Pretty English Things

windsor castle colored pencil

london corner colored pencilI recently found the most gorgeous blog. As I browsed the comments, I did not recognize my familiar blogging friends.

colored pencil the thames

tartan window colored pencilSo, I thought it might be good to share this goodie. Sea Angels is a magical place, that you really must visit.

London

big ben colored pencilHave I ever told you that I always wanted to live in England? Living in an English colony for five years, and having my girls in a British school truly made me fall in love with everything British. So much charm, so much history and I just love the way the British look at life.

the crooked tea house colored

street act coventry garden coloredRecently in search of the perfect hand-made journals to paint and add to my little shop, I found the most gorgeous ones. Of course they are from England and the name of the shop is HMS Designs on Etsy.

colored pencil the london eye boxcar

windsor castle home colored pencilI loved her journals, and when I asked permission to paint them inside and put them in my shop, she was so kind to say yes. I must share her shop with you, and Oh, I loved what she wrote:

"My name is Helen Smith and I am a textile and mixed media artist living and working on the Wirral peninsula in north-west England. Wirral is surrounded on three sides by water and my work is heavily influenced by the coastline and beautiful estuary scenery surrounding me.

I have always loved to create, and most of my work will contain a bit of stitch somewhere... I like to play with colour and texture, combining fabric and paper and stuff I’ve collected. My current obsession is beachcombing and a lot of my best finds are turning up in my work at the moment."


the secret garden at windsor castle

I found the link to learn about where Helen is from, and Oh, well you just have to have a peek. I can't wait to receive my journal, and as soon as I hand-paint these lovely pages, I will share them with you.

London MarketThe photographs on this post, are tweaked to add a bit more magic...are from my trip to London a few years back. I visited my friends who are lucky to live in this enchanted country, and added a few more memories of spending time with my daughter.

I took my daughter, Ashley on this trip with me.  We had the best time and made wonderful memories.Magic, did I say magic? I think this photo says it all.

Second Star to the Right

Oh, and I found the most beautiful video that depicts the lovely and romantic London.

The music for this post is from the movie Miss Potter, which I love to watch while I paint, with a cup of tea.
Sea Angels said...

Thankyou so much for your visit, because on this return to see you I am enchanted, you are uplifting, and inspiring, in spite of your worrys...you fill your posts with hope and beauty, I am so pleased to have been able to spend some time with you, I hope we can get to know each other this year.
Have a lovely weekend.
Hugs Lynn xx

Kathy said...

Dear Karen, we are of the same mind when it comes to England. I have been blessed to visit there twice and recognize my experience in your own. I long to return and hope once the economy improves and I fully recover from the big wedding of 2008, I will be able to make another trip to that enchanted place! Enjoy the weekend and stay warm. ~Kathy

Anonymous said...

Hello Karen,

Thanks for sharing this blog!

~ Gabriela ~

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I have always fancied a visit to England...maybe someday. In the meantime, I am enjoying your post and pictures. I am off to visit Sea Angels....
Hugs,
Penny

LiLi M. said...

Thanks for your recommendations, I'm off!
Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Hello Karen, I went to college in London (Hampstead) I loved every minute of my time there...it shaped my life.
Your photos are amazing...someday I would like to learn more about photoshop...so much to do so little time.
Thank you for this lovely post and links.

Kathleen Grace said...

England, Ireland and Scotland are my dream destinations. Maybe because that is where my ancestors hail from I feel a pull in that direction. I would so love to go some day:>)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

What a lovely post. And oh, how I love England and Scotland! This makes me long to go back. Thanks for the heads up on this blog...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Anonymous said...

What a delightful post--so full of new and exciting spots to visit. I look forward to seeing your touch on the new journals you have found.

Dana

PS Loved the music.

Unknown said...

Popped over to see your Pink for Saturday...but found this instead. I love this about England. I too would love to visit. I am a florist & I am dying to see the English gardens...ahh maybe someday! ;)

RobinfromCA said...

Hi Karen,
I came over for Pink Saturday and saw photos of one of my favorite places in the world so had to read that entry as well. I used to visit every year when I had friends living there. I haven't been in 8 years since they moved back state side and am missing it terribly. Can't wait to visit Sea Angels and to see the journals you create "together." Miss Potter is also a favorite and I love the music!

Robin

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Merci beaucoup for taking us on a trip to such lovely places! Your images are striking. Peace and happiness to you this new year, Karen! Anita

Unknown said...

What a lovely thing to have lived in England! It sounds like you had a lovely time of it there, too! I would love to visit there someday. I am looking forward to your hand painted journal, too! So far it is amazing!

aliceinparis said...

My parents are from Scotland and I have spent many months in Britain. It is a love of mine too. Miss Potter was a charming film, the Lake District looked so wonderful. Wouldn't it be fun to visit her house:)
Cheers, Shelagh

Laume said...

My son and I spent a month traveling around the UK and we loved every minute of it. I love what you did with your photos. I recognize so many of the scenes. There's so much in London to see. I've been there several times and feel like I still have so many bits and pieces of it to discover.

Janice Kay Schaub said...

I am originally from England so I loved your post. I did go visit the blog you recommended and am now following it. Thanks. My son took me home for a week just over a year ago. It sure was hard to come back we had such a great time
Janice

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