Thursday, March 7, 2013

Wales, Fair Isle, Shetland and the Hebrides

I received a copy of the current Visit Pembrokeshire Magazine--thanks Emyr. Even though I spent several weeks in Wales last year and a fair amount of time in Pembrokeshire, this publication has given me more ideas to include in our 2013 Wales Tour: History, Heritage, Handicrafts. 
http://www.joycejamestours.com/2013/Wales/index.html

One visit I'd already included in the itinerary was to the Last Invasion Tapestry, www.fishguardonline.com. I've visited the exhibition several times and am looking forward to seeing it again. For those who aren't aware of the exhibition, the tapestry was created by the talented hands of 77 local embroiderers. It is somewhat based on the Bayeux Tapestry in France and tells a story, with narrative in Welsh above and English below. In the centre is a pictorial representation of a failed French attempt to invade from 1797.

I've just become aware of another talented, keen knitter who lives on Fair Isle. (Thanks Barb!) I hadn't heard of Mati before and I wouldn't be surprised if some of our 2013 Scottish Skeins and Skerries travellers will be asking me to arrange an optional day tour to the tiny island. In the past, some tour members have visited Fair Isle for the day, and there were others who tried, but inclement weather interrupted their plans. As I keep saying, "Timing is everything"!

http://www.keikari.com/english/interview-with-mati-ventrillon/

http://www.fairisleknitwear.co.uk/

Also, received an email from the people who organize the HebCelt 2013 (short for Hebridean Celtic Festival.) http://www.hebceltfest.com/. With a number of months to go before we arrive on Lewis (in the Outer Hebrides) the excitement will just build and build. That is why I booked our hotel rooms many months ago, so that we would be on the island during the festival.

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