Attic24

Ssssssssssssssss :: Ta-dah!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh it's sweet crochet talk today folks, and I'm mighty happy about that, it's been far too long since we shared any decent hooky business in the Attic. It's not been for lack of hooky happenings I might add as I have been very productive on the quiet here. I've just been lacking in time to document all that I've been doing, but I'm determined to do a bit of catch up in the next week or two. Yup, you can expect quite a few colourful crochet Ta-dah's in the near future. Does that thought make you smile???? Goody, me too!!

My little project today is not my own design, it's a project I had squirrelled away in my brain with the label "oooo-yes-I-really-have-to-make-one-of-those-one-day-when-I-have-nothing-else-better-to-do". It comes from the above book which I bought when I was pregnant last year, err hang on, no not last year but The Year Before. 2009, yes that's it. It's a super little book by Rowan designer Lois Daykin...you can find it on amazon right here where you can magically look at some of the pages if you like.

There's a mixture of projects as you can see from the contents :: a good selection of toys, nursery decorations and useful things. Sweet things to crochet for sweet Little People.

As you would expect from Rowan, the book is beautifully styled and photographed. And the designs are inspirational.

Yes, this book ooooozes inspiration. It made me want to crochet things that had never entered my head before, ie toys. I never really knew that I wanted to crochet toys until I saw what was on offer in this book. That adorable stripy kitty-cat is high on my list of next-toy-to-have-a-bash-at when I've finished with my current rabbit phase.

So this is the page that really did it for me, as you have probably guessed from the title of today's post. I saw this snake and absolutely knew without a doubt that I had to make one. Not necessarily for the Little People you understand, nah nah nah, this was to be a Mummy Toy. Hahahaa, I kid you not! Of course I told anyone who asked me that I was making a toy snake for Little B, but inside I was thinking nonononononnooooo this is going to be mine, mine, mine!!! Little B may play with it whenever he chooses, but the snake is actually going to belong to Me.

You may remember me showing you a little sneaky peak of the snake in progress when I recounted my Dorset holiday? It was a fantastic holiday project, I enjoyed a huge pleasure rush sitting in the sun working these colourful stripes each morning.

Starting out with this project was not plain sailing though. I'm  not used to working in three dimensions and I'm not used to reading patterns with such a lot of counting, so I had to overcome both those things. I found it very taxing at first to be honest, even though I have to say the pattern was extremely well written. But once I got going (the pattern starts at the tail end and works towards the head) I soon got into the swing of it.

I chose to tweak the original pattern a little to suit my preferred way of working ie I simplified it, eliminating the more complex open, lacy type stripes and sticking to plain ol' double crochet all the way up. Once the increasing was over and done with at the tail end, the main body of the snake was just rings worked back and forth, 36 stitches this way and that way, alternating colours at random as I went. It gave me the perfect opportunity to indulge my colour passion to the max, and the yarn I used did not disappoint. It's gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. The colours are amazing. I'm going to be writing a bit more about this yarn in a separate post next week as I've been working with it a lot of late.

Ooooo-la-la!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out those mighty fine stripes!! Yum yum yum!!!

Something else I changed from the original design was the way the eyes were made. In the book they used circles of white felt with black buttons, but I decided I would crochet my snakey some peepers. I didn't want to use buttons as I wanted this toy to be safe for Little B (even though the snake is Mine, but you know, it still has to be safe), so the eyes were hooked and no buttons were used.

I'm trying to remember from the pictures what I did for the eyes, I think I chained 4, joined to make a loop, then worked 7dc into the ring for the first black round, then 2dc in each stitch (14sts) for the white round. They worked a treat don't you think?

I had fun taking pictures for this post yesterday, although it's surprisingly hard to photograph something that measures 135cm from tail to tongue. I wasn't sure where to drape it, plus I had my Assistant Stylist on the job too and my my he's a tad difficult to work with. He wasn't particularly helpful with the draping situation.

Anyhow................

I hope you enjoy this little hooky colour fest....................................

Sssssssssssssssss :: Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's quite a stunner isn't he??

