Stay-home Weekend

Hello my lovelies, thanks soo much as always for taking time out of your day to call in to see me in the Attic. I've been enjoying your visits enORmously of late, all of your comments and continued enthusiasm and support for what goes on in my crazy little muti-coloured world is so very much appreciated. Thank you.

I'm feeling happy and refreshed today after spending a very lovely, sloooooow kind of stay-home weekend with my Little People (J was away partying with old friends for most the weekend). It was exactly the kind of weekend that I needed after what felt like a superly-doooperly long and tiring week. In fact, apart from a little jolly into town on Saturday afternoon to purchase chocolate laden Advent Calendars from here, we did not leave the house. And yesterday, with the rain pouring down for the whole day and with no intention of going anywhere or seeing anyone outside of my immediate family, I did not even get myself dressed. Yup, spent the whole day in my pj's (well, I did manage to change into some clean ones at about midday after a shower). And oh it felt good! Really good.

During the course of the weekend I took a few photos here and there, little snap-shots of our time spent at home. I really enjoy looking back at these "ordinary" photos of every day home life, it gives me a lot of pleasure to record my life in this way, to use my blog as a visual diary if you like.

The above pics are of Little Lady's hastily constructed weekend "den" made in the Big Chair :: you can see how my crochet blankets are in constant use around here, and I can't tell you how much I love that they are used and loved in this way. And although the blanket-den looks a bit makeshift and to be honest very small even for a Little Person, Little Lady did miraculously manage to crawl into it with her little pink fluffy bag of Essentials and spent quite a while in there. She could be heard from under the blanket, talking to her toys and having some long in-depth conversations with friends on her toy mobile phone. Very sweet indeed.

We had a late breaskfast on Saturday morning consisting of a huge pile of scotch pancakes with strawberry jam and syrup (fabulous recipe from here), but we were still hungry enough to enjoy a spot of Elevenses a little while later....fruit and a bun in front of some atrocious kids tv for the Little People....

....and a cuppa and a bun in front of a lovely magazine for me.

I hadn't found time to do any baking at all last week and had missed it (both the act of baking and the end results), so on Sunday morning I put my apron on over my pyjamas and enjoyed a very pleasant little baking session in my weeny kitchen.

I made some apricot flapjacks....

....and an iced lemon cake.

Both very satsifactory indeed, if I do say so myself.

There was also time during the weekend to partake in a little hooky business. Of course. Can't possibly have a stay-home weekend without hook and yarn, that would never do.

I spent a little time pinning out and spray-starching my Granny Stars...Oh-my-goodness, I can't tell you how fabulous this starchy-stuff is!!! It's the first time I've tried it out on crochet and it works an absolute treat. You just have to try it! Prior to their Spa Treatment, my stars were looking yummy but decidedly flopsy and roundy on the corners and no good for stringing into a garland really.

 

But not so any more!! Now they are all pert and pointy-cornered, crisp and flat and uncurly and gorgeous. And I'm sooooooo happy with them!

I finally took down my hanging paper hearts (the ones that've been up since Valentines Day) and am going to string these stars into a long garland to hang in their place tomorrow, to celebrate the start of Advent. Going to see if I can make some more today so that I have 24 altogether (8 more to make), one for each day of Advent. Think that would be good.

As well as star-starching, I also embarked on another Festive hooky project over the weekend. And I am SO EXCITED to share this with you all !!!!!!!

Remember waaaaaayy back earlier in the year when I was in the midst of making BB, when I made the decision to frog out the white borders?? Well as a result of all that bitter-sweet frogging, I was left with a rather giant ball of white wool, and quite honestly I was beginning to think I would never ever find a use for it. I just don't really do White creative things as a rule. Up until two days ago that is.

 

Uh-huh, you do indeed see a little stack of White things there, and they were indeed made by me.

Yes, I did indeed venture into the World of White.

I admit it did not come easy, but I am absolutely thrilled with the results.

So thrilled in fact that I spent a good portion of my pyjama-clad afternoon yesterday hooking and photographing a tutorial for this All-White project.

Yes, I did!

So if you fancy a peek at what I've been up to, call in to see me again tomorrow and all will be revealed.

You can expect a spectacularly colour-less post tomorrow.

See you then.................

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Comments

[Heather]

Are they snowflakes? That would be fabulous if they are :-D

Your weekend looks lovely and cozy and so very satisfying to be warm and snug inside, just enjoying Home and not having to go out. Lovely.

I love your stars by the way, I think I'm going to try some this afternoon.

Love Heather x x x x x

[Cayt]

I bet it's snowflakes, and very nice they'll look too, I reckon.

[Martha in Kansas (US)]

Hah, hah! How could you ever be colorless?! I'm sure your tutorial will be creatively colorful. I'm guessing snowflakes too. Even while reading about the stars, I was thinking it's time to make more snowflakes. If only I didn't have to go work, I'd be making stars too!

[Robbie]

Hi Lucy, So happy you had a lovely weekend of thanks and family. I also had a wonderful weekend with kids and grandchildren. Absolutely candy and happiness for the soul! I have been restored and oh so thankful for my life. But now I have soooo much house clean up and decorating for Christmas! I will try to do it in steps soooo the goodness that came from this past weekend does not get forgotten too fast....if you know what I mean. Thank you as always for your world, I have grown to love your part of the world and it has made mine sweetier in the meantime!
Love, Robbie from Vermont
Is there anyway you could let me know where to find that gorgeous tissue paper, yes you made it look so enticing!!

