Sometimes life happens at top speed and all you can do is hang on for the ride and hope that at some point the pace will slow and become a little more manageable. That's where I'm at in this month of September, and yeah....I'm hanging on in there.
I'm squeeeeezing this blog post into the tiniest of time gaps - digging out a niche so that I can touch base with you before I leave for the train station in ooooo, about 45 minutes.
It was the autumn equinox on Saturday and to celebrate, I bought myself some sunflowers. Four glorious stems for £4, and yes, they made me very happy indeed.
The crochet bag in the photo above is called the "Island Bag" and is the project I designed to teach on my recent two crochet retreats in Madeira. Such a joyful bag which now carries so many beautiful memories of time, place, and gorgeous people.
I cut some eucalyptus to pop in with my sunflowers, and it still blows my mind to think that I have an actual eucalyptus tree growing in a big pot in my yarden. I haven't killed it, and it's thriving and reaching for the skies, and it's my very own tree. I adore it.
So yes, I was in Madeira for the second time earlier this month, a lush week spent crocheting and jaunting around the island with the loveliest ladies. It was such a treat, the tropical warmth and light really does suit me down to the ground.
I came home last week (yes, only a week ago, I can hardly believe it) and hit the ground running. I finished off the final few rounds of my Starbright blanket border just in time to spend some gruelling hours/days glued to my laptop while I worked on writing out the pattern. It's the part of making crochet blankets that doesn't hold much joy for me, but the end result is always worth it a million times over. It means I get to share my designs with you, and have the privilege of seeing you enjoy making your own blankets. It's worth the pain of a lengthy Word document.
STARBRIGHT - this is the name of my latest creation, and there is a long story to go with this blanket. I don't have time to tattle it out to you just now, but I'm looking forward to sharing it with you next week. It's a delicious colour palette which has helped save my sanity as I've had such a trying few months dealing with my Dad's health.
The past few days I started work on a striped blanket using the same fifteen colours and ohmygosh it is absolutely beautiful. You can see in the above photo I'm working my sampler, but I started on an actual blanket yesterday because, well, I need the therapy quite honestly.
Starbright yarn kits with printed pattern included will be in my shop at Wool Warehouse next week - six more sleeps.....eeeeep! I'm the usual bundle of nerves and excitement. This blanket represents a lot of emotion for me, it's like my heart is laid out there in those squares.
Tuesday 3rd October, 8am I think. I do really love a good all singing, all dancing ta-dah moment.
Off I go again in a very short while, back on the rails for yet another jaunt down to Dorset. My goodness, it's a lot. My Dad's health has deteriorated a lot in the past few months and here I am trying to make the hardest decisions for his wellbeing. Dementia is totally rubbish, in every way.
I'm going for a short trip this time, just a few days to sort out some emergency stuff, so I'll be home at the weekend ready to work on the Starbright tutorial and get everything ready for next Tuesday.
Sorry this is so rushed.....I'll chat to you more next week
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ps it's the first of October on Sunday and I'm going to be here each day to give you a colourful dose of Atticness - Blogtober of course......that's good news I'd say? x
pps I really gotta dash, my train leaves in half an hour and I need to eat something first. Byeeeeee xxxxxxxxxxxx
