Attic24

Tulip ♥ Love

The hyacinths on my mantel are in full bloom and are looking very pretty indeed.

They have quite a light fragrance, much more delicate than the blue ones I had last month. But as lovley as they are, I confess I can't help myself from wishing that they were a proper rich, deep pink colour, rather than this very pale pink. I do really like my interior floral accents to be vibrant....

....like these tulips. Ahhh that's better, a good punchy shout of vibrant colour!

Aren't they gorgeous? I bought them from the market on Friday, five stems of happiness. Mr Plant Man had several buckets full of tulips of all different colours, but I instantly fell in love with these fiery coloured ones.

I have always loved tulips, I suspect mainly due to the vast, vivid colour range. They seem so luxurious to me, and yet a small bunch only costs a few pounds at this time of year.

Whilst I was tidying up the considerable mess on the dining table this afternoon and arranging my tulips, I also decided it was high time I sorted out my mantel. It was still bare following the removal of Christmas, and the jug of bare twigs was making me feel a little sad. So I strung up my crochet heart garland, and decorated the twigs with the Teeny Tiny Hearts I made two years ago.

And I put all the sweet little miscellaneous objects back up there that mean so much to me. The mug of feathers, the little tin plaque of Robin Hoods Bay (one of my favourite places in the whole wide world). The little house tin that holds my white angel feather, gorgeous Miss Fleur. The wooden ladybird that was given to me by my grandparents when I was three and has the date 1971 written on the back in biro. The china toucan that was given to me by a family friend when I was in my teens, and has moved through every single house move with me (thirteen in total). The ceramic house number 24 bought in Barcelona.

And there are a couple of new things up here too....do you like the sweet little tin globe I bought a few weeks ago from the local antique shop? It's an old child's one from the 1960's and I just fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. I've been looking for a globe for years as for some obscure reason they really appeal to me. But I've never managed to find one that was affordable enough or charming enough, until this one that is.

Next to the globe, you can see my latest purchase which arrived in the post this week. Again, it was love at first sight, for I was deeply smitten as soon as my eyes touched upon it.

Isn't it lovely? It's a handmade mosaic picture made by the very talented Felicity at "Just Mosaics". I actually found it via her Facebook page :: Felicty was showcasing a number of her smaller mosaic pieces, and this was one of them. I really liked the sunflower and the sweet little clump of snowdrops, but it was this vase of tulips which really pulled at my hearts strings.

A few days after I bought this mosaic, I happened by chance to come across this image on the internet................

......WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Breathtaking eh? It shows an aerial view of the Dutch tulip fields, and I was completely mesmerized by it. Wow. wOw!!  I couldn't stop looking at it, and was compelled to go and drink in more images (type "dutch tulips fields" into Google and you will drown in the gloriousness of it all!)

It struck me immediately how Blanket-like these images are.

And it also struck me how very, very, very, very, VERY much I would like to see these fields for myself. Oh my. Can you imagine?! Can you just picture me hyperventilating with excitement and leaping around at the edge of these fields like a deranged colour-mad loon?!

Gosh, yes, that sort of trip would be a dream come true. I am trying unbelievably hard to persuade my family that we need a holiday to the Netherlands sometime in mid April. Failing that, I will be trying very hard to persuade my family that they can do without me for a few days in mid April while I run away to the tulips fields. I'll keep you posted on progress.

Meanwhile, back on the home front, my own creative colour journey continues. I've been working really hard on the Little Squares blanket for the Red Nose day Dolls and late this afternoon I finished. One Hundred and Eight teeny tiny crochet squares all patched and stitched together and turned into the cutest little blanket ever. My friends, it looks a-w-e-s-o-m-e. Really. As soon as I've blocked it out I'll share with you, you're going to swoon!

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Pom Poms and Pretty Things

A few weeks ago during the school holidays the Little People and I started making pom poms. It was entirely their idea, and I was entirely happy to oblige. I mean, how could I not? Little People asking to get crafty and some great old fashioned nostalgic yarn play, it's all good! I was was about to go to the recycling bag and dig out some cardboard to fashion some pom pom making kit, when I remembered a friend telling me how to do it The Easy Way. This particular friend is a primary school teacher and knows a lot about easy crafting with young children, so we gave her method a whirl. In a nutshell, instead of using any form of cardboard you simply use your fingers, like this. The simplicity of it meant that even Little B (who is not quite three years old) could have a go, with some help at the tying and cutting stage.

