Well, our journey is coming to a close as we bring you the last block in our series, The Pudding House. Next month we will show you how to put the blocks together to make a quilt and also a cute pillow featuring our first block, Bumblebee Cottage.
The Pudding House by Jules Woolford
It’s a late summer afternoon as the lane
leads us past the open gates of a large country estate. A ‘Welcome’ sign bids
us enter, and we follow a long driveway through parklands studded with ancient
trees where a herd of fallow deer roam. In the distance, a grand old, Elizabethan
house dominates the scene surrounded by stunning walled gardens. At the
entrance to the gardens, though, there’s another building which captures our
attention -- the most exquisite little Tudor summer house! Built with beautiful
golden stone and richly decorated, it seems like a fairy palace set amidst
floral borders bursting with color and fragrance!
Peering inside the delightful house, we see
a table set for an afternoon West Country cream tea of freshly baked scones,
strawberry jam and clotted cream! There’s a handwritten note telling us, ‘Please
help yourselves.’ We sit, pour a cup of tea and enjoy our delicious bounty while
we gaze at the stunning view. What a wonderful way to end our journey!
The Back Story
Historic British gardens almost always have
their own private summer houses where the owners can sit and enjoy their
gardens and estates. Jules has a fondness for these sweet little cottages. The
Pudding House is a real structure set in the gardens of Montacute House in
Somerset, where she once spent a magical afternoon. The house is ornately
decorated and does indeed look as if it came straight out of a fairy tale! It’s
called a Pudding House as guests in Tudor and Stuart times would 'retire' there
to enjoy puddings after a meal in the main dining room. It gave the servants of
the house time to clear and prepare the dining room for the evening entertainment.
Jules’ home is located in the beautiful West Country, and it seems only fitting
our final stop along Briarside Lane is enjoyed with cream tea!
This is Jules' original painting which inspired my "Folk Art Fusion" version.
This month, after soooooooooo many emails and requests, I am delighted to share that Jules is offering her original paintings as delightful greeting cards! Hop on over HERE to purchase them, as well as, some of her other incredible art cards.
It's been so much fun stitching the details in each and every one of these blocks. What a wonderful and creative adventure it has been for me as a designer.
Don't forget, there is also a FREE embroidery version included with each PDF pattern. Thank you Babs Fullerton for all your lovely work on these blocks!
There are still a few Briarside Lane Valdani thread collections available if you would like one.
The PDF pattern, wool kit, threads and supplies are all available in the SHOP, so HOP on over!
Don't forget to share your finished blocks on The Raspberry Rabbits Facebook page. Link is on the right sidebar.
Hugs and hoppy stitching!
Michelle, Jules and the Bunnies
4 comments:
Oh what a lovely way to end our journey down Briarside Lane...having tea and pudding in the Pudding House. This is so very sweet. Thank you Michelle and Jules for sharing your artistic collaboration with us. Stitching Bliss...<3
Dearest Shell!!!!!!!!!!
What a cute name, the "Pudding House" - enchanting and well done, as always. I hope the new cottage is allowing you to get everything in its place; are ya lovin' your new creative space?
Enjoy my friend and happy JUNE!
I would love to have tea there! I'm so impressed by the creativity you and Jules have shared.
Oh Michelle (and Jules) what a lovely last instalment. I can't wait to see them all together and will definitely be purchasing the postcards. Thank you both for this delightful and enchanting journey.
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