Happy Sunshine Days

I have to tell you I'm having a delicious week. Busy, but delicious.

It's been wonderful to finally feel a little smidge of warmth in the air. I have loved walking about town with Little B, allowing him to lead me the extra-extra long way home from toddler group via the old Corn Mill, the woodland (past the house that keeps chickens) and the canal side. Walking from A to B the long way round has been really enjoyable. Gosh, that boy has so much energy. It fizzes out of him from the minute he gets up (at 5.30am) and carries on fizz-popping throughout our fourteen hour days. Even total strangers comment on it, he just seems to radiate energy somehow.

Our sweet little piggies have been introduced to the joys of outdoor grazing this week. They are indoor dwelling pets, and it has simply been too cold and damp to put them outside before now. We purchased a run from the local pet shop and they are doing a stirling job of trimming my overgrown grass. Yipppeeeeeeeeeee, no more cutting the grass for me!

We decided on a walk this afternoon (up a stupendously long steep huff-puff hill) to spend an hour at a lovely peaceful rural field/park. It's known as The Rec, as it's not really a park as such, but there is a bit of play equipment for the Little People and a well placed picnic bench for Mums. The sun was warm! Yes, really it was! I removed my cardigan!! I even felt (shock horror) a little sweaty at one point. It's been a good half a year since I sat out under a truly warm sun (probably October when I was in Provence), and it made me feel super-happy today.

Even my flowers this week look as if they've been touched by warm sunshine. These tulips came from the supermarket and were a mere £1.80.

I just love the way the light shines through the petals making them look as if they are glowing.

The light in the studio is pretty awesome I have to say. Even on gloomy weather days it feels light and bright, and when the sun streams in through the windows, well it's pretty marvelous. As you can see, I was hard at work at my desk on Wednesday. Hard at it. Well you can tell can't you?

I'm in the process of trying out some new yarns for future crochet workshops,  getting used to the colours, getting a feel for the yarn and how it works up. I spent a while familiarising myself with the colour palette, which basically involves drinking coffee and having a bloomin' good play. Lining them up, arranging them in groups, making notes of the colour codes etc.

I need to catalogue the colours cos I like my yarn to be naked. The paper wrappers get in the way, so as soon as I've noted it all down in my notebook, I whip em off. This yarn is pretty fabby. It's Drops yarn, do you know it? Drops Design is a Norwegian company which produces all sorts of different types of yarn. The one I'm using here is called Paris, it's an aran weight (5mm hook) 100% cotton  and comes in 45 brilliant shades. I'm also trying out some different merino weights, I'll show you more of those very soon.

Now then, do you like my new jug? Affectionately known as my "Ken", the arrival of it on my shelf has made me really rather ridiculously happy this week. I have lusted after a Ken of my very own for a long time. Years. Many years. And last week seemed to be the right time for a little personal, spontaneous splurge.

For those of you who don't recognise the Ken reference, I shall explain :: the jug was made by the very talented and successful ceramicist Ken Eardley. His style is very distinctive and easily recognisable, and I absolutely love the simple quirkiness of it. His work is highly collectible and in great demand, and there is often a lengthy waiting list if you should wish to buy one. My Ken came from the wonderful Janet Bell Gallery, and luckily for me and my spontaneous impulses, Janet always keeps a stock of Ken's in her shop. I told her "red flower" and she emailed me a picture, and that was that, I fell in love and nothing would have stopped me from getting my hands on this beauty.

This is a picture from Yellow House Art in Brighton, showing an amazing range of Ken's ceramics. they look fabulous en masse, I think I need to be careful that I'm not forming an expensive addiction here. Steaaaaady. One Ken will have to suffice for now. But oh I love the blue leafy jugs. Love 'em I do.

The lovely Julia Crossland has been unwittingly aiding and abetting my Wanties with images of her gorgeous paintings feauturing Ken jugs. This springtime one is especially sweet don't you think?

Talking of sweet, Little B made me this heart yesterday. We had an hour or so in the afternoon when we were trying (unsuccessfully) to rest a little before the school run. He got out the Hama beads and decided all by himself that this is what he would do. Each bead was carefully selected with tweezers and placed on the peg board with great ceremony. He loves tools of any kind I've noticed. He loves doing stuff with tools. Or sticks. Or bits of string. We have lots of things tied up with string in our house. Or wrapped in sellotape. Busy busy happy happy.

The blue blue sky this morning made my heart soar skywards. Same again tomorrow? Oh I very very very much hope so.

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Comments

[Lamar]

You're so awesome! I do not think I've read something like this before. So great to discover someone with some original thoughts on this subject matter. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a bit of originality!

[Loxy]

is there a list of the Drops colours you have in the photo? I had a look on the wool wearhouse website and the colours seem to be a little differnt to your photo. Your ones seem to match realy well.

[Josie Calvert Briggs]

Strange I should stumble upon your blog today. I love crocheting (and already have many ideas from your blog!), AND my mum ( http://www.lindacalvert.co.uk/ceramics/index.html ) used to share a studio with Ken. He is a lovely bloke, and one of his big bowls is all I eat out of!

[Liz]

Hello there, sweet little person!

