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!
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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.
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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!
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I just want to dive in and swim around in all these gorgeous photos! And that ripple blanket makes my heart so happy.
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa,
DeleteI loved EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of making that ripple. I definitely need to make another one, and perhaps not let it get so used and abused by everybody. That's good though I suppose, it's so nice that the family love them enough to use them!!!!! xxx
What a beautiful surprise in my feed. Yours was the first blog I ever read and its mixture of beauty and colour, calmness and thoughts to ponder upon are definitely lacking in my feed currently. I was only looking back on it this week. Maybe there is something in that cosmic ordering after all.
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful, creative, calm and fulfilling year.
Oh yes, I think there must be something something in the cosmic ordering! I had one of those days yesterday where everything seemed to line up just right! Few and far between so it's great to have them!!!!!!! xxx
DeleteNice post! You've made a lot in 2017! I'm in love with your blankets, such lovely colors and the combination with the white is beautiful. But I also do like the shawls, the combination with the skirt is very joyful. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week! Margriet
ReplyDeleteHello Margriet,
DeleteYes it's weird actually documenting it all in one place, I made so much more than I thought I had! I think as most of it was in the first 6 months of the year, I had just forgotten about it, and concentrated on my lack of creativeness towards the end of the year. I guess this is where I miss blogging a bit, to record it all. Maybe a once a year post is not enough?! xxx
Oh my word! So utterly delightful to see a post from you popping up again. Yay, that made my day! I've been wanting to email you for ages. Will do soon! It was lovely to read and see your update. Have a wonderful evening. xx
ReplyDeleteHello lovely Haafner!
DeleteGoodness yes it's been a while. It felt good doing the post actually. I have missed it. Take care lovely xxx
Such a wonderful array of creations, I particularly loved the granny square shrug, a real delight. Wishing you a very adventurous 2018.
ReplyDeleteI might have forgotten to add, that in my usual 'like buses' kind of way, I made another one in dark blue straight away!!!!!! It's funny, it's like I need to get them all done while it's all still so fresh in my mind and I'm loving them!!!
DeleteGood to see you again. Happy new year.🌻
ReplyDeleteA Happy New Year to you too!!!!!! May it be an awesome one!!! xxx
DeleteSoooooooooo happy to hear from you again! Beautiful reflections of the past year, and gorgeous creations to look back on too. Really wonderful to know you're okay, and delighted that you have chosen to share your memories with us. Sending my very best to you for 2018 xx
ReplyDeleteHave a super New Year too Sharron. Goodness it's whizzing by though I feel! Yikes!!!!!! xxx
DeleteHow lovely to catch up... Beautiful photographs of 2017, gorgeous makes. Patch starts secondary school in September too- which is now this year! Sob. Wishing you a delightfully nice 2018
ReplyDeleteGosh I know, it's hard to get your head round isn't it? How on earth do they grow up so fast. Baby Bear was just a toddler when I started this blog. I have really mixed emotions about September!!!!!! All the best for a terrific 2018! xxx
DeleteOh dearest V, I let out an audible squeak when I saw your name pop up in my sidebar. So much to savour in this post; I think I've read it about six times just so I can absorb all the lovely Coco-Rosiness that I've missed so much. Such gorgeous makes my lovely friend. I honestly can't pick a favourite. I did chuckle about your aptly-named Nemesis blanket though - aargh, all those ends! Oh and I'm totally coveting your black coat!
ReplyDeleteI wish you the most beautiful 2018 darling girl.
Much love, Heather xxxxxxxxxx
Hello beautiful Heather,
DeleteI'm laughing too......seriously if I didn't love that blanket so much, It would have been thrown out the bloody window! I'm not even thinking about the ends yet! My plan was to do a few rows then spend some time sewing those in before I started another few, but, It takes about 3 hours to just get through one row! I knew if I stopped to sew in ends, then I'd never pick the blinking thing back up again! Well it's a long term project for sure! Let's just hope that by the time I actually do finish it, I wont look at it in all it's glory and think.......crikey, it's actually quite pants!!!!!!!!
Hello Vanessa, you inspire so much with your beautiful creations and your words.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy 2018!
Best wishes, Ida
Awe thank you Ida for your kind words. Have a Super Duper 2018!!!!! xxx
DeleteYou are kind. That is why you are so missed, for your thoughtful appreciation of others as well as your own beautiful creations.
ReplyDeleteAwe that's very kind of you to say. Have a beautiful day! xxx
Deletelove your blog and postings. could you direct me to a pattern for the granny square shrug.