My Assistant Stylist AKA Little B was also kind enough to act as a Prop.

He obediently climbed onto the sofa for me, sat beeeeautifully with Snake and smiled at the camera. For about one nanosecond. Then he threw the snake on the floor and tried to snatch the camera out of my hand. It all got a bit messy from there on in. Lots of blurred shots.........

.........the snake was quite badly treated actually, but no harm done.

Snakey's now curled up sweetly next to me in his chair (yes, he has his very own chair to sleep in) and all is good. I've told him he needs to be resting up throughout the summer months because once the cold weather arrives he's going to be hard at work around here.

Yes, he'll make the perfect Draught Excluder. Perfect I tell you.

x

Edited to add :: re weaving in ends, well I simply did't bother. It was HEAVEN to leave all my ends a-dangling and not have to worry about them!! Cos they remain inside the snakey body see? So they aren't seen. Marvelous.

Also re stuffing, not hard as you stuff-as-you-go. So you don't have a major tussle getting the stuffing down 1.35m of narrow tube as it's already in there pretty much from the start. What's not to love?

June 2011

8.38pm and I just this minute legged it up two flights of stairs to go take in the evening light. GORgeous, isn't it just?? My June view is looking lush and green and typically mid-summer after rather a lot of mixed up sunshine-and-rain this month. We've had a lot of wet weather of late. Oodles of it. But today has been bright and golden and gorgeous and I've loved feeling the heat of the sun on my face as I went about my day.

My June calendar has a lot of scribbles on it. Mixed up dates (I keep getting things ludicrously wrong), cancelled appointments and re-scheduled visits, forgotten birthdays. But here we are almost at the end of the month and it's not been so bad really. We've muddled and we've scribbled and we're nearly through. Tweet-tweet-tweet, aren't those little fabric June birds sweet?

My Ideal Home calendar hangs by my desk and I find the images so restful and calming, such a pleasure to gaze at day after day. I look at that picture and I think to myself, oh yes, I remember our last house where we had an expanse of lawn dandelion infested grass, and how lovely it was to set the table for an al fresco Summer meal, to sit and eat whilst feeling the cool twiddle of grass between bare toes. I don't have a lawn any more to twiddle my toes in, but neither do I have to hold heated debates with J over who's turn it is to get the lawn mower out.

 

No lawn then, but oh I am enjoying my weeny walled back yard this year! My pots are looking fuller by the day, the wet weather has certainly been good for growth. I'd still like to have a lot more greenery out here (I'm fancying some big oversized tubs to grow small trees and bushy-leafy things), but for now it does very nicely. Morning coffee, a quick lunch, a glass of something chilled in the late afternoon, I'm really enjoying my time spent out here.

That funny old wall with it's chipped render and green mould has really grown on me this year. I was all for painting it and sprucing it up last year, but am glad now that I left it be.

I've got lots of geraniums on the go at the moment, a mixture of upright ones and trailing ones. The above flower has just bloomed for the first time this week (it's one of the trailers sitting in a pot on top of the wall), and oh my the colour is magnificent.

My sweet peas are a bit slow/late in getting going but that's ok. I'm really looking forward to them, I bought some old fashioned variety that supposedly has amazing scent.

This little blue bench thingy sits right outside my kitchen door and brings me a lot of pleasure I have to say. I've got mint, chives and flat leafed parsley growing here, and I absolutely love love love stepping out with a pair of scissors to snippety-snip a little something to go in the cooking. Today I made sweet potato and smoked mackerel fishcakes, with fresh parsley from right there. They were yum. I had to chuckle to myself, nipping to my desk, firing up my laptop and Googling "Attic24 Fishcakes" in order to find and recall my own recipe. Bloody marvelous thing this blogging you know.

