Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Sunday 29 May 2016

Blood, Sweat and Tears... Ta Dah!


At last!  I can reveal my latest blanket which has been a labour of love, hardship, frustration and unbelievable unpicking.  Yes, I have felt that I have shed blood, sweat and tears when completing this one.  While writing the words to this post, I look outside and the heavy clouds mock me.  Today of all days I need it to be sun shiny and tikety boo so that I can show you the work I have put into this project.


The Janie Crow Lily Pond Blanket was her CAL from last year, but when I saw it after finishing the Painted Roses Blanket from Cherry Heart, I thought it would be a good progression to learn new stitches and to push myself.  That I most certainly did!


Yes I was going to throw in the towel and just call it a WiP, but no, I continued, weaving my hook in and out of the different colours and hook sizes, and then it all started to come together.


So, I am writing this on a Sunday morning and then hopefully by the end of the day there will be some sun shiny shots for you to enjoy and appreciate the work that I have been doing for the last three months.


Hubby's reaction... "it looks like a pond".  Well done that man!



I'm going to miss making this blanket now that it has been completed as it has been something I can vent at.  But I need to have some calmness restored in my life, some nice easy lines, some nice easy squares, some nice comforting colours.  Well, I've already received this gorgeous box of woolly scrumptiousness after looking for my next project to get me through the summer months.  


Some of you know how much I love to walk in the rain and my love of the autumn and winter.  It's my happy time, and when I feel most alive.  The camera helps me capture those different moments that are more interesting than sun, sun and, oh yes, sun.  The water droplets captured on a rose, the dew on a spider's web, the reflection of a building from a puddle, the happy faces on children in welly boots being allowed to splash, the frost enveloping anything that it can hug.  Well, this project is going to be a happy one.


This is a CAL that has already started - Sheepjes CAL 2016.  The main one is Last Dance on the Beach, but I have gone for the comforting colours reflected in Dance in the Rain which just sings to my heart.  The CAL was designed by the late Marinke Slump (A Creative Being) who was designing this project when she sadly passed away.  Twelve of her online friends and bloggers completed the design and the CAL is in Marinke's memory and as a tribute to her work.  Please click on her link in this paragraph to understand why so many people are doing this in her memory.

It's only fitting that I am seeing this as a happy blanket and one that I am going to enjoy and think about the good things in life and what makes me who I am and what I want to achieve.


Right, post written, now where's that elusive sun??!!


32 comments:

  1. What a beautiful blanket you made. I will trade your weather--it is another hot day here in western NY (yesterday was 93-94*)...

    Have a beautiful upcoming week, friend.

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  2. Chel - Gorgeous blanket - love the three dimensional flowers!!

    Judy

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  3. Stunningly beautiful blanket, Chel. Congratulations on pushing through! Hope the sun shines soon.

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  4. What a lot of hard work you've put into this. Wonderful! Well done!

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  5. I love your pond blanket! Well done!

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  6. When hubby said pond, he probably had Monet's waterlilies in mind :) Glad you stuck with it as its really lovely. I do like your new colour scheme though - very calming colours so should be relaxing to do this time round x

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  7. I agree with Coco, the rosettes do remind me of lily pads and flowers (miss those at the lake). Simply beautiful, Chel!

    We haven't had much sun here either. One storm after another rolling in this past week. I have more flowers to finish up potting but I feel like I've done so much already...well, I'm not as enthusiastic about it now. :(

    Love to you,

    Jane

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  8. Absolutely beautiful, Chel!

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  9. Your home made blanket is very, very beautiful, love the colours and the pattern of the waterlilies. Your husband is right it has something of a wonderful waterlily pond. You can be proud of your work Chel!

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  10. Absolutely stunning! You must be very proud of it, especially after so much effort.

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  11. Now that is one impressive make, stunning! No sun, but at least it didn't rain.

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  12. You must be so proud of that blanket. An heirloom of the future.

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  13. So beautiful, what talent you have, and the pictures are gorgeous!

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  14. That is a lovely throw and you didn't just whip that one out in a few hours. Beautiful labor of love!

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  15. It's gorgeous! I love the way the flowers stand off of it! It does look like it was a challenge to do so many different designs but I know you are proud of it...and of yourself! Well done! Love the pretty soft colors for your next project. I know I should do a crochet project soon. I need something besides sewing at the sewing machine. Sweet hugs, Diane

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  16. Oh your blanket is so beautiful! I love the design and the colors. I'm sure you are proud of a job well done.

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  17. Well done, it looks very complicated but very pretty xx

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  18. Wow, that looks so hard, you've have done an amazing job! I look forward to seeing your new project, what a wonderful way to remember such a talented person who left this world so young.

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  19. Only a husband could make that comment. It made me laugh as my DH would say something like that.!!Wow the blanket is beautiful...what a treasure "

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  20. That's a future heirloom. Beautiful.

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  21. Just gorgeous! The colors of the new yarn are beautiful...looking forward to seeing what you make...

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  22. Chel, all this lovely wool makes me feel peaceful!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Happy week

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  23. Love the Lily pond... but even more so the Dancing in the Rain blanket. What a fitting tribute for a lovely lady. And like you say, a positive response to a sad event.

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  24. It's fabulous. I'm currently midway through the current Janie Crow CAL. It's challenging but I'm enjoying it.

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  25. Your new blanket is gorgeous! And once I saw the whole picture of it I too, thought it looks like a lily pond. I'll be interested in seeing your Dancing in the Rain one at the end of the summer. :) Wishing you sunny days and some rain drops too. xx Pam

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  26. Chel, that's absolutely stunning! I think it's one of my favourites of all the CALs. Looking forward to seeing the Rain design - my kind of colours too. x

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  27. Beautiful! It does look like a pond.
    xx oo
    Carla

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  28. What a beautiful blanket Chel. I've tried crochet a few times but don't practice enough! I'm a good knitter. Look forward to seeing the Dancing in the Rain one. I'm wearing a fleece today and I think the central heating has just kicked in!! x

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  29. Oh wow, Chel, that blanket looks fiendishly difficult, but what a result! Bravo lady! xx

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  30. Well done! You 'pond' is lovely.
    I like the colours you've chosen for your next project and I understand the need for some calm and soothing tones.

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  31. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous, (did you know it looks like a pond!)
    Such a work of art, I normally stick to pretty simple crochet so this feels a bit out of my league, maybe one day.....

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