So my black embroidery thread arrived in the post yesterday and my very first thought was how very, very black it looked. My instinct was to quietly pop it back in it's bag and pretend that I hadn't ordered it. No black here. But then I thought about the flowers that I'd meticulously embroidered, and how cutesome a little buzzy bee would look hovering above the petals and told myself to stop being such a wuss and deal with the black. And I'm glad that I did because I love the bee, I really do.
This morning I was all set to start making a tutorial for you (the pattern for my latest mandala hoop, which I'm naming the Positivity Mandala), but I'm afraid to say that I got completely sidetracked with essential spring time pootling activities. I set about finishing up my Hello Spring hoop as yesterday I'd sponged off the blue marker ink and dried out the fabric so it was ready for the final finishing stage. After a good press on the reverse side I trimmed the fabric into a circle leaving an extra inch all around the finished hoop size.
I took a length of embroidery thread and stitched a running stitch right around the edge, then pulled it tight to gather in the fabric.
This isn't an especially neat finish, but I like the honesty of it. I think the original embroidery instructions suggested gluing a circle of felt to the back of the ring to cover up the back completely, but I happen to really love seeing the reverse side of stitching work. It's a reminder that this is something hand made, that there were snags and knots along the way but the finished piece is all the better for it.
Today is the first day of May and here in North Yorkshire it is finally starting to feel like we can let go of our long Winter and welcome in Spring. Thank goodness, because I've been ready for many weeks!
I haven't really faffed with my mantel all that much for the Spring season just yet, so it's still a work in progress. But I'm so happy to have my hoop on display. I think I might tie some ribbon around the hanging loop to finish it off.
It's been chilly cold still today but the sun was shining this morning and I had my flip flops on, yippeeeee!!! Mind you, as I've been sat here at my desk writing I realised that my toes are flippin' freezing so I've kicked off my flip flops pulled on a pair of my hand knit woolly socks. Oh the blissfulness of that is not to be underestimated, it feels sooooooo good!
This morning when it was bright and sunny and feeling a weeny bit Springlike out there, I popped outside to pick a few of these gorgeous little pansies to bring indoors.
I only picked 5 small stems to pop in one of my favourite old glass ink bottles (I love that I found this bottle dusty and forgotten, hiding in a box under a table in the collectors centre. I paid 50p for it). Having a small posy of flowers in the house is one of my deepest joys - there is something so endearing about the simplicity and the small scale of it all. I would much rather have this than a big fancy bouquet in a posh vase, any day of the week.
Whilst we're here chatting, I'd like to gently introduce you to the amazing work of Emma Verner. She creates the sweetest little decorations out of old pencils and rulers which tweaked my heart strings the second I first came across them. They are just delightful - do go and peek in her shop on Etsy to see more of her designs. I have such a major soft spot for little houses and I've absolutely no idea why?!
The four legged residents in the Attic have been enjoying the sunshine today - the kitty took full advantage of a sunny spot in the Big Chair....
....and out little piggy Lola appeared to be rather ecstatic when I deposited her into our very overgrown, unruly patch of grass. A lush al fresco banquet, for sure.
This afternoon was all about the blues for me, as I sat in the cafe with my yarny ladies and hooked up some more solid granny squares for an ongoing project. I'm a long way from being finished, but I'll show you a bit more of what I'm doing very soon. I keep forgetting that it's OK to show projects that are still in progress, more than OK in fact. I've always enjoyed documenting and sharing my creative journey and feel like you might like to see this particular project in it's early stages, even though it's all a bit abstract at the moment. I tell the ladies at the cafe what I'm making, and see them trying hard to understand my vision, but only I can know what I can see so clearly inside my Creative Mind. And I can see this project soooo clearly, it's as if I have a photograph of it already. I'll show you soon, I promise.
Actually, I was thinking earlier that I really, really want to be here in the Attic more, I want to make time to chat and share more of the little things that make up my days. At the weekend I was reading through some old blog entries from way back in the depths of my archives. Back then, my blog entries were often quite short and fairly insignificant in the big scheme of things - just little snippets of ordinariness, things that caught my attention, made me happy, sparked off ideas, filled up my mothering hours. But they provide an absolutely priceless view back in time, and I've found that the blogs of mine that I enjoy re-reading the most are the ones that are about nothing in particular. Just ordinary day to day life bobbing along.
And on that note, I need to go see to the laundry and chivvy Little B away from cartoon insanity and upwards towards his bed. Ordinary life calls....xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As usual beautiful work. I did a xmas embroidery which I put in a hoop, wasn't sure what to do with the back, it was a permanent display so I useda pair of curved scissors to cut the excess fabric off the hoop, they were sharp so cut really close to the frame.
Posted by: sharon gibson | May 09, 2018 at 07:02 PM
I'm so excited that you posted the link to the pencil miniatures, I've loved them since I first saw them...now I can finally get some. X
Posted by: Leanne | May 05, 2018 at 03:26 AM
Really really nice, as always is. Your blog is delicious for the eyes!
Greetings from Spain!!
Posted by: Rosana | May 03, 2018 at 08:42 PM
Blogs as bits of memory... for a year I've been so busy elsewhere, my personal blog has suffered. Part of my journaling this year is to keep checking in as Angel Jem now and again, just making a note of life and catching up on old friends. It's good to look over our memories.
Posted by: Jo Kneale | May 03, 2018 at 05:23 PM
Stunning embroidery!!! What can't you do young lady? Take care.
Posted by: Susan Smith | May 03, 2018 at 10:44 AM
We were in Skipton on May 1st having walked about 6 miles along the river at Bolton Abbey. Sitting in a certain fish and chip shop overlooking the canal around end of school time made me think of your three.