In the sunny part of my back yard I've got thyme and rosemary growing, lovely little snips to go with garlic roasted veggies. I'm trying to eat as healthily as I can at the moment, trying to resist the (alarmingly powerful) urge to combat stress by comfort eating all manner of sickly sweet but hugely desirable foodstuffs. It's working to a point. I'm eating an awful lot of fruit. I really wanted to show you the amazing ripe cherries I bought from the market at the weekend (deep red glossy fruits in a beautiful blue-glazed mexican dish, a fantastic photo opportunity), but by the time I got my camera I realised that I'd eaten nearly all of them. There was rather more mexican bowl than fruit. Only six cherries left actually.

I've been keeping very busy this past week or so, busy doing the things that need doing around here. Taking pleasure in piling, hanging, pegging, un-pegging, folding and re-piling. And sniffing of course. Lots of laundry inhaling been going on, it calms my soul to inhale the scent of sun-dried and freshly laundered cotton articles.

Mid summer, and I dug out my snuggly winter socks last week.  My feet have been feeling cold, especially in the early mornings. And when I say early I really do mean it :: Little B is waking up his bouncy little body shortly before five ay-em most mornings. I went through a spell last week of really wholeheartedly resenting this fact, my-my but I was getting my knickers in a twist over these enforced early starts. Not so this week. I'm taking a different approach this week and am embracing the 4.45am starts, bringing Little B downstairs for some lovely sofa snuggle/playtime before the rest of the family awakes. The ripple blanket has been such a comfort on these mornings, I love it's instant warmth and cosiness, it's quite the perfect blanket to have hanging around the place.

One of the things that has not been happening much in recently weeks is The Tidying. Quite frankly, I simply cannot be bothered to do it at the moment, it's such a thankless task. When I stopped to think about how many times each day I was putting Little B's toys back in that basket there it was mind boggling. I seemed to be continuously stooped over tidying things up, only to find them slung back on the floor minutes later. So now I just leave it, and hope no one trips over and breaks any bones. The upside to this messy existence is that when Little B begins his toddling day at 4.45am, his toys are all ready and waiting for him right where he left them. What a Marvelous Mummy I am!!

Little Man is an early riser too, not quite in Little B's league, but usually around 6am or so. This morning he decided to bake and ice a batch of buns before breakfast. Uh-huh, before breakfast. I don't know if this is freaky-abnormal for an eight year old boy, but I don't much care, I love that it happens. Very much so.

It's been such a long time since any hooky business appeared here in the Attic, and for that I really am sorry. I have been hooking away quietly in the background, but haven't managed to find time to share all that I've been doing. Right now in my bag is a lovely stash of bamboo/cotton yarn and a few little animals. I'm making some crochet toys to sell at a summer fayre in a few weeks time, but so far the sum of my efforts amounts to two finished rabbits plus the head (minus ears) of a third so I'm not doing very well really. I promise I'll share more yarn and pattern details when I can find time to photograph and write, but at the moment I really do need to crack on with the actual making part.

Ahhhhhhhh my cherished Attic View (again)...see how green the hill looks now compared to the beginning of May!! Beautiful. And on that happy note I'm going to have to love you and leave you as my bed is a calling. It's not quite dark yet, but it is 10:10pm and waaaay past my bedtime.

Can I just say before I go that I am tremendously grateful for all the wonderful words and positive thoughts that you've sent my way about my Mum. I really, truly appreciate it. She's doing ok, we are doing ok. One day at a time and all that.

Lots of love....be back soon!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

An Update

:: Sat 18th June ::

Hello everyone...just a very quick note to let you know that I am just back from a very exhausting and harrowing week in Dorset. Things with my Mum took a nosedive on Sunday and I was advised to scoot down asap as it was not thought she would make it through.

Miraculously a week later she is still hanging on in there, critically ill mind you, but I am trying as hard as I can to remain postive and hold on to good thoughts.

I know there's nothing to be done other than wait. And hope. So I am doing those things.

Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts and good wishes, I am extremely grateful. Will update on this post again in a day or two. Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

:: Weds 22nd June ::

A white feather.

