I spent most of the day alone in my studio today, something that hasn't happened in a long while. I bought fresh stems of sunflowers for my table, ordered up a latté and sat down with my lengthy email catch-up list and my laptop all set to Get Things Done. I figured that today was day four post Yarndale and I should be attempting to regain some normality, but the reality is that I am still in recovery and energy levels are pretty low. So I sat and admired my flowers and gazed at my tidy shelves, sipped my coffee and read through so many lovely messages written in my visitors book over the weekend, and allowed the gratitude to gently wash over me. It was a good, good day.
I've slept a lot these past few days, sometimes crawling into bed at odd times with all my clothes on just desperate for some immediate shuteye. It's been an intense and emotional week but oh my goodness, totally worth it. Yarndale was amazing! I was going to try and write up a big Yarndale post for you today, but I'm not quite there with my thoughts yet, so for now I'm going to share a few snippets of things from the days last week.
I tidied up my studio at the start of last week in preparation for it being open to the public.
My shelves are still a bit chaotic but I sorted out a massive pile of yarn to give away (felt so good!), cleared out a load of rubbish, cleaned my floors and dusty surfaces and generally regained a sense of cosy order which pleased me enormously.
I adore my little studio room, it means the world to me and I enjoy sharing it when visitors come to town. It's a working room and not a showroom and as a result it's often a little bit on the messy side, but it has a really good vibe and I always feel inspired and uplifted after spending time there.
As you know, I put up all my lamp post wraps in the rain last week, a fairly big job which took around three and a half hours to complete.
I do quite enjoy it actually, it's quite physical work but not that hard. I climb up my step ladders and secure the wraps top and bottom with cable ties, then a long seam is stitched down the back to hold the wraps securely in place.
They look so good when they are done, and I know how much visitors and local residents enjoy them. I took them all down on Monday afternoon, they were very soggy so I gave them a wash in the machine and a low heat tumble dry and they are now all packed away until next year.
The bears.....oh my heart ♥️ such an amazing, heart-warming project and a humongous success at the weekend. I took lots of photos so will share much more of those when I write up my Yarndale post proper next week. I'm awaiting the final total for the fundraising, but I know it went well and the lovely volunteers at Mercy Ships were blown away by the fabulousness of our crochet and knitting community.
I realised today when I was looking through photos from September that I didn't show you my floral headband, how very slack of me?! I shared on Instagram, but not here on my blog, so thought you might like to see this quick little pre-Yarndale make.
I fancied making myself something fun and yarny to wear and after a bit of pondering I settled on a hair decoration. I've seen a few beautiful crocheted "Frida Crowns" in the interwebs (this one in particular caught my eye) but I didn't want mine to be quite so sticky-uppy if you get what I mean. Less of a crown and more of a headband I think. I happen to have a very small head, so bought a very inexpensive narrow child's alice band from a local shop (this kind of thing) and crocheted some little cotton flowers and leaves to decorate.
I used oddments of Ricorumi Cotton DK, and crocheted some May Roses, Teeny Tiny Flowers and leaves. I then took my chances in the Cupboard of Doom and managed to unearth the magic hot glue gun.....
...and a very quick and satisfying little make came together in an evening.
Ta-dah!! Not a very good photo I'm afraid (and gosh, I do look tired!) but you get the idea. Not sure if I'd be brave enough to wear it out and about in general public, but I did enjoy being appropriately yarny at Yarndale.
I'll be sharing more Yarndale Tales with you next week - I need to sort out my hotch-potch collection of photos and attempt to describe the hugeness of being in a building with over 200 madly talented exhibitors and over 7000 madly excited visitors. It was pretty amazing I have to say. More soon!
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Lucy, like others I am concerned that it's been so long since we heard from you. I hope all is well with you and your family.
Posted by: Barbara West | October 24, 2019 at 04:09 PM
LUCY, pas de publication sur votre blog depuis le 3 octobre, si peu sur instagram. J'espère que vous allez bien, prenez soin de vous, douces pensées, bises.
Posted by: Nadine G | October 23, 2019 at 08:09 AM
Lucy, I've just realised how long it is since you posted and that the follow up post you promised hasn't appeared so I do hope you're okay. Regards.
Posted by: Ruth | October 21, 2019 at 03:55 PM
Beautiful, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: hostgator website design | October 20, 2019 at 08:21 PM
Hi Lucy - Love your DIYs! Are you okay with being featured in roundup/list articles on other DIY sites? We would link back to your website for the full tutorial and are just asking for permission to use photos. Let me know!
Posted by: Jessica | October 18, 2019 at 11:56 PM
Lucy, I totally get what Bev Farrow said in her comment, if a person cannot think of a good thing to say, don't say anything.....well done on all the hard work you and your friends did for Yarndale, long may you continue.
Posted by: Annette | October 16, 2019 at 10:24 PM
Greetings from st Cugat I enjoy reading and watching your posts. Thanks
Posted by: Aran | October 16, 2019 at 05:03 PM
Lucy I really love your posts. I am blessed to live close to the beautiful countryside you photograph and write so eloquently about. You bring so much joy to so many, transporting people into a beautiful world of colour and inspiration and it saddens my heart immensely to read negative posts - I do hope you absorb the positive comments into your heart and soul and allow the negative ones to wash over you and be taken away by the wind. As my Mum taught me - if you can’t think of anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. My friend and I LOVE Yarndale - it is a highlight of our year with so many friendly like-minded people and so much inspiration. I’m currently making your gorgeous Moorland blanket for a friend - it’s a wonderful journey of discovery. Please keep posting 💕 and yes please for a sneak preview of your next blanket.
