THE INSTAGRAM EXPERIENCE

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 02/09/2014

Photo's: Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

I have been on Blogger for a good while now and saw that over the last few years, a lot of bloggers moved to the quick and easy photo sharing site Instagram .Sometimes they would completely give up on their blog - which I think is a real shame- and just have an Instagram account. Curious to see what it was like, I opened an Instagram account last month when I got a more modern phone.And I can tell you, it's all good.It's quite a friendly and really lovely community with lots of artists, designers and other folk being very communicative and supportive.If you don't believe me, have a look- you can actually look into people's account if you go on Google and then put "Instagram " into the search engine.Here's the link of my Instagram account .And I enclose here below some of the most liked photo's on my account.Have a great week  people and maybe see you there as well !!  

ART AND PRIVATE COMMISSIONS

ART AND PRIVATE COMMISSIONS 

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 01/09/2014

Photo's: Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

Over the last decades I have been lucky to to work for quite a few private clients who gave me really fun   commissions to do.Here are a few pictures of these- including murals and designs for children's and baby rooms. Enjoy ! And if you are interested to commission something for yourself I am always contactable on email myauntagatha@hotmail.co.uk 

Have a great day people  and enjoy the first day of September !! 

ART, DESIGN AND DRAWINGS -GETTING BUSY WITH PEN AND PAPER ( AND WATERCOLOUR )

ART, DESIGN AND DRAWINGS

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 28/08/2014

Photo's: Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

Working in water colour, pen and ink and pencil drawing are a few of the things I have always loved   .I am happy to say this year I have found more time to get this going again . It makes me very happy to do so.Today I would like to show you a few things I have been working on .Have a look and let me know what you think.I thought to get back into screen printing or mono printing and water colours.Maybe do some card designs and calendars .All ideas and suggestions welcome !! By the way you can find me now on Instagram.Here's the link.

Have a great day people !! 

RAGWORTH .FLOWERS STUDY - WATER COLOUR  AND PEN AND INK. .A preliminary sketch  for a design for a card or screenprint. SUMMER 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

RAGWORTH. FLOWERS STUDY - WATER COLOUR  .A preliminary sketch  for a design for a card or screenprint. SUMMER 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

RAGWORTH FLOWERS STUDY - PENCIL .A preliminary sketch  for a water color or screen print . SUMMER 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

WEDDING MEMORY CARD /POSTER A4   - PEN AND INK  AND COLLAGE . Summer 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

BIRTHDAY CARD   - PEN AND INK  AND COLOURED PENCILS . Summer 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

BIRTHDAY CARD   - PEN AND INK  AND COLOURED PENCILS . Summer 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

BIRTHDAY CARD BOY  - PEN AND INK  AND COLOURED PENCILS . Summer 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

AGAPANTHUS FLOWERS STUDY - PEN AND INK .A preliminary sketch for a water color or screen print . Spring 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

DESIGN FOR ALPHABET TEA-MUGS  - PEN ON PAPER .A preliminary sketch for a water color or screen print . Spring 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

DAFFODILS - PENCIL ON PAPER .A preliminary sketch for a water color or screen print . Spring 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

BLUEBELLS- PEN AND INK .A preliminary sketch for a water color or screen print . Spring 2014 

 by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • added 28/08/2014

A CORKER OF A DAY

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 24/07/2014

Photo's  : Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

What a great summer we are having right now.Just enough rain .Every now and then , when it gets too hot, a big rainstorm will water the  ground  through and through and gets the new flowers going. Today I woke up to once again a corker of a day.How lucky we are. 
Here are some of the annuals that have just come out .Nothing showing till a huge thunderstorm burst out and then the next day- whack, there they were.Rather surprising. I notice that there's a mix right now of lots of pink,purple and orange.All good I reckon.
From the top- first picture  : purple Alliums and pink Lavatera silver cup-  a colour combination that I did not know if it would work or not .. Second picture: detail of Lavatera Silver cup. Love the detailed lines. 
Third picture: orange Crocosmia with Californian poppies and pink Candytuft. I always try to grow this combination as I love the colours together.
Picture four: Cosmos Sensation .
Picture five: an overview of the Alliums with the Lavatera.
If you've never grown annuals before, maybe this has given you a bit of an idea what you can grow.It's super easy and great fun.Put it on your list for next Spring !

