Autumnal Inspiration

As the weeks and months of 2013 positively flew past, we are now firmly ensconced into Autumn. This season, although often unwelcome with those living in cooler climates who lament the loss of their summer, is not at all as dreary as many believe. This is a beautiful time of year with leaves of rich browns, reds, burgundies and yellows falling from the trees and shrubs. The light is lower and softer, and gives a golden glow in the early evening. The month of October is also inextricably linked to pumpkins and squashes in bold, vivid oranges. 

When it comes to creating crafts, I love to see what is happening in the world around me- after all nature never gets it wrong with colour themes! If you find yourself stuck for a project or a colour theme for a current work in progress, getting out for a walk or even just looking out the window can help. Take some photos and see what colours seem pleasing to your eye. If you do not happen to live in an area where you can view a lot of vegetation, try researching online - National Trust Gardens are a good place to start. This can be particularly helpful when planning a project such as a quilt or throw where you would like to use a variety of toning and contrasting colours.

A facet of autumn life that I'm

sure many of us enjoy is cosying up on the sofa with a glass of wine, family, friends and a good movie as the dark evenings set in. This led to me thinking that a nice toasty afghan blanket would be the perfect addition to such an evening, and this project is now in progress.

The photos in this post I took whilst out and about to provide some inspiration for this snugly autumnal blanket. If you happen to keep a camera with you/ on your phone/etc I recommend snapping anything that catches your eye. This provides a great resource for your crafting and helps nudge along your creativity when you are feeling a bit low on inspiration.

The initial Granny Squares for the Afghan have been made - here's a sneak preview:-

The rich russets, oranges and browns are set of against a contrasting black edging, which denotes a nod towards the typical orange and black colour theme of Halloween. The rich greens found in the photos are also utilised within the inner motifs.

I will share the pictures of the finished project once the blanket is completed.