a day in London to finish off with

Today wasn't anything really exciting - we had to go visit a supplier of ours and have a ride in his new sportscar and a cup of coffee and a chat and come away with boxes of goodies - we aways enjoy visiting him and he collects us from the station and takes us back. Today though was more of an adventure because the underground had parts closed so we visited new stations and drove on different lines.

Then we went to Annette and Terry's to collect our big suitcase and just around the corner from Chancery lane we decided to visit this pub dated 1602 or similar, for lunch.

A very Pommie lunch I think - chicken and ham pie with potato mash and a half a pint of beer. Very nice indeed. I forgot to photograph any of the yummy food in Madrid. It amazes me that people want to stand outside in the freezing cold drinking beer.

Tonight we are off to Riccardos in Fulham Road - they make the best troffie.
We are staying in a nice hotel and have an upgrade room which is nice and big - but in the basement - not sure I want to be a miner - no windows......

Days 6 and 7 in Madrid

Monday in our part of Madrid was so quiet especially after the bustle and hustle of Sunday where I am sure every single person in Madrid was out and about. In the morning, remembering that morning is late here (!) we went to Plaza De Oriente and to the royal palace - Palacio Real - where we enjoyed the gardens and the sunshine.

While we were there we saw the horses arrive and be unloaded and getting ready for something - no idea what and we could only look through the gate.

We wondered were they went because by the time we gt back up to the top they had disappeared but when we wandered back to our apartment, there they were in the Plaza De Ville all lined up with the band and rolled out carpets and a lot of ho ha so we waited to see what was causing the traffic dramas etc and along came the President of Mozambique - as a band member told us - 1 hour for 1 minute....

At night we went to Algarabia (La Rioja) Restaurant - opens at 9.30pm - for dinner.  This lovely restaurant is all about the food and wine from the north - the chef chatted to us which added to the enjoyment- one of the highlights was the grilled asparagus in a fine pastry.

Tuesday we didn't take any photos but we spent a long time exploring the art at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza - one of the largest (possibly the largest) private art collection in the world now owned by Spain- set out in chronological order and we enjoyed seeing the development and changes in art as we strolled around. It is tiring to see the entire collection and you always skip some things - be so much better to pop in from time to time.

To finish our lovely week off we went to la pizarra for dinner - www.lapizarrproject.com This was where we had lunch on Sunday and Ian wanted to try the pisto in real with the fried egg on top and I wanted to revisit the salad with goats cheese - both were yummy indeed. What we love about these sorts of restaurants and why we go to Cantina and Borelo in Perth is because the food is wonderful, the staff and fabulous and they care passionately about what they do. At la pizarra, our waiter from Sunday was the chef last night and he came out to chat to us, the waitress was so friendly and helpful and suggested she talk to us in Spanish (our brains would have been sore) and the owner, who is obviously very passionate about it all, talked to us as well. If you come to Madrid we would say - go there - just off the Calle Mayor.

So - it's farewell from us in Madrid and yes Doreen - you can relax - Ian has his beanie on. I hope you have enjoyed our little sojourn. Today we are off back to London, a very busy day tomorrow and then back to Perth on Friday. Ever hopeful of an upgrade. On Saturday we will be home and back to work - lots of orders so we will be busy- hopefully I have answered every email which has appeared in the in box -  in London I will reading emails etc but not blog. When we are back I will have some real photos as Ian has taken a few with his camera.

Day 5 in Madrid

On Sunday we walked and walked and walked. In the morning we went to El Rastro- the biggest flea market in Europe - loads of stuff you wouldn't want but they say you will always find something - the crowds were huge and the market stretched over an enormous area. Not just tourists either.

This is when we came in and we were fascinated with what was happening in this square - discovered they were trading cards - now that IS a long time ago.El Rastro means 'the stain' and apparently that was where Madrid's main meat market was and the name refers to te trail of blood left behind by animals dragged down the hill.

This lady aka the organ grinder was doing a roaring trade and had to keep stopping to clean out her money bowl and transfer her loot to her purse.

Very hard to get through the crowds - if you look you can see the crowds right up  the top of this street.

A matter of pushing and shoving a bit but in the midst of it I did find a lovely little stall and I  didbuy a few bargains - 6 pairs of socks for 6 euros for  one thing.

It was not so much the product which I saw later but the clever packaging and the other gorgeous goodies this girl had - velvet handbags and little bracelets etc - it was a pleasure to look at all the goodies and they were very very busy.

After all that congestion we had lunch at La Pizarra near our apartment which was delightful - the waiter was so very helpful - we had ensalada with goats cheese which I shall have to make back home and an omelette and e brought us a pisto to try.

