Wednesday 31 December 2014

Happy New Year

 After a long and lovely and rather luxurious christmas break, here i am back again in my little blog space on the very last day of the year........i hope you have had a lovely christmas and holiday time?...
 ......we had a wonderful christmas day at my elder daughter and son in law's home, a day filled with warmth, twinkly lights, fire light, delicious food and happy family times....so lovely to see our little grandchildren's happy smiling rosy faces :)........ heartwarming and peaceful........on boxing day evening we went to a little party at some neighbours' and came out later to a winter wonderland of snow......... as the big flakes fell in the lamplight onto our victorian houses it made everywhere seem timeless and magical...........
 ........just before christmas i was saddened to hear of the death of one of my favourite bloggers, vanessa cabban of do you mind if i knit?....lovely vanessa, with her wonderful sense of colour and pattern, knitting and crocheting so inspiringly and creating beautiful paintings, book illustrations and sculptures........i have some of her work around me all the time.....the painting above is one of my favourites and the card framed below stands on my studio mantelpiece.....vanessa was such a talented, inspiring and creative person who was also modest and sweet....we used to correspond sometimes, both working at home as freelancers we had a lot in common.......
 ...........i doubt if vanessa herself realised what an inspiration her blog was to so many and simply what pleasure her blog gave, always delightful, colourful and filled with beautiful pictures.......vanessa will be so much missed............may she rest in peace..............
 .....i had some quiet sewing time now and then this past week and i decided to work on my evening star quilt again.......it is made with english paper pieced blocks and i made three more to add to the quilt......they are so nice to sew while watching movies and chatting to family and friends........

 ...........below you can see last year's little sugar mice who are tucked up in their new pram......
 .......they both just fitted in there and they had a new red and white crochet pram cover too.....
 .............now i am thinking of projects for later in the year.........here is this month's project for crafts beautiful magazine........a spring birdhouse with a selvedge roof and a spring inspired card to match....
 ............in the picture below you can just see some new paper pieces i have begun to make for a big happy scrappy quilt....more on that very soon.......

 ..........and now it is time to celebrate another new year, and for me that means lots of flowers and bulbs around the house, bringing the promise of new life, of hope and of spring to look forward to....
 ..........a few weeks of being cosy at home is always a pleasure to me at this time, i like cosy winter days, time for contemplation and the peace of winter crafting, quiet and gentle times........

............thank you so much for your visits to me here, dear readers, and for all your kind comments on my posts.......sending love and warm wishes to you all for a very happy new year................i hope it brings you love, peace, health and happiness..............i shall be back (very) soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

48 comments:

moonstruckcreations said...

Sounds as if you had a lovely Christmas, and wasn't the snow lovely?

A very Happy New Year to you and your family, I am looking forward to continuing reading your blog in the New Year!

Helenxx

Things and Thoughts said...

So happy images... Dear Helen, may all your dreams come true my friend! Wish you and your family, a happy, sparkling, healthy new year 2015!
Thank you for all your kind visits.
Olympia

Jane said...

Wishing you a year full of fun, good health and happiness dear Helen. It's great to see spring already appearing here on your blog....;0) I also just adore those sweet little mice in their pram, they make my heart melt. Huge hugs xx

Gillian said...

Vanessa must have toched a lot of lives as I've read about her in quite a few blogs today. Glad you had a lovely Christmas. Hope you have a very Happy New Year.

Kate said...

Helen, I love your blog posts!!
All the best for 2015!

greenrabbitdesigns said...

It really was very sad news about Vanessa, she was such an inspiration.

Those little mice in their pram are beyond cute...do gorgeous, :)

.......the promise of new life, of hope and of spring to look forward...that does sound good Helen, wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy 2015!!

V xxx

faith76 said...

Happy 2015! Love all the craft you have created :)

My Little Home and Garden said...

Your Christmastime sounds delightful, Helen, as are the projects you've shown here, full of colour. I do like the spring green on the birdhouse and the custom roofing material!

I'm sorry to read of the loss of your blogging friend.

Karen

gillyflower said...

So many lovely and cheerful images here Helen, so glad you enjoyed a good Christmas.
It was so sad to hear about Vanessa, she will be sadly missed.
Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year Helen!
Gill xx

scrappyjacky said...

A Very Happy New Year to you.

Christine B said...

