30 December 2014

Christmas, Crochet And Contemplation









After spending an obscene amount of time lounging around in my new snowman pyjamas, having a flagrant disregard for good nutrition, hurling both red wine and chicken liver pate onto a very forgiving person's carpet, dusting off my dancing shoes, winning Trivial Pursuit and losing Articulate (and still wishing it was the other way round), spending more money than I actually have and being gifted so many fragrant candles that I'm starting to wonder if my house stinks, I'm back!  Hello!

It's been a funny old Christmas.  A nice funny old Christmas but I've had enough now.  I'm itching to take the tree and decorations down and set-to with my vacuum cleaner and it's myriad of clever attachments.  I'm craving colourful food and am bordering on desperate for my little family to naff off back to work and school.  There, I've said it.  I haven't been alone once in fifteen days and I'm missing my own personal space.  Time to think, plan and just be without interruption.

I had every intention of leaping back here, gazelle-like, with my very own version of a 'Crochet New Year's Honours List' but some very sad news stopped me in my tracks.  On a pre-Christmas potter around my favourite blogs, I learned of the tragic death of Vanessa Cabban from Lisa at Mrs BoboBun.  Vanessa had a blog, Do You Mind If I Knit.  It was one of the very first blogs I ever came across and both enchanted and inspired me from day one.  Vanessa knitted, crocheted, sculpted and illustrated children's books.  She was the most unassuming girl and to this day I am convinced she had absolutely no idea how many people's lives she touched with her beautiful, colourful creations and warm and generous spirit.  Vanessa's ethos was to make time to knit at least a couple of rows every day.  You may well have come across her or her makes at some point but, if you haven't, do please go and pay a visit to her blog.  You'll see exactly what I mean.

To coincide with her funeral, at 11am exactly today, a large number of us on Instagram (and Facebook) all posted a picture of something we are currently creating or a particular memory of Vanessa, tagging it with her name.  It was a very poignant and emotional moment and wonderful tribute, and made me feel so proud to be part of this community.

So we are rapidly approaching a brand new year and I have a feeling that changes are afoot in 2015.  I'm not exactly sure what and am ever hopeful they are positive.  I have my usual sense of excitement tinged with very slight trepidation.

I hope you all had a super duper Christmas and I'll see you next year. ;-)

xxx

27 comments:

  1. Desperation that they'll naff off, so funny. I've taken to having extremely long baths, but even then I get yelled at. Last two. Ig hits my youngest has kept me company until very late. I adore her, but I also like quiet too. Lovely post and yes a heartening and poignant day . Xx

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    1. Seriously Lisa, the lack of alone time is sending me slightly loopy! :-) The thing is I know I'll miss them when they all go back … but not for long, mwahahaha!!!

      You did such a fabulous job of co-ordinating the tribute to Vanessa, it will stay with me for a long time. xx

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  2. Hi Heather, although I had heard of Vanessas blog I wasn't that familiar with her work as I didn't follow (bit before my blogging time, I think) However I have been reading so many peoples tributes to her that it's clear she was an amazing person and inspiration, and I realise my little girl has a book that she illustrated. It is so sad when a creative light goes out, especially at such a young age and I am very sorry for her family and those close to her.
    Normally we have a real tree and by this time there are so many pine needles everywhere I want to scream! This year we went for an artificial one, which is really pretty and so much cleaner! The christmas cards are getting on my nerves as they are all on the window sill and keep getting knocked over when the blinds are pulled up and down, so I need to think of a better alternative for displaying them in the future.
    Take care and enjoy your alone time when all go back to school / work (I know what you mean) Happy dusting!! Sam xx

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    1. Wishing you and yours a very happy 2015 too, lovely Sam. xx

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  3. I love your blog :)
    So know what you mean about needing Own Personal Space, I am craving it too.
    Looking forward to haunting through 2015 with you, I have a feeling it's going to be an exciting time for you... bring it on!
    Much love
    Lx

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  4. Oh silly autocorrect - won't be haunting you, more had jaunting in mind !

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    1. Hahaha!!! Well your autocorrect made me laugh out loud! I wondered if I was suddenly going to keep catching mysterious glimpses of rainbow crochet out of the corner of my eye and the number 24 cropping up all over the place!!! Oh dear, I'm getting quite hysterical now! Here's to a fabulous 2015 my friend. xx

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  5. I just found your blog yesterday whilst following the sad news about Vanessa. It was so touching to see everyone's tributes. I am with you on the whole getting the tree down and my lot back to school. Just need to do the taxi run tonight and then the countdown to normality begins!

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    1. Well it's lovely to meet you Sara, even if it is through bittersweet circumstances. Happy 2015 to you. x

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  6. I'm over Christmas now as well, itching to declutter and clean and get that tree out of the living room, along with all of its pine needles. I always have more than a little trepidation and anxiety around New Year, but I do like the energy it brings. Wishing you and yours a very happy 2015. CJ xx

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    1. The same to you and yours, CJ. I haven't forgotten our pact to meticulously organise our way through 2015! xx

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  7. You've made me smile too today, through the sadness of the news about Vanessa. I didn't know her and only found her blog after she'd stopped updating it, but someone's passing still touches everybody even in the smallest way. I've been trying not to think about how soon it is before my girls go back to school - but it's only five days. Hooray! :-) xx

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    1. I completely agree and I'm so glad I made you smile. :-) x

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

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  9. I wish I had known about the 11 o'clock tribute, I would of joined in. Vanessa was such a lovely person, it came through her blog. So Sad.
    I found your blog through Attic 24 and I hope to be back to read your posts in 2015.
    xxx

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  10. I am quite shocked to read about Vanessa's tragic news.... Like you, her blog was one of the first ones I came across when I started crocheting a few years ago. One of the first blankets I made was Vanessa's sisterhood blankie. I was so chuffed with myself that I sent her a message and a picture and she sent me the sweetest reply..... It is really sad to say goodbye to somebody so sweet and talented.. And so young... I hope you have a terrific end of the year and wish you the best for the year ahead!! Pati xx

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    1. I loved the sisterhood blanket, Pati - it played no small part in encouraging me to learn to crochet too. Wishing you the happiest of years my friend. xx

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  11. Happy New Year lovely Heather! It was very sad to read about Vanessa. but all the tributes were so very touching and I am sure will be much appreciated by those close to her. Looking forward to following all your adventures in 2015! Love Sarah xo

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  12. I know exactly what you mean. Don't tell my boss but I'm even ready to get back to work with exciting plans for this year ahead! They will think I'm keen now. I have been blogging for years now and had not come across Vanessa, what a dreadful tragedy to befall a talented young soul! Hope the new year brings you everything you need lovely lady. xxxx

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  13. the tributes to Vanessa were very touching, such sad news.
    Wishing you a very happy new year, and a few minutes to yourself very soon x

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  14. Happy happy happy New Year Heather, looking forward to popping by lots in 2015, Kate xxx

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Anyone ever told you that you're a peach? xx

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