...before going any further with this post, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year filled with lots of crafty fun!... I thought I would be writing my first post of 2018 a bit earlier (with more timely wishes for the New Year!...) but, alas, January inertia got the better of me as it often does... I do think that my slow start in January is inevitable after a December that is perhaps a bit too frenzied; despite always having the best intentions after the Christmas season to plan things a bit better next time around so I'm not cramming so much in December, I never seem to manage to do so...
So, where have I been and what have I been up to since 2018 was ushered in? Well, at home mostly, and definitely wearing down my favourite side of our living room sofa as it is in a well-lit corner and very cozy, being close to our fireplace which has been put to very good use in the past few weeks. It is my happy spot where I've surrounded myself with a bunch of yummy craft and home decorating books, as well as a basket overflowing with balls of wool in the loveliest of colour palettes. Here, I spend my time...
...slowly browsing through these books which make the crafty lobe of my brain wander to all sorts of interesting places, with new project ideas sprouting here and there... But inevitably, I end up being drawn to my wool-filled basket and my hook which is never far away and, off I go, Ch 1, 2, 3, ...
...and soon enough, I have the beginnings of a posy of flowers and greenery!...
Over the years, interestingly enough, I've noticed that the dead of winter is the time of year I am most likely to be churning out flowers with my hook and yarn; maybe it's because it's when I most miss the flowers in my garden -- who knows?!... Whatever the reason may be, once I start making them, I find it hard to stop, and I have amassed a little collection of vintage cookie tins holding each winter's harvest; I should start labeling them with the date and year they were made in like people do with their jam jars!
I think flowers and foliage are addictive to crochet because, for one, they are so quick to make, and also -- probably the real reason for the ever-growing pile of flowers and greenery on my coffee table -- they are so much fun to tweak a little bit here and there by ever so slightly varying the patterns and colour schemes. So, for example, once I make one flower in full bloom, I can't help but wonder next: what can I do to the pattern to make the flower seem not as fully opened, or maybe still in its bud phase?... Just as with nature, the possibilities seem endless!
To make this batch of winter blooms and greens, I have used rustic 100% wool which has an inherent stiffness that works well in giving the flowers, leaves, and stems a well-formed sturdy shape. In fact, thinking back, I always seem to pull out my woolliest of wool yarns when making my winter gardens; I find there is something so comforting to be working with pure wool in wintertime when the days can be so gloomy and stormy...
When choosing yarn to make my flora, I try to always include wool with heathered tones as I find these absolutely irresistible in 100% wool; I think that heather colours also lend themselves beautifully to making flowers and greenery because, if you look closely at a flower or leaf in your garden, they will rarely seem solid in colour, but more likely nuanced with different shades of a colour blended all together.
As I mentioned earlier, my mound of blooms and greenery is growing on my coffee table and, unlike in previous years where I made similar piles only to stash them away in cookie tins and never use them in any projects, I have resolved to change that this year (yes, a New Year's resolution!...); I do have one particular project idea in mind which I'd love to try out and which I hope to show you soon... However, I must do so quickly before spring wakes up my barren winter garden and fresh flowers and leaves start popping up everywhere to distract me from my crocheted lookalikes... So, yes, maybe it's high time for my January energy level to be raised up a notch or two!...
Now, in case you might be wondering what ever became of all my hours of my pre-Christmas crocheting mentioned here, I am planning on posting about it shortly; I just need one or two of my daughters to model the finished projects so I can take a few photos... I do hope you've had a great start to 2018 and I so look forward to another year of sharing rosehippy craftiness with you -- thanks for popping by!...
Oh my, these are so pretty. A lovely way to spend cold wintery days next to the fireplace.
Posted by: Brenda @ It's A Beautiful Life | January 21, 2018 at 04:09 PM
Happy new year! Such a pretty winter tradition...
Posted by: mrs robinson | January 22, 2018 at 09:15 PM
I am in love with your flowers! The colors and shapes are just beautiful.
I have made many different types of flowers myself and also love the wools and heathers. I was fortunate to find some hand spun and hand dyed wools several years ago that are just perfect for this sort of thing. I hope to see your finished product sometime soon!
Are you a member of a Facebook group called School of Wool? There are some neat projects shared there and, of course, your wooly projects would fit right in.
Posted by: Tina Kercher | February 10, 2018 at 04:10 AM