On my Table :: February

I've been thinking a lot about creative spaces just lately, the places where I find myself sitting most often to write or crochet. Much of my creative thinking happens when I'm outside walking, but in this season of cold, grey weather there are many hours spent indoors working on ideas and projects. It got me reminiscing about the studio room I used to work from on the first floor of a small local café, and how much I miss that quiet little space I used to occupy.

I first landed at Coopers Café exactly twelve years ago in February 2013, and you can read the whole story in my archives ((here)). For almost two years I shared one of the larger upstairs rooms with my friend Tracy, then at the start of 2015 she moved on and I relocated into the second smaller room.

The photos that I'm showing you today are from 2015 when I was settled into the small room on my own, ohh, I did so love working there! You can see more photos of my studio ((here)).

I had an old pine table in the centre of the room that I found on eBay and this is where I designed and worked on a good many of my crochet projects between 2015 and 2020. The above photo was taken at the beginning of March 2020, and of course this was just a few weeks before the covid pandemic threw us into lockdown. I didn't know at the time that this would be the last time I would be able to work from my studio, because many months later when hospitality businesses slowly started opening their doors again, this room was reclaimed by the café to provide an additional seating area and it has stayed that way ever since.

It was a wonderful seven years and I often think back and feel massively grateful for that time and place.

These days I'm a stay-at-home creative, and I'm generally very thankful for the ease of my working from home life. Unfortunately I don't have a dedicated work space here at home which is something I do struggle with on a daily basis. I mostly work from the dining room table at the back of the house which is part of our open plan living/dining space. As this is the only room we have for eating/relaxing, I'm sure you can imagine how well used it is by the whole family and how difficult it can be to find any kind of quiet, thinking/creative head space within it. I make do though, and try really hard not to moan about my situation (mostly!) because, well, I do really enjoy being at home.

When I was looking at my accumulated photos from the past few weeks, I realised how many of them were taken at the table, and thought it would be fun to share them with you...

I eat here of course, a solo breakfast and lunch and then in the evening we all sit at the table and eat together as a family. It's something I hold very close to my heart and LOVE the fact that my family really enjoy my home cooking and that we have the ritual of sitting down to eat and talk together every day.

I nearly always have flowers on the table, usually a cheap and cheerful supermarket bunch which comes home in my bag with the food shop. I had daffodils throughout January and now in February I've switched over to tulips....

....which do seem to last well and still look fantastic as they slowly fade away.

At the moment I've got these fancy-schmancy tulips in an old stripy jug, my goodness they are pretty. They cost me three pounds fifty and I am so in love with them.....

....I mean, just looook how glorious those gentle colours are! Floral colour will forever inspire me and I love having flowers nearby while I'm working or eating at the table.

I often light a candle when I'm sat here, especially at breakfast time when it can still feel quite gloomy in the mornings during winter. I'm enjoying this scented sea salt candle which was a Christmas gift, it smells wonderful and really does remind me of being beside the sea.

In fact I've been missing the sea since my trip to Dorset earlier in the month, and what with the seasalt candle and the little collection of pebbles and sea glass which had gathered, I was inspired to crochet something in coastal shades.

I delved into the Cupboard of Doom to find my bag of DK cottons (a mixture of Ricorumi and Sirdar Happy), picked out a bluesy colour palette and started crocheting a small mandala.

Mandalas are incredibly satisfying and mindful things to make when you have a creative itch that needs scratching and are the perfect vehicle for colour play. I followed my own Yuletide Mandala pattern which is free on my blog ((here))....

....although I made it a bit smaller than my original design, following as far as round 8, then skipping ahead to rounds 12&13 to create the scalloped edging.  It didn't take me long, less than an hour, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Sometimes I forget that I can crochet something just for the sheer joy of the making process.

I often get asked about the crochet mats that sit on my table under the jugs of flowers, I have a collection of them made over the years in different colours. Some of them use the Yuletide Mandala pattern shown here, and others use a pretty mandala pattern I created back in 2014 which is called "Attic24 Mandala Wheel" if you're looking for it in my pattern list.

Working with these gorgeous seascape colours reminded me of this greetings card that sits on my book shelf, I absolutely adore it. It's called "The Strollers" by the artist Dee Nickerson, and I found the card last year on an outing to Salts Mill. Dee doesn't seem to have a website or be on social media at all, but I found a wonderful little write up and an inspiring selection of images on the card publishers website ((here)). I really love her work.

The strollers.....ahhh, how that speaks to my heart! Beach walking is one of my absolute favourite things to do.....

....and it's only three weeks since I was down in Dorset and had the pleasure of walking the sandy shoreline in Weymouth. I miss being by the sea, even in the depths of winter when the skies are heavy and grey and a strong wind blows. Maybe I love it best of all then, there is something so exhilarating about a long walk on a deserted winter beach.

You can guess what's coming to mind now, can't you? A day trip to the coast of course, I'm pretty predictable with my wants and needs. Maybe I'll manage to persuade J to come with me to St Anne's and we can be The Strollers in real life.

