Attic24

Just Like Old Times

Helloooooooo!!! It's so lovely to be back in the Attic - as you may know I was away in France last week teaching the second of my two crochet retreats with Stitchtopia Craft Holidays.

I had a wonderful time and am really looking forward to going through alllllll my photos and creating a full blog post to share the details of the retreats with you. It was such a great experience and I absolutely loved spending time in France, it was extremely relaxing and uplifting. By the way, I've had a good number of messages on Instagram and Facebook asking for more details about my crochet retreats - you can visit the Stitchtopia website and sign up for their mailing list, or email them directly and ask to be kept in the loop about what I'll be doing next year. I've agreed to teach a further two weeks next year although at the moment I don't know when or where. It's very exciting and I am already thinking about what projects I'd like to create especially for these very special retreats.

Before I left I wrote up a short post to share with you while I was gone but unfortunately my scheduling timer thingy on Typepad didn't work (grrrr) and the post disappeared into the ether never to be seen again. I don't think you missed out too much (asparagus and ice cream and crochet squares amongst other miscellaneous observations), but even so, I was cross that it didn't work out. Still - I'm back again now, adjusting to life on the domestic home front after being gloriously un-domestic all of last week.

As is often the case after I've been away from home it's taking a while for things to settle. I've felt tired and discombobulated the past few days, and with J working away from home I've felt a tad lonesome too. This morning after dropping Little B at school I decided to walk through the park and visit the farm shop, partly for the fresh air and exercise, partly because I needed to buy something for dinner and partly because I just wasn't ready to go home.

I noticed that the elderflowers are still quite a way away from bloom-time (they were already in flower in France) but if the weather remains warm and sunny then I expect they will be ready to pick in a few weeks time.

I enjoyed the farm shop, it was a quiet time to visit and I took my time selecting produce and choosing something yummy for dinner (ingredients for a Greek salad and a simple Tabbouleh salad, with some sliced ham from the deli counter). I also picked up a latte and what d'you know, a little bit of something sweet fell into my basket from the bakery section too...no idea how that happened.

On my way back through the park I took a seat at my favourite picnic table near the cherry trees and enjoyed my sunshiny morning coffee and pastry very much. So good! It felt like early summer, everything so green and bright and the sun gorgeously warm on my face.

My shopping bag was on the bench next to me as I sat and drank my coffee and I just loved the sight of my farm shop purchases nestled all together. It reminded me of the early days of my blog when I used to share the results of my little shopping trips from time to time - this post was the third post I ever wrote back in March 2008, sharing the contents of my bag after a weekly jaunt through town. 

Tomatoes, asparagus and flat leaf parlsey to feed the family.

Tulips and chocolate to feed my soul.

This chocolate it soooo hard to resist and I've been enjoying it for several years since the farm shop started selling it. It's made by a little company based in York (Choc Affair) and is the most heavenly chocolate you can imagine. The flavours are incredible and as you would expect I am mostly drawn to the Summery ones....Lime and Sea Salt is my absolute fave, but my goodness the Raspberry and Rose is like summer melting in your mouth. A beautiful treat and one I never feel guilty about indulging in. I am worth it!

These tulips were in a bucket at the till and were half price, so of course I found myself picking them up and tucking them in my bag. Pretty irresistible wouldn't you say?

I chose my rainbow striped jug to go with these flamboyant blooms, oh my heart....such a b-e-a-u-tiful sight on my table today!!!

Love love love. LOVE them!

Something else that came home in my bag was a few springs of cow parsley. This stuff grows rampant along the edge of the trees at the top of the park and every year I like to bring a little bit home. I can't have it indoors as the smell is pretty disgusting but I love to have it on my back yard table.

When I came home from my walk it was around 10am and delightfully warm so I set up my outdoor table ready for a few hours of al fresco coffee/chocolate/planner-time/hooky delight. 

I just adore cow parsley and it's one of the many (many, many) reasons that May is my favourite month. It grows in great abundance around here so I don't feel bad about bringing a little bit of it home - those teensy flowers deserve to be observed and enjoyed in detail, they are just a delight.

So...........yarny goings on are currently revolving around my bag of scraps and I couldn't be happier. This colour palette is just so unbelievably pretty and perfect for this time of year, like Spring rolling into early Summer. It's light and fresh, airy and warm and I absolutely adore it. There are thirty colours in total (although a few colours are pretty much all used up now), left overs from the making of my Sweet Pea and Dune blankets. 

