Beautiful Boundaries

Hello Bloggy Peeps out there!

We just got home from our little holiday and as always, it's lovely to go away, but it's great to be home :o)

Buckinghamshire is beautiful, and full of National Trust places to visit, so we made very good use of our NT membership this week. We went to Stowe, Claydon, Waddesdon, Wimpole, Hughendon and the old courthouse at Long Crendon. Each one fascinating its own unique way - I love how these places are like windows through which we can peek at the people who lived in the past. When I was a kid, I spent many happy days visiting places like Ham House and Hampton Court Palace with my beloved Gran, it really brought history to life for me.

As a huge bonus, many NT places now have second-hand bookshops, and look what I got for only three quid ...


We also visited Bletchley Park on the way - the home of the "Code Breakers" during WWII - absolutely fascinating, well worth a visit if you get the chance. Click here for a short film about it on the BBC History site.


We stayed at The Bell in Aston Clinton, a lovely quirky old inn, clean and comfortable, with efficient service and a FABulous restaurant, in which we overindulged every single night of our stay. Thoroughly recommended!

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In between day trips and dinners, I found time for a little creative scribbling in the sketchbook I took with me. All the wonderful architecture and art we had seen was very inspiring and my head is bursting with ideas to try out in my art journal. I made a page for week 38 of Life Book 2016 - this was a bonus lesson with the amazing Melody Ross, in which she encouraged us to think about our boundaries and look after our "soul house" ...


The house is me, and the areas in the picture represent the boundaries I have set to keep myself safe - so for example, the people who are most important to me and make me happy are within my garden, protected by the picket fence, whereas those who only bring negativity into my life are banished to outerspace - they're still there, I'm aware of them, but they can't touch me - brilliant!! :o) Melody printed her journalling on strips of paper, which she glued over the picture, but in my limited hotel room situation, I decided to write directly onto the page with a Micron pen and I quite like the interesting texture it gives.

I also started working on some fancy lettering which I've been meaning to try for a while ...


... the decoration of each letter was inspired by a word or words beginning with that letter, such as A for Abacus and J for Jester. It was very enjoyable, and hopefully with practice I will get a bit braver with lettering on my artwork.

Well, time to stop waffling on and get back to the real world! I have a couple of chores to catch up on, then maybe I will have time to play later ...

Thanks for popping in today, have a happy and creative day :o)

Annie xxx




Comments

Helen Wallace said…
Your mini holiday sounds marvellous; visiting all those historic sites, especially Bletchly. What clever people they were. What do you mean get a bit braver? Heck girl, you are already braver than a lion, venturing into all these painting things and with such aplomb! Love, love your safe house and the lettering is inspiring too. Clever, clever girl :D
I love your new page, Annie! I'm working on mine at the moment, but I interpreted the lesson a little differently. Your journalling looks awesome on the page - I love how you made it an integral part of it. Your lettering is very pretty as well and looks professional! That's something I always wanted to try but never had the patience for it. Once I started a zentangle alphabet and got all the way to B! Sounds like you had a lovely break - loving that country inn all lit up.
Val-Belle said…
Oh that little getaway looks fabulous and I am amazed that you still manage to get crafty stuff done. I am always knackered after being out for the day that when I eventually get home I am asleep before my head hits the pillow. I love the little sketch and the letters look fabulous.
Lizzy Hill said…
I think I could holiday with you quite easily. We've 'done' Waddesdon, thought closely about Bletchley Park - but there were too many others on the list! LOOVE the idea of indulging in yummy meals, too:) Gorgeous place to stay. Best of all....your Earth Place. WOW! love it. I thought they were cracks in the ground....then realised they're your WORDS. WAAAAY clever! And your calligraphy is looking fun!! Back to work and normality now - it makes the holidays even more special, I reckon :):)