Tuesday, 12 July 2016

Wednesday Mix

Hi Everybody!

Today we are starting a new challenge at 

Anything goes

This is a real easy one, and as always, you have 2 weeks time to join in and link your creations to us, and projects of all formats are welcome. I made a hybrid piece, which is also meant for Art Journal Journey, in my garden. I made a mixed media collaged background, and added the face and some other bits from Mischief Circus and  Dezinaworld digitally. The plants in the pots are auriculas, and were plants which were loved and cultivated by many people in East London. They were originally imported by the Huguenot weavers in the 17th century, and many people still have a collection of them, displayed on specially built shelves, sometimes called 'theatres', and often in triangular shape. These were the gardens of those living in houses where there was no space for an outdoor one. There are still shows of these flowers held in the exhibition centre at Earl's Court, in London. 




We had warm and summery weather again, just right for walking. The day started well, with a beautiful sky, and I enjoyed watching the ships, and walking through the lanes of our little town:












Have a great day you all, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!

24 comments:

  1. Lovely piece, the face is very striking, and interesting to learn about the particulars. I knew quite a few people in London who kept them, too. Hugs Sarah

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  2. beautiful page for AJJ. That is an easy moo mania theme. Beautiful photos as always!

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  3. EIne ganz tolle Seite - eine schöne Sache mit den Auricula, die so modern waren - die sehen auch besonders aus, ist das eine Primelart?
    Herrliche Aufnahmen !!
    Ein tolles neues Blogoutfit Valeri!
    Bussi
    Susi

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  4. A fabulous page and great to read the history of the auriculas as I have always loved them since I was a child and my grandmother had them in her walled garden. I did have a few years ago but none now so maybe I will look for some again.

    Beautiful photographs today with a wide variety. I have chosen two to keep as I can never resist the fabulous wall pictures you take and the one with the lamp is amazing.

    Have a wonderful day

    Love Chrissie xx

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    1. I knew you would like the walls! I always think of you when taking photos of walls and stairs.

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  5. A brilliant page Valerie, I must look auriculas up. I love the photos of your town, it always looks so interesting.
    xxx Hazel.

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  6. An awesome page. love how all the images blend so well together and make you look to see what you may have missed.I think its fantastic. Wonderful photos again it always looks so fresh and clean, no litter to spoil the look and like Chrissie I love the walls and arches.
    Yvonne xx
    Yvonne xx

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  7. Great new header Valerie. I love how summery it is. And very interesting page today. It catches your attention and makes you think. Those black features give her a mysterious look. And what's the brick tower in your photos today? A water tower? A castle turret? Hope your day is going well. Hugs-Erika

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    Replies
    1. It's the old mill, which lost its top back in 1800 and something!

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  8. Love the new blog look Valerie, so cool and refreshing during this horrible heat wave!! Love your art piece, she stands out and blends in at the same time! Great photos, your town has so much character, just lovely! hugs :)

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  9. Lovely new blog design liebe Valerie ♥ nice and summery just like your pretty photos!
    Great collage you created and the aricula is beautiful along with your interesting information.
    You've brought back a really nice memory of when we visited the UK a few years ago. There was an aricula "theatre" in the garden of a country house in Derbyshire (Calke Abbey) that we'd visited which was the first and only time we'd heard of such a thing. Oh how we enjoyed it there even with a bit of rain.
    oxo

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    1. My Auntie had one of those theatres filled with her precious plants, and I often went to shows with her, so there are a lot of memories here for me, too- I don't know Calke Abbey but have seen them at other places.

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  10. Gorgeous art piece, Valerie! You do live in a beautiful place :)

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  11. I love your new blog header and design :) Your digitally altered page is fantastic, I'm trying to find a description in my brain, whimsical isn't the right one, but anyway, it's great fun and beautiful art. Your photos as always are wonderful. Take care, Shirleyxx

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  12. Fantastic page Valerie! I love the compsition and the auriculas are so pretty and are a lovely addition. Great photos, thanks for letting us walk the beautiful lanes with you, my favourites are the brickwork walls and ceiling. J :-)

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  13. As some said before, I like your new blog header - but I miss the Houses of Parliament that were in the background before. Did you already "brexit" them?

    The page is interesting - I have never heard of auriculas, but then I am not familiar with indoor plants at all.

    Beautiful images of your town and the area you live in. It's pictures like these that sometimes make me homesick for Germany.

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    1. I haven'rt made a Brexit, but I do need to make a change in my life here and there, and it is sometimes soooooooooooooooooo hard!

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  14. hi valerie,


    ooohh dein neues blogoutfit ist suuuuper,deine seite ist wunderschön und so schöne bilder hast du gemacht,lässt mich gleich morgends lächeln.
    eeeendlich hab ich wider zeit dich zu besuchen,hatte eine komische phase und zu nichts lust,jetzt geht es wieder und ich muss mein verwaisten blog wieder füllen.
    wünsch dir einen schönen tag heute :-)


    hugs jenny

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  15. I'm offline for about a day, come to visit, and think I have the wrong blog! What a surprising new header!

    I'm new to auriculas, but I like the idea where space is limited. They are certainly lovely, and you did a fantastic job with your digital entry.

    I really enjoyed a walk through your town. Loved the vine beginning to circle the entry and what reminded me of a silo. So many new things to ponder and view, it was a really fun trip today!

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    1. The 'silo' is the old mill, which lost it's top about 150 years back and is now luxury lofts and apartments!

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  16. Fabulous designed creations with ideal colour combo's.xx {aNNie}

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  17. Fabulous artwork for AJJ Valerie and a really interesting read as I know the plant but had no idea about the Huguenot connection (which I have on my mums side of family in East London) so thanks for that.

    Love your photos but especially the one with the lovely arch and brickwork. I don't know what it is about bricks and stuff like that but even in our garden I often find I'm often taking photos of bricks, concrete, tree bark and all sorts of textures..

    Sorry, I'm really behind with things and commenting this week.
    I see you have had a blog makeover - very cool!

    Looking forward to joining in the MMM theme :)
    Have a great day... Gill xx

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  18. A fabulous page Valerie and very interesting about the auriculas.
    great photos - love the one with the lamp post attached to the wall.
    Great new blog header too.
    Avril xx

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  19. I always enjoy seeing the old brick work and this post was full of brickwork!
    sandy xx

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