Wishing you a very Happy New Year Helen... looking forward to seeing all your new creations!":) x

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Little mice in a pram...oh my! How precious is that! I posted doll clothes I made today and that's been fun. Happy New year my friend! Lots of fun creating in this coming year...for both of us! Hugs, Diane

Amy at love made my home said...

I hope that your New Year will be wonderful! Best wishes for all good things in 2015 to you and yours! xx

Erna said...

Hello Helen,sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, she will surely be missed.
Hope you'll have a wonderful New Year's Eve and a very healthy and creative 2015.
See you in January.
Hugs
Erna x

PamKittyMorning said...

Happy New Year! Thanks for all the beautiful inspiration !!

lilac and old roses said...

Happy New Year to you too! Your Christmas sounded lovely. Mine was too, I appreciated every moment of mine. Best Wishes fr 2015, Jane x

sew said...

That pram is the cutest thing ever!
I don't have bulbs until after Christmas so I'm looking forward to the scent of hyacinths very soon.
I was so very sad and shocked to hear about Vanessa yesterday. My granddaughter has one of her pieces which I bought to celebrate her arrival three and a half years ago.
I wish you health and joy for 2015 and thank you for this past year of blogging and inspiration.

Ingrid Orens said...

The two little mice are just sooo cute :-)...
I wish you all the best for 2015 ! Happy New Year !!

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

No snow here yet, but plenty of frost! Hope 2015 is a good one for you :)
Jillxo

Frances said...

Helen, this post is filled with your unique spirit of creativity and talent and affection. Your designs clearly show this.

I was also very saddened to hear of Vanessa's death and also hope that she has found some restful peace. She was a remarkable talent and person, who certainly connected to many folks, including myself.

Let me join your wishes for the new year. We have much to look forward to.

xo

Unknown said...

Happy New Year, Helen. Enjoy your friends and family and good things in this coming year. It's been a lovely holiday time in our new home.
I just heard this week about Vanessa's death. It was a big shock. What a waste. I am thinking of her parents, often.
With best wishes......Anne D.T. PlumCreek22 Studio

Mickie said...

Helen,
Thank you for your lovely blog. It is one of my very favorite ones to read each week and gives much inspiration in my crafting.
Have a Happy New Year and I look forward to many more lovely posts from you in the new year.
Mickie, Indiana USA

Anonymous said...

I was so touched by your loving words about your friend. It has reminded me that we never know just how much we affect the lives of others....and so on those days when we feel of little value still our lives influence others in ways we know not.
Blessings to you and the readers in this next wonderful year.

Sam I Am...... said...

So glad you had such a wonderful time at Christmas with your family and friends. And Snow? Aren't you a lucky duck! It must have been beautiful.
How did i miss those sugar mice? If they are the cutest and the pram with their own crocheted blanket? I want to live in their world...with no cats round though and plenty of cheese! It reminds me of Brambly Hedge which I love.
Your Springtime birdhouse and card are so special. You totally captured the Spring green that is present at that time of year.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
I did not know Vanessa but followed up as Lucy over at Attic24 mentioned it too. How tragic as she it seemed she was a beautiful person inside and out and oh so talented! I love her sculptures and her sense of humor....so sad. I hope her blog stays up so I can go visit it and share in the joy you all derived from it and from knowing her.

Simone said...

Very sad news about Vanessa. It is lovely that you were able to buy some of her art. Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy 2015 Helen. x

Anonymous said...

Just want to thank you for blogging about such lovely things all through the year. It must be quite a commitment but it is always a joy to find you have posted something new. Wishing you a happy and colourful 2015!
Sally

Lorrie said...

A year is filled with joy and sorrow, isn't it? I'm sorry for the loss of your friend Vanessa.
Christmas is slowly drawing to a close here, too. We've been away for a few days and home again now to a quiet house. Your blog is always filled with lovely makes and beautiful flowers and colours.
Wishing you much joy in 2015.

driftwood said...

wishing you a happy new year Helen, I love your way of talking about hope and the promise of new life. Vanessa was a lovely blogger and I have thought of her often recently, such a loss. x

Mia said...

Hello dear Helen,

Happy New Year! Thank you so much for all the happy posts you created for 2014, this blog of yours is such a happy place. Sometimes there are darker moments too, and I was deeply saddened by the news of Vanessa also, world lost a great inspiration.

Your images are full of spring to me - thank you for sharing! Wishing you a happy, healthy and creative year!

Yours,
Mia

Susan said...

