Travels through found sketchbooks #1

Hello and welcome to Long Mizzle,

Long Mizzle Garden 11-12-20

Open this small unassuming shoulder bag, and you'll find a passion for travel, together with a love of gardens and landscape, through the eyes of an unknown artist. Mam found this lot in a house sale clearance stall a few years ago at Rosudgeon Carboot Sale, and kindly gifted them to me...

[Garden at Dragarstigen (Sweden), 31st July, 1982]

The bag contains: four small sketchbooks filled with studies in ink, chalk and watercolour, one tube of paintbrushes, one small empty medicine bottle, one 'Amalifi' tourist penknife and one 'rapidliner' pencil, purchased in Germany.

                                                     

[Stadpark (City Park) Vienna. 1989]

A label inside the bag reads - Mr L J Watling, Brannel Mill Cottage, Coombe, Cornwall.  I have been unable to find any 'L J Watling' artwork referenced online and so I'm unsure as to whether sketching was a mindful pastime for Watling, or acted as a warm up exercise to possibly larger paintings. Encouragingly though, I did discover that Brammel Mill Cottage still exists -

 
[Brannel Mill Cottage, Coombe near St Austel | Source: Zoopla]
 
Whilst Brannel Mill Cottage looks very beautiful to me, there are no sketches of the cottage itself within the bag. There are a handful of relatively local sketches, including Mevagissey and Dartmoor. 

                 

 [Coleton Fishacre Gardens (National Trust), near Kingswear, Devon, 1992]

It seems Watling enjoyed taking his sketch books abroad: Austria, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, and the joy is that a large proportion are dated and place titled. 

[Punkaharoju, July 1981]

The earliest entry is - 'Alex at Locarno (Southern Swiss Town) August 1974'. In this rough pen sketch I can identify a Trachycarpus Furtunei, the same palm that graces our garden here at Long Mizzle. Alex appears three times, one being a sketch of him asleep and I wonder if they were friends or partners.

[Alex at Locarno (Southern Swiss Town) August 1974]

The majority are dated between 1981 and 1983, and are those of travels in Sweden, Finland and Norway.

[Botanical Garden, Visby (Sweden) 3rd September 1983]

                                              [Utne, Hardangerfjord (Norway), May 1999]

My personal favourites are the nordic landscapes -



The last dated sketch abroad (2000) is of  the famous Vila Rufoldo Garden, Ravello. It is a shame that there are only two sketches of Ravello, on Italy's stunning Amalfi coast. From this cold winter's day, I can almost smell the warm terraces filled with Pelagoniums and Pines.

 

There's quite a lot so I'll share some of the more wintery, snowy sketches in my next post!

This week, I had a little womble to Falmouth town.  This lovely window display reminded me that I need to bring my Amaryllis bulbs (Hippeastrum) in from the greenhouse and re-pot my Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis). Just look at these flowering beauties...

If you ever visit Falmouth Town, Stones Bakery on the old high street is an absolute must for the most delicious coffee and bakes! I chose to take out, but in normal times I sit in where I can watch the bakers pummel the pastry in the back.

Stones Bakery

I honestly do not know what I would do without Stone's Ginger Cake!

Mam was the breaker of bad news (she had asked my eldest daughter to pass on this information, but obviously said sprog did not understand the severity of the situation)...there is currently a worldwide ginger shortage. China, who produce around 1/3 of the world's ginger, experienced a 20% reduction in crops this year. Other ginger growers (India, Vietnam, Thailand, Brazil) have been trying to meet the high demand produced by lockdown baking frenzy.

Best Ginger Cake

I was very chuffed with my Chazza shopped new outfit. A sparkly jumper in almost the same colour as the ginger cake (£2)... and a swirly, pure silk, lined Indian wrap skirt (£8). I had a chat with the lovely Indian lady in 'Posh Pants' chazza, and she said the material is like the ones made near Agra. She also said a Netflix film crew had been in recently to peruse the stall, but they weren't allowed to say what they were filming in the area!


