Brighter Times

We had a little snowfall at the very end of February, enough to create a very pretty view from the Attic, but a really hazardous walk to school. It was icy, slushy, wet and slippery, meaning that we skidded our way down the hill, slopped along the canal side and arrived with sopping wet feet and a very grumpy Little B. I really wish we had all worn wellies, but somehow I just didn't think it through in the rush to get out the door on time.

Once all the icy snow had melted down in town, things looked much brighter and I could fully appreciate the perfection of the wintry hills which surround this little rural town.

It's been extremely cold and windy here just lately, and although I can see the very first little signs of Spring here and there, it still feels a long way off. I'm hopeful that there will be no more snow though, especially now that we are in March and can pretend that Spring is imminent.

Yesterday I was on my own for much of the day, and on impulse I decided to wrap up warm and take a walk in the early afternoon. I desperately needed to breathe in some cold fresh air and clear my head. I was delighted to see not only blue skies up above but also some very early blossom looking beautifully dainty and pretty.

I climbed the steep hilly streets to enter the woodland along the top path and it was such a tonic. There is nothing better than striding out along a quiet woodland pathway, alone with my own thoughts for a while.

Blue skies feel like the biggest treat at this time of year when we are so often living under a blanket of grey cloud.

I stopped to say hello to the willow horse.....

....and swooned over the swathes of wild garlic beginning to cover the woodland banks. I keep telling myself Spring will arrive and I shall be so beyond ready for it when it finally gets here.

It was a tad muddy in the woods, and I was so thankful that in my spontaneous rush out of the door I had the good sense to yank on my short wellies. I gave myself a mental pat on the back at the precise point when the mud squelched right up over the top of my foot.

This is the little access road which leads out of the woods and back to the streets of the town. It's always blissfully quiet along here, and yesterday the dappled light and dancing shadows of the sunny afternoon made me so glad to be outdoors. 

Back at home and I had to smile as I caught sight of my sofa, strewn haphazardly with heaps of crochet and looking glorious. All my blankets are very well used and appreciated, the newest editions joining the older creations creating a rather jumbled but delightful sort of yarny nest effect. I think there are currently six blankets on this piece of furniture alone and I love the utter cosiness of it. 

I've been in my studio today, working on some design and colour palette ideas. I've got both crochet and stitching projects in the very early design stages right now and it's very exciting inside my Creative Mind, if a bit tangled. There's a lot going on up there!

Today I attempted to choose colour palettes for both threads and yarn, delighting in thinking about Spring/Summer designs and the colours that fit. The yarn I picked out is for a Spring garland that I want to make - I'm thinking cute little primrose type flowers.

And that huuuuuuge, delicious colour chart on my table is for DMC embroidery threads, and shows all 500 colours. Five Hundred! It is a thing of inspirational beauty, and has caused much swooning and stroking I can tell you. I had to pick out just eight shades (!) which was a major challenge - after a lot of umming and ahhing I managed to narrow it down to seventeen and I'll make my final selection when I have the actual skeins in my hand.

I have to tell you I'm so happy to be back in the Attic and have really appreciated your kindness in response to my last post - thank you so much. This past week in particular has been very challenging as I've faced some difficult decision making, but there are brighter times up ahead I'm sure of it.

Oh.......I've just remembered something else I've been meaning to share too......

....I'm going to be back at Black Sheep Wools in Warrington, Cheshire on Saturday and I'm so looking forward to it. Do you remember I was there last year? I had a fabulous time and can't wait to step back into the craft barn again. It would be lovely to see you if you can make it, I'll be there with with my yarny friends Christine and Emma and alllllllllll my blankets for a day full of crochet, colour and chatter.

BLACK SHEEP WOOLS : Saturday 7th March : 10-4

It'll be a fun, informal day and it's free to attend, more details about the location etc are on the Black Sheep Wools website >> ((here))

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Comments

[Krick]

Really very beautiful scenery ^ _ ^

[Sandy]

Hi Lucy, love your blog. These are universally difficult times. Combined with personal ones the mind can be a demon. I am writing to ask for your help. We are a small community with a relatively high number of elderly people and I think (rightly or wrongly) we could do with a cheer up in these unknown times. So I thought some of your big colourful mandalas would be a hugely happy thing for people to see and make. I can’t remember if it was your patterni or a link to some other that you posted but I wondered if you could share it again to bring us all a bit of joy xx

[Charlotte]

Just wishing that you and your family are safe from this virus The blanket pattern is another great one from you and I just wish for you to be happy, healthy and crochet on.!!!!

[Libby Parker]

So good to see you back at Attic 24 again. You don't know me, but I and tons of others feel our day is brightened by seeing your slice of home through your expert photography, your pics of all your woodland and seashore jaunts and hearing of your family. Your projects are always inspiring. Right now, I'm crocheting a shawl for my DIL. But I have crocheted two blankets and lots of throws using your patterns and buying you coffee. I hope your troubles are fleeting and your friends keep you sane.

[Pat]

End of winter and end of big project blues can be treacherous. At the end of my last big project, I bought enough yarn to make 5 blankets!!
What was I thinking?!?!
Have made one large baby blanket, a cardigan to match, some boottees, one single bed blanket almost done, along with another baby blanket and a toddler sized blanket.
PHEW!
And busily planning my next blankets, cat rugs and beanies.