Happy New Year Helen! It looks positively Spring-like on your blog today! Tulips, bird houses and pretty floral jugs! Thank you for sharing your beauty and creativity with us!

Annerose said...

Ich wünsche Dir und Deinen Lieben ein glückliches, gesundes und zufriedenes Jahr 2015. Ich mag deinen Blog und freue mich immer bei dir zu lesen und zu schauen.
Mach weiter so.
Grüße Annerose

Ирина said...

Happy New Year to everyone!
Let 2015 be better than the best year of your life!
Let peace and calm rest in your home!
Let your relatives and friends be healthy and happy!
Don't forget - everything depends on you!

forgetmenotsblue said...

Happy new year Helen hope it's a happy one. Look forward to seeing your new year makes x

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi Helen! Thank you for all the beautiful photos, ideas and inspiration you share. I'm looking for the NEW year with you. This post is again most sweet! I wish you fantastic NEW Year, happiness and Health! x Teje

Helle said...

A very Happy New Year to you and your family, I am looking forward to continuing reading your blog in the New Year!
Your pictures are so full of spring and colors...just love your posts.

Ingrid K. said...

Dear Helen,

Such lovely photos (as always!), and glad to read you had a pleasant time.

Have a wonderful New Year!!!!
Ingrid xx
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

justpootling said...

I'm so glad you had such a lovely Christmas Helen, sending you many best wishes for 2015, Kate xx

Samantha Roberts said...

Happy new year to you too Helen! Hope 2015 is a good to you and your family. I love your jugs in the last photo - actually I love all your pictures (Including the cute mice in their red pram - adorable) Sam xx

The Quintessential Magpie said...

I am so sorry about your friend! It really hurts to lose favorite bloggers, and my heart goes out to you.

On a brighter note, I am one of your newest followers, and I love your blog. Happy New Year!

xo

Sheila :-)

Teresa Kasner said...

Hello my dear friend.. all your things you've made are top drawer and exceptional. I so enjoyed the little mice in the pram.. what does your granddaughter think of it? I bet she is entranced! I just wish Vanessa knew of how many people loved and were inspired by her.. I hope her spirit can see our love. We've taken down almost all our decorations today.. it looks so spare! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Lin from A {tiny} Cottage In The Woods said...

I did not know Vanessa, but feel the loss. Bloggers are dear friends. Sending hugs.

Love all the bright and happy things that you create, Helen, and I look forward to following along in 2015.

Happy New Year,
Lin

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Yes, very sad about Vanessa indeed. She was very unassuming ... we had messages back and forth at one point years ago. A lovely person; such a shame her life ended all too soon. You always have the most wonderful projects to share. Very inspiring! I am so looking forward to June when school is over and I will be a free bird again to do as I please. Best wishes for the year ahead, Tammy

vintage grey said...

So happy you had a lovely Christmas!! And, a Happy New Year to you!! Always love seeing your sweet projects! Have a wonderful and crafty week! xo Heather

claire said...

HNY Helen - I thought of you as I bought tulips yesterday in Waitrose! Lovely to see your winter into spring post. I am so sad about Vanessa - she seems to have connected personally with an amazing amount of people. Such a tragedy :((
Love those little mice and wish I was one too!

Ladybird Diaries said...

Happy new year lovely Helen! Thank you for sharing your pretty photographs and it sounds like you had a lovely Christmas with your family. I too, was sad to read about Vanessa, I loved reading her blog - she was a very talented and inspiring lady and always seemed very sweet. So sad.
Marianne x

Gracie Saylor said...

Dear Helen, I had red and white carnations throughout the holidays, a small raspberry colored blossoming Christmas cactus, and a small red poinsettia. Only the poinsettia is still in bloom, but I have an amaryllis shooting up and it will hopefully soon have a white with red striped trumpet bloom. I admire your flowers and your bulbs and sweet sugar mice in their pram, your quilt squares, and your pretty birdhouse projects. I also join in your admiration of Vanessa's artistry, and was so sorry to hear of her death. She left much beauty for others to appreciate. I too enjoyed her blog; and I bought several of her lovely books. Wishing you and your family a wonderful and creative 2015 xx

Elderberry-Rob said...

Happy New Year to you, I have been away over Christmas so am catching up on blogs slowly. I was sorry to read about Vanessa's passing, she was indeed very inspirational and I really enjoyed her blog and the beautiful little creatures she created. Betty

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