Recently I posted about my four years of blogging and as is customary I held a giveaway – this time of four little necklaces. I received a comment from Lucy at Attic24. I’m sure you know Lucy – she has the most astonishing crochet and design skills. Her blankets are legendary around blogland. Her use of colour is stunning and brightens even the greyest, rainiest British summer day. Look at this image above. I don’t know about you but that gradation of colour in her ripple blanket definitely does something good to my brain. Her blog is a blast of handmade joy.
Lucy didn’t win my giveaway but she had been fizzing and brimming over with excitement and enthusiasm about the little silver pebble necklace I had made. I’ve posted before about how I love handmade exchanges and so I suggested one to Lucy. To my utter delight she said yes.
It was decided. I would make Lucy a necklace and she would crochet me a Lucy bag. Both of us are inspired by and adore the seaside and we decided to channel this into the pieces we made. To describe this correspondence as joyful is an understatement. Excited emails about seaglass, silver pebbles, yarn colours, stripes, stitches, shells and vintage buttons flew frantically back and forth.
Over several weeks I amassed a tiny collection of treasures.
It was like beachcombing – I searched my stash, made tiny things in silver clay, contacted the most wonderful Etsy shop selling 100-year-old pebbles of seaworn glass, sourced shells and vintage mother of pearl buttons and arranged and rearranged this tiny collection until I was happy with the design.
The day came last week when our parcels had arrived. We decided to open them around the same time – we were both a little nervous but hugely and giddily excited.
What can I say about my bag? The yarn colours and the wonderful stripes transport you straight into a sun-soaked deckchair on a stretch of sand. They echo shells and seaside plants, rockpools and blue, blue sky. I swear I can hear seagulls when I put it on my shoulder. I had tentatively requested some little crochet circles to reflect my pebble obsession. There they were with beautiful mother of pearl buttons in their centres.
Truly this is the most wonderful of bags. To use the word ‘thrilled’ is insufficient. Lucy has crocheted the seaside for me.
To top it off Lucy sent me some cards with exquisite sea-inspired designs.
Yesterday I took my bag to Southwold. Oh yes. There was a HUGE amount of beach joy (captured on my iPhone). I hear that Lucy has taken her necklace to Dorset with her. It’s truly a gorgeous thought that she is wearing by the sea.
This has been such a fabulous creative experience that I have been a little overwhelmed by it. I keep glancing at my beautiful bag and doing a double take, picking it up and admiring it. I’ll admit to hyperventilating a little when I see it.Thankyou thankyou thankyou Lucy.
Both of you have made beautiful items. What a good idea to do a swap like that. The colours in both bag and necklace are so reminiscent of the seaside on a sunny summer day. Southwold too that takes me back about 60 years!!
Lovel swappage Missus. That Missus Moog has a good collection of seaglass, you should tap her up one day.
Oh what sheer joy! I love the necklace you have made for Lucy, it truly is a masterpiece capturing all that she loves and the colour scheme is just beautiful. Lucy's bag is also a wonder to behold, such colours of sea side joy. What a wonderful exchange, I love that 2 gifted and talented ladies can do this and get such pleasure from it xox Penelope
I saw this on Lucy's blog. Both of you have totally inspired me to make something sea related. I am spending a week on an island in West Cork in a couple of weeks. I plan to crochet something made of the colours I see there. It will be my Shirkin Island blanket.
Emma, you and Lucy have definitely exchanged treasures! How wonderful it is to have these sea-inspired creations visit the beach.
You two are very talented artist and your enthusiasm is inspiring.
Best wishes.
Well all I can say is that it's a win, win situation. You both end up with gorgeous handmade items!!
Beautiful bag and another stunning necklace (wearing mine as I type :))
Vivienne x1
Lovely swaps, and so pretty!!! Xxxx
Such a fabulous swap. The necklace is stunning as its your stripey bag!
Victoria xx
Heavenly Emma! Yes, she really seems to have captured your spirit. I love swaps between like-minded artists.
Stephanie
(ps Wish me luck I am opening my tiny Etsy shop tomorrow.)
Love the necklace, missus, and I am especially glad that you are away at your favorite place having a restorative getaway. I have been thinking of you and yours constantly and sending lots of cyber hugs…
xoxoxo
Your bag and Lucy's necklace are absolutely GORGEOUS. How lovely that two of my favourite makers and bloggers have undertaken such an inspiring swop. And a perfect-for-the-seaside summer swop at that, because dare we hope that summer is finally here!
what an absoultly heartwarming post! i found you through my friend teje, she had won your giveaway and showed your gorgeous necklace!
how thrilling for both of you talented ladies, and what a good idea by you! i'm sure lucy was thrilled as well. i wish i had known you before, i have over 30 years of seaglass having lived on the beach all my life, if you need anymore, give me a shout!
oh, it's nice to meet you, i'm lori from the central coast of california 🙂
I have to say, this is one of the most gorgeous and joyous exchanges I've ever read about. Brilliant job, both of you!
Gorgeous!! I've popped over from Lucy's Blog!! I love the necklace you've made for her – it's really beautiful and sums up beach found treasures wonderfully!! I read your article in the CL mag too and it's great to have taken a look at your blog – a lovely creative haven! Well done and thanks! J9 x
Absolutely lovely exchange, and I bet the mails between you were brilliant!
