Thing-a-me's, like tights and camper vans.

Hello, lovely to see you, feels like ages since I've been here, when it was only Friday I was here last, I must have packed loads into my weekend.

Hugo was so pleased to read your comments from my last post, he was very touched by the things you wrote, thank you, they were heart warming. He's fully recovered now, a few early nights did the trick.

I went to Edinburgh on Saturday, to mooch around galleries, and see the 'Impressionist Gardens' exhibition. It was a lovely show, but left me strangely flat, which surprised me. It's had rave reviews in the press, and so I went with high expectations, but I just found it dull. The paintings were beautiful, but Impressionism, which, when it was first let loose on the public, was seen as revolutionary, whereas now it's very much part of the establishment. There were some exquisite paintings on show, where the speckled light dazzled, but generally, the actual gardens in the paintings were dull and uninspiring. I've been very spoilt this year, visiting some extraordinary real-life open gardens. Many of the paintings in the show didn't capture the verve of flowers and foliage.

I did leave Edinburgh with a couple of pairs of tights that were on sale. The Impressionist show might not have got my pulse racing, but the tights did.

It might have been a little warm to wear my tights on Sunday, but I was determined to pull them on. I love their loudness. I love stripes, so when I saw them in a shop called Aubin and Wills, and that they had been reduced from £29 to £9, they had to come home with me. There's an on-line shop, if you want to buy a pair for yourself, the link to the tights is here.

I like their packaging, and the fonts they use, very stylish.

The other side of the bag is ever so cool. My tights came home wrapped in tissue paper with the logo all over it too, tissue paper to keep and treasure I think.

We went for a coffee on the promenade after my little photo-shoot.

Ellie wore her sunhat.

She really needs some 50's style sunglasses to complete the look, don't you think?

Then we returned to the carpark, and saw this camper van parked next to our car. It was the curtains that caught my eye.

There was a lady sitting inside, I think she was having a cup of tea.

Her other half was sitting in the driver's seat, nursing his cuppa. He didn't look like he wanted to talk. Maybe he was in deep contemplation of the view..........

The lighthouse in the distance.

I instantly fell in love with this little camper van, and had visions of it painted in duck-egg blue, with vintagey finds inside, and me sitting drinking tea, eating Victoria Sponge cake, and crocheting blankets for the interior. I like the idea of whizzing around in it, taking off and having adventures. If they wanted to, Hugo and the doggies could come along for the ride.

Look, you can see more pics of the mk1 transit camper here, they're wonderful!

Mine might have red gingham check curtains, or I could make some out of squares of fabric, lots of different squares of pattern sewn together, quilt style.

Lovely. I wonder if it will ever happen.

Have you got five minutes to spare? To settle down with a cup of tea or a tipple, and watch this short film for Toast, it might take a little while to download, but it's rather a lovely film, dreamy.

Sorry, still no sleeve pics to show you, and I've finished both the sleeves for my fair isle dress! Tonight I'm going to start sewing in ends of yarn. It's getting quite close to the big reveal of my dress, so maybe I'll wait till it's all finished till I show you anything more! Till Wednesday then! Cheerio. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Gill]

Ooooh Vanessa
Those tights are just gorgeous and so you!!
I love all your lovely pictures in this post and I'm so glad that dear brave Hugo has recovered!
Gill

[greenrabbitdesigns]

How cute is Ellie in her sun hat, so sweet!!
Love the tights. :)
Vivienne x
P.S. Definitely paint the van duck egg blue!

[Penelope-by-the-Sea]

Hi Vanessa

I love the zingy colours of your tights and the combination with your pink cotton dress is gorgeous. I honestly thought when I saw the first photo in this post that it was from a magazine ! I think you should send it to Aubin and Wills and say Hey look at me wearing a pair of your tights !

Really looking forward to the dress reveal xox

[Renna]

I only recently stumbled across your blog, probably in a search for something knit related. Your gorgeous photographs caught my eye, and I've been returning ever since.

As an American, the idea of visiting gardens is completely foreign to me, but sounds so inviting.

I dearly love the photo of your sweet little doggie wearing the sunhat. I'm sure it must have been the most stylish doggie on the beach! ;-)

[Janet Brown]

love love love the tights and have already ordered myself a pair!!!! Whether I willhave the nerve to wear them is another matter as my legs are in no way as lovely as yours and I fear the stripes may be stretched too far!!! But you look so fab in them and as already mentioned the photos could easily be from a magazine. Love the doggie hat too - what a sweet little poppet! So looking forward to seeing your knitted dress too. Thanks for sharing!

