Winter to Spring

A couple days ago I spent some time faffing with my mantel and changing over my seasonal decorations - I can't tell you how good it feels to pack away winter! I know it's all inside my head really as the weather here is still pretty cold and winter-like, but nevertheless the Attic is now in Spring mode and I am majorly happy about it.

My Winter mantel was actually quite minimal, but I thought you might like to see what has now gone into hibernation. Some greetings cards, my Annabel Burton canvas, and my winter balls garland (thinking I might make something new for winter 2020, using patterns from my winter wreath - frosty leaves, snowdrops, snowflakes?) I admit I was quite sad to pack away my stitchy decs as I have loved having them on my mantel to cheer up the dark season.

In the above photo, middle left, you can see the Winter cross stitch I completed a few months ago, which I absolutely love. This is from a set of four designs by the very clever ladies at Cotton and Twine - Autumn and Winter have already been released and can be purchased as kits, and Spring and Summer are still to come. I'm going to write a separate blog post to show you more of these cross stitching projects (I've completed the Autumn one too), but in the meantime there are some lovely photos on their website ((here))

The two stitchy hoops came in the Craftpod subscription boxes which I am lucky enough to receive every quarter. They are such a treat, each one containing two projects as well as some beautiful and very thoughtful treats. The hoop on the right was part of the Winter 2017 box (which I completed in February 2018). The hoop on the left was a simple cross stitch designed by me (oooo, super proud of that!) for the Winter 2019 box. It was a wonderful commission to work on and I can honestly say I adored designing and stitching that little scandi inspired cross stitch.

Spring Craftpods plopped through the letterbox a few weeks ago, and I think this little serene embroidery is an absolute delight. I can't wait to get stitching - I find the slow, meditative qualities of embroidery and cross stitch are very well suited to these quiet, introverted stay-home days.

When I unpacked my Spring bag it seemed a bit sparse, but that's OK as I have plans to add more springy-inspired crafty things this year. The canvas is another original by Annabel Burton (I've collected quite a few over the years and absolutely love love love them). The two postcards are of Van Gogh paintings which I bought in the Van Gogh museum last year when we had a short Spring trip to Amsterdam.

Do you remember this Spring embroidery hoop I stitched two years ago? It was designed by the very talented Lolli and Grace as a "stitch-a-long" project for Mollie Makes in 2018. It was so nice to re-discover it again, to unpack it and bring it out into its rightful season once again. I really, really like seasonal crafting....can you tell?!

As part of my Winter-Spring faff-around, it was time to swap over my candelabras. I often get asked about these as I always have one of them on my mantel and light candles most evenings.  The one on the left is my Autumn/Winter one and came from the Swedish company Gudrun Sjödén. The one on the right is my Spring/Summer one and is from the Danish company Rice DK. 

I've had both of them for a good many years - they were quite expensive to buy, but the amount of pleasure they give me every day is huge and I really love them.

So this is how my mantel is looking at the moment - it's still a little bare, but I am definitely going  to be adding some more seasonal stitchy stuff this month.

The thing that is noticeably missing though is a garland of some sorts. I have my Autumn Garland and my Winter Balls, but so far nothing for Spring. So what to do? Well....................................

..............time to gather in some Spring colours and get my crochet hook on the job. Of course! The colours above are leftovers from making my Sweet Pea and Dahlia blankets, and I absolutely love them. I know the orange (Spice) is a bit bright for Spring, but I'll be mostly using this colour to add a little detail to my flower centres.

The greens are from the Sweet Pea palette :: Cypress, Pistachio and Meadow.

Then I've got Mustard, Saffron, Lemon and Cream.

Spice, Pomegranate, Shrimp, Boysenberry and Magenta make up the darker end of the floral palette.

Apricot, Fondant, Blush, Powder Pink and Clematis make up the lighter end.

I had in mind to make some Spring flowers and leaves, something quite simple which would look great against the dark wood background of my fireplace mantel.

The flowers that immediately came to mind were primulas and polyanthus - I wonder how many of you remember the PPP Project??????!!!!!

(that post is HERE, if you need reminding - goodness me, even I needed reminding, it was eleven years ago!!!!!!)

There are polyanthus in abundance around my neighbourhood at the moment, piled high at the supermarket and spilling out of front garden pots and planters everywhere you look. They are beautifully cheery and colourful, and I think the perfect inspiration for a bit of Lockdown hooky activity.

It took me many hours to perfect my design, which included a brisk walk through the woods where I managed to alter the design in my head, rushing home to immediately try out my new fresh-air improved version.

Want to see the end result?

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..........ta-dah!!! I'm so so pleased with it!! It was difficult to get the middle bit to look like a star, but I managed it in the end and love how effective it is. I already know it's going to be great fun trying out different colour combinations.

