Before I start rambling away today, I really first of all want to say a huge big ((ThAnK yOu)) to you for all the lovely, wonderful things you had to say about my Advent Garland last week. I'm really happy you like it as much as I do.
It's one of those things that actually turned out far better in real life than in my (rather muddled) imagination. And I do think it's also one of those things which will become a definite Festive Family Tradition in the Attic24 house. A year-after-year thing which will see us counting down the days to Christmas for years to come. And that makes me reeeeeeeeeally happy to think of that.In fact, I was thinking that exact thing as I was busy finishing off all the button-back circles over the weekend. Making those little stitches and hoping I'll love this creation of mine as much next year as I do this year. Hoping the Little People will love it as much too, that it'll become part of their childhood memories of Christmas.
They seem to be enjoying the whole Advent Thing a great deal this year and are fascinated with counting down the days, so my Garland is proving very effective as well as decorative.
How many sleeps until Christmas? Count the stars!
Advent is really well under way now isn't it?? Already the 7th day (17 stars to go), my-my, I can hardly catch my breath with it all at the moment.I've been busy these last couple of days Shopping :: shopping for baby-related things and shopping for Christmas related things. I am still desperately behind with it all, beginning to feel a little pressure, and disappointingly also suddenly finding myself very, very weary doing normal every day things. I'm feeling slow and heavy and frustrated to be perfectly honest.
But......it's OK, I just need to adjust my pace, need to slow myself down, need to start resting up more.
So hard though! So hard when I have so many plans, when my creativity is so sparky, when Clutter Mountain is still so high, when Christmas is so close, when Bump24 is so...well not so far from being ready to land!
Hoping to Deck the Halls here at Attic24 this coming weekend, and I really do need to get the place shipshape in preparation.
So this week, my plan is to try and ignore the powerful urge to constantly create (my lampshade is half-way decopatched, my quilt is screeeeeaming to come out of my imagination and into reality, my snowflake garland needs to be constructed etc etc) and try and go forth a little further up Mt Clutter.
Needs must and all.
Will see you all when I'm at the Summit, hopefully towards the end of the week.
Toodle-oo for now!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
All your ideas are beautiful !
I have finished yesterday something with your birds and I am very happy of that. If you have any time, have a look on the pool or on my blog.
Have a good week.
Posted by: Dominique | December 08, 2009 at 09:42 PM
Love all your happy things. It's been gray here for a bit, too, and when there's a blue sky moment, it makes me giddy :) Also, I brought home that same bird tray from IKEA a few weeks ago. It's so pretty! Mine lives on the little ledge behind my kitchen sink so I have something pretty to look at while slogging through the dish washing :)
Posted by: Megan | December 08, 2009 at 06:57 PM
Wow!! You must be in a whirl with all the projects and Christmas!! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your color and beauty with us! It's making for a very beautiful Christmas season.
Posted by: Shelley in SC | December 08, 2009 at 04:48 PM
My children were born Jan.2 and 8 (two years apart) so I can sympathize wtih the sluggishness at holiday time. There was no room at the inn for turkey, that's for sure! Winter babes are so cozy and cuddly, though. I wanted to take the opportunity to wish you a wonderful delivery...I can almost picture you in a colour-coated dreamy trance of hookiness, coaxing that little life out so you can lovingly place her/him in their sweet baby blanket that is all ready and waiting. Best wishes Lucy. -K
Posted by: Krista - Poppyprint | December 08, 2009 at 04:47 PM
I agree with some of the others...take time, slow down, relax! You are doing something way more important than cleaning...you are creating a new little cutey!
Posted by: Claudia W | December 08, 2009 at 01:52 PM
Your advent garland looks great. It's so colorful and fun!
Posted by: Freakish Lemon | December 08, 2009 at 01:04 PM
I think your garland will be very useful in teaching the Little People that waiting can be fun too, as well as helping them so wait by numbering the days. Its a difficult comcept for children...huh, some adults haven't grasped it yet either!
Posted by: Heckety | December 08, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Lucy, You must take it easy, I know how hard it is though, but try! Please!! :-)
Your Advent garland is beautiful!
Love Anna-Karin xxx
Posted by: Anna-Karin, Sweden | December 08, 2009 at 11:34 AM
You very brave mountineer! even if you do need a push up some of the hills:) I find it hard getting it all together and I'm not slow and heavy at all, well I AM slow but not because of any bump. I do salut you for taking on that mountain and look forvard to seing you at the topp!
Posted by: Sofisan | December 08, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Lucy ~ I can't think of a nicer or more colourful way to count the sleeps to Christmas. Good Luck with the rest of the shopping and please try and slow down a bit and take things a bit easier ~ I've heard that tea and cake and perhaps a little chocolate are very good for this! :O) xx
Posted by: Jackie | December 08, 2009 at 10:50 AM
What a great idea. It's lovely to see something that doesn't rely on sugar to get its message across.
Having said that, we're relying on sugar. What can I tell you. That Learn to Crochet book hasn't come from the library yet.
