do you mind if i knit

Out of the boxing ring, into a fabric shop.

Hello dear readers, thought I might state the obvious, and say, "I'm back!" Yep, I'm back, feeling a bit shaky still, from that cough/cold that got the better of me, and put me out of action. Gosh it punched my lights out. Very unexpected. Had very little energy for anything. And now I feel like five days of my life disappeared mysteriously, or perhaps, like I've been sucked backwards through a hosepipe.

Anyway, enough about me, lets talk about you! You o.k? Hope you've not been in the boxing ring with a cold too? I think this cold was a sneaky, highly brutish strain of virus, with a particularly good left hook, or whatever move boxers use to knock their opponents out. So I'm hoping, you've not been ploughed down too? If you have had the misfortune to be knocked for six, you have every little bit of my sympathy. If you've managed to dodge the fatal blow, well done, and I'm very happy you've got the better of whatever it is going around.

In my last post, I was getting excited at the prospect of showing you around an amazing fabric shop my Mum took us to, when we were in Spain recently, so now, a little later than expected, I'm going to fulfill my promise of a short tour round the fabric shop.

I like the photo above, showing the rolls of fabric towering over my Mum, my Dad in the middle, and Hugo on the right.

And here we have a view, in the photo above, of the shop, looking in the opposite direction. The people look strangely small, don't they?

Off to the sides were nooks and crannies crammed with more rolls of fabric. It looked chaotic, but I suspect there was some sort of 'special' filing system going on here. The majority of the gingham checks were in the section above. And you can see a pile of Tweedy looking material to the left of the photo.

This lot was in another section off the main room. I can see some writing on one of the bolts of fabric, saying "Algodon 100%", which means 100% cotton. I remember being so intimidated by this one particular stack, I didn't even attempt to have a look, and see what treasures it was holding. To extract a bolt from this lot could have been tricky, and highly destructive, I imagine.

I'm now going to say something I wouldn't usually say. It was nice to have Hugo and my Dad shopping with us, on this occasion! (Or should I say, it was nice to have two people who hate shopping, along with us). You see, they were very useful in extracting bolts of fabric from the towers of fabrics stacked up. Which gave them something to do. And therefor they didn't get too miserable on this shopping expedition.

I have to say, that fabric shop was FUN! My photographs will never give you a proper sense of the sensory over load you'd get from walking into this shop, in a village in Spain, in the middle of no-where (sounds like some sort of magical place doesn't it?!), but I've given you a peek at what it looked like.

Did I buy any fabric? What do you think? Hugo resigned himself to my crazed and feverish look of "I'm going to buy this, this, this and that, and a bit of that", and helped me pull out bolts of fabric, then put them back when I decided against them. The pull out more. It was great, because the proprietors allowed us to browse freely. There were no disapproving looks, no haughtiness. Very nice shopping experience indeed. Now, would you like to see my pile of purchases? You would? O.k. then, I've just got one photo of my bundle.

Ooh! It was fun buying this little lot. HUGE fun! All that browsing, all that choosing, the long wait in that Aladdin's cave of fabric, till it was my turn to be served, the measuring and cutting, folding, sliding the pile neatly into a bag, and then being handed into my eagerly waiting hands. This is fun. Excitement. And happiness!

As I'm still a bit shaky, I think I'll call it a day now, I've had enough excitement for one day I think. I shall go and have a bit of a rest, so that I can be fresh as a Daisy for whatever it is I talk about tomorrow. My usual "oh it's just a cold, I need to get on with things", wasn't the right way to deal with my cold this time, so, feeling suitably chastised by my nasty cold, I think it's probably a good idea to take it slowly, and get better, don't you? It's nice to be back though, I've missed saying hello. Well, cheerio then! Love Vanessa xxx

Ooh! Lots of old packaging!

