Mini cruise and trip to Barcelona

Six ladies from our patchwork group in Competa set off on Tuesday morning for a mini cruise from Malaga to Barcelona. We were very excited to be on board the norweigan spirit for two nights all food included, which was of good choice and quality.
After living in Spain, we found the drinks to be very expensive.
The entertainment provided was good and there was also a great variety of different activities too. The cabin I shared with my friend was comfortable, and we were only just aware of the movement of the boat.
We got up at 04.30 on Thursday morning to see the port of Barcelona, then went back to bed.
We disembarked later, checked in at the Ayre hotel, in the center of barcelona which was really modern and comfortable going sightseeing and shopping.
On Friday we went to the handmade exhibition then caught the fast train back into malaga enjoying the beautiful views of the Spanish countryside.
Dave was waiting to welcome me home after Dolores husband kindly gave us a lift back home to Cómpeta.
I had a wonderful time with my friends.

Clutch bag and purse

The weather has been improving here in Competa. Spring seems to have arrived just in time for easter. I have made a fold over clutch bag and a matching purse so all my essentials will fit  inside, including my Samsung phone which has eventually returned after 77 days, and my glasses so I can read it.
Next week I intend to take these new items with me on a mini cruise from Malaga to Barcelona with the Competa patchwork ladies.
We spend 2days on board and 1 night in a hotel in Barcelona where we are visiting a handicrafts fair..
Very excited.

Guests in Competa

Our daughter and her fiancé are staying with us for a weeks holiday.
Dave and I are thoroughly enjoying their visit.
The weather has been changeable,  but hopefully it has not been as bad as Newcastle upon Tyne.
I finally had my samsung galaxy2 phone retuned from Madrid after 77 days, so hopefully the repair will be ok from now on.

Knitting quilting and life..

Monday brought me a big bag of fresh vegetables from  one of my friends from our knitting group, including broad beans, onions and lettuce.
Delicious.mmm
One of the newer ladies arrived with a spanish knitting magazine, full of different charts and explanations of all sorts of knitting stitches, I definately need to get a copy of it. I spent the time in the class explaining how to read the charts to her.. it makes it so much easier for me :)
It was also my birthday, and I was spoiled by Dave, getting some perfume and new bifocal sunglasses which arrived in the post via e bay  and having a delicious meal out at Bar Fernand's.
Yesterday, found me pulling out the quilting I had done on my cushion as it was very wrinkled, I have not been putting enough tacking stitches in which made the material move around.
I have nearly finished the back of the fairisle cardigan I am knitting for myself, I have not really had time to knit during our classes, but here it is so far...
Our daughter and her fiancé arrive for a holiday this weekend so Dave and I are both looking forward to their visit .

Crochet and watercolour painting

I have been busy here in competa, painting some watercolour portraits in different colours for my daughter and her fiancé, which are done in a 'pop art' style.
Also I have crocheted a monster toy as a present for my neighbours grandson who will be 3 in April.
I also bought some old frames from our local charity shop, and painted some miniature baby birds in watercolour and ink which turned out well and are now hanging on the staircase wall. I did not realise until I had finished that the frames were a set that clipped together too.
My mobile phone is still with Samsung in Madrid, and has been a miss since January, when it was first sent back under guarantee...it is so much easier to post blogs directly...
The weather in Spain is improving day by day, and it is now not getting dark until 20.00 hrs, which will be 21.00 hours when the clocks go forward next weekend :)

Oil painting

The weather is eventually perking up and I spent a couple of days painting a boat and a prickly pear plant beach scene.
I enjoyed using the oil paints again, as they are very different from the watercolours I have been using and I am hanging it up until it dries and it can be varnished. This will take up to three months.
Meanwhile, we are still sorting out the problem with my mobile phone, which is still under guarantee.. hope I get it back from samsung soon as I find it easier to post my blogs direct from it.
I spent yesterday afternoon sitting in the sun on the terrace quilting a cushion cover, and now have the dreaded ' strap marks' from the t shirt I was wearing.
Note to self.. try and wear bandeau style tops in future!!

Gallery wall and cross stitch

I was inspired by some online tutorials of how to create and hang pictures to make a focal point, which with Dave's help (and not much bad language) we did in our guest bedroom on Friday with excellent results.
All of the pictures are now level and organised properly.
A couple of our friends have also become grandparents recently and asked me to make a cross stich sampler to welcome the new arrival, so thanks to the inclement weather this weekend,  is now completed.