Just L:O:O:K at those gorgeously adorable fluffy white clouds, don't they just make you feel happy and glad to be alive?? Sadly, this is not today's sky (think heavy-dark-grey for today), no, the above picture was taken on Sunday afternoon. I was sitting rather lazily on a deckchair by the side of the river at Bolton Abbey, gazing at the clouds and waiting for my barbecue lunch to be cooked and handed to me. Ahhhh, it was all rather blissful actually. Such glorious sunshine for a September afternoon too, I turned my face up to the sky and allowed the sun to warm my skin, it felt wonderful.
I confess I was extremely idle on this sunny, Sunday afternoon, allowing J to see to the hot coals and cook lunch, and my lovely in-laws to entertain the Little People while I sunned myself and thought fluffy thoughts about fluffy clouds. But I did manage a little Light Rippling in the late summer sun, and so felt quite industrious in my own, private, fluffy little world.
I continued to Ripple when I got home too. Well thats to say I continued to ripple after we had taken the Little People to cycle their bikes at the park, after we had scraped Little Lady up off the pavement following a nasty skiddy fall, after we had realised there was rather a lot of blood, after we had then driven rather quickly to the hospital, after her split chin had been glued back together again. Yes, after ALL THAT, when the Little People were tucked up safely in bed I finally flopped down on the sofa and rippled some calming, colourful waves. Just goes to show you have to truly appreciate those idle, fluffy, happy moments when they present themselves, cos without warning the day can so rapidly go downhill.
On
Monday evening after deciding the colours and proportions/finished size were right, I
declared it Finished.
Presented it to my family with a flourish and a
ta-dah.
Forced them to take turns snuggling it and appreciating it's softness, its cosiness.
Danced a little jig around it.
Draped it around the furniture.
Laid it out on the floor to admire it.
Danced some more, jiggety-jig.
Scooped it up and cuddled it.
Wrapped it around my tummy and thought about the Teeny Person who will be cuddled and snuggled in these bright ripply stripes next year.
So..........want to see?
Ok, here it is :: I present to you the Baby Ripple :: ta-dah!!
So completely Happy and very Ripply and chocka-block full of Love.The colours (thirteen in total) were chosen completely at random as I went along. No forethought or planning at all for this blanket.
Spontaneous I think you might say.
The Baby Ripple measures 75cm x 95cm, and it was such a pleasure to work on a blanket
this size. To begin it and finish it within a month has been quite a
dizzy pleasure.
And as you can probably imagine, there have been a great many emotions wrapped up in the making of this blanket. In the making and completion of this Perfect Project.
I love seeing it neatly folded up with the Big Ripple, sitting patiently on the back of the sofa, waiting for the time when it can be put to use. The sight of it makes me simultaneously want to laugh with happiness and cry with gratitude. I am SO grateful to feel happy about this blanket and all that it means. I'm sure you get what I am saying, I don't think I can elaborate any more without bawling!
Annnnnyyyyhooooooooooow.....pulling myself together to leave you with a quick glimpse of something new on my hook........................
With the remaining yarn, I've already started out on a new little project. It's an idea thats been caught up in my tangled ric-rac thoughts for quite a while, and yesterday I finally managed to unravel the idea and straighten it out, show it the light of day.
Finally before I go, please would you mind indulging me and taking another look at my Baby Ripple??? Oh, thanks, you are so good to me.......here it is again......
Have a happy day everyone, see you tomorrow..
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps Emily, if you are reading this, I am sending you heart-felt Love and Hugs and Gratitude across the ocean. Your woolly gift to me was so precious, I can't thank you enough xxx
Edited to add :: sorry, I should have mentioned that Little Lady is quite recovered after her fall, thanks for your concern. It's amazing what they can do with some magic superglue, her chin was quite literally glued back together again and is already healing nicely. xx
It's lovely and you seem to have found your joy again. Nice to have you back.
Posted by: Brenda | September 23, 2009 at 01:26 PM
Ahhh Lucy, I got caught up again in your tale of Sunday! Glad the little lady is on the mend! And I too, would do anything to get out of cooking when i find myself IN THE ZONE! Gorgeous baby quilt. That was fast!
Posted by: Eden | September 23, 2009 at 01:28 PM
That is so pretty.
Posted by: Julie | September 23, 2009 at 01:30 PM
So gorgeous and sending a hug for your Little Lady.
Posted by: Ruth | September 23, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Lucy ~ I LOVE the Baby Ripple ~ it's just the right sort of snuggly kind of blanket for a little Attic 24 baby. I'm so glad that your little girl has made a quick recovery after her fall ~ children usually bounce back a lot quicker than their parents do after such dramatic episodes :O)
Posted by: Jackie | September 23, 2009 at 01:37 PM
love your ripply blanket so lovely and colourful! look forward to hearing more about your project. have a good day!
Posted by: naomi rainford | September 23, 2009 at 01:37 PM
ooooo aaaahhhhh!! What more can I say except you're at it again!?! Something hooky that is small! Happy hooking and thank you for the tadah!
Posted by: alisonb2 | September 23, 2009 at 01:44 PM
Your baby ripple is simply stunning :) congratulations.
