Summer Stuff

Hello my lovelies, so good to be back here in my little Attic place after what seems like an unexpectedly  long absence, I'm so sorry I've been gone so long. I've been kept very busy this past week or two with trying to get myself well again, gosh such a messy business being poorly. So much nose-blowing and sneezing and general all round snottiness. But am happy to report that it's all over and done with now and I'm pretty much back to rights. And Little B is also happy to report that he is now the proud owner of two teeth :: he is a much happier chappie now, back to his usual smiley cheery self thank goodness.

Can't believe it's the first day of July today, can you? Half way through the year already, it hardly seems possible. But even though the days/weeks/months are whizzing by at a dizzying speed, I am enjoying this year and the challenges it's bringing. My life feels so chockerblock Full though. And where one applies the word "full" to ones life, there is a distinct possibility that things do become quite overwhelmingly, overflowingly full from time to time. Having a Full Life is not always a fun, happy, easy going joy ride. There are many bumps along the way. Frustrations, demands, a lot of things that Don't Get Done, enormous pressures on time, and quite honestly there are days when I feel like I'm barely coping with my Life Ride. But hey ho, we bump along through the days and somehow it all works out ok. No one starves. No one cares much about the layers of dust, the piles of stuff, the lack of clean clothes, the limescale building in the grout lines, the fluff building on the carpet. We go out, have picnics, play in the park, meet friends and the house still stands despite the chaos lurking behind the front door.

Been trying very hard to balance out our time with the Little People of late, I was beginning to feel that they weren't in fact Thriving On Neglect as much as I was hoping. Little B is sooo all-consuming, such a stealer of the limelight, so very me-me-me in his attention seeking that my two other lovely Little Peeps were getting a little put out I think. Understandable really. So J and I have been working to make them feel a little special again, with some one-on-one time.

J and Little Man have started going out together on Boy Expeditions. The past couple of weekends they've been off hiking into the hills with a rucksack packed with provisions, returning with tales of wildlife and folklore and pub beer gardens.

Little Lady and I have started going out together on Girl Expeditions. We've been off trotting into town to have brunch at the cafe, returning with tales of tasty morsels, shopping and pretty things. It's been great fun for all concerned.

During our last jaunt into town at the weekend, I decided to spend a chunk of my modest disposable income on some treats for them, and settled for some top notch colouring kit. I bought them both some new Berol pens, these are not your average bog-standard colouring pens and cost quite a bit of money. But oh they are good! They make me long to be an age again where colouring is a necessary daily activity (I did in fact have these exact same pens when I was a child, I remember them sooooo clearly)

And to accompany the bees-knees new pens, some most excellent new colouring books. And no, not your average bog-standard colouring books either, I think I had a slight rush of blood to the head cos these books were devilishly expensive. But oh they are good!!

Little Lady was so incredibly excited to get this book, she honestly couldn't stop leaping up and down with sheer excitement all the way home. It's called "Doodle Dolls", and is a real gem for little girls.

You get to cut out a couple of very pretty cardboard dolls...

...then colour and cut out endless pages of pretty outfits to dress them in.

For Little Man I chose this one :: it was a gamble cos I wasn't completely sure if he would find it interesting enough, but honestly he is loving it.

The colouring pages are beautiful...

...I am pretty much begging him to let me colour this one particular page, it makes me squeeee with excitement when I think of it! So far he is point blank refusing to let me at it though, the meany.

Such a fun book.

With only an itsy bit of money left over for myself after that very expensive child orientated shopping spree (£32 spent on pens and colouring books, I still can't believe I did that!), I went to see my lovely plant man on the market and bought five...errrrm....thingamajiggy flowers. Not camellias, not asters, not primulas, not rhododendrons...gosh my mind has gone blank, it's on the veery tip of my tongue, jeez, what are they called????? Anyone??

Ahhhh PEonies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes yes yes they are Peonies, of course, how could I forget that name?! Oh thank goodness I remembered, I was just about climbing the walls with frustration for a while there.