The Little People churned out a surprising number of pom poms using up odds and ends of aran weight yarn from my stash. Some of the pom poms turned out a little raggedy, but the fun that was had on that cold, damp Monday morning more than made up for the unkempt results.

I have to admit that although I loved the scruffy pom poms made by Little Hands, I began to hanker after some perfectly round super-neat ones. Proper Pom Poms. Fluffy and cute as opposed to raggedy and unkempt. I managed to dig up some long forgotten information from the tangle inside my Creative Memory, and went in search of magical Clover pom pom makers. I found them in various sizes, from Teeny Tiny up to Rather Large, so I opted for Small.

They come in packs of two, the small ones measuring 35mm and 45mm, you can find them here.

They are a complete doddle to use. You simply open out the semi-circular plastic bits and get winding.

Wind one side evenly with yarn until it looks all woolly and chubby, then fold it back in. Do the same on the other side so that you have two yarny semi circles sitting opposite each other.

The next bit is ace...you just snip around the circle with sharp scissors, snip-snip-snip. Just like that. Nothing falls apart. Nothing goes wrong. There is no cussing. WoW!

Time to tie now, get a short piece of yarn to slip between the two halves and make a tight knot. Easy! Oh-so-easy! Then all you do is unfold the semi-circular plastic bits and pull the two halves apart to release the pom pom.......

....ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Pom-Pom maker is absolute genius, if a bit addictive. The small pom poms are very quick and easy to make as it doesn't take an awful lot of winding to produce really wonderful, fluffy little balls.

It'd be good if they had a use though eh? I've had them sat very sweetly in a plastic tub for the past few weeks, but they are destined for Festive Decorative Work eventually. I had originally thought about making some sort of pom pom and crochet garland, but that idea was completely abandoned when I came across this..................

............................it's a page from Prima Magazine (December issue).

Want to take a closer look?

Oh! Isn't that image just so perfectly beautiful? It made me gasp out loud with pleasure when I first saw it over on the Selena Lake blog. Selena often does the styling for Prima magazine, and I am such a huge fan of her work. It seems to me as if she has somehow had a sneaky peak into my heart and soul and created these images just for me.

Let me show you the pages that follow, you'll love them I'm sure.............

The feature is about creating hand made decorations and displays, and the style is very "Selina"....if you've seen her incredible book Homespun Style (which I love love love) then you will know what I mean.

There are bright and cheerful displays and gorgeous homemade wrapping ideas.

Beautiful iced biscuits and handmade stockings. And there are giant paper balls. Oh gosh. I would really, really, really love some of those in the Attic.....a tad expensive at a fiver a pop, but I guess they would last for years if I treated them nicely and only strung them up at Christmas? I have been looking at them online almost every day, wondering if I can possibly, in any way-shape-or-form justify the expense of them. I am still undecided.

But anyhow, lets not obsess about paper balls, cos I need to take you back to see that beautiful wreath.....

.............wow. So, so beautiful, isn't it? I was so charmed by this wreath, and very grateful to Selina for giving details of it's creator on her blog. It's the work of someone new to me, a very lovely Dutch lady called Maartje who makes all sorts of scrumptious things under the name of Silly Old Suitcase. Her work is so unique :: a wonderful, quirky mix of vintage treasures, crochet, patchwork, stitching and beading. I fell in love with her style, it made my heart flutter to see so much colour, creativity and unique personality.

This is another of Maartje's amazing wreaths, slightly different to the one in the magazine.
And I love this one even more than the first one, it's such a glorious, colourful festive mix! Pom poms, crochet, baubles, ribbons, lace, berries and flowers. YES! It has Pom poms!!!!!!!!!!

So you can see where this is going can't you? You can now picture me leaping about, getting all giddy at the idea of creating my very own Festive Wreath full of woolly goodness. A truly good justification for my pom pom making addiction if ever there was one. I shall show you very soon where I'm at with it, but first I need to tell you a little bit more about Silly Old Suitcase.