Fancy stepping back in time? If you ever get the opportunity to go to Ryedale Folk Museum, in North yorkshire, honestly, it's worth a visit. The photo above is taken looking in to the window of the 'village shop', which was my favourite building in the museum. When I spotted the red Gingham curtain in the window, I was seized by a sudden sense of excitement. Gingham fabric just seems to bode well for me. And I wasn't disappointed, because when I stepped inside, it was like stepping into the past........... so excting, I can't tell you how exciting. Buttons casually pinned to the wall............. Examples of how sweets used to be wrapped. Posters with adorably dressed children on them. That Kellogs packaging! I love it. I do like their 'top tip' for a useful present. Am I right in thinking that 'Table Cream' is a posh term for powdered milk? If I am right, I propose that we all return to calling powdered milk, Table Cream, so genteel. And I love, love, love how the All-Bran packet tells it how it is........ It's put much more delicately on today's packaging, isn't it? I wonder if the colours of these reels of cotton thread had exactly the same wow factor, back then, as they do now? These quilts weren't in the village shop, they were on a bed, in a cottage, decorated in the Victorian style. But I had to show them to you, because I think they're beautiful. I like these rag rugs, which we were quite free to walk over. If I had the time to take on another hobby, I'd get into making rag rugs for our house, sadly there just aren't enough hours in the day to start a new past time. ( I think I just heard Hugo breath a sigh of relief). Shame the light was so dim in this old building, in the museum grounds, because I'm not sure you get the full beauty of this quilt. I love red and white quilts. You might feel you've been round the museum in this post, but no, no, no, I've only showed you a teensy weensy fraction of what's to be seen there. There are even some friendly sheep, one of whom likes to be tickled under his chin. We spent an afternoon at the museum, but you could easily stretch viewing the sights over a day. Next week it's back to life at home, because that is the last of our North Yorkshire holiday. We had a wonderful time, such a lovely break. And we stayed in the most gorgeous little cottage called "The Hideaway".It's beautifully decorated, and is perfect for a couple. Sarah and Dom are the lovely owners, and Sarah has a delicious foodie blog called 'rose petal jam'. It always amazes me how much there is to see and do, just a couple of hours drive away, we feel very fortunate to have access to these places................. Maybe we should try West Yorkshire next time?

Oh m....m.......mmmmmmyyyyyy!

Sometimes a wrong turning in life can be just the thing to improve your quality of life. While driving into Whitby, on our Yorkshire holiday last week, we followed the signs for Whitby, but must have followed incorrectly, because we ended up going on a round-about journey to get where we wanted to be. But it was a really GREAT wrong turn from my point of view, because Hugo saw this............ "Look, there's a fabric shop", said Hugo. "What? Where?" I hadn't seen it. "Oh pleeeeese can we go there?" "O.k. After a cup of tea".(Code for 'after I've fortified myself'). Imagine this.......... A room stocked floor to ceiling with bolts of fabric, and crafty bits and bobs. And Judith herself, a lovely neatly attired, (in Twinset), lady, standing smiling behind her beautifully arranged and ordered counter. The Twinset was perfect. The shop was perfect and gloriously old fashioned, with everything in its place............. lovingly placed. Judith doesn't have an on-line shop unfortunately. But if you're ever in Whitby, you can find her shop at 'Judiths Fabrics', 12-13 Brunswick Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 1RB. Her telephone number is 01947 603 213. I think she will mail fabric to people, but only accepts cash or cheques in payment. I vaguely remember salivating slightly. Oooooohhhh, can you feel my excitement? I was very excited, though I was trying to be decorous in Judith's calm presence. I think Hugo sensed my delight, he certainly didn't even try to stop that crazed look in my eye. He even helped me carefully lift down bolts of fabric. Once I had established that I would buy thirty centimeters of each fabric I chose, I got down to the serious business of selecting. I don't know about you, and this may sound a little crazy, but when I get excited about things like wool, material, ribbons, buttons, paper.............. Well, I feel like I'm going to burst, and that is a bit painful. Yes, excitement can be a painful thing when it's very intense................ almost like holding my breath for too long. You see I'd made a snap decision to allow myself to just buy pretty much what I liked. Decisions like that are a bit like the start of a roller coaster ride, a bit scary. I should really display my fabric purchases so that I get to see them every day, I love to just stare at them. I like to admire my fabric stash............ .............Like you might enjoy looking at a painting. I find it very satisfying, looking at these neatly folded 30cm pieces of fabric. These pretty patterns make me think, quite simply, that life is............... Sweet and good.

That chair.