Posted by: The Coffee Lady | December 08, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Oh good luck with all the household (not so much fun) stuff, look forward to seeing you again once you've reached the summit and managed to fit in a bit of crafty creativity! x
Posted by: Petit Filoux | December 08, 2009 at 08:09 AM
Hi Lucy, I just wanted to say thank you for your tutorial on the snowflakes. I made them and they are totally addictive! I am very very new to crochet but the bug has taken over me! I find it really hard to understand the book instructions but have found your tutorials with pictures brilliant and so easy that I can do them, and it makes me jump around the house I can get it and make it! So I just wanted to let you know how great they are for people like me! Vanessa xxx
Posted by: vanessa | December 08, 2009 at 07:37 AM
I love the garland so much that I ran out to the store after teaching today and bought four skeins of brightly colored yarn. I'm not as quick as you, but it will all be done by Christmas. :)
Posted by: Shannon | December 08, 2009 at 04:14 AM
Love your blog Lucy...whenever I need a happy anything during the day I take a peek at your blog...love all the colors and the joy you bring through your creativity. :-)
Posted by: Kim Schmidt | December 08, 2009 at 02:56 AM
Just had a thought about your garland - you could leave it up after Christmas and when Bump24 arrives, encourage LPs to make card circles to spell 'Welcome Baby' which could be attached instead of Advent numbers or use numbers to count down to 'Baby Day'. On the other hand, just rest, relax and enjoy this magical time in your lives. x
Posted by: Wendy Wager | December 07, 2009 at 11:32 PM
You can do it! I am starting to feel the pressure to get things done as well, and I don't have a baby getting ready to come out either :-). I have had two pregnant Christmases though...lovely memories :-). I am hoping to decorate this weekend too, and have some serious cleaning to do before as well. We better get to it! Can't wait to check back in at the end of the week...good luck with your mountain scaling :-)!
Posted by: Marian M-S | December 07, 2009 at 10:34 PM
i cannot tell you how much you have inspired me lucy. every time i see your project it gives me inspiration and a push to continue with mine. thank you lucy. you're wonderful.
xx
Posted by: Peng Peng | December 07, 2009 at 10:29 PM
I can't WAIT to be too tired to do anything because I'm about to pop! Have to graduate and get married first though :( Boy, I've got the baby fever bad. Anyway, YOU just make sure you stay relaxed and only work on stuff when you feel like it. The only thing you really HAVE to do is feed the kids and shower occasionally. =) You deserve to be proud of everything you get done on top of those things. Ok, that's all the advice I have. I do also want to say that I'm a huge fan of all your work and I was ecstatic when I saw your comment on my (purple snowflake) photo on flickr. I made my boyfriend come read it, after which he made fun of me for quite a while for being excited. Boys.
Posted by: Tara | December 07, 2009 at 09:54 PM
I think it's time to take a day off from everything and slow down. Forget the clutter, relax and have a day at home with your feet up and do a little craft. It's amazing how much better you'll feel. You'll gain a little bit of extra energy to keep on going. I did that last week I just wasn't going to get my boys off to school in time so I didn't. We stayed home and then did a few fun things and I felt so joyful the moment I decided to not do anything. My boys loved it too because it's such a crazy (but lovely) and overwhelming time of year. Lishaxx
Posted by: Lisha | December 07, 2009 at 08:28 PM
The garland is gorgeous. Do take it easy and rest; cleaning is very low on my list of priorities.
Posted by: Shasta | December 07, 2009 at 08:11 PM
I love the garland Lucy, it so colourful and so you. I only wish i had the patience and the sense of colour.
Don't worry too much about the cluuter. I use the excuse that it is all part of being creative.
Try to take it easy and look after yourself. You deserve it xx
Posted by: Emma Angel | December 07, 2009 at 07:43 PM
I can totally commiserate with you on the waning energy- I am a week ahead of you in my pregnancy and like you had not planned to have more- so had given all my baby stuff away! I have also had life come to a screeching halt this past week with (sometimes) debilitating back pain. 6 weeks to go and much to do, I am trying to get things done in 15 minute spurts, since that is about all the longer my back allows me to keep moving! Oh the joys of pregnancy :) Hope you still find some time to be creative even in the chaos!
Posted by: amy | December 07, 2009 at 07:41 PM
I remember this time 4 years ago...huge and pregnant - and in the end I decided to just get on with the creative thing and leave all the other stuff to Mr Hook & Scumble ! I think he realised that it was much more than being just creative...it was more about creating things my little ones would be able to keep for their Christmas's when we were long gone....and from that time on I have decided to try and make at least one additional "creative heirloom" each Christmas, something for my girls to treasure and show their Children in years to come - so enjoy seeing all your creativeness coming to fruition and thanks for sharing it too !
Posted by: Hook & Scumble | December 07, 2009 at 07:37 PM
You'd be surprised what becomes part of Christmas Lore for Little People. I look at the Playmobil nativity set and shake my head, "But Mom! We have to have it!" We were trying to scale back this year, due to home reno, and my kids about had a fit.
And I definitely think you should take Sara West Mids' advice- clean/shop in the morning, and then rest/crochet in the afternoon. Thanks for your lovely colors, they really brighten my day!
Posted by: Mamalion | December 07, 2009 at 07:23 PM