As well as wreaths and bunting and other cutesome decorations, Maartje makes the most wonderful jewellery. I spied the above necklace in her Etsy shop and thought my heart was going to burst at the sight of all those beautiful, joyful colours. But sadly for me, this necklace is quite long and I have trouble with long necklaces. I just can't wear them without feeling irritated by them. They dingle and dangle and get snagged on things, and they are an absolute magnet for Little B who loves to fiddle and meddle with any lengthy dingly dangly things about my person. Long necklaces, scarves and apron strings are just so tempting for his Little Fingers and imagination.

So  this is what I did. I wrote a little note to Maarjte, telling her of my my love for this necklace and explaining my difficulty with it's length. I enquired, in my most politest and persuasive voice, as to whether she might be able to make me something similar but shorter. And being the sweetheart that she is, she agreed to my request and within a week, a happy little packet arrived in the Attic....

....oh happy day!

The necklace tumbled out of the wrapping into my hand and I wanted to cry with happiness.

The beads are so vibrant, they remind me of childhood sweets and sunny days. They shout Happy Things to me when I look at them!

It's a happy necklace for sure, and I adore wearing it. Thank you Maartje, thank you so much for the happiness you sent my way.

And if you don't already know, there is a super-sweet blog waiting out there for you to go visit....do bob by and say hello to Maartje won't you?

Oh, I almost forgot, there is something else about Selina Lake I wanted to say.....yes, it's a calendar! Joy of joys, the 2013 Mollie Makes calendar has been designed by Selina, yippeeeee!!

There are twelve stunning pages to take us through 2013, it really is absolutely beautiful. You can get it free with the December issue of Mollie Makes magazine which is in the shops now.

Right then my lovelies, it's been a pleasure chatting and sharing with you as always. But really, I do need to get back to my pom poms now if you don't mind. My fingers are twitching.

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Caravan Dreams

This week, I've mostly been obsessing about all things Caravan related. I've spent a disgusting amount of time on the internet soaking up some amazing caravanny inspiration and making one or two caravanny purchases. I am currently awaiting delivery of some Mod Podge (to carry out inner cupboard and door makeovers with wrapping paper/wallpaper, inspired by this and this), plus some amazing sticky back plastic that I found on ebay (see here). Oh and I'm bidding (with fingers and toes crossed) on a sweet little 1970's cutlery tray to house my most extravagant Connievan purchase (see here). My oh my, I am having SO much fun!!

On Wednesday afternoon I spent a truly pleasurable few hours with Connievan, it was great being able to walk down the road to her with Little B (she's about a mile away). I made us a little packed lunch so that we could eat when we got there, and I took down the two cushions that I made last month. It was a sweet moment when I put the cushions in place, they look amazing with the crochet blankets look.....

The colours match incredibly well to say that I made them without actually seeing the blankets.

The blankets have been in the 'van all winter (forgot to fetch them out), and thankfully they are absolutely fine. Connie has a wee bit of a damp issue on one of her side panels, but it's kind of inside the panel itself if you see what I mean and doesn't affect the interior at all. In fact, she is remarkably warm, dry and cosy for a twenty year old gal.

As soon as I arrived I opened up all the windows to let some air breeze through and spent a bit of time cleaning around the kitchen area. Then it was time to begin with a little bit of prettifying, yipppeeeee! I stuck up some lovely little hen hooks that I bought last year using a magical "No More Nails" type of adhesive, wow, what great stuff that is! I had plans to put up lots of little pictures that I've been collecting too, but forgot to bring the blutack with me, so that will wait till next time.

I also did a little bit of outside prettifying too.....remember me telling you I'd bought some flowery stickers? Well...........take a look................

♥

Ta-dah!! I put a few around the door, plus some on the front and back. I couldn't go too mental with it as J has already been raising his eyebrows at  the whole idea of me sticking things on Connievan. So I had to be restrained, but they do look so sweet. A bit silly maybe, but I don't much care, they make me happy and that's what counts.

Now then, are you familiar with the Little Grey Rabbit books? They're the sweetest, most adorable books written in the  1930's by Alison Uttley and illustrated by Margaret Tempest. I LOVED them as a child, and the top two books on that pile there are from my own childhood collection, published in the early 1960's. The others were bought for me from a car boot sale by my mother in law for 50p each, and were published in the '80's.

The characters and the stories are enchanting (I re-read them regularly even now as an adult), but it's the illustrations that really make my heart squeeze.

