Attic24

Sociable Crochet :: Part I

I'm delighted to be sharing these pictures with you today, it's made me so happy just looking back at them and remembering the wonderful evening they were taken. They provide a really sweet little window into the past, a snapshot of a sublime evening at the end of May. I remember this day so vividly! I remember how hot and busy the day had been (it was a Monday). I remember the happiness when my friend suggested that we move our evening pub hooky to her back yard to take advantage of the gorgeous weather. I remember the marvelous anticipation of a warm, relaxing evening spent outdoors in the company of good friends. I remember the excitement of going to the supermarket to purchase a bottle of Pimms and a punnet of strawberries for the occasion.

I've been to Tracy's house many times before (I showed you a snippet of her beautiful home a few months ago), but I had never been in her back yard before. Her yard is small like mine is, but it is very much fuller than mine is. Walking in through her back gate was like walking in to a perfect little oasis of verdant beauty and calm. So much greenery! Trees and shrubs, herbs, flowers and vegetables grow in abundance, spilling out of pots, growing up the walls and fences. It honestly took my breath away, it all looked so beautiful on that hot, early summers evening.

Tracy had created a beautiful table setting for our crochet evening. Her old garden table had been draped with a beautiful vintage table cloth, and was dotted with lots of little old glass bottles filled with pretty flowers from her patch.

This allium was particularly stunning, what a marvel of nature it is!

As well as the floral element, there was a scrumptious edible element to the table too. A plate of the sweetest sun warmed cherries, dishes of plump, shiny olives and fat little stuffed red peppers. Bowls of incredibly moreish handcooked crisps. It was all so lovely!

Now on a hot summer's night, there is a definite need for cooling liquid refreshment wouldn't you say? Pimms had been declared the liquid of choice, oh sweet joy as I adore this drink!

This was the first of many glasses that were poured that night, what a beautiful sight hahaha! Now just in case you don't know about Pimms, let me give you a little information. It's a very British drink, gin based with a secret mixture of herbs, invented in London in the 1850's. The traditional way to make it is in a large jug, 1 part Pimms to 3 parts lemonade. Add  some crushed ice together with chopped strawberries, cucumber and orange and a few sprigs of fresh mint. Pour into glasses and enjoy.

I have such great memories attached to this drink. Because you make it in a jug, it begs to be shared with friends. It's easy to drink, summery, fruity, refreshing. And it has magical Laughing Properties. Oh yes indeed.

There were seven of us sat around Tracy's pretty summer table that night. With the exception of Heather, I taught all the others to crochet, and so my friendly little hooky group was formed. We've been meeting on a Monday night for over two years now, and I absolutely love the sociable mix of crochet and chatter, laughter and yarn, beer/wine/pimms/tea and creativity. We share a love of yarn and crochet, but also many other aspects of our life, particularly the precious Mothering jobs we all have. It's a fun group, lighthearted, warm and friendly. On this particular night when the air was so warm and the pimms flowed so freely, oh my goodness did we laugh! At one point I honestly thought I would turn inside out, my tummy was squiggled into impossible knots of laughter. It was five solid hours of absolute fun and merriment. And do you know what? I sat and rippled until gone midnight when the stars came out and I could no longer see the stitches in the dark.

I've been thinking a lot about sociable crochet recently, about the huge importance of it in my life. I marvel at how much the direction of my life changed when I was persuaded to go and purchase that 3.5mm stick of metal and start sticking into some loops of yarn!

Tomorrow I've got a very exciting story to share with you. Please come and join me for "Sociable Crochet : part II"??? I'll pour you a glass of Pimms!

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Friday Blurble

Ahhhh Friday again, how whizzy and wonderful this week has been!

I love my Friday morning potterings around town when I visit local shops and the market to stock up on produce for the weekend. I'll try and photograph the fruit/veg stall one day to show you, it's really quite visually lovely with all the beautiful, colourful fresh produce on display. Today I bought a couple punnets of English strawberries, I love how they come in a variety of shapes and sizes (unlike the supermarket ones) and are deliciously ripe and sweet. They really do need to be eaten pretty much straight away whilst still a little warm from the sun. Little B and I shared a whole punnet on our way home from playgroup today, sat in the shade of a weeping willow beside the canal. The strawberries hardly touched the sides, they tasted incredible.

Also in my bag today was a bundle of English Asparagus which I am really looking forward to smooshing up tomorrow. My love affair with this seasonal vegetable has not let up over the years (I laugh to myself when I recall this post), and I continue to think rather passionate thoughts about devouring these gorgeous spears.

When I came home from the market this morning, I unloaded my bags, put a fresh coffee on to brew, then ran up to the attic eaves to rootle around in my rather large box of Home Textiles. I was after a table cloth, a dash of summer colour to throw over the brown wooden outdoor table. A big improvement, but the table was missing a little floral something. I pondered over it a while, then decided on a sudden impulse to walk up to the park and gather some cow parsley. I remembered that a few of you suggested enjoying it outside instead of bringing it inside, so that's exactly what I did. The sight of it on my table has made me so happy today, I've loved being able to sit and gaze at it as I've sat eating, drinking and hooking.