A quick update on my mam's hyacinths in vintage bulb vases. I know some of you are also trying indoor bulbs at home. How's it going?

After writing about studying horticulture with Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden a couple of weeks ago, I completely forgot that the exam results came out a few days later. So at the weekend, after I had finally remembered my login for the RHS portal, I found out that I had passed both exams with commendation! Of course I will be celebrating in style, with ginger cake and hearty tankards of tea. 

 

How are you and what have you been up to this week?

 I wonder if any of you have visited the places seen in Watlings' s sketches?  

Or if anyone could shed any light on the artist, that would put Miss Marple to shame!

Please do say hello in the comments section below.


Lulu xXx

See Travels through found sketchbooks PART TWO here : 

https://longmizzle.blogspot.com/2020/12/travels-through-found-sketchbooks-2.html



Thank you for visiting!

Most recent posts can be found here -

https://longmizzle.blogspot.com/

 


 


 


Comments

  1. bahnwärterin11 December 2020 at 07:37

    the sketches are a wonderful treasure!!!
    will you frame some of them?
    the only place i visited too is vienna - see here and following posts: http://bahnwaerterhaeuschen.blogspot.com/2015/11/zug-nach-wien.html
    and you´r right - the nordic landscapes are are drawn in a gorgeous manner.
    lovely clothes - can we see them worn by you please :-D
    ginger shortage?! i hope not! i live on hot ginger water in the wintertime....
    now i´m off to bake a quiche with leek......
    xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bahnwärterin11 December 2020 at 10:29

      ps: congrats to the brilliant exams!! xxx

      Delete
    2. Lulu14 December 2020 at 11:20

      Thank you Beate! I’m in two minds as whether to get a couple framed. Although I would love them on the wall, it almost seems a shame to pull them out of the books. I could get a good quality print done though (?) Vienna looks beautiful, thank you so much for the link. The chazza finds are washed and dried, so I can now do a twirl in them. Hope you enjoyed your leek quiche. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  2. Catmac11 December 2020 at 08:09

    What a charming post, Lulu. Your mam found a treasure trove there. Thank you for sharing - it's such a tribute to an artist that his/her sketches are enjoyed by a new audience. I look forward to seeing more! I have a lovely double stemmed white amaryllis that is flowering in true show-stopping fashion and two more bulbs still awaiting pot and compost! (Mrs Procrastinator, that's me). My hyacinth is still growing wonderful roots but no greenery yet. Your charity outfit is gorgeous - I agree with bahnwarterin that a modelling job would be good! How demanding we are!!! And what about this ginger shortage - yikes!!! Didn't know about that. Will need to stock up. Your hyacinths are a picture already in their beautiful vases. How stunning will that be when they are in flower? As ever, I enjoyed your post, Lulu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catmac12 December 2020 at 01:56

      Oooops! I forgot to congratulate you on your exam results. Smart work!

      Delete
    2. Lulu14 December 2020 at 11:22

      Thanks Catmac :) Mam is good at sniffing out a good treasure. How lovely that your amaryllis is flowering. Mine are sulking in the greenhouse. I meant to bring them in weeks ago! Hopefully some of the hyacinths will flower before Chrsitmas, though I suspect most will be January now. I will show my Manc mush (that’s my face by the way, not a weird type of flower) in the next post. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  3. Vix11 December 2020 at 08:57


    Great result with the exam! Well done. Lulu!
    What a treasure Mr Watling's bag is! I absolutely love those sketches, so full of colour and cheer! I've been to Devon and that's about it, I'm afraid. I think you need to do a road trip and follow in his footsteps some time in the future a bit like Michael Portillo and his Bradshaw's Guide (minus the terrible trousers, naturally)!
    I'd better go easily with my massive chunk of ginger then! Oh dear! I rarely eat biscuits but I;'m very partial to a Co-Op stem ginger cookie.
    Many years ago I used to buy those lovely silk skirts in India and sell them back home to pay for our flight back. I agree with Beate, lets see you rocking it! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu14 December 2020 at 11:23