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Comments

[Barbara]

I love Dee Nickerson's work. Spotted her straight away up there!

[Frances Anne]

P.S. My local grocery store in Rochester, Minnesota, is selling bunches of daffodils labeled, “Origin: UK”. I immediately pictured your lovely table!

[Frances Anne]

Thank you for another beautiful post full of colorful inspiration. Which, of course, is the inspiration that warms my heart more than any other. Funny, your table with the solid granny squares laid out is exactly what my bed looks like right now. I hope to make enough of them for a blanket for my grandson. As I’m still waiting for my furniture to arrive to my new house (14 months on!) my crafting, dining, reading, TV watching, not to mention sleeping “studio” is two Ikea stackable twin beds pushed together in one of the bedrooms. It has come to feel like a life raft of sorts for the cat and me. I always loved walking and sitting on the empty winter beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, when my brother lived there. You are such a kindred spirit, Lucy!

[Michelle Offord]

Love the glimpses into your world, thank you for sharing.
Found more about the artist of the beautiful card
https://beyondthepage.co.uk/artists/dee-nickerson

[Nancy Robinson]

I also remember your studio, I loved the Piece of furniture you saved from the trash. Creative people definitely need a space to be creative and just let their mind wander. I do so appreciate all the little projects you do between blankets. I know you created a pansy flower for one of your retreats but was never able to find it again. I am hoping you will make more pansies. I too love being by the seaside, I believe it feeds the soul.

[April]

I too remember when you set up your studio and reading this I couldn't help but be a bit stunned that it was so long ago. It hadn't really hit me how long I have been following your blog and making your wonderful blankets. I truly look forward to your posts and they are always a bright spot that I so appreciate. I hope you keep the blog going FOREVER! :)

[gina in alabama]

I loved reading about your studio days back when they were happening! It was around that time that I had (for the first and probably last time ever) an office (formerly a large closet) with a Real Live Door! I decorated it with art I printed out and pieces of canvas embroidery tacked up. It was a little oasis of color in a beige-grey world. People would pass by and like to look at it. Sigh. Love the blue palette too, more please? Perhaps a long scarf? I loved your flower-scarf from some time back.

[Karen Dodgson]

Ah Lucy, seaside strolling in winter is the best! I feel constantly thankful that iilive in St Annes, and walk along the seafront almost every day. Even today, with the wind howling and the rain beating down, I walked down for my volunteer shift at the RNLI shop and felt immensely grateful to have the seaside to myself! It was hard to believe that yesterday we walked up to Fairhaven Lake and sat in the sunshine with an ice cream! Whatever the weather, I’d rather be by the sea than anywhere else on earth.. I hope you get your seaside fix soon x

[Brenda Drury]

I loved reading about your special little creative studio space Lucy, it transported me away from a wet, dreary and windy day in the Midlands. I currently have a hankering for a creative space of my own to crochet and sew and I found your colourful room a lovely source of inspiration. I love the colours in your latest mandala, a wonderful reminder of the seaside. Thank you for sharing.
Best Wishes, Brenda x

[Jill]

Thankyou for your look into the past. I read and cherished your journey into your lovely studio. I could feel the joy of cleaning floors and painting walls and all the hours of chatter with a like minded friend. So although it's no longer your studio, oooh what memories. You seem to have a charmed life. Thankyou again for sharing. It makes me feel like I'm there with you. Much love Jill xx

[JaneD]

My husband and I visited Skipton in Feb 2020 and had coffee at Coopers. You very generously showed us your studio (I did bring you tulips!), which was lovely and I understand why you miss it so much. I have my yarn and WIP stash in my son’s old room now he’s left home, but still prefer to work in the living room as it’s brighter and warmer.
Love the seaside - hoping to get away soon for some wild salt air.

[Carolyn]

Thank you so much Lucy for this lovely post and sharing the link to your beautiful table mats. I too love a jug of simple flowers and a really nice candle close to hand, particularly during these grey winter months! I visited your little studio at Cooper's when I came to Yarndale in the early years - such a colourful, calm and relaxed creative space with a lovely view. No wonder they were such happy days for you. xxx

[Nora McGrann]

Another lovely blog Lucy

Loving the colours you’ve used.

Thank you for always sharing

Nora 🦋💕

[Jackie Farrow]

I love beach strolling and hunting and collecting seaglass, pottery pieces and unusual stones when I am. Especially over in the UK. We are heading over again in March, so looking forward to it. Would be lovely to see a photo of all your mandalas all together. Jx

[Debbi Robertson]

What beautiful blues and greens in your seaside photo! And doesn't that little Yorkie lend just the right touch? I hope you and J do indeed get to be the strollers in real life. Sending love.

[Angela]

Such a lovely reminiscent post. I remember when you first set up your studio all those years ago! If I remember correctly I think you may have painted the walls and got the room ready before you "moved" in.

Enjoy going to the seaside at St Anne's 🙂

Angela xx