Monday, April 27, 2009

Trims from Plovdiv

I found a needlework shop in Plovdiv! It had cross stitch supplies and a whole bunch of trims, walls of them. The prices were mismarked, so I didn't buy as much as I should have. This is what I did buy, though. A meter of each - and the total cost under ten euros!


Sunday, April 26, 2009

Part Six Finally


Yay, I finally finished part six this week. I've already got part seven, but won't be starting it until I finish the heart. This only has three more pieces to go and it's done. The next part isn't nearly as dense with blackwork, so it should go more quickly.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Stash from Plovdiv, Part 2

I bought a -lot- of fabric in Plovdiv. This set of pictures is the result of my second shop's raiding. Most of the laces are beaded.

This shop had a lot of really nice lace at a very reasonable price, so I stocked up.




I thought the white was interesting with the lace inserts.



The gold is heavily beaded and the flowers are beautiful.






This black didn't turn out well in the photo, but it's taffeta with gold-edged taffeta ribbon roses on it. Looks really nice.










Had to put this lace on black so you can see it. It's gorgeous.






The Last of Varna

Here are my last pictures of Varna. This top picture was taken from a hilltop just outside Golden Sands, north of Varna on the coast. Golden Sands is a very crowded all inclusive place. The sea looks better in this picture than on previous days, though.

Here's the Cathedral of the Assumption. Our hotel in Varna was just behind it. It's very pretty inside, but I like the way it looks lit up outside at night better.


And this interesting building houses the Bulgarian Navy Band. It's a light blue in the day, but they really make a show of it at night.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Halfway There


While in Bulgaria, I managed to get the top half of this heart done. I hope to have the rest finished just after I get back to the US. The bottom half is cream and green stripes, horizontal.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Very Small Progress


I managed to work on this a little bit in Sofia. It's something, at least. I'm feeling stitching pressure because I've gotten so little done this month. At least I got the major crazy quilting block done that I needed to, but still... I guess next month at home I can catch up some.

Want a Puppy?

So - Monday we had to go to the grocery store after getting home from Bulgaria on Sunday. As we were driving down the road where the store is, something small came running toward us. We stopped, and it kept coming closer. I got out of the car and ... this cute little puppy bounded to my feet. I couldn't resist picking her up.

She's between three and four weeks old and we're transitioning her to solid food. Never touched by a human until Monday most likely, she's decided she loves people. Very sweet disposition and she'll grow to about the size of my Mattie the Magnificent. That's why I can't take her home. I already have three dogs, including one Sharr. I've been forbidden! She's with us until someone wants her or we go to Decani on Sunday. The monks there are looking for more Sharrs to act as guard dogs. Anyone want her?