Into the Winter Woods

Hello everyone - what a chilly weekend it was, and this cold snap has certainly continued today.

Yesterday, after running all the usual errands, DH, DD and I went for a brisk walk in our local Outwoods.  As always there was plenty to see and enjoy.

Walking into the woods it was lovely to see the old trees...

Bare branches against a pale blue sky...

I wondered who had carved this star into the trunk of this tree, and why...

Looking across the empty fields...

A sprinkling of snow on the dead leaves...

Loving this pale, washed out landscape, so familiar yet ever-changing...

The rangers have been busy clearing some of the trees...

Looking wintry...

The air was full of the scent of wood smoke from the charcoal burner, such an ancient tradition alive and well...

I loved how this venerable old tree frames the landscape...

and was amazed to see how this cross section of a felled birch tree forms a heart shape!

Then back home again to work another few, soothing rows of this Winter Woods lap blanket, I am so pleased with how the colours seem to closely match those in the photos I took on my walk, exactly the look I was after!

Another few rows should see me ready to add the border. 

Hope you are keeping warm and cozy!

Helenxx

Crochet Blanket Challenge of 2014 - Project Completed!!

Hi everyone, hope the New Year is going well for you so far!

Exactly a year ago today I joined in the Crochet Blanket Challenge.  Some folks in blogland used this challenge to make a mood blanket, crocheting a square a day, or a square each week, in colours that reflected the feelings of that particular time.  I chose to go for a slightly different plan, using washed out wintry tones, which bought to my mind a forest in winter.  I chose to make 7 row grannies, and aimed to make one each week (although on some occasions I managed to make more).  And, on 30/12/14 the project was completed!

Would you like to see?

It is so soft and comfy...

I am so pleased with the colours I chose...

I joined the squares with a double crochet seam as I liked the idea of texture...

The border is Sandra's (Cherry Heart Blog) Grannies Patches Border pattern, it is an absolute dream to make...

 Vital statistics for this blanket:

• Yarn - a variety from my yarn stash, plus 3 extra balls of Stylecraft Special DK to make up the palette of colours I wanted
• Crochet hook size 4mm
• 54 Granny Squares, each square had 7 granny rows plus an edging of double crochet
• Granny Patches border from Sandra at Cherryheart blog

I still have quite a few oddments of yarn left so I am having a go at a square lap blanket to use up what I have.  I then have another blanket challenge in mind, to start perhaps after my birthday on the 12th - surely a        girl/middle aged woman is allowed to treat herself to some spiffing new yarn for a project that will keep her busy until the next Christmas holidays ;)  I am aiming for a palette of greys and parchment this time, with perhaps a little bit of black and white.  I would love the blanket to represent the colours of birch tree bark (remember my love of the Marimekko birch tree pattern?)

Here is my finished 2014 challenge blanket folded up on the back of my crafting chair, all ready for the chilly evenings ahead...

 

 

 

I am so pleased that I stuck with the project, and am unbelievably happy with the result!!  Did you join in the challenge, and if so, how did you get on?  I would love to hear about it!

 

Helenxx

Ladybird Book Nostalgia - part two

Hello everyone, and thanks so much for all your comments about my "What to look for in Winter" Ladybird book.

This time I would love to share some of the illustrations from my all-time favourite "What to look for in Autumn".  This book influenced a lot of my creative work when I was young, and the colours still inspire me to this day.  When  I was 13 I started painting in oils, and many of these illustrations served as images that I tried to re-create.  Some more successfully than others!

So sit back, grab a cuppa, and soak up all the Ladybird loveliness...

The cover is so inviting, just look at the detail, the misty background, the colours...

The opening pages, the owl is so finely observed...and just look at the wild clematis seed-heads....

Autumn crocus, have always wanted some of these in the garden.  And just look at that cheeky mouse!

I saw a stoat the other morning when driving to work, astonishing creatures, and very quick little movers!  And I must admit that as old as I am, I cannot resist picking up shiny new conkers when they litter the ground in the early autumn - such a shame that they don't stay shiny for long...my Darling Mum has a large conker tree in her garden, grown from a conker my brother planted when he was a toddler...

Love this illustration of the pheasants, although they can be quite a menace when driving along country roads, they have a terrible habit of leaping out of the undergrowth and throwing themselves towards the car!  But here they look quite magnificent...

This is quite probably my favourite illustration, the colours and perspective are amazing.  I can never go to a Bonfire Party without wondering if a wise old owl is somewhere in the trees watching us having fun...

There are a lot of birch trees in our local Outwoods, so we often see these bracket fungi growing on the trunks.  Sadly we only rarely see woodpeckers...

The final illustration as Autumn slip-slides into Winter...

I hope you have enjoyed this wander down memory lane with me!

Would love to hear about your favourite books from childhood.

Helenxx

First Day of Winter

Well it is official - Winter is here.  School, college and work have finished for the holidays.  Mad last minute rushing around has started!

Have a great weekend!

Helenxx