I had a little play with hook and yarn this afternoon, trying out a few ideas from my new book.

The above sample is a variation of the "terraces" pattern on page 79, although I had to do it my own way. Sorry Jan Eaton but your pattern was really difficult to read and I just couldn't do it your way. My way worked out pretty good though, and I've got an idea for using it to make a small square cushion cover. It's a fabulous colour-play pattern, I'm quite excited by the idea of playing with it on a larger scale.

4.30pm now, and we are in that sweet lull that comes after the school run and before meal-making time. A friend called by to enjoy a little bit of Friday Afternoon Yummies. This tends to happen most Friday's, a spontaneous gathering of friends and neighbours, lots of children coming and going, a few nibbles and a glass of something delicious and chilled. My current Friday Afternoon tipple of choice is Demi Sec Cava. Oh it really does hit the spot rather nicely. Those bubbles! That fruitiness! Divine. So funny, I just had a look on the supermarket website for more information on this drink, and discovered the "tasting notes" for it.....Fruity nose due to the varietal blend and the short bottle ageing. Harmonious on the palate with apple and hints of toast. Very well balanced, good freshness and pleasant acidity level. Who knew all this could be applied to my drink????? Apples and TOAST??? Hahahaha, gosh I laughed out loud when I read that. I so wish my memory was good enough to recall those sentences, I would really love to be able to say all that just to hear the uppity words tumble out of my mouth.

Ahh, this is my back yard wall. Little B, bored with chasing woodlice, practicing a spot of photography. That kid, how very much I love his company. We've had a sweet, happy, toddling kind of a day together, he is quite wonderful to hang out with.

Now then.....before I toddle off and snuggle up with J on the sofa, I would like to mention three things.....

Thing Number 1 :: Janet Bell. Do you know of this lovely lady?? She is an artist with incredible talent, and moreover she is a super-nice lady you know. That's a print of hers up there on my bathroom wall, I absolutely love love love Janet's work, it makes my heart flip over and wibble with excitement. Janet's blog was the very first blog I ever encountered, so you can thank her for opening the door into Blogland for me. Did I say she was a super-lovely lady? I did? Go see for yourself, bob on over to her blog and say hello...she is peeking back through her own door after taking a baby-break and I'm sure she'd be thrilled to welcome you in.

Thing number 2 :: a wacky crochet tie, isn't it marvellous? Not my creation though, no, this was made by a good friend of mine. You may remember me chatting about this particular friend when I showed you her inspirational blanket?? Well this tie was made for her son to wear at school as part of a fund raising effort for the amazing charity Oxfam. Tomorrow some  of my lovely hooky friends will be taking part in an extraordinary walk to raise money for Oxfam. It'll be an incredible achievement and I am so in awe of them for taking up this challenge. They'll be walking a mind blowing 100km over 30 hours (yikes!), I can hardly get my head around it actually. I promised I would pass on their details in case any of you would like to donate to Oxfam via the Hooky Ladies of Yorkshire. The link to their team page is here.

And finally, Thing Number 3 :: the Sun Is Still Shining here and the sky is a most gorgeous shade of cloudless blue!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yipppeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a fabulous weekend, enjoy every precious little minute of it ♥

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Perky

Oh what a difference the weather makes, we have been basking in some beautifully warm, glorious sunshine the past few days and it has made everything seem so happy! I was trying to think what the opposite of Droopy might be (ie the title of my last wet post full of misery) and Perky was the first word that sprang to mind. How happy I am to declare my current perkiness!

Yesterday and today has seen us spend a lot of time outdoors doing perfectly perky May things, and it's been such a relief to let go of all the weather-induced resentment. We've been eating outdoors, picnicking with friends in the park (that's my new little picnic lunch bag there, I am quite smitten with it), and generally just spending time sitting around soaking up the sun rays. I kind of felt like my internal battery had run flat and I was desperate for a bit of solar power to recharge and feel energised again.

Last night at eight o'clock, I strolled up the back streets on my way to Tracy's house. The light on the hills was so pretty, they were lit with a sweet rosy glow that made my heart squeeze. I thought to myself ::  ahhhh this is more like it! This is precisely what May Evenings should look and feel like! Pheww. I'm so glad May has sorted itself out a bit, I was feeling proper cross with it last week.

I usually meet in the local pub on a Monday night with a lovely group of yarny-minded friends, but occasionally circumstances mean that it's easier to transfer the location to one of our houses. Yesterday we met at Tracy's house, which we are always mighty pleased about cos Tracy's house is rather gorgeous and special. Plus she makes her own homemade garlicky hummus for us all to tuck in to, not to mention great slabs of homemade cake. I had the delicious experience of drinking Pimms whilst eating almond slice and hooking up roses, it was a rather unexpectedly lovely combination.