Oh sooooo incredibly sweet, don't you think? That wonderful patchwork quilt calls out to me every time!

Little Grey Rabbit lives in the cutest woodland cottage. It's furnished simply, with brick floors, green painted windows, buttery yellow walls and THE MOST ADORABLE blue and white gingham curtains.

For some reason I have always loved these curtains. So it'll come as no surprise to you if I tell you that I am making blue and white gingham curtains for Connievan. Yeah, you already saw that coming didn't you?

I bought a great long length of gingham fabric from Ebay last year and made a start with them, but didn't get too far at the time. I'm determined to get them finished this week though, as we're taking Connie out on a trip next week.

Would you like to see where I'm at with my curtain revamp?

Squeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had the nifty idea of combining blue and white checks with a little bit of red floral and a dash of ric rac. Do you like?

The floral fabric just runs as a band across the bottom, to add an extra bit of va-va-voom to the whole effect. I confess I am quite madly in love with them. It's proving to be a tough ol' job though. I'm keeping the original curtains as they are lined and in good shape, and am *simply* stitching the gingham panels on top. It's not easy. I tried to do the first one with the machine, but the curtain fabric was too thick (it's a thick velvet) and it all went pear shaped. So I painstakingly unpicked the dreadful machine stitching and began the whole thing again by hand.

It's laborious work, and probably my least favourite type of sewing. Little invisible hemming stitches, hundreds and hundreds of them. Thousands probably.

I sat last night in the Big Chair by the bay window and managed to do one whole curtain. Only nine more to go then. But as I sit and stitch, my mind wanders off into Caravan Dreamland. I start to think of fairy lights and paper lanterns and pretty floral bunting and dotty tablecloths and stripy picnic rugs and granny square blankets and piles of squishy patchwork cushions.....it's so happy and colourful and cosy and carefree in Caravan Dreamland!

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ps I've got a Caravan Dream board over on Pinterest if you want to go have a peek

I also found a couple of fabulous websites yesterday whilst getting lost in Pinterest, they are full of lovely caravanny things.....

http://getcampie.com/

http://littlevintagetrailer.com

pps one last thing....you can read my original post about Connievan here. I'll take some more pics of her interior soon to show you. I love her SO much! ♥

xx

Edit to add :: Thanks for the pincushion love, I made it a few years ago using the Anna Maria Horner pattern here.

 

 

 

 

 

Mini Crochet Bunting Strings

At the moment I feel like my Creative Force has developed an entire mind of it's own and is running me at Warp Speed. Ideas and Must-makes are spilling out of me faster than I can cope with. It's both exhilarating and exhausting.

Just to keep you up to date, I've left the tins for now and am working my way through an obsessive Mini Bunting phase. I've always loved strings of colourful bunting flags, I guess you'll know that if you've been visiting the Attic for a while. I made my crochet bathroom bunting three years ago now (ooooooo check out this post...almost exactly three years ago To-The-Day, how freaky???!!!!! Mid January must contain very strong Bunting Vibes!!!).....wow. I've lost all train of thought now, I just freaked myself out with that discovery.

Ok. Think. Yes. Bunting making. I've been falling in love with mini bunting of late, it's been leaping out at me as I journey through the land of Blogs and Pins. A few days ago I arrived at a gorgeous new-to-me-blog called Heart Handmade UK. Now I come to think of it, I got there whilst searching for Washi Tape inspiration, yes, that was it. Heart Handmade UK is a beautiful visual blog written with passion and love...I've not had the time to really dive into the archives but I really love what I've seen and read so far. It's full of wonderful and inspiring discoveries, and the overall visual style is very "me". Lots of colour and creativity with a dash of quirkiness! There are so many wonderful links there to follow, you will be off on an amazing journey with this blog I can tell you. One such link took me to a Dutch Blog called Zilverblauw, and that's where the mini bunting jumped out at me. That was it then, I just had to make my own. I couldn't wait any longer. 

I literally lept away from my desk, grabbed my little box of embroidery threads and a slim 2.5mm hook (conveniently still sat there following the Jolly Holly making), and set to work. Just like that. I chained a chain in green bamboo cotton first. I decided on 1 chain gaps between my little mini coloured triangles, so my foundation chain was made in multiples of 7 (6 chains for each triangle and 1 chain for each space between). Once the foundation chain was made I started at the right hand side and began to work weeny triangles directly out of the chain, as follows....

