A Welsh Happy Dance

I didn't do any stitching last night - when I was taking out the wheelie bin in the dark I slipped on some ice - didn't actually fall over but I jarred my back. Again. I've only just been signed off by the physio from the last time I did it.... Anyway last night I struggled to get comfortable, and I decided against driving to Sheffield for a day lace making - this seems to have worked as it's much, MUCH better now...

Anyway this afternoon we watched Transformers - revenge of the fallen.... not as fun as the first film (but we did find out, via IMDB, that the man who voices Optimum Prime is also the voice of Eeyore). Anyway, I took the time to get some stitching done, and finished Laugharne Castle:


Laugharne Castle Blackwork, (c) Home Handicrafts

This stitched up very quickly, and I really enjoyed it. I'm pondering back stitching the knight panel on FT, picking up Wild Thyme Fairy or maybe starting something new... choices, choices

Coming along nicely

I've been working on Laugharne castle whenever I've had chance this week, and it's coming along nicely. I took this photo this morning. For some reason it was very dark, so I adjusted it in photoshop. It's still very dark though. I should finish this tonight:



Laugharne Castle, (c) Home Handicrafts

If I do finish it I'll take a photo when it is bright outside!! I'm looking forward to tomorrow, it's a Sheffield Lace Makers working day. I haven't made any lace for ages...

Laugharne Castle

Yesterday I started a blackwork of Laugharne Castle (pronounced Larne). I've done all of the gold and thick backstitch, now I just need to work on the finer outlining and the fill patterns on the castle itself:



It's by Home handicrafts, a small local company based in Tenby in South Wales. I lived in Carmarthen for a year, and Home Handicrafts was my favourite LNS while I was there (and Tenby is still one of my favourite places - we used to stay there for some summer holidays as a famjily when I was growing up, so I have many fond memories of the town, spread throughout my life). I moved away from Carmarthen in 2003, and since then the owner of home handicrafts retired, but one of his employees took on the shop - albeit in a smaller premesis. Since downsizing it's lost some of its charm (it's also much tidier now), but I love the set of Blackworks they sell. I stitched Carew Cross many years ago, while on holiday as a teenager:



I also have a Welsh dragon and Manorbier Castle in my stash. Manorbier has special memories for me too - not only as a holiday destination, and later somewhere I took students to on a field trip, but also because it was used in the BBC's adaptation of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - where the children first met Aslan. I really want a few more of these, especially St Govan's chapel - hopefully the shop will still be there when we next go to Wales!

I went to WW tonight, another 2.5 lbs off - that's 10.5 so far. I've just tried on a smaller pair of jeans from my wardrobe, and they fit, but are perhaps a little snug for lounging on the sofa stitching... but they are so close to being ultra-comfy it's very exciting!

Dani asked where I was ging in the US - nowhere in the North sadly! We are flying to Vegas, and driving to Albuquerque (for my conference) but it will be a roundabout trip - we are taking in the Grand Canyon, Mountain Valley, the Mesa Verde and Santa Fe on the way!!! Only 6 weeks to wait now... I just need to get a few more hotels booked and the car hire sorted and we are all set!