The banter was happy, the munchies were super and the hooky time was great too. It was a lovely, relaxed, sociable and productive evening.

I came downstairs with Little B this morning at about 6.30am, and as I walked in to the living room I was completely bowled over by the light. My house is currently in a huge, disgraceful mess (been a tad lazy of late with the ol' Home Blessing stuff), but the sun made it all look so lovely. Even the piles of plastic toys looked good bathed in golden light.

I treated myself to a bunch of flowers today to celebrate the return of the sun. A really gorgeous, vibrant bunch of Scented Stocks with their incredible sweetly spiced scent. They are sitting on my dining table and I can smell them now. So beautiful.

My plantlets have really put on a growth spurt in the past two days, and it made me realise that it's almost Pot Time. I usually wait till early June before sorting out my back yard pots and planting them up with annuals, and I can't wait to get going with it this year. Need to visit my lovely Plant Man and get my usual haul of geraniums and lobelia (my favourite summer pot combo).

When we returned home from toddler group at lunch time today, the temperature had really soared. We were in the mid 20's I would say, oh it was such a treat! Little B and I ate our lunch together outside, then I got busy with providing some sunshiney outdoor entertainment for him in the form of an underbed storage box filled with warm water. What fun! He stripped his clothes off and leapt in, it was such a joy to watch him play. He was in a complete frenzy of excitement at one point, squealing and splashing and frolicking around, I sat and watched him and laughed out loud at his antics. Sweet boy.

I've really enjoyed the past couple days (can you tell?), it has been so warm and blissful on the domestic front. All rather ordinary I guess, but satisfying and very happy nevertheless.

I'll have a Ring o' Roses blooming for you tomorrow, don't think that's been forgotten. Looking forward to a bit of pretty Ta-dahing, see you then............

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Circle of Inspiration

One of the things that I am told most often by visitors to the Attic is that they find my blog Inspiring. Isn't Inspiration a truly wonderful thing? Both providing it and receiving it (as I do almost every day of my life) is such a thrill. It's one aspect of writing my blog that I never really bargained for when I started out. I never sat and thought "Well now, what I really want to do here is to inspire the creative folk of the world. I want to become an Inspirational Person". Nope, the thought never crossed my mind for one second. I simply had a desire to write words to go with my photographs. Wanted to try and document my life in a way that made me feel creative and productive. It was all very me-me-me, and to a certain extent it still is. I read a comment on my blog recently saying that blogs are often thought of as "Vanity Vehicles"...oh my goodness, I SO laughed at that, cos there is such an element of truth in it!!!

So yes, I can well understand the desire and delight one feels when one is hit with Inspiration. It can be quite an intoxicating experience, and I do often find myself craving it and going in search of it. And there is plenty of it out there for the taking. The World Wide Web, more precisely Blogland, Flickrville and Pinterest are chocka block full of it. There are oodles of inspiring images, words, projects, recipes and patterns waiting out there, waiting to send those creative sparks flying.

Do you like what I'm showing you today? These lush images of gloriously colourful hooky? They're inspiring aren't they?

I made this dear little blanket yesterday, on a complete whim. Whipped it up just like that.

Actually, I am pulling your leg here, I did no such thing. Sorry.

This gorgeous piece of hooky was made by a friend of mine, a friend who knit and occasionally did very complicated stitchy things involving vigorous counting before I taught her to crochet. Just before Christmas she asked my advice about edging a blanket she was doing. Pulled it out of a carrier bag to show me. OH! Oh oh oh OH HOW BEEEEEEEeeeeeaaaaaaaaaauuuuutiful!

I was completely and instantly smitten with her blanket. I recognised the yarn straight away (good ol' Rico Creative Cotton) but the pattern....oh where did the beautiful pattern come from??? It's yours, she said. Na, I don't think so, I said. Yes it is, I'm sure it is, she said. Well now. She happened to be right actually, it is indeed one of my creations, a sample design I worked on way back at the beginning of 2010 but had comletely forgotton about.

Isn't it wonderful, this Circle of Inspiration??? I love it. Love that I was inspired by an old crochet apron, which in turn inspired my friend to make this blanket, which is now inspiring me all over again to make a blanket of Granny Wheels. With deep dark navy edging. And stripes.

Wonderful Inspiration. Where would we be without it?

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Edit to add :: I never had chance at the time to write up the pattern for the Granny Wheel, but I will try and do it for you in the next few weeks.

 

 

 

 

July 2011

Ahh July, what a sweet month you are turning out to be!

Life has been very full and busy during July but my overall memory of the past three weeks contains much happiness. The weather's been a mixed bag but mostly I recall it's been pretty good around  here really. Warm and summery, sometimes quite humid and thundery, but beautifully warm yes, and plenty of sunshine. We've spent quite a lot of time outdoors taking it all in, appreciating all that these long summer days have to offer. Picnics and barbecues by the river. Impromptu trips to the park. Ice creams. Water fights. The sound of children playing out till well gone 9pm. Chilled white wine with friends. Lots of salad meals that involve No Cooking. Bare arms, flip flops and silver painted toe nails. The smell of high summer in the evening air. Delightful.