[Funkymonkey]

I reckon they must be snowflakes. You had just the sort of weekend I enjoy, relaxing and staying cosy. No option with the horrid weather is there really? I curled up yesterday afternoon with a lovely black and white film and drank tea and ate homemade cupcakes - heaven.

Tracey

[Ann-Charlotte in Sweden]

How I adore your pictures and how I wait everyday to see if you have put up a new post. It seems to me you are doing such great work every day (baking, crocheting, homestaging or whatever) and I admire how you find the energy to SHARE it with us other. You are a true inspiration. And I do go home and crochet and bake myself, but getting around to taking photos, getting good photos, getting them into the computer, writing and aligning pics-words...can't do it. Will do it though, someday :)

Granny stars, can't wait to finish some of my other hundred projects so I can start making them.

[lucy]

I LOVE white, can't wait!

[Kelly]

Such a sweet post and a productive weekend! Last night, two of my girls and I sat hooking in the livingroom. The room was quiet except for soft murmurs of success and frogging. It was great to share and I thank you for sharing as well. ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

[Jennifer]

Lucy, it looks like you had such a great weekend. I actually love the rain, and staying home curled up in pyjamas with tea and buns sounds fantastic. I love the granny den, what fun she must have had. I love all of your colourful stars. I have beenmaking them in a natural cotton and stringing them up as snowflakes around the house for Christmas. I love them, and I'm guessing you made your own snowflakes as well. Hope you have a wonderful day.

[driftwood]

what a lovely weekend! I tried making one of those stars - mine ended up with 9 points not 5, goodness knows what I did wrong..... xoxo

[Laura Brittain]

Hi Lucy, You have a bag I made and I am delighted to discover it has found such a colourful and inspirational home. My web site is not up at the moment but if you are interested you can find me at www.crossing-borders.org.uk.
love your blog, keep up the good work. laura

[Elena, Moscow]

Are those snowflakes??
Oh! I've been looking for a pattern yesterday!
Today I tried your ripple pattern and I absolutely love it.

[Jo]

I was thinking snow flakes too, and even white would not be colourless in attic 24. Anyway going back to my school days isn't white the absorption of all colour-or something like that, so it would make it a very colourful post!
Can't wait to see it, in fact I might go out and buy some white yarn today in preparation x

[Petit Filoux]

colourless maybe, but you know what, I can't wait to see what you've been up to! Always very excited to see your projects!

[Debbie]

Glad you had such a lovely relaxing weekend Lucy.
I can't wait to see your tomorrow post. If (as I suspect) they are snowflakes I will abandon my enormous pile of (must finish before Christmas)knitting and make some pretty crochet snowflakes instead!

[Brook]

In the midst of my all day rainy day, but alas I must venture forth while kiddies are gone to take care of Christmas shopping. Ah, for a bun and a warm cup of tea.

[Nina - Tabiboo]

Some wonderful ordinary weekend stuff going on there Lucy and the stars are gorgeous - full of colour as always.

Have a lovely day,

Nina xxx

[Debbie Price]

Tomorrow? UGH...well, I guess we will have to wait, won't we?! Quick question...how do you make the stars attach for your garland? I am doing one also, but have not figured out how to make the strand and then attach the stars to it. Sometimes the simplest things boggle my mind! Glad to see you had a wonderful weekend....isn't it nice when you can just hide away and have fun with your kids? And Christmas time is the best time to do it!
Have a wonderful day!
Hugs across the pond...

[Shelley in SC]

As always, a lovely comforting weekend . . . complete with all the things that make a visit to your Attic so fun---color and comfort and cheerfulness!

[chocolategirl64]

your granny stars look great ✬
mine too were a bit curly edged so I ironed them but that made them lose their fluffiness ~ so your rainy ☂day experiment sounds just the thing
❤+ peace ~~~ Dee
*the D stands for Dashes off to find spray starch, a piece of polystrene & pins*

[Anja]

Oh, I so miss my stay-at-home days in England... Thanks to your lovely blog I can get some of the lovely feeling straight into my heart every day. I love your blog.

Can't wait to see your White surprise.

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Can it be snowflakes, maybe? I've done some, and they are hanging in some "troll-hazel" (I have no clue what the name is in english...) and it's beautiful.

Sounds just like my kind of weekend.

Waiting for your post tomorrow!!!
Love Anna xxx

[Siobhan]

I wonder Lucy if those elusive white crochet shapes could possibly be .... snowflakes! Everyone seems to think so, but maybe we are all wrong? Anyway if they are that is just what I have been doing today - I have been alternating stars and trees and snowflakes and I love them all! I had to buy a big ball of white wooliness before I could start snow-flaking and when I have finished they will be strung across the window. If yours are snowflakes then I could alternate what I have done with your pattern - after all real snowflakes are not all the same. I used a largish hook and they are nicely holey and defined. I can't wait to see what it is you've been doing and to see your pattern! Out of all of them I think I like doing the stars best of all. Many thanks go to the clever and nice people for giving us such lovely patterns and for being most kind and letting us all share. I'm glad you had a nice peaceful weekend. Children are so lovely to be around especially this time of year - but it is true what everyone tells you; that they grow up so fast. They really do - mine is very grown up now. Watching their imaginative play is just a joy and a real giggle too sometimes. We will just have to tell the rain to go away won't we? There are so many Christmassy things to get excited about aren't there? I need to make some robins and especially doves and to track down some suitable twiggy sticks for this years sweetie tree.

[Ghost]

I dearly love reading about your days, weekends, projects. It is all a joy.

[Lori Daly]

YOU ARE AWESOME AND I AM SO HAPPY YOU EXIST!!!!!!