HEATWAVE

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 17/07/2014

Photo's  : Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

It seems we're bound for a short heatwave here in the UK in the next few days.When we say " heatwave " here we really mean a temperature like 29 Degrees Centigrade , pretty normal for summer in France and Italy (  but that is by the by ). 

Really rather pleasant.But slightly too hot for gardening.As you can see there is a lot of warm colours going on
in my borders right now, like the crocosmia, nasturtium, and the hydrangea.

But I had a bit of a scoop and picked up some really rather lovely and inexpensive delphiniums, scabiosa and thalictrum.They are now in a "holding station" out of the sun and get drenched every day in buckets of water, till
it's less hot and I can put them in the border.In the meantime I am catching up on the latest Donna Tart in my deckchair.I am sure it will rain very soon so I am making the best of the weather.After all, I live
in England, the land of rain and green meadows.

ON 6000 + HOUZZ IDEABOOKS

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 16/07/2014

Photo's : Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

It seems only yesterday that I opened my account as Modern Country Lady on Houzz.com and downloaded some pictures I took of my garden designs which you can see here . The pictures of the basket of pansies was added to 2365 idea books, the picture of the potager to 6417 idea books, and the picture of the woodshed ( actually at my neighbour's garden ) to 4905 ideabooks.
I only discovered this by chance .Houzz launches it's UK site now, so I checked on my profile and noticed the numbers.Quite amazing really.
The good thing is, Houzz UK has moved my profile so I don't have to do anything.You can now check me out on Houzz.com   AND on Houzz.co.uk .

ENGLISH LIFE- BREAKFAST

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 16/07/2014

Photo's  : Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

You may find it hard to believe, but most people in England don't really eat a full English breakfast .It's the first thing that my step dad Jan , now departed to the great breakfast nook in the sky, God rest his soul, shouted out joyfully when he came to visit  ."England! Breakfast ! Fried Eggs ! Fried bacon ! " I still remember the look of glee on his face. The reality is, most people eat cereal, toast, or- porridge ( if they are Scottish , they certainly will go for the last option ).

I can vouch for porridge as the best option, honestly.It's my breakfast of choice .Pretty easy to make and keeps you going for ever. Loads of health benefits too.Make it with soja milk if you have a lactose- intolerance problem.

Here's a quick recipe:

Porridge:

Ingredients:
1 Cup of porridge oats
3 to 4 cups of milk or soja milk

Preparation:
Put the oats in a sauce pan and add the milk or soja milk . Bring to the boil and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes.
Keep stirring with a wooden spoon as it can stick to the bottom of your pan.
Serve with a spoon of honey, or go fancy and add blueberries, fruit, cinnamon, ( or whatever you like ).

CABBAGE ROSES

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 15/07/2014

Photo's 1 and 2  : Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk
Photo 3: Country Living Magazine

Cabbage roses.We seem to have developed a deep and loving relationship with them.It certainly was a beautiful display in the Rose Marquee at the Hampton Court Flower Show 2014. Whether in colour or black and white, I personally can't get enough of them .More, please ! 

HAMPTON COURT FLOWER SHOW 2014- SHOWGARDENS AND OUTSIDE STANDS

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 15/07/2014

Photo's 1, 2, 3,6, 9, 11, 12  , : Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

Photo's 4, 5, 7,8  : www.rhs.org.uk  
Photo 10 : Country Living UK

The Hampton Court  Flower Show is pretty big .There are not just a few marquees, but also loads of show gardens.My favourite- and a gold medal winner was the Vestra Wealth Vista garden. Lots of  box, with a colour palette of white, blue and purple.  Perfect , modern and inviting. Just fabulous. Designer  : Paul Martin. 

Very modest chap - I raved about his garden and he got rather bashful.

Some of the outside displays and stalls are rather fetching too.I'd love to have the Elephant fountain and the marine-style recliner.Sadly both at least £6000,- plus. But there you go, one can but dream.

A VILLAGE FETE IN ENGLAND- SUMMER PERFECTION

by Andrea ( Bea )Vonk • 13/07/2014

Photo's: Andrea ( Bea ) Vonk  Styling: Andrea ( Bea) Vonk

Summer in England is the time to visit your local village fetes.I adore it.If you want a perfect day, just go there. 
What can you expect ? Classic cars.Vintage books and crockery.Pimms.The village band.People and their dogs.Lovely.
Here are my finds. Favourite new cup. 50 pence. Favourite new vase: 2 pounds.The English Village fete .Perfection.