At the very beginning of July I went off on a little solo adventure. In an airplane no less. I tootled off to Manchester airport very early one Saturday morning, climbed on that there white metal bird with it's slightly scary propellers and flew down to Southampton, which took all of 45 minutes. It was an amazing flight with clear blue skies and the most fabulous views of the landscape below. At one point we flew right over a hot air balloon, I was quite beside myself with the beauty of it all. When I arrived in Southampton I hopped on a train and travelled a further 100 minutes west to arrive in Dorset by ten am. Wow. Yorkshire to Dorset by ten am! Never done that before!! It was a really great journey and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole business of being on the move. Just me by myself with a small rucksack on my back, making the journey to visit my dear Mum in hospital.

Later that same day after I'd spent all afternoon at the hospital, I got onto a local bus and travelled a further 40 minutes west to get to Bridport where I was staying the night. When I got off the bus, I had a sudden realisation that I had no door keys, and that the house where I was staying would be empty till midnight (everyone was off making merry at a wedding). It was a beautiful early summers evening, so I decided to while away an hour or two by travelling some more. I journeyed on foot this time, a mere 45 minutes tramping south across familiar fields until I reached the blue of the sea.

West Bay harbour was an absolute picture, the evening light was incredible, and at 6pm it was still very hot. I went to a bar with the above view and sat on the terrace drinking an ice cold beer in the sunshine.

Enjoyable as it was, I was still in a bit of a predicament re getting to my bed for the night. So I decided on one more jaunt on foot, this time an hours journey along the coast to a neighbouring village where the wedding reception was taking place and where my host and hostess would hopefully be found with The Keys to The Door. I walked up over West Cliff....

....and enjoyed some wonderful peaceful time being Me-by-myself on top of the cliffs, gazing out across the bluest of blue seas with the sun on my face and a spring in my step. I have some fabulous memories from this little snippet of time, it was such bliss finding myself quite unexpectedly on a familiar sunny clifftop beside the sea. All By Myself. Just Me. I can't tell you how good it felt, such a rare luxury at this stage in my parenting career to have time so completely to myself.

I did eventually end up at the wedding reception after a lot of huffing and puffing (hugely steep hills in that village don't you know). I felt a little conspicuous walking into the venue wearing my crop jeans and a sweaty teeshirt when everyone else was done up to the nines, but hey, I carried it off with a broad smile.

The next morning I joined a large post-wedding gathering for a spot of brunch in a rather splendid posh local place. An old coaching inn which has been transformed in recent years into a top notch hotel with fine dining and plenty of ambiance. 

Behind the rather grand facade of the hotel lies a rather beautiful rustic courtyard which totally captured my heart. Fabric bunting strung across, casual wooden furniture and lots of vibrant geraniums, it was a little slice of heaven I thought. Perfect for sitting with a mighty fine cappuccino and allowing my  divine "eggs benedict" to settle. I didn't want to leave.

That sweet little Sunday morning courtyard really stuck in my memory, I'm glad I had my camera with me to capture a little of it's atmosphere. It's exactly how I like to think my own small outdoor space should look. Kind of pretty and casual and rustic and homely.

This is a snap of my July back yard. I took the above picture by standing very precariously on my bedroom windowsill and holding the camera out of the top opening window. Since I took this photo a few weeks ago, the geraniums in my wall top pots have really started to flower their hearts out, it's quite lovely if I say so myself. I feel quite proud of it. And I love my windowsill too, I love that our house is made out of old, old stone.

I have a rather amazing hanging basket next to the kitchen door in my back yard, it's chocka block full of my favourite colours. It was given to me as a surprise gift actually, and my goodness, it totally delivers a bolt of pleasure on a daily basis.  I even remember to water it daily and religiously deadhead the flowers, it's very well treated I can tell you.

I wasn't actually around to take my usual first-day-of-the-month photo of the Attic view, but I took a few pics when I remembered on 12th July.

Yes, now I think about it we did have a bit of a cruddy cold, wet spell near the beginning of the month but like I said earlier, July has mostly been bright and beautiful I think.

Something else I did earlier this month was to participate in a fund raising event at a local school. I was asked if I could provide a few hand made items for the craft stall and I was happy to give it a go as I knew I'd be in very good company. One of the things I love  about where I live is the growing number of friendships I have which are connected by The Yarn Thing. Other people who lead a creative life and share similar passions and excitements to my own. Its marrrrrvelous to have those connections with friends, it really is. I like nothing better than a get together over a coffee/glass of vino (depending on the friend in question and the time of day) and a natter about arty-crafty-yarny-handmade type of things.

