Jaunting With Intent

It's not often I get to go off on a Jaunt these days, it's quite rare in fact. I think that's partly due to no longer having a car, and partly cos Little B ever so slightly limits the type and length of jaunting I can do. He is generally pretty adaptable and will happily accompany me wherever I go, but still. He hampers proceedings a little it has to be said.

Do you get what I mean when I refer to a jaunt? It means a proper little pleasure-trip out and about somewhere. A trip that you know is going to bring happiness and enjoyment. Sounds good eh? And that's because it is!

Jaunting in Good Weather is the best. It's not strictly essential to have blue skies and sunshine, but it really does help elevate the happy feelings above the norm.

Jaunting with Good Friends is also the best. Again it's not strictly essential to have company (I love solo jaunting, as in my occasional shopping trips), but having someone to share the experience with does make it extra special.

I love to plan my Jaunts, I love the happy anticipation it creates for days/weeks in advance. Now in my world there are two types of Jaunt :: you can either Jaunt Freely, or you can Jaunt with Intent. I like both kinds. I like the ambling, spontaneous, take-it-as-it-comes kind of a day, but I also really do enjoy having a sense of Purpose, something specific and exciting to give the day a focus.

On Thursday, I was doing the latter and Jaunting with Intent. I had a definite purpose for being in this beautiful town on a beautiful day with a fab friend. And oh I was super-charged with excitement!!

So what was I up to?

What made my feet skip and my heart boom-boom and my face smile broadly?

It has nothing to do with these pictures of Autumnal trees, plants and beautiful Florists displays.

These were merely distractions as we walked to our Ultimate Destination.

We were walking slowly cos we had Little B out of the pushchair and on his Little Feet.

Plod, plod.

Happy feet and big smiles.

Of course. It was a yarn thing. It was a day of Intentional Yarn Shopping.

This is one wall in a most gorgeous and inspirational shop :: Create in Ilkley. I just love love love this little shop. The moment you step through the door you are warmly welcomed and feel at home. I wish I had taken more photos to show you the inspiring displays and to give you a feel for the warmth and vibrancy that resides here. It's marvelous!

I am not a regular visitor here, but I am well known here, so there is always lots of chat and catching up with yarn-related things. Oh I do like a good yarny chitchat! But as super as it is to pass the time of day with chitchat, I was really there first and foremost to purchase yarn. Blanket Yarn no less.

It's been a surprisingly long while since I had a blanket on the go, I finished up the Sweet Flower Granny blanket at the end of January. Since then I've been umming and ahhhing over what to do next blanket wise, chopping and changing my mind a gazillion times. Blocks or rows? Squares or stripes? Something familiar or something new? Which should it be?

Which yarn to use has been debated a gazillion times too. I finally settled on a yarn I know well and absolutely adore :: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. You may remember I used this yarn to make a couple of blankets for Little B :: the Baby Granny and the Baby ZigZag. It's fabulous stuff to work with, the colours are stunning and once it's hooked up it transforms into the most amazing blanket material. Substantial, warm, and oh-so-soft, everything a snuggle-blanket should be.

This was our lunch time location, a small picnic spot half way up Ilkley moor. We sat there in the glorious afternoon sunshine, my friend and I, and ate a delicious picnic lunch interspersed with some serious yarn-fondling.

Yes my friends, the blanket yarn is In The Bag.

The stash. Has. Landed.

Oh happy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After lunch and some seriously giddy yarn appreciation (smoochy smooch), I turned my attention to the surrounding nature.

Such abundance and colour and a serious touch of "Autumn-nosity" (a sweet Heather word that)

The trees were soooo beautiful.

Perfectly Septemberish.

September is a good month to begin hooking a blanket I feel, I can't tell you how hugely excited I am about the prospect. I have really missed not having a big project on the go. Oh the yarn, the yarn, the yarn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is Divine, no other word for it. I can't stop thinking about it.

So I expect you would like to see my divine yarn wouldn't you? Would like to know which colours I've gathered together perhaps? Maybe you might even like to know what sort of blanket I'll be working on too?

Of course you would!

Only I'm not quite ready to reveal it just yet. Soz. You see, it turns out I made a small mistake with my colour choices, and one of the colours simply isn't right and needs to be changed for another. Oddly enough, it was Little Man who spotted it. He totally amazes me with his instinct for colour as he is not particularly arty. Yet he has an amazing feel for what works and what doesn't and it's the most interesting experience asking for his advice. Sweet boy, he really is.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Hazel Raison]

I hope you're right about September being good for starting a blanket. Have started making your Granny Stripe one this week!

[SEO Services UK]

I just wondering to using your blog, its awesome. those photos are very cool. wonderful job.

[heidi]

nothing better than a drive into the blue, as they say here in deutschland. sometimes i get the itch and stop somewhere, shoppy intents are great - dont need to buy but do tend to eat up impressions with my eyes, one by one like SOULfood. good to come down to a good level after a day full of excitements at work (for example) you are lucky to have found a GOOD yarn store, i mean one where you can walk in and find what your heart craves. i do need to get into the city... JAUNT does seem a good name for it! must be a girlie thing :0) *eye-twinkle* beaUtiful pics again, lucy... love the crabapples, well at least thats what we called them at home. i remember grandma would make jelly but dont hear much about THAT these days... i am a bit late catching up with your postings! cant wait to read what has happened with the colors and new yarn collection! you Do have us all sitting on the edge of our seats again, i admit!

