonderful week with sunshine and flowers, and a little time just to dream...........back soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

42 comments:

Simone said...

Welcome back Helen! Rosemary cottage looks delightful. I am so glad that you had a lovely week doing the things you love to do. I must remember to take a sketchbook with me on days out and do a little painting too!x

KC'sCourt! said...

Looks like you had a most wonderful time. The cottage looks just perfect
Julie xxxxx

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Oh Helen how wonderful, it all looks magical, a bit like stepping into the world of Beatrix Potter!
So many pretty plants and flowers and your crochet and patchwork just add to the prettiness! :)
Your painting is exquisite too! I want to live in that little world. :)
So glad you had a fabulous time,
V x

Kate said...

Sounds wonderful, Helen, and I loved the photos!

Cindy said...

Wonderful photos! I love those garden pictures and wish I were there:)
Looking forward to seeing more of your pretty work.

Sharon - creativity and family said...

Your photos are beautiful, what a lovely place for a holiday. Welcome back :-)

Sharon - creativity and family said...

Your photos are beautiful, what a lovely place for a holiday. Welcome back :-)

Annerose said...

Wunderschöne Bilder zeigst du da, liebe Helen, ich freue mich mit dir an den schönen Gärten, ich liebe auch die Blumen und die tollen Häuser, wunderschön.
Ich wünsche dir noch eine schöne Zeit und gute Erholung.
Liebe Grüße Annerose

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Welcome back dear Helen...such wonderful photographs of your trip to the Cotswolds...the flowers look beautiful as does your lovely watercolour painting...I loved watching Wolf Hall and can just imagine how atmospheric the house must be...I have to add this to my 'to do' list!
Wishing you a happy new week!
Susan x

Unknown said...

Hi Helen. You make me want to come back to England and this time spend about a - oh I don't know - a year?! Would love to visit all the lovely villages, for now I read about them in novels which only whets my appetite to return even more. Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures with us, glad you had a nice vacation.

Mary

Frances said...

Helen, I've enjoyed seeing your holiday photographs, and also appreciate the links to places that you visited. There are so many beautiful places in that part of the UK...well, in all parts of the UK, actually!

I loved having that peek at your sketchbook, too. I'm always so curious to see other artists' sketchbooks, and thank you so much for this glimpse.

Weren't you lucky with that glorious weather, too! xo

Jane said...

I'm so glad you had a lovely holiday Helen. I would love to visit that house, it sounds perfect left in it's original state. Enjoy the summer weather coming this way..plenty of strawberries and ice cream ;0) xx

Jennifer Hays said...

Welcome back. The cottage is so pretty! It looks exactly like I picture a cottage in England is supposed to look. The flowers are beautiful there. I love seeing the projects you took with you on the trip; those pieced hexes are very pretty together. I'm glad you had a nice time, thank you for sharing.

Art and Sand said...

Oh, I would love to visit such a sweet little town.

Janet said...

Looks like an idyllic place for a holiday. Lovely pictures.

Ingrid Orens said...

What a lovely place to spend your holidays ! I miss England, when I see those photos...
And oh Helen, I never knew you paint as well !! How lovely, the flowers in your sketchbook !!

Kim said...

It looks and sounds like a wonderful vacation break. What a charming town and a magical place to relax and be inspired. ps- I just love your banner in the header. I don't know how I have missed it all this time! Distracted by all the other "pretty", I suppose! :)

sew said...

Looks perfect! I'm fascinated by your paint box as I have a fancy for trying my hand - I won a competition when I was at secondary school for my painting of a hydrangea from my parents' garden - but it was an awfully long time ago!!
The cottage looks lovely - good to have you back ♥

Christine B said...

So glad you had such a lovely time Helen! Thank you for sharing lots of fabulous photographs.... the flowers are all so beautiful! :) x

20 North Ora said...

Helen - Sounds like a glorious trip !! Beautiful grounds.

Judy

Rosa said...

Such an awesome place ,it`s a paradise.Great pics!!

Have a fun week.

Gracie Saylor said...