Posted by: Bev Farrow | October 14, 2019 at 10:15 AM
Ma chère LUCY, c'est avec plaisir que je vous souhaite un bel et bon ANNIVERSAIRE, merci de votre blog et instagram. Bises
Posted by: Nadine G | October 14, 2019 at 07:43 AM
Lucy, I just wanted to thank you for sharing your beautiful God-given gift! I'm a novice crocheter and use your site often for inspiration and instructions. You taught me how to crochet a Granny Square and I live in Alabama. (Southern USA) Again thank you! 🌻
Posted by: Susan Johnson | October 12, 2019 at 07:19 PM
Dear Lucy,
I wonder if all the bears have left for the Mercy Ship or two little polar bear girls could still join them? One of them was made by my 11 year old daughter slowly, but with all her heart in it.
Love,
Klara
Posted by: Klara | October 12, 2019 at 12:47 PM
Lucy, lovely to see your post today (when I saw it, not when you posted). I thought of you all that weekend, remembering with joy my visit to Yarndale last year. It truly is an incredible experience!
I'd like to say to Jill, who posted about Yarndale being a business, that you have written about it's being a business many times and honestly, I don't think you need to say so every time you write about it. You and your friends work SO hard, getting everything done and you deserve appreciation and respect (maybe especially in the aftermath of the show).
I wish I might have been there again this year and visiting again is definitely on my list.
Much love to you, Lucy. ~ Linne from B.C., Canada
Posted by: Linne | October 11, 2019 at 07:36 PM
Loving the hairband, all of your Yarndale work and your beautiful studio. I'm visiting Skipton from Devon, later this month and it would be great to visit your studio if it's open on the 25th/26th Oct? I could buy you a real coffee in person, rather than via Paypal :-) Looking forward to hearing more about Yarndale.
Best wishes x
Posted by: Mrs J M Letton | October 08, 2019 at 02:11 PM
Love the lamp post cover and the head band. I'm sure Yarndale was wonderfully exhausting!xxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela- Southern USA | October 05, 2019 at 11:04 PM
Yarndale was AMAZING! I forgot to compliment your adorable headband when I popped in to say hello. My excitement got the better of me. I loved seeing all of your blankets on display and especially visiting your studio. It’s like your blog coming to life. Thank you again for sharing all your easy to follow patterns along with picture tutorials. Don’t know where you find the time to accomplish so much. Get some rest super woman!
Posted by: Jania Rosario | October 05, 2019 at 08:13 PM
Why not....it looks great on you Lucy 😀😀🌷🌷
Posted by: Wendy | October 05, 2019 at 02:45 AM
It feels so good to know that one has finally reached the point where the only thing left to do is rest. I struggle with knowing when to quit and rest.
In search of comfort food, I think I remember that you have posted a recipe for Lemon Drizzle Cake in the past. Could you send me a link to it. It sounds so good to me.
Posted by: Sylvia Hildebrandt | October 05, 2019 at 02:19 AM
In response to Jill (first commenter) - Lucy has often mentioned Yarndale is a business. If you follow along and read her posts regularly, you would know that. I hope you weren't trying to be critical!?
Lucy at Attic24 is one of my favourite 'feel-good' bloggers. I am constantly amazed, inspired and impressed with all that Lucy does and how she writes about colour, crochet and her life in general. I never miss a post.
Thank you Lucy for all that you do. I look forward to reading your formal Yarndale post next week. Cheers from Canada.
Posted by: Beth Orphan | October 04, 2019 at 05:58 PM
It would be ethical to tell your readers that Yarndale is a business that you're involved in and that you are paid.
You liberally mention charity, community, volunteers etc., letting readers believe it is a charity and that you do it for nothing.
Posted by: Jill | October 04, 2019 at 04:34 PM
Your floral headband is just wonderful. It was perfect for your Yarndale weekend and would also be perfect for my granddaughter to wear to school or church. She would love this as would all her cousins. I must try something like this for her. Your studio is inviting and colorful. Bliss.
Posted by: Mary W | October 04, 2019 at 01:51 PM
Yes , you do look tired so try to get some rest. I know it's difficult when you have a family cause there are things you just can not do. I like your head dress better than the other one , I'm a simple woman and the other one is a lot much . I looked at other bloggers pictures and videos of Yarndale and it looked like such fun and in such a beautiful place . As always looking forward to your next post. Take care and have a Blessed weekend.
Posted by: Miss Daisy | October 04, 2019 at 12:42 PM
Thank you for sharing. Please get some rest. We will still be here when you are ready to share more pictures.
Posted by: Charlotte. | October 04, 2019 at 12:06 PM
Yarndale was a HUGE day again For us Lucy. Early start on the local mini bus got us there just as the door opened. The pre ordered bands/tickets let us beat the queues. Which were long, as we are just a few visitors to your magical event.
The decorations get better every year. And the amount of BEARS was staggering.
So many different styles of bears from your easy to follow pattern.
We are guessing there will be about 2500 when you have counted them all.
We popped to see you in the “pod” , your blankets look amazing and you wore your pretty headband. Which may I say looked lovely. Much better in person.
Thank you for another fab yarny weekend.
Sue Selby Swans WI
Posted by: Sue Moxon | October 04, 2019 at 10:20 AM
Lucy you are just a bright star Thankyou x
Posted by: Judith burke | October 04, 2019 at 09:53 AM
Pretty headband..pretty lady. You do a fabulous job with your blog and your creations. Much appreciated. Xxxxx
Posted by: Susan Randle | October 04, 2019 at 09:28 AM