Gosh I'm having a ball with these Year End Reviews, I've been really, really enjoying the look back through all my photos. It's been a a terrific way to bring in the New Year and has left me feeling all warm and fuzzy and overloaded with gratitude.
I think that out of all my various photos and ramblings, this last collection is my favourite. Home. It's the essence of who I am I guess. Cos without the home, the other stuff just wouldn't happen. And as much as Attic24 has become known for the crochet, really that's just a part of my home life. A BIG part mind you, no denying that, but it's all the other little itty-bits of my home that I am most passionate about capturing, expressing and preserving. The cups of tea. The little feet. the snuggly socks. The furniture. The baking. The sunlight. The mess. The laundry. It's all so good and ordinary and precious and worthy of remembrance.
I hope you enjoy this celebration of all things Home..................
I was reading back through some archive posts a few weeks ago, and one particular bit of writing has stuck with me. It was from December 2008, so three years ago, and I was writing a little about what inspires me to blog. I hope it's OK to quote myself here? Well I'm going to do it anyways....this is what I wrote back then..
"I guess there are many reasons why people decide to blog, and once started, why they continue to blog. I know that there are a great many little itty-bitty reasons that compel me to take photographs day after day and sit here and write day after day. I won't waffle on at you today (lucky escape for you) about my reasons for keeping this little bit of colourful cyberspace up and running, but one thing I can say is that I like my blog. I like it a lot. I like thinking about it, I like the creativity it involves and I like reading it. Yes, I often do read back through my own archives, not in a oh-look-how-wonderful-my-own-blog-is kind of a way, but in a daydreamy retrospective kind of a way. Often I will find myself thinking about something or another and my mind will settle on a particular remembered image, or an outing, or a recipe, or a crochet project and I will attempt to search out the blog entry, to find the words and images that accompany the memory.
And for someone with a memory that is as shot to bits as mine, this blogging lark is MARvelOUs! So many things I had forgotten about! So many images, memories, thoughts :: things that would otherwise be quite lost if it wasn't for my documenting them. I find it really wonderful to know that I have created this pocket of memories, and to be able to dip and dive into them whenever the mood takes me"
Three years on and that still stands true. My blog is an invaluable memory-keeping tool, not only for me but for the Little People as well. They are showing an increasing interest in what I do (and why I do it), and my greatest wish is that one day in the future they will be interested enough to take a good look and experience their childhood years through my pictures and words.
Of course, there is the added dimension of sharing all this with the World At Large (ie YOU!), and that is something that I never gave much thought to when I started out. Right from the beginning I wrote my blog for Me, for my own personal pleasure and satisfaction. The fact that you seem to genuinely enjoy your visits to the Attic is a source of tremendous joy to me, you give me so much! You validate what I do somehow, give me confidence and reassurance, make me feel that I am making a success of my funny little life, even if that success is measured by unconventional means. And for all that I am extremely, VeRy ExtrEmely, humbly grateful.
♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥(((THANK YOU)))♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥♥X♥
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Ps 2010 home review here, and 2009 home review here, if you wish to revisit ♥
Hi Lucy, I'm enjoying reviewing 2010 with you even though I just arrived a month or two ago. I hope Little Man is continuing to recover well. Happy New Year to all of you at Attic 24. Rose in Oz
Posted by: Rose | January 04, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Love this post, love the idea of a blog a as pocket of memories, I feel very similarly to you in regard to why and how I blog, I often think during the day of things I want to photograph or blog about, its a great way of marking life as it passes.
Posted by: Rachel | January 04, 2012 at 10:12 PM
Ahh that post made me feel a bit emotional, it was such a lovely post. I love the photos, especially those with Little B. I agree with everyone I absolutely love reading your blog and you inspired me to start blogging too, it's a wonderful record of family life and craft life. Thank you so much for all you do. Happy New Year to you and your family and your followers. And I really look forward to visiting your blog many times in 2012
Helen xx
Posted by: Belmont Yarns | January 04, 2012 at 10:14 PM
Hi!! I realy like your blog, your handcraft, your pictures and the discrete way you tell us about your family-life. You let us in, in your life in a very elegant way. It`s hard for me to explain in english, but I hope you understand. I hope you will continue!! AnneK:-)
Posted by: Quiltefia | January 04, 2012 at 10:20 PM
If only your unconventional measures of success were what more people judged success by this would be a happier (and more colourful ;o) world! Happy New Year to you and yours.
Posted by: Sarah | January 04, 2012 at 10:24 PM
It's been fun getting to 'know' you through your blog this last year Lucy. And great to be able to look back at 2011 Attic 24 style. But now I'm looking forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us in 2012 :D Happy New Year!
Posted by: Annie | January 04, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Your blog is delicious. It fills me with happy thoughts! I'm delighted you blog.
Thanks so much for sharing.......especially your love of colour!
Happy New Year and all the best!
Cheers, Lisa x
Posted by: Lisa | January 04, 2012 at 10:34 PM
I remember seeing lots of these pics over the year, although there are soe that I haven 't seen, how could I have missed a 'must read' Lucy post lol.
Posted by: Julie | January 04, 2012 at 10:34 PM
Well I'm just beginning my foray into blogland, and I've been following your blog for so long now that I find trawling through your archives incredibly comforting. They're not my memories, but I love reading what you were thinking and feeling when you began your blog and how it's evolved over the years. I don't expect mine to reach the magnitude that yours has, but it makes me mindful to make it as much as I can, because I never know who might be reading. I hope to look back on my blog in years to come and find many wonderful memories of my home life, because I'm finding the beginning of it impossibly exciting :) So thank YOU.