Then we went off to explore the Museo Del Prado to find entry is free from 5 to 8pm so we lay on the grass along with a few thousand others and enjoyed the sunshine. At 5pm I have never seen such a long queue and we didn't get in until nearly 6pm. Well worth the visit though - got to see some fabulous art including Velazquez and Goya - the paintings you have only ever seen in books come to life.

Off for more explore today.

Day 4 in Madrid

Saturday we went to Toledo on the train. On the way to the station we passed this statue - not sure of its title but very striking. The whole works goes right around and looks like some sort of solidarity

Atocha Station, where we caught the train, is an irn and glass relic from the 19th century - with wonderful exotic plants and a huge turtle colony.

and here is Ian shopping - ha ha....

A couple of shots of Toledo - a very old walled city - we caught the tourist bus which drove us around and left us in the centre. Lots of tourists - I would hate to be there in the summer. You will have to turn your head or your computer on its side to see these next 2pics - I cannot turn them around in my eepc sorry.

finally - the train station at Toledo - pretty spectacular for a train station. The trains were all full - they must run even more in the summer.

more adventures later - I have managed to get a day behind.

Thanks for all the lovely emails about Max - we appreciate it. Max was Ian's big brother - apparently Ian is now the godfather of the family - yikes...

Day 3 in Madrid

Most of the morning of day 3 was spent coming and going to the internet place off Calle Huertas. Because we are flying back to London with Mr O'Leary - aka Ryan Air - we have to have printed out boarding passes and check in on-line. Without the paper stuff we would have to pay an extra 30pounds each. We saw an internet cafe telling u to print our boarding passes so off we went to discover you have to fill in all the necessary trivia such as passport expiry date. Now I have a head storagae spot where I keep loads of trivia but Ian wasn't sure I was right so back we came to check. Of course I was right.At least Calle Huertas is a wonderful street to wander up and down - old Madrid is packed with little streets like this.

Next to show my felted and stitched piece - for all the stuff I have out on the table it is  just as well I have something to show. I am doing some drawing each day - this is a discipline really even though some people make it seem so easy.

I am having fun with the couronne stick - we sold all we took to Ally Pally although I think there are a few at home still. Certainly sold all the flower stitchers we took and all of my books. I was rather flattered that the Embroiderers' Guild Bookshop had them both as featured books on their stand. Nearly finished the next one. I am going to make the above into a book cover. Don't you love the hand dyed felt the piece sits on? These will be arriving about the same time as us - new Felt Trios - really yummy.

After our trivial morning (well it starts late here), we went to a Trattoria where the staff were wonderful and the food the same. We had a special lunch for Max - with toasts to him and Kazuko and Bruce as, like us, they couldn't be in Reefton on Friday. Vale Max and rest in peace. You drew the short straw and it really wasn't fair. We will be in Reefton later on to see everyone. So pleased we were able to see Max in August when we went to Okarito and to talk to him before we went to London. Life is difficult at times.

Then at 10pm we went to a Flamenco show for which we hadno preconceived ideas. Smokey, grubby packed venue (luckily there was a fire extinguisher hanging on the wall next to our table)- we rather enjoyed it. It seems that whoever sings loudest and stamps the most, wins. The young girl was brilliant - the energy and passion enormous. I am sure she sleeps well every night. These are my new red shoes - what do you think? couldn't resist....

Day 2 in Madrid

We are starting to get into the hang of things here in Madrid - sleep in late - lunch around 3 - 4pm and dinner around 10pm (that's when most of the good folk of Perth are in bed but do note that it is still nice and light at 8pm here in Autumn). We are staying in Calle Mayor which is pretty well in the heart of Old Madrid and we are so impressed with how clean the city is - no rubbish anywhere - the streets are so clean - not like Paris or London for sure. This is the Plaza Mayor - it is so clean - they hose it out at 3am every morning - I could hear what I thought was rain in the middle of the night. it s full of people wandering, sitting, eating, entertainment etc all the time. first laid out in 1619, it has been used for many different purposes from burnings at the stake to public hangings to bullfights (up to 50,000 people would cram in) to now a place of beauty really. There are sme wonderful frescoes on one section.

We have been doing a lot of walking - well wandering - it is easy to get around on foot and there are little laneways everywhere. We went to the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia mainly to see Picasso's Guernica which was much bigger than I though it would be. There are also lots of his studies leading up to the painting. It is a very powerful painting and we are bursting to read more about the Spanish Civil War but that will to wait as all the books I found are in Spanish and since we now only know about 3 words.... One thing though - man never learns from history.