      Thank you Vix! A road trip would be exciting (I’ve always fancied Norway and have an old musical saw playing friend that lives there). Reakon I could give Mr Portillo a run for his money on the terrible pants collection! Great idea to stock up on items in India… although perhaps I shouldn’t know what they cost over there!!! I will see when my official photographer is free ;) Lulu xXx

      Delete
  4. Elderberry-Rob11 December 2020 at 23:28

    Congratulations on passing those exams! I love those sketches in your little book, can't wait to see the snowy scenes! They are really lovely artwork and worth of framing, whever did them would probably be very chuffed to know you are treasuring them :) I get my ginger frozen in neat little squares from our Indian food shop - hope they don't run out as it's essential for my curries :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu14 December 2020 at 11:24

      Hello Betty, thank you. They are well looked after and it is really nice to share them too. It is amazing what gets thrown out and mislaid in house clearances. We have some of the frozen ginger squares too for quick stir fires, but this year I am determined to grow a ginger house from a tuber. Lulu xXx

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  5. Ivana Split12 December 2020 at 07:47

    The shoulder bag does contain treasures. The landscape sketches from the sketchbooks are so beautiful. It is wonderful they are dated and the location of the illustrated places is noted down. That way you can look it up. So kind of your mother to give you this. The art is really great, even if the artist is unknown to us.
    I didn't know about the ginger shortage. I should try and grown some myself. I can't do without it. Ginger cakes are the best. Congrats on passing the exams.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu14 December 2020 at 11:26

      Hello Ivana, great to see you here and thank you for stopping by as I know you have been super busy with your own artwork and illustrations! They really are lovely sketches aren’t they. Ginger makes a lovely house plant apparently, so please do let me know if you do grow some. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  6. Martin12 December 2020 at 13:47

    What a lovely find and congratulations on the horticulture exams. Some of those sketches are not dissimilar to watercolours by Felix Mendelssohn who, in addition to his musical ablilities, was an accomplished artist too. in fact, he did the illustrations for some of his record sleeves although I doubt he realised it. Seriously though, his sketches and watercolours are well worth seeking out. Mr Google can help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu14 December 2020 at 11:27

      Hello & thank you Unknown, I didn’t know Mendelssohn was a painter in addition to composer! I will certainly consult with Mr Google and take a look. I was lucky enough to see Itzhak Perlman playing Mendelssohn’s violin Concerto in E many years ago (phff, I’m still working on learning that one!)…. pure magic. In fact I think I have it on vinyl somewhere so will have to take a look at the cover! Snood xXx

      Delete
  7. Jess 12 December 2020 at 19:44

    What treasures you behold! I love the story behind these pieces of art work.

    I have never had ginger cake before but your cake looks so delicious, I wish I could have some right now. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu14 December 2020 at 11:28

      Hello Jess, thanks m’luvellie. I’ve never made ginger cake myself, as I fear it wouldn’t live up to Stones’ standards, but I will try it one day! Having seen your pasta and ice cream specials, I suspect you are a rather better chef than me. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  8. The Small Fabric Of My Life14 December 2020 at 06:04

    Well done on your exam results!
    I love the style of those sketches what a great talent.
    And I am sad to hear there may be a dirge of ginger.
    What will I do without my ginger beer in dry January??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu14 December 2020 at 11:29

      Thank you Jane, it is certainly good to have the exams over and done with (until the next lot!). My old boss made a mean homebrew ginger beer. Hopefully stocks will last until January! Lulu xXx

      Delete
  9. Mike Perry9 February 2021 at 09:01

    Thanks Lulu for giving me this link - a great find ~ Mike.

    ReplyDelete

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