A stylish snug

I thought it about time I shared the main living room from the holiday cottage from our trip to Norfolk last October. Staying there was a bit of a treat to ourselves after 2020, and it was the type of place that looked just as good as the photos online, and drew an intake of breath as we walked in and explored.

From the pictures here, and those I’ve shared before, I don’t think you’d know this was quite a tiny cottage. And from the inside you had everything you needed. A couple of armchairs, a cosy fire and plenty of decor to look at and soften the space. And did I mention the fire?

And the bottle of Norfolk gin on the side. And what a side. Talk about a statement piece.

If that wasn’t enough, then the feather wreath above it was just as stunning, and bold.

Green was a theme that reappeared throughout the room, and there was no better place to sit in the chilly October evenings in front of the fire.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to explore further than our ‘local area’ when the restrictions are lifted.

#TheYarnAdvent progress

I’ve spoken about the yarn advent calendar from last December here before, and slowly I’ve been working to create my half and half squares, adding in two neutral colours - two because I couldn’t choose between them. This as always going to be a colourful throw, and in my mind’s eye it was always going to be random.

Last week I reached a momentous point.

I have now completed four squares of each of the twenty four days, so that’s 96 squares, and a jumble of colours. And now I have a decision ahead of me.

But first blocking. And the first proper use of one of my Christmas presents.

The biggest decision

That comes next, and is all about the layout. Now remember that in my head this is a random creation, so why oh why, did my hands come up with this:

It’s not that I dislike it, but it’s not what I intended.

My second attempt was much better, and fulfilled my ‘random’ requirement.

I thought it probably needed some tweaking and set to work.

The organised side of my head came to the fore again, this time ensuring all of the triangles have their long edge facing the same direction.

And then because I couldn’t resist, and because I wanted to try it out - the neutrals were put together. On one side the blue/green and the other the grey/pink.

That’s not quite what I envisaged either.

Even though my hands keep trying to bring some order to the proceedings, it’s the completely random layout that makes my heart sing the most.

With bobbles on

I already know how I’ll finish this throw. Once I’ve settled on a final random layout, I’ll add a couple of rounds in the neutral colours. And then, my plan is to add a round of bobbles, or pompoms from the small lengths that remain. I’m sure though, that will bring my ordered head as many challenges.

Love this #92 Shell Art

It’s been a while since my last Love this post, and as I keep pausing over these images as I scroll through my photos I thought it was about time.

I was - and am - absolutely smitten with these when I saw them on our visit to Houghton Hall last October, and could have quite easily have left with both of them, had my bank balance permitted. They are exquisite, and much more superior to my childhood shell art which I’m sure involved polyfilla, an empty plastic golden syrup tub and shells collected from the beach. There might also have been shells which we’d bought from the Shell Shop in Lyme Regis, a memory that definitely takes me back!

Both of these are by Blott Kerr-Wilson, a sea shell artist - and clearly one way above any of my childhood efforts, and quite frankly above anything I’d attempt even now. Both were on display in the stables, and both are pricey, just shy of £3000 - but oh, so lovely.

Who’d have thought that mussel shells (above) and sea urchins and tusk shells (below) could be quite so beautiful?

I’m not even going to say one day, but I know I’m glad I saw them and have a photo - as that’s as close as I’m going to get to these beauties - admiration from afar!