Tuesday 17 April 2012

Lovely Stuff


The little ones are back at school, and I've been having a look through the pictures from our two weeks off.  Oh my goodness, I've enjoyed this holiday though ~ having little C home off school with us, my sister coming to visit and a little jaunt down to South Wales...you can safely say we packed that fortnight full to the brim of Lovely Stuff.


We set off south to Wales last Wednesday to go and see the other half's part of the family for a few days.  Wales brought gusty winds and dark squally skies along with the odd bit of torrential rain, thunder and lightening (oh - and hail stones like golf balls).  Look at that storm, ploughing across the sky behind the BBC buildings down Cardiff Bay!!!


But we also had some gorgeous sunny blue moments too, in fact it was warm enough to trot off to the Gower and install ourselves on a beach for a few hours!! Oh the joy of some unexpected Beach Time!!!!!!!!!!




This delicious place is Langland Bay, just beyond the Mumbles.  It's a pretty little crescent moon of a beach backed by a line of beach huts.  There's a couple of places to get a nice cuppa and a bite to eat and it's a cosy suntrap  where you could happily doze for a while if it took your fancy.  


I really do like South Wales.  I love the vibrancy of Cardiff, and the fact that it's so close to the water.  There are those lovely old arcades to wander down, full of splendidly unique little shops and the Bay area for a nice place to wander, dine and catch a concert.
Just a few miles down the M4 and you're headed towards some of the most beautiful scenery and beaches you could ever hope to cast your eyes upon.  Inland, you have the sweeping hills and dramatic peaks of the Brecon Beacons, it really is a great place and I'm very fond of it.

When I was in Cardiff, I happened to pop into John Lewis for a special little purchase.  As you know, I'm currently making a crocheted bag from Nicki Trench's book.  That book is crammed to bursting with really lovely patterns and a while ago I decided I'd like to have a go at this, my sofa needed a round stripy cushion, and the more I thought about it the more necessary it became:




Being a person who has NEVER been able to finish one project before embarking on another, I got myself the goodies...




...deliciously bright, zingy rainbow shades from the Amy Butler Organic DK range.
I've never used this wool before, but the colours really sang at me from the shelves.  They're eye poppingly, gloriously, happy colours.  I played about with a few colour ways for a while before deciding that really, it had to flow like a rainbow.  It was the only colour way that made me deliriously excited when I looked at it.




It's a very pleasureable thing to make rainbow rings...




...round and round I go...very therapeutic, dreamy even.  I lost myself in those happy colours, they literally do drench the soul with lovely feelings.  The wool is pretty nice to work with too, it does split occasionally but I can overlook that very small detail because it feels nice and looks amazing :D


I don't think it's going to take me that long to finish, it's a quick and easy sort of pattern and crochets up in no time.  


I'll be back soon to show you the finished article, then it's back to my bag...or my shawl...or my granny stripe blanket...!!!


Have a lovely week,
Julia xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

29 comments:

  1. ❤Coco Rose❤17 April 2012 at 13:03

    Hello Julia!Sounds like you had a wonderful couple of weeks. You know, you were right where I was this Easter! We had a few days spent at Langland and Rotherslade, just the next beach along. It was heaven to be there.Your newest creation is beautiful. I am in need of bright colour, especially as today is wet and grey! The colours look gorgeous together. I cannot wait to see the final piece!much loveVanessa xxx

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  2. Oh it's delightful the colours you have chosed are just lovely.I have been meaning to make myself another round cushion for an age now I might have to add this to my ever growing list of things to make!Kandi x

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  3. Cardiff is so close to where I live I really must pay a visit again soon! Your cushion covers remind me of sea-side holidays, strawberry icelollies on a turquoise beach! :)Jess xx

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  4. Dear Julia,thank you for taking us with you with these wonderful pictures! I'd really love to travel to England again for a few weeks...there are so many fantastic places!Your crochet is lovely, like the colours!Have a good time!Dania

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  5. not sure which I like best...the lovely seaside photos or the delicious crocheted goodies...it's all beautiful and inspiring x

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  6. Love the crochet, great colours! We used to go for holidays in Wales when I was young, I haven't been in ages though. Must get back to visit sometime soon! :) x

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  7. The pictures are beautiful! But I confess that I am crazy about the cover fro your pillow. I must find that pattern and make one for my couch.