Last week while I was away in France I began making some Baby Bunting triangles. I wanted an easy project that could be hooked up whilst chatting and drinking fizzy rosé wine (haha, how very decadent!), and these were perfect. 

I designed this pattern in 2014 for Simply Crochet magazine, and over the years I've made quite a few versions of it (the original version was all in blues). It's a really lovely little pattern (if I do say so myself), three simple rounds of trebles, then a little decorative edging to finish. 

I'm planning on creating a tutorial for the bunting as I've been asked for the pattern a lot over the years and had always meant to find time to share it. Aren't the colours scrumptious? 

So today I finished making fifteen triangles and they are ready to be joined along the top with 3 rows of crochet and finished with some buttons.

I'll try and make time to photograph the step by step tutorial during the next week or so, all being well. I know many of you who have been making blankets along with me will have a stash of left over yarn just like mine, and might perhaps enjoy a little bit of a decorative project.

I've not forgotten about my granny bag either - remember me showing you the beginnings of my squares a few weeks ago? 

I've got enough now (I made 36, although I only need 32, I got a bit carried away), and similar to the bunting I'll be photographing my progress as I join them and create my bag so that I can make a tutorial for you. I am so excited about both of these projects, it feels just like old times when I used to get so caught up in my creative ideas and little decorative makes.

I am currently fighting the ridiculously strong urge to start making another blanket (the addiction is real) and these small projects are helping a lot. Must. Stay. Focused.

What blanket?!

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Supermarket Retail Therapy

Yesterday, around 11.30am or thereabouts I felt a need, a longing.

A Longing Need for some Retail Therapy.

I consider options. Little local shops requiring on foot jaunting? Nope.

Ok, how about Little Shops further afield that would require a car journey? Nope, that was not it either.

Suddenly it comes to me :: what I want is a dose of Big Shop. Department store? Nah, need to go too far for that and there's not enough time left before the school run.

Ok, think, think...ahhhhhhh YES! That's it! Some Large Supermarket Retail Therapy. And better still, one that can be beautifully arrived at by train.

  

I check train times :: 12:02 is the next train, perfect. Ten minutes walk along the canal tow path and I am at my local train station. Ahh, feels good to be on the move and I have a perfect little twelve minute journey along the branch line to look forward to. Too short to crochet anything, so I content myself with the view :: twelve minutes of green, green fields whiz in front of my eyes, and suddenly I arrive at my stop.

 

I have journeyed to a nearby town, an unremarkable little town, a tad shabby it has to be said. But no matter, I am not there for a  picturesque stroll, I am there for one thing only :: The Supermarket :: and it happens to be just a few easy minutes walk from the train station. For those of you in the UK who wish to know, it was a Sainsbury's, which I happen to be quite partial to. In fact, I like all of our large English supermarkets, the ones that sell stuff other than food. I like that these days supermarkets always have a "Seasonal" aisle, and I like that you can plot the year by the contents of these shelves :: Christmas-Valentines-Mothers Day-Easter-Summer Activities-Fathers Day-Back to School-Halloween-Christmas. It's the Retail Calender.

So right now, Easter is finished with and we are in the Summer Activities season :: Barbecues, Gardening, Picnics, Outdoor games, all of which I adore.

I spend oooooh a very happy hour or so in the Supermarket, ignoring the food completely, just visiting the aisles that interest me, putting various items into my basket, making a little heap of frivolous, unnecessary things that delight me. And I confess that I find it an enormous amount of fun.

 

1:30pm and I am back at the station, sitting on the red painted bench waiting for my train home again. My shopping bag is bulging with my frivolous, unnecessary purchases.

 

2pm and I am back home again-home again, jiggety jig.

Cor, what a short but sweet little jaunt that was!

I put the kettle on to make a cup of tea and proceed to unpack my bag......

Want to see?

Can you guess?

Colourful stuff?

Why yes, of course!

Ok.

Go on.

Take a peek.........

 

There.....thats my haul, in all it's colourful, frivolous, unnecessary glory!

 

I fell head over heels in love with these fresias. Could not resist. It's a flower I don't often care a great deal for, but WOW the colour of these petals totally knocked my socks off.

