Jen Jones - Llanybydder shop

First stop on Saturday was Jen Jones' cottage shop at Llanybydder. The sat nav wanted to take us in another direction, but I recognised the crossroads after several visits and steered us in the right direction. Hazel was there to welcome us.

The upstairs is very atmospheric, with the better quilts being displayed on beds.

Downstairs, some of the many Welsh blankets and shawls for sale.

Some of the "better" quilts hanging, on sale...

Hanging downstairs, surrounded by woollen blankets .......a moth trap. I too worry about moths....

This cottage is apparently bigger than many of the cottages of that era, it is twice the size of the usual cottage....the smaller cottages must have been very cramped....

Interesting applique quilt top in turkey red fabric....

Downstairs, some interesting bric a brac.....Mike took many photos....

Yet more blankets...

And the tapestry blankets. These are really warm on a bed, and long lasting.

Ceridigion Coastal Path

Last year, we walked from Cwmtydu to New Quay and really enjoyed our walk, so this year we went to the same little village, Cwmtydu and walked along the coastal path in the other direction. The walking was steeper, and the scenery was very good.

Horses and sheep were grazing....

I 

Cardigan Bay stretched out beyond us....the sun was very bright...

There seemed to be more wildflowers about this year.....

Wild flower...

But we did not spot any seals this year.

The end of the walk was 4 1/2 miles away at Llangranog. I was most impressed to see three lifeguards on duty at the small beach. They recommended the Pentre Arms for lunch and we were not disappointed. A good meal with a lovely view.

The walk back seemed very steep...

...and we had both caught the sun. One would think that the walk would be 9 miles, given the fact that the signage stated 4 1/2 miles each way, but our Endemono app said just over 10 miles.

We planned to go in the Lampeter direction the next day, and the weather forecast did not look brilliant...

Penyrrallt Farm - Gypsy Caravan

We had a long weekend in Wales, returning to Penyrrallt Farm near Llandysul in the Teifi Valley. Having left Woodbridge at 1.30, we didn't arrive until about 8.30 - so a long drive! Everything seemed much as before. Last year we were concerned that there was no wifi......having expected this and even looked forward to this, this year with our new phones.....there was perfect Wifi at the caravan.

Our sleeping accommodation..... of course, there is a hut with a nice kitchen, sofa, wood burner (not used), toilet and shower with hot water, so not really roughing it!

As there was still some daylight left, we had a wander around the farm and then down the lane. The farm is an organic dairy farm with a few sheep.

The view across the valley.

The sunset was a nice one. Looking forward to a walk along the coastal path, and a visit to the Quilt Museum at Lampeter...

Weekend in Wales 2017

Tomorrow we will be heading off to Wales - we will once again be staying at Penyrrallt Farm near Llandysul. Plenty of photo opportunities for Mike!

We will once again be staying in this gypsey caravan - so peaceful. The weather report looks mixed - but hopefully some sun!

On Friday, we hope to walk some more of the Welsh coastal walk...it was spectacular last year.

Saturday should see us paying a visit to the Quilt Museum in Lampeter, with the exhibition "As Good as it Gets" - focussed on the work of the Rural Industries Board 1928-1935 . I also have a cot quilt in the side room with the challenge quilts.

I also hope to make a visit to Jane Beck Welsh Blankets at Ty Zinc near Tregaron.

More photos to follow!

Lei Momi - String of Pearls - nearly complete

I have nearly finished this quilt - and then it can go off to the Festival of Quilts. Last year, I had entered two quilts into the Traditional class there - only to find out that only one entry per class is permitted. It was suggested that I enter one quilt into another class - but of course that wasn't possible as they were both traditional!... and I had to withdraw one quilt. So this will be my sole entry this year.

 

It is a long process to make these large Hawaiian quilts - it generally takes one year to do the applique and another year to complete the hand quilting.

The quilting is echo quilting, done at 1/2" intervals, using a small ruler to measure the width. I use the Quiltsnap frame (my second, the first having perished) and to quilt the corners, I had to use a towel and pin the quilt edge to the towel. This seemed to work well.

You can see the quilting thread, the thimble (just bog standard one!) and the small ruler in this photo.

The pattern is from Poakalani of Honolulu, a vintage 1930's design, and measures about 85" square. Three more tasks - to "defur" the quilt (very necessary with two cats constantly in your lap), to bind the quilt and to attach the sleeve. Oh and to attach a lable - so that makes four tasks...I have now bound the quilt and attached the sleeve, so just a final defur and then to atach the label and post.

This quilt was taken, partly quilted, to Karlsruhe last June, and people were very interested to see how a traditional quilt was constructed. My next quilt, Silversword, has already been appliqued, so I will inspect and "snag" before starting to quilt. it is a monster size - why did I choose one so large!! Luckily, I already have wool wadding. It has been a bit difficult to buy, as I no longer have Quilters Haven just up the road - I used to just pop up there and buy anything that I needed - but no longer.