...that have made me happy over these last few days:
:: Blue skies, a rare occurrence.
:: Flowers in the house, especially daffodils because they are cheap and jolly, and they make me think of sunshine.
:: Sunshine in the house.
:: My new bowl from IKEA. It reminds me of Ferm Living's products, which I love. I also love IKEA too.
:: A very cold but dry trip to Kirkstall Abbey. The hot chocolate in the warm cafe afterwards was a the best bit.
:: Bella and Angus running, running everywhere, always moving, always on the go.
:: New shoes. I'm not a shoe-mad kind of girl, and have bought very, very few clothes lately, so I was quite giddy when I left the shop. The mustard yellow heels were treat from my parents, chosen to wear to my sister's upcoming wedding in March. The coral pink (I know, they look red in the photo) flats are my late Christmas present from John.
:: I finally plucked up the courage to try the crochet ripple pattern and it's not as hard as I feared, not at all. I just need to count and concentrate. I'm practicing here, but I hope to make a cowl soon.
Your shoes are beautiful - lovely presents! The ripple is looking good, I think that you will fall in love, I did after making my sample, I will definitely make something rippled this year! Hope that you have a good week. xx
ReplyDeleteIt's the simple things in life that are the best :-) Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery, very happy things! I too have really enjoyed the bright sunshine this weekend, after what has felt like weeks of grey and rain it is very appreciated!
ReplyDeleteI really like the ripple pattern, after a few rows you don't have to count much, just follow what you've already done, it'd be really nice as a cowl.
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/
Lovely ,lovely pictures. I am so glad you had a lovely time with your parents. I bet they enjoyed it too. Lastly the shoes are lovely. Great to put a spring in your step.
ReplyDeleteLovely things - those shoes are beauts, as is the blue sky. We've had some of that this weekend too - a nice change! Love the colours you've chosen for your ripple - that raspberry colour is beautiful. x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, the Abbey looks wonderful and it's such a treat to see sunshine and blue skies. Clever you, doing that ripple. I've tried it, and mine didn't look right at all. Maybe I'll have another go... Concentrating isn't my best thing, especially in the evenings when I tend to do any crafty projects.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Gillian. I'm so glad the sun is shining and you've had a nice few days. I love your shoes, especially the coral ones. I'm in the market for some new ones myself.
ReplyDeleteSunshine is such a treat sometimes, isn't it :) And flowers make me smile as well. Our daffodils outside are just starting to send up shoots! Thanks for sharing some of your happy times with us, Gillian. xx
ReplyDeleteSunshine and great colours, you know how to pep someone up! Thanks for sharing x
ReplyDeleteI love ripple crochet, it has a really soothing rhythm to it when you get going. I am also very jealous of your shoes - I love the sandals in the same range. When my foot is better, I may well treat myself. The ones you have chosen are gorgeous. Hope you have a good week. x
ReplyDeleteOh the shoes, the shoes ... what gorgeous presents ... lots of lovely happiness in these pictures and I am loving the bursts of sunshine too ... have a lovely week ... Bee xx
ReplyDeleteSunshine and flowers make me smile too. I love your new Ikea bowl and love, love, love both pairs of shoes!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful presents!
Marion x
If you don't mind, I would like to borrow your idea and this happy post. When I'm feeling down, it always makes me happy to read blogs, and this is why... you're the first blog I came upon today and suddenly, I was reminded of positive in life... Thank you for that. You rock girl!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I totally love both pair of those shoes, I'm a shoe girl myself and I haven't indulged in so long and I think that I might have to go drool and buy some new shoes!! Don't all girls drool when they shop??
Much love to you my friend and I wish you a very happy week!
Tammy x
Love this post. Your shoes are fab. Have a wonderful week! xo
ReplyDeleteOh my, Orla Kiely in a shoe! Goodness, does life get any better? Well done on starting a ripple, I have never tried one either, good to hear they are simpler than they appear. mel x
ReplyDeleteBlue skies are the best! We are expecting rainy weather here for most of the week. I love the daffodils! They remind me that spring is not far away. The colorful garland draped across your mantle is fantastic. It adds such a nice pop of color. Oh, and the new shoes are awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post Gillian, full of joy, and movement and brightness. Good to get out and about too. Your shoes are gorgeous and well done on cracking the ripple code.
ReplyDeleteOh, the shoes!!! We've had so much sun and dry weather this winter, that I've actually been rather disappointed, how wrong is that? I just love the stormy weather we usually have in winter. I would prefer snow, but...we just don't get that here for more than a few days a year. Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you're getting some blue skies now after all that rain and flooding. Lovely photos of lovely things from you, as always x
ReplyDeleteWhat a great choice on the shoes Gillian. I'm so glad you have a chance to spend some time with your parents. These are precious moments. Love the new ripple scarf. Great colors. Have a good week Gillian!
ReplyDeleteEight lovely things that made me smile, Gillian. Oh those lovely shoes!!
ReplyDeleteJacqui x
Fab shoes, especially the mustard ones. Very sixties. Just tried the ripple myself at our crochet class. Colours are great
ReplyDeleteHello Gillian
ReplyDeleteLovely , lovely photo's , especially of the sun peeking through, yay to the sun !
Clever you to have mastered the ripple pattern, its so satisfying isn't it to teach yourself something new and get it right !