ReplyDeletethank you
denise
Hi Denise,
DeleteI didn't actually use a pattern for the shrug. I just made a basic granny square (I made 44 rows in aran yarn). You lay out the square and take the two top corners to the two bottom corners (so like folding it in half) then you just sew about 10cm in from each corner (as if you were sewing the folded scarf to make a tube). This makes the arm holes of the shrug and then it just drapes. I added a shell border around the edge and on the armholes made, but it was as simple as that really. I think there might be tutorials on you tube and diagrams on pinterest. It's worth looking it up. Just search crochet granny shrug and I'm sure something will pop up to help out pattern wise. xxx
So very lovely to read a blog post from you again Vanessa. Thank you for sharing and I hope 2018 is full of joy and peace. Xx
ReplyDeleteHi Louise,
DeleteThank you, it was actually nice to sit back down in front of a computer screen and reflect a bit! I hadn't realised how much I had missed it! Have a super 2018!!!!! xxx
so so happy for all these beautiful pictures
ReplyDeletethank you
have a very nice year
Hello Sylvie,
Deletehave a beautiful year also! xxx
It was a lovely surprise to see your blog post today Vanessa, wishing you a happy and creative 2018 xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane! I too hope that you have a super creative 2018 xxx
DeleteOh, beautiful post, as always. I think I'll read back through it a few more times & savor your gorgeous pics. 😊 All of these makes are beautiful. I love how you put your personal stamp on the store bought hot water bottle cozy - clever you. I too have slumps of craft activity & inspiration at times. I don't know if mine is connected to any certain time or not. I'll have to pay more attention. {Not something I'm very good at...}
ReplyDeleteThanks for a lovely post...always enjoy them from you. Have a 2018 full of makes. 💕
Hi Michelle,
DeleteYou know, I think I'm going to see if my creative makes will be spread out this year or not. I'm not sure either if I seem to have parts of the year when I work better than others. I just realised it was prominent last year. I certainly went from feeling like I had nothing creative in my head in December to suddenly jumping into January with so many that I couldn't keep my head from buzzing! I am trying to put a plan into place though and have it all written down that I want to achieve (probably a little unrealistic and I have about 8 blankets on my list!!!!!!!!). It'll be interesting to see what I actually DO achieve this coming year! xxx
well, hello V x x x x lovely to see your yearly catch up posty! very colourful in all your makes and home...such an uplifting and inspiring post!. You've made a year of such beautiful makes...and juggling that with a family of growing boys!...I cant believe that when I first started following you many a moon ago our children were young toddlers!...oh my' feeling rather old!...I think when you look back through photographs its a positive light to see all you have achieved!...happy belated 2018!!!! let it fill your days with colour, good health and happy making! xxxxxxxxxxx XX xxxxxx XX xxxxxxxxx XX xxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteGosh doesn't seen like years ago we started this little blogging trip of ours. Yours was one of the first blogs I ever followed. I knew as soon as I had found you, we were kindered spirits! Then life happens, and technology moves on, and soon blogging will seem pretty retro! ha ha! I have missed this space here more so last year than the year before. Maybe I just had blogging burn out, but it was nice to put a post together for my 2017 round up. I do hope that 2018 will be a super one for you.....you so deserve it! much love xxxxxxxx
DeleteWhat a lovely bright, warm and creative post. Thank you :) I need a creative kickstart and this has helped immensely. I love all your makes for 2017; I dealt with my Nemesis - knitting - and made some lovely projects which I am very proud of.
ReplyDeleteI love your 'nemesis' blanket - I do crochet but only toys so far, and I do not have much experience with 'flat' crochet and was wondering where I could find the pattern. It looks like a granny square, but I am not sure. If you had time, I would love to know what it is as I would like to make one too :D In the meantime, I hope 2018 continues to be creatively inspiring for you x
Hello there!
DeleteYes, it is a granny square of sorts. I have found the best place is to visit you tube. There are many many you tube videos and tutorials for all sorts of granny squares and how to crochet them together. Video tutorials are great too if you are not so sure where to put the hook in certain places. I'd suggest just doing a search for crochet granny square tutorial and you should find plenty that can help you get started. I hope this helps! Well done for mastering knitting! I have only knitted a few basic things, but the fear of the dropped stitch makes me knit like a mad woman and I get very stressed over it. Not very soothing at all! I hope to conquer it one day!!!!! x
Hello,
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to read a post from you again. Your pictures are wonderful and those cupcakes look so nice I will have to make them for my kids they will love them. Take care and hope you have a wonderful year.
Hi Helen,
DeleteThank you for your kind words. Have a super 2018! x
How lovely to see a post from you. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeen following your blog for quite sometime now. I love all your photos and your makes. The blankets are so colorful and all your other diys. Keep it coming!
ReplyDeleteAwe thank you for your kind words! Xxxxx
DeleteI had a lovely surprise this morning finding your post. You have had such a creative year. The photos are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I love the seed stitch shawl. Can you please tell me where I can find the pattern. I am sure you are going to have another creative year. You are so inspiring. xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Jan, thank you for your kind words. I didn’t really use a pattern for the seed stitch shawl. I worked out how to start it in a triangular shape (but if you google seed stitch triangle pattern) I think you get some images come up of how to start it off. I also just made up a border for it, I just looked online for crochet border ideas to find one that I thought might look good. Actually, after the picture was taken, I added a drop bobble edging which was from a blanket pattern I made years ago! It was all just a mix and match sort of thing, made up as I went along. I just loved the yarn though. It was using stylecraft 4ply yarn and I couldn’t get over how soft the yarn was! I’m not sure that I’ve helped really. It’s my downfall, to never record my makes properly!!!!!!! Xxx
DeleteMany thanks for reply. You should really note down your patterns and sell them on Ravelry. I would buy your patterns and am sure other people would as well. Thanks for your advice on the seed stitch shawl. I will certainly be ordering the Stylecraft 4ply yarn to knit the shawl. Take care xx
DeleteJan check out ginger.knots for the easy madeline triangle scarf or seed stitch shawl. there is a youtube video too. The color of Vanessa's is lovely. happy crocheting!
