Attic24 Weekend Bag

So sorry about the lack of crafty talk around these parts lately. I've actually been quite busy, have gotten a few things done, but was unable to take any decent photos due to the constant gloominess and the lack of proper light...

But that all changed on the weekend when FINALLY the sky cleared and the sun came out. My mood instantly lifted and I jumped at the chance to take some photos before it clouded over again.

Today I would like to show you my Attic24 Weekend Bag which I finished about a week ago.

The simple pattern for this bag can be found over at Attic24 along with detailed photos showing each and every step of the bag's construction; this is truly a quick and simple project, an absolute breeze to work up. As for yarn choice, Lucy has three color palettes available which can be ordered from the Wool Warehouse. The Heatwave color pack was all but screaming my name so I went with that and I absolutely loved working with these lush and vibrant colors, especially during this gloomy and bleak January.  I have quite a bit of yarn leftover and am already thinking about what to make with it, until then it looks quite pretty sitting in my yarn drawer.

My favorite little detail on the bag is the flower; I love both the color combination and the dimension. In fact, I may use this pattern to make a few flowers for my wreath which I am slowly getting back to working on.

I'm not sure I am going to use my bag as an actual purse and stuff it full with my wallet, keys, glasses, planner...it seems too pretty to use for that and I do think that I would need to line it if I wanted it to stand up to such rigorous daily use. Instead I am leaning towards using my bag to hold a small crochet project or even a little sewing.

I'm not sure what I would do without pretty crochet to get me through the long, dull winter.

What are you working on?

5/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Claire: You would think we asked you to cut off your arm, when we only asked you to comb your hair before school. Unreasonable?

Bridget: writing a book about otters and telling me all about it. And that smile, always the brightest spot in my day...

4/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Oma's birthday celebration meant cake in the afternoon (dessert before dinner!!!). You girls were wide eyed and all smiles with excitement as we cut the cakes, asking repeatedly "how many pieces can we have?" You both have such a sweet tooth. 

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 Week Project.

Lately...

Lately...

• The weather has been grey and dull. It is almost dark at 4:00 in the afternoon. To combat the gloomy, I always have a candle burning on the kitchen counter...sometimes this works, other times it is not enough. I've also been taking photos of my houseplants to remind myself what green, living things look like. Suffice to say I will be celebrating when the sun decides to come out again (soon, please)
• I've been reading. After only reading two books last year (I'm kind of embarrassed about that), I am determined to read more. I've set a goal for myself of 12 books this year...and I just finished my second. To keep up my momentum I am heading to the library this weekend to pick up a few new reads. Any suggestions? 
• I've never drank so much tea in my life, our kettle is in constant use.
• I've finished my weekend bag but with the terrible light we are having, photos will have to wait.
• I made this vegan banana bread and it is delicious. I may make another this weekend.
• I've been decluttering like a woman possessed. Is there anything more satisfying that dropping off a load of junk at the thrift store? Or a clean cupboard with only the things you need inside? I don't think so. 
• We are in the midst of planning a family trip to California and I am beyond excited... the sun shines there, right? I'll be having "cake by the ocean", watching the sunset, on my birthday...
• I've been thinking about this space and what I want to do here this year. I have a few ideas that both excite and scare me....stay tuned.

What have you been up to lately?

3/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

I get home from work around 2:45 pm and you girls tumble through the door from school around 3:20. Today, while it poured rain outside, we sat at the kitchen table - with tea for me, hot chocolates for you, and a few cookies for each of us - chatting about our days. I love our simple afternoons together.

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 Week Project.

2016: A Year of Crafting

I thought it would be fun to look back at 2016 and do a little round-up of all the things that I made last year. Overwhelmingly I crocheted, both quick makes and finishing up larger projects, and it should come as no surprise that more crafting was done in the colder months as the garden really took up my time in the the summer.

I've arranged my finished projects into collages with links to the blog posts below.

{January - March}

Duck Rattle

Chunky Granny Scarf

Harlequin Shawl

Cozy Stripe Blanket

{April - May}

Doll blanket

V-Stitch Infinity Scarf

Colorful Granny Square Pillow

Coasters

{August - October}

Ellie the Elephant

Project Life: Eastern Canada

Crochet Stash Baskets

Mandalas

{November - December}

Crochet Duck

Hoot the Owl

Color Block Blanket

Crochet Butterfly

Wow, seeing it all in one place is quite encouraging, I actually made quite a bit last year.

I also spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking using our local produce box and I shared all that in my weekly posts; cooking became quite the creative outlet for me this year which was a little unexpected, but a lot of fun.