[Angela-Southern- USA]

Spring cannot come soon enough!!!!! I've been doing some cross stitching lately and my eldest daughter as well, she just bought a Van Gogh starry night kit, so many lovely shades of blue in that one. Have a great weekend! xxxxxxxxxx

[kazzy]

Thank you kindly Lucy ;), for the comment on my blog, really made me smile...I always love visiting your part of the country on your beautiful, colourful blog, it cheers me up with a warm cosy feeling...I too love to start seeing the changes from winter to Spring...The little changes seem big changes at this time of year...I always go by my hill top apple trees and when they start to blossom that officially says Spring has sprung...a while yet though for that my trees are bare...The woodlands near you are beautiful and remind me of all the wonders that are found within them...I love the smell of wild garlic.
The walk and landscape around you is breath taking and the canal walk...I love your colourful yarny crochet , you are so talented ;)

[Linda penney]

i was sent over by Amanda flower from stamping blog hoping to learn more about crochet just starting out can knit

[Rosemary Dargan]

Hello Lucy,

You brighten my day when I read your musings of your life. I love your crochet blankets and wish I could crochet as well as you. I have seen two pictures of dahlias in a newspaper magazine and I thought of you, but I don't know how to send them to you. My phone won't let me copy the pictures. I'm sure you'd love them. Much happiness to you, Lucy, from Rosie in Melbourne, Australia.

[Libby]

See you at Black Sheep on Saturday xx

[Daphne goodenough]

Yes Lucy I think we have all had quite enough of the gloom and doom of the weather, and what is happening with our wonderful world. Hope you will be able to make the right decisions with what is happening in your life, winter is obviously the worst time for you, it is hard to find joy in the mud and rain of life, hope your Ray of sunshine appears very soon, meanwhile enjoy your trip to Blacksheep wool that will certainly give you a boost. My thoughts are with you, you give all your bloggin friends so much pleasure love love love your tales of life Daphne xx

[Mary W]

WHAT WAS THAT COFFEE AND MOSS blanket peeking out under the Black Sheep in the very last picture? That is my idea of the perfect blanket. I don't remember seeing that limited palette before and absolutely NEED to see it and it's wonderful wavy rounds. Sure enjoyed today's post!

[Linkatee]

What a lovely uplifting post on your blog when we've had such a lot of miserable grey rainy weather. The view from your attic is lovely, but of course you live in a very beautiful part of the country. Your blankets look lovely. Although I'm really a knitter, I can appreciate the colours you use in your crochet, I'm happy to say that at long last I've mastered your Harmony Granny square. There's hope for me yet.

[Elise]

I just love your photography and your descriptions of your beautiful corner of the world. Your blog brings such cheer and happiness to others. I hope your difficult decisions will soon be made and that it brings you peace. Here's to spring arriving soon!!

["Wisps of Words"]

Checking to see, if my comment information, is stored here. So I don't have to fill it in, every time I want to comment.

I hope!!!!!!

But I do not thing sooooo....... -sigh-

Do you care, that you lose Readers, this way...?

['Wisps of Words']

What a beautiful area, you live in!

These photos are simply lovely.

Gentle hugs....

Ohhhh, we have to fill in info, to comment here. I do hope that your blog, keeps our info. So those who want to comment, do not have to keep filling in all their information...!

[Pat Ormond]

Hi Lucy
Hope you’re improving. It’s lovely to read your post and imagine your walk in the woods. I am disabled and suffer from SAD so getting out when I can is very important in these wet windy days. What’s kept me going is the beautiful dahlia blanket that you generously designed for us. Sitting in the conservatory in the light with such vibrant colours has cheered me up.
Thank you for all the joy you bring us with your blogs and designs. Xx

[June Reid]

Keep going in the right direction xxx

[Jacqui]

Ahh thats a lovely start to my day! I really should take a leaf out of your book and get out in the fresh air but a car ride for me!?!? To get to some.
I am swooning at that chart, I got the wooly one from wool warehouse and love choosing the colours,have you noticed there is no decent purple??
Looking fwd to your new projects thankyou for yet another beautiful blog 😊

[Sandra]

Wasn't there flooding in your area? I know Yorkshire was hit very hard along with much of the UK. We got literally three weeks of non stop heavy rain. We had a couple of very tense days and sleepless nights hoping that we were not going to flood. We were fortunate but it breaks my heart seeing the flooding in the news. The sunshine is not anything that has been putting in an appearance here. Nor snow actually despite the cold. Just glad and happy the rain has stopped.

[Teresa Kasner]

Hello from Oregon, USA, Lucy! I hope your difficult time passes and you make the best decisions for yourself. We're here for you! As I was reading this post, my husband saw your striped jug full of daffodils and said.. "Is that what started all of this jug business?" LOL! Well.. kind of.. I saw your Cornishware bowl and have wanted a piece of it for years from seeing yours.. so I found one and now it's sitting next to me stuffed full of bright yellow daffodils. (Photo on my blog post - my Dahlia Ta-Dah post!) You continue to inspire me with crocheting, decorating and general lifestyle joy.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Bonnie Brocklehurst]

Lucy you have a beautiful heart that is why we all love you. I taught myself how to crochet because I discovered your Attic 24 blog on Pinterest, I just fell in love with all the gorgeous coloured blankets, so far I have completed the two Hsrmony blankets, love them so much, thank you for inspiring me. Hope you have a better week, Spring will come to you soon, I am snowed in here in Newfoundland, one of our worst winters but I am enjoying being in my cosy room doing crocheting.

[Kristine S]

Love to you & yours, special creative lady! Your colours & pix of YOUR area are always a cheer to me... hopefully all of your special "followers" help you to cheer up, when you need it. Roll on October, & more colours, more inspiration, & hopefully a view of your Yorkshire in person for me beforehand xxx Kristine

[Pat]

Enjoyed reading this and the photos are beautiful. That colour chart is amazing and I look forward to seeing your spring garland. xx

[CJ]

Sorry it's been a difficult week Lucy, I hope the brighter times come along very quickly. That's an amazing array of embroidery colours, I shall look forward to seeing what you make. CJ xx