Cheap as chips

We all love a bargain right? Well I'm sure you'll be impressed with this one. A supermarket find. About 5min before closing time. Mr Petit Filoux pointed them out and I just couldn't believe my luck. Not the apples, those are from the garden. No no, look behind.

Aren't they beautiful? So so colourful. This is where when I'll be buying my flowers from now on. They ask silly prices for flowers here at the market, and I refuse to pay high prices for flowers that don't even smell or last very long. At least when you pay 29p to 69p a bunch, there's only smiles all round.

Even more smiles when you get to enjoy said flowers in a bargain jug, found in a tiny little charity shop in Staffordshire last week. I did indeed take 10min out of my working day to peruse around the place and it was oh so worth it. Got a couple more treasures, but will save those for another day! Before I go though, have a look at the other bunch of flowers I got for under a quid. Quite a good flower day I reckon! It's one flowery happy home :-)

Building lines and curves

As mentionned yesterday, I had a little photo session on my way into and back from work on Tuesday. The weather is still glorious here in London, and it's making all my favourite buildings look absolutely fabulous.

Our environment isn't all flowers and birds. Some of you live in more remote areas, and sometimes I do wish I lived somewhere deep in the countryside, but the matter of fact is, I live in a part of the country where it's hard to get away from built up areas. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. These buildings are part of our culture too, albeit an urban one. I for one appreciate it today. Maybe not every day, but certainly at the moment I do.

The thing is, I know very little about architecture. I can't tell you when any of those buildings were built, who the architect might be, nothing. But I do hope that you can, like me, appreciate how they are all beautiful in their own way. That strong blue sky certainly helps I reckon.

So sit back, and enjoy some central London beauty! (My favourite one is definitely the one where the old meets the new, where you get a reflection of that old building in the new glass one - stunning I reckon!)

I'm also partial to those rounded buildings, curves are always a good thing I reckon!

Have a lovely sunny Thursday everyone! If it is your last working day until May as it is for me, let's all say a little thank you to the bank holidays gods!!

And it was all yellow

You can't deny it, yellow is a happy colour. Now, you may not like to wear it, but it does bring a whole lot of joy when it graces other objects and items which surround us everyday. Daffodils? Yep, super happy. Butter? Again, you can't get more cheerful than that in the kitchen (ok ok, that's a joke!). Yellow roses? Now, this is truly sunshine in a vase!!!

I enjoyed these roses for a good couple of weeks before they started to look a little worse for wear, and looking at these photos of them fills me with warmth and happiness. How can one not like yellow flowers?!

Of course, it's not all about flowers. Last summer, when we were doing a little road trip in the south west of France, we picked up some wonderful post cards in the Toulouse Lautrec museum in Albi. We knew straight away that we wanted to frame them some way or another, but as life got in the way, nothing happened to this little bundle of cards until one Saturday morning in February. It took us forever to find a disposition we were both happy with. The moment this was done though (after MUCH rearranging, trust me!), we knew we were close to the end. All it took was a little trip to a craft shop to buy a glass frame and a coloured sheet of paper for background. And yes, the colour of that sheet? Yellow. Not just any old yellow though, no, more like sunflower yellow. The yellow that graces field after field during the French summer, a yellow that fills you with warmth and comfort. It all happened so quickly, I don't have any 'in the making' photos. I hope you appreciate the finished article nonetheless.

This now graces the wall above the television, and I love that it's there, looking down on me, showering me with warm glows as I knit and purl and sew in ends. Oh yes, a lot of that going on lately...

Over here for colours!!!

