Good morning, how are you? How was your weekend? Ours was good, full of the necessary sort of laziness that flops in at the end of a busy half term. I feel so relieved that half term is here, that homework, timetables, packed lunches and sports kits can be dumped to one side for a week. I am relieved that we've got a break from the strict get-out-the-door-at-eight-fifteen morning regime. I don't care for the start of our school days much, no matter how hard I try I generally find them stressy. But with three Little People all at different establishments I don't think we do too badly really. We are only ever very slightly late, and I only ever shout loudly when absolutely necessary.
The weather here has been (and continues to be) dire, as is the case across much of the UK I think. There has been the odd fleeting chink of blue, but mostly grey, blustery and wet-wet-wet. Perfect hunkering down at home weather. I nipped into town on Saturday morning to run some errands, stopping on an impulse in one of my favourite feel-good shops to buy myself a new candle. I mentioned these little "Pintail candles"
No self respecting Hunkering Down weekend would be complete without a bag of gorgeous yarn to play with, and I certainly had that covered. This is Drops Big Merino, the most beautiful scrummy, squidgy, soft aran weight yarn.
I've picked out nine colours to start making my Autumn wreath base. I wanted to capture something of the Autumn skies, moss, fruit and berries as a background to all the brightly coloured leaves and flowers I'm making.
This yarn is seriously delicious to play with, it works up so beautifully on a 5mm hook. I keep finding myself daydreaming about wrapping myself up in it. A shawl perhaps? Or a big generous cowl/scarf type creation? But mustn't get distracted, must stick with the wreath for now. It would make a great blanket too.....;o)
I put my apron on over my pyjamas and baked yesterday morning, when a late breakfast/mid morning coffee accompaniment was needed. I made apricot and apple muffins using my no-fail Easy-peasy muffin recipe.
Best eaten while still warm, these muffins are seriously yummy, and ridiculously easy to make.
Whilst slurping coffee and stuffing warm, moist muffins into my mouth, I simultaneously crocheted up some florals for my wreath. Sunflowers to be precise. I adapted a pattern I found online here, changing the middle bit to use popcorn stitches. I would love to write up the tutorial for this, but am waiting to hear from Cindy first as the petals are her design and I don't want to use it without her blessing. Will keep you posted, as it did work out really well and I would love to share.
I also had a little go at creating a marigold type flower. I think it came out OK, but maybe needs a little bit more work....
....but looking suitably Autumnal don't you think? I am very excited about this wreath, I am enjoying the slow, creative making process very, very much.
J is home this week with us, I love that he takes the half term holiday weeks off work so that we can enjoy family time in the different seasons ( February, May and October). We opened a bottle of my favourite tipple last night, and sat chatting round the fire with the Little People which made such lovely change from the television/internet. Flame-gazing is just soooo pleasurable and mesmerising, and we have some of these Colour Changing Fir Cones
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A dreary sort of day here as well, your weather has made it across the pond I think. Our weekend was crisp and cloudy, but we still managed an outing, to a Native American farmstead, with Native dancing to the flutes and drums in full head dress and all, a lovely time of it. Also made your lemon drizzle cake over the weekend.Yum! You always choose the yummiest yarns! Can not wait to see your wreath come together! I finished an ottoman cover with pom pom fringe, last night love it! Looking for other things now to add pom poms to. lol Happy lazy cozy week!
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | October 28, 2013 at 04:59 PM
Oh, how funny - today Drops Big Merino arrived my home as well!! I ordered it a week or so ago and was really looking forward to find it in my post box!! I chose the colours lavender, pistachie and off-white. Not for an autum wreath (though a great, great idea) - but for a sweater for my little girl :-)
Posted by: Erika | October 28, 2013 at 04:13 PM
How do you do t? You must have magic fingers to conjure up those flowers while enjoying home made muffins. Both the flowers and the muffins made my mouth water. Can't wait for the tutorial on the flowers. Oh yes, and I know the answer to my question - years of practice,
Posted by: Annabelloiuise | October 28, 2013 at 03:54 PM
Such a lovely warm and colourful post, we've just about survived last night weather here by the straights of Dover and now the skies blue and it's sunny again with a blustery wind perfect Autumn weather. xx
Clare
Posted by: Clare | October 28, 2013 at 03:44 PM
What a cosy post!
I love the sunflower.
I'm looking forward to see your autumnwreath.