It fell from the sky last Tuesday evening as I was coming out of the hospital with a heavy heart. The feather drifted down from above and landed on my chest, tucking itself into the hooded top I was wearing. I couldn't quite beleive it had happened, I kept looking at the feather and looking at the sky and thinking I should perhaps catch sight of an angel or something. No sign of any angel, but it really did bring me some much needed comfort and hope at the end of a gruelling, harrowing day. A Good Sign wouldn't you say? Yes, I think so.

My Mum continues to hang on to her life. The medical peeps tell me that slowly slowly slowly she is making her recovery, a little stronger each day, a little nearer to the light. I have to confess I am quite worn out with carrying around this burden of worry and uncertainty. I wish I could lay it down somewhere, leave it be for a while. I am trying. I've been back into routine this week, here there and everywhere with Little B, singing songs, shaking bells, rolling play-doh, pushing plastic cars. Doing the school run, food shopping, cooking, tidying (not so much), loading and unloading laundry, supervising homework. It's been comforting to immerse myself in these routine things, it really has. I do value the fact that my home life is happy and content for the most part. I could do without Little B's 4am starts, but hey, it's pretty good round here. And for that I am truly thankful.

Will be back again soon, thanks for dropping by xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

Taking Time

:: taking time to sit a while in the Attic window seat and watch the delightful midsummer weather play out across the landscape. The view above is to the left of normal, can you see the church tower and then behind it the castle nestling in the trees? ::

:: taking time out in my back yard to sit and ponder this and that over an afternoon cuppa ::

:: taking time to do the rounds of my recently planted up pots, deadheading a few flowers, sniffing the herbs, scooping up snails, enjoying my dinky little outdoor space ::

:: taking time to unwrap a spontaneous supermarket purchase of stocks and arrange them in a jug. I felt that under the circumstances I deserved two bunches of flowers instead of just one, and my-o-my they are totally divine. I can smell their sweet/spicy scent right now as I type ::

:: taking time for a little chocolate therapy of the Green and Blacks Maya Gold variety. It hit the spot nicely ::

:: taking time to have a little stroll through Magazine Wonderland whilst inhaling the aforementioned stocks and scoffing the aforementioned chocolate. It's a three-pronged approach to making oneself feel cheered and uplifted and it works wonders. Incidentally, the July issue of UK Country Living is utterly, totally scrumptious, I nearly hyperventilated with desire when I hit page thirty nine ::

:: taking time to drink in all that saturated floral colour, did I mention how much pleasure a couple bunches of cheap flowers can deliver? Ooodles I tell you.

:: taking time to appreciate the afternoon light as it streams in through the back window ::

It was our towns annual Gala today, you may remember me chatting about it last year? The Little People were so excited to be heading up to the park this afternoon for the funfair, the candyfloss and the daredevil stunts in the arena, but truthfully my heart was not in it. I walked with them to the end of our street, then on the spur of the moment I quietly asked J if he wouldn't mind if I stayed home alone for a while. I really, desperately felt the need to be alone, to Take Time for myself.

Taking time, yes I have been doing just that this afternoon and what a tonic it has been. I've been taking time to search out the little things that bring lightness and pleasure, escape and peace. Taking things slowly and gently and trying to let go of the worry and the fear. Not all that easy. Things with my Mum are currently described as "stable", we are awaiting words on Monday from a bigwig medical man who will look at test results and hopefully give us a more detailed picture. So until then we wait patiently and keep everything crossed. And I take time to appreciate all that is good.

Thank you so very very very much for all the positive thoughts you've been winging through my Attic Window, I can't tell you how thankful I am for the goodness you are sending my way.

Wishing you a weekend full of lovely little moments of happiness, take time to appreciate them won't you?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

A few words...

A few quick words to let you know that I'm not quite myself at the moment and am unable to write much. My Mum is very poorly, she was admitted to hospital today and quite frankly I am beside myself with worry for her. I am trying to keep positive, please hold us in your thoughts.

Also, I hope you don't mind but I am choosing to close the comments on this post. I'm certain I will feel the power of your positive thoughts streaming in through the Attic Window and wrapping themselves around me, I just can't cope with oodles of written words right now, hope this makes sense.

Much love to you all, I'll be back as soon as I am able. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx