Tuesday, April 24, 2007
HEADLINE: MAGIC PHONE BOOTH TURNS KNITTER INTO MAD CROCHET SCRUMBLER!
An Euxberant British Spring...
I'm back, seriously jet-sagged but filled with a rich brew of memories which is bound to distill into more designs, countless blog entries with accompanying photos (stand by: I took 846 of them plus 15 movies), more books, more knitting trips and so much more besides. Wait until you meet Amal and see her glorious creations dazzeling under the Spanish sun! Through her generous hospitality, a Spain I didn't know existed revealed itself. Far beyond the iconic images of Flemenco dancers and torras, I discovered a secret Spain, one as enchanting as any place I've visited yet very, very unique.
I drove into mountains clouded with cherry blossoms and swept through valleys so fragrant with orange blossoms inhaling almost lifted me into an altered state. Standing on hilltops, I gazed at vistas that stunned and amazed. Sun, sea, cliff and hill; undulating lavender smudging into blue-violet hills; trees laden with brilliant yellow lemons so sweet I'd eat them like desert (peel, add olive oil and a little salt—yum: like eating a sunsplotch). Stepped hillsides herding rows of olive and almond trees with ancient fincas nesting into the green swells. Oh, I could go on and, in time, I will. Voyages like this unfold their stories after a period of reflective settling, much like wine.
And, of course, knitting happened. Just wait until you see the delights locked up in my little camera's brain this time. Amal has knit oceans and pools and gardens alive with color. She also turned me onto crochet and incited a feverish desire to launch into feather and fan plus treble stitch with knit weaving and scrumbling!
Magic phonebooth: Jane goes in a knitter and pops out a crocheting knitter!
But first, London. Well, England, really. Color color everywhere: phonebooth red against leaping lemon tulips; a jostle of electric color all a-jumble in a Portabello Road shop. I went all trendy and stayed in Notting Hill at a flat frequented by film producers. Interesting conversations at breakfast, most of which I couldn't understand as the East end accents spread over those tongues as thick as treacle.
More on Friday. Right now I'm not sure what day it is or what time. I went for groceries earlier and ran through three currencies before I hit Canadian. When the senorina told me she couldn't accept euros, I just stared. What did she mean 'no euros?' What's a euro?
Posted by Jane on 04/24 at 05:07 PM
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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
WHERE IN THE WORLD DID JANE GO?
In Spain. It's plain that Jane went to Spain and not Maine (this time).
I can only hope that wherever I am now the sun is shining on my face and that Amal and I have concocted something quite wonderful that has the potential to affect you all. We both love color and texture. Here, see what I mean. These photos are taken from Amal's advertisement for her workshop and show her work and her lovely home. Here's how she describes her home:
"Be my guest at my Spanish finca, Darel Ons (House of Joy in old Moorish), built in the authentic rustic style of the area to a lovely mountainous backdrop with its own spacious grounds of 5 acres of partially landscaped and partially natural surroundings. Darel Ons is located in Rafalet on the route to Bernia mountains and enjoys 360 degrees glorious views of the sea, mountains and the famous Calpe rock (Penon de Ifach). The finca boasts 5 twin en-suite bedrooms, cozy lounges, fantastic terraces and a large outdoor pool set in rural surroundings amongst olive and almond groves, with pine forests and vineyards close at hand.
Walking along the quiet road right outside the gates of Darel Ons is sure to be an added delight."
Amal works magic with both crochet and knitting!
I love this!
Posted by Jane on 04/18 at 03:29 PM
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From the entry 'Wild, Mysterious Australia'.
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| By Christine Jones on 2008 12 28 |