Posted by: Inge | October 28, 2013 at 03:43 PM
So beautiful Lucy! I wish we had a fireplace to cozy up next to!
Glad to hear you didn't get blown away by that storm that hit the UK I was reading about yesterday!
Happy Monday,
- J
Posted by: J | October 28, 2013 at 03:35 PM
LOVE the sunflowers!
Posted by: Lisa G. | October 28, 2013 at 03:30 PM
Brrr it's chilly isn't it?thanks for the recommendation on the candles, my favourite indulgence after chocolate!
Posted by: Jan McCann | October 28, 2013 at 03:28 PM
Wonderful photos - and the colours of the yarn are amazing! The last photo looks particularly inviting (even though I don't drink!)
Posted by: Organdie | October 28, 2013 at 03:12 PM
Hello! Thank you for all of your inspiration. I am in the US and teaching myself to crochet. I've been a knitter for quite some time but I would love to make some granny square blankets. I have a love for cotton. You have mentioned in some of your posts using cotton yarn. What brand do you use? What is your favorite go to yarn. I want to know because I love all of the color you use :)
Posted by: Adella | October 28, 2013 at 02:58 PM
I need a candle and a fireplace. I think your flowers both look beautiful. I can hardly wait to see the wreath all done with all your beautiful colors.
Happy Monday
Posted by: Beth | October 28, 2013 at 02:57 PM
Lovely! We do have a bit of sunshine here- which is a nice change after the start to the day when That Storm hit us!
Posted by: Kate | October 28, 2013 at 02:50 PM
Looking lovely and cosy there Lucy....yes weather is very yucky but here in the East Midlands we've got away with the worst of it. We've just finished our half term here and the girls are having their last day of freedom before school starts tomorrow! We've just got back from London which was brilliant. I'm looking forward to your Autumn wreath, I really must work out how to crochet flowers, I get in such a mess with them! :) x
Posted by: Ada Bea | October 28, 2013 at 02:47 PM
Glass of something sparkly, open fire, lots of lovely yarn, what else could you possibly want?! xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | October 28, 2013 at 02:37 PM
I'm missing Autumn so much! We are in our Spring now but I find the older I get, the more I like the colder months! Don't care much for sweating and being hot and sticky! Love your flowers and cannot wait to see the wreath
Posted by: Bonnie | October 28, 2013 at 02:36 PM
...and the wool is absolutely delicious!
Posted by: Emmy | October 28, 2013 at 02:24 PM
Ooooh, pretty pretty!! Loved this post, the muffin looks scrumptious, your flowers are adorable, and the fire is utterly heartwarming! Have fun with your fam this week!
Posted by: Emmy | October 28, 2013 at 02:23 PM
I love all your creation ^.^ I'm curious to see the news with the big merino!
Sandy
Posted by: Cassandra | October 28, 2013 at 02:00 PM
I've seen the pictures of your flowers float by on facebook. Beautiful! They will make a nice addition to any autumn wreath :)
Posted by: Kirsten | October 28, 2013 at 01:45 PM
I absolutely love your site! I enjoy reading it so much! The yarn for your wreath is beautiful and the colours look great together. I'm anxious to see pictures of it done. Thank you for always posting such a enchanted site! Love it!!!!
Posted by: Joanne Morrow | October 28, 2013 at 01:43 PM
Baking is getting underway here, as the weather becomes colder and it's nice to have the oven on. Earlier today I looked up your flapjack recipes, as the first one I found online and tried last week was WAY too sweet, even for me! Now I must convert measurements (or buy a scale) so I can try both your versions. Fingers crossed :)
Posted by: Quinn | October 28, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Hi Lucy
Lovely post. I saw that you had some Drops wool when I visited your studio over Yarndale weekend and really loved the range of colours. The aran looks really love and I can quite understand your yearning for something warm to wrap around in these chillier days. have you seen the pattern on the cover of the last Simply Crochet magazine ? Its the most grogeous, hat/scarf/wrap - and the ears just finish it off !
Happy hunkering ...
Kate x
Posted by: justpootling.blogspot.co.uk | October 28, 2013 at 01:29 PM
Only you could find colour-changing fircones..lol! x
Posted by: Kate | October 28, 2013 at 01:24 PM
The colors you've picked, the scents you described, the first pic of the tree, the sunflowers ~ all I can say is WOW! Today your blog is blessing for all the senses! Thank you...
:-)
Mary
Posted by: Mary | October 28, 2013 at 01:18 PM