Well, you'd never think it by the weather (which has been far more March flavoured than July) but here we are again at the start of the long summer break. This one is slightly different as it marks a major transition point for Amy, who says goodbye to junior school today and is getting ready to be a senior from september. I'm so grateful (and relieved) that she's incredibly excited about it.
As usual we're not having a family summer holiday because it's just too difficult with Toby so I'm whipping up a little summer holiday kit for Amy including a batch of summer holiday vouchers – lots of little fun things that we can do together while Toby is at summer clubs or being looked after by H. I had thought Amy might have grown too old for these but she informs me she'll never be too old for them and it wouldn't be summer without them! This year treats include regulars like camp out in the garden, berry picking and trip to the farm shop, shopping trip with £10 spending money, lunch at a restaurant, trip to the cinema, picnic with a friend, trip to a museum, sleepover with a friend etc.
If you'd like some to use with your own family, you're welcome to print some off from here Download Vouchers
Anyway, there have been a few breaks in the cloud today so I'm off to spend the last few hours of peace at the end of the garden with my one-a-day blankie which continues to grow slowly but surely.
Wishing everyone a good summer/winter depending on your hemisphere. Will pop in here when I can, so see you soon x
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PS: Thank you so very much for all of the kind comments on the previous post. Comments I'll treasure and am very grateful for. I hope I didn't make anyone who has simply asked about patterns for the animals feel bad for just asking – that was not my intention. I just wanted to explain some of my thoughts and feelings x
little cotton rabbits 
I’d love to have one of those vouchers Julie, even at my advanced age! Must see if I can get my DH to make some for me …
Hope you have a lovely summer (or autumn or whatever season it is). Your blanket is looking lovely – may you know many hours of peaceful and happy knitting and crochet in the weeks ahead. x
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I am not surprised Amy refuses to grow out of such a lovely idea.
If you fancy a meet up somewhen we could arrange to meet somewhere with Lesley Moog maybe?
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My daughter leaves Primary School today too and it is lovely when they can’t wait to start secondary school. I have just come back from Leaver’s Assembly with a tear in my eye! The voucher scheme sounds wonderful – I wish you a very happy summer with the family! I don’t comment very much on blogs but I love peeping in to see your creations. You have such a gift with your animals and I feel so priviledged just to be able to look at them – I will jump for joy if I ever get to owning one!
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I am a huge admirer of your lovely knittet animals. To look at your beatiful pictures of rabbits, bears and other animals, it calms me. They are just adorable. You give us who read your blog so much. So now i would like to give something back to you, i would love to send you a present from Norway. Little suprise stuff for rest of the summer and in to the autumn. (If i only could have your adress, a little something would come your way);-) I read many blogs, but yours is one of a kind. Now ones give me so much as yours do. So keep on doing what you love to do. All the best from Norway.
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Traditions shouldn’t fade away. It is the stuff of memories and future story telling.
I hope it stops raining long enough to enjoy the summer.
The blanket looks amazing. Just right for snuggling.
x
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Happy summer to you, Julie!
Your blankie is looking incredible – just love your colours.
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I love your beautiful creative ideas for Amy’s holidays. You know how to make the simplest things special.
I am very inspired by you!
BTW I have started my own version of your one-a-day blanket, so inspired was I by your color palette, but . . . .
as the discussion from the last post went, everyone puts there own personal flavour on a piece and I thought my colors were similar to yours – but I did add an orange. Now that they are all together the colors look entirely different and I love the circles too much to put a square border around them so I have come up with an entirely different way of joining them. I wish I had some way of showing you.
I am totally in love with the whole project.
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i love your voucher idea julie, it is so sweet, no wonder Amy wants to carry on, mine would have loved that when they were younger, but at 19 and 17 maybe they are a teeny bit old! Amy will always remember her summer vouchers x
I love your blanket, such pretty colours too, i am just making and edge on my granny stripe (first ever crochet project) and then i can start my new project, the yarn is all ready and waiting, it looks very like your blanket, i got the pattern from mollie makes…wish me luck! i will be happy if it looks half as beautiful as yours
j x
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The summer holiday vouchers are an absolutely brilliant idea. And your blanket is looking fabulous! K x
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What a stunning crocheted blanket!! the colours are so fresh. Enjoy the ‘staycation’!
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I think it is WONDERFUL how Amy treasures her one on one time with you. You are creative in more ways than just knitting your most amazing critters. The way you turn everyday happenings into real adventures is something we should all try to do. You and your husband make an admirable team. Thanks for sharing. I think I will print out some vouchers for our grandchildren to use when visiting us.
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I think I would like to use those vouchers myself and I’m quite a bit older than Amy!!
I hope you have a lovely time with your children during the summer break. I always find it strange that English schools are only now breaking up for the summer, kids here have already been off for 3 weeks and don’t go back until the beginning of Sept. It’s good that Amy is looking forward to her new school!