DeleteWowwww!!! Beautiful post and lots of wonderful handmade!!!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to see such wonderful creativity on your blog, and it's nice to see you back for another round up post. I love that granny square shrug! Will be making one of those real soon, it's the perfect light cover up for summer evenings.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful and inspired 2018 x
The square shrug has been put to such good use! I even made another one in blue! X
DeleteVanessa thanks so much for sharing your completed projects. Everyone was lovelier than the previous one. I can't pick a favorite. Continued success crocheting in 2018.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan! The creative juices are are so far flowing well in 2018! I hope it continues!!!!! X
DeleteHi, I've only recently discovered your blog (and crochet) and I love it. It makes one feel all warm and fuzzy inside and so many lovely and creative ideas, I don't know where to start. I hope we will be hearing from you again soon. :)
ReplyDeleteAwe thank you so much for your kind comments. I’m glad you like the blog and the makes, and I will be back again with what I’m working on this year. My makes so far are keeping me VERY busy!!!!!!!!! X
DeleteBeautiful blog of yours, which I know for some time. Congratulations and thanks for all your sharing. One thing that puzzled me is that no one commenting in here (including you)seems to have noticed your last photo. The sunset. So it seems you are not familiar with the "chemtrails thing". Look again - that's not beautiful at all. Those are not normal clouds, no normal anything - those are chemicals. It seems you have kids. In between crochet technics, you may want to spare a little time of yours to study this. People are not aware of it. For your children's future sake, give it some time and concern. They may be too young to fight for themselves so, it is our obligation to become aware or, at least, to question what we see. Your kids deserve it. The future deserves we care. Clouds were not like that when we were children. Then we grew up and forgot looking up,always looking at our cellphones, our crochet needles, our clothes, our pans. Within a decade or so, our kids will grant us responsable for not caring or noticing or fighing for their future. Congratulations once again. Your blog is one of those blogs that always makes me dream for a little while.
ReplyDeleteHi there, an interesting theory. Chemtrails or contrails? I love cloudbusting and have been doing it ever since I was a child, I do remember clouds like these when I was a child. Unfortunately we are a greedy, selfish species and pollutants are everywhere. Whilst we are now starting to get a conscience and do something about it, it’s a hard battle to fight. We spray chemicals onto fields from the sky, we burn jet fuel from a great height. One can start on this subject, and suddenly you are down a rabbit warren for debate. Whilst a very interesting one, I’ll leave it for other dedicated blog sites to discuss x
DeleteI'm sorry, never meant it to become a debate or anything else, I'm not a troll. Like I said, I do love yor blog. I'll find out if you have a mail adress, and send to you everything I found out. Believe me, our small natural lives can never accept the evil in this world. This has been going on for years in some countries and started recently in others. Anyway... thanks again for your creativity!
DeleteBy the way, contrails only leave a big trace in the sky if the temperature up there are bellow 30ºC negative, otherwise they are short,like they always were. I'll leave here this link for other mummies, if you don't mind me doing so:
CHEMTRAILS Exposed on Discovery Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZFNJplylns
Thank you for replying. Keep making us dreaming with your beautiful things...
Well Vanessa you’ve made my day! Just thought I would look and there was your beautiful post. Still miss you and your stunning photos but glad you are happy and continue to be so creative. Think I’ll make some more tea and read what you have to say again.
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa, I love your blog. It brings so much calm to me looking through the lovely photos. I, like many others, was so delighted to read your post in January and to see what you had been up to. Maintain the 'it's for me!!' approach, ensure that you are happy and doing this because you want to and not because you feel obligated to do it. I have spent too many years putting peoples happiness before my own and being what I think will make them happy that I am struggling to understand who I am. Hope you are enjoying 2018 so far and the next step of your little bear's big adventure xxx
ReplyDeletehow in June have i only just seen this??? Lovely to catch up with all your makes. Hope this year is going well for you xx
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa. I was so delighted to find that you'd added a post (even if I am many months late in finding it!). I have long admired your crochet work, and your overall style. I'd love to have a go at making that granny square shrug that you made? Do you have any instructions or do they only reside in your head? Hope to see more from you in the future. Best wishes, Kathleen.
ReplyDeleteHi again Vanessa. Just found your instructions when I went looking through the other comments! So, I'll work with those. Thanks for the inspiration. I read a quote from Monty Don recently which sums up your work nicely: "Beauty is essential. It is never a trade off". :-)
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