I read Lucy's blog this morning and loved it.
I saw your beautiful jewellery in Country Living and fell in love with it too it's so delicate but unique, then to read how much thought goes into the charm necklace of finding old charms etc is just lovely.
Your photographs are so lovely of "the bag" and I love the cardi you are modelling too.
Hi Emma! You made again so beautiful and unique necklace! I read also Lucy's post and her crochet bag is wonderful and as you said she crocheted the sea and the beach as you catched them on your jewellery! What a lovely card, too! x Teje
Thank you again for my neckelase – I wear it every day!
Ooh, lucky Lucy! Absolutely love that necklace and the bag too!
What a great swap.
G
x
Dear Emma.. first let me tell you again a huge *T*H*A*N*K* * *Y*O*U*!*!*!* for picking my name in your giveaway – I love the button necklace that you sent me!! And then I read with interest how Lucy had so wanted to win and then didn't.. and then how you two cooked up the swap idea. Bravo for you both and what fun you both had and what WONDERFUL creative treasures you made for each other!! Just a fabulous experience. I loved reading both of your stories. Thanks, again.. Teresa from Oregon USA
What great fun for both of you. How nice to see the lovely necklace being modelled! And that bag is perfect.
Southwold was our favourite place in all the world for family holidays and all round good times. We were there just before Easter for a short break. A few days after our return to yorkshire my husband was admitted into hospital where he died 10 weeks later. Your beautiful necklace and Lucy's beautiful bag at Southwold just bring back so many happy memories. Hope you don't mind me telling you this- it is so important, I'm finding, to remember the good times and enjoy the beautiful things.I'm going back to Southwold as soon as I can!
I sat near you on the beach on Saturday but am embarrassed to say I didn't realise it was you otherwise I would have said a quick hello! I was with my Husband, Son, Daughter and parents near the rocks, and Mum and I sat for a while discussing and admiring your bag! Wasn't it lovely to finally be able to sit in the sun and be warm?! We frequently end up at southwold so if I see you again I'll be sure to say hello!!
oh so lovely, that necklace is seaside perfection. and your bag looks very happy on the beach. I hope it had cake in it!
Lovely lovely swapsies!!!!
That bag was just asking to go to the beach… it looks so at home there. And it will look perfect in your garden 'beach-hut'.
Celia
xx
They're both gorgeous – you lucky girls!
Your Lucy necklace is absolutely beautiful! Please make some similar ones for your Etsy shop – I will be first in the queue. Or maybe not, as there are so many others who like it too :-).
I follow both your blog and Lucy's, and I do so admire the work of you both (and I have a pair of your earrings).
Jill x
What a completely lovely thing to do. Both of you so talented and producing such beautiful treasures. A truly uplifting blog. Thank you.
when I read of this swap on Lucy's blog I was filled with wonder at what a blog on the internet and the spirit of creativity can achieve together. From the combination of the two wonderous creations were born without money.
Hip Hip Hooray…..
It was lovely to meet you and the bag! On Saturday at the Debenham Farmers Market, glad you and your family enjoyed the rest of the day in sunny Suffolk.
Just perfect!
Hi Emma – what a lovely idea and fabulous swap.
Nina x
Wonderful swap, Emma! I first read about this crafty swap on Lucy's blog….and I was actually wearing my necklace from you at the time! Your sweet seaside necklace for Lucy is so lovely, and so is the wonderful bag she made you….love your gorgeous photos of it too!
Helen x
two absolutely gorgeous goodies, what lucky ladies!!! Enjoy! 🙂
The colours in both bag and necklace are so reminiscent of the seaside on a sunny summer day and especially Your Lucy necklace is absolutely beautiful.
Oh wow what a fab creative swap Emma 🙂 I bet you were thrilled with yout bag, it certainly is a wonderful creation as is your necklace. PS if you ever need seaglass again I have a jar full of pretty sea glass and silky smooth pebbles that have been collected over the years 🙂
My log visiting has been so limited lately with so much going on so I've been having a lovely catch up!
Belated congratulations on the Country Living feature, it was fabulous and brought back great memories of our visit to you last year. You swap with Lucy was fab, love what you both created, no wonder the two of you were excited.
Hope you are having a lovely summer,
love Penny xxx
You both make such beautiful things – it's a very classy swap with lovely items. If I saw anyone with a bag like that, I would *have* to ask if it was 'a Lucy'! x
It's nice how a swap between two people I don't even know in a land far away can make one happy. But it did. Beautiful creations, both of you. 🙂
Truly splendid idea to swap gifts like this, and what wonderful ones they are!
Margaret P
What a lovely post Emma – Lucy's crocheted ripple blanket is so 'touchable' and what wonderful swaps you have made. Well done, so nice to see summer lightness and colour. Lesley x
I read about your swap on Lucy's blog. Your bag is gorgeous… and the necklace you made is stunning! You are both such lucky ladies.
Oh, that just brings tears to my eyes. How wonderful! Yes, I love Attic 24.
beautiful bag at Southwold. lucky ladies! Love it! 😀
The Seaside Ripple bag is beautiful as is your truly beautiful Seaside Necklace. Your jewelery are all truly stunning. May I ask how you polish you "Sea Glass".. I have a few pieces and I can not get them to sparkle like yours. I just discovered your lovely blog and will become a follower. Hugs Judy