Tour of Wales Day 2

 Up early and after a shower and a very good cooked breakfast I was off out into the sunshine.

Solva harbour is very pretty and I had a wander around and looked in some of the shops. I then got in the car and headed along the coast to St David's as I wanted to look around the Cathedral.

I really enjoyed my visit to the Cathedral and also to the Art  Gallery there. After some lunch in St David's I set off to Solva Woollen Mill driving along the coast road and then turning inland a few miles.

 

Such a very pretty setting :)

 

Solva is a working Woolen Mill and has been weaving beautiful cloth for over 100 years.

Then it was time for Jackie Morris and Karin from Celestine and the Hare to weave their magic with wool and needle and paint and brush.

Jackie planned to paint and Karin was going to needlefelt a bear,  like her Mary and Emily bears. The norty weasels and other small felt creatures were also going to make an appearance at some point.

 

After a chat and some coffee Jackie took a few of us outside and we were privileged to hear her read to us a new story she has written. Not yet published and utterly magical to listen to her re tell it.

I then spent a little while looking around the Mill.

The Mill also has two lovely cats :) here is one of them.

Fabulous views and such a beautiful day :)

Back inside I met a new friend ( hello Diane) and we chatted and drank more coffee. Someone came with books for Jackie to sign and she had the most beautiful black cat with her, on a lead. This gorgeous cat liked Jackie. Very much indeed. You can tell Jackie loves cats as well. Her cats have their own blog and calender and books written about them :)

If you are familiar with Karen's work you will know there are norty weasels who create mayhem in her studio, usually with lots of chocolate stealing involved.  The weasles were lurking around the gallery and yes, causing mayhem, especially later 0n near the chocolate.

Jackie and Karin, working. Cake was involved!

At the end of the afternoon Karin had made a beautiful bear and Jackie had painted a beautiful bear. I had drunk excellent coffee, chatted to friends old and new and bought lots of lovely things, including some books to add to my Jackie Morris collection, all signed by Jackie. I also had some lovely memories of a great afternoon spent in the company of two very lovely and very talented artists, one with fibre and animation, the other with words and paint and camera. I also got to cuddle Tiger, Emily and Mary and have my photo taken with Mary

Solva Woollen Mill is hosting the launch of Jackie's new book in September and I hope to be able to go to that event as well.

Tour of Wales Day 2

(Sorry this post is a bit delayed, it got eaten by Blogger four times and then somehow went into draft form)

Apologies for the number of photographs - well actually no, I will not apologise as it was such a glorious day I think you will like seeing them :)

Up after a good night sleep, I had a really good breakfast at The Ship Inn, had a wander around Solva and looked at the harbour and then set off out for the day.


I drove along the coast road to St David's and went to the glorious Cathedral for a wander around.

These are the ruins of the Bishop's Palace.

Then I headed back to Solva Woollen Mill

for the Felting and Painting session with Jackie Morris and Karin from Celestine and the Hare

Tiger ( who I cuddled a lot) Emily Bear with Mary bear hiding behind the chocolate

I have blogged about both of these incredible women before. Jackie is an artist, author and illustrator and Karin is a fibre artist - both are amazing and creative and really good fun to be around :)

Sleepy felty Doormouse in a tea cup

A few very lucky people ( including me!) got to listen to Jackie reading aloud her newest story, still in the creating and absolutely wonderful to listen to.

as we sat in the sunshine next to the slowly turning water wheel. Solva Woollen Mill sell all of Jackie's published work, the books are signed and they do a mail order service.

Solva is a working woollen mill and it was fascinating to have a look at the machinery in action.

Solva also has two beautiful cats - here is one

I went back inside, to drink more coffee with a new friend (hi, Di!)  and to chat some more with Jackie and Karin as they continued to create the most wonderful things.

Karin demonstrating needle felting

while Jackie practised her "world domination" pose with a visiting cat.

Norty weasels were around in the displays ( inside joke - go and look at Celestine and the Hare's web site and you will understand. Actually, go and have a look and buy something - it is all wonderful!)

Especially in the chocolate display!

Nearly finished art work - wonderful

Jackie

Karin with a Mary's sister bear

After a wonderful afternoon I purchased lots of lovely things from Anna in the Solva shop and then finally had to leave (they were closing!)  - heading back to the coast to sit by the sea and enjoy the sunshine and peace and read and crochet in the sunshine.

A meal in the pub at Solva, a call to say hello to family, a shower and then I watched the first episode of the Peter Capaldi Dr Who, before falling  into bed to sleep.

A wonderful day.