We were away for two weeks in Spain, getting back last weekend. I have had a crazy week at work following my return. And now a busy weekend, so no sewing or handcrafting getting done at all in the last three weeks or so. Although officially my holiday, it didn’t feel like that most of the time. We had 3 appointments with the architect and 2 with our lawyer in Valencia. It’s quite a time consuming project building our retirement home in Xàtiva. We started the project in earnest October last year once things came together to make it possible. The plot we found became ours in December 2009. The plans for the house are now slowly coming together. It’s quite a stressful business. Never having done it before and never likely to do it again – we want to get it right, but we have to keep our feet on the ground and the project within budget.
So what has all this to do with textile art you ask yourselves? Well to be honest not a lot. I’m just trying to get you accustomed to the idea that this blog may not be updated as frequently as you are used to.
While we were in Valencia on one of the visits to the architect we went to the Plaza Redonda again. It is in the process of being renovated and we saw quite some improvement since our last visit. This time there were two groups of ladies: one doing drawn thread embroidery and the other making stitched lace (not sure of the correct term and no time to look it up now). There are women of all ages there and it seems quite a regular get together. Actually that is not completely accurate, there was one gentleman in the group of lace makers, who was busily stitching away on his piece of work. I guess I will need to learn Valenciano before I can join in. Maybe they’ll take pity on me and speak Castellano?
As we drove to Spain to avoid getting stuck in airports due to dust clouds or air traffic controller strikes, we only had the middle weekend to relax in. We stayed just outside Xàtiva at Genovés. There was a town fiesta going on that weekend and we were lucky enough to catch the end of some folk dancing by the local dance group. I really love the fact that the Spanish still wear their traditional costumes for the fiestas. Although not as elaborate as some of the dresses you see in Valencia these ones were attractive too.