I also can not help but notice that I did not do much scrapbooking this past year. I am not completely sure how I feel about this - part of me is okay with it, part of me misses this hobby. Maybe I'll have more to say about this soon...

Looking forward, I have a few creative plans for the year...

• finish my wreath which has been somewhat neglected these last few months....
• I'm working on this and this right now, close to being finished on both fronts....
• I ordered the yarn to make this blanket...
• I also would like to do a little sewing. I have all the supplies to make a bag just sitting in the cupboard waiting for me to get myself in gear...
• And I would also like to make a crochet wall hanging...

Looking at what I've done and planning what I want to do has left me quite inspired. I'm off to do some crafting, talk later....

That was Then, This is Now...

Some projects take a long time to happen....this was one of them...

I had the idea months ago to go through the box of memorabilia I had collected and saved from when Steve and I were dating and add it all to my SMASH journal. Well finally last week, when I was off work, I had the time to take a trip down memory lane and play around with paper, pockets, and pretty embellishments to create a few pages in my journal.

Starting opposite the page which suitably reads "That was Then" I added a pocket into which I slipped some handwritten notes and the score card from when we went mini golfing on our first date (in finding this score card again we finally settled the debate over who won...it was Steve).

On the next page I added a favorite photo and two pockets with ticket stubs from all the concerts we went to together...so many fun memories. We also went to a lot of movies when we were dating but rather than keep all the ticket stubs - especially since some were fading and were barely legible - I wrote a list of all the movies we saw (bottom right). Believe it or not, Star Wars is on the list; Star Wars is evidently a permanent fixture in my life, then and now.

There were a lot of happy tears as I went through the things I had kept from our dating days, but nothing tugged at my heart more than what is in the large pocket (in the photo above): five pieces of paper each listing five reasons why Steve loves me. I remember vividly finding these papers tucked into my school bag or in my car over the course of a week or so one fall semester so many years ago. It was so sweet and even funny to reread these reasons so many years later and we had a great time one evening last week reliving our happy memories of falling in love.

I finished up the "dating history" section of my journal with a photo taken of us last year on our twelfth wedding anniversary opposite the page that reads "This is Now"....

After so many years together, after so much has happened, after so many changes, after so much growth, I am so proud of us and what we have accomplished, from where we started to where we are now...

2/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

You found a book at the library that showed each and every Star Wars Lego figure that had every been made and you were completely mesmerized. You schooled Daddy, knowing which scenes in which movie each variation of the character was from, and of course it was not long before you were drawing the characters - using the book as a guide - and then cutting them out to make your own "paper toys".

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 Week Project.

P.S. It seems like Star Wars is taking over my house/life...yours too?

P.P.S. Grey days and poor winter light make taking these photos a challenge at this time of year, but I love capturing these everyday moments so I persevere...

1/52

"A portrait of my girls, once a week, every week, in 2017."

Walking and talking.....

You girls are the best of friends and it is one of my greatest hopes/wishes that you will be best friends your whole life long. There is nothing more special than the bond between sisters...

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 Week Project.

Crochet Earring Holder

Back around the end of August I took the girls to get their ears pierced and almost immediately thereafter, Bridget started making earrings. Lots of them. We purchased some supplies and a beginner jewellery making kit at the local craft store and she really got into it; it was beautiful to see her so engaged in this new hobby and to see her little creative mind at work.

Unfortunately her piercings became infected, we had to remove her earrings, and her holes have grown closed. After a lot of sadness, tears and disappointment, she has come to peace with things, she knows that she can get her ears re-pierced once they heal completely, and in the meantime she is focusing her designing efforts on necklaces and bracelets.

But she made a lot of earrings, and she is so proud of her work, and it would be a shame to just put them all away in a box, so to that end I made her a crochet earring holder for Christmas.

My inspiration for this project came from here. The frame is from a local shop, I used a chunky yarn so the earrings would have something to hang on, and I added a flower to the lower corner to pretty things up a bit.

Bridget was thrilled with her gift and proudly hung all her handmade earrings on it....

I'm so proud of my little jewellery designer

Happy New Year

The New Year brought with it blue skies and gorgeous sunshine so we bundled up and headed to the local park for a walk. The fresh air was amazing and incredibly refreshing.

Looking back, 2016 was a year of happiness, joy, blessings, calm, and peace, though if I am being completely honest, there was a fair amount of sadness, worry, disappointment, and frustration mixed in there as well - it can't be all roses all the time, am I right?

But a walk through the park on this crisp morning, laughing and talking with my favorite people, did provide a sense of clarity for me, the cold helped to wash away any angst from the past year and helped me focus on the year ahead. I'm making plans, I'm setting goals, I'm moving forward.....

Happy New Year friends! Best wishes for a wonderful 2017!