I wish I was the owner of this chair................ sadly I'm not, and I didn't crochet the blanket either...................... But the weather is making me want to curl up in this lovely chair, with today's choice of beverage, (yesterday it was tea), a large French bowl of chocolatey, creamy, delicious smelling hot chocolate. If I sat in this chair, I would be surrounding myself with coziness, but most importantly, colour.................. glorious colour. Looking at, and remembering this chair, makes me want to create something similar for my home............... it makes me want to get crocheting blankets, and knitting cushion covers, and ............cozying. And I wouldn't object to sharing it with Mr.White Cotton-socks here ................. He can cozy up too........................

Shall I make a cup of tea ?

Should I put the kettle on? Outside it's blowing a gale of fast falling fat snow flakes................... They're dancing, I'm going to call it the 'flurry dance'. It's mesmerising, and wonderful to watch from the warmth of this room. Now the sky has gone white, so white, it's like a light switch was flicked, and the white has created bright. I'm actually sitting here, contemplating the gentle snow storm, and trying to gear myself up to take the dogs out for their walk................. Ah, there's a lull. Now's my opportunity............... Ellie, Douglas, walkies..................... I'll have a steaming hot cup of tea when I return.

The wrapping of gifts .............

......... I had a wrapping session this weekend............. wrapping Christmas presents................ Gosh! Doesn't it take a long time?! ............... I have different levels of wrapping........................ For 'small people', children in other words.......... they get fun paper, but not too expensive, because in my experience, it just gets ripped off without any ceremony............. .............. The next level is 'MOST men, and those for whom frippery is of no interest' ................ They get 'respectful' wrapping paper, (nice, but not too expensive), and they also get a bit of curly wurly ribbon, you know, the stuff that comes in a ball, and you curl it with your scissors? ............ The level up from that, is when wrapping becomes fun............. everything that would be classed as unnecessary, or a waste of money to the level below this one, comes into play at this level................... Tissue paper is a must, ribbon, or nice stripy string has to be used.............. and everything has to be very carefully wrapped, with feelings of goodwill and love going into every cut and sticking of paper, string, ribbon and tape.............. Colour combinations are pondered over........... special, expensive wrapping paper that was hoarded away, after being bought at that ridiculously pricey shop, is carefully removed from the drawer................. The question, "can I part with this?" looms large. To a certain extent, there is a leeeeettle bit of pain in amongst all that love, because you are having to part with treasured paper and ribbon which has been hoarded for quite a while.............. But the love and wanting to give a beautifully wrapped gift win out in the end ........................ The 'highest level' I've just described, is the one that gets applied to wrapping the pictures that people buy from me................ I've been asked where I get the string I tie my wrapped packages in............ After hours of searching for stripy string on the internet, I finally found this butcher's twine at Smiths is Sundries, go to the 'sundries' section on their website.................................... I haven't been able to find the English equivalent of the beautiful American shop Bello'occhio............. it's my idea of heaven! If only I knew of somewhere similar, here in the U.K. ...................... Maybe the closest equivalent would be cox and cox...............

Ballet 'Chicken Lake'.............

Ready?............. Ready for a bit of ballet........... or alternative dance..................? Ballet may not be your idea of good entertainment, but have you ever seen a ballet performed by chickens? (knitted egg cozies to be precise, but not knitted by me). ........Laydeeeeesss ........and ...........Gen...llllle........ Men.................. Welcome to our production of "Chicken Lake"................. The GRANDER alternative to "Swan Lake"..................... "Cue music............. Cue positions ladies"....................... da dah da, ta da, ta da.............. duh di di dah, dah dah, da...daaaaaahhhhh.......... "Graaaacefuuullllyyyy now".............. di di, di dum........... "Ready for the big lift girls?"................ duh di di da, da da, da da.............."Now for the whizzy back flip"............... "Now.............. FLIP!.................. perfect............. di di, dee dee....... didi, dee dee................ do dum, di di, dee, dee deeee, di di................ Steaaddyyyy nowwwwww!" "Steadddeeeeeeeeeeeeeee".................. "Oh..................." " Never mind!........... Right!............. Up, up, up, up, up! ................. De duuuuummmmm, duh, dum, dum......... dum dum, dum dum.............. "Gracefully................ lov..er...ly........And bow to your partner".......... di dum, dee dum, duh dum, di dee................ "Good. Now lady with the blue rinse............ float over to the others............ goooood..........." dum,dum, di dee...................dee............... Dum dum, di-dy dum, di dum, di dee ........"Yes FLOAT.............. GRACEFULLY!.......... forrrmaaationnnnnnnnnn!................... Good!.................... And last chick................" "Lovvvverrrrlllllyyyyyyyyy............... and.................." "SMILE!"........................ Fank you laydees and gents, that's awl for ternight............ Fank you, fank you, fank you............... Well done girls, crackin job............... Enjoy the applause, en-JOY!" ........................................................................................ P.S. You may be wondering what on earth all this craziness is............... I don't know........... knitted chicken egg cozies pretending to do a ballet........... (an alternative Swan Lake no less)............... I just find it funny ............ and silly......... it's fun to just be really silly sometimes isn't it?! I often forget to let myself be silly, it's good for the health, suspending reality and just being down right silly, silly, silly (what a great word, though could be slightly irritating if over used perhaps) ................ Plus, it's quite nice to have an overpowering onslaught of colour........... good for these darkening, wintry days.............. Normally these chooks sit in a row on the shelves above my desk, looking down on me as I work................ I love my little chickens, occasionally they make me want to giggle..................