 

There were only ten spindly stems in the bunch, but as has become my habit, I spread them around...a single stem on the bathroom windowsill....

 

....and the rest in a small jug beside my bed, plumped out with some greenery from the garden (most of which are actually weeds I think, but hey, who cares?)

 

I had a quick browse down the length of the magazine aisle and selected Period Living magazine :: not one I am used to but it looks lovely, with some gorgeous homes featured and plenty of inspirational pages to linger over (more of that another time).

 

Some new paper napkins from the Seasonal Summer aisle, these dotty lovelies were delightfully called "Caravan Spot Napkin". Makes me love them all the more knowing that!
 

Some new Sarah Smith cloths too, I have a real cute little stash of these growing in the kitchen. I do of course use them as they are intended, but am also cultivating a plan which involves cutting them into triangles and stitching them into outdoor summer bunting, inspired by Emma of Lavenderhouse. Incidentally, Sarah Smith has blog which is well worth checking out for inspiring ideas, and I was delighted to see Attic24 on their blogroll!

 

Ahhhhh just look at that windmill, doesn't the sight of that make your heart flutter just a little? I found it in amongst the Childrens Gardening paraphernalia, and thought it would look lovely in my bathroom....the Little People are most confused by this idea, they keep trying to take it outside, but in the bathroom it is staying.

 

A packet of seeds popped into my basket too, Morning Glory Grandpa Otts. I grew this variety some years ago and the flowers are absolutely stunning, a very intense bluey purple. It says on the packet that the seeds should be planted March/April, but I'm hoping that early May will be OK.

As well as a magazine, a windmill, flowers and cloths, seeds and napkins, I also bought some hair bands for Little Lady, a pair of sparkly earings, a birthday card and a glass lemon squeezer. And after all that spending, I did sit and have a little think about my Retail Therapy experience. I wondered whether to feel guilty or not for indulging myself in this frivolous, unnecessary way? And I decided that No, there is no need for guilt. That as much as you can find free happiness in a view, a sunset, a comfy chair, some snuggly socks, every so often it's OK to go out and buy oneself some happiness. That's my theory anyways. And after all, I spent less than twenty pounds, so hardly a fortune.

By the way, did you notice the crochet hiding behind the windmill and the seeds?

Well when I got back from my outing yesterday I walked into the living room and saw all my squares laid out on the floor like a big rug. I'd forgotten that I'd been playing with them that morning and had left them there after I'd been taking photos.

What do you think????

I'm 2/3 done with this big blanket now, only another 12 more to make (well actually 8, cos four more have been made already and are awaiting the final white round).

I think I am liking it.

I think.

But I am not sure.

I intend to make quite a wide "granny" border around the whole thing once all 36 squares are joined, and I think that'll be the thing that makes an OK blanket look great.

What do you think?

Let me know?

Thanks ((xx))

The Day after the Trip Before

Morning! I am in recovery. Yesterday's trip to London was Exhausting, Exciting, Exhilerating, Energising. And did I mention Exhausting?? I was dead on my feet when I finally dropped in through my front door last night at 9.20pm. And as I went out the door at 6.25am, it's what you would call a Long Day. This morning I am drinking coffee and getting ready for a trip to the park in the fresh November sunshine. Followed by someone else cooking me lunch, a spot of crochet and a glossy magazine on the sofa. Nothing more strenuous than that.

You know you've had a good shopping trip when you come home swinging several weighty bags. Not just your average plastic carrier bags, but stiffy cardboard bags with corded handles. And when you are too afraid to look at the receipts and work out how much money was spent.

I had such a wonderful time. I totally indulged my personal passions :: mugs, teatowels, napkins, buttons, ribbon, christmas decorations, wool, fabric, pretty things. Liberty and Greengate. Rowan and Kaffe Fassett. Scrumptiousness all round.

Wanna see what I got?

Stop by tomorrow and I'll unpack my bags for you to see.

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Fruitful shopping

I've been to the local market this morning to buy fruit. I was on a mission to redeem myself because I have sadly neglected the market of late. I've been tempted by the convenience of the supermarket, which is located right opposite the school. I know I shouldn't really use the supermarket so much, know that it's sheer laziness that prevents me from going up into town to use local shops and the market. Yet I find it so hard to resist the lure of The Big Shop That Sells Everything. Because it's Right There.
 