And if those particular friends happen to live just two streets away, well then, it's all very handy and supportive and creative and jolly! I watched some of the above knitted cupcakes take shape each week at the pub you know (yes, we frequent the local pub on a Monday night to do hooky and knitty things, my friends and I). Aren't they totally scrummy?

These beautiful appliqued and embroidered cushions are made by another friend....I adore them, and you may remember me bringing one home to number 24 last year? I'm the proud owner of a round birdy cushion with colourful felty triangles (scroll down this post and you'll see it second pic from the end...cor isn't it weeeeeird looking at frosty winter pics in high summer???!!!) Anyhow...yes, these cushions are a complete joy to behold, they really are.

The same clever-pants lady who knitted the cupcakes is also a hugely talented stitcher. Her work is un-be-leivable. She makes the most gorgeous patchwork and applique cushions with a homespun, folk-art feel to them. They are true works of art, just lookeee at this.................

...........yay, chickies have landed in the Attic! How could I resist??? I just had to have one of these beautiful cushions for my very own, just had to. The Wanties hit hard.

There's an insane amount of hand stitching going on here, such a labour or love. You can tell this is made by a lady who completely lurrrrrrrrrrves to sit and stitch can't you?! Gorgeous.

So my contribution to the abundant craft stall was rather thin on the ground I have to confess. I simply didn't have the available time to make all that I wanted to make as my daylight hours are mostly filled by a demanding Little B shaped object. I managed to make seven little crocheted and stuffed keyring fobs (pretty colours don't you think?).......

..........and three little rabbits. Ahhh I did LOVE making these rabbits! Two of them hopped off to find new homes, and one remains here in the Attic with me.

The pattern came from Kate's blog Greedy for Colour, of which I am an adoring fan. I love Kate's  work. I practically begged her on bended knees to write up her pattern for these bunnies when I saw her making them last year. And being the kind and obliging soul she is, she did just that. Isn't she a gem? You can find her Flora Rabbit tutorial here look.

Well now.........I think I need to finish up, it's quite late and I've just realised I'm sat alone in the dark whilst the other four-fifths of the family are tucked up in bed. We are in full school holiday mode this week, taking it leisurely day by day with no plans to speak of. Lots of mess, lots of time lounging in pj's, slap dash meals eaten as and when. Mid morning breakfasts. Lots of hooky time too as I'm getting a welcome amount of help entertaining Little B (free child labour, oh how I love school holidays). I've got a huge amount still to share with you and something wonderful and new on the hook already this week. More soon.

Toodle-oo for now!

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Edited to add :: ahhhh fear-ye-not, Snakey-chops is still in residence here! He was on the craft stall purely to serve as colourful eyecandy, although I could have sold him I'm sure, he got loads of attention! Did you also spot my granny buting hanging on the front of the gazebo? Will have to show you that sometime as I realised just now that it never received it's Ta-dah moment. Thanks for all your lovely comments today! ♥

 

 

 

 

 

To Elspeth :: With Love

I cannot find the words to describe how devastated I felt yesterday when I learnt that Elspeth Thompson was gone. My hand flew to my mouth and I cried big ploppy drops that worried the Little people. My heart ached all day, a really heavy, horrid achey feeling that would not go away. 

I feel the same today, although without the debilitating shock factor. But the achey feeling of Loss and Disbelief is still there, pulling on my heart in that same heavy, insistent way.

This is how I genuinely feel, yet I have never met Elspeth, only know her through her beautiful words and pictures, through the emails we wrote to each other. Just goes to show that the Friendships forged in The Land of Blog are as strong, beautiful, amazing and giving as any that form in our "real lives".

Elspeth :: I shall miss you, more than I am able to say. You touched upon my life in such in inspiring and wonderful way, I can't thank you enough for all that you gave me. You will always be in my thoughts and in my heart.

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A Tale of Two Parcels

As the title of todays post suggests, this is indeed a Tale of Two Parcels. It's a simple tale and by no means extraordinary, yet as I sit down with a cup of coffee to write it, I am almost overwhelmed by the emotion of it all. I do tend to come over all emotional when presented with brown paper parcels, I get all sort of jittery and fluttery and heart-beaty. You may remember me recounting a very similar tale not so long ago, when the postman delivered a surprise package containing one of Vanessa's paintings? I am absolutely delighted to say that since that time, Vanessa has opened her very own Etsy shop and her gorgeous water colours are now for sale. And if you decide to purchase one of her paintings, it will arrive on your doorstep wrapped to perfection :: there's something about receiving a beautifully wrapped parcel that totally makes my heart flip. I mean, really and truly, the paper and string and tags and notes should not matter, yet of course they do. A great deal. They make one feel special. And appreciated. And that's quite something, don't you think?

But anyways, on with the Two Tales.....

