This morning on the jaunt between school drop-off and my studio I bought two pots of Spring blooms. A little yellow pot of Tete-a-tete narcissi and a beautifully vibrant pink polyanthus.
Then on the jaunt between purchasing/drinking my first latté of the day at the café and getting down to some work I faffed with my blooms. Oh, such sweet, colourful faffing, I'm pretty sure I went a bit weak at the knees snipping and arranging these small stems.
I already had this little old china pot on my desk with some fading blue muscari and a few twigs of almost-open forsythia, so it was simply a case of snip-snip-snip and adding three more weeny stems. I spent a silly amount of time arranging it all just so, for the absolute simple enjoyment of doing it.
And then I added the Mini Chicklets - oh, aren't they just?!! These cuties hatched yesterday - the idea for them formed in my Creative Mind just like that with no warning yesterday afternoon and demanded to be brought ImMeDiAtElY into reality. I was honestly powerless to resist the cheep-cheep of these chicklets, and now they are here and I love them so much. Today at the studio (after faffing with the flowers and dancing around with my camera) I sat down and made a tutorial for making them - I'll write it all up and share it with you tomorrow (Thursday) all being well.
I am constantly finding inspiration in flowers, sometimes it's the real thing that sets me off on a creative spin and sometimes it's a mere thumbnail picture in a magazine or catalogue that does it for me.
These little pictures are taken from a Sarah Raven catalogue which came free in one of the Spring magazines. Sarah's flower combinations are the floral colour-equivalent of my blankets, I just adore the way she mixes colours. Her catalogues are always inspiring and a feast for the eyes.
I stumbled across these today too - posters made from images of vintage seed catalogues from the 1800's. I'm not sure how these pictures arrived on my computer screen, I was searching on Amazon for something butterfly related and suddenly I was drowning in a whole page of these gorgeous floral images.
I especially love the one on the left
Actually, I'm working on several new projects all at once which is a lovely if complex way to go about things. This blanket-to-be has been on my mind for many months now, I sampled and finalised the pattern for the blocks about six weeks ago but have been stalling on the final choice of colours. I want something super-pretty and light, but not pale. I want soft but not wishy-washy. I've taken lots and lots of yarn-peg photos but nothing has felt quite right so far.
So during the past few weeks I've been crocheting up these squares in spare snippets of time, all the while pondering on the colours as they collect into their neat little piles with their tangled tail ends.
The blanket won't be made from these one-colour squares (although looking at the above picture, crikey, I am LOVING the simplicity of that - dare I make a thirty-two colour blanket>>?? No, probably not.) No, I just use these squares to play with, to test out combinations and stuff, it's the next step on from the pegs. Usually by this stage I've pretty much got it sorted with only one or two choices to deliberate over, but right now I'm needing to halve the above colours, and that decision making process is proving to be very tricky.
I've also been crocheting with two new palettes of Chunky yarn during recent weeks, finally getting to grips with a new bag design. I designed this bag way back in May last year, but for various reasons it's needed to sit quietly on the back burner until now. Coming back to it almost a year later has been great and I've now re-worked some of the bits that I wasn't completely happy with.
I've not quite finished working on the bags just yet (nearly, but not quite), and I can't wait to show them to you. The colours in my bag look like Autumn and Spring don't you think? Gosh, listen to me - colour, colour, colour, flowers, crochet, colour, colour....I feel a bit obsessed.........
......awwww you complete cutie-pie, just look how mini you are!!! Loving my brood of chicklets, more coming tomorrow.........back soon, toodle-oo!
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First of all,I have loved following all the projects. I have made a block stitch afghan and I wAnt to learn how to do a moss/linen stitch border. I have seen that on some projects that you have shown have these kinds of borders. How do I start the border and how do I turn the corners. Do I put a foundation single crochet? Any input would be marvelous. Thanks again for this website and blog. I have learned a lot.
Posted by: darlus riedt | August 21, 2015 at 11:26 PM
I love your site so much. I usually go on everyday just to see what you can inspire me with today. I love to see all the pictures you take. It is like going on a vacation from my living room. Especially to England. A place i would love to but, will never get there except thru your pictures. Because of health issues i can't fly. So please keep up all the pictures i love them all.
Posted by: Pam | May 01, 2015 at 07:47 AM
I love your crochet and the colors are awesome.
I live in the Caribbean, but I like to make accessories and things for the home out of crochet, we mainly use cotton cord # 10 the choices here are limited.
Thanks Emilie from Puerto Rico
Posted by: Emilie German | April 22, 2015 at 03:09 AM
ILOVE YOU, I KNIT,SEVERAL LITTLE CHIKEN AND FLOWERS.THANK YOU FROM BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINE.KISS YOU
Posted by: ESTELA | April 02, 2015 at 09:22 PM
I found your blog a few years ago via Meet me at Mikes.I hadn't really been tempted to crochet before as I felt crocheted articles looked dated - until I saw your lovely blankets with their gorgeous colour combinations. My first project was a granny square blanket but that took me a looooong time to complete so I have ordered the Attic 24 original stylecraft pack & I can't wait for it to arrive!
Posted by: Ruth Bone | March 29, 2015 at 06:37 PM
Those blanket colours look promising! I think the missing colour that will make everything just right is one of the colours I suggested for the Stylecraft Special Colour Competition... :-) Just kidding!
Posted by: Bhumi | March 29, 2015 at 12:01 PM
Awwww Lucy, love the little chicklets. They're sooo cute. The nostalgic seed packets are gorgeous, I too am a particular fan of nasturtiums. You can tell Spring is really cheering you up,(not that you've been miserable) but you can tell it's giving you a lift and a lot of inspiration. Looking forward to the bag. xxx
Posted by: Denise Marshall | March 28, 2015 at 03:58 PM
What a welcome sight those gorgeous flowers are! I love the look of the vintage seed packets and the chicks are ADORABLE!
