Hello Pip-Life

:: Then & Now – Granny Squares, Clogs and White Floors

February 4, 2015

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2015 – sorry about the floor…

 

So. When we moved in here just over 7 years ago, we painted a lot of the floors white. The floorboards were oil stained and revolting so it seemed like the best and freshest approach.

You can see here and here and here and here how the floors started out back in the day (in 2007!)

Since then we’ve sort of walked on the floors A LOT. Now they look… less fresh!

They’ve CHANGED! They are now scuffed and lived-in and chipped. This is what happens with painted floors. They change and get all lived-in and messed up. A bit like PEOPLE, really.

Still, some things have NOT changed. I’m still a clog loving, snack cooking, colourful square crocheting, letter-writing, frock wearing, book writing, blog posting gal, 8 years on. Phew.  I’m all for being reliable and sticking at it, as you can see.

We’re moving out of our building soon, so there’s little point freshening up the floors. It’s also kind of nice to see how the time has passed. Every scratch a little bit of a moment in time. Each scuff a reminder of how the years are passing and all the things we have done.

xx Pip

 

PS: See these pretty granny squares above? I am crocheting these squares for a friend. She’s going through some stuff and I know she’s got lots of helpers around her already, so I thought it would be a good idea to show that I’m thinking of her and her family by making her a pretty blanket (instead of pestering her). Love to you, D.  Yes, YOU.

Coming up very soon: this week’s #52hellos and a #gilmorealong instalment too

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above : the floors, clogs, crochet circa 2011 – starting to scuff up – these two photos taken by Kirsty Macafee

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floor and granny squares – circa 2010

10 Comments

  • Reply Emma Potter February 17, 2015 at 7:32 AM

    I’m totally with you on this one Pip, I have got way to many clogs and way too much crochet hanging round my house! The two things must go together somehow, universally destined to be as one 🙂

  • Reply Rose February 6, 2015 at 8:46 PM

    well Pip, I love the floors, the crochet and the memories…. Isn’t it funny how we can charge through life so frantically going forward that we forget to look back over our shoulders sometimes. A moment to reflect at physical changes reminds us of the good and not so good that goes along with this.
    Love those granny squares, what a great gift! I have started a blanket for the older daughter of my beautiful friend who has recently passed away. Her younger daughter will have the “life blanket” I had made for my dear friend (so called because it’s full of mistakes and quite a few unplanned surprises.
    Thanks for your blog!

  • Reply tarnya February 5, 2015 at 2:19 PM

    Two years ago I went to the hardware store to buy dark grey paint for my floors and came home with white. They looked gorgeous – so fresh and ‘scandi’, but I regretted my flippant change of mind withn about 15 minutes of putting the furniture back. They only way I could keep them clean was to get on my knees and scrub them with a brush and a bucket of hot, soapy water every week. They were never scuffed like yours, just… grubby. I love your ‘shabby chic’ version. It makes a perfect photography background 🙂

  • Reply Donna February 5, 2015 at 11:21 AM

    I think the scuffed white floors look really lovely, although they’d probably be annoying to live with. But they are photogenic 😉
    I’m trying to get some granny squares done slowly, making myself do some fun crochet each week. Even a small amount of progress is still progress, eventually I’ll have enough to make something out of them 🙂

  • Reply Claire February 5, 2015 at 3:38 AM

    I am coveting your worn, chipped white floor Pip! Mine is worn orangey pine with dirt, not as nice. I think a coat of white would do my floor much good, even spills would look better x

  • Reply Erin February 4, 2015 at 10:33 PM

    I’m a clog-lover too! Living in Sweden for five years really upped my clog game but you…you have an amazing collection my friend! 🙂

  • Reply Reannon @shewhorambles February 4, 2015 at 4:16 PM

    i quite like the scuffed floors & your colour combos are just gorgeous!

    For some reason I always thought you had been in your place much, much longer. Do you think you will be sad to go? I know you are sick of the noise & yucky stuff that goes on but 7 years is a long time !

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes February 4, 2015 at 4:18 PM

      I think it will be sad and happy! I don’t really know… I am looking forward to finding out!

  • Reply tracie @ beets+birch February 4, 2015 at 3:48 PM

    we could be good friends. i am a swedish clog wearing chick from way back. i have the dark brown ones!
    i’m not really into shoes like a lot of women are… clogs are their own category. they are my weakness.
    i like a worn painted floor, it’s got character.

  • Reply Isabel February 4, 2015 at 3:34 PM

    Hi Pip! Your post inspires me to crochet. I haven’t crocheted anything in AGES! But is is quicker than knitting and a little less messy – the stitches don’t slip off the needle like they do with knitting. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂

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