This is my absolute favorite time of year. I do love winter, but this time, on the far edge of winter about to tip into spring, is my favorite. The daphne is blooming. The daffodils nod, heavy with a thousand rainstorms. The sky is gray and bright, the ground soaked, the rivers high and brown. I went to Starlight Knitting Society for the first time this afternoon to get some yarn to make a sweater for Amelia's Easter dress (cutest little Laura Ashley dress that I found, used but in perfect condition, on eBay). I had parked a couple of blocks away and walked through the neighborhood to the shop. The air was deeply, darkly fragrant with wood smoke and magnolia blossoms and mud and oh, spring, you are deeply enchanting.
Thank you to every one of you for your orders and your kind words and your patience about the quilt kits. As I said in my update on the last post, I will be making more. I've already found more fabric and it is on its way. And I don't think I was able to find more than three or four of the original prints I had, if that, so this next batch will be entirely new. Now that the pattern is done I will have more time to just focus on kits, so, never fear! I will definitely do at least one more round, and I will keep you posted on this. But more than that, I just do sincerely want to say thank you, and I really will do my very best to deliver as many as I can.
This past week Stacey and I untangled all of the orders and got them organized. She went on vacation and I am going to start shipping them all tomorrow. At night I've been working on my Beatrix Blanket, although I was trying really hard to make this Anya cardigan and it just proved to be beyond me right now. I'm going to pick it back up, but I needed something easier after this week, when I also got together all of the volumes of paperwork for the accountant to do the taxes, too, etc. Bah. I need a vacation. Alas, for the next two weeks, Amelia is on vacation from preschool for spring break, so rest will not be forthcoming. But that's okay. It's spring and that is exciting. I'm not sure what we're going to do yet. It's still pretty wet, and I believe there's still a lot of rain in the forecast, so, I don't know. Lots of play dates. I feel like watching Anne of Green Gables. And making another rhubarb pie. And some egg salad. Currently it's raining so hard we can hardly hear ourselves talk.
This past week was our spring break, and I'm already sad it's over. I love the simple pleasures of home. I hope you do manage to get some rest- I think you earned it!
Love your photo stream . . .
Like a short story . . .
Sweet little dancer . . . looks like she is so happy dancing . . .
Sweater is so charmingly beautiful.
Oh, I am a winter girl, too, and I miss it so all through the year. But there are lovely times to be enjoyed in the mean time for sure! Vases all around the house here are bursting with camellias (love your pink one up there - wow!), ornamental cherry boughs, and budding crab apple boughs. So gorgeous! And just this afternoon, my littlest sweetling put periwinkle flowers in all the tiny vases she could find from her own little cupboard of decor. Those little blue fellows are so sweet scattered among the things of spring we brought back out yesterday. Hugs for a lovely break with your darling girl ♥
Where is your leather bag from? so pretty
I have been collecting vintage floral fabrics for a couple years now. I have the pink print on the lower right corner of your photo. I have gotten pretty stuck on making quilts with them, and go back to them quickly if I make a quilt with more modern fabric.
I hit the jackpot a few years ago; a retired seamstress who had taken up quilting in retirement decided her eyes weren't good enough to quilt any more; I bought tons of her fabric, mostly the vintage florals, for 50c a yard! I also go to the flea market close by and have bought several pieces there, $1-$2/yard.
I love all your photos. I look at them, especially when I'm stressed, and they move me to a more tranquil space.
thanks for sharing a bit of your life with us!
Rhubarb tarts already? Oh you are lucky! I've planted two plants this week and i hope they'll fine... and generous! Oh i love seeing all these sheets of beautiful fabric, it's very inspiring! I bought the pattern and now i only have to finish the socks i'm knitting and... the world of quilting will open its arms to me (for the 1st time!!)
Thanks for all these poetic pics and words!
Gorgeous photos, I always love your pictures of spring. It's the time of year that I first discovered your blog and I was entranced by your photographs of it, you always capture it so perfectly. I hope you have a lovely fortnight with Amelia. Rhubarb shortbread is a brilliant recipe for this time of year, you can find it on Nigella.com, I can highly recommend it! CJ xx
Oh how I do love the smell of daphne! Calico critter house looks inviting. I remember that cloth log like toy Amelia is playing with I just can't remember the name . I loved playing with them when I was a kid. Have you read about the patty pan in the Potter books? That's a funny one also.
