January Thoughts

Here we are, two weeks into the New Year and rather predictably I've found myself thinking a lot about my routines and habits and how I can make the best use of the hours, days and weeks that stretch ahead. It struck me just now that this is most certainly a January Ritual for me (and many thousands of other people all over the globe no doubt) and a quick delve into last year's archives proves the point rather nicely.

Yet again, I am trying to make a few small changes to my daily routine with the hope that I might begin to feel a tad more organised this year. Life with young children is constantly changing and shifting as each stage comes and goes, and I am enjoying the small progressions as the Little People grow and become slightly bigger and ever so slightly less needy. The biggest difference for me this year stems from the fact that Little B is now in school - those six child-free hours still feel like a huge luxury and I need to feel like I am not wasting them. I've lots of plans, ideas and projects for this year that I'm beginning to rally into some sort of order, but for the rest of January I shall mainly be concentrating on my studio.

I packed up my studio at the start of the year, taking the opportunity to have a bit of a clear out at the same time. Believe it or not, I threw out six big bags of rubbish and as you can see there is still a small mountain of stuff remaining. Mind you, a lot of that pile in the photo above is furniture (two tables and nine chairs! Nine!!), and a great deal of it is yarn (no surprises there then, and no, I'm not going to count it either). At the weekend, everything was moved out of my lovely studio room and transferred.......

.....to the equally lovely room next door :)

This is a much smaller room, but a good size for one yarn-crazy hooker to hang out in. The larger room is all set to become a fabulous, relaxing lounge-style extension of the downstairs cafe, and I'm delighted to be making a fresh start in this cosy little space.

I've spent the past two days with step ladders and a tin of white paint, using muscles that have been dormant for some time (oh, how I ache!). The grey colour was not really for me, I prefer light and bright as a backdrop to my very colourful clobber so plain white is just right. It's slow going because there isn't much room with all my stuff piled in and I'm having to shimmy around the walls bit by bit, but I'm getting there slowly but surely. Hopefully by the end of the month I'll be all settled in and enjoying not only a new room to work in, but a brand new routine too - more on that later, and yes, I'll give you a complete room tour once everything comes together too.

Another change this year is that I'm no longer writing a monthly column for Simply Crochet magazine. Last year I wrote thirteen columns and designed three patterns and I felt a need to have a bit of a break from those strict monthly deadlines. I've been genuinely surprised by the response to my decision, I'm so sorry to those of you who have expressed disappointment (the current issue 27 is the first one without an Attic24 contribution). I'm also hoping that I won't be gone for good from this magazine which I continue to enjoy very much as a subscriber. I'll keep you posted.

In amongst the paint and furniture shifting, the thinking and planning, I am still immersing myself in the joy of creative crochet. I'm happily working away on my Winter Wreath - these fern type leaves appeared in my Creative Mind at lunch time and then came off my hook this afternoon at knit n natter, just like that. I confess I'm stupidly in love with them. I've been taking lots of photos of my wreath in progress, I'll try and pull it all together to share with you before the end of the week.

Well I hope your thoughts and plans and routines are coming together nicely this month and that you've started 2015 with a spring in your step....doesn't it feel good to be stepping out at the beginning again, with so much time stretching ahead? I do quite like January for that.

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Comments

[Elmarie]

Thanks Lucy, as always lots of inspiration from your blog! Enjoy your "little" break from writing the column, however I'm sure the result will be a great new one somewhere in the future! Great reading your blog as always! Love!

[Jodi]

Best wishes on your move to the new studio, looking forward to seeing lots of hooky goodness throughout the year. Oh ....& thank you for the wonderful pictures you share with us, I'm especially enjoying the winter ones, as we are in the middle of summer here, what a beautiful beautiful part of the world!

[Debbie P.]

I am so excited for the new studio tour! Isn't it lovely when you can plan a new space? A totally blank canvas to start on. I shall miss you in Simply Crochet. I do hope you come back to it some day. I so looked forward to it. The first issue with your column, I was so excited! I live in the US and it was nice to open a magazine and sort of know someone in it! Anyway, have a wonderful time decorating and thinking up new things for the studio. If I ever get to England, I would like to see it!
Hugs,
Deb

[Katherine Keenan]

Sounds like a great way to start the new year Lucy. Love the look of your new, cozy studio. Is that a working fireplace?... Just wondering.
Always a delight to read what's going on in your life.

