Romantic?

Following on from my Valentine's post from two weeks ago, and my subsequent contemplation on whether or not the whole hearts and flowers thing is indeed romantic (I was given a huge bunch of daffodils - which I love - and no, I did not complain!), a conversation with a friend had me recalling what to me is the most romantic thing my hubby has ever done for me.

To me, part of the beauty of being human is the diverse range of emotions we experience in response to different factors.  So I'd like to hear about the most romantic gesture you've ever received - traditional or otherwise. 

Here's mine:

A few years back, I was having a clear-out.  There's rather a 'situation' with cuddly toys I've accumulated over the years in my house - I find it very difficult to part with any to which I have an emotional attachment.  Anyway, the time had come for a cull.  I was ruthless (sort of) and filled several bin bags with old and falling-apart well-loved creatures - most of which had been residing in the loft since we moved into our house.  Included among these was a green teddy bear my Dad had brought back from America when I was about four or five.  Green Teddy (inspired name, right?) had somewhere along the line been involved in an accident with some shocking pink paint.  So he was included in the cull.

Hubby dutifully trekked off with the bags of rejected toys (no, I don't still feel guilty - of course not) and deposited them in the industrial wheelie bin where he was working.  All fine.  I'd let them go, and I was so over them.  Right.

The next day, my long-suffering hubby was upside down leaning right into the wheelie bin, sorting among all the other refuse to find the bag with Green Teddy in, while I panicked at home that the bin would have been emptied and Green Teddy would be forever lost to me.  Did he find him?  Yes, he did, and Green Teddy (after a trip to the washing machine) is still sitting in my bedroom, resplendent in pink.

This may clarify to you both that I'm a little cracked (as if you didn't know, if you've been following me for any length of time) and why I consider my hubby to be a keeper. ;)

So tell me what's the most romantic thing that's ever happened to you?  I realise not everyone places importance on slightly bonkers events like I do, but tell me anyway.

Oh, and here's a picture of my beloved and tatty Monkey (see - I lack no originality with the naming of my cuddly toys), as I'm currently in hubby's workshop and Green Teddy is safely at home, far from the camera and the enormous skip we now have way too close to our unit for his liking. ;)

Colour Rush!

If any of you reading this have been following my blog for a while, you'll know that making jewellery has kindled an interest in colour for me.  I'm much braver with colour than I used to be, and I get a lot of enjoyment from 'painting' with my spectrum of coloured wire.  My favourite colour has always been green - the colour of trees and new growth - but in recent years I've become especially fond of zingy, spring-like lime green.  As the snowdrops begin to push through the soil and my house is brightened by sunny daffodils, it feels like spring is finally on its way.  What better time to celebrate my favourite colour?

 

One of my favourite local places.

 

Spanish Moss Pendant

Local woods.

Druantia bracelet.

So, what's your favourite colour?  And do you have a reason, or does it just resonate with you for no particular reason? :)

Hearts and Roses ...

So it's nearly the middle of February - which means the slightly bizarre tradition of Valentine's Day is almost here again.  I can never decide whether I think it's all a load of hokum or whether actually I find it rather romantic to be treated to a card and - if I'm very lucky - a flower or two.  Regardless of my personal feelings (which I can't even pin down, as you can see!), I have very much enjoyed making Valentine-themed pieces this year.

Along with hearts and roses jewellery, I couldn't resist making the vibrant red roses with heavier gauge wire and adding them to a suncatcher/ornament.

And of course I had to sneak some romance into my artwork ...

Whatever your feelings about Valentine's Day, I hope you all have a lovely weekend, whether you're single, attached or something else (I'm not sure what 'something else' is, but if you're it - hope you have a fab weekend too!). :)

Tiptoeing over to the dark side ...

No, I haven't become a practitioner of nefarious dark arts or any such thing.  Worse - I've bought a Kindle!  This is probably not what counts as news to the vast majority of you.  But it is something I've resisted for years.  I love books.  I love the thick, spotted pages and mildewy smell of old books - they may not be history books themselves, but they have a history.  I love the smooth feel and shiny covers of new books.  I love that feeling when your favourite author has written a new one and you're waiting for it to arrive.  I always read all the dedications, acknowledgements, author biography etc. before I will even allow myself to start the story.  And because of this love, I really don't want to contribute to the demise of the book.

However - and you knew there was a 'however' coming - one of the consequences of my love of books is that, unless I hated it, I find it almost impossible to pass a book on.  My bookcases are overflowing with reading matter, I have piles of books on the floor, jammed on top of the books on the shelves, piling up in unexpected places ... none of which is good for the books.  And I can't afford to move.  ;)

Add that to the fact that more and more authors seem to be releasing digital-only material, as well as the fact that the digital versions of their full-length books are often significantly cheaper, and I was on the horns of a dilemma.  Stick to my principles and eventually find myself on one of those chronic hoarder programmes, or back down and buy that sneaky piece of tech?

In the end, I was able to reconcile myself to my u-turn by reminding myself that this would mean I could read more books for the same price (and a lot less space) and that I would still be buying hard copies of my favourites, along with any reference books - I do not want to look at glossy pictures on a hand-held device - as well as my other favourite - blank books.  I love sketchbooks and notebooks; the blank pages just cry out to be filled.

So the digital revolution has claimed another victim.  I  hold my hand up - I sold out.  But I have to confess, I am really enjoying using the Kindle ... ;)