Row 1 :: draw a loop through the first stitch, chain 2. Work 1dc in each of the next 5 chains (remember to crochet over the top of your tail ends so you don't have to darn them). Chain 1 and turn [6 stitches].

Row 2 :: work 1dc in each stitch. Chain 1 and turn [6 stitches]

Row 3 :: 1 dc-decrease, dc twice, 1 dc-decrease (see note at end about the decrease business). Chain 1 and turn [4 stitches]

Row 4 :: work 1dc in each stitch. Chain 1 and turn [4 stitches]

Row 5 :: dc-decrease twice. Chain 1 and turn [2 stitches]

Row 6 :: work 1dc in each stitch. Chain 1 and turn [2 stitches]

Row 7 :: dc-decrease. Fasten off. Darn end in at back.

OK...about the dc decrease, this is how to do it in words......Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (2 stitches on hook). Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, hook back through stitch (3 stitches on hook). Yarn over and draw yarn through All Three Stitches on hook. You are effectively turning 2 stitches into 1.

Also just to mention that the bunting benefited enormously from a light steam press with a medium hot iron on the wrong side once it was finished. I tweaked the pointy ends into a good pointy shape whilst the cotton was still slightly damp from the iron.

See how weeny and cutesome the triangles are?! They're diddy!

This is a super-fast project. I hooked up this little row of 8 triangles in about half an hour. Maybe a little longer with the end-darning. The triangles really are teeny tiny...the sides measure just 2.5cm.

As soon as it was finished I went around the house holding it up to various things to see how it looked. Strung under pictures. Under the hall mirror. Along shelf edges. Around a plain cream lampshade (definitely a winner).

And then finally it came to rest in the twigs. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yes. That's it. I'll make my twigs into a Mini Bunting Tree!! Need to go stock up on embroidery thread now, cos I've got lots more bunting strings to make and I'm running low on supplies.

Oh sweet, simple crochet, how it rocks my world.

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ps Just a note to say that this mini crochet bunting thing is most definitely not my original idea. I've been hugely inspired by the lovely Kate who recently made herself some and turned it into a necklace. That girl has such style x

 

Tins and Tape

Just a quick posting today as I need to get back to my Most Important Tin Coverage Mission. Don't try and stop me, my Tins need me.

I wrote up the tutorial for you yesterday (find it HERE).....I know it's a very basic pattern an' all, and many of you don't actually need such a picture heavy tute for something this easy. But I LOVE the idea of using simple projects with simple words and a gazillion step-by-step pictures to enable Newbie Hookers.

I've had a few comments about Sharp Edges. Yes, those inner tin edges can be devilishly sharp I agree. I found that my tuna tins opened cleanly and evenly with my tin opener and there were no sharp jags at all. But the pineapple tin (pictured above) actually drew blood. So I used the back of a spoon to press down a few of the nasty, wicked metal jags, then covered the inner edge completely with some pretty deco tape I had in the cupboard. I bought this tape ages ago from DotComGiftShop, and at 50p per roll it was a bargain. You can find it here, and there are other slightly more expensive designs to choose from too.

Talking of pretty deco tape, I had a little search for some on Etsy and OH. MY. GOODNESS.

I found WASHI TAPE.

How dreamy is this stuff???!!!!

Why did nobody think to tell me about Washi Tape before?????

Seriously, it is unbelievably gorgeous and desirable. DIViNe. Smoochable.

The above pictures are from an Etsy Shop called Le Box Boutique, one of many, many shops on the internet selling this gorgeous stuff.

I can feel a Potential Addiction coming on. Go peek here......and feast your eyes on the decorative possibilities!

Oooooooooooooo♥ooooooooooo Washi Tape Mini Bunting, you are SO in my future.

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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.

 

 

 

 

Summer Magazine Celebration

I think I mentioned t'other day about the stack of summer magazines that were sitting in a pile on my desk following my binge-read of them last month. Oh but they were good! In fact they were very, very good. The imagery between the pages of these magazines was sooooooooooo inspiring, I felt quite high and giddy on Visual Happiness after I'd been dancing through them all.

