Feeling Thankful

Thank you so much for all your wonderful feedback on the Canalboat blanket design and colours, and an especially huge thank-you-thank-you to all of you who are jumping on board and preparing to make this blanket along with me. I am so excited for it all, I absolutely LoVe CAL Season and it always makes January feel like a joyful start to a new year.

I just quickly wanted to tell you a little bit more about the painted wooden hearts in the photo above, because they deserve a mention, aren't they lovely? I bought them to add some pretty detail to some of my blanket photos and honestly the colours couldn't be more perfect as they match my blanket stripes so beautifully. I bought them from a very talented painter called Corinne who sells them via her Etsy Shop "CraftnMake", you can find them online ♥ HERE ♥

After the slightly crazy start to the week where my whole creative soul was immersed in all things Canalboat, this end of the week is looking more peace-filled and I am feeling ever so thankful for it all. I love both sides to my life - the high energy buzz of working, designing and creating and being fully connected to you all in our online community, and then the rhythmic, routine days where I am quietly going about the business of simply being Me. Both make me happy...reeeeally happy actually, and I think there is no better feeling than taking a good long look at how your days and weeks are flowing and be really content with the shape and feel of them.

The above photo gives an idea of the happy chaos behind the scenes of my recent photos, I tell you, I most definitely don't work in studio conditions! At this time of year I've found the best light is upstairs in Little Lady's bedroom as her room faces east with a large sash window, and the light in the mornings is generally good even on dull grey days. The only trouble is that she has her bed right in front of the window, so I set up a white wooden board which I prop on her windowsill, then proceed to crawl around arranging things and carrying out my photography on my knees. Once I'd finished and was about to tidy up, I climbed off the bed and took a good look and laughed out loud to myself, what a crazy mess, rather like the inside of my brain!! 

The blanket on the other hand is not a crazy mess at all, it is somehow beginning to look rather brilliant I have to say. You'll have to trust me when I say these bold stripes have been an intense challenge to handle, rather like a very wilful and spirited child who does not want to hold your hand. It has given me lots of surprises already and I'm enjoying it massively.

I'm just about to start working on a second sample to try out a colourwash idea with these colours so I'll let you know how that goes. I didn't think it was going to be possible to do it, but my Creative Mind refused to give in and I think I might've found a solution....it's going to be a repeating colourwash, which I think might suit those of you making smaller baby/lap blankets, or those who wish to work at a faster pace and out-hook the CAL schedule. 

The days that surround a blanket pack launch are tiring as I put a huge amount of mental and creative energy into my work. Between my blog, Instagram, my Facebook page and three different Facebook groups, there are a lot of platforms to monitor, questions to answer and comments to read. I am used to doing it after all these years and know that for about a week I'm not going to sleep all that well (busy brain that won't switch off) and will most likely feel a little bit weary. I've felt it this past week and have taken extra care to rest when I can and slow myself down a bit. I'm very grateful to be in charge of my days so that I can choose a speed setting that suits me - right now I'm pootling in the slow lane and yes, I'm thankful for it.

I'm enjoying eating well and making myself healthy and yummy meals, and although I can feel the tiniest twinge of a cold trying to creep into my system, so far I'm successfully fighting it off. I eat lots of fruit and veggies each day, and am especially enjoying the sweet clementines which are so good at this time of year. I had to share the above one with you, because its excessive leafage (complete with small branch) really did make me laugh!

Slow walking continues to form the backbone of my days, and the weather has been wonderful this week. Very little wind and I've been really aware of the stillness in the air which has a lovely calming effect somehow.

I took the above two photos on my way to the supermarket as I was crossing the canal via a pedestrian bridge. Along the short stretch of canal where I walk most days, there are four bridges - one of them is a pedestrian footbridge and the other three are road bridges. I've been reading up on the history of the Leeds-Liverpool canal which has been interesting, it's actually really old, much older than I thought. The part where I live was the very first part to be dug in 1773, and it took 50 years to complete the whole of it (127 miles in total).

Today I have changed scenery, leaving the canals behind for a bit which feels amazingly good. I spent the morning rushing around making preparations and then at midday I was on my way, enjoying the gentle rhythm of the train tracks as I travelled to the north-east.....

...arriving in one of my favourite places just as the light was starting to fade. 

Ahhhhh, the deepest of contented happy sighs!! I'm here in Saltburn for a few days of quiet, introverted solo time to recharge and re-energise, just what I need. 

I walked into the town to buy some groceries as I'm staying in a little holiday house and will be mostly cooking for myself while I'm here. Saltburn is so, so quirky and old fashioned and delightful, I dearly love seaside places which have a huge dollop of Victorian faded charm.

It was wonderful to see it all lit up for christmas, so sparkly and festive with looooads of lights absolutely everywhere. I completely love that the town has gone for colourful lights which look very much like the old fashioned ones I remember as a child in my home town in Dorset, I'll try and take some more photos for you tomorrow to show you. 