[Mary Chiles]

As the mum of seven adults, I was amazed to find more time to create as kids grew. As for your change from monthly article--trust yourself.

[Suzana Behmer]

Wish the best luck in your new space!! I´m sure there will be lovely things happening in your new studio!!

[Sarah White]

Can't wait to see Winter Wreath if the ferns are anything to go by it will be delicious. Isn't it amazing how much stuff we can gather in a short time.I have only been in my new craft room since December and I'm doing a good job of filling it with fabric , yarn , felt etc that I feel I can't do without. Wishing you success with your decorating and sorting xx Okesarah

[Libby cable]

Love your blog. I have finished your cozy stripe blanket in creams, I love it and am now working on a random cozy stripe blanket, ie just randomly putting the stripes together if that makes sense, so I might have 6 rows of trebles then 3 rows of granny, just all random, it looks good! Also finished Vanessa's mini squares scarf, I absolutely love it ❤️ Keep up the inspiring work Lucy x

[Lonormi Manuel]

LOVE those fern leaves! Absolutely gorgeous!!

[LaetitiaMcP]

Good luck in the new year Lucy. I look forward to hearing news of your adventures in your new space xx
New year, new beginnings and all that. Hope Little B enjoys his own adventures too.

[Karen@mixture43]

Great start to the year with a positive outlook and hopes and dreams for the year! Inspiring as usual sweetie. New poncho looks great too! Karen :O)xxx

[Amy at love made my home]

I was really surprised not to see your column in SC this month and thought perhaps you had just taken a month off. I will miss your contributions, but hope that you might return either occasionally or regularly sometime in the future. In any case you will still be here and that is far more than just once a month! Loving those ferns!! xx

[carol partridge]

I agree . I'm glad you aren't spreading yourself too thin. The new studio will look great! I too love the ferns. New start to a good year.😊

[Astrid Jansen]

Your plans sound very good to me , must be fine to have no deadline. Enjoy the hours you can spend by yourself Looking forward what your "jump"will bring in attic 24.

[Joy]

Happy January lovely Xx Joy Xx

[Carol R Keskeny]

Beautiful as always. Wishing you a great beginning to the new year. I'm thankful you aren't spreading yourself so thin, I don't know how you keep up with everything you have going. Love the ferns! Can't wait to see your new room all completed and your winter wreath.

[Cathy]

Your new studio looks gorgeous - how exciting to start the year with a new creative space! I am amazed at how clever those ferns are, and the fact that you just came up with them.They're brilliant! I've been crocheting your lovely snowflakes in different colours, and can't wait to see your winter wreath :)
Cathy x

[Clare]

Good luck with the new studio, the leaves look lovely, wintery perfection, I'm in full on January planning mode too, tis the season after all.
Clare x

[Rachael Iddon]

You know, what ever I seem to do, I never seem to be organised. I'm even contemplating going back to a 'proper' job so that I wouldn't have to be in charge of how I spend my time. How silly is that, because I'm really not sure I like being told what to do. Anyway, I totally get why you would want a break from writing a column. It's a big commitment. Love the ferny leaves and sympathise with the painting and aching. I've got a LOT of that coming up in my life too. Good luck.

[Jenny]

the fern leaves made my botanist heart go thumpity :D <3

[Amanda]

Well they say a change is as good as a rest......you will be well rested then, ;) looking forward to seeing those changes! :) xxx

[Jill]

Cute leaves :) I did notice your absence from Simply Crochet and wondered if it was sort of deadline related. You must feel really proud to have been a part of it :)
Good luck with the new studio
Jillxo

[flavia]

Oh I can't wait to see the studio AND the winter wreath !! You're so inspiring :)

[Havok]

Your new studio space looks very cozy indeed! Hopefully it will be bright and cheerful enough for you with the paint (though I'm sure your colorful ways will make it that way anyway!).

[Liz lawson]

Thanks Lucy, another positive outlook on life, I just love it! Sitting here gently crocheting my cosy cottage ripple (a very happy christmas pressie moment) I have also written a list of all the unfinished craft projects I have stashed and have 2 a month to complete this year! I need to do these ASAP so I can start some of your inspirational projects! Looking forward to 2015 and regular visits to the Attic! Liz x