Autumn Colour

This weeny jar of homegrown flowers has been delivering a huge bundle of visual pleasure for me this week. As I decided not to "do" any gardening this year, my back yard pots have remained dormant and flowerless. Excepting for a few pots of hardy herbs which take care of themselves and one terracotta pot that I planted with red geraniums, the rest of the pots have been full of weeds and dead things this year. I was both astonished and delighted when I spotted a courageous self-seeded marigold in amongst the weeds a few weeks ago, what a champion!

The rose is the last remaining one from my front garden, the geranium is the last from my back yard. And the sedum came from a neighbours front garden (said neighbour currently works abroad and I'm quite sure he wouldn't mind me pinching a couple flower stems in his absence). All in all, a pretty minuscule posy of mismatched blooms, but oh how I love the way it lights up the room!

Friday is the day I often stop at the market on my way home to treat myself to a bunch of flowers if there are any that tickle my fancy. Thankfully, the dahlias are still going strong (yaay!) and I picked out a most gorgeous bunch of mixed blooms to bring home this morning.

It always feels like such a bargain (a mere £2.50), and carrying them home wrapped up in paper makes me pretty much want to skip down the street with joy. After almost six years of living in this town, I still really get a buzz out of shopping at the market, especially for locally grown seasonal flowers.

I also love the little ritual of unwrapping and untying the flowers once I get home, then choosing a jug to put them in. Always a jug for my market flowers. Today I decided to trim the stems short so that I could use my red and white spotty jug.....

.....perfect. Sigh. Absolutely perfect in every way. Such a glorious display of colour to welcome in the weekend.

After lunch today, I had some time to myself, so I walked out the back door and up to the little patch of woodland at the top of the park. Just like that, off I went, striding out on a mission. I had an idea that I wanted to gather some Autumnal Inspiration.

I must've only spent about ten minutes rootling around in the undergrowth beneath the trees, but look what treasure I found! I came home with a handful of baby acorns, a shiny conker, sycamore seeds, beech nuts and a whole pile of beautiful autumn leaves.

When I brought them home and spread them out, I was suddenly overwhelmed with a rush of nostalgia. Memories of classroom nature tables and childhood walks came flooding in, and I had a little laugh at myself....I am still such a child at heart!

Actually, I did have a genuine reason for wanting to gather in some Autumn treasure. It wasn't a completely random, childish thing for a Friday afternoon. This week I've started on a new project, beginning a new cretive hooky journey :: I'm making an Autumn Wreath.

As you may know, I have already crocheted two seasonal wreaths for Winter/Christmas and Spring/Easter, and the design for an Autumn one has been sitting in my Creative Mind for many months.

I have been hooking up a flurry of Autumn leaves, using the pattern from my May Rose tutorial, as follows ::

Chain 8.

Start in 2nd chain from hook and work the following ::

dc, htr, tr, 2tr's, tr, htr, dc.

Chain 2, sl st in 2nd chain from hook (picot point made).

Now work back along the bottom of the foundation chain, in the single loops of the chain ::

dc, htr, tr, 2tr's, tr, htr, dc.

Sl st into end of leaf and fasten off leaving a tail end long enough to darn in.

I also tried using two strands of yarn and a 5mm hook to make a chunkier version, which worked out really well and I'll definitely be doing more of these in different colours.

I'm imagining a wreath full of Autumn leaves, interspersed with berries, rosehips and acorns.

I had a quick look in my crochet flowers book to see if there was such a thing as a crochet acorn, and yes there was indeed an acorn pattern. Need to give it a go over the weekend and see how it turns out. I'm thinking of a few autumn flowers too...maybe small yellowy orange sunflower/marigold type blooms, and maybe some purple michaelmas daisies (gosh, more childhood nostalgia rushing in, memories of the garden behind our small terraced house in London when I was seven years old)

I am really looking forward to working on this project over the coming weeks, I do so love the whole creative process of wreath making. It's a lot of work to make so many components, but yup, I am up for the challenge.

♥ x

Comments

[Sue Hayton]

Always love your pictures especially the ones featuring your retro blue tray just like the one my daughter and I found at a boot fair!

[Jo]

I'm a summer girl and mourn the passing of it in to autumn, but I have to confess that I do love all the changing colours. It's the dull, drizzly days I'm not so keen on which make those beautiful leaves in to a mushy mess. I think your Autumn Wreath is a great idea, a taste of autumn which won't deteriorate with the weather.

