Lost and Found

Around this time last year I made the discovery of some hidden things in the back of my wardrobe. It made me very happy. And this year I've done the same thing - found things squirreled away at the back of my wardrobe, totally forgotten about and inducing a fair amount of happy dancing on discovery. Namely, these white clogs.

I am happier than a bird with a french fry. And I don't really want to start a tradition of losing, forgetting then finding things, but it does feel like you've found a treasure trove when you do!

Trust Me

This scene had the makings of a very good day. Trust me.

A bagful of beauty, a scarf and some clinking metal knitting needles. Well, Bliss.




Carry on.

Chai

My new tipple - massala chai. Mmm. Found a version that is less 'curry in a cup' and more 'sweet, warming, tasty goodness'. Adds to to the sweetness of the day.

Surviving Winter

Surviving winter part 203.... sweet tea. Lots and lots of very sweet tea.

Loving ::

:: Seeing the games they play, left for later to pick up again

:: Watching my eldest fall in love with adventure stories

:: Finding books and hobbies left in situ now that we have the room to let them

:: Discovering what's taking their interest these days judging by the debris left behind

:: Seeing my youngest is still little enough for pretend play, and still loves cats

:: Hearing a lot of play and a lot of investigation going on

:: Hoping they remember these days as they get older


Happy Monday! What things are you loving right now?

Simple Pleasures :: Knitting with Handspun

Loving this process of spinning, and knitting with homespun yarn. I love the fact that I know the story behind the knit. I love the gradient in colours, because I know the fact that I carded three different colour of alpaca. And here it is displayed before me - black, cream and gingery-brown.

I love the softness between my fingers, whilst spinning and knitting. I love the satisfaction of handmade through and through. And finally, I love the product at the end of it! Such a sweet feeling of satisfaction in such a simple task.

Happiness is....

Finding clothes and shoes at the back of the cupboard that you'd forgotten ALL about - a new buzz all over again. In this particular case, my misplaced chucks, and a scarf in 'just the right shade' from several seasons ago. And I even found some white cloggs which I only have vague recollections of ebaying a while back which was also a nice surprise.

In fact, I think I'm going to be doing this more often - perhaps parcels of fabric or yarn hidden all over the place to find when I've forgotten all about them.

Or I could just remember where I've put everything and love them anyway?

That might work.



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Simple Pleasures :: Fresh Flowers

The first cut flowers of the year. I can't decide what I love most - the colour or the perfume. Both make me giddy. Can I hear spring up the road? Dare I hope? Well, regardless of how long it takes it to officially land I declare flower season open.


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Simple Pleasures :: Freshly Picked Flowers

Freshly picked flowers, from garden to vase. The smell and colour of summer, savoured.


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Sticks and Stones

Sometimes, when the boys are busy with their work, or when we are sitting around the table for an afternoon of family art, I sit and play with paint, pens and ink and dream up all manner of doodles in my daydreams.

I have begun to cocoon myself with stones, sticks, journals - in fact, anything that I can paint on, and carve a little work niche for myself in this busy home of ours.

It is important, I think, that we as adults allow ourselves the time to create - to keep that spark of creativity alive within us. It is all too easy to give in to chores and 'important' things and to lose ourselves in the process - to erase who we are and confuse it with what we do.

But to create these pockets of calm, these oasise of crafting and creating is no less important than the other work we undertake each day. If fact, it may be more so - for through our example our children soon follow. Once they see me sit in quiet concentration it isn't long before they too sit and concentrate and make. Maybe not for long, but at least they know that this work of ours, whatever it is, that it is important.

From Scraps to Riches :: a Patchwork Table Runner

It's funny, isn't it, the things that mean the most to people? I can never seem to throw a scrap of fabric with a good pattern away, however small, and I've built up a tidy little pile of pieces, and I do love just pawing through them and seeing all the colours and patterns together.





Last week, after washing our table runner for the umpteenth time and wishing I could find another I liked in my thrifty treasure hunting, I had an epiphany, and then reached for the scrap bin and began to stitch things together any old how with the intention of making another runner for our table.



It seemed that log cabin worked best and it really wasn't long before four big blocks sat waiting for a border to bring it altogether.





It was a couple of evening's worth of work which satisfied my need to make 'something', whilst resulting in something totally necessary for our home.





And I love it that I am able to make these things for my family, that with each stitch there is a tangible message of love and care. Often it is the subtle messages in our lives that speak the loudest, isn't it? The time that someone takes our of their lives to do something for us, well, that speaks volumes and builds up our subconscious feelings of self worth.

And yeah, it's only a table runner. But like all things handmade, it's also so much more than that.



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