Fall.

Hello! Either I've been cooped up inside while this has been going on, or it's happened 'just like that', sneakily. Leaves everywhere. Littering the ground. It's crunch time underfoot.

I've always liked the American word for Autumn............ Fall......... it's beautifully evocative don't you think? fall.............. a lovely soft ..................gentle word, evoking an image of brightly coloured leaves ...................spiralling to earth. Beautiful.

I've not long returned from the library, and on the way home I collected these leaves above. Are you a leaf collector? I'm a bit of a hoarder of leaves, I found a stash of them the other day, each leaf placed between kitchen paper, dry and brittle. I think I prefer them when they're curling like these one's, with a little of their colour remaining.

Whilst I was browsing in the library, I found this book on the library shelves, "Three-dimensional embroidery" by Janet Edmonds, it's absolutely fascinating. I'm finding myself more and more interested in textile art, the shapes and textures, they draw me in, and give me ideas for my knitting.

A thing of beauty, this nest, don't you think? It's a "just because" piece. No function, other than the things it might make you feel and the thoughts you have when you look at it, I suppose you could call that a 'function' perhaps.

I love these vessels, and I feel excited at the thought of making something inspired by them. Who knows what the outcome will be?

And what could be the result of me seeing this structure above? Who knows hey?! Who knows how these things could influence you, now you've seen them? Maybe not at all, or maybe they'll have sown the seed of a little something, a little idea.

Anyway, back to the real world.

This weekend I hope we'll have the time to watch this DVD of the film 'Fanny and Alexander', which I've wanted to see for years.

There'll also be some curling up on the sofa, infront of the wood burning stove, reading my newly acquired download from Sarah London, an issue of her Hip to Hook publications, which I love. Isn't that tea cosy a bundle of joy? I have to crochet this, I have to.

Hugo and I have been invited to a 40th Birthday party this weekend, and we have to dress up as zombies. I've never dressed up as a zombie before.

I'm sure there was something else I was going to mention, and I can't remember what it was now. It will come to me. That's what happens when your husband is watching a programme on the t.v about Eddie Stobbart lorries. Nope, can't remember. Or maybe this is the effect of doing my accounts all week, unbelieveably. I've finished last years, almost, I just have to get up to date on this years. Now I know why I was looking at leaves on the ground as though they were beautiful sculptures, earlier, it was the effect of being tied to the computer with figures swimming before my eyes, the world outside seemed miraculous. Well, I'm off now to take a running leap into the swimming pool of my weekend. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Have a great weekend Vanessa, hope you get that costume sorted!! :)
Vivienne x

[Liz W]

Maybe you could cover yourself in leaves and say you have just come up out of the grave and haven't shaken off yet. Zombies aren't known for being particularly tidy, you know!
Good Weekend to you! I love fall, best of all the seasons!

[Jacqueline]

I had a horrible moment there when I first clicked on your blog - I thought the title was "fail", and that your fabulous dress was in the bin! Thankfully, it was just my mistake. I like the idea of 3D stuff. I have just enrolled in a needle felting nightclass, and would like to make bowls and little balls. Enjoy your party, and look forward to seeing you on Monday.

[Mary Grace McNamara]

Oh yes, that tea cozy is quite delicious! I love the colors! Fall is fabulous! Our leaves are just starting to turn and they are gorgeous!

MGM

[MiA]

Hi Vanessa!
How right you are about the fall and falling leaves. I never thought of that. Maybe because english is not my native language :)

Wish you a great weekend!
MiA

[Lyn-de-Lou]

Okay - no ideas for the costume but I have one for 'special effects'. Put on a face mask - you know the kind that dry into rubbery bits - then partly rub it off until it's hanging in bits like bits of skin falling off. Very effective.

[Laura]

The 3-d fabric items are interesting. I can see how you as an artist would see many possibilities there.

Love that tea cosy! I've thought about downloading her Hip to Hook issues but never have. I'm such a novice at crochet. I'll look forward to seeing your cosy, and hearing how easy/difficult it was - then perhaps I'll have the courage to try it.