I suppose one difficulty re posting now is that the older two won't want to be blogged about.
I loved your early blogs too but as children grow up the nature of the blogs has to change anthough I do miss the early ones. Sue
Posted by: Sue | May 03, 2018 at 07:52 AM
When we were children we had quite a few guinea pigs and my father loved them as it meant he never had to mow the lawn, we just moved the hutch around! Lola is a sustainable lawn mower :-)
Posted by: curvywitch | May 02, 2018 at 09:55 PM
Very nice!
This spring is warm and now fragrant - flowery orgy.
I send you greetings from Slovakia!
Posted by: Daniela | May 02, 2018 at 08:44 PM
Dear Lucy, I just wanted to drop by and tell you that your blog is definitely a patch of sunlight in my life when a new post appears. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. I feel refreshed and inspired when I read what you write and view what you photograph and love what you are creating. God bless you and thanks ever so much.
Posted by: Sylvia | May 02, 2018 at 06:11 PM
I hope Lola enjoyed her al fresco banquet! She looks such a cutie. Your embroidery is beautiful and I especially love the little bee. 🐝 xxx
Posted by: Creative Mummy Bear | May 02, 2018 at 05:53 PM
Finally the sun has come out here too. It was pouring down this morning but now it feels like May. The poncho version of the woodland walk is coming on. It's just above my wrists now and I've done the second line of spice and have put away the blues/ pale green.
I do miss your old style blogs too. The bunches of flowers from the market, the view from the attic, the local walks and cakes you made and trying to take photos of your back yard. I guess now you are earning a wage from your crochet life moves on and people seem to expect more but I liked you sharing the simple stuff because it felt more like me. I look forward to the mandala and the new crochet squares. I'll send you a photo of the poncho when it's done.
Posted by: Caz | May 02, 2018 at 05:37 PM
I agree with your comment about seeing your work from the back. I used to do a lot of embroidery when I was quite young and still have some of the tablecloths I embroidered over 50 years ago. My Grandmother always looked at the back of it; you should be able to recognise the design from the back, she would say, that shows whether you are really a good embroiderer because you take as much care over the back as the front. That defnitely encouraged me to be tidy with how I finished threads off! Your work would pass her test with flying colours!
I always look forward to reading your blogs and these recent ones about embroidery are making me remember how much I enjoyed it.
Posted by: Meg S | May 02, 2018 at 03:23 PM
Those blues are delicious! Cant wait to see more of them and their destiny. Petrol is my absolute favorite color.
Posted by: gina in alabama | May 02, 2018 at 01:39 PM
Félicitations pour votre broderie et le montage du cerceau. Oui j'aime les créations d'Emma Verner c'est de petite taille mais fantastique. Ici le soleil est présent, vive le Printemps. J'ai hâte de lire et regarder votre nouvelle création crochet en "bleu". Belle journée à vous.
Posted by: Nadine G | May 02, 2018 at 01:03 PM
Congrats on using the black floss! The finish piece is fabulous! I look forward to seeing the spring mantel and what you do with all those granny squares.xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | May 02, 2018 at 12:47 PM
Lucy, your embroidery is beautiful and oh so springy!
Posted by: Michelle | May 02, 2018 at 12:05 PM
Your embroidery looks lovely mine is nearly finished too.:) x
Posted by: Linda | May 02, 2018 at 11:56 AM
Like you, I have a love of miniature houses, miniature furniture too. So thank you for directing me to Emma's shop, already treated myself and I can see more treats ahead!
Posted by: Nina | May 02, 2018 at 09:02 AM
No flip flops for me just yet, it's still the hand knit socks :) It's been a long time since I did any embroidery like your picture - in fact, I'd forgotten all about it! Your flower is gorgeous, but I do like the bee very much and he's just the right amount of black :) xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | May 02, 2018 at 08:23 AM
Another lovely finished project Lucy. I am still stitching away and will share once you can see what its going to be rather than just a series of crosses. Still crocheting away too on a couple of projects to share once I have written everything up. Enjoy your time in the Attic. Starting to plan our trip up to Yarndale too so no doubt that will require a post too.
Mitzi
Posted by: Mitzi | May 02, 2018 at 08:19 AM
Loved your blues- can't wait to see the finished item. Whenever I see fresh green grass and plants it reminds me of my goats that I used to keep as they loved eating it.
Posted by: Carol | May 02, 2018 at 07:53 AM
Hi Lucy
I have donned my flip flops as well. Washed and dried all my winter blankets and sweaters and put them away for the time being. Love your embroidery, very cute. Lola is a doll, do you make outfits for her? And your choices of blues for the solid granny squares are gorgeous. Can't wait to see it all assembled. Enjoy the sunshine and all the lovely colours coming back into our lives.
Posted by: Pippi Sock | May 02, 2018 at 03:05 AM
Beautiful writing as always, loved how your embroidery piece turned out !! even with the very black thread on your bee!! who really adds to it !! Take care and Happy Spring from Iowa, USA
Posted by: Melody A. | May 02, 2018 at 01:37 AM
Happy May and Happy Spring! As always enjoyed your post! Your embroidery is Devine!
Posted by: Leah Lynch | May 02, 2018 at 01:07 AM
How brave putting your flip flops on so soon. I did it back along, when we had those two days of Spring but now back in socks and boots. Love Emma Verner's little houses, so sweet, as is your Spring embroidery. You were my first introduction to crochet and I have a bunch of little solid granny squares just like yours waiting to be made into something. I'm looking forward to seeing your project for them xx
Posted by: Jacqui Fenner | May 01, 2018 at 11:49 PM