I do read my magazines you know, yes I do take time to read most of the contents. I read the editors letter, the articles, the lengthy shopping lists, the recipes. I even read the adverts. The words are interesting, but of course it's the pictures that really do it for me. I just adore that zingy feeling of being hit by wave upon wave of visual inspiration. I am quite addicted to it. So my magazines do end up with well-thumbed pages cos I tend to go back through each issue time and time again. Soaking up the visuals, drinking it all in, absorbing the feel-good.

Summer magazines are my absolute favourite. The June-September issues. There's something about the subject matter (picnics, holidays, summer gardens and breezy, colourful decorating ideas etc) that is very Me. I am most definitely a Summer Girl through and through.

So now that the summer season is over and the Autumn issues are in full swing (oh there is waaay too much brown in the Oct issues for my liking!), I thought I would share some of my most favourite, inspiring, uplifting images with you. A Celebration of Summer.

A few "Readers Home" to start then.....

This glorious home was featured in July issue of "Period Living"

A romantic retreat in June "Country Living"

A creative combination in September "Country Living"

July issue of "Country Homes & Interiors" featured the stunning home of the GreenGate owners. Oh my, that crochet BLANKET!!!!!! Swoon-tastic!

I love this jolly inspirational shopping page in "Ideal Homes" June magazine.

Now then, let me show you some of the features that I most love in this type of magazine. They mix general style inspiration with decorating ideas, then add in a humongous shopping list. In Country Living mag, these features are labeled as "decorating and design", and in Country Homes mag it's a more honest "shopping ideas" label. But whatever you want to call it, these pages sing with colour, joy, happiness and inspiration (and a dose of the Wanties)..............ENJOY!!!

Gypsy Rose inspired decorating and styling from "Ideal Home"

Matisse inspired interiors in "Country Living"

Outdoor decorating in "Country Homes"

Summer party time......

........with such lovely colours! (sorry can't remember which magazine this was, it wasn't one of my regular reads)

Country Homes made my heart race with this beautiful "vintage-style vacations" theme. I know it's all about shopping and is all very materialistic but....ooooooooo I Want It All!

Want want want want want.

I think this six-page spread in August "Country Living" is totally inspired. It combines seasonal feel-good with fashion, interior design and lifestyle. A total Aspirational Experience.......

Now tell me you don't want to Live That Life????!!!!

Bold, Bright and Beautiful, oh my GOODNESS. Prepare for your heart to soar......

WOW. Country Living totally hit my spot with these pages. Makes me think I could possibly do with more pretty florals here in the Attic, and definitely more red things. I love the red accents that pulse through these pages, don't you?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Did you enjoy that little lot???

Yeah, me too ♥

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ps. Click on any of the above images and they should pop up in a new window and in a bigger size. Good if you want to scrutinise the detail.

pps. if you also swooned over the Greengate crochet blanket in the 6th picture, go and check out the  fabulous blanket Jules is making.  Oh, and there's also a matching sweet giveaway too. Prepare to drool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trees and Triangles

My memory really must be very bad indeed cos I honestly thought I had shared this with you a few weeks ago. But it turns out that no I didn't, I just imagined that I did. Dear oh dear, I do apologise. So thank you very much to those of you who gently reminded me you hadn't in fact seen inside the map-package (mentioned in this post), cos you are in for a treat.

Isn't Internet Shopping so easy these days? And such a huge temptation too! I partake in a lot of  Virtual Shopping, lots of browsing and oooohing and ahhhing but on the whole I try very hard to keep my actual purchasing to a minimum. We have quite a strict Financial Control Manager here at number 24 you know.  If I come across something that I really, really, really think I want/need/desire, I tend to step away from the computer, sleep on it a few days, then re-visit and test out the level of Genuine Wanties for whatever it is. I am very rarely an instantaneous buyer. Is this bonkers? Anyone else do this?

This is what happened with this particular purchase. I came across it by happy accident as I was searching for something entirely different at the time. I was on Flickr, looking for bunting inspiration. Which I found (more of that in a bit), and that then led me onwards to a new blog which happened to showcase some amazing artwork. Clickety click and I arrived at an Etsy shop where the aforementioned amazing artwork is for sale. Ooooooo, the wanties kicked in immediately. I really wanted/needed/desired this artwork in a BiG way. So I walked away from the computer, slept on it a few days, chatted to husband/friends about it, tried to gauge if these particular wanties were strong enough to give in to. Back to the computer screen, clickety-click and YeS, that overwhelming heart lurch and I was certain I had to go for it. It helped that the FC Manager had provisionally given this potential purchase The Nod.