Parcel # One :: The Surprise Gift

When I sit at my computer to write my blog each day, I do not have any great expectations about gaining anything much. I am not attempting to boost sales, to fish for compliments, to gain recognition. But all the same it is very very nice to feel appreciated, and to know that by some miracle, my words and pictures do reach out into the world and generate little ripples of inspiration, happiness, brightness. And in turn, each and every one of your comments sends it's own ripple of happiness and brightness back through my window, like a ray of sunshine. That's truly how I see it, and how I feel about blogging. I absolutely love the rippling connections that take place back and forth between me and you, the giving and receiving that occurs in both directions between blog-writer and blog-reader. I think it's absolutely fantastical.

And occasionally, these ripples decide to make themselves more tangible, become more than words, and I get a request for my address in order that a "little something" might be sent my way through the post. If you had any idea what this does to me, you would laugh your socks off. I get so ridiculously excited at the prospect of mail arriving, I drive myself loopy. Really. And if aforementioned parcel is going to be coming all the way from the United States, so taking Extra Days to arrive, well it's bonkers. I start to stalk the postman, start to watch the front door around about 11am or there abouts.

This surprise gift took four days to arrive. Posted on a Friday, it arrived to me the following Tuesday.

I knew it was coming, knew who it was from. But the contents were a mystery.

I admit I was very unrestrained with this poor parcel, in fact, the brown paper packet got ripped to shreds. No careful unsealing at all, just good old Excitable Uncontrolled Ripping.

Inside, a gift from the very lovely Cathleen, who writes the most beautiful blog herself, called My Sewing Serenity. Do you know this blog? Have you seen the Lovliness that goes on there? Well it's an absolute delight. In fact you could say that Cathleen and I fill our respective little worlds with very similar heartfelt passions, and the ripples that pass back and forth between our blogs are colourful and inspirational in both directions. There's crochet and quilting and buttons and baking and flowers.

And there's hand made soap too. Oh this is the soap of my dreams! It smells beautiful, and is wonderful to use :: soft and suddy and fragrant.

And did I mention the fabric? Cathleen has a fabric stash made in heaven :: take a looky here and you will see what I mean. And now I have the delightful responsibility of owning eight new colourful fat quarters and wondering what I shall make with them. I added them to my recent Kaffe Fassett purchases and I think I might have the beginnings of my very own fabric stash (oooooo how I love that word!)
This gift made me cry with gratitude. The way it was sent to me just because I Brighten The Day, made me feel so special.

Cathleen :: xxx (( A heart full of thanks )) xxx

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Parcel # Two :: The Special Order

This parcel arrived yesterday, and I am still head over heels about it. This parcel I had been waiting for :: waiting patiently for it to make it's way to Attic24 from across the pond. And unlike the first parcel, I pretty much knew the contents of this one, yet it made it no less exciting, especially because the spotty packing tape had me in raptures before I had even opened the paper. I mean, colourful, SPOTTY packing tape, how utterly delightful!

Inside the box, a purple bag.

Inside the purple bag, a brown paper parcel tied with spotty ribbon.

My heart is banging, and I feel all fluttery and jumpety-jumpy, I am almost beside myself with the thrill of it all.

Inside the brown paper parcel tied with spotty ribbon is a mound of bubble wrap, and a cutesome little envelope sealed with a spotty sticker. A Little card, thanking me for purchasing this Special Order.

Want to know details?

Want to know what my "Special Order" is?

Really?

Really-really??

Wanna see?

Right now?

Ok.

If you insist.

Here it is...

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Ta dah!!!!!!!!!

Its my very own, beautiful, wonderful, colourful Attic24 House. And I am totally in love with it.

This is the work of an exceptionally talented US artist named Sarah Ahearn. I cannot for the life of me remember how I first came across Sarah's work, but it was love at first sight. I love everything about it. I am a big fan of Mixed Media work, and I love the use of text in artwork, although not sure why exactly, but it really appeals to me. I love Sarah's use of colour and the recurring themes that feature in her work :: flowers, fruit, birds, houses.

Sarahs art work is most usually sold as prints or original paintings, but sometimes she makes these little decorated wooden houses. And as soon as I saw them on her blog in the Summer, I knew I had to have one.

And there followed some emails and discussions about what I would like on my very own house, but truthfully I left it mostly to Sarah to do her thing. And Oh!!!!!!! Didn't she do me proud?!

You can see that she has gotten to know me very well through reading my blog. She has included some  wonderful details that make this house truly, uniquely mine. There are my my tall summer flowers, the blue sky with the two birds that can often be seen sitting on my rooftop (they are a pair of jackdaws, who regularly caw-caw down my chimney pot), the view of the hills, my name and the words "Home Sweet Home" and of course my little Attic24 window up under the eaves.

Since it arrived yesterday, I've been moving this little house of mine all around the place, looking at it this way and that, wondering where it should come to rest. Right now it's on the mantel in front of my Moroccan mirror (I like the way the mirror allows you to see front and back at the same time). It already feels like it's been here forever, like it belongs in this house.

Sarah :: xxx (( A heart full of thanks )) xxx

This house, this house that has given me my Attic24, we will be celebrating together on Friday.