[Scully]

There are some beautiful photos here Lucy. I too adore Create but it is sadly over 35 miles away from me so I don't get to visit as often as I like. Emma and Miranda are wonderful aren't they and how many places can you buy yarn, latte and cake at!

[Jill Saunders]

I was driving home from work yesterday after reading your post on the great yarn store you visited the other day....and it dawns on me; YOU LIVE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF A YARN STORE?!! I grabbed my husband when I got home & said "LUCY WALKS TO A YARN STORE! Can you believe it?!" (He thinks I've lost my mind)

[diane]

l admit l have become ever so slightly addicted to reading your blogs, they are so full of fun, wonder and warmth for home and family, thank you so much for allowing us a peek into a small part your world.

[sue]

Oh Lucy what a gorgeous yarn shop, you could never come out of there without a back of goodies, can't wait to see your blanket and glad you had a lovely jaunt!

[Ana]

I wish I could find a shop like that near where I live. Unfortunately the only shop you can find here is the type you have to ask the lady to show you every single item.

[Patrice]

Methinks that burgundy maroonish color at the top right is the "missing link"??!! :)

Love your Autumn in England photos!

[Chi]

I really need to find a yarn shop that has big buckets instead of little baskets.... good good sign :)

[Saskia @ craftyvalley]

Yay! Another blanket! Can't wait to see what you come up with! I just ordered 34 skeins of lovely Stylecraft special DK yarn to make some new projects including a blanket! Thanks for your inspiration yet again Lucy!

[Donna]

Can't wait to see what colours you have chosen for your next blanket adventure. I always like making blankets in the cold weather coz you can snuggle up under them whilst you are crocheting them together.

[i wish i was a giant anteater]

What a lovely post :) All those lovely autumnal pictures have made me smile! I love your enthusiasm and excitement for your new project and I can't wait to see what you're hooking up!x

[Wendy]

great Autumn pictures.

I visited the Ilkley yarn shop last year sadly not enough funds to buy anything. I must go back.

There is a new yarn shop in Saltaire should you find yourself that way.

[Maria Teresa]

Obrigada Lucy mais uma vez devo dizer que você é uma inspiração, lindos post's nos últimos dias, é maravilhosa a forma como você valoriza todos os momentos da sua vida, estou a tentar fazer o mesmo,porque estar em casa a tem+po inteiro é uma novidade para mim.Muitos beijinhos aguardo ansiosa novidades.

[Audra]

Hi Lucy,
when my daughter was a baby I use to walk around the shops in Subiaco (where we lived) every Friday, there was a few people that looked forward to our weekly visits. Not posible these days as it is too far to walk, we might do some bush walks soon though.
Can't wait to see what you make with your Debbie Bliss. I bought some with my Bithday money(and extra) last year. Have made 2 tea pot cosie with it and started a hexagon blanket. My daughter loves the blanket (cushion sized at moment) but it is not quite right, the colours look wrong at night time and I felt it needed more colours, witch I have now bought, but don't know now if it will be a hexagon blanketnow as I will proberly want to do something different as I have just finished one and am making another for daughters partner.
Can't wait to see what colours you have chosen, wonder how simular to what I got they are ???
Hugs Audra

[Seaweedandraine]

Oohhhhhh. Such a lovely jaunt! I could walk right into those images and see and smell the lovely autumness of it all! :)
Looking forward to seeing your yarn - good on little B for picking up the colour discrepancy. :)

[Kate]

One colour not right?
Oh dear, you will need to go back to the yarn shop.
Damn.
Always good when one goes somewhere lovely and-intentionally or unintentionally-comes across a yarn/fabric emporium.

[Angy Braine]

I have me an "Intentional Jaunt" planned for next week - now I have a much better descriptive term for it too - sounds so much better than just saying...I have "plans" ..... :-) PS - can't wait to see the Blanket!!!

[Sam]

I am the same, no car and jaunts with a 20 mnth boy can be tricky.

I enjoy the time he falls asleep in his pushchair (as much as I love him)and I get an hours mummy time looking around with no tantrums. :)

[Sandi Lee]

Luceeeeeeee, what are you doing to us, I was reading with anticipation of seeing some smoochy colorful yarn at the end! However I loved the beautiful Autumn flora that you have captured, I do love the sunny days of Autumn, the colors of the leaves and berries, the smell of woodsmoke (but not the cold)
I get all excited when I go on jaunts too, especially to yarn shops. Little B walking along with you, I bet he had fun and a good friend to look after his little hands in the yarn shop whilst you made a very important purchase.
x Sandi

[Bonnie]

lovely!! love those pretty trees and the prospect of seeing your yarn stash and the up-coming blanket!

[sew]

I wonder how many of us scrolled speedily down to view your purchases - only to discover we have to wait a bit longer!!
Lovely pics of a lovely jaunt - leaving us in anticipation......!

[Fée-ronique]

Ohlala, Quel suspense! Looking forward to see your new project.

[Nanita]

How exciting!! I love the feeling when you're about to start a new, fresh blankie and you just want to plunge your nose into the yummy yarn, stroke it and look at it endlessly! :D I am sooo curious about what you have in mind, Lucy! Your post has made me happy ánd it has taught me a new English word (jaunt. It sounds funny :-)) and all of this before 8 am! xxxx