Good-o, clickety-click then and it's done. And so I waited. I waited and waited. The Little People waited with me, for they found it incredible that a package would be arriving from the Upside-down side of the world and they were very excited at the prospect. It takes quite a few days for a package to travel from Australia to the UK, so we continued to wait, and one morning it finally arrived.

As you can see from the above picture, it arrived beautifully wrapped. We were (all three of us) very impressed by the map wrap, not to mention the delightful little paper crane. So thoughtful! So clever!

So do you want to see inside the Mappage?

Want to see what got my heart a-skipping?

OK, here it is...........................................

.........this is the sweet little card that accompanied my purchase................

.....and this is the purchase itself. What do you think? Isn't it just beeeeeaaaaauuuutiful???

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh deep sigh. I L♥VE it so much.

It's a print taken from an original artwork called "Backyard with Stars" by the super talented Loretta Grayson. What a creative whizz Rett is! Her crochet work is hugely inspiring, but it's her artwork that really blows me away. I was fascinated to read this post with step by step pictures showing how each artwork is created. It made me love my little print so much more once I got a feel for it's creation. So clever.

The colours in Rett's work are incredibly close to my own instinctive colour palette don't you think? You can see how beautifully it fits in around here...it's right at home in the Attic I can tell you.

I love seeing it propped up there on the mantel, but I do intend to have it framed soon so that I can hang it on the wall.

So if you'd like to see more of Rett's work, do pop along to her Etsy shop and be prepared for The Wanties to strike.

Anyhow, cute little Trees aside, lets talk Triangles now shall we?

The above photo shows Loretta's fabulous crochet work :: this amazing bunting is what caught my eye in the first place over in Flickrville.

You see, I decided to finally take down my Advent Star Garland in the New Year and it left behind it a big wide open empty gap. Even the Little People commented on how empty it looked without the garland there, and we decided between us that the space was in desperate need of Something Else to fill it. Triangle bunting, I thought, and off I went to Flickrville to search out some inspiration.

So I had in mind to make some crochet granny bunting (ie triangles worked in the round with holes in, as opposed to triangles worked in rows without holes)...lots of patterns around and about in Blogland for this sort of thing.

The pattern that I fell in love with is to be found on Alice's blog Crochet with Raymond. What a gem of a blog this is, do go and have a rootle around at Alice's place if you don't already know it, it's a true delight. Her granny bunting is sooooooo pretty (that's her picture above) :: the dinky little picot edging and sweet little pointy bit at the bottom really captured my heart.

She's written up a super pattern for her bunting and it is all yours for free if you should want it...go here to find it.

I started working on my own bunting way back in early January, turning to my trusty stash of Rowan Handknit cotton. I switched down to a 3.5mm hook, and have to say am very happy with the results. I've not blocked them yet so they look a little bit wibbly and roundy still, but they are very sweet indeed.

I'm making mine very slightly different to Alice's original pattern in that I'm making the picot edging round in a different colour to the last granny round and also working an extra row along the top of the triangle.

I reckon I'm going to need twenty triangles in total to fill my very wide archway......only done four so far. Cos I got sidetracked by the Japanese Flower Scarf (almost finished!!!!!!!!), and then that in turn got tossed aside for a wee while when I needed to steam ahead with the Secret Project (very finished!!!!!!!).

More of Scarves and Secrets coming soon I promise. Although do feel free to (gently) remind me if I forget to remember to show you. You know, if I imagine that I did but in reality forget completely. Thank you. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

The Stuff Of My Dreams

I treated myself to a new book last week after seeing some of the pages reproduced in Coast magazine. I've always had a major passion for any type of thing that can be prettified and turned into a cute little homey hideaway, you know, sheds, summerhouses, beach huts, caravans, camper vans and the such like. Have never owned any of these things mind you (excepting a very small shed full of spiders and dirty underused garden tools), but ooooohhhh I've certainly dreamed long and hard about these sorts of places. I just love-love-love the whole idea of creating a Cosy Happy Place in which one can while away some hours and be surrounded by cosy cuteness. Comfy seats, cushions, blankets, dinky little curtains hanging at dinky little windows etc. And if this Cosy Happy Place happens to be on wheels and can take one away on holiday too, then woohoo so much the better. Yes, this is the Stuff Of My Dreams.