It'll be exactly one year since we moved in and I will be giving a "heart full of thanks" for that fact. For the fact that I am so happy living here.

Maybe a little Attic24 housey giveaway?

Oh yes, lets do a giveaway, how exciting!!!

Day after tomorrow? Yes the 28th, you and me in the Attic, for something colourful and Housey?

Can't wait, see you then...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cosy Homeliness

Question :: what does one do do if ones home ends up in such a mess that one does not know where to start with putting it right?

Answer :: ones goes about inviting a friend to come and visit, so prompting an essential remedial clean and tidy mission.

This particular invited friend cannot just be any old friend :: it has to be someone who's own house one knows to be the most beautiful, desirable, inspirational, clean and tidy abode. Naturally, it's the obvious solution. Invite someone to your house who's style you admire enormously and who's opinion means a great deal, and there you have it :: Instant Motivation. Doesn't everyone do this? No? Surely you do? (cummon, own up, pleease?)

Well now, it damn well worked, this plan of mine. Knowing myself so well, I was certain that my friend's imminent arrival on the Attic24 doorstep would give me the motivation I needed, and I was right. I have had many Complaints from the Management about the state of the house in recent weeks, but quite frankly, complaints from the management do NOT tend to motivate me, they just make me smolder quietly.
So yesterday saw me spend a considerable amount of the day and evening attending to the forgotten business of Keeping House. And it was erm....fun. Yes, it was, I surprised myself to be honest.

Now I don't want to bore you with the ins and outs of how sporadic my housework regime is, don't want this post to become a Housework post, but more a Homely one. In fact, once I got down to business, it didn't take an awful lot to put the place to rights.
And I am certainly enjoying the sense of peace and tranquility and Cosy Homeliness that has descended on  Attic24 today, it's been a pleasure to be here. Really.

I dug out my red gingham table runner that I made last year for Christmas. Tidied the table and the bookshelves which were both hiding under a mountain of paperwork. Tidied the Little People's art and craft corner which was beginning to invading the entire room. Tidied/chucked away magazines, letters, papers, brochures, toys, yarn, letters, tools, stationary, shells, leaflets etc etc etc.

So. Much. STUFF.

And I am so happy now that all is tidy(ish) and my little fairy lights are twinkling and the dusty bits have been dusted and the bitty bits have been hoovered. I even feather dustered some cobwebs, which was quite something. It has made me feel so happy! yaaaayyyyy!!!!

My friend Sarah is a delightful, funny, bubbly, creative soul and we do love a good natter about all things crafty and homey. We went to Knit and Natter together this morning, which was great fun. In fact, you can thank Sarah cos she's the one responsible for teaching me the joys of crochet. It was she who last summer, frogmarched me to the shop to buy a hook and a ball of yarn so that she could teach me to crochet, because she had just learnt herself and knew instinctively that I would love it. And how right was she? Love it? You bet.

You can tell what sort of a lovely friend she is, because the above gifts were dug out of her bag upon her arrival. A beautiful heart that she had made, and a wonderful bundle of biscotti biscuits tied with gingham ribbon. Gosh, I was close to tears. Yet again, for the umpteenth time in recent weeks, I was made so happy by the kindness and generosity of friends.

Thank you Sarah, today was such a pleasure. Hows about we make your visits regular, maybe say once once a month, you know, to keep my house in check? See you soon then, don't be gone too long.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Unexpected

Some days just do not go the way your are expecting them to go. You spend hours/days/weeks psyching yourself up for a particular Big Event, and then all of a sudden you find yourself with an unexpected turn of events and everything crashes and wobbles for a while. Yesterday was just such a day under the Attic24 roof, and I can't say it was entirely unwelcome.

I know that this week in Blogland there have been many of you with your Little Ones starting out at school for the first time. I've been thinking of you (Ali, Julia) and in return I've had some lovely, warm, supportive comments and emails sent my way this week for my own Big Event.

 

Only it didn't happen. No, I've had an unexpected, temporary reprieve from classroom tears and snot and heartbreak. Pheww.
Instead of shiny, new school shoes we had bare toes.
Instead of stiff, grey pleats, we had soft, pink pyjamas.
Instead of the classroom and playground, we had the blankety sofa and Cbeebies.
Instead of goodbyes we had lengthy cuddles.
Instead of cheese sandwiches we had Nurofen and Calpol.

Yes, we had illness. Little Lady awoke early on Wednesday morning looking peeky and a bit hot and flushed. And by mid morning it was apparent she was really not well at all, with extreme tiredness (she slept on and off all day), loss of appetite (she couldn't even eat weetabix), aching limbs (crawling up the stairs on hands and knees) and a raging temperature (102 degrees). It did not get any better by the time Thursday morning arrived and I had to inform her new teacher that she wouldn't in fact be coming after all.