Welcome home, Helen! I very much enjoy seeing glimpses of your recent travels. I love the garden quote...seems that is the way gardens should be...not too manicured :) Thanks for a peek at your pretty flower paintings and your paper piecing in progress. I am planning to try to pick up the fall shawl I started long ago and make some progress crocheting on it this afternoon. Wishing you happy creative times! xx

Chris said...

Wow your post is just like looking at a beautiful picture book! The countryside is so beautiful and those lovely old homes... Unreal! Your crochet and quilting projects are very inspiring!

Teresa Kasner said...

Welcome back, Helen! You are so lucky to have visited such a wonderful place - I can only dream of staying in such a charming cottage and to visit such historic places. The gardens are so beautiful! I adored seeing your watercolor and it encourages me to get mine out and do some painting. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Thimbleanna said...

Crochet and Strawberries in the sun would be a perfect break, and then you throw the Cotswolds into the mix -- Heaven! Your pictures are beautiful -- I'm so happy you had a wonderful getaway!

Elderberry-Rob said...

what a delightful cottage. Have never been to the Cotswolds but think it would be wonderful.

Marilyn McLeod @ Pink Paper Cottage said...

I've never been to England (live in Oregon in US)... but through your pictures I got a little visit there today! What lovely houses and villages to visit... and like you, I always take a little hand work with me whenever I go on a little trip.. I feel so inspired when I'm away from home! Love your little sketchbook too.... makes me want one!

Things and Thoughts said...

What a beautiful cottage is that! This is the kind of holidays I would like to spend henceforth.I know this area, the Cotswolds, I have been there but just for a few days.I hope come back sooner or later.Your photos are always a delight for the senses Helen!
Wishing you a happy day
Olympia

Gem said...

Oh what a delightful day, you were so lucky with the weather too, don't you just love it when that happens.
I've started cutting little flowers to ejoy on the windowsil, it's amazing how a few tiny little blooms can brighten up an otherwise blank space, just perfect.
I hope you are having a wonderful week x x x

Nora said...

Honeymooned in the Cotswolds...gorgeous. Went to a very nice Hotel called the Burford House Hotel...luxurious! Gorgeous photos and can't wait to see ball progress xx

Magda said...

Hello Rosemary :) This place looks amazing... So beautiful... the little cottage gate with the bird on it is like an entrance to the mystery garden ;)

Sigrun said...

What a wonderful time you had, Chastletonhouse ist beautiful, the gardens also. I hope, they have no problems with the buxus.

Sigrun

Amy at love made my home said...

What a beautiful place to stay!!! So glad that you enjoyed it! xx

Cream Linen said...

I'm glad you are back Helen and thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures with us.
Have a lovey new month!
Tina:) XXXXXXX

gillyflower said...

Looks like you've had a lovely break Helen, so many interesting and picturesque places to visit. The gardens you visited looked beautiful, I do love pink peonies!
Hope you're feeling refreshed after your break, it's so nice to have a change of scenery I think!
Gill xx

Madelief said...

What a lovely cottage Helen! Your week there sounds lovely. I was in the same area last year and the year before and enjoyed it very much too. There are so many interesting places to visit and the landscape is breathtakingly beautiful.

Have a good week!

Madelief x

Unknown said...

Dear Helen, you commented on my summer mantel post that you spent some childhood summers in Cornwall. Have you read any of Rosalind Pilcher's novels, many of which include mentions or settings in Cornwall? I think she's an amazing author and I'm reading straight through every book she has at the library - great summer reading!

Mary

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

The whole area is very idyllic. You always amaze me with all your creativity and lovely projects. Best wishes, Tammy

DianeM said...

Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures <3 How beautiful everything looks! What fun it must have been to relax & craft in such pretty surroundings :)
Smiles, DianeM

Jacky H said...

I would like to live in your world.
You really know how to take photos.
Your blog is lovely to look at it's a real tonic.

Jo said...

Isn't that garden beautiful. Glad you had a restful time. Hexies are good for travelling aren't they? I use a glue pen from so solids so I can take out the taking papers stage. Lazy I know but so fast! Jo x

handmade by amalia said...

And you can paint as well? You are a woman of many talents, Helen.
Amalia
xo