Have a good week,
Kate x
I can see why you were giddy when you left the shoe shop, both pairs are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBlue sky is a very welcome sight I agree.
Good luck with the rippling, lovely muted colour combo.
Lisa x
Oh my, those shoes!!!!! Love the ripple and the colours. Thanks for sharing, your 8 things cheered up what has been a challenging week. Sarah xo
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely pics!!! I like eeeeeverything... Hugs from Spain :D
ReplyDeleteA post full of wonderfulness! :-) Those shoes...drool...well done on the ripple, you'll have it completed in no time! And thank you for sharing the lovely photos of your adventures outdoors...Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteSunshine makes such a difference! We have lots of evergreen trees close to our house and so some days it seems that the sun doesn't make its way inside at all. But other days, wow, I could spend hours photographing the light hitting various objects at different times of the day. I became familiar with Ferm when a friend bought my daughter a silly looking toy elephant while she was traveling in Denmark. I thought that the logo tag said "Fernie" and so that is what we call the toy - Fernie. Only after seeing it pictured on-line did I realize that the company name was Ferm! I have no place to where fancy shoes like that, but those red ones with the flowers are very cute!
ReplyDeleteLovely happy photos. Nice to see a spot of sunshine. Are you shoes Orla Kiely for Clarks? They are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI hope 2014 proves to be a good year for you and yours.
ReplyDeleteThose are absolutely lovely pictures. The first one is fabulous for me... I love the shoes you have chosen... I am still very much in boots and looking at them in windows ;-)
ReplyDeleteI wish you a lovely week.
Have just visited the Clarks website......ahem.....a pair of Orla's Millys might be on their way to me :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the ripple.....trouble is I can't concentrate and I'm awful at counting!!! Great images, fab shoes! :) x
ReplyDeleteA great choice of photos and a great choice of shoes. I am in love with the colour mustard and have just bought a coat that very colour.
ReplyDeleteBe still my beating heart....those Orla Kiely shoes are divine!
ReplyDeleteLove the ripple and the gorgeous colours.
Caroline xx
A wonderful post for spring - I especially like numbers 6 and 7…
ReplyDeleteand the spring sunshine that you captured so vividly!
Emma.
Ooo loving the shoes so pretty! The ripple is looking fab the colours you've used are lovely x
ReplyDeleteI loved the blue sky yesterday too and bought daffodils and took pictures of sunlight on the wall - it was obviously the weekend for it! Oh and those shoes - so gorgeous! x
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good week.
ReplyDelete(Kirkstall Abbey takes me back to my uni days. (those were the days eh?) Nice to see a pic!)
Lovely! Shoe envy here!
ReplyDeleteHey Gillian,
ReplyDeleteI have shoe envy since I saw your picture on Facebook. I have a wedding in July. I bet Clarks will have sold out by then. I'll let you into a secret....in my wardrobe (bottom drawer) are about a million pairs of sandals and heels I've bought and never worn. I love the look of them, but they don't lend themselves to St Ives living. In fact I sit a chortle at holiday makers tottering down the cobbled streets in their wedged heels. Having said that I am known for tripping up all the time, especially that ankle over the side of the foot one. I specialise in that!!
Leanne xx
I am envious of all the fabulous shoes you have in the UK. The styles are very different here in TX. Enjoy rippling -- I personally enjoy that more than making granny squares:)
ReplyDeleteLove the shoes! I'm smiling just looking at them...have fun wearing them! I like posts like this one...thanks for sharing sharing.
ReplyDeleteThose shoes - I'm still drooling :-) And I LOVE that bowl. How I wish we had Ikea in South Africa! x
ReplyDeleteI adore the new IKEA crockery - your bowl is gorgeous. Really must find the time to go soon. And what lovely shoes, almost too pretty to wear :-)
ReplyDeleteMovingis always so exciting!! I hope our next duty station is near a big city...definitely miss the city life!
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I love your blog! We spend a lot of time drifting around charity shops sourcing interesting items for our home and for our little country cottage. my wife has a great eye for spotting shoes in charity shops and picked up a beautiful pair of Ferragamo suede ankle boots last week for 30 quid!!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely photos. I would love to visit an abbey like that. So much history. I may try the ripple blanket this winter. Now that you have said it isn't so bad. Gorgeous shoes too
ReplyDeleteI've not long found your blog and now I look forward to your posts, they always make me happy too. Love you lovely new shoes and your crochet cushion is so pretty. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found some bright sunshine and blue skies. I really love daffs - they're such a bright zappy reminder that Spring is around the corner.
ReplyDeleteLove the colours for your ripple blanket - they work beautifully together.
Denise (and the Cow'n'Wolf) x
The ripple looks so far so good! I always found the first few rows the hardest, but practice makes perfect :-) Love love LOVE your shoes! They do look red, all the better as it's my favourite colour although I'm sure they are still fab in real life too
ReplyDeleteWe keep getting beautiful sun in the morning but then it turns to rain :(
Shoe envy over here, two pairs, lucky you. I sent my sis a link to the Orla shoes and within 10 mins she replied saying 'oops' bought a pair. Enjoy them, wear them, they are gorgeous. Lovely to have a happy post, the sun came here at the weekend too, such a pleasure. X
ReplyDelete