A Short Visit To Kirkstall Abbey .

Brief history and photo

Picture and below text from Wikepedia


Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in the western outskirts of Leeds in Yorkshire, set in grounds which are now a public park on the north bank of the River Aire. It was founded c.1152 and was over seventy five years in construction. It was closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under the auspices of Henry VIII. The ruins have been painted by artists such as J.M.W. Turner. On 22 November 1539 the abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII's commissioners in the Dissolution of the monasteries. In 1671 it passed into the hands of the Brudenell family, Earls of Cardigan. Much of the stone was removed for re-use in other buildings in the area, including the steps leading to Leeds Bridge.

During the 18th century the picturesque ruins attracted artists of the Romantic movement and were painted by artists including Turner. In 1889 the abbey was sold to Colonel John North, who presented it to Leeds City Council. The Council undertook a major restoration project and the abbey was opened to the public in 1895.



This is where we visited on sunday .
A day when i got up , and thought , i need to get
out somewhere . So off we went for a drive , no
particular place in mind and passed this Abbey.
Although i live near , i had never been to see it .
So i had to stop , and take a look , and these
are my views in photographs .



The walk down from the main road





A caged off entrance to the right hand side of the Abbey .

A photo from 1890 inside ( wikepedia )

And mine





Looking up slightly




And the entrance which i just walked through

On the sides of the building , these were dotted about .
Arches with a shelf , and an indentation of a circle .
On the right handside - maybe to put a candle ??





View down the arches , which are on both sides





A walk through a stone archway , brings you to
the courtyard










Inside one of the " rooms " looking
out onto the courtyard






below one a better inside photograph

c/o Wikepedia
My flash was not that good !

Then we walked around the Abbey , where restoration
was taking place , and trying to get a shot
without the building site look !






The back of the abbey , where the giant window is .

We guessed at it`s size - 40 foot wide by 90 foot high .

Wouldn`t this be more magnificant , if it still had

stained glass inside ?

We only spent an hour there , but it

was well worth taking a look .

I always go around places like these , and

often wonder and wish . If i could just go back

in time , for a moment , and see them how

they were originally , in all their glory .

Then i would have my own photograph

of it , in my mind , to remember it .

I hope you enjoyed a little tour of Kirkstall

Abbey , through my eyes ......

If anyone would like one of my photos .

I will gladly email it to you - just let me know !!

ATC Cards ....Part Two ...

I got the message from Jo Anne ,

that she had finally received my

2 ATC cards ! So i can finally show

what i had sent !

" GOLDEN CHOPSTICKS"

oriental paper , images , cocktail

sticks painted , beads and a button

and a metal washers coloured with

alcohol inks . Glossy accents on the

dragon image .

It looks more vibrant than what it is ,

i couldn`t get good photos of them , being so

close to photgraph them , but you get the idea !

And , my partner said , this one sounded

like a dodgey chinese take away !! ;o)

" MOURNING QUEEN "

Based on Queen Victoria known to wear

black all the time after the Kings death .

Lace , photo and frame . Title printed

out , then glossy accents over it .

Especially for Sherry - i hope your feet

aren`t hurting too much !! :o)

My First ATC Card Swap ....

A few weeks ago , Jo Anne ,

asked if anyone would like to swap ATC cards

with her . When i first began crafting , that

was what i started on , and had not done anymore

since doing a few , as i have " moved on ".

So i decided to take part .

We did a 2 for 2 , and mine came last week !

With no" theme "for it , just to do what idea
came into your head . Which sometimes can be

more difficult to me , than a named one !

The children all lined up are adorable !

My favourite one !

And an oriental one .

Thankyou so much Jo Anne !

I hope you are as pleased with yours ,

as i am with mine !

I am also taking part in her

Pink Collaborative Book Here

To make a 5 " x 5" creation , something with pink in,

in what ever medium you choose . Post it to her ,

and she will make a book out of all of them ,

then submitt it to a publisher . Take a look

if you are at all interested !

I have also done another blog banner

For Moanna

All she wanted was something simple and feminine .
And after sending a few font choices , she chose this one .

Thank you Moanna !

I have some premade banners Here

or i do custom made ones . If anyone

else is interested !

200th Post And Giveaways .....

Here is another milestone post for me .

I have my first year of blogging , coming up this May.

However , the few posts you do each week , do

add up , and next you know - it`s here !

You think , how can i have done so many , or

written about so many things that are important

to you , and want to share with others .

And you think back to when you first began ,

and how you have developed and grown .

It has been a journey for me , some downs ,

but mostly ups . Formost meeting new friends ,

to enrich my life more , and gathering inspiration

from them .

And in the tradition of a milestone post ,

it comes to my giveaways ! As my way of saying

Thankyou

The first is this ......

An altered wooden coaster .

Covered in gold acrylic paint ,

embellished with a faux pearl bracelet ,

vintage metal brooch , roses , butterfly

and the word Treasure .

