Quietly Creating

Yesterday afternoon, a sweet, blissful, peaceful, Window of Opportunity unexpectedly opened up for me. A time in amongst the usual hectic bustle and noise of family life where everything hushed down and was suddenly still and quiet for a while. Both Little People were out enjoying play/lunch with their respective friends, and Little B (after a 5am start) had fallen asleep on the sofa.

I didn't hesitate. Knew exactly what I would do with my quiet little snippet of Me-time. I would make myself a cup of tea and sit quietly at the table to create. Needle and thread, buttons and bells, stitchy, stitchy.

I decided to add a little ceremony to the proceedings and went upstairs to fetch the candle down from my bedside. For obvious reasons, it's not possible to have lit candles on the table normally, but when it's safe (ie when Little B is off in the Land of Nod) I can indulge. As I was stitching, I found I was talking to myself inside my head, do you know what I mean? I was chatting to myself about my new dotty candles, bought on impulse from Cath Kidston just before Christmas. I thought about how long I had wanted these candles, how many times I had resisted buying them as they are of course a complete indulgence. Expensive and unnecessary. Leave them in the shop, step away. And yet, on balance, the pleasure they are giving me is absolutely unbelievable, and worth every penny. I chop them in half to make them shorter/safer in my little enamel candle holder, so they work out at 50p each. They are so worth it.

That incredibly pretty floral mug you can see there is also from Cath Kidston and was a Christmas present from a sweet and thoughtful friend. It's fabulous. It holds a very large quantity of tea, perfect for accompanying afternoon creative sessions.

Every so often, I would take a breather from the stitching and nip over to the sofa to check on Little B. Soooooooooooooooooooo cute. He had been sitting on the sofa watching Postman Pat, and had literally fallen asleep and toppled over to lay himself down amongst cushions and blankets. He looked adorable, all pink flushed cheeks and dear little fingers and toes.

I think I must've had about ninety minutes of sweet afternoon me-time, enough to complete all my stitching. I spent a little time last night and first thing this morning crocheting the band that runs along the top and strings all the pennants together, and the finished bunting is now sitting on the table. Yes, it's finished!!! The light here today is very poor though, it's dreary, wet and gloomy so not sure I'll be able to photograph it just yet. But a ta-dah will be coming very soon, I can't wait to share it with you.

I'm also working on my Year End Review posts to share with you over the next few days, such fun! It's something I always really love spending time on at the end of the year, it fills me with happiness to see so many visual, joyful memories coming together in one place.

Have a fabulous day, whatever you're up to and whatever the weather, thanks so much for stopping by. See you soon!

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Comments

[Christina]

I just wanted to pop in to tell you how much I've enjoyed all your festive Christmassy posts and your yummy crafty pictures. Also want to wish you a very happy New Year! I'm so excited to see what 2012 brings to the Attic and to my Hearthroom. Xo

[Trudy McLauchlan]

A window of opportunity - you gotta love those words!! And you turned your "window" into a peaceful ceremony of candle, craft and tea. Delicious time.

Noticed in a post from Jenny that your blog was mentioned in "The Age" newspaper ... isn't it wonderful how far your words and inspiration travel? Thank you, you've certainly inspired me with the whole crochet hooky thing!!

[Kay G.]

Love your colorful creations so much! May I just say that also love your photographsof your baby's dear little toes? So precious, it is such a good photo.
Wishing you more beautiful creativity in 2012.
Love,
Kay

[lesley]

we have the same mug :) happy new year x

[Teresa Farinha Récio]

Hey,
I really love your work and art, the passion you put in your pieces is astonishing. I have a question though, I bought all the colors your using, but I'm having some trouble figuring out the sequence you used, it's really lovely and I wanted to do one for my niece that will born in next march. :)

Please reply.

Much love,
Teresa

(I'm referring to http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2010/07/the-granny-stripe-tadah.html, for some reason I can't comment there.)

[Julie]

Unexpected 'me' time is for indulgence in things you love. I thank you for a year of colourfulness and inspiration and your fantastic tutorials so i can now call myself a crocheter. xx

[Irma]

I love your website. So inspiring! Your use of colour is amazing and I can't stop admiring your projects. God bless and Happy New Year from Canada!

