To Sum It Up........

Goodness me 2017......

....Didn't you just fly by?

So, how did it go?

When I think back on the year past, it seems like a tale of two halves.

The New Year started with new beginnings, exciting beginnings. The days were full but flew by so fast. Before I knew it, we were half way into the year. It was enjoyable, this fullness of life, but I also felt that I hadn't achieved half of what I wanted to, creatively speaking. It wasn't a total creative bust. Looking back at my pics, I did get a few bits done.......nearly all achieved in the first part of the year.

Probably my favourite blanket. Made in the first few months of the year. TOTALLY used and abused and looking VERY worn in. I need another one for sure.

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I'm still all about the crochet hot water bottles.....except this was the cheats version as I bought it and just added the cross stitch. I'm all into saving time.


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The *Nemesis* blanket. Started at the end of 2016. It's taking FOREVER. I love it so, but it's a pain in the backside.


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One of My favourite makes of 2017. So quick and simple. A big granny square made into a shrug in my most favourite shades of pink.

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 The Sunday Shawl by Alia Bland. I made two above. You'd almost think they were the same. My makes are like buses.


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A work in progress above. That yarn has been frogged so many times. I love it so and cannot make the perfect piece with it.

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A 'whim' make. A simple triangular seed stitch shawl. It was the softest and cosiest yarn. Stylecraft 4 ply and a dream to make. I added a pom pom fringe after I took that pic.



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  Pine Tree Wrist Warmers by My Rose Valley


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An embroidery by Cinder and Honey


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I saw a wire version of this on Pinterest and thought it was the perfect project for the onset of Autumn. Bight and cheery.


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This scarf seemed to take quite a while for saying it was just a plain long scarf. Jasmine stitch in a yarn with a colourway called....wait for it.....Jasmine. So, it's the aptly named Jasmine scarf. Very cosy for the cold snap.


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You can NEVER have too many wrist warmers. A grey pair rolled off the hook too.


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By September, the usual sense of chaos took over me with what lie ahead in the last few months. Anyone who has read this blog for a long time, will know how rubbish I am towards the end of the year.

I felt like I expected the chaos, even more so this year, just because of the flying great start. The Yin and Yang as it were. My creative brain had just stopped, I felt like every day was Groundhog day. I felt like I was wading through treacle. It's a weird feeling, but I've learnt to accept how I feel at certain times of the year. Maybe it's an age thing. I don't fight it. I just let it wash through me and know it'll pass.


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That aside, the year was a good one on the whole. I feel with each passing year, I am more sure of myself and what I want out of life.


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A big excitement for me in 2017 was discovering Internet Radio. I had a DAB radio and listened to all the usual stations that you could get, but a family member had an Internet Radio and told of the whole new outlet of stations you can listen to. OH MY WORD, this was literally life changing for me! I'm a huge music fan. I especially love soundtrack music, and discovering that you can listen to stations solely dedicated to cinematic pieces......well......what can I say? Let's just say, that throughtout the days when I am home, it's like I'm living in a film. Weird....but totally lovely. So, definitely one of the highlights of 2017 for me.


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The Bear's are growing fast. I felt my age this year when Big Bear officially became an Adult! Yikes, where did the time go? When I started this blog he was a wee thing. I am loving having my boys more as my equals now. I am so proud of them and the young men they are turning into.

Baby Bear starts Secondary school in Sept. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! That can't be! 

MY BABY!!!!!!

 Maybe my next years round up post will be interesting. Not sure how I'm going to handle that one!

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Life is good. It's not perfect. There will always be room for improvement, but I am incredibly grateful for so many things in my life.


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January saw the creative brain suddenly kick into action. As if with the flick of a switch, suddenly my head was full of nervous energy for making this and that. Hopefully it will be a productive year on that front. Time will tell I suppose.

 So....as the sun sets on this post, I shall say goodbye for a while, and try and make 2018 a good adventure!

xxx

I'll Remind You........

Dear You,

Yes......it has been a year.

Yes....it feels weird now. I'm not sure what I am doing. I'm not sure you reading this, when you finally get to read it.....re-read it, what you will make of it. You might laugh....and think 'Ness, you IDIOT', or you might be a little happy that you thought to jot a few things down. After all, you could be reading this when you are ninety......hey, you might even be grateful your younger self thought to do this.

..........

So.......it's been a year since you closed this little space. Twelve months of you being away. Twelve whole months when so much has happened, yet so little has happened.

I'll remind you that you decided you had nothing left in you to write about. I'll remind you that you thought it was a little repetitive. I'll remind you that you needed to stop.......and just be still.

I will remind you, that you thought this was a naff idea to write a post after you had 'closed' your blog. I will remind you that you wondered why you should not just buy a diary and write in it, then shove it to the back of a drawer. I'll remind you, that you thought you might cave and press 'delete' quite a few times. I'll remind you, that if your younger self actually published it, it was to do with the fact that she was scatty and thought it was best to have everything in one place where it could be located. Plus, in a brief wave of abandonment, you thought it was your blog and you could do what you liked with it.

..........

I will remind you that 2016 was a difficult year, in so many ways, and for so many people. It was a year in which so many people felt scared and uncertain. It was a year when so many people felt like they didn't know anything anymore. It was a year in which so many felt like they were standing on quick sand, and not firm rock.