The second one is ..

A blog head banner , which i will create for you .

So even if you have had one made by me

recently , you can still enter for this !

The closing date for my giveaway is

Friday 14th March

The winner to be announced

Saturday 15th March

If you wish to choose , please state in a comment ,

which one you are most interested in !!!

On this post , or any other here after .

Also the above made advert for my

giveaway , can be used on your blog , if

you wish to do so !

Happy weekend everyone !!

I have my craft room to sort out .

I got some more well needed storage yesterday !!

I suppose i could take a before and after shot !

199th Post ....

Available to purchase from

My blog shop

Another Etsy banner , for Rhonda`s mum .

And as the title post says .. I am ONE post

away from 200 !!

I would never have dreamt of being still here,

blogging away , changing and growing in aspects

of my own creative world . You get out - what you

put in , and i have so much more i want to

achieve . From leaving my comfort zone of

creation , to the first step in creating art, to hopefully

being published in Somerset Studio or Cloth

paper Scissors . A decision on which one , is not

made yet .

Without taking part in various " parties "

and events . I would not have me those creative

and inspirational artists , that have stayed with

me , and made it easier for me to carry on ,

and not give up doing it .

So i would like to say thankyou all .

And all those who believe in me .

I will be having 2 giveaways for my

celebration . One is something handmade ,

and the other ........ you will have to bring

yourself back here to see - this weekend !

I hope you will join me

Spring Banners ...

Here`s a couple of example spring blog head banners ,

recently created for people .

If you want to spruce up yours , or

you`re tired with your old look .

I`d be happy to help you out !

Rhonda`s Etsy Shop

Sage and Thyme

I am also ** 2 posts away from my 200th post ! **

Guess i will have to think of something !

More details to follow !!

Closed ....

* photographed locally

Passed by people ,

Not noticing you anymore .

Standing there , slowly decaying ....

No more - will pass through your door .

To see the delights of the past ,

Soak up the smells ...

And the tales they could tell .

A piece of furniture ,

Lovingly made .

No more care and attention ,

For which it craved .

An old piece of lace ,

Which lay on a table .

To a cracked tea pot ,

Stained with love .

A picture postcard ,

Saying - wish you were here ?

Captured moments in time ,

Of thought loved ones so dear .

Your secrets are safe ,

No longer shall we see .

What more you had to give ,

For yourself - and me ...

Thrift Joys And love .....

The first day of March

When it feels like i was just welcoming in the New year ,

time is sure flying by , don`t you think ?

The past 2 weeks , i travelled to my home

town , to see what i could hunt down .

Being the ever bargain buyer , and not wanting

to pay what i think is over the odds -

that`s the Yorkshire lass in me ;o)

I managed to find some things ...

A vintage French postcard ...

More books ! 1973 childrens , and 1963 Enid Blyton .

1920`s sheet music book , and a medical nursing book .

Which was used at a hospital in Halifax -

which is not that far from me !

A childrens picture dictionary , with pages like these

And my favourite find -

A handmade double quilt cover !

I love all the fabric pieces in this quilt ,

although i am considering dismantling it .

I am just admiring it for now ..

Vintage linens and lace , and a vibrant ball of

wool fibres . I was immediately drawn to the colours,

which i think we all need something to brighten

the day up with , and trying to get out my colour

comfort zone !!

So it was a fruitful time for my thrift buys .

Sometimes , i do not see anything , and feel

i have missed out on something . Then next

you find things that bring joy to your heart .

Speaking of which ..

Here`s a photo - for my sweet friend Rhonda .

I know she`s absolutely mad on the British Robin .

Another one to add to your stash !!

Doesn`t he look beautiful - all soft

and fluffy ! ?? She has just done a post

herself on her love of them , so check out

all her photo`s !

And finally - I was gifted with yet another

award - From another dearest friend of mine

Sherry . If i had received it before you .

I would have no hesitation in passing it on

to you . It made me smile , that she loves me that

much . When you look at the photo , you cannot

measure love in the length of the arms out stretched .

A simple image like that , can say it all .

Love is in many forms , actions , unspoken words ,

objects , nature . The list is long ..

It gives me great pleasure in passing this award

on to you .....

Rhonda !!

You deserve it !

You make me laugh , brighten up my day .

Send me unexpected gifts , and you are just

what i call a true friend of mine ...

Without having this blog , i would not have met you ,

along with so many others . It has brought me a

whole new world of new friends . Of which i am

so thankfull for ...

Wishing you a happy weekend !!

All At Sea Again ...

Expressing myself , the only way i know how ...

To let you all know - i am still here , just

going through a personal rough ride ...

Some lyrics from Echo And The Bunneymen

OCEAN RAIN


All at sea again ,

Now my hurricaine ,

Brought down this ocean rain ..

To bathe me again .

My ships a sail ,

Can you hear it`s tender frame ?

Screaming from beneath the waves .

All hands on deck at dawn .