That blanket is gorgeous Julie! 🙂
Vivienne x
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Hope you have a good summer break – the voucher idea is just brilliant.
xxx
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Oh you are clever crocheting all those pieces, id love to be able to do it. What a fantastic blankie its gonna be
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Love the vouchers idea, will print some off when I get my printer sorted.
Blanket is looking fabby!!
S x
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Hope you have a good summer with not too many problems.I love the voucher idea.I am crocheting a blanket at the moment and I’m hooked (sorry!) and just can’t stop making them.I love your colour palette.You have such a good eye.
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I like the holiday alternative idea, very thoughtful, it must be tough to make sure the second sibling gets quality time when another needs so much of your resources. The blanket is coming along nicely, it’s going to be stunning when you’ve finished.
Kier x
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I thought of you today, whilst baking some gingerbread and hoped that you all have a fun and quiet summer break. I’ve been following your blog for just over a year now and do enjoy it. The granny blanket is beautiful. I’m expecting my second baby in October and would love to make something like that for him or her. Another project to add to my list :-). Enjoy your summer Julie nd happy crafting x
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Have a wonderful summer break Julie, you blanket is looking lovely
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Enjoy your summer — all your plans sound wonderful.
With regards to sharing your patterns — I loved your story and understand. I know that my little friends would have never looked as great as yours 😦 Deb M.
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Oh, I think perhaps my answer to the other post was too stiff. Of course, just asking isn’t a bad thing. I was just thinking of people who pursue and criticize. Now I’m worried that I was unkind.
I love the vouchers. I should have done that with my Chaz. Maybe I still can. Surely a young woman who is twenty seven would still love the promise of lunch one day and a fun day in the shops together another?
I apologize if I, myself, was too rude in that answer.
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Happy holiday Julie. And Amy is right… you are never too old for vouchers!
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Have a good holiday. We are very lucky that DH parents have a cottage in Devon, DS2 has visited it since we adopted him so just about copes when we go down there. I love your blanket. I want to look for a beginner blanket that is made one block at a time. Angela
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The vouchers are such a good idea! I’ll use them with my daughter, too.
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The list of activites for Amy’s vouchers sounds so very lovely. Amy is wise not to relinquish this tradition. I’d love one of these vouchers myself!
Your blanket is looking truly stunning. Has it been soothing to make so far?
Here’s to a lovely summer for you Julie.
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Have a wonderful vacation.I always appreciate your blog posts.Your beautiful creations-the harmony in craft colour palette,the lively character of your little creatures,seasonal garden photos-always brighten my day.Thanks for sending those rays of sunshine.Your efforts to find solutions and strength coping with days with your son are both admirable and familiar.Hope you can hear a standing ovation.have a good summer and hopefully some relaxng moments.
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Your blanket is coming along just lovely – hope you all have a great summer x
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Wishing you happy hols!
My blanket has turned into one every-other-day at the moment but will do better!
Take it easy.
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Hope the weather stays lovely for you at home.
Keep doing what makes you and your family happy.
You bring a lot of joy and inspiration.
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I always enjoy reading your blog 🙂
Could you please tell me which patten you are using for the blanket? It’s beautiful!
Thanks!
ingrid
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Just wanted to add that I just found the pattern – should have looked before I asked 🙂
Thanks!
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What a splendid idea, children do like special family ideas like this, and it is these sorts of things that she will remember so well when she grows up.
I am sure you will have a lovely summer.
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I loved your story, you knit magic into your animals that can not be written down!!
Love the crochet blanket, I’m crocheting my way though a ripple blanket at the moment and loving it, my first crochet project.
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Beautiful crocheted squares!
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You are brilliant!! I was just lamenting to my eldest a few minutes ago how our family is lame. Everyone else is out on family vacations and we haven’t in a very long time because of Levi.
So clever you are. I will be borrowing your idea for sure!!! I just love this! Thank you for helping to feel like maybe a not so lame mum.
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Just a quick note to say you’ve got an award over at mine today….
S x
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Your blanket is coming along beautifully, Julie!
Pen x
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HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY JULIE AND ALL THE FAMILY.
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Dear Julie,
You put so much thought and effort into all your “projects” be it baking, writing, gardening, knitting, crochet or the most precious one of all, your family. I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts, ideas and “Little Cotton Rabbits”.
Wishing you a summer filled with fun and laughter each time your vouchers are redeemed.
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I can’t believe it is holiday time again! I love the idea of the vouchers and we use it for our summer holidays too. Enjoy your last few moments peace in the garden, your blanket is really growing now, and take care for the summer holidays. Hope this year is not too trying for you all 🙂
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Fingers crossed Toby’s respite time goes well and he builds up to the whole day in August with as few problems as possible. Maybe you and H could do a little voucher for each other as I’m sure you both deserve some fun too.
Hope you and your family have a lovely summer, whatever the weather x
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What a beautiful crocheted blanket! I hope that you have a lovely summer, the vouchers are a wonderful idea.
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