Peonies...so very very very beautiful, so full and vibrant (like my life), so flouncy and flamboyant (hmm maybe not words I would apply to my life), I love them very much. They're providing me with such a daily dose of pure heart-skippy happy joy.

After I'd finished getting giddy over the peonies and chatting baby stuff to mrs plant lady, I bobbed along to the fruit/veg stall next door and bought 4 peaches. I couldn't resist their peachy charms, I just love the colour of them and the total summeryness of them. I can report that they were delicious. Little B thought so too, he's been eating peachy mush for breakfast and nomnomnomming it up with relish.

oooo, just look at me, on a bit of a spendy retail therapy roll here aren't I?? Splashing out Big Time :: Peonies and Peaches and now Pyjamas, such extravagance! A lovely new set of summery cotton jammies is now mine-all-mine (£7 from Tesco if you need to know), and they are extremely lovely indeed.

Gosh this post is very rambly, I do apologize. I've had a very busy day and I happen to be very tired, I aM FEeling a little jumbled.

So.

Want to see some hooky?

Want me to show you where I'm up to with my Stripy goings on?

ok.

here's

some

summery

colourful

stripy

stuff.....

 

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

Fifty stripes now, and it's looking mighty fine.

and on that pretty flouncy flamboyant note (hahahaa), I shall love you leave you and take myself off to my bed now zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I am so ready for some sleep.

Thank you for reading, it's been a delight, I've enjoyed my ramble very much. nighty night xxxxxxx

ps the top picture is the product of last weeks pre-breakfast crafting sessions, all created by Little Man to celebrate summer. Love love love that he did this all by himself over many days, then laid it all out, asked me to photograph it and share it on my blog. How could I refuse? xx

Comments

[Montse Martí]

Hi!! Greetings from the south of Spain!
My name is Montse, I was getting a round looking for Granny Square in internet and I found your site.
Your work is wonderfull!! congrats!
I linked your blog adress to my own site, and litle by litle, I'm discovering all the pretty things you have done.

At this point, I need to say you: yessssssssssss!!!!!!!! that book is a great one! My little princes has the same (Spanish version), and she spends a lot of time drawing and imagining impossible worlds.

Hugs from the sunny land in Spain: Murcia.
I hope we'll keep in touch.
Montse.

[Sarah]

Im dying seeing all that crocheting blankets and projects
Lady! You are amazing! Bliss you. Hope to do blankets like yours someday.
Love you and love your work <3
Sarah :))))

[Steph :) x]

you have a really lovely blog :) x

[claire goddard]

Stumbled across your site by accident and am completely enthralled! You love all the things I do, in particular vintage style and Country Living magazine. I live on Walney Island, near Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and am lucky to have the sea and the lakes close by. Have to get some work done now but will definitely be looking in again .... when I have a few spare hours! Claire x

[Anja]

What a very nice coloring book is that :)) Like you're blog,

greetings Anja

[Christina]

I absolutely must inform you that you are a great means of support and inspiration for me. After having my baby just 7 weeks ago I feel very worn and extremely busy and have been concerned with just what a mess my unorganized, cluttered home is and how I can't seem to be able to finish the laundry. And I feel like my other child does not get enough of me these days... And reading your post puts me at peace knowing I am not the only one with these concerns. When my highly regarded Attic 24 friend is suffering the same worries - I must be normal! I appreciate your comments on how your house is still standing and your family is happy. Thanks for helping me keep perspective. And cheering me up along the way! By the way, I am also learning to crochet around my baby - as we have sleepy time on my chest, lol. (hugs) to you!

[Patsy]

I hope u feel better soon and get some rest.XOXO

[Helen]

Hi Lucy, I've been following your blog for a while and am very envious of your lifestyle. In a bid to have a little bit of it I've been making the granny stripe blanket and am trying to follow your colours as much as possible. I'm nearly up to your latest picture now, so wondered if there's any chance of a new one ;-))))

[Dot]

Hi Have been following your blog for some time now love all the colour and fabulously talented designs. I have mentioned you in my blog which is on google bloggers- dottie's blog. You have inspired me to start to crochet again after many years of abstinence apart from the odd doll's hat or two.

