I am having a really good holiday! I needed it. Exhaustion was beginning to set in and it has been good to get a break. The weather hasn't exactly been brilliant most of the time but it hasn't really mattered too much. I'm just as happy sat at home with me crocheting and Miss Marple on the TV as I am out walking with himself and the dog. I've gotten quite a lot done. Some baby stuff finished, a couple of garments finished for me, and other stuff started on the hook already.
The magnolia has been in bloom over the last week or so...
I am no gardener but I love my magnolia tree; and my jugs of tulips.
And yes that is Miss Marple on the TV.
So... yesterday was Wonderwool! One of the highlight days out of the year. It has all been a bit strange actually, because usually Wonderwool Sunday kicks off my holiday, but this year it fell in the middle of it. Also this year I took my friend and neighbour with me. Our Stitch 'n' bitch group has grown this past year and we needed to take two cars so I invited my friend along on an impulse and then spend time worrying that she would be bored witless, I needn't have worried. :)
It was a bit of a grey and rainy day, which is a shame because the drive is a lovely one. We left early, as usual, and met up in Llandeilo, as usual. There is something strangely comforting about this familiar routine, just as I love knowing that we will probably do the same thing again next year!
Wonderwool was bigger this year, they had added an extra hall and there was a truly splendid amount to see.
I indulged in my on going love affair with Alpacas...
What an utterly cute fringe!
People manage to create some of the most amazing things...
And I just absolutely loved this dragon!
There were some excellent stalls, with fabulous yarn and some amazing crafted items that I stupidly didn't take pictures of and it was good to catch up with some of my favourite suppliers. I spent a good while hanging out with Amanda and Phil from The Natural Dye Studio and had a good chat with Jon at Easyknits and of course I bought stuff. I was very organised this year. I had a notebook with the yarn requirements for 5 patterns in it and I only allowed myself a couple of 'inpulse extras.' I also wanted a couple of specific items that were not actual yarn itself, a yarn bowl and a blocking kit. Well there were no blocking kits to be had anywhere (so I ordered one on line when I got home) but I did get a lovely yarn bowl and a rather handsome oak Yarn Pal, both of which will stop balls of yarn rolling across the carpet collecting dog hair, or being collected by the dog!
So here is the Wonderwool booty in all it's glory.
Pink silk from Willowknits, yellow blue faced leicester and silk mix from Sparkleduck, some gorgeous cream alpaca from Toft Alpacas (the ones in the picture above), my lovely yarn bowl, (already in use) and some merino silk blend from Fivemoons Yarn.
On the other side...
Some rainbow dyed silk and blue faced Leicester from The Natural Dye Studio and some fabulous pink Splendour (blue faced Leicester and silk mix) from Easyknits and of course my lovely oak yarn pal.
And finally in the middle... some really fun stuff from Tile Productions that I just loved to bits!
The "Yarn is cheaper than therapy" one is really for himself! Just sayin'.
As usual it was a "grand day out." I came home tired but satisfied that I had spent my money on yarn that would get used rather than just random odd skeins I might love but spend the next year wondering what to do with.
Now I must go and find a basket for all my yummy new yarn!
O. xx