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  8. Ohhh...pretties! I'm loving all of those beautiful colours! :) And that beach looks divine, too. I think I'm in need of a holiday!

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  9. That aqua color is must making my heart sing!Hope to see all this inspiration come to life in your art!Lovely stuff, indeed!

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  10. The Vintage Folk Painter17 April 2012 at 23:20

    Yep, Ive always been one of those too Julia - can't wait to start the next project.Everything looks so pretty......cheersFi

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  11. Wow, those colours are so great, I love your selection. That cushion is going to look great!Fleur xx

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  12. Hello Julia.. I am your newest follower. I am fairly new to blogging and I must say I am so happy to see so many people loving yarn and what they can do with it! I just admire your work and the COLORS are so beautiful! Your photos of the beach are gorgeous!!! I live in Lake Charles, Louisiana and the beaches here are terrible, that's the Gulf for you! so thanks for sharing them! Hope you can visit me as well and share what we love to do. Shari

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  13. Wales is one of my favorite places on this planet! I had a few relaxing days in Mumbles almost a decade ago and I long to go back. I am loving the colors you picked for your new project. So bright and cheery!

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  14. Looks a lovely place to visit Julia, I love the holidays all that chilled out holiday time, wonderful! I bought some of that yarn myself just the other day, like you I was smitten by the colours. I'm still at the gazing lovingly at it stage!

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  15. Thank you Julia for sharing your holiday photos! That looks so beautiful place! I love your yarn and the colours! Round pillow is great idea! x Teje

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  16. joshy and belle19 April 2012 at 16:41

    I love your cushion, it's sooooo pretty!!!K I'm having a giveaway if you'd like to have a look, fliss xxx

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  17. Stunning! You've given me so much inspiration. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. buscandocomienzos25 April 2012 at 08:34

    Colores preciosos y muy relajantes. Tal vez me anime a tejer algo "en redondo". Ya tengo ganas de verlo terminado :)xxx

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  19. pembrokeshire lass25 April 2012 at 14:47

    Love the bright colours and great ideas!I'm really pleased you enjoyed your time in Wales and had good weather...... sometimes. I, too, love the arcades in Cardiff...so many different shops! Joan

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  20. I just popped back to your blog to find a link to your tiny heart bunting pattern, so I was delighted to read about your holiday last week, being a Swansea girl! Langland is indeed lovely - aren't the beach huts gorgeous?! I can also highly recommend Oxwich and Rhossili should you come back :) Please do!! Nat xxx

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  21. fee @ chipper nelly28 April 2012 at 16:07

    hey Julia - glad to hear you had nice hols (at least we don't expect anything other than rain in Wales!) and an unexpected beach day is always the best (except when it gets unexpectedly hot and you unexpectedly burn your nose!)I spotted the Amy Butler in JL and literally had to force myself to walk away. Too (too) many projects on at the moment!Hope it's a happy weekendfee x

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  22. I love Wales too, we ended up spending our honeymoon there due to the volcanic ash cloud!That cushion is going to be gorgeous, the colours are fab.

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  23. Hi Julia! I'm new in crocheting and I realy love it! l just like your rainbow rings so much!! I adore everything colourful!!angeliki xx

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  24. patchworkandlace14 May 2012 at 19:53

    Hi from your new follower,your blog and work is lovelyxxx

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  25. Julia! I have been so utterly busy. I will send you an email soon. Just wanted to stop by and nosy at what you have been up to. I really need to do something creative inspiring and I have just got that Nikki Trench book. Love it! Love your new yarn and oh my, might just have to copy that round cushion. Be in touch soon. xxx

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  26. Wow that sky really was brooding. I do like your stripy cushion, I'm afraid I'm very lazy, I don't like stitching in all those tail ends every time you change colour, lol.

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  27. Hello! Your blog is so intersting! What do you say about following each other on GFC? and facebook like?:XFashionSpot.ro

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  28. Hello Julia. It was such a revelation reading about your artistic journey and I am glad that you made the decision to follow your heart and dreams. I purchased your e-book and have find it very helpful in clarifying what direction I want my life to take. It is quite scary at the moment so what you have written has been a good source of support. I don't know whether I have put it in the right part for you to see it but i have left it on your blog so I hope you will receive my thanks and appreciationOnce again many thanks for the good work.Regards Anthony (The Art Rookie)

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  29. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really recognize what you are talking approximately! Bookmarked. Please also discuss with my site =). We may have a link trade agreement among us!

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