This book really is visually very lovely indeed. The blurb on the back tells you that the book contains "forty stylish caravans of all vintages from across the world. Packed with inspirational photography. Exploring how people refurbish and customise their caravans. A visual voyage into the unexpectedly stylish world of modern caravanning". 

Ooooo Ok, so quite a quirky but very trendy-cool subject then. Cos it's all about style and vintage and being cool, obviously.

But you see, personally I'm not too fussed about the Vintage Credentials or about being Cool or Trendy or Stylish. No, just show me Interior Prettiness please. I want to see dinky curtains and brightly coloured melamine plates......

........pretty tins and lovely cutlery, and oh oh yes some bunting too, and if there could possibly be a blanket or two I would certainly be jigetty-jigging with the pleasure of it all.

 

Ah yes yes yes!!!! Page twenty and I see a crochet GRAnNy BlanKet and I'm oh so happy, doing a jigetty-jig!!!!

Aren't these images just adorable? Heart-skippingly lovely and sweet and the stuff that my Cosy Happy Place dreams are made of. For sure.

Would you like to know more about the delightful vintage caravan on these pages??

 

Here she is....she is called Constance, and is owned by a very nice lady called Lucy (haha, no not me, although I wish). Now Constance is no stranger to me as it happens, I have come across her before in fact, over in Flickrville.

Yes, I have drooooooled over the above image of Constance's interior more times than I can remember.

 

I have swooned over that blanket. And the cushions. Curtains too.

Oh and the bunting, the floor, the Greengate tins, the spotty tray. Yes I have swooned, admired, desired and been inspired by Constance for a long time now. She is the Stuff Of My Dreams.

I emailed Constance's owner last week and told her how much I was in love with her caravan, how the Granny Square blanket made me go weak at the knees. I asked her pretty-please could I share these pictures with you all, cos I wanted to show you the Stuff Of My Dreams. And she very kindly said that Yes I could most certainly bring Constance to Attic24 to show you all.

But that's not all.

No, there's more.

As well as the lovely Constance, Lucy also has a fleet of amazingly adorable VW camper vans that she hires out through her company Snailtrail. Oh my friends, you are going to LOVE these campers so much....take a look at some of the interiors....

 

First up we have Betty, doesn't she have the most beautiful interior?

 

This is Elsie......oh her blankie is so so so yummy in all it's grannified squariness!

 

And this is Flo...oooooooo spots and dots and great big granny squares and mugs of tea with jammy croissants!!!

How FAbUlOus!!!! 

How beautiful and fun and inspiring and heart-skippy these pictures are!!!!!!!

OK, I shall stop exclaiming now, shall calm myself down and talk in a normal voice.

Now then....as you may or may not have guessed by now, this post does in fact have something more behind it other than me just hyperventilating over other peoples caravan/camper interiors.

I shall not beat about the bush....shall tell you without further ado that on the 1st of May we made a New Purchase for our little family here at number 24. Rather a big New Purchase.

Yes, we bought ourselves a Caravan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just an ordinary type of English caravan you understand, nothing cool or trendy or vintage.

But she is ours, all ours, and we are so so so so so so so so excited here at number 24!!!!!!!!!!

She's 18 years old and has been lovingly used by two families (brother and sister) and is now about to become the Stuff Of My Dreams. 

You see at the moment she looks quite ordinary, a little shabby, a little tired.

 

Inside she has some rather dubious carpet and quite a lot of dusky pink and beige going on.

 

But in my Minds Eye I have already given her an Attic24 makeover, I can see her so clearly!! (remember The Chair, remember how clever my Minds Eye is??!) She is going to be made to look beautiful, colourful, cosy, happy, heart-skippy. Yes, I can assure you I've got it all worked out already. Can't wait to get started.

We're taking her out tomorrow, we are spending our first night caravanning at a local site in the woods near Bolton Abbey. I hope it's going to be the first of many, many happy days (and nights) spent holidaying with her, I really do.

Excited??

Ohhhhhhhhhh YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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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

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