Good morning all! Isn’t it a wonderful day? Well apart from it being a Monday of course, but at least the Sun is shining. And a blue sky definitely puts a spring in my step. This is my first 5 day week in a while and I’m feeling a little apprehensive. The gym wagon was jumped back on in earnest this morning, and I intend to carry on that way. Five full days to work until the weekend, surely, that’s got to be good no? So much time to make plans, and craft a little bit in the evenings. Now that I’m back on track with English time and have waved farewell to jetlag, I’m feeling more energetic. So, for you my lovelies, I pulled my socks UP last night and started sifting through my photos. No easy job I tell you, so today, we’re starting on an easy one. Easy, but colourful, and let’s face it, that’s good enough for anyone on a Monday morning isn’t it? Enjoy! x

This time last week

I was in Paris. Well not to the exact hour, but nearly. It was cold. Oh my, it was mighty cold. But it made it even more beautiful. The cold and that deep winter blue sky made it somewhat magical.

I felt like a tourist in my own country. It was lovely and it put a great big smile on my face.

Visiting well known places was very pleasant indeed. All the meetings I have in Paris seem to be within walking distance of the Centre Pompidou, and I'm not complaining.

All those colours, that futuristic architecture, that sky.

Oh the joy of winter, before all the snow fell. It's a struggle isn't it. Let's remind ourselves of pre-snow days. It might help me forget how rubbish my commute was this morning!

Glasgow goodies

Ergh, yeah Petit Filoux, wasn't that, like, over three weeks ago? Hmmm well nearly, but better late than never I say! I wanted to show you what I brought back from the Country Living Christmas Fair that was held in Glasgow, because I'm just so chuffed with it!!

First, there's the lovely lovely (French? oops) fabric. I'm starting to become a sucker for fabric, and I don't even have a sewing machine yet (see the "yet" - it's only a matter of time! Oh, and space of course).

I love it, love all the colours, and it didn't cost much at all. Not sure what I'll be making with it yet, maybe some bunting, maybe some colourful lavender pouches.

Then, I got this little beauty. Again, it didn't cost much at all, much less than what I'd seen in the shops basically. So even though it meant I had to leave it with my friend and wait for her to bring it down to London on the train last week (couldn't take the risk of being told to put it in the bin by stupid airport security people), I bought it. And I love it :-) The pot pourri mix in it came from the fair too. It smells of Christmas I tell you, it's great!!

Finally, the pièce de résistance. The Wool. Not any wool though. This one is wool, angora and silk. It's soft baby. I've rolled up the skeins and just left it there for the moment. Again, I'm not too sure what I'll be making with it, but it was too beautiful not to buy.

Yum, it's lo-ve-ly!

Sweat and tears - and jeans

There are few places around where I live where one can enjoy a good old shopping session at the weekend. I very much dislike going back into London on Saturday and Sundays because being on that dreaded train makes me feel like I’m going back to work. Not the best way to relax.

Then there’s Milton Keynes. Now, for any of you who live in the part of the country, you’ll know that one only goes to MK when one needs to pay a visit to the famous out of town blue and yellow box (Ikea for those of you not paying attention this morning!). Both London and MK get so so busy, it’s rather unpleasant.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve also grown to dislike spending any significant amount of time in shops. This is especially true at this time of year when it’s freezing cold outside and heaters are pumped up to the max inside. Not good for my contact lenses, and not good for my sweat glands either (sorry about the gross details today!). I also get very irritated by slow people, those who change direction without any notice (I’m all for slow and fast lane pavements and using your arms as indicators) and crowds in general really.

So where did we end up going when Boyfriend decided it was time to update his jean collection? Cambridge of course. Lovely lovely Cambridge, with its simple park and ride system. We got there at the crack of dawn (for a weekend), when the shops opened, and it was so nice. Nice and qui-et. We were done and dusted by midday, when most people were stumbling out onto the streets and making it all rather unpleasant.

I always enjoy walking around this little market, so bright and beautiful, happy and colourful. A bag of massive chestnuts came home with us, together with four pairs of jeans (told you it was a massive shopping sess).

And that blue sky and that clear bright light… so much nicer than the grey old rubbish we’ve got today!!!

Changing colours

No, this isn't going to be another post about autumn colours. I'd love to, but unfortunately, these are mostly gone with all the rain and wind we've had in the past few days. No no no, I'm talking about my current blanket in progress.