I would like to join with a few triangles...
...but i´m not an computer-person, so i have no idéa how it will happen

I´m a soon 50 year young girl from sweden, now living in south germany, who always, to my boyfriends very often anger :( , must crochet, knit, embrodery, paint, somethingelse, and ofcourse my hatmaking (my profession), Blythe-doll collecting, and so on, just about always must and have something in my hands. Simply, i love it, don´t want to live without it, and it makes me healthier!

Soooo, how can this all come tru and happen?
Please let me know! Thank you for a fab and so inspiering blog!!

Wishing you warm weather & a lovely weekend!
Hugs! / Liz

[Liz]

Dear Lucy, I came originally for the crochet inspiration; I keep coming back for the lovely colourful bits and bobs - your flowers and jugs (and the GPs of course). I've started taking a leaf out of your book and buying myself lovely flowers, mostly tulips at the moment. I've started my own 'jug hunt'. Haven't found any yet but enjoying the search. Can't wait for Yarndale!

[Precious Crafts]

Seeing all your lovely pieces, I believe I must start 'making notes of the colour codes' as you do. I am so awful at choosing colours! :D

[Lise]

Dear Lucy,I should like to send you an e-mail. LISE.
frubaggesen@hotmail.com

[Jane Denholm]

I have found just the fabric for you - 'put a lid on it' by Michael Miller. It is covered in jugs, mugs etc just like the ceramics in your post. I have just ordered a metre ( and some caravan fabric) from Ditto Fabrics in Brighton.

[Sigrun]

Thank you so much for showing this beautiful prorcelain, in some days I'm in Beaumaris, I will visit the shop and I'm shure, that I buy some plates!

Sigrun

[Jo P-S]

Glad you're feeling back on track. I have a 'Ken' biught mine off the man himself 2 yrs ago now at the Bovey Tracey Craft Fair (a yearly event down here in Devon) Mine is the green bird. It's on my mantle now as I type :) I think you'd like Hannah Turners work too.Enjoy the long w/end x

[Taylor]

Those Ken pieces are so much fun! I see why you like them! Also, those colorful yarns look fun to play with as well. Thanks for another delightful post.

[Karen]

Pretty and organised, sounds good to me. Our guinea pigs are also doing a splendid job of munching our little patch of grass (and dandylions!) Bring on the sunshine!!!

[Sue Harding]

The Drops Paris yarn looks wonderful - but I'd want all the colours you have neatly set out and having priced it up that would be a hefty chunk of my spare/available cash!

So - I'll just have to live vicariously and enjoy whatever you create with it and show on your blog! :-)

[Debby P.]

Lucy, I enjoy your blog sooo much! I think your sense of color and style is very much like mine. I get constant inspiration from your pictures and your world. I have crocheted garlands everywhere, thanks to you. Spring here in Indiana looks like spring there. Thanks again, an avid reader, Debby P.

[Liefs Else]

Ken's ceramic looks wonderful! I'm in love with it!! Liefs Else X

[maypole]

Thoroughly cheered me up, this has

[Sophia]

Tools? Sticks? Bits of string? Sounds like the boy will be a crocheter or knitter in no time ;)

[Sue Hall]

Hello Lucy,
I have been enjoying your blog greatly. I have some vintage crochet hooks going free, would you like them for a box frame display? Some are tiny and were used to mend stockings in the 1930s . I am happy to post them to you, would like to find a good home for them! My website is www.greenstarquilts.com
Kind regards,
Sue Hall

[Bonnie]

I've been ready your blog from scratch (such joyful colour everywhere!) and I'm up to the part where Little B is still tiny and trying to grab your crochet all the time. It's hard to believe he's making love hearts with tools now! Time flies! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, truly lovely reading.

[Elizabeth]

Thank you for such a cheery blog. You are an inspiration to someonbe who has just learnt how to crochet. Thank you for the link to the wool Warehouse, I shall certainly shop there as they have such a huge range for my sock knitting and now my granny stitch blankets.

[sarita]

Lovely post and pics as always...:). Love ken! Would love to hear more about the wee chick(?) Sitting next to ken on the shelf?

[Sue]

just had a quick peep at the drops yarn -colours look lovely. I've been tempted x

[Nicky J S]

Hi Lucy, I'll be interested to hear how you got on with the Paris Drops yarn because I bought a couple of balls and really struggled with it being splitty... I was a very new crocheter at the time though and had to keep undoing so re-crocheting probably made it more splitty each time? Anyway, thanks for your lovely colourful pics as always!

[Ali Dufty]

The few days of warmth and sunshine have been VERY welcome this week .It certainly does wonders for lifting spirits!!! It's funny how quickly we can forget the loooong UK Winter / Spring . Your wee little piggies must be loving their newfound freedom too !!
The Drops 'Paris' cotton is a favourite of mine for my cotton cushions !!! . It seems to hold together nicely and not be too 'strandy' like some brands , if ya know what I mean !! AND a nice colour range to boot !! :) you will love working with them and no doubt be whipping up a creative gem very soon ??!!
Have a lovely weekend. Ali

[Gina Affery]

I use Drops yarn a lot, especially Drops Muskat which comes in a range of beautiful colours. I also use Drops Saffran. Drops Muskat is my favourite because the yarn has a glossy shine to it.
Love your blog!