I find it very draining administering medicine. I mean, I know it's not difficult to pour out 5ml of liquid and spoon feed it to a child who loves the taste of it and laps it up eagerly, but somehow the constant use of the thermometer combined with obsessive clock watching to get the timing of two lots of medicines right completely drains me of energy. I can feel it flowing out of me even as I sit on the sofa under the Ripple with my feet up.

But yesterday, as well as tiredness and drainage of energy, there was also love and warmth and kindness. See the photo there above, see the orange card? Well Little Lady was feeling well enough by late afternoon yesterday to get up from the sofa and do some drawing at the table. I was not really paying much attention as she gathered orange card, crayons, pens and stickers and set to work. She made me a card,  presented it to me with a flourish. I was overwhelmed. She had managed to have a go at writing my name (L-oo-s-i-y), with a sweet little flower drawing, and oh I nearly wept with gratitude and pride.

The postie also delivered me a parcel yesterday, it was from Sally. She had oh-so-thoughtfully sent me a a little something, timed to arrive on the day that Little Lady (should have) started school. See that lovely flowery card up there on my mantel, and to the far right the packet of Burnt Sugar Crumbly Fudge? And see in the second photo up above, my gorgeous little blue and pink spotty slipper socks? Aren't I so bloomin lucky? Sal, I appreciated that parcel more than words can say. Thank you so very much.

On Under-the-Weather days, there are some things that are guaranteed to lift my spirits, to nourish my soul and make me a feel a little less deflated. A good magazine to read, something delicious to eat, and fresh flowers. Hang on, I think I may have said this before? Well no matter, it still remains true for me. So yesterday I bought the latest issue of CH, and ventured out into the cold drizzle to pick some flowers from the garden. The nasturtium seeds that I sowed back in June have finally produced flowers, hooray!! I did think they had frozen/drowned, but nope, they were just taking their sweet time.

The variety is called "Jewel Mixed" and they are quite lovely. I find nastutiums captivating :: so humble, yet so stunning. I popped them in a little glass pickle jar with a few verbena and cornflowers, and they are beside my bed looking radiant :: it was a delight to wake up to them this morning.

I also picked some flowers for the bathroom :: a few remaining sweet peas and pink geraniums. I love walking in to a room where you wouldn't ordinarily expect to find fresh flowers and seeing a few fresh colourful blooms, it cheers me no end.

A few days ago I treated myself to some new Bath Soak and a new face flannel. Gosh, I am cheap to please :: life's little luxuries folks, I can find pleasure in the smallest things, its another one of my talents. So last night when Little People were safely in bed and asleep, I ran myself a deep, hot bubble bath, lit a few candles and lay reading my magazine. It was bliss (although keeping the magazine out of the water was something of a challenge).

And then I was in my pj's, and snuggled up with a hot water bottle for the remainder of the evening (much better magazine-reading conditions).

Not the day I had envisaged, but unexpectedly good all the same. If I can admit to my daughter being sick as being Good? Lord, I have no shame do I, but at least I am honest.

Thankful

A little corner of my home to show you :: I love this little plant, its' been on my table for about three months now, since sometime in March around the start of my blog and look, it's still managing to pop these delightful flower stems up. They really are lovely, such simple flowers and so undemanding of attention (I remember every now and again to give them some water from the jug at mealtimes), yet so uplifting. They remind me daily to be thankful for the little things in life that give such pleasure.

Dear, dear blog-readers, I am feeling a little emotional today. In the best possible way you understand. Not wailing and feeling unbalanced, but feeling exceptionally blessed and thankful for all the good things in my life right now. But I am not feeling especially wordy today :: sometimes I could write this blog with words tumbling out and not know when to stop, yet other times I find it hard to get the expression right. And this seems to be one of the hard times somehow.

I have so damn much to say and show you, I have posts and photos in draft all stacked up waiting to be finished and put out for you to share. Pictures of my new fire, my attic studio, my textile work, my gardening efforts. Yes, I had wanted today to show you some of my gardening efforts, the seeds I planted with Little Lady, the big pots of flowers beginning to bloom, my little back yard. But it will save for another day. Today I am giving thanks.

Let me show you these :: simple gifts from friends that mean so very very much. This small bunch of home-grown salad leaves that I ate for my lunch, given to me this morning by my friend K who grew them on her allotment and knew I would love them.

And these pots of home-grown seedlings (cornflowers and cosmos) given to me by Lovely C and already growing away nicely in my front garden, flower buds emerging.

I am so thankful for it all. I figure that I am  probably an ok person if I am liked enough to be given salad and plants unconditionally by new found friends. And  I am so thankful to be getting to know YOU, my lovely blog-readers who are sending me such lovely comments and emails, I am nearly blubbing with gratitude for it all. Aren't I just so damn lucky, jeez, I am fit to burst.

So to you all who stop by here each day, to those of you who comment (greatly appreciated) and those of you who are still unknown to me but are reading this, I am simply trying to say

x  x  x    t  h  a  n  k    y  o  u    x  x  x

More normal stuff tomorrow (and the next day, and the next...)
See you then xx