It was a year when there was so much more bad news in the world than there was good. It was a year when people just wanted to hide away from it all. It was a year, quite frankly, a lot of people were happy to draw a line under and move on from. I'll remind you, that you found it weird, that you didn't meet anyone who thought it had been an okay year....if not in the bigger picture, not even in their own little bubble of achievements. You were sure there must have been though.

I shall remind you that, for you, this was a strange year. A year that you felt you needed to hibernate. A year long hibernation. A year where your creative juices really didn't flow. A year where you felt you were totally spent, and just needed to re-group.

I'll remind you that you sucked at housework and ironing. I'll remind you that you enjoyed reading books again, and I'll remind you that you always need to be in the right frame of mind to decorate.

I will remind you that you that although your creative juices just sort of stopped, it was the year of embroidery for you, and you spurted those out in the vain hope that it would jolt you back in the game. Whilst you liked the embroidered outcomes, and the speediness of them, they did not jolt you sadly. It was only in the final weeks of 2016 that you picked up your hook to see if the crochet love was still there.

I will remind you that 2016 was the year of reflection and procrastination. Not that it was any different to all the years before when you were like that, but because you seemed to have nothing to show for the year (creatively speaking), it appeared that the year was a wash out.

Having said that......

I shall remind you that your three bears have spent 2016 blossoming, and you write about them with huge pride and love. Big Bear started college and turned into the gentleman you always knew he would become.  You find it funny his most treasured friend is a can of hairspray, but you love how he doesn't want to shove you to one side when you are both walking down the street and he sees his mates.

I shall remind you that Middle Bear is way too funny. I shall remind you that he is the best person to have at the dinner table, and I shall remind you that 2016 was the year the hormones settled down and you realised just how amazing he was when he was not grunting. You also realised what great bear hugs he gave.

I shall remind you that Baby Bear is super. I shall remind you that everyday when he comes out of school he asks how you day was, way before he tells you about his day. I will remind you that he loves to do stuff to put a smile on your face, and I will remind you that this was the year that the Three Bears bickered the least!

I will remind you that 2016 told you, yet again, how fragile life could be. I will remind you that it felt tough being an adult when you still, at times, felt like a child in your head. I will also remind you that you realised that you just couldn't solve everything for everyone. Sometimes you just had to be there, and that was enough.

I'll remind you that early morning cups of tea with the fairy lights twinkling on the Christmas tree in a quiet house, is one of the best things EVER. I shall remind you that you are never too young for kids birthdays cakes AND I shall also remind you that you were so glad you discovered double cleansing (how's that working out for you? Is it paying off?!)

I shall also remind you dearest Ness, that you decided that whatever 2017 had in store for you, you felt ready to wake up from your hibernation, well rested and have a productive and creative year ahead.  

Vanessa, I hope you will look on this post, when you do, and remember all that which you have forgotten. A post about your year. Maybe, if you have it in you, you'll post again next year to remember 2017. I guess it's nice to remember....the good....and even the not so good. There is always something to be learned from everything one experiences. 

Until next time....maybe x

Happy New Year and Farewell.........

It's time to say a HUGE goodbye to you all.

A little sad not to be posting anymore, but I know it is the right decision.

I just wanted to once again say a 

heart felt thank you 

to you all. It has been such a lovely space to have here and I have so enjoyed you following my creative journey. You have all been so awesome. Encouraging me and making me feel that this passion of mine is worthwhile.

My journey shall continue on Flickr and Ravelry and it will be lovely to see some of you on there.

This little space here will stay live and you can always contact me should you have any crafty questions. I'll still be reading blogs and commenting so it's not a complete goodbye.

So......the VERY VERY best to you all for 2016. May you be blessed, be creative, and see the beauty in the everyday.

Much love to you all

Vanessa

xxx

edited to add: You don't have to have a Flickr account to view any photos I post on there. Just click on the Flickr ball in the sidebar and it will link you to my Flickr Feed.

Some Things I love........

....Having my first hot drink of the morning, sitting in front of a twinkly Christmas tree when the rest of the house are still dreaming their dreams.

....The scent of cinnamon and cloves that fill the air when I walk in the house.

....A good hand cream

....Hot water bottles.

....Santa mugs

....My new snuggly duvet that doesn't want to see me get out of bed for days.

....Twinkle lights, that make me believe in magic.

....The smell of a hot flannel on the face.

....Freshly baked cookies.

....A new yarn ball to play with.

....Green Bic pens.

....Snuggles with the Bears, watching a movie

....A clean kitchen

....A really hot latte

....Layers..to wear, and on my bed

....Plump cushions

....Writing lists

....Jumping over puddles

....Listening to wind and rain

....Feeling excited by a new crafty project

....Discovering a pretty new Christmas tree decoration.

....Coffee and a good book in bed

....Red and white gingham

....Homemade blankets

....Wristwarmers

....An appointment free day

....Tunnocks tea cakes

....Red Pillar boxes

....Snow Globes

....Walking in Fog

....My iTunes Playlist

....Cosy Slippers

....Darning in the last end of a blanket

....Reading heartwarming news

....Daydreaming

....Waking up to the sound of birdsong on my alarm clock. It always puts me in a good mood.

....Sparkly nail polish

....finding something I like in the perfect shade of pink.

....Pressed glass. I'm a sucker for it.

Some of my favourite things.

What are your favourite things?

xxx