Posted by: Lizy Tish | March 27, 2015 at 12:27 PM
Oh ipad you change my words as I press send!
Sweet pea! Not super pea. It's not a cartoon character!
Posted by: Rachell | March 27, 2015 at 12:23 PM
A palate of the super pea colours on the vintage seed packet appeals, pretty and soft. I might have to save that photo if I can! X
Posted by: Rachell | March 27, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Oooh Lucy, I love the colors of the chunky yarn! Having made a Great Big solid square blanket, I will say it's a ton of fun UNTIL the time comes to join them all together at which point there was lots of teeth-clenching and powering through.
Thank you for the pattern for the chickies! I recently added a cheery sky blue polka dotted ceramic hen to my kitchen decor and I'm thinking it might need a few friends :)
Posted by: Diane | March 27, 2015 at 12:28 AM
As always, you have done beautifully!
I love to see your fabulous walks, happenings and creations. I love the little chicks in this post.
Kaiy
Posted by: Kaiy | March 26, 2015 at 07:02 PM
Thank you for the lovely blog post. The next blanket looks enticing. Here is a serious question for you--why can't you use all those colors in your blanket? Would that many not look good in the finished project? Curious and can't imagine which ones you'd eliminate. They are all so pretty!
Posted by: linda nichols | March 26, 2015 at 06:52 PM
Colours, flowers, chickens, all gorgeous! The bags look yummy! Emma x
Posted by: emma from toadstool tales | March 26, 2015 at 06:23 PM
Thought you should know I am addicted to your blog! Your use of colour is so inspiring. So far I have hooked up granny bunting and flowers/leaves for the lovely Valentine Sweet Heart which I hope to complete at the weekend. Spooky that you mention a bag, I have decided that's my next project. The Jolly Chunky methinks, I am a novice hooker so hoping it won't be beyond me? Thanks so much for all the useful advice and patterns.
Posted by: fiona | March 26, 2015 at 06:11 PM
Awww those little chickies are so cute! They would fit into any easter decoration. I have been going through the same color faffing going around in my head. I want to make another blanket but can't figure out how big I want it to be and of course what colors. Lastly what stitch do I want to use. Sigh.... so many choices. I truely want to try the ripple or chevron but for some reason I just can't master it. That bugs the stuffing out of me. LOL I love the vintage seed pictures. I love that era of time. Oh to live back when women wore corsets and only stunning dresses. Love to see a new post from you my friend. You always brighten my day. I can't wait to see what blanket and bag will be next. Both of those projects really make me super duper happy. Lots of hooky hugs and love to you Luce. Hurry back when you have the time. Oh yeah I bought some clothes pins to make my yarn pegs!! :)
Posted by: Robin Summers | March 26, 2015 at 04:09 PM
Those little Chicklets are just too adorable.
I, too, love your blog and I love, love, love your creativity and all the color. Simply gorgeous!!!
Thank younsommuch!!
Posted by: Barb | March 26, 2015 at 03:45 PM
Hi, I have a questionnaires for you. I have crocheted a letter front and sides, i would now like to attach fabric to the back. Do you have any ideas? Handstitch or machine? Many thanks!
Posted by: Amber Robinson | March 26, 2015 at 02:28 PM
hello Lucy, I am a fan fron barcelona!! Congratulations for all your projects, beautiful, colored and inspiring!!
I have a question for you, In all your grannys you have an extra amount of yarn at the end, ..could you help me to understand if you are using this to connect them? how do you do?
thank you a lot for your answer
Posted by: veronica | March 26, 2015 at 12:23 PM
I love the colours of this post, so full of spring and so bright and cheerful on a gloomy rainy day!! I particularly love the photo with the feather in, The sort of image I would expect to find in am Easter magazine! Sharon x
Posted by: Sharon Izzard | March 26, 2015 at 11:41 AM
The eggs next to the flowers are my weak point! What an eye you have!
Posted by: Claire | March 26, 2015 at 11:37 AM
so happy to see some spring flowers and colors-
here in new jersey it is gloomy and gray today
all those squares-doubt i'd ever get them together -i like the one piece afghan
thanks for everything
oxoxoxox crafty mema
Posted by: crafty mena | March 26, 2015 at 11:34 AM
Hi Lovely Lucy, would you consider your next blanket project as a crochet-along project so we could buy the same wool and make the blanket together? You could always be a step ahead of us in case you change your plan as you go along. I love the idea of a global Ta- Daah! A general question - Can we send you photos? It would be fun and inspiring to see how other Attic fans have used your gifts. I'm trying some daffodils this week and await the chick pattern to add to my Easter fun! Thanks as always. Pip x
Posted by: Pip | March 26, 2015 at 10:37 AM
Ohhh my :)) Gosh I love your blog! Everything about it just makes me so happy!!! Cannot wait to crochet some sweet little chickies for my nephews... Wow! I totally think you should definitely make a 32 colour blanket! Absolutely! Such deliciousness in that colour palette... Do it ;)) Love, love, love!!! Thank you as always for so much inspiration and happiness xx
Posted by: Paige | March 26, 2015 at 10:09 AM
Oh Lucy! I ljust LOVE flowers, LOVE colour, and LOVE your blog! I get excited by colour, too, so excited I quite often can't sleep. There aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do, crochet-wise (I'm trying to renovate my house here in France at the mo…), and I envy you your studio and the time to spend in it! I can't wait to see your next creations! At the moment I've almost finished a Jolly Chunky bag, 2/3 way through a granny stripe blanket, and way behind on my Sophie. Keep the blog posts coming, they are such a delight to read.
Posted by: Annie | March 26, 2015 at 09:40 AM