I tried growing daphne here, but it was never happy, so I have yet to smell any. Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your beautiful and busy life here. It always adds a bright spot to my day to visit, see your gorgeous photos, read your kind words, and get recipe ideas. The girls have been busy... egg salad sounds like a good plan this weekend!
Thank you for offering these kits again. Sadly, I missed out because I was a couple minutes late. It's put me on the hunt to collect some old calicos myself but I can never mix the colors and prints like you do. I"ll try again the next time you offer the kits. We appreciate all your work on this.
The fischer price people...along with the calico critters are enough to totally tip me over the edge, but TOPPED with little ballerina's in handknit sweaters, and dream worthy peeks of Spring. Let's just feel safe to say I am your #foreverfangirl
it all looks so sweet and lovely! I didnt know you were doing a quilt kit, how marvelous!~
Lovely photos! Oh my! Does any one know what stitch Alicia is using on her crochet blanket? Thanks in advance!
I can't believe how tall Amelia is getting! Spring is here in the Ozark's too and for here it is one of my favorite seasons....maybe my only one! LOL! Winter is blah with little or no snow, Summer is too hot and humid and Fall is hot and dry and there's always 'fire danger' so Spring is my favorite here.
I am working on my/your Beatrix Potter blanket and was sort of following your color scheme as that is what I love about your projects....your colors which seem muted and vintage but I thought the pink was not the edge and so mine is reversed from yours but I still love the colors in whichever order they are. Still working on Honey Bunny too although my hand sometimes cramps up and I have to stop. I'm not used to crocheting with wool so that may be the problem but I do love wool better than anything.
They may not get done for Easter but that's okay....they have birthdays and there's always Christmas! LOL! Enjoy your cozy, beautiful Spring and thanks for reminding me about taxes! Yipes!
As always when I see your blog post pop to the top of my list I look forward in anticipation to viewing your wonderful images and reading your story. I love how your blanket is evolving. I so enjoy seeing Amelia in her ballet class. I had never heard of that knit shop, I will try to visit there someday soon. Enjoy the lovely Springtime.. I'm enjoying seeing things pop out here in Corbett, OR. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Love the pic of Amelia with the FP school and house and the Woodseys! My 3 year old loves playing with those same things (from my childhood). My younger mama friends want to know where Lily got all her vintage toys...haha...I'm just old. :-)
Would you mind sharing where your brown leather satchel is from? It is so pretty!
So sorry I missed out on the quilt kits..they are so pretty. Maybe next time. I saw the most adorable peter rabbit cookie cutters and baking apron in wm. Sonoma catalog and thought of you. Enjoy spring break with your precious Amelia. xo susie
Indeed...love that brown leather satchel and would love to know where it's available.
I love her sweater! I am going to have to try some of that pickles summer wool for my little guys. Does it wear well?? Ever since you mentioned it I have been eyeing it! Just need to settle on a project and order some already!
I so envy you spring when we still have snow and frozen ground here in Nova Scotia right now. We are enjoying a new version of Anne on CBC though that you may be able to find - somewhat darker (so far) than the original but I think closer to what Lucy Maud Montgomery envisioned. Many thanks for your inspiring thoughts.
So sad I missed out on the quilt kits...they look lovely. Your pictures are idyllic. Hope I have more luck in the next round.
Beautiful post !
Hoping you're able to get some rest over the weekend. Looking forward to a quilt kit, but just incase I did start collecting fabrics and purchased the pattern. Man o man Ive spent a good 3 days looking for fabrics that in itself is a job if you don't have any (but fun too).
Thank you for the beautiful spring pics - really lovely : )
Egg salad and tulips are always a harbinger of spring for me! :) I got all nostalgic at the picture of Amelia playing with the same Little People sets that I had! Such happy memories!
My daughter visited recently. I told her I wished I had suggested she bring Anne of Green Gables to binge watch. This rainy weather makes me want to eat pie and watch Anne. I do hope you mean the original with Megan Follows. Jessica and I fell in love with the videos 25 years ago. She watched them so often I knew the dialogue by heart and often still find myself quoting the characters. "Carrots!" "Tomorrow's a new day with no mistakes in it." Really looking forward to sharing the books and videos with a granddaughter some day.
Have you watched Escape to the Country, an English show on Netflix? I've read your entire blog, but cannot remember if you mention it. If not, you must watch it. I'm so addicted to the beautiful cottages in the rural areas, I've tried to convince my husband we should retire there. : )
This is the only time of the year that I really like the sun. : ) Lovely photos as always!! xo
~ Wendy
http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/