Canvas Art

I very much LOVE the look of canvas art--you've seen 'em, when people take their family pictures and whatnot and have them printed out on canvas? It just gives it a whole different feel, I love it--a more classy, artsy vibe to the room. So, as I've been making over my new home, I wanted said feeling--but do you know how much those canvas prints cost?! Much more than a newlywed can afford. I was bummed out, until one day while perusing Pinterest I discovered that you can make your own at home! Well of course I was right on board with that, so I picked out some pictures to match my room (photos I took of the gorgeous water lillies at Virginia Woolf's house (while everyone else was touring the house, I was out taking pictures of the pond of course)), and off to Costco to print!

It was SUPER easy--I just printed the sizes I wanted from Costco and glued them onto some canvas I had sitting around from a crazy sale at JoAnns. I painted the sides of the canvas black to match, then modge-podged over the top, and voila!

A Rainy Day in the Park

School was so completely insane during finals; I'm not sure I've ever studied this hard in my life--well, maybe for MacFarlane's tests... ;) but I can honestly say that it was very rewarding. I haven't ever learned so much in such a small space of time, it's unbelievable. I seriously only left the room for dinner and to run to Tesco for some yogurt (oh my London yogurt, how I miss you). However, one morning I did get somewhat of a break--I decided to take a lovely run through Hyde Park. When I say lovely, I really mean a complete downpour!--the only rain we really got on our entire trip in London, and of course it only rained while I was out running; it cleared up as soon as I got home. Oh well, it was quite an adventure. I went all the way across Hyde Park (not a small park by any means) and visited the war memorials over on Hyde Park Corner, then I chickened out and took the tube back home. I was exhausted, cold, and completely soaked, but I did get to see the park, and it was beautiful.

Australian Memorial:

New Zealand Memorial:

Queen Elizabeth Gate:

Royal Artillery Memorial:

Wellington Arch:

Imperial War Museum

A visit to the Imperial War Museum: a class assignment admittedly, but we quickly discovered that this place basically rocks--one of the best museums in London. If you ever find yourself in London for some reason, you have to take some time to visit this place, it's incredible. I don't know why I grew up thinking that museums were so boring, because the ones I've experienced here in London are far from such things.

We of course spent most of our time in the World War I exhibits: my favorite was learning about the Christmas Truce of 1914. This was the first Christmas of the Great War, during which there was a spontaneous unofficial truce. British and German soldiers put down their weapons and sang carols to each other, hanging out together in No Man's Land. By the next Christmas they had strict rules about such socializing, but for this one there was peace on earth and whatnot. It was very touching.

We also got to go "into the trenches." One of the exhibits was a reconstruction of what the trenches would have been like; it was like a haunted house ride. It smelled absolutely horrible, it was dark and we could barely see each other, and there were bloody bodies (fake of course, but that didn't help much), barbed wire, air bombing from above, all sorts of crazy things. I don't know how authentic it really was, but for us it felt a little too real. I was horrified by the time we found the exit (we were slightly worried we weren't ever going to make it out!), but it was a neat experience for sure.

We also saw Lawrence of Arabia's motorcycle--the real Lawrence, not the movie one--it's a 1000cc Brough Superior, tailor-made by George Brough himself. It was the bike he was riding when he was killed. How tragic! He made it through all of those battles in the war, only to be killed while swerving to avoid hitting two errand boys (he pitched over the handlebars and landed head first on the ground).

What an amazing museum.

In the Footsteps of Mrs. Dalloway

Another fun assignment: take a morning stroll in the footsteps of Mrs. Dalloway.

First to Hatchard's Bookshop--such a lovely little place!

The Royal Academy of the Arts

Old Bond Street

and New Bond Street

Grafton Street

Brook Street

Oxford Street

Monk's House

Maybe it's silly that I am still trying to finish my London posting, but you know what? I have to finish what I started, it's just part of who I am. Plus, I personally enjoy going through my pictures every now and again and remembering one amazing summer. So I enjoy a little self-indulgence, who doesn't? You can have your chocolate, and I will have my London memories (and maybe some chocolate as well!). :)

All of these houses have names--I think I shall name my house, any suggestions? Haha--what I don't get is that these names don't even make sense. Dove Cottage? Monk's House? Who came up with these? But at least they have names I suppose--it makes them that much cooler. Monk's House is the last home of Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard Woolf. It is found in the village of Rodmell.

This isn't Monk's House, this is the church just behind it--but beautiful, right? There is so much foliage and natural beauty here, I just LOVE it.

And amazingly, it was actually raining just a little bit here when we went (amazing because normal London weather is 12 months of rain a year, but we happened to come to London during the longest drought ever--oh, and they don't believe in air conditioning... fun)

In the house I found this random cat wandering around--sometimes it was so sweet and friendly, and sometimes it was scared to death--then I discovered that apparently there were two of them. I thought it was just one very bipolar cat.

Virginia Woolf's shawl.

And her deathbead--lovely, right? :P

And the graves of both Leonard and Virginia. Sadly the river where Virginia drowned herself was too far to visit--yes, we're weird like that.

But despite the creepiness of the place, it was quite beautiful.

The gardens were amazing.

I just couldn't get over them!

This was the largest trumpet vine I have ever seen--it covered a wall nearly the entire length of the property. Amazing.

Virginia Woolf's study--it was in a separate building from the house, so that when she got up at three in the morning she could go and write without disturbing Leonard.

The pond--I was fascinated with the pond. It was covered in water lilies and snails. Gross on one hand, yet so peaceful and beautiful on the other.

I just LOVE water lilies.

Out behind the house and the pond and everything else (we were looking for the river to be honest) we found a tree and a swing--and of course had to try it out ourselves.

Here is the church I was talking about.

Oh, and some more morning glory--just for you Mom, and Grandpa--this stuff is everywhere, and it's HUGE.

SO BEAUTIFUL!