When my Dad and Lady B came to stay back in May, one of the lovely day trips we took was to Salts Mill in Saltaire. My Dad is a David Hockney fan and as it's only a short journey away from Atticland it seemed like a great idea to hop on the train and go to gaze at some artwork.
I really love Salts Mill, I've written about it before on my blog when I've been with the Little People. It's hugely inspiring, with an atmosphere that is both refined and exuberant. The building itself is really amazing, as is the artwork (I am also a Hockney fan) but it's the merchandise which blows me away every time. There is soooooooo much Good Stuff for sale here! Art materials, cards, stationery and a truly jaw dropping selection of books, all beautifully displayed and utterly desirable.
Even if you end up keeping your purse firmly shut in here (near impossible), it is still hugely enjoyable to spend a good hour or two browsing. Ahhhh the joy of browsing....not quite so easy with a three year old. But actually, to be honest Little B was remarkably well behaved in here, and he loved looking at all the books.
When a weeny amount of tension started to creep into the browsing, we headed straight through to Salts Diner for a spot of refreshment.
I had a frothy cappuccino and some rather delicious toasted crumpets slathered in butter and Tiptree jam. The tension slipped away and I felt refreshed and revitalised.
After finishing round two of browsing in Salts Mill and after I had made one or two purchases (nope, my purse did not stay shut, it refused), we went out to stroll in nearby Roberts Park.
This was back in mid May and the blossom and magnolia trees were in full magnificent bloom. It was so pretty!
Our walk around the park ended in an impromptu detour to the decking of the Boathouse Inn right beside the river. I don't usually drink in the daytime, but having my Dad there made it feel like I was on holidays so I ordered a beer at the bar without even thinking about it. Goodness me, it felt rather naughty to be sat beside the river sipping ice cold beer in the middle of a School Day afternoon! Naughty but rather nice. Mmmmmm, happy memories :o)
Anyhow, sorry, didn't mean to get caught up in Memory Lane. I have to show you what made me open my purse in Salts Mill...........
It was this. Port-a-Plant. What do you think? Isn't it just a delight?
Look! Plants you can't kill, and no watering or sunlight required! Instant, virtual gardening, and in full colour too.
I've been waiting for an opportunity to bring my Port-a-Plants to life, and with me not being able to crochet at the moment, today seemed a good day to get creative with cardboard instead.
All the components (pots, plants and leaves) are printed onto sheets of card and pre-cut, so all you have to do it press out the pieces and slot them together. No cutting, no gluing, just happy, mess-free assembly.
Oh I had the best time growing my plants!
It was really great fun. A little bit fiddly at times (my leaves did keep popping off), but with a little bit of concentrated effort I was soon well under way.
Oooooo I like this kind of gardening, I like it very much. I like how instant it is, and how insanely satisfying and nostalgic.
I think the finished results are great, well they pleased me enormously at any rate. Simple but effective.
I think they look very at home on top of my studio shelves, they've delivered some big happy smiles today for sure.
If you'd like to try this sort of indoor gardening (and I can highly recommend it), here is where you can equip yourself....
Port-a-Plant (Amazon.co.uk) :: Port-a-Plant (Amazon.com)
On our way home from the studio this afternoon, Little B persuaded me to walk back "The Tricky Way". This involves walking down Back Bridge Street and then along a precarious narrow path with no fence and a sheer drop straight down into the beck below. The path finally (with a huge sigh of relief) comes up a steep flight of old stone steps to emerge on the canal tow path. It is a short cut of sorts and very picturesque, but boy oh boy, I swear I hold my breath the whole time and almost feel like I want to pee my pants with nervousness. Anyhow.....walking along Back Bridge Street, I was completely captivated by this gorgeous garden outside a small run of town houses there.
I just loved the exuberant climbers under-planted with a mixture of plants and flowers and crucially the way it looked delightfully low maintenance.
