Slow spring

I've been feeling lazy lately, curling up with a book or some stitching, enjoying the view out the window and the warmth inside because it's been sooo chilly and damp out there!

What do you think of my new Emma Bridgewater blueberry mug? I know it's silly, but switching up my mugs for different seasons really makes my day. Also I love these shades of blue and green.

And speaking of green, the leaves are definitely coming out now despite the chill.

That's our lilac on the left, and on the right, the brilliant green of our mystery shrub. It's coming up to its most gorgeous moment in the year, when pink blossoms burst open. After that the petals brown and drop, and the leaves brown and linger till the fall. Good thing I love textured bark, and the squirrels and birds love places to shade themselves, or it'd be a pretty dull view.

 

As you may recall, I was at a jewellery show last Saturday. Trish had called to say a friend of her mom's was selling *her* mom's mom's various projects from the 1940s. Of course I dropped everything and ran to the venue!  

These little handkerchiefs are all so delicately edged or, in the case of the flowers, stitched. I think the white and blue are both crocheted but the purple is definitely tatted! That's something I can't imagine having the capacity to learn, and it's so pretty.

Prettiest of all though is that floral design, in my opinion. I just love it!

I'm also so smitten with this white crochet border, and the delicate embroidery of A. P. As it happens I have a writing friend with those initials so I snapped it up for her.

 

I also snapped up this little earring and brooch set for Lannie, made from shells! Shell jewellery was hot back then I guess and this lady was very adept in making it. I tried to get a little closeup for you of the earrings but you might have to use your imagination.

I guess it's not a surprise that somebody who can tat can also glue together tiny curls of shell, but I'm still very impressed. 

Meanwhile, I've continued to work on my second crochet blanket, with just one more colour stripe to go to make two full repeats of the six needed to make it long enough for a snuggly long stint on the sofa. And my main takeaway is that even though it's the same stitch and mostly the same colours, I like it SO much more than the original narrow-stripe blanket!

The fabric is coming out dense, almost rigid, compared to the floppy stretch of the original, whose stitches were a constant miracle to me as I learned how to work them. This time my tension is consistent and I'm working with as much calm as enthusiasm, which seems to go better than enthusiasm alone. 

Here's another shot to maybe show better how the two compare. 

Still enjoying the process a lot, still hoping to be done in time for the cool weather next winter! We'll see though, how much appetite I have for a big blanket in my lap during the inevitable run of heat waves.

For now I'm just going to keep drinking my tea and working away at things, mindful that even the smallest progress adds up.

Hope you have a great weekend and week, with progress of any kind or at least some happy moments! Thanks for dropping in and I'll see you next Saturday.