[Red]

Just the other day, I wanted to do some coloring. But I kept on crocheting instead. Still playing with color.

[Heather x]

I am making the same blanket! I have reached 39 stripes so far :)
Have a great weekend hun...they say its going to be a scorcher :)
*hugs* Heather x

[Isla]

Hi there! I love your blog and the colourful pictures of your crochet ventures. I linked to your blog in my latest post - to be read here: http://scrapbook-snippets.blogspot.com.
I hope that's okay with you. :-)

[Amy]

Hi Lucy, I just have to comment. Enough stalking!!
I love your blog, it is so refreshing and a joy to read. I can hear your accent in your words and it reminds me so much of my wonderful visit to the UK.
Thank you for sharing your patterns. I have been working on a ripple afgahn for a few months now and can not wait to finish it so I can start the granny stripe.
Thank you again for your inspiration!

Amy

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

Love those colouring books, I remember those doodle posters...they were fab!!

Love how far you have got with your stripey blanket!!!

AND Love the summer craft...isn't he clever! and how could you not share, delightful!!

[l'Ange mimosa]

I love your blanket !!!!!! and the colouring books are so nice, I'll see if I can find them in France !

[Caroline]

Please tell Little Man his summer display is stunning. A feast for the eyes as I started to read the blog. I also love the way Little Lady has a bracelet to match her colouring in. The Lucy effect has struck again. Nearly all the Berol pens and Doodle Dolls have sold out on Amazon!!!

[Jane]

what a lovely return post! I enjoy reading your blog and all it's loveliness!
I'm wondering where you found those gorgeous colouring in books? I'm coming to the UK in a few days and have been having trouble finding a present for my niece in europe (not wanting a tacky replica of the historical sites I've been visiting) and she's so into colouring something like this would be perfect!
thanks so much.

[Joolzmac]

Hi Lucy

Couldn't resist showing you this car - people will crochet anything! Lol!

http://networkedblogs.com/5qpN4

Cheers - Joolz

[Ann]

P.S.
This may sound crazy, but do you ever do deciphering of crochet patterns? I only ask because I am struggling with the wording of a pattern and sometimes I just wish these pattern people would check in with you for advice! Yours make so much more sense then some of the ones that are in print. I hope I don't sound too forward here. It's just a summer evening with some peace and quiet and I'm attempting a new project that shouldn't be so aggravating. Again, sorry. I didn't mean to sound this way.

[Ann]

Lucy, I've never written before but I've wanted to many, many times. I just love your blog and it brings so much inspiration to me. You are so very talented and I greatly admire that. I'm a struggling crocheter and when I need a little pick me up, I just look through your creations and smile. Actually, every day I sneak a peak in. You've brought back alot of childhood memories and it's nice to know that the things you do still exist in the crazy, busy world we live in. Thank you for being so creative!

[Catrin]

Hi, just to say I love reading your blog, the colourful photos always cheer my heart! I started crocheting almost a year ago when I was on maternity leave to get away from the tv during the evening and I LOVE IT! I have never made anything big though...until now! I am granny striping along with you on my first massive blanket, yay! Only 4 colours done so far, but it's a start :) x

[Katie]

lovely to have you back :-) I have one week left at work then start maternity leave so I might just have to do some colouring myself to keep me entertained!

[melissa klein]

i'm impressed that you even know what the name of "limescale". you underestimate yourself. so glad you're feeling better. life's fullness can be a challenge, but there's always peonies, peaches, and pj's around the corner. btw - great job with the one on one with your peeps. my husband and i discovered the same and it has made the siblings so much happier and able to enjoy eachother. great job! press on :]

[Anna]

oooh, new stationary, you really can't beat it! I always think of you when I pass the funky pj's in Tesco, they really do sell some good ones don't they?xx

[Shanti]

Great to have/see you back!!
I absolutely loved your post!!! I also think you couldn't refuse to Little Man wish!!! And love the coloring books too!! Now I want to color!