Lovely surprise

How sweet is this?

When I was at Denman College recently, one of the ladies attending a course was wearing what looked like some astroturf around her wrist. Intrigued, I had to take a closer look and discovered two really yummy bracelets. She admitted they were not her own work but they had been bought from a local shop in Norfolk, close to her home.

This morning, on going into the WI office, there's a parcel on my desk from Norfolk, containing a bracelet for me! Thank you Jane - I love it and I really appreciate your generosity.

I have some great friends - and I just gained another!

Like minds

Isn't it good to have the company of like-minded friends? I first met Maggie years ago, when we were both stalwarts of our local Embroiderers Guilds and the cross stitch phenomenon was in full swing. We despaired of the way so many embroiderers became stuck with the technique and tried to make sure we were providing as many opportunites as we could to tempt them further into more creative stitching. I don't think we were altogether successful for I think that many cross stitchers have simply gone on to rubber stamping, then scrapbooking, proving that commercial persuasions are more successful than merely enthusiastic ones!

Anyway, we've kept in touch, are members of the same mailgroup and as we live fairly close, get together from time to time. We did exactly that yesterday - rather impromptu but none the worse for that. We didn't really have time to play - but anyone who tried to get a word in edgeways would have struggled.

Maggie, it was good to see you again, to learn more about your new toy (I'm envious!) and to share a few hours talking about stuff which would have most people dozing off. What's more, it will be fun to get together again next week, at the Textile Treasures exhibition, when we might even think to take a photo.

Good to be back

We've been coming to Los Angeles for some years now and one thing is guaranteed - the buzz we get when we return to Santa Monica, in particular the first walk down Third Street Promenade when it feels as though we'd never been away.

We are Gehry fans and love the Disney Concert Hall downtown. We found it fascinating to learn that Santa Monica Place is another Gehry building -designed before he entered his wavy metal period!

We spent this morning browsing South Pasadena, where Zinnia called. Interesting and friendly store with an eclectic stock - the kind of thing that needs restraint before buying. Some interesting classes on offer too.

Came back via the San Raphael Bead Company and Mary's apartment where I spent a while captivated by the Food Network! Dinner tonight was with friends Kevin and David at Genghis Cohen...great name, isn't it?

Connected again

No blog posts for a while as we were in a communications desert - no email, no cellphones. But what we lacked in technology, nature more than made up for in so many ways.

 

This is where we have spent the last few days. Elizabeth's house on the coast north of San Francisco is simply breathtaking and was ours for a short time as we chilled with our great friend Mary.

 

We loved the wildlife, quite literally on our doorstep in some cases, in others just around the corner, over the edge so to say.

 

We walked, talked and tried to fly kites in the brisk sea breeze.

We began the Mobius knitting project, though I decided to call a halt after a few inches and wait for a larger needle. Mary's is going well though, in spite of a few wobbles early on.

We drove out to Mendocino, then via long and tortuous road with many a winding curve, leading to nausea as well as to Healdsburg and the wine country. But mostly we simply enjoyed being in the most magnificent house in stunning surroundings.

No cellphone? No internet? No matter!!

Neat bag

I'm catching up with one or two things today and keep coming across things which I have been meaning to post about for a while. One of them is this delightful bag, given to me by Kathy, Swiss friend and supporter of Arbeit statt Almosen , a Fair Trade organisation working in developing countries.
My bag is beautifully made and a good deal of work and skill has gone into its manufacture. I love it - thank you Kathy!