Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Sunday 30 June 2013

Don't leave me alone!


If it does happen tomorrow and 
Google reader disappears as THEY have been announcing for the last few months, this is a very hasty plea....pretty please....... to not forget me. 
I continue to be here  on Bloglovin on Pinterest here  and Flickr here




There you go you shouldn't lose me now :-)

Google image




I hope!


enjoy your Sunday 

Amanda :-)


Tuesday 25 June 2013

Huff and puff makeover

Due to my other crochet and work distractions finishing my pouffe cover has taken longer than I had thought but here it is now and I'm feeling its middling good.
It is at least better than the grotty dark unhappy scruffy looking puff inherited from my husband's Auntie's furniture. In its favour I must say although it isn't a very special piece of old furniture ( I don't think it merits the vintage label) and I believe the materials its made from are very low quality, never-the-less it's a very practical item. Its been there for many uses such as a door-stop, emergency seat,foot-stool,ladder,cat throne and put everything on for a minute stand.
I had thought of throwing it out but it is like an old faithful and pretty practical so its had a face lift.

This is all my own pattern using the basic hexagon pattern with a personal tweak to it and simple triangles.
I shall be giving you a tutorial for this pouffe cover (my very first tutorial) as soon as I can . I have to do two of the hexagons again because they were created on the hook. Then I'll be able to write out the patterns for you step by step.


I also want to show off the contents of my gorgeous swap parcel that I received last week from Steph at  Show and Tell. We are both participating in Lucy's Grand tea swap which I mentioned to you about in a previous post here. Steph has sent me a lovely bundle of goodies. I was also tremendously lucky to win Steph's Green Man giveaway and so I received a two in one parcel...whoopeee!!! Christmas in the summer!

Don't look for the bar of Galaxy chocolate in the photos I'm about to show you that's gone,gone,gone and very nice it was too....so my daughter and grand-daughter said. I agree .....as I did manage to get a taste.

 Here you have the Green Man and he'll be going on my balcony wall among my plants as soon as I can get Sr P in the right mood to hang him up for me. He will look perfect there and its the next best thing to being in the woods for him.
Here you have all the Tea swap goodies. Do you see Pooh Bear there on the left having a nose?
I reckon he is looking for the chocolate....too late Pooh!
Lots of lovely tea! Types of tea I've never tried before. Do you see there is one packet open? Thats the orange,mango and cinnamon tea. I tried that yesterday and its very nice with a drop of honey.
I recommend it :-)
The ball of blue is the cutest little key ring ... a fluffy owl LOL!
Steph also sent me some little charms and this kettle was among them ...isn't it wonderful...I love it!
I had lots of multicoloured coasters (believe it or not I have NO crochet coasters) which will be scattered around the house to tempt people to use instead of leaving marks on my furniture. I also had a bunting full of stars little ones and big ones........thats a first for me too...crocheted bunting that is.
Many Many thanks Steph ....... I think I'm going to treat my students ( I have a mini class of three) to some Lemon and Ginger tea they will enjoy that.
Everything was just perfect Steph...thank you once again.


I would also like to welcome a new follower Pammy Sue at Scotty's Place  . Thank you for visiting my blog and for your kind comments.


Amanda :-)


Sunday 23 June 2013

Forever


Our 41st Wedding anniversary was last Wednesday we celebrated it today.


"A ring is round, it turns forever and that's how long we'll be together!"   unknown






Amanda  :-)

Saturday 22 June 2013

Medieval

The Medieval Market is being held every Sunday morning throughout this month in the Old Town here in Alicante City. It is set in a more than appropriate surroundings considering the backdrop of old medieval buildings ,crisscross narrow streets and Santa Barbara castle dominating the area from  above on the Benacantil mountain.

 We visited the market last Sunday



If you wish to experiment the feeling of going back in time I do believe this could be it.
I can imagine that a medieval market could have very well been like this. It was crammed into the narrow streets of the Old TOWN area of the city and there were masses of people milling around. You are instantly  assailed with multiple whiffs of heady smells from homemade soap ,candles ,perfumes, barbecued meat,fresh bread,people sweating,perspiring,a variety of animals and some very strong cigar smoke which I managed to evade by darting down a side street. However this was all part of the ambiance of the medieval market and added to the sensation of shopping during medieval times.

