Cards

I love cards very much :: greetings cards and postcards that is, not the ones you play games with. I have a long standing habit of buying and hoarding cards, I think I could be a little addicted actually.

I have an old shoebox full (yes, I mean full) of postcards which I've collected over the past twenty odd years since my art school days. And I keep Little Piles of pretty cards around the house, cards bought on a whim because the artwork appealed to me or inspired me in some way. Some in the bedroom, some in the attic, some in the downstairs cupboard which quite frankly is not for the faint hearted (cards stay in there a long time cos it's so hazzardous getting anything out). I also keep cards which've been sent or given :: cards which remind me of people, places and occasions, cards that have feelings attached to them.

I do really like to have cards about the house :: I prop them up around the place, on bookshelves, on the fireplace, next to my bed. I stick them up on the walls too, in unexpected places so that they catch my eye as I walk past. Every so often I change them about and put new ones up, it does really please me to do this, to think about which images I'd like to surround myself with and where to display them.

The three cards I'm showing you today are on display around the house at the moment, they are my current Cards Of Choice. And looking at them now, it occurs to me how apt they are, how they pretty much sum up my life at this time.

The top card was sent to me by a very close friend on my 40th Birthday. The illustration is by artist Jenny Muncaster and I love everything about it. It really does make my heart flutter. I mean, whats not to like? Fresh flowers in a pretty jug, a plate of cakes and tea in a  favourite cup :: the makings of a little moment of Daily Bliss. A reminder to take a moment each day to stop and rest and enjoy a little bit of Pretty Refreshment. Ahhhhhhhh yes indeed! This card is currently propped up against a small pile of books on my bedside table. 

The middle card was one of many cards we received when Little B arrived on the scene, and as soon as I saw the image I was smitten. Love that cute little baby with his rosy cheeks! Love the Mummy's funky flowery dress! Funny enough, my hair has grown quite a bit during the past year and I often wear it in two bunches (although not quite on top of my head like that, I'm not that eccentric. Not yet anyways, although could very well be heading that way.) This card is currently on the mantel at the dining room end of my living space :: one of my favoiurite places for displaying cards.

The bottom card has been with me for a long time. Can't remember where I got it from, but I've had it since my arty student days (eh-hem, that'll be ooooo about twenty long years then, gawd I do suddenly feel very ancient indeed). I remember having it pinned onto my little Inspiration Board at college, and I remember having it stuck up on various walls of various rooms that I lived in at various times in my long-ago past. I just adore the image sooooooo much. Love, love, love the patchwork cover with a passion. And oh-oh-oh I'm having a major love affair with all things Bed at the moment, I can't tell you how much I dream and fantasize about being cosied up in bed these days.

Speaking of which :: time check :: 8:28pm :: about time for me to go and bliss myself out under my puffy feather duvet in it's crisp pure cotton cover, with my head resting on Cath Kidston Rosy pillows and my luscious Big Blanket keeping me warm and snug.......

Right-oh, thats IT, I can't stay away any more, I'm off to bed.....see you again soon

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Comments

[lucy]

That lady in the bottom card looks like she has had FAR too much sleep. No fair!

[rosie]

When my first born was a baby and i was up feeding her in the middle of the night (husband snoring next to me, grr) i used to look through the crack in the curtains and see lights on in neighbours houses at 1,2 in the morning. I remember thinking why don't you people just go to bed? Are you mad? I have always loved my bed....guess i always will! Sweet dreams x

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Night, night !!
Vivienne x

[Amanda]

Have lovely dreams Lucy, Amanda x

[Rattling On]

I'm the opposite! I don't sleep a lot. Love the last picture, though-she looks sooo comfy.

P.S. Shameful use of comments for promotion of Knit-a-long on blog alert!!!!
http://rattlingon.typepad.com/rattling_on/2010/02/stringalong-2010.html

[Wendy Wager]

When I did the baby thing with my firstborn (many, many years ago) I used to feel resentful and lonely as if I was the only one awake and desperate for sleep. I know better now and I tell new Mums that they are not alone, just part of an invisible network of Mums all doing the same thing and I hope they take comfort from that. My husband also used to prepare a Thermos with a milky drink and a pile of biscuits before going to bed himself and that definitely helped. Congratulations on winning the Olympic thingy, because you surely did! x

[Carol]

Have a night of deep sleep filled with lots of lovely dreams.
Carol xx

[Karen Conway]