I'm so happy to be here, it's a deep down kind of happiness which I feel right in my soul. I've brought my crochet with me so I'll be working on that tomorrow (colourwash excitement!), and as I'm here on my own I expect there will also be plenty of beach walking and good coffee and the usual seaside pootling which lights me up. I can't wait.

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Comments

[Kristin Eoff]

I think I found the answer to my question. Is that your Flowerpress blanket in the second photo? I love it!

[Kristin Eoff]

I always enjoy your projects and lovely photos. Is there a name and pattern for the pastel Granny Square blanket in the second photo above?

[gina in alabama]

So fortunate you are to be so close to the coast! I'm 8 hours away by car (no trains alas) at the closest, hundreds and hundreds of miles in other directions (central alabama). Thank you for sharing Saltburn with us! So looking forward to the Return of the Light, its grey, drippy and dismal here. Too dark to stitch. Not much longer now!

[Debbie Maddock]

Well I've got my yarn pack now and I am patiently waiting on the CAL in January to start yipee ! This will be a lovely project to kick start my crocheting hobby again. I had a break for a while as I injured my hand a few years ago on holiday and it became uncomfortable to hold the yarn ( nerve damage caused hypersensitivity) however I'm so pleased that recently I picked up my hook and that feeling is now subsiding enough for me to crochet again comfortably! I'm like a kid in a sweetshop now lol. So I have jumped right in and got my pack waiting to go. I do like reading all about what you get up to, your pictures are beautiful. Saltburn is very nice, last time we were there, a very long time ago, they were filming a ITV drama and the beach was closed! Enjoy your well deserved break. Happy hooking Debbie x

[Louise Mondi]

Lucy. Very excited about canal boat crochet along. This is my first cal but I’m working on the harbor blanket now. I’m just wondering which granny square blanket is in your post under the cup of coffee. The colors are lovely. Thank you for all you do. Louise

[Ann Gurney]

Loving all your photos. Glad you enjoyed Saltburn, I live very close to there, its a very special place, especially in winter.
I have made wuite a few of your blankets, but never followed a cal before, so pack at the ready, I am looking forward to January.

[Debbi Robertson]

Ah, for a solo beach-side retreat, just a short train ride away! I know you'll make the best of it and enjoy every salty moment. It's admirable, the way you take such good care of your heart and soul.

[Crafty Cath]

Yey! A canalboat blanket! I can't wait to make this. Great colours. I love canal boat artwork.

[Nadine G]

Je vous souhaite un excellent séjour maritime et iodé, de joyeux moments et une avancée sur cette nouvelle couverture. Profitez bien. Bises

[Ruthie]

Dear Lucy, enjoy yourself, rest and recharge, and soak in the salty sea air x

[Alice]

Saltburn is so lovely. Have a restful holiday x x

[Lee]

Enjoy your time away! I hope it helps your brain slow down so you can sleep.

[Linda from Boston]

My yarn kit just arrived. Love Wool Warehouse and DHL!! I’m ready.

[Linda from Boston]

Enjoy the solitude. I admire your sense of adventure by yourself! Be safe.

[Elisa]

Have a wonderful time and rest up, we need your continued crochet brilliance in our world! Ah, another reason for a return visit to your lovely part of the world, Saltburn going on the list now.

[Silvia]

I wished you a happy stay near the sea!!! It´s my happy place too! Thanks for the photos!!

[April]

Looks wonderful! i live right at the edge of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado but I am a coastal girlie at heart. I miss it so. I am looking forward to seeing the color wash version but I'm already in love with the mixed stripes version of this one so it will be a hard decision maybe lol. Thanks for sharing your creative world. I absolutely look forward to your blog posts.

[Pam]

I don’t know if you already know this but on our local TV news programme last week they showed the West Bay Christmas tree. It is made out of lobster pots and buoys. Different but festive.

[Deb]

Saltburn is a glorious place, enjoy! X

[Michelle]

Enjoy your time away x

[Caz]

Enjoy your little seaside break. I bought one of Corrine's wooden hearts a while ago. Mine is green. I have a little selection of canal boats and metal cananal-ware minitures off Ebay. including a lovely canal boat that my husband made. Fitted out and lights up too. Got my name on the side Carol Ann. xx

[Linda]

Hi Lucy. Enjoy Saltburn and some downtime with the next crochet colour sorting.
Loving the Canal boat colours.
Finished the hats with available wool I have. They will be collected tomorrow for the charity.
So back to my Yuletide.
Daughter has asked me to extend a blanket for her flat. I think it was an early hydrangea. Need to see it and source some more wool.
Tried a different craft yesterday…… wreath making from natural materials. Pleased with the result, hung it on my door this morning. Then brought it back indoors this afternoon. So windy and driving rain. Hopefully it will blow through in the next day or two.
Sleep well.
I hope to go off earlier tonight.
Regards Linda x

[Tineke]

15 days, Lucy, in 15 days the light returns. I count down the days for a lot of people who have seasonal affection for light. Almost there. Good for you to take some quiet time away.