[Jenni at Baame Kniits]

That 3D art is amazing isn't it! I love textile art...so inspiring :-)

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

How fun! I hope you post pictures of your zombie self for us to enjoy!!!
I loved the comment you left about how Hugo isn't really interested in cats but has a look at Raymond... I can understand where he comes from...
I muse to Karen often, that Siamese are not actually cats, they're a freakish hybrid... half alien, half monkey.
I sometimes see that alien in him when he is turned sideways to me..... and I wonder what planet he is being sent from, to spy on the human race.
Yes... I know what he's up to!!!
Oh how I wish I was reading lovely books and Sarah London magazines... I have a weekend of learning all about anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and mood disorders! My time will come after my exam, meanwhile, you deserve it after doing all your books! Great work!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
XXXXX

[Planet Penny]

I went on a course with Janet a few years ago and love her book. The crochet one looks good too, I'm a sucker for teacosies! good luck with the zombie suit! Penny and Higgins x

[Isabelle]

Have a good weekend Vanessa and enjoy the zombie party! Even though it sure won't be as colourful as that gorgeous teacosy!
Isabelle xx

[Pipany]

Oh darn you Vanessa, now I have account envy. I have to get on with mine, but there are so many other things more interesting. You have inspired me though so who knows? x

[Jane]

Nothing like spending a week doing accounts for turning one into a zombie - I speak from experience! Can't wait to see what you make in 3D.

[Gorgeous Things]

Can I be a spoilsport, and join you in a mutual loathing of fancy dress parties? I really can't be bothered with it all - bah, humbug! and all that. A party is supposed to be about getting together with friends and having fun - not spending a day faffing around trying to find something silly to wear! .... rant over ....
Gorgeous x
p.s. I'm not really a grumpy person ;-)

[Gill]

Hi Vanessa
I hate dressing up too - the words fancy dress fill me with dread! Not what parties are all about eh???? Nevertheless I'm sure you'll have a great time
Your autumn/fall really cheered me up - I'm not an autumn lover - all those dark evenings and early mornings. Still at least it'll soon be time to light the fire!!!!
Gill xx

[Rachel]

That sounds like a varied weekend Vanessa, I wouldn't enjoy the dressing up bit either, but all the other plans sound lovely.I love to get cosy in the Autumn and start on lots of lovely knitting projects!
Enjoy your film!
Rachel x

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Me and the kids often collect autumn leaves. Love the colours.
I hope the zombie party was funny;)
Did you like the movie, Fanny & Alexander? I havn´t seen it since I was a kid, and I just remember it as very long (a long version on tv) and boring. But maybe now as an adult, I would like it.
Love from Anna-Karin

[Siobhan]

I got told off the other week by my daughter for saying fall instead of Autumn. It just seemed a natural thing to say because that is what happens! I love Spring best because of all that promise but I love also that kicking through the leaves and the mulchy dampness of everything underfoot. I tend to bring the really colourful leaves home - the pinky ones or the golden-orangey ones. Yesterday, I passed a conker tree or two and couldn't resist filling up my bag (only a mini one) - they seemed destined to be splatted by cars otherwise, which I felt was a shame. The only thing I dislike about autumn is that it heralds winter and I'm not so keen on that - far too cold! Oh, and the fact that the poor trees are all bare, which always seems a bit sad. I also love texture as much as colour, which means that most colours are interesting to me because even the duller ones are brought to life. Your book looks like it may lead to inspiring things. I used to like dressing up, but haven't done it in years (or gone to a party for that matter). I have to say though that I preferred the more flattering looks rather than pumpkin types of costume. I think the last thing was as a vampire. Come to think of it I don't suppose that mauve lipstick and chewing fake blood capsules did me any favours! Enjoy your party Vanessa - I always found the one's I didn't want to go to much were the most fun and those you planned for and looked forward to were rubbish!

[Stephie @ Narrativeself]

I know exactly what you mean about fancy dress, I mean what have you got all those lovely party dresses for if your friends want you to ditch them and wear a bunch of bandages instead! Meh, just have a few glasses of wine too many and go back in the morning and tell them 'this is what a real zombie looks like'! Have a great weekend :)

[Anne Donald]

Hope all went well with the zombie costume! I know that feeling of having something else to say - it happens every week when I talk to my son on the phone ..... as soon as we hang up I remember what it was that I particularly wanted to tell him!!

[Vintage Squirrel Katie]

Oh, no a programme about Eddie Stobart and we've missed it - no tv since our digital switchover a few weeks ago. We haven't really missed tv but I would like to see this...as strange as that sounds! We have a long list of the names we've seen on Eddie's lorries from Alexandra Freya, Delia through to Seibatu Asha and we continue to collect them, it's quite good fun

[julie]

hope the party was good and that the zombie costume finding didn't prove to be too arduous. Mike watched the Eddie Stobart programme too - wasn't it deathly dull (or was that just me ?!)

[Teje]

Hello Vanessa! Wonderful tea cozy! I don't have any, I think it's time to make. Also you have lovely book - interesting figures - great new ideas! Waiting to see the ideas it gives to you!
Have a lovely day! Teje

[Victoria]

The colours of your knitting are fantastic. Great combo. Can't wait to see it finished. V x