[carla]

just...thanks!!!!!!!!!!
Happy New year for you and yours.
Carla from Spain

[grace]

Yay for me time! Well done for snatching it and totally enjoying it - love the dotty candles as well xxx

[Chi]

First a J, and now an F, U and N. (Bet it's a double tease and it's not "fun") Oooh you're teasing us with these pennants, Lucy! But we love it! xx

[Maria]

What tenderness the little feet of Little B!
I am so curious to see the new ta-dah, I like that word makes it a good idea of ​​something to surprise ... two nights ago I was taken by an irresistible desire, I had to make Pretty Crochet Trim and until I finished I did not go to sleep, or) the next day a friend came to see which I liked a lot and has been asked to make one for her. I'll try to publish the photo in the Ravelry group, for now it is in my blog!

[Maria Shaikh]

Hi Lucy
I am a fan of yours from Karachi, Pakistan and I love your blog.
I have just finished a granny blanket and have added crochet flowers from your pattern. I would like to send you a pic, please let me know how to do that.
The patterns and tutorials are incredible and soooo easy to follow.
I have a request...please put up tutorials for crochet stars and crochet candy (not candy cane) and crochet sweets.
Love the little feet...wish you and your family Season's Greetings and a very Happy New Year!!
Maria

[Lisa G.]

You certainly make good use of your time, Lucy. I was just reading last night in Edith Schaeffer's "The Hidden Art of Homemaking" - she was saying how important it is to make a nice, little set-up for yourself when you're having a meal - even when you're along - with a flower maybe, or a candle. Your candle and tea reminded me of that.

[Julie Clay]

Lovely cute little tootsies! So sweet. Wonderful blog post too, I feel somewhat relaxed just reading it. Hope you manage to sneak some more little me times over the holidays!

[Reality Jayne]

Times like your 90 min. are the bestest

[Rachel]

PS: I really like the spotty hook you use, where is it from?

[Rachel]

It's really made me proud that your blog has been added to a list of links in an Aussie newspaper, and I'm relatively new to Attic 24. Good for you!

I've done 500 consecutive blips on blipfoto.com and am thinking of getting a livejournal account for my new year's project, if it's free to have one!

Thank you for all your inspiration this year, I'm new(ish) to crochet and have loved the modern take you have added to an old craft.

We were in the Sarah Wiseman gallery earlier and saw bird cards that reminded me so much of your crocheted circle birds, I remarked on that when I saw the cards; you have people talking in Oxford and Melbourne!

Happy New Year and I look forward to more blogs. (No pressure!)

[Connie]

AHHHH! Me time! How marvelous! Such a treat in the middle of the day - so glad you took the time to enjoy a bit of crafty time. Mine are all in school now, so things are different, but I so remember those days (just 2 years ago) when the stars would align and I would get a few precious moments......

[polly]

I found you blog a few months ago and love the creative stuff you do. It has inspired me to make time to create too.
Love your candle too! Someone once told me if you put them in the freezer just before you use them they burn slower. Don't know if it's true, but worth a shot if it prolongs the pleasure!

[Kelly]

I so look forward to seeing your finished product and happy that you had a little creative time to yourself. What a pretty little post. ~Kelly

unDeniably Domestic

[Luisa F.]

I love your colors and your ideas .. I wish you a happy new year! kisses!!

[Katherine of Kitten's Lost Her Mittens]

Your posts are always so cozy and colorful! Love that. Can't wait to see the ta-dah!

[Marion]

Hi Lucy, thank you for some wonderful photos and the colours in them are so cheerful. I love your button tin where did you get it from? I have been reading your blogs from early this year and I really love them seeing what you are making and I have done a few of your patterns as they are so easy to follow so thank you for sharing them with us. Hope you and your family have a lovely new year and I look forward to reading your next blogs. Love Marion. xxxx

[mevrouw Snoeshaan]

Dear Lucy,
How I love your blog! it feels as if I had a little peek in your house, your life, your precious me-time! You discribe it so well, and those little feet, ahhh, they make me melt!
Can't wait for the Ta-dah, the fist picture is so lovely!

[Melanie @ M&M]

So lovely! Your posts always make me smile.