Sorry that lil lady had a nasty accident - got to love that superglue - the best bit no needles and no scars :)
Posted by: Charlene | September 23, 2009 at 01:47 PM
Greetings from overcast and cool northeast Pennsylvania...Dear sweet Lucy...your baby ripple is so beautiful. I know how soft the yarn is...perfect for a tiny one. The blanket has become a symbol of your acceptance,then, happiness and anticipation of the baby. Even when it is all worn and pilly, it will remind you of this time in your life. I read your post feeling quite a bit of emotion...you have allowed us all to share these moments with you. Then, when I read your little p.s. to me, I cried.You are so sweet and kind. Love...Emily
Posted by: Emily Valli | September 23, 2009 at 02:00 PM
My baby girl was due on the same date as yours (how that date stays in your mind!) in 2001, she came on 30/1/01. I remember laying her little clothes out not know if she would be a girl or boy and imagining a little baby's body inside, and now she is such an amazing grown up girl x
Posted by: lucy | September 23, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Lovely blanket, your baby will be cosy and warm wrapped up in all those colourful stripes :-)
Posted by: Marie | September 23, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Gorgeous, just gorgeous!
J x
Posted by: Julia | September 23, 2009 at 02:02 PM
So glad to hear that Little Lady is doing much better. Poor dear! One can't help but want to give her a big hug.
Love the baby ripple! It turned out to be so FAB! Teeny Person is going to look absolutely adorable wrapped up in it! I'm a wee bit jealous. :)
Have a super duper day Luce!
xxxx
Posted by: Kar | September 23, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Sorry to hear about little Lady's chin, but I'm sure she will make a quick recovery, children do! loving the baby ripple, it looks so snuggly!Your little baby will be so cozy!
Rachel x
Posted by: Rachel | September 23, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Oh, Lucy, Thank you SOOOO much. The day started a bit yucky, but I feel thoroughly hugged and cuddled (I could truly feel baby-ripple's super-soft cuddling powers envelop me all the way down to my stomping grounds) and I feel happy, fluffed up and very grateful. Your sharing and your dealing with life's 'little' adventures is an inspiration and encouragement to keep on going, bravely, with needle and thread in hand (or hook and yummy yarn)!
Lots of love crocheted and quilted across the distance to you and your loved ones, Valentina from Cyprus
Posted by: Valentina | September 23, 2009 at 02:15 PM
Oh you lovely lady - I love this post, and I LOVE the baby ripple!!
Can't wait to see the evolution of your new project! You're an inspiration!
Posted by: Michelle | September 23, 2009 at 02:17 PM
You did such a beautiful job on the baby blanket! And you didn't even plan out the color sequence!!! I can't wait to see more of the new project! I'm so excited to see what you'll do next!
Happy Hooking from Texas!
Posted by: KK | September 23, 2009 at 02:30 PM
We just returned from your beautiful part of the world and surprisingly enough had nearly 2 weeks of blue skies! I looked in each village we passed through, hoping to see your attic window. Your blanket is amazing and gorgeous! Your family is very lucky to have such a talented wife/mum. You inspired me to buy flowers at my local grocery store on Monday. Not quite as nice as your asters but pretty in their own way. I look forward to your blog each day. Jill
Posted by: Jill | September 23, 2009 at 02:35 PM
So happy for you! The blanket is fabulous!! Perfect for your new little one. Enjoy these days they are a gift and a blessing!
Posted by: jenn | September 23, 2009 at 02:39 PM
Lucy, thanks for the email, I got some problems with it so I can't answer, but coudn't we get together and work out someting like it?
But for an example, starting a just easy crochet thing, put a list together, and do a mail chain and everybody crochet a bit on it (with whatever yarn they have) and then send it back to you or me?
Could be really fun :-)
Posted by: Emma | September 23, 2009 at 02:48 PM
You did a fantastic job on the baby blanket....AND you didn't even plan for that perfect color sequence! I can't wait to see the new project and what you'll do next!
Happy Hooking from Texas!
Posted by: KK | September 23, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Baby ripple Blanket..always a nice project!!
Kisses
annapaula
Posted by: AnnaPaula | September 23, 2009 at 02:55 PM
The baby ripple turned out perfectly. It is absolutely gorgeous, as is that belly of yours. Congratulations on finishing it, I really must learn to crochet, it looks so cozy. Glad your little one is feeling better. Can't wait to see what your new project is.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 23, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Stunning adorable. What a fun looking treat for the new little one.
Luc- we have your pattern done. But, sharing with us just how many chains you started. I'm offically going to be a grandma tomorrow, so I need to get hooking on another. I just finish my last one and added a very simple border. Have a peek.
The one, two, three row idea is such a fun look and a nice change.
Hope your day is as wonderful as you have made mine.
Posted by: The Garden Bell - Kate | September 23, 2009 at 03:29 PM
love love love the ripply blanket for the sweet little blessing that will occupy it before you know it! so glad the chin is ok.. what a wonderful thing that super glue is!
Posted by: andrea | September 23, 2009 at 03:39 PM