Just behind our apartment building is the Mercado de San Miguel - the last surviving example in the capital of a marketplace constructed from iron. It is extremely popular as a market where you can but a glass of wine and various tapas and enjoy yourself. We went about 9.30pm and it was heaving. You can but fresh fish, fruit and vegetables and flowers to take away but also a great little array of tapas and desserts of course. And coffee too... The Canadian couple from Toronto we met on our 11 hour bus trip asked why they didn't have something like that in Toronto - I think it would be fabulous anywhere.

Our knees and tired legs from sitting on the bus have finally recovered and we are so much enjoying walking around and the general ambience of Madrid. More excitements to come. up in our apartment late at night it is great to sit and watch the world go by.

Day 1 in Madrid

Still resting our weary legs from sitting on plane, standing at show and definitely distorted on bus, we had a relaxing, recovery day yesterday. First we hopped in the lift at our apartment - about the size of a triangle - some clever manufacturing here - just enough room for we 2 and 2 skinny people or even 3....

Then we took the easy option and hopped on  the tourist bus, sat upstairs and nodded off in the sun. But it was good for catching our bearings.

After that we had a spot of lunch at Plaza Mayor which is very close to us. No bullfights, executions or trials of the inquisition these days - just Ian fnishing his glass of red.

I have taken over the table with my stuff but the view is wonderful from our window on the 6th floor and inspiring to work. My couronne stick has been in operation and some felting underway.

Today we are off to see Picasso and more.

an adventure

What could this be you wonder? So did we. After spending months organising a sleeper train from Paris to Madrid, we caught the train from London to Paris and rocked up at the Austerlitz train station to see not a mention of said train. When Ian finally asked he was told no train to Madrid and we went into a semi state of shock thinking we had been done when we bought the tickets on line. We didn't even think about what next? No explanations - no apologies but somehow 4 buses appeared and we had a long 10 hour trip to the border.
This sign on the bus door which reads Irin was the most info we actually received. On the way we stopped a couple of times at what we would call roadhouses and I know people complain  about aussie roadhouses but they have nothing on these places. Fortunately I have a bit of foresight to buy 2 rolls at the station before we hopped on the bus. The buses managed to get lost but they finally dropped us off to catch a train to Madrid and we arrived early afternoon desperate for a shower at least. Much harder for those who are passing through etc and we chatted to a coupleon their honeymoon - they won't forget the night!

Anyway we are now in our lovely apartment in old Madrid - on the 6th floor and this is the lounge looking out onto a great vista. Slept well last night after tapas and Rioja.

One of the toilets is very Morroccan and I have claimed it as my own. Stain glass window and a a tiny hand basin. Now that we have sorted out how to turn the elements on we have had our coffee and done the washing and we are off to explore.

Ally Pally was wonderful as always - our stand looked glorious with all of its colour. We only ever have  a tiny stand and it always seems strange without all of our stuff but much of what we had certainly has gone to new homes.

It was fabulous to catch up with our friends and enjoy meals out etc - Annette and Terry came on Sunday night - they took our big suitcase away to store until we get back. Very difficult to do the internet in Muswell Hill but we are back to normal now and I have answered all the emails and cleared the decks.
Off to explore today but after a second cup of coffee.

I have found quite a few new goodies which I am very pleased with - see what we see here.....

Off We Go

Apart from my shoes (still deciding) our bags are packed and we shall soon be off. We have managed an upgrade to Singapore but sadly not through to London although I have managed to get us seats right at the front of economy. We will try a last time at the airport - you just never know and my observations of the AFL grand final are that he who does the most pushing and shoving gets the results. last big mail-out has gone so the slate is clear for when we return. Of course I will be answering emails while we are away and posting here - probably not during the show as internet is pretty hopeless in Muswell Hill but certainly in Madrid - with or without any new shoes.....

This is one of the waterlilies just bursting into lots of leaves and coming through the water surface.

and here it is again reflecting the eucalyptus trees in the back garden.

ps if you are a 2010 Holey Moley person, pop over to the Holey Moley blog and see whose names were drawn out of the bowl for the final giveaway - your goodies are on their way to you. The Holey Moley Club will be back in 2011.

FOUND!

I have found my shoe - even though I had rolled the bed out and about a few times it was hidden underneath - i have had so many emails and I know you will all be relieved for me - ha ha! I was going to have to take my green shoes with me. I have a pair exactly the same and I could have  taken 1 red and 1 green. That would have casued interest. Yes, Hortense, I do have green shoes as well. However, now that that dilemma is over, the biggest decision is which shoes can I take? Don't tell me the most comfortable ones either. And how many pairs can I take? Serious questions for me to ponder while I do the last few orders for tomorrow morning. Ian is on the roof as we 'speak' cleaning the gutters. We have been working like trojans today - but we have got all the orders out bar 3 and two big bumps of wool to Jacinta. first thing tomorrow morning. Haven't even got the suitcases up yet.