This is definitely giving me some inspiring ideas for my own little back yard. I would love a more permanent set up with much more greenery. Maybe some raised beds for climbers that I can under-plant with shrubs, bulbs and perennials. Perhaps not this year, but I would love to alter the way I garden so's that I can remove the annual guilt factor. I think this year I will mostly be a Virtual Gardener. A Planner and a Dreamer in readiness for next year.
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Lovely article, Lucy! I enjoyed reading it with all of these amazing photos! Beautiful!
Posted by: Vicky | July 10, 2018 at 01:14 PM
love the porta plants, but mostly i love love love salts mill, my absolute favourite part is the old medicine cabinets downstairs, oh i want to rip them out and take them home! x
Posted by: Cate | July 10, 2013 at 09:57 PM
We're also working on virtual gardening, for kids, adults, and all the other people in-between: www.gardenbilder.com
Posted by: Pete Kuhns | July 06, 2013 at 05:05 PM
Hi Lucy,
these paper plants are a very clever idea and your studio looks beautiful.
I wish you luck for the grand opening day of your studio.
Posted by: Ursula | June 25, 2013 at 01:57 PM
I think you need some of these plants for Connievan!
Posted by: gina in alabama | June 22, 2013 at 04:31 PM
Loved your post! We visited Salts Mill in February, taken by our daughter as Dad likes Hockney! She then bought him the book 'A Bigger Message' as a birthday present and he loved it! We will be back, soon I hope.
Posted by: Susan Turnbull | June 22, 2013 at 01:44 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed this post as we used to live very close to Salts Mill and often visited. To me it was such a special place - an oasis in an area that did not always inspire! I love the paper plants - what a fun idea. Wishing I could visit again buit now we live up in Scotland not so easy.
Posted by: Helen | June 22, 2013 at 01:39 PM
Hi Lucy - I have no idea if you read all the comments you get (when do you find the time???) but I thought I'd send you these links to some pallet gardens which I think might work in your little yard. They are so easy to put together, relatively cheap and low maintenance! Great visual displays. Anyway, it might give you some ideas on gardening in a small area and you could interplant veggies for the kids to grow too! Much love. xxx http://homes.ninemsn.com.au/diy/craftprojects/8383807/vertical-pallet-garden
http://www.thegreenman.us/wp/2012/04/04/20-creative-ways-to-upcycle-pallets-in-your-garden-the-micro-gardener/
http://whatzgrowinon.blogspot.com/2013/04/pallet-garden.html
Posted by: Laura Miller | June 22, 2013 at 12:09 PM
The salt mills look very interesting, you look like you really enjoyed your day the gardens are beautiful!
Posted by: Susan Hook | June 22, 2013 at 10:57 AM
Its so pretty where u live and ur so lucky to still have ur Father I miss mine so bad, I live in Tx and yes I Love where we live but if I could I would go there, not Necessarily where u are but somewhere like that, its so green there right now but so cold in the winter,we live in a Desert Environment, its pretty here to. :-)
Posted by: Irene | June 22, 2013 at 06:22 AM
The paper plants are such a clever idea!!! They add such fun color to your delightful studio. have a daughter that loves crafty things...I think she would love putting together a few of those plants.
I do hope you start feeling better soon...summer sickies are no fun.
Posted by: Emily Clark | June 22, 2013 at 02:14 AM
I just ordered the Port-A-Plant on Amazon this morning after reading this post last night! Sooooo excited to get it and work on these with my girls! They're going to love it. I love your blog, all the colors you use, all the pretty pictures of the places you visit. I have shared this blog with my friend Lucy who is from Wales (she lives near me here in the US, in Kansas City). So fun to see your pictures and dream about maybe going over there some day!
Posted by: Mary Ellen Ash | June 22, 2013 at 12:08 AM
In answer to Kris (June 21st 12:35pm). How far North do you want to visit?