Hi Lucy, I have been a fan of your blog since May 09, when my daughter introduced me to the wonderful world of blogs, Attic 24 is my absolute fav! and I pop in most days for a looksee. I was off work for 4 months last year with my arms that suddenly decided they were overworked! 4 months without knitting , chrochet , gardening, etc housework too! and couldn't hold a book, the longest 4 months of my life!!!..........however there was a very bright spot in every day when i popped into the attic. THANKYOU THANKYOU! i am fine now and back into the hooky etc. Congrats on the newest little attic member he sounds adorable.
kind regards Karen

[Jo]

I am like you, I have stacks of cards both bought and recieved but all stashed away in boxes and bags just ocassionally taken out and stroked. I have now started selling Phoenix cards, which just totally feeds my card addiction and earns me a wee bit of money on the side. Hope you are having a wonderful (undisturbed) sleep.
Sweet dreams x

[SparklePetal]

Bedtime here too. Doesn't that lady look so peaceful sleeping under her quilt? I hope that's me in a few minutes! Hope you have a restful night with no more than your accustomed quota of baby-needs. I always find that I can cope with disturbed nights as long as it's only the same level of disturbance as normal. Once you get used to something better it's a nightmare to go back! Sweet dreams!

[Kali @ Poppy Lane]

hmmm, you're sure to have sweet dreams in such a dreamy bed!
I am the same too with cards...collecting them unintentionally, just because they're little pieces of beauty and sentiment :)
xoxoxox Kali

[alisonb2]

Sweet dreams,

[alisonb2]

Looks like everyone will be having sweet dreams!!!!

[Ali]

I remember my Dad coming to visit when my daughter was about four weeks old and he said, "I'm tired I was up at 6am this morning". I remember just staring at him just thinking "!?£$%&*?!"
I, like you, need my bed, my sleep and my peace and quiet. Unfortunately I don't get much of any of them :)
Lovely card pictures, I really love that last one, just beautiful.
Ali
x

[Lisha]

Where ever I have lived I too had cards, post cards and painted cards stuck up on the walls. Cards from family and friends a long way away, reminding me of home or places I'd like to visit. Thanks for reminding me, I'll have to dig out my stash and flip through some more memories.

I can see why you have held on to the patchwork bed card, bedrooms can be the most comforting and inspiring places (and so can those cards).

Lishaxx

[Shannon]

I, too am a member of the card-hoarder club. But really, there are things much worse to pack about; things that take up space, require dusting or big boxes for storage. Wait... I collect those thing too. :)
I hope that your dreams are sweet, and that you get adequate time to enjoy them!

[Shanti]

I've been thinking of you so much today! a friend of mine push me into blogland... it was something that have been flying around my thoughts lately... so I'm diveing in it now, and you can guess that your blog was a great inspiration for that!
It's not ready yet, I'll let you know.
Sweet dreams!
Shanti xx

[trina]

Cards and postcards are your own private art collection! I love those images... thanks for sharing. Night night dear Lucy, hope you get lots of sleep xx

[Jennifer]

Ooh, I love cards as well. They can provide such a sense of inspiration, or calm, or so many other things on such a small piece of card. Hope you have a good night's rest.

[Renee McCurry]

You have been such an inspiration. Your patterns are wonderful and so easy to follow. We have been snowed in much of this winter and hooking had helped me keep my sanity. I have posted some pictures of my projects, most inspired by you, on my blog, thebusiestmom.blogspot.com. I would love for you to visit. Have sweet dreams and enjoy Little B, they grow up so quickly. Looking foward to your next post.

[Claire]

Your last card reminds me of Gustav Klimts paintings which I adore. Bet his home was dazzling.
I remember sitting up on the side of the bed with my 3rd baby (now 9yrs old) at 4am crying(me) with sheer exhaustion and thinking I can't believe I'm doing this again. Since which time I have done it twice more. What a sucker!
Enjoy the quiet times. Sleep whenever you possibly can, everything else will still be waiting when you awake.

[Joyce Stewart]

Great to hear from you again....I love cards, I make cards and if I knew your address I would gladly send you one of mine.....

[Helen]

Sounds like your little world is beginning to find its rhythm again. Hope all is going well.
Cheers
Helen

[Alex Mason]

I still have my 18th birthday cards and that was along time ago, but they are so lovely to look at everynow and again. Hope you have a great nights sleep xxx

[Robbie]

Great to hear from you! I was missing your creative thoughts and thinking! I also love cards and thought I was wierd but I guess not or we both are!? Hope the rest of your week goes well with everyone home. How are your Wip's comming along. Mine are going sloooooooow. I need some motivation or something. Maybe I need to look at some cards?!
Take care, Robbie