[Janice Perkin]

the tights are fantastic - even better than your usual socks! - sorry you didn't enjoy the gardens exhibition - it certainly had great reviews - love the photos of poor Hugo asleep with his furry pillow! - yes heard about the accident on the news - very sad

[Erica K]

You look adorable!! :D I love the tights, and that is an awesome bag. That would've made my day! My husband and I are seriously thinking about saving for a camper trailer next year. I saw the cutest airstream the other day, and now I need one. Unfortunately they seem to be twice the price of the regular ones, but they're so NICE! And yes, how fun would it be to make it all cozy!?! And just think of the 'savings' when going on a road trip. Let me talk the both of us into getting one! ;D

Can't wait to see your dress!

[driftwood]

just read your last post Vanessa, what a tragic loss. the snoozing photos were great.

amazing tights, I assumed it was a catalogue shot xxx

[Aubrey]

I love the tights and oh so wish for legs like yours to wear them, mine do all the right things for me but not in stripey tights!! Just wondered whether you could wear them with your polka dot shoes....very stunning I am sure!!!!!!!
I love the fashion shoot and the admirer with the hat!! And glad Hugo had some good sleeps, love Aubrey

[Jennyff]

You bagged some great tights and captured some really happy snaps. The camper van is brilliant, you couldn't possibly change the curtains they must be preserved for the nation.

[Crafty Jemima]

Love the tights but Ellie in her Sun hat stole the show in that post - the cutest thing I've ever seen!!

Nerys x

[Anna]

Love the tights! I think I have the same dress or one very similar from H&M, will have to work up courage to wear it with red stripey tights _ looks good with the shirt underneath as well! I have watched the toast clip a few times since its launch - i think I will be quite poor after the shop is updated wednesday

[Kate Bruning]

You're a model - I am whistling right now!!!

[Pipany]

Love stripes too Vanessa. Great sunhat! Off to have a look at the Toast film now x

[Stella]

Lovely photos, lovely blog, lovely you, and looooovely dogs

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

Great post! It was like something from a catalogue! Has your letter all the way from New Zealand arrived for you yet? I asked the fairies to watch over it and make sure it was safely delivered! XX

[michelle bilton]

Hi i LOVE your blog! ive made your knitted slippers twice! and you are helping me to crochet.I would love to find a pattern for some knee length socks but im finding the bit where you knit the heel really difficult! have you any tips!x

[Lesley]

Loving the look Vanessa!

[wonderwoman]

i love your tights - your pics look lovely!!!
xx

[Carole]

Hi Vanessa,
What a brilliant post so lovely and colourful, as ever. Those tights are fab.
I read your last post, you must be very proud of Hugo. All Lifeboatmen are heros.
Looking forward to the Fairisle dress big reveal, you are a tease!
LOve Carole from Rossendale xxxxxx

[Emma]

Oh, you know how I feel about the patchwork quilt-ish curtains Vanessa! I think it's a wonderful plan. My friend Mrs Teapot is posing in front of mine over at my place. They give me serious happiness each and every morning. We're in Yorkshire right now and I'm rather missing them.

Your tights have made me very happy this morning though!

[Emma Angel]

LOVE the tights! Fabulous!
Ellie looks beautiful in her sun hat.
x

[Jane]

Great tights - and wonderful packaging. Loved Ellie in her sunhat, too. I'm always hankering after a camper van, but husband, who was dragged aroud the countryside by a carvanning mad father as a child, is completely unmoved by my pleas!
So glad Hugo has recovered.

[Pattygloria]

Lovely pictures, you look so adorable! I also like stripes, a lot. I wear them almost every day. Maybe 90% of my knit tops and shirts have them. Thanks for sharing those great family moments.
Gloria xx

[Bertie Meadows]

Hello Vanessa, I love your style! You look so happy and zingy, if I saw you walking down the street you would make me smile and I would have to say hello to you.
Bertie x

[PosyLinda]

Cutest stripy tights ever. Ellie makes a sweet little model too!

[maggie]

Goodness you are brave wearing those stripes!

[Planet Penny]

Amazing tights and I love Ellie's sunhat. If I put one on Higgins it would be eaten immediately! My daughter-in-law and I are on a mission to persuade our menfolk that we NEED a camper van and I am already crocheting the blankets!

[Barbara]

Sweet photos of the fun tights!

[annies abode]

oh how sad - poor hugo.

such snazzy tights - looking forward to the dress reveal - you are so talented.
would love your comments on my latest blog post on peas - thank you
anniex

[Jenni at Baame Kniits]

Love those tights Vanessa! I adore your colour combinations and Ellie looks so cute in her sunhat! And that Van...I can just see you in it :-)

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[knit tops]

I agree with Gill. Those tights are gorgeous on you. I love the confidence you show wearing them. I don't think I would be able to pull them off. Maybe if I stopped caring I would be able to. Thanks for the inspiration.

[pilot motorhomes for sale]

You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I'm looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!