EPP Tuesday - Piece Yourself Together!

Thanks to Anthea  for hosting our get together today.

As we are still in Spain and I only have the same 1/2" hexies to show you as last time I thought I would share some pictures of the sewing machine cover that I completed last year. Apologies to my regular readers for repeating these again so soon.

Looking forward to visiting everyone later on today.

February FNSI

Many thanks to Wendy for hosting another great FNSI - go to Wendys blog to see who else came along and what they got up to.
I was busy stitching yesterday afternoon with my friends from down under - more work on my crazy block for the February CQJP and it is nearly finished.

Just a couple of segments to fill and some extra sparkle to add.

Hope everyone had a great evening.

A Package to the US

I joined Jenny of Elefantz Stitchery Club last year and each month she sends us some of her lovely embroidery designs. When she suggested a swap using one of her designs I signed up straight away and knew exactly which design I wanted to use as it appealed to me as soon as I saw it. Once I knew who I was sending to I checked out her blog - Sherry from Blessings from our Nest - then started stitching and thinking about what I would like to make for Sherry.
And here are the two items that I made. First a little needlecase.

I do love the little sewing machine and will have to sew one for me now!

We were asked to include a second item so I made one of my favourite Pink Penguin baskets to match the needlecase.

And so along with a postcard of the Dordogne I sent off my package.
This is not a straight swap - I do not know who is sending me my gifts so looking forward to getting back to France to see what has arrived!

Another week in Sunny Spain

Actually, it has not always been sunny! Sunday morning it was very cold and we woke up to see snow on the Cabrera hills where we had had a picnic two days before.

This picture was taken from our bedroom and while I am here I shall show you the swimming pool which we are NOT using!

Anyway the sun shone and the snow soon disappeared. Sunday turned into a beautiful day and we went for a drive up the coast towards Aguilas.

This was taken looking north to Aguilas where we stopped to loook at cormorants.

Monday started out beautiful but by mid afternoon when the bowlers had gone off to do their thing the sky had clouded over, it was blowing a gale and raining. The match was cut short which apparently never happens here and the bowlers returned and headed straight for the brandy bottle to try and warm up!
Tuesday was no warmer although it was dry.
But Wednesday was a beautiful day and Philip and I headed off to Cabo de Gata to meet a friend and to do some bird watching on the salinas (salt pans).

There are always loads of flamingos which are lovely to see.

This is a favourite bar right by the Mediterranean.

Thursday was another wet day but we set off down the coast and fortunately had a couple of stops in dry weather. Saw another three Trumpeter finchs which a great bonus.

I have been able to get some sewing done this week. I completed this Cedars of Lebanon block which is my first BOM with Our Craft Group.

And I have done some more work on my crazy block.

Hope you are having a good weekend.

EPP Tuesday

Joining up with Anthea at Hibiscus Stitches for her first EPP Tuesday.

So I am sharing my long term 1/2" hexie project which at the moment consists of a box of basted and unbasted hexies.

We saw some beautiful mosaics when we visited Rome last year and have a vague idea of trying to replicate part of one! We shall see.

Pop over to Anthea's blog to see what everyone else is doing.

Sunny Spain!

We are coming to the end of our first week in Spain having arrived here last Sunday. The journey from home to Zaragoza on Saturday was 'enlivened' by a myriad of different weather conditions! Sleet, heavy rain, snow, fog, sunshine and finally in Zaragoza very strong winds. Our journey on Sunday was also very windy and we arrived at our holiday home at Puerto Rey in Almeria province to hear of terrific winds on Saturday, with some people having had car windows smashed by the strength of it.
Since arriving we have had varying strengths of wind (fortunately not as strong as Saturdays) but beautiful clear blue skies.
Here is the house we are sharing with friends for the month.

We have a lovely terrasse on the ground floor at the front which gets the sun all day. And we each have a bedroom with a balcony, again getting the sun all day. From our balcony you can just see the sea although it is only five minutes away. The Playa de Puerto Rey is an enormous sandy beach with this lovely view looking north.

Going south there is a small pool formed where a river meets the sea which was full of birds when we visited.

The main reason for visiting this area is that Philip and our friends are part of a bowls team with matches over the next two weeks at the four bowling greens in the area. Yesterday morning they set off early for a practise at the nearest green but it was too windy and the green was closed. It is in a beautiful setting with a lovely view but it is also very exposed. So instead we set off down the coast to explore.
Our first stop was north of Carboneras in a bay called Playa del Algarrobico. There was a small sheltered sandy cove which would be lovely for swimming on a warmer day.

Philip was wandering round with his binoculars and managed to spot three of these beautiful Trumpeter Finches.

They are a north African bird and there are just a few of them in the Cabo de Gata national park so we were very fortunate to see them and to be able to get a few photographs.

This fishing boat came past as we were about to move on.

Today we have been for a drive into the Cabrera hills. Very steep and narrow roads but amazing views. I am afraid my photographs do not do it justice.

But this I think this picnic area has the ultimate view.

Not much time for sewing. I put this crazy block together before we left. It is my February CQJP block.

As you can see my colour theme for February is pink and orange - nice hot colours for a sunny holiday.

Not much progress! But once the bowls matches start I shall have more time.

Have a good weekend everyone.