I'm also making a load of very simple little cream flowers, loosely inspired by Hawthorn blossom which is just starting to bloom up here in North Yorkshire. A little while ago I came across a marvellously ingenious idea where the designer had crocheted small yellow flowers, but instead of trying to crochet a different coloured centre she simply painted them in! How bloomin' clever is that?! Many, many thanks to Kate of "Just Pootling" on Instagram for sharing this idea, I can't believe how effective it is. Kate used water soluble artists pencils to colour/paint her little mini blooms which isn't something I had to hand. So I had to resort to using a less sophisticated option and raided the Little People's felt tip pen pot - oh, it worked a treat!

Hahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just so chuffed with these little beauties! 

As I only finished the design for these flowers late yesterday afternoon, I've not had time to make that many just yet.

Awwwwwwwwww, I already adore them! Oh, I forgot to mention, I also designed some rounded leaves to go with the flowers - in real life, polyanthus leaves are way bigger than the actual flowers, but I only wanted a little bit of simple greenery to poke out underneath.

So this is roughly the layout I'm thinking of for my Spring garland.... I think it's going to look very cute once it all comes together. Only another  30 flowers and 30 leaves to make.........I'll get right on it!

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ps, yes, of course I'll be making a tutorial for the flowers and will be sharing the pattern here on my blog. You're very welcome!!!!!!

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Comments

[Marion Jones]

So loving catching up with your blogs again Lucy. Your photos and posts are such a tonic and especially in the present circumstances. Thank you. Keep safe.

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[Penny Peberdy]

Spectacular! Just what we need to cheer us up in these gloomy confinement day! I can't wait for the pattern!

[Avie More]

Have tried to subscribe to your blog but the subscription button doesn’t work. Thanks heaps xx

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[Jan]

They look really lovely, you are very clever!

[Christine Emberson]

So gorgeous, I feel so inspired to do a garland now, thank you and can't wait for the flower pattern. x

[Doris]

oh, how adorable! I love these flowers. Primulus are some of my favourites, somehow for me they symbolize the beginning of spring more than any other flower. Can't wait for the tutorial. Thank you so much for brightening these difficult times. Lots of love from Munich, Germany,please stay safe. xxx

[NORA McGRANN]

Gorgeous as ever Lucy..loving all your ideas for using up left over yarns....
Thanks so much...keep safe!
Nora xx

[Karyn Brown]

Thanks Lucy, just so pretty!
We are heading in to winter but I think some lovely flower diversion might just be the thing for me whilst we stay at home.
Stay safe xxx
Karyn

[Jools]

I do love your mantel decorating, Lucy - and with all this enforced extra time on my hands I think I might wait for your primula pattern and have a go at brightening up our mantelpiece a little :-)

[RENATA PROCHAZKOVA]

Dear Lucy,
i love your blog. It is always a source of inspiration and joy for me. I admire you very much and thank you for your ideas and designs that you share with us.
Your new flowers are absolutely amazing, they look alive. I'm looking forward to the tutorial. Thank you and God bless you and your family.

[Diane Smith]

How very pretty your flowers are Lucy. The finished garland will look lovely.

[Barbara W.]

Oh, how pretty! Now I don't know whether to dig out some cross stitch or wait for your flower tutorial!

[Mary W]

Perfect project and blossom choice! They make me happy just looking at yours so when I get mine - I know it will be love. Perfect!

[Tracey Ogden]

These are absolutely stunning

[Miss Daisy]

Good morning Lucy , how are you and yours ? Pray y'all are staying safe. Love your flowers , you put so much into them. I'm so thankful you are posting more as yours is my favorite , I look forward to it a lot. Y'all be safe and have an awesome , safe weekend.

[Dette O'Connor]

Super , Just what i need to get my cro jo back .
A cute little pattern that hopefully I can actually finish. Thanks in advance for the tutorial.
Dette.

[Carol Ferett]

These little flowers are so, so gorgeous. Thank you for sharing. The little white flowers with a touch of felt tip is inspired. Lovely !!

[Carol Langley]

Thank you for this lovely colourful cheering blog Lucy. Your posts always lift my spirits with their colour and lovely photos. Your mantel always looks lovely. The crochet flowers are really pretty and I’m totally miffed that I can’t crochet.

[Alison Ashfield]

Oh Lucy. A breath of spring in glorious textile. My daily dip into Attic24 never fails to lift the spirits. Thank-you, so very much. Xa

[Gill Croket]

They look lovely and your post is an inspiration. Thank you.

[Emily]

They're so pretty. Love those little flowers.

[Lise]

Pretty 😄

[Sue]

Thank you Lucy. Loving the post and the inspiration. Just finishing your lively dahlia blanket with wool I have left and looking for something else to do that is cheerful in these difficult times. Stay safe