Showing posts with label wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wales. Show all posts

May 14, 2012

Of this and that



Wow bet you didn't expect another post so soon did you? The sun is shining here and it doesn't half lift the spirits
Following are some pictures from our recent holiday in Wales, wet but still a lovely few days
This tree was just outside our dining room window.
views from the living room
they changed as you watched

 This was a craft centre near Builth Wells , Erwood
 As you can probably tell, a disused railway


This was the Thomas shop near Llandrindod Wells, a marvellous museum and craft centre with a tea room.

 You could actually get amongst the items and have a closer look.



Whilst there our friend picked up a couple of hand cranked sewing machines and when I got back home I thought that wasn't a bad idea for the days when I can't use my legs or feet to press the foot pedal on my Bernina.I am by no means a proper machinist, I do however like doing freeform ,no straight lines for me as I am challenged when it comes to sewing or cutting straight.
I was getting rid of some surplus furniture on one of our local boards, it isn't freegle, you can actually ask for small amounts of cash or typically chocolate wine etc. I asked for a sewing machine. I thought it was worth an ask. A lady contacted me from a local charity they had been given a machine to sell for funds. This little beauty cost me the sum of £25. No rust, well oiled and not much dirt as you can see.
It stitches beautifully and will be ideal on the days I just want to do a little slow stitching.
Well tomorrow is hospital, first checkup on Mr Mogs drug trial and I think a long appointment. He is doing well up to now with no outward side effects. Maybe a little more hungry from the steroids and a little more tired. But in the scheme of things that isn't much at all.

February 09, 2010

Of this and that and drum carders and English wool combs

We had a fabulous weekend in Wales with our friends. It is always a pleasure to visit Artis Anne and Tony, they make us very welcome and it is always with reluctance that we return home.
This time was no exception, much enjoyment and much spinning.
One of the other reasons for visiting Wales was to attend a workshop with Amanda Hannaford on Sunday. There were only the four of us and it was very reasonably priced at just £25 each for a full day workshop plus lunch and unlimited drinks. Amanda's husband Ginge made fresh broccoli and blue cheese soup and served it with his own freshly made bread and rolls.
The workshop covered types of fleece, preparing it including carding with hand carders, flick carders and English wool combs and long draw spinning. I had never really wanted to work much with fleece but this workshop converted me:)
I realised that it wasn't much harder than working from prepared tops and you have the satisfaction of making something from fleece to garment.
Amanda was a very inspiring tutor and I will definitely be taking more workshops with her should the opportunity arise.
Moving on from this Mr Mog would like a drum carder and some English wool combs if anyone has any to sell or knows of any?

March 17, 2009

Wild colours in Wales

We have been on a visit to friends in wildest Wales.
Here you can see the sign that gives a hint to where we are heading
I love going to visit Anne and Tony, the only drawback is that the time goes much too fast. One of the reasons for going this time was to visit this place.

Do you know where it is?

Does this help?
Yes we went to Portmeirion.
What a fabulous day we had. The sun was shining and it was warm enough to sit outside to eat. What more could you ask at this time of the year? Mr Mog had never visited the village before. I haven't been in over 18 years. Last time was when I had money (VBG) and actually stayed there twice. Once in the hotel and once in one of the village apartments. At that time the site was full of Prisoner references. It isn't now. I loved the place then but now it is even better if that is possible. Thanks are due to Anne and Tony for taking us there. More information on the place can be obtained by following my links. It is well worth it:)
The gorse smelled strongly of coconut.

There were many strange shaped trees to be found. I haven't put too many pictures of the actual buildings because you can see them online.


The bay was so green and the tide was in when we arrived.

So many different scenes to try and catch.
The daffodils were in full flower, helped no doubt by the sunshine.
I took some mohair with me and Anne kindly dyed it. It came out exactly as I wanted so I present to you Violetta:)


Isn't it gorgeous? This will be yet another shawl.
I took knitting with me and I am almost finished my midnight's moonlight shawl. I'm 3/4 through the border so pictures hopefully soon. I need to search my bead boxes for some gemstone chips to edge it.
We came home from Wales to one night at home then off to my DD to babysit overnight.
Latest news on MIL is that she is being sent home Monday with a care package. However we are not expecting her to be at home long, she is frail and very confused. I don't think she is going to cope.

March 12, 2009

midnight and fire

A beautiful day today but cool. Brilliant blue skies and when the wind drops you can feel the merest hint of warmth in the sun.
A full week we have had what with the Cumbria trip to a case conference on mum and before that a day visiting birthday folks:)

Tomorrow we are heading towards Wales to see good friends. I've packed the knitting and the gifts and later will pack the clothes we need. After all the knitting is the most important item.

Before packing up the knitting I thought you would like to see the current state of play.
The green socks are hanging about to be completed. I haven't knit on the for a week as I was giving my hands a rest from the Knitpicks harmony needles. I am more than ever convinced that the nickel join is irritating the rash. I will hopefully finish the second sock this weekend with the help of cotton gloves. Not sure if you can see but the oak leaf is starting to bud.
Then the midnight's moonlight shawl has grown, a lot.

Picture doesn't really show but I am up to 220 stitches now. I'm planning on edging this with beads.
Following on we have the Beltaine fire shawl.

This suffered a slight hiccup as I don't have enough of the first yarn. I did find some on rav and the very kind raveller agreed to sell it to me. It is on its way as we speak. I have joined in the second colour I showed earlier and it is looking good. My plan is to use some of the second colour but still with the orange twisted sister. Once the new yarn arrives I'll continue alternating. This too will (hopefully) have a beaded edge.
You will notice the needles on this aren't the harmonies. Cae offered me the use of her Denise needles to see if they helped. They only have plastic joins so no irritation. I am able to use these with no gloves. Much better.
The rash is almost gone on my body but still present and a little sore on my feet and hands. I've come to the conclusion that the 2 rashes were different. The body one I think was a virus, the hands/feet not. I am of the opinion that some dye from a yarn has irritated me. A purchased one I'm guessing as all my friends rinse well as do I.

July 26, 2008

Wonders from Wales

The marvellous trip to Wales brought forth much creativity twixt ArtisAnne and I:)
We dyed a few items in between all the laughter and talking.Here are the results. Did I tell you what a marvellous artist she is? She really inspired me to have a go at dyeing and I loved it. I loved the unknown quantity, would the colours I used turn out right?



mohair in the pan, this was some cheap mohair with acrylic and we weren't sure it would take the colours.
As you can see it did:) I wanted a misty rain on welsh mountains effect and I think we captured it perfectly, can you see the heather and the bracken in there? This will be a shawl(naturally)
Then this was some BFL I think that someone sent me a while ago. We wanted purples.
We got them:) Enough for a hat or wrist warmers this.
Sock yarn from andy at BFL.com I wanted primarys for socks for Mr Mog, the brief was bright and dazzling.
Is it dazzling enough?
I think so don't you?
Then Wye Sue heard we were having a dyeing day and sent some fleece to Anne for us both,
this is the result of a sample of it and will be a seaweed style scarf when its stitched up.
A view on the way to Anne's house, magnificent mountains.

There will be gifts to blog about but that can wait. ArtisAnne was more than generous:)

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