Sailing to sadder shores .

Your port and my heavy storms ,

Harbour the blackest thoughts .

The dark cloud has cast it`s shadow over me .

And i am waiting for the sun .

And i cannot hide ,

behind the person , who i am not .

And still walking through ,

Making my own new path ....

It will just take time ...

Grateful thanks to special people in my life , who i can

turn to in times like these ...

You know who you are ....

Kathleen`s Love Letter , Webs And A Freebie ! ...

This is an altered scrabble board ( cut in half )

That i decided to rework on a little. Sometimes ,

when you leave work , and go back to it , you can see,

if anything , whether it is finally finished , or needs

adjustments at all .

Done on the theme of The First World War ..

Two lovers being apart , and sending correspondence.

I based it on the mans photo , an actual vintage postcard.

I`d bought it , and thought , what could i do with it .

As i find men`s artwork more challenging myself .

Then i found an old book , on how to write letters .

And one stood out , a lady named Kathleen , expressing

how she missed her man - Stephen - And wanted

him back with her . The rest of the idea was there to create .

Below , is a close up of the letter written ..

I am considering selling this piece . It is not in my shop ,

as of yet . But if there is any interest , please let me know !

And remember when i said , we have crazy weather ?

One day of snow , the next fine ?

Two days ago , we had freezing fog . Everywhere was

covered in a thick blanket of frozen water droplets .

But outside , in my back garden , i found these ...

Frozen spiders webs !!

These were everywhere , and until they became more

visible to our eyes . I would not have known they were

there at all !

Below , is an Easter Egg photo ,

for anyone wishing to use it in your projects .

From my own personal stash ! Enjoy !

Another Play At Tag .. And A Happy Birthday ..

Again , i have been tagged - by Rhonda .

I have only just got around to doing it , so here it is for you all .

For 5 more things you do not know about me ...

1 . I have a tattoo , on my right arm , near the top .It is

a small blue heart with a streak of lightning through it .

One of those painful experiences , which i do not

intend to do again ! I nearly passed out !

See below`s reason .

2 . I have a fear of passing out ! I came close while i

was having my tattoo done . I got tunnel vision ,

sweating and told the guy to stop doing it ! I guess ,

i need to know what i am doing , and be in

control of situations i`m in ....

3 . Long fingernails on men ! I absolutely hate it !

Need i say anymore really ! ??

4 . I have a " thing " about keeping the kitchen

worksurfaces clean . I wipe over them with a

bacterial cleanser . But what usually happens is ,

my partner wipes over it with a used tea towel ,

as it`s still " wet " to dry it ! It really annoy`s me ,

as the tea towel will have germs on it !!

5 . I have a habit of , running my fingers through

my freshly washed hair , and then looking at the hairs

that are coming out ! Not exactly intentionally

pulling them out , i know there is a medical condition

for that . Sometimes , i do not know i am doing it ,

until i see a small pile of hairs on the carpet , or

i get told off for doing it !!

So there`s a few more facts about moi !

Not too revealing i hope , or think heck , what is

this woman like !

I will not pass this on anymore .. I think many have

taken part in this one . So you can all breathe a sigh of relief !

Also i would like to wish my mum today ..

" A Very Happy Birthday ! "

I miss you all , and wish i could be there .

And a new listing in my shop today ..

A pack of tiny hand cut envelopes for you to alter ,

or add to your artworks .

Swaps And Gifts Received

Time for sharing my swaps and wins , won from my

friends recently . It is always a good feeling , to receive

something in the post . When you leave a comment ,

in " hoping " you will win - it is always a surprise ,

when you actually do so . And when others think , to

send you something by snail mail . It makes it more

of a special gift received , in times now of email , it is

to me , even more of a personal touch i think .

My friend Rhonda , just sent me some of her vintage

tickets , she had bought a while back . Not that i had

asked for any , she just sent me some to use myself !

So Thankyou for thinking of me Rhonda !

Next is my win from Sherry`s 100th post giveaway .

As Shery said - I seem to have some luck at winning at

the moment ! As i have also won part of her One

World One Heart giveaway as well !

Another journal , for me to write in - you can never have

too many i think ! And a gorgeous handmade card .

Many thank you`s Sherry !!

Abbie`s Valentine Swap Package :

It arrived the day after Valentine`s day , all

packaged up , in this cute little box ! She had

9 people to send out , for this swap . So i would

liketo say thankyou , for being generous to us all !

The goodies , including lace , 2 vintage wooden spools ,

thread and glittered heart .

But what i was totally smitten with was ,

this ever so cute , and tiny birdie !

Something that tiny , gave me alot of pleasure . I

simply adore him Abbie ! Thankyou !!

I would also like to say , Rhonda , is having a

50th post giveaway !

So please give her a visit , and leave her a comment .

She has a mixture of items , including tags ,vintage paper , you could win !

Draw to be done this Friday !!

http://rhondamum.blogspot.com/