[Joy]

beautiful ... there were some gorgeous colours in Aireville Park three weeks ago with the onset of Autumn .... can't wait for the patterns and will then be having a go at the Autumnul wreath xx Love Joy xx

[Tina]

Oh, can't wait to see how it turns out! What a lovely idea! :)

[Kay G.]

Dear Lucy,
I LOVE how much colour you bring into my life and to so many others!!
THANK YOU!
Love,
Kay

[Karen]

Such beautiful colors.....and a great idea crocheting the leaves as well....inspiring! Thanks!

[Dorothy Griffiths]

Hi Lucy what a gorgeous post - loved it. Autumn is my most favourite time of the year, the colours are just divine. My crochet is still at baby steps but I would love to have a go at a wreath and am going to try and follow your wonderful tutorials Lucy and have a go. You have a wonderful weekend, thanks as always for great posts, always love reading your blog.
Big hugs
Dorothy
:-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Indra]

This is so sweet. I'm a knitter but I appreciate all things wool and one day will learn the art of crochet. Thank you for sharing you are a beautiful inspiration xx

[Liz]

Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous pictures! I absolutely love fall and all the colors (living in the Northeast in the US - how could I not?) and just did a crafty, glue-y project with leaves and acorn "hats" with my two doodlebugs the other day. Can't wait to see the autumn wreath.

[Winwick Mum]

Brilliant! Nothing like a new project to gladden the soul xx

[Joyce]

Your interpretation of the autumn leaves is just spot on....I don't think I've seen a better representation of the colour, ever.
Lovely post!

[Sue]

My favourite time of the year too - I've been busy knitting and crocheting acorns and pumpkins and have found some great patterns. If you click onto my acorn post you can get the pattern details. Hope you have a fun family weekend x
http://sweetpeafamilyblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/yarn-along-acorns.html

[Ariadne]

I have the same book although I don't crochet! I am looking forward to seeing what your wreath will look like!AriadnefromGreece!

[simo]

adoro i tuoi post Lucy!
e i tuoi lavori sono meravigliosi!
Buon week end!

[Jenny Grant]

That looks lovely! What inspirational tones, and a break from the norm!

[Rae]

I also love the Autumn! I always come home from a dog walk with a little something in my pocket ....acorn's,twig's,leaves,feathers...just things that catch my eye. Lovely idea for an Autumn wreath...I'm still trying to make a start on your bower bird ring Lucy..Lovely blog I'm now heading out to get a few more things for my pocket collection x

[Trillian Locke]

Luvly juvly leafy delishousness of my favourite autumn colours. I'm so looking forward to seeing your Autumn wreath develop. Blessings, Trills

[sew]

Awww Lucy, you've got me in a muddle now!
I too have a 'nature table' following walks with my 2 year old granddaughter this week (she loves finding acorns and particularly likes their little 'hats'!)but I'm making your holly leaves and mistletoe from that same book to demonstrate to my hooky class on Monday. They want to make what I'm calling a 'festive' wreath (too soon to mention that other word relating to Santa!) and just when I think I'm all organised, you pop up and remind us it's only autumn! As we see your creation come to fruition, there is no doubt that this will bring on what you, yourself would describe as an attack of the 'wanties' - so I won't know what season it is!! A gentle reminder may come in the form of a bunch of Chinese lanterns/physalis(?) I treated myself to yesterday :) - then I'd better go & crochet an acorn.....! ♥

[Ada Bea]

Beautiful flowers there Lucy, I'm really looking forward to that delicious autumn wreath! Have a happy weekend! :) x

[Nanita]

I'm looking forward a LOT to your adventure in Autumn wreath making! Have fun!! :-) xxxx

[Jacqui Galloway (livingwithethel)]

Love the flowers. Can't wait to see the Autumn Wreath.

[Amanda]

Love the colours...
Can I just say ...will you have a big big think about doing a book.... How fantastic it would be for us all to have all your work and photos in a lovely colourful book.....

[CJ]

It's going to be beautiful, I just know it. The colours are perfection. Have a good weekend Lucy.

[Inge]

I like the Autumn colours very much!
Looking forward to see your Autumn wreath.
The leave with the two strands of yarn looks very nice!
Have a nice weekend.

[Paula bluck]

Gorgeous colours Lucy, cannot wait to see it finished!! I bet it's looking fabulous in the dales it was beginning to turn when we came to Yarndale, it's looking lovely here in Norfolk too, loving the hedgerow walks with my little man. Charlie (2) loves his blackberry walks and we are so lucky enough to be able to have that right on our doorstep- love the autumn!!