Pebbles................

Pebble......................I like that word, so smooth and rounded ................... just the right word to describe a ........................ pebble ...................... Pebble, pebble, pebble............... .................................pebble.......................................
....................... My collecting of pebbles from the beach, (each time we take the dogs for a walk there), amuses my husband ..................... How many pebbles do you actually need ...................?.........................That is the enigma of collecting things, isn't it...................... you don't actually neeeeed to collect things..................... but for me, it fulfills some deep subconscious instinct........................ well that, and I like to surround myself with visual stimulus........................ it's the stuff of life for me, keeps my brain active, and my visual radar in creaking order................................... I'll never forget going to the house of a friend when I was at art college............................ she nonchalantly pointed out to me a display of lids, you know the one's from takeaway cups.................... all lined up on a side table.................... I remember being shocked and impressed....................... because I felt it required a very acute vision to see the beauty of those subtle shapes.......................And it taught me a lesson............................. There is beauty in the strangest, most surprising things................................

Rose-Lavender........... or Lavender-Rose.................?

If you're a gardener, have you ever fancied nature produced some different plant combinations............... like this Cotton Lavender (Santolina), producing rose flowers, rather than the little fuzzy yellow things that are it's natural flower? I love the blooms rose plants produce, but can't say I'm a big fan of their thorns and leaves.......................................... The soft grey/green of the Cotton Lavender's foliage sets any colour off beautifully, so I thought I'd have a play with imagined alternative flowers it could produce...................... Of course, facing up to practicalities, the fragile branches of the Cotton Lavender would never support the weight of rose blooms, but we're discussing fantasy plants here.................. ............. I would name my new plant above, " Royal Butter Yellow - Flight of Fancy".................. And the multi-coloured version in the first photograph could be................ what could it be?.................. "Painter's Palette - Flight of fancy"? .................. ............. "Pink Satin Slippers - Flight of Fancy"...................... ........... It occurred to me that the blooms my fantasy plant produces, don't have to be roses only............ how about Scabious flowers............... so pretty, so delicate.................. "Fairy Cushion - Flight of Fancy"...................... ........... Pansy's............. I love Pansy's............. And the bright orange of the Pansy's flower against the greyish green of the Cotton Lavender just sings beautifully to me............ This would have to be "Superb Orange Diva - Flight of Fancy"................. Choices, choices.............. it's almost impossible to choose my favourite combination..................... If pushed............ my favourite might have to be.................... .............. the warm sun of "Royal Butter Yellow - Flight of Fancy"............ Those people who invent new varieties of flowers must feel extraordinarily powerful...................

Frozen cobwebs.

Just when it feels like Spring is approaching, we get sharply reminded it's still winter, with a cold snap. It is beautiful though........... That makes up for the bitter cold. It brings to mind exquisite lace.......... .......... or a cobweb shawl. Is this cobweb strong, or is it delicate? Can it be both..............? All I know is that I felt fortunate to see these frozen cobwebs before they thawed, and just became ......well, ordinary cobwebs ......... again.