A healer's cart.

In all the traders had tried to create an authentic historical atmosphere as they too were dressed up in period costume.There were also several groups of musicians some playing the "gaita" Spanish bagpipes




and others dressed as Moors.

I did manage to get some photos but with the hustle and bustle of the people it was rather difficult.


BUT.......

 I'll not be going again!
That sounds a bit contradictory doesn't it?   I mean considering that I do declare to all and sundry how much I love markets.
Although I LOVE to go to all types of markets ...there are markets and there are markets.
I'm afraid I walked away from this market feeling rather cheated. There were plenty of craft stalls which I enjoyed viewing but the prices were astronomical even the tiniest thing like a keyring. I certainly do not begrudge the artisan or crafter the due reward for their work and their creativity but I assure you the prices were such that I really felt quite annoyed. My irritation grew as I continued on through the market. There were many comments among the public too and the people just weren't buying.
I am wondering if this is due to the organizers of this market perhaps they are charging the traders high prices for their pitch.
Needless to say I also came away empty handed which probably added to my disillusion especially as I liked these....


I am thinking now how can I possibly express my thanks to those bloggers who so kindly commented on my last post and who deciphered straight away that it wasn't just a lack of time moment but also a niggling worry moment about not being able to keep up with the rest of you.
Have you been attending mind reading courses by any chance???
 This is the part of blogging I like so very much and that which stops me from even contemplating the possibility of not continuing.  Thank you!

Amanda :-)






Thursday 20 June 2013

Trying



Thats it ... TRYING is the word 
I have been trying to post but its the usual excuse...lack of time!!!

I do manage to pop in here and there and leave a comment....occasionally but not as much as I would like......grrr!

Meanwhile here you have a photo I took at the Clot de Gravel reserve near the Arenales Sand dunes.

I'll keep looking at it to remind myself there is a place where I can go ... not far away.....to relax!!!!




Amanda :-)

Sunday 9 June 2013

OK! so I sealed the parcel and.....



.........forgot to put a hello note in to say what was what and from yours truly!

This means of course that the recipient ,my first swap partner that I choose to send to for the Grand Tea Swap hosted by Lucy at Lucy in the Sky, is about to receive a parcel from Spain or may have done so already because I sent it to the UK last Monday, with some goodies from an inconsiderate ME who forgot to put in a note being in too much of a hurry to get the parcel to the post office.


Now said recipient may wonder why they have received a sachet of BAY LEAVES in the swap parcel.



 I would have explained this in THE forgotten note of course.
There is a very simple reason because they are grown here in the province of Alicante ;in a small town called Novelda.



 I have decided that from now all my swaps or giveaways must contain something typical from this area of Spain and no I do not mean castanets,flamenco dolls or small black bulls!
So watch out peeps for some rather out of the ordinary bits in my parcels other than the normal makes or craft supplies.

****************************

My Puff or footstool cover is growing , albeit at a rather slow pace but to keep me crochet happy I need to do some distraction makes and here you have another .......distraction NΒΊ 3!



 I found the pattern on  this blog here.
 I would like to give the blogger a mention but I can't find the name of the blogger however the pattern is in pdf format and is very clear and easy to follow.


 I used a 2.50 Aero hook and SMC Coats Catania Cotton in green,brown and yellow.
The mini pot is from Agost the pottery village.
 I bought two little pots;dropped one and it smashed to smithereens.
I won't repeat what I said at the time!



Tomorrow is MONDAY and I like MONDAYS....I really do!!!
I'm ready to take on the world again after replenishing my batteries over the weekend  :-)


Keep well


Amanda :-)


Friday 7 June 2013

I am.....




TRYING so very hard to have my blog moment today!!!
work is gaining but not winning.....


I'll get here I will,I will........


Amanda :-)