Posted by: Nadia | January 04, 2012 at 10:37 PM
I'm under the impression of wonderful colours of your home. It's cosy and calm, and lively as well. It's a fantastic way of documenting daily life and I appreciate that you want to share this part of yourself with anonymous part of the world. I like your photos and blog! Happy New Year! Renia
Posted by: Renik | January 04, 2012 at 10:38 PM
Hi Lucy, they are beuatiful phots of an amazing year. I believe the reason your blog is so popular is because it is genuine, it's day to day and honest, loving and colourful and so many people can relate to it, and in turn to you.
xxBrenda
Posted by: Brenda | January 04, 2012 at 10:48 PM
With you being the Pied Piper... uhm... Pied Piperess (?) of crochet I have been watching and mooning over your craftiness for quite some time now.
Before Christmas I managed to knit a scarf for my best-friend. And a modest stocking cap.
It has literally been 15-20 years since I had picked up a knitting needle and yarn, much less a crochet hook.
With a small voice (that sounds like you as I think you might sound) whispering in my ear... I used the gift card I received over the Holiday and bravely & gravely went online. Found a sublime 30 percent off sale at Joanns Fabric... And got myself a bakers dozen of scrummy skeins of yarn.
So- I am going to give this Granny square coziness a whirl...
Wish me Luck !!
And Thank you for providing the inspiration !!!
Posted by: Karen | January 04, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Dear Lucy,
Your blog has brought me sunshine from the very beginning. Thank you for letting us share your memories, the warmth of your welcome and more particularly your chocolate caramel shortbread.
with love
Alice
Posted by: Alice C | January 04, 2012 at 10:51 PM
Your pictures bring much-needed cheer to my soul. Thanks for taking the time to make such wonderful, personal and encouraging posts.
Posted by: Bambi | January 04, 2012 at 11:00 PM
Unas fotos preciosas,la flor gigante es una divinidad.
besos yolanda
Posted by: yolanda hernandez | January 04, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Such a lovely post - thanks for sharing all your gorgeous photos and your thoughts on blogging...I've been converted this year and I love it!!
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | January 04, 2012 at 11:11 PM
Your post today got me a bit teary! Love your blog. I think you have been the most amazing memory treasurer and keeper for your little folk. I just wish I had done something similar for mine. Like you, I feel my memory is shot to pieces and my daughter gets so cross with me sometimes for being so hopeless! My little one is off to pre school for the first time tomorrow, another reason for my tears, maybe it's time to start blogging..... X Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | January 04, 2012 at 11:39 PM
You have brought so much joy to me reading your life style and the beautiful scenery photos. I live near the sea but unfortunately no where near the scenery you have on your walks.I can only dream of visiting your part of the world, as I nurse my husband who has cancer and try to look after my baby grandchild.Thank you once again you inspire me.
Posted by: Julie Hayward | January 04, 2012 at 11:42 PM
Hi Lucy,
My first comment. I've not been reading your blog long - I started because I mentioned in my local wool shop that I wanted to be able to make granny squares, and the owner immediately wrote down Attic 24 and told me to google. And there you were. Well, I've learnt at least two ways of making a square, for which I'm grateful. But I'm far more grateful for the inspiration, the encouragement and the sheer joy of living you give out. Thank you so much. I look forward to reading your blog, to trying our projects, and to seeing the lovely things you create. I wish you and your family all the very best for 2012. x
Posted by: Liz | January 04, 2012 at 11:44 PM
Hi Lucy, I discovered your blog a few months ago and I just love it! Thank you so much for sharing your world with us in such a beautiful, beautiful way. It's inspired me to pick up things more colourful than I used to do before - and to do a little crocheting of course... :)
Best wishes, Bára
Posted by: Bára Mjöll, Iceland | January 05, 2012 at 12:00 AM
Your pictures just make me so happy!
Posted by: Jenny@SmallTownHippies | January 05, 2012 at 12:51 AM
Thank you for such a lovely journey through your year. As others have said your warm approach to blogging and wonderful photos and projects gave me the kick I needed to start my own blogging journey. So looking forward to following your adventures in 2012.
Posted by: Romily | January 05, 2012 at 01:07 AM
AMEN...a wonderful place to visit. I'd love to come to England and visit. Your photos take me places I cannot go just yet, maybe never. Thank you for all the time spent creating, cooking, crocheting..etc...etc...etc
Posted by: Janie | January 05, 2012 at 01:22 AM
I, like Carol above, thought of blogs as self-serving, but they are such a nice and friendly way of sharing; I was wrong, at least about many of them.
Your creativity has made such a charming place for your family - it's just delightful!
(was that a Bonne Maman jelly jar there???) :)
Posted by: Lisa G. | January 05, 2012 at 01:28 AM
Thank you so much Lucy for sharing your wonderful home with us. I have been following you for months now and the joy that I get out of visiting your little attic is undoubtably amazing. You have inspired me to begin blogging and I just hope three years down the road I will be able to go back and revisit my life through my own blog as you have yours. Can't wait to see all of the wonderful things you'll make and do in 2012. BTW!!! I am making a ripple throw from your pattern can't wait to share it!
Posted by: Amanda G. | January 05, 2012 at 01:29 AM