In the middle of all my activities and whilst gathering my collection of 'stuff' to take on holiday with me, I knocked up this little object. What is it you may well ask - well you will have to wait until November to find out. I just need to add some beads tonight.

Bruce has won his first bike race in Sapporo - well done Bruce! If you want to go visit his blog - see left - he has a number of little videos and you can even see Kazuko crossing the line in her race.

One more sleep to go - oh no - the sheets are on the line - better go get them in before it gets dark. Remember there will be no daylight saving in this dark ages state.....

two more sleeps

Two more sleeps to go and I have lost one of my red shoes -  my favourite pair - I have turned the bedroom upside down to no avail. This is not my excuse for looking for a new pair in Madrid but then who knows...

We have been flat out today - it seems everyone wants a Versa-Tool so we processed all the orders and they are all packaged and ready to post tomorrow. We hope you all enjoy them. We will be posting up to Tuesday morning ( because I have an order which is to go on Tuesday)

My studio is as tidy as it is going to get - haven't found many surprises but I have gathered all my stuff in this new colour range. 

Off for a bbq - Ian has been busy all afternoon putting in reticulation.

And where are we going?

Well if you subscribe to our newsletter you will already know - we are off to Madrid after Ally Pally - going to Paris for the day on the train and then taking the overnight train from Paris to Madrid and staying for a week. One of the things I have said we are going to do is to see some Flamenco dancing. Apart from a little drive in and out of San Sebastian, we haven't been to Spain before - it will be pretty exciting stuff. We have booked an apartment near the centre and of course, being foodies, will be looking for tapas etc.

I have got all the workshop materials and kits together so I can tick that box. I made my tags into a little book  - love these new colours and I think I might take them to Madrid with me. I think my Okarito phase will be sideshovelled for a while so I have gathered all the parts and put them in a big box for when we get back - I have one more page to create for my little book but it will keep.

Then, because I was working with grungepaper, I made a little book cover and a flower for the cover. Grungepaper is very flexible and easy to colour and stitch. I hope my workshop participants enjoy the workshop and don't get too messy.

On to the next job awaiting me.

Welcome to October

Welcome to October - this is the month we go to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in London - the bestest show ever - just 4 more sleeps with loads to do before we hop on the plane. I just love this show - not only do I get to catch up with friends and customers but I get to see the most fabulous exhibitions and of course be on the lookout for anything new and exciting. This is the 11th year we have been exhibitors at this show - and to think we were only going to go to have  a look. Thanks to Lyn we took a stand and now wouldn't miss it for the world. We take lots of wonderful goodies from down under and I spend a lot of time looking for new and exciting things to take with us. This year Ian will be on the plane very relaxed knowing that our on ahead boxes are safely under Wayne's care in Brighton having a holiday while they wait for us to arrive on Wednesday morning.

We are very excited with the response to the Creative Versa Tool so far and many of the orders have gone to our fabulous newsletter readers who got the special early... I have written my part of the newsletter and if it doesn't go our tonight it will tomorrow. We will be posting out orders up to lunchtime on Tuesday so no drama until then. Right now Ian is putting in new reticulation and fixing sprinklers because we anticipate that it probably won't rain while we are away so we have timers and things to hopefully keep things wet. Tomorrow we will be working part of the time in the garden and Ian - not me - will be on the roof cleaning out those gutters (just in case) - the downside of lovely trees are the many leaves but worth it.

We have had 3 new Shiva Stiks and new Starburst Sprays - amazingly in lime, orange and grape/purple. Plenty of stock of the Shivas but the Moonglows won't be here until we get back when I do my next order.

These are the 3 new Shivas over a rubbing plate on Tissutex which has been dyed black. Bit yummy

The new Starburst Sprays - I have been putting together the kits for my Magical Moonglow workshop at Ally Pally and I embossed a lot of tags - these are to make a little book - I will show it again when I have finished it tomorrow - these colours are a bit yummy too.

Then to add to the excitement of the day, this new book from Ruth Lee arrived today - so full of exciting ideas which I know I haven't time to try out but since I am taking my Couronne stick with me (I will have plenty to sell as well) I should be able to play on the plane maybe. it's not on the web but it is for sale - $39.95 I think. good inspirational books with new ideas are hard to come by these days.

ps - lots of people have been emailing and asking where we are going this year after Ally Pally - tell you tomorrow.....