Yesterday I had this sort of conversation with J, AKA my Jiminy Cricket. He has this sweet, direct way of questioning me and telling me what to do which I find hard to ignore. He doesn't boss me around, rather persuades me to See Reason and then do the Right Thing ::

J: Where did you buy these oranges from?
Me: Tesco
J: I don't think you should shop at Tesco.
Me : Why not?
J: Because you can buy better fruit from the market, help support the local traders (he goes on to rant about how much he hates the big money-grabbing supermarkets etc etc, I switch off a bit here)
Me: True.
J: Why don't you go to the market any more?
Me: Wellllll, Tesco is right opposite the school and the market is up in town and .....
J: But you've got the time to go to the market, you're just being lazy.
Me: True.
J: You would soon complain if the market wasn't there.
Me: True again.
J: I would LOVE to go to the market to buy all our food each week.
Me: Yes I know.
J: Please would you stop using Tesco and go back to using the market?
Me: OK

So this morning, instead of nipping across the zebra crossing opposite the school to the convenient, but naughty-not-to-be-used supermarket, I walk the extra half mile up into town with my CK bags and hit the market.

Feel very virtuous, because market produce is handed to me in brown recyclable paper bags. No naughty-not-to-be-used plastic supermarket packaging. Cheery market traders, very good produce.
I select a punnet of small, sweet looking strawberries for £1.50.
Six beautiful looking purply red plums for £1.
And four of the biggest oranges you've ever seen, four for £1.

I also buy local cheese from a nearby stall.
Plants from another.
Call in to local shops to buy free range eggs and sweet cured bacon sliced there and then off the joint to my requirements.
A fresh loaf of local bakery bread.

My bags are heavy and I trudge home. I think of this conversation I had with my Jiminy Cricket shortly after the Tesco v Market debate ::

Me: its hard work carrying bags of produce home from town.
J: Why don't you buy a shopping trolley?
Me: (stunned silence, I am imagining tartan ugliness, ridicule)
J: Well? It would make sense. Its eco-friendly. Practical.
Me: True.

So today I have been researching the idea a-la-internet. And woah! I've found some beauties!
What do you think of these? A bit pricey? How about this little lot then?
I might possibly have to purchase this one.
Please let me have your honest opinion. Do you think it's OK for a thirty-something girl about town (ok, after Sunday I will be a four-oh, damn-it), to own a shopping trolley?
Honest Opinions welcome.

Edited to add :: oooo have come across several articles on shopping trolley dilemmas, just read this, and this and this. I am sitting on the fence till I hear what you all think! 

In the Bag #1

Ahhhhhhhhh, big smiles all round, it's Friday and the sun is shining and I'm happy. My hills have returned from the grey mist all green and lovely and I've been able to put my boots away (again) and do my daily commute in flipflips :: hooraayy!!!
Do you remember waaaaay back in March when I first began my bloglett, I wrote a post about my Friday jaunting round town? Fridays are generally my shopping day, although every day I have to walk through town three times as part of my current home-school-nursery-home-nursery-home-school-home daily commute on foot. I really enjoy shopping in my town, and try to limit what I get from the supermarkets in favour of shopping local. Like I said the other day when I was swooning over my asparagus (mwah, love you A) it gives me a buzz to come home with my bag bulging with produce and it occurred to me that perhaps I could do a regular little feature showing you Whats In the Bag on Fridays. What do you think, will you take a look, not think me too odd? Oh, you are the best blog readers (mwah, a kiss you you too).

So....In the bag today.....

• six fresh local eggs (our usual eggs have not been for sale this week)
• a pot of homemade lemon curd (couldn't resist)
• Asparagus (of course xx)

• 1 margueritte and 3 verbena plants (yes, more plants, I can't stop buying them)

• 1 granary cob loaf (a slice already eaten with the above mentioned lemon curd)
  
• Wensleydale with cranberries (an old favourite)
  
• Smoked Wensleydale (a new one to try)
  
• True grit cheddar (our everyday cheese)

• a bag of cherries (so sweet)
  
• English Strawberries (eating my Reds now aren't I?!)
  

• CH&I magazine (a quick flick through and it looks wonderful)
  
• Divine Milk chocolate (mmmmmmmmmmmm)
  

Have a great weekend everyone, whatever you get up to and I hope the sun continues to shine xxx