Like I said yesterday, I had plenty of time to work on it at the weekend and I totally indulged. Sat by the window, looking at all my colours, enjoying seeing it grow. There is something so satisfying to see something you're making with your own hands grow. Using a simple material, I can make this!! I made this!!! Honestly, even if no one else cares, I'm immensely proud of this. I'm so proud to be able to make things like this. No I won't be getting any official recognition for it, no A grade, no money in my bank account. But the pride? The happiness I get from this? Priceless.

I even made a little yarn identification 'booklet'. To see that I was using all colours in the same amounts.

This is so so exciting, I couldn't help but showcase it around the living room, there against a purple fleece blanket, here against Go Caerphilly.

My chest is filling up with pride just as I'm typing this. And yes, there's also a massive grin on my face. Not because I'm being terribly cheesy, but because this is what I do, this is what makes me happy. And if anyone says I'm not cool or not acting my age, well I tell you this: I couldn't care less. This is me and I love it.

Looking up

Like many of you, I have been enjoying the lovely colours autumn has thrown upon us recently. I've loved seeing all your photos, and I thought it was about time I pulled my finger out and remembered to take the camera out with me. So here is my contribution of lovely autumnal trees to blogland. These colours fill me with joy, especially when they are seen against the bluest of skies. Pure magic.

I would like to credit all this beauty to the North Norfolk coast and a couple of leafy squares in London.

If only I could always walk with my eyes up in the sky, rather than rushing around. Ha, to take just a few seconds... :-)

Arc-en-ciel

I've had several questions about my current blanket-in-the-making and I thought I'd write a little post about it. Before I go any further, I would like to say that I am indeed following Attic 24's pattern for a ripple blanket. Apparently a couple of people have struggled with it a little, but all I can say is that I'm a very novice crocheter, and all I did was sit down with the photos and instructions and well, the rest is history! (And no, I'm really not that clever). Anyway, it's going well so far, and I can't wait for the time when I can snuggle under it, spread it over the bed in the 'guest room', or take in on picnic or camping trips. Because this is a 4-in-1 blanket you see!!!

I'll have to snuggle under it because, well, that's what blankets are for. And this one is going to be irresistible with its multitude of colours. I can just imagine that when I have down days, it'll help me cheer up, I'm convinced about that. Not only because it's colourful, but because it will undoubtedly remind me of blogland, the wonderful things it has taught me, both in terms of crafting skills but more importantly emotionally.

The blanket might also be used in the second bedroom to cover the single bed we have in there for guests. That's because I've started it about 1m wide, which is the width of a single bed. I guess I'll carry on until I either get really bored of it, run out of yarn (unlikely really!) or cover the length of said-single bed.

Finally, it will most definitely be coming on picnic and camping trips. Because it's made with acrylic yarn, it should be hard wearing and I won't mind it getting a little dirty because putting it in the washing machine won't be an issue. Ooh I can't wait!! I can just picture myself, sat in my cute little tent, gazing over some stunning bit of scenery, a lake or a mountain perhaps, wrapped up in my Arc-en-Ciel, sipping a cup of hot chocolate....

Here's to dreams and crafting!!! x

My favourite colour

Thanks everyone for your very helpful comments to yesterday's post! I am now the proud owner of Compeed plasters (I'd never heard of them before, I've got great hopes though!) and I guess it'll be a change at work solution for me then. I'll have a look at all your suggestions as to which type of shoe I'll buy for my daily walk and keep you updated! Now, normal posting service can resume!

My favourite colour has to be red. It just has to be. Not because of its connotations (think love/ blood etc), but just because. That's it, just because. I like it. No, I love it. I find it lifts up your mood, and a touch here and there just brightens things up. A red cushion, a red scarf, a red serving dish, red nails, it just makes me want to smile. And honestly, don't get me started on red dots. Anyway, in the meantime, let's have a look at some lushious red (and pink!) flowers. Hands up who prefers yesterday's purple ones? I think my heart is leaning toward the reds...

ps: I have meant to ask this for a while now, but what ever happened to MelMel and MaddyMakes? Those two blogs are nowhere to be found :-(