Advent Day 19…. Canal Houses, Amsterdam

Canal houses in Amsterdam facts

1.  The impressive mansions along the Amsterdam canals were built during the Golden Age of Amsterdam. The lavish interior of the Amsterdam canal houses and their architecture reflect the financial and societal success of the merchant families in 17th century Amsterdam.

2. Typical of the Amsterdam Canal Houses are their facades. It was considered ugly if you could see the roof from the street. The roof was therefore hidden from view by a gable. In the first years, this was the ‘stepped gable’. Later more gable styles became in fashion: the neck gable, the bell gable and later the sober horizontal gable.

3. For more than two years, Anne Frank and her family lived in the annex of the building at Prinsengracht 263, a canal house, where Anne’s father, Otto Frank, also had his business. They hid from the gestapo but ultimately where betrayed and discovered. Only Otto survived the war.

This beautiful image was the inspiration of a rainbow colourway because rainbows are for life. When I visited Amsterdam, I fell in love with it, and I forgot how much I liked it until I was planning this collection.

Soft but rich colours were used for this colourway. Deep marigolds and bright oranges, with purples, maroons, and turquoise. It’s just beautiful. It reminds me of the colourful tulips you see for sale everywhere and clogs! (In the touristy bit…)

I know I keep saying this is my favourite to everyone, but this one is up there for sure. Rainbows. I just love them.

Check out that granny square! Isn’t it…. *chefs kiss*!?!

Xxx Jess

Advent Day 18…. Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef facts…

1. The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 1,250mi (2,000km) north to south and covers some 135,000 sq mi (350,000 sq km) in total. This is bigger than Italy and almost the size of Germany.

2. The Great Barrier Reef is home to a diverse array of animals including 1,625 species of fish, 1,400 coral reef species, more than 3,000 species of molluscs, six of the world’s seven species of marine turtle, 133 species of sharks and rays and 30 species of whales and dolphins

3. One of the most delightful interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef is that astronauts can see it from space.

This dye pan is everything! I love the colour palette for this one with aqua, teals, navy, sea greens, and a hint of hot pink! What’s not to love?!

It’s a stunner in the lineup for this advent! I’d love to go to see this one in real life, mildly obsessed ever since finding nemo was released! 😆

The collection is really coming along now!! Only 6 days left! Gah! Scroll for the granny square!

Are you excited for tomorrow?! I am!

Xxx Jess

Advent Day 17…. Northern Lights, Norway

Northern Lights facts and legends

1. One Norse legend has the lights as reflections from the shield and armour of the Valkyries. These female warriors would choose which of the fallen would gain entry to Valhalla. Norse legends also suggest that these pulsating green ribbons of light served as an archway into Valhalla.

2. When the solar wind reaches the earth, it causes a distortion in the magnetic field. Most of the charged particles are deflected away, but some make it into the atmosphere close to the two magnetic poles.
This collision of the charged particles and the gases in our atmosphere cause the light, which is a release of photon energy. Still magical despite knowing the science!

3. Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn, and Boreas is the Greek term for the north wind, hence the name Aurora Borealis.

Okkkkkk, so this one is pretty special, don’t you agree?! I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t know about  or wants to see these lights! I could have filled this whole blog with more super interesting facts about it! (Like there’s southern lights, the gases in the atmosphere affect the colour, other planets also have their own light shows… I could go on 😆)

So we have deep indigo and navy with bright redy pink and vibrant emerald greens among flashes of white or pale areas to embody the lights vibe. I honestly adore this colourway!

I mean, look at it! Scroll for the delicious yarn granny square 😍

Where will we head for tomorrow’s trip?! Any guesses?

Xxx Jess

Advent Day 16…. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu tid bits!

1. According to scholars, Machu Picchu was a royal estate built for the Inca king Pachacutec around 1450. Others speculate that the Inca city was a sacred centre where the great political, religious, and economic minds of the Inca Empire gathered. 

2. To combat the fact that the area of Peru is quite susceptible to earthquakes, every building in Machu Picchu was built to be earthquake-proof. When earthquakes occur, the stones of Machu Picchu are said to “dance.”

3. In the Quechua Indian language, “Machu Picchu” means “Old Peak” or “Old Mountain.”

4. The compound contains more than 100 separate flights of stairs. Most of the individual staircases were carved from one slab of stone.

Second visit to Peru… I really want to visit Peru! Like really really!

Ohhhh, this colourway is the brother to Victoria Falls. It’s a bit brighter with fewer brown earth tones, so it’s a bit more of a pop! The gorgeous greens and bright blues embody the lush terrain of Machu Picchu.

This colourway is so fresh with such a depth of colour. It’s lush! 💗

So here we are, two-thirds of the way in! How are we here already. Hold your hats for the last third! Can’t wait to show it to you!

Look at the collection so far! What a whirlwind we’ve been on so far! Tomorrow is 😍 eeeee!

Xxx Jess

Advent Day 15…. Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

Giants Causeway top 3 facts (ish)

1. It is believed that Giant’s Causeway formed 50 million years by volcanic action. As the lava cooled rapidly, it contracted, resulting in the instantly recognisable columnar structures.

2. There is myth that it was built by a warrior giant named Finn MacCool who create a sturdy path to Scotland and so that he didn’t get his feet wet. It’s said he wanted a road to Scotland to go fight a fellow giant and enemy. Similar formations can be found in a cave in Scotland… so is it just a myth?!

3. Like the giants from Irish and Scottish legend, the volcano that gave birth to the basalt columns can no longer be seen today. It has disappeared from the face of the earth through erosion. As is so often the case, it is the traces of history like the Giants Causeway that point to a bygone world to this day.

Oh a quick nip back close to home today! Just close enough to wave, in Northern Ireland, to check everything at homes OK… don’t panic we will be jetting off again tomorrow!

But today we are at the amazing Giants Causeway (one location I may actually manage to get to one day!) Isn’t it a stunning one though?!

Soft grass tones and dark rocks with a sunset. I love the soft pallette used here! Almost pastel earthy notes. The closer you look the more colours you’ll find. Love love love this one.

I have a huge love for this colourway and so happy we have one based on something closer to us! Check the granny at the bottom of the blog too!

Excited for tomorrow! Eeeeee

Xxx Jess