I live in County Durham and last year was taught to crochet by a lovely lady at Killhope Lead Mining Centre. This, and a variety of other courses are held in Yurts, lunch was included in the price. It's a great family day out, stunning scenery, small museum, interactive activities for children, a nature trail, lovely cafe and gift shop. Last year they had a fabulous exhibition of proggy/proddy mats. I've posted the link below.
I learnt the basics of crochet on the course but struggle to read a crochet pattern, Lucy's excellent photo tutorials have been a wonderful way for me to improve my skills.
http://www.killhope.org.uk/Pages/KillhopeHomePage.aspx
Posted by: Barbara | June 21, 2013 at 08:50 PM
Never see those before aren't they cool bananas! Good to stay creative while you are out of crochet action. Keep happy! Jo x
http://joeveryday19.blogspot.co.uk
Posted by: Jo Roberts | June 21, 2013 at 08:23 PM
Very cute! I love how the studio is coming along so beautifully. So bright and colorful. Adorable!
Posted by: Peep Loves Yarn | June 21, 2013 at 07:02 PM
How Lovely Lucy! 1) the park you visited-gorgeous 2.) The port-a-plant idea-so cute and lastly that gorgeous garden! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Bonnie | June 21, 2013 at 05:31 PM
Hey Lucy...I enjoyed you outing and love that bookstore!!! I go bonkers in bookstores like that and can never not 'open my purse' as you put it. Those little punch-out plant pots are so cute and cheerful. I am so envious of your studio shelves, the yarn, the color...I just drool when I look at them! Hugs, MO
http://moisbloggingit.blogspot.ca/
[email protected]
Posted by: Marylin | June 21, 2013 at 05:29 PM
Really enjoyed this post. We visited the Mill some years ago and I thought it was brilliant - on the other hand my husband thought it was a load of old you know what.... We also came across a false leg - didn't know whether it was a joke or what - but we never saw anyone hopping around on one leg!
Posted by: janet | June 21, 2013 at 03:10 PM
Your photos of Salt Mills and the gardens in the park are so lovely. I also liked the cardboard plants and they look great on top of your bookcase. Thanks!
Posted by: Ann | June 21, 2013 at 02:28 PM
Paper plants sound wonderful. They are so bright and cheery. A great addition of color. :)
Posted by: Alicia | June 21, 2013 at 02:12 PM
Glad you were able to spread your creative wings and make some plants! They look great in your studio. Hope you keep feeling better.
Posted by: Taylor | June 21, 2013 at 01:50 PM
Thanks so much for the pop up plant link - my daughter's just moved in to her own flat so it'll be great to get her started on something 'foolproof'! Jane x
Posted by: Jane | June 21, 2013 at 01:41 PM
I love your photos! I'm sorry if this is a bit creepy, but I'm really curious as to where in the north of England you live - I'm in Sheffield and would love to explore some more - are there places in the north you'd recommend for a crafty crochety day-trip?
I'm an Aussie living here to study; I know Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Herefordshire/Wales/rural Lincolnshire fairly well, but since moving to Sheffield I haven't been able to get out much because Homework - but now it's summer and I hope to change that.
ALSO - speaking of Australia - A couple of years ago I was enthusing about crochet patterns with a bookstore clerk in Canberra, and we both mentioned your blog at the same time. Thanks for all the lovely patterns and beautiful photographs.
Posted by: Kris | June 21, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Salts Mill looks wonderful. So does the crumpet. And the lovely garden is indeed inspirational. It is so much easier to have beds to plant things in I think. I had only pots for years, and they are much harder to maintain, especially when it is dry. But beds can be quite low maintenance and still look stunning. Hope you and yours all have a lovely weekend Lucy.
Posted by: CJ | June 21, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Glad you're feeling better. I LOVE the paper plants - so bright & graphic! In my previous comment I mentioned ferns, grasses and a box ball, but I see in your photo centre stage a big hosta and of course they're great too, aren't they? So many colour variations. I definitely think you're right - a low maintenance perennial underpinning is the way to go. Happy planning! Jen
Posted by: Jennifer Hill | June 21, 2013 at 10:05 AM