FNwF - not for me

Sorry guys, I did not make it to Cheryll's this time.

I had a flu jab that morning, and by the afternoon I was feeling like I was coming down with the real flu; it had never effected me like this before.

I planned to finish another stitchery for the "Little Patchwork Village" that night, but it was a mug of hot chocolate and early night for me instead.

I spent most of the following day in bed, curled up under my oldest, 

well worn quilt, feeling sorry for myself. 

This was the first quilt I ever made, and it is still my favourite, like an old friend.

All well now, and I supposed it was better than having the real thing later.

I wish you all a busy stitching week!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

not quite winter yet

The end of this week has suddenly changed - from the murky winter feeling to "there is still some autumn about" picture, including plenty of glorious sunshine.

A good day for a walk in the woods.

These two ceps looked like someone has placed them right in my path.

They made a very good lunch later 😀

This year's hot summer produced an abundance of edible chestnuts.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

getting back to it

I am finding little hard to get back to sewing, I got really addicted to my "Lost in Time" crochet shawl. 

Very appropriately named! I was working on it even on the plane to and from Croatia.

It is a decent size now, but I want to use up this last ball to finish it off.

Before I went away I machine quilted inside all the blocks of Scandinavian Rose quilt; 

I plant to do the rest by hand.

I am also slowly collecting "possibles", fabrics for the "Awakening" quilt.

I haven't got much idea at the moment what I am going to use, I want to get it right,

but I do like Odile Bailloeul designs; the bottom two arrived in the post while I was away.

I might use some of those.

It has been cold and windy in our part of the world, with heavy night frosts.

I picked some dahlias few days ago, 

and last night the frost got the rest -  yes, the winter is here.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

Croatia - holiday memories - a quick note

Thank you for your interest and lovely comments in my 2 post about Croatia.

I just would like to add some more info -

tourism is a major industry in Croatia (mainly along the Adriatic coast), it's history goes back about 150 years, and they are good at it.

However, the Balkan wars of 1990s, during the Croatian War of Independence (or Homeland War, as they call it) put a temporary stop to tourism, when for about 7 years no tourist would travel there. 

We were told that during that period people would live just on their savings, if they had any.

They are doing a great job of recovering from that, but of course, not everything is perfect yet, which is understandable.

We love Croatia, the country and its people; they are friendly and very helpful. 

This wasn't out first visit; we started going there when our children were small and when Croatia was still a part of Yugoslavia, and several times since, up and down the coast, from Istria Peninsular down to Dubrovnik. And we hope to visit again.

Being a Slav myself I can understand some of the language, but most younger generation speak English anyway.

The most recent study into where Croatians came from originally suggest that they arrived from the Czech lands somewhere in the 9 - 10th century. This is just a theory, but it would help to explain why I feel the connection when I am there. 😊

Why the picture of an iris? It is the national flower of Croatia.

We wish Croatia well.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

Croatia - holiday memories (2)

Visit to Šibenik - the oldest Croatian city on the Adriatic coast is just up the coast from Primošten.


We had a wonderful local guide, who took us slowly through the oldest part of the city.

The "jewel in the crown" is UNESCO protected The Cathedral of St James, 

the construction of which started in 1431 and it took 100 years to be completed, entirely from stone.

A group of local male singers on the way out.

And now -  back to crafting ....

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018