Exploring Barcelona, Spain - A Photo Tour

Exploring Barcelona, Spain - Oyambre

While in Spain at the end of October, I met up with my friend Adelaida.  Adelaida is from Barcelona and a few years ago she spent some time living in Manhattan and became a regular shopper and student at The City Quilter and that's how we met.  We hadn't seen each other for about three years but, of course, as soon as I knew I was heading out to Barcelona we arranged to meet up.

Fabric Shopping In Seville, Spain

When I visit Seville I always drop by my favourite fabric shop - Zález.

It's too good to keep secret so about time I share it with you too!!!

Zález is a fashion and accessories brand owned by Núria González, a fashion designer originally from Barcelona.  Specialising in bags, rucksacks, purses, vanity cases, brooches and rings all pieces are handmade here in her Seville studio/store.

What draws me back, again and again, is the fabric - mainly Japanese  - Kokka/Echino and this time I pulled some English fabric too by dashwood studio.  You don't need me to tell you more here's some pics to tempt you.

 

 

 

 

 

On this visit I didn't have my Spanish dil, Ana, with me to act as a translator so, as always DH, Simon, was embarrassed, exasperated, amused at my attempts to communicate with anyone Spanish using English and a selection of elaborate hand gestures.  

When I'm travelling I can easily fashion a hand gesture for 'is it okay to take photos?' but I haven't come up with an appropriate one for 'do you mind if I blog about your store?'.  It seems I indicate some sort of circle around the room and then pretend to write, rather like the international hand gesture for 'can we have the bill?' at which point Simon usually huffs quite a bit and then shows them my blog via his phone.  This time, he sidled up to me in the store and whispered: "how do you think you're going to be able to tell Núria how much fabric you want cut?" I enjoyed pointing out to him that being English I actually know the European word for fabric measurements - "metres"!

Here's my restrained purchases - 5 x 1-metre cuts on the top row and 2 fat quarters on the bottom row -  the Kokka Scottie dogs were two fat quarters from my last visit but I thought I'd share them here too:

Top row left to right:

Petite Street by Wendy Kendall for dashwood studio

Flurry - dashwood studio

Garden by Ellen Luckett Baker for Kokka

atori echino Huedrawer collection by etsuko furuya - new to Kokka a cotton sateen, you can read about this new fabric line here on Kokka's blog

Tortoises by jodds for dashwood studio

Bottom row left to right:

Patchwork Cars - by Kokka

Owls - oxford by Kokka

Scotties - Trefle created by Kokka

Zález can be found right in the centre of Seville, if you're visiting the Cathedral and other major site seeing locations then you're right there already.

Don Alonso el Sabio, 6, Seville 41004.

Current opening hours are 10 am to 2 pm and 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm daily. 

You can follow here on Facebook too or visit the website.

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Núria gave me this sweet gift as I was leaving and that's exactly what my husband, Simon, thought it was - a sweet but take a closer look - it's a tape measure, how cute's that?!!!

For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my sidebar :D

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.

Introducing My Grandson

I've been waiting for what feels like sooooo long to share the news with you, I just want to shout it from the roof tops 

My eldest son Jack and his partner Ana are having a baby and some time around 11 September 2014 my grandson will be taking his first breath.  He's a first grandchild for the grandparents on both sides so there's that extra buzz and thrill for us all.

Here's a pic of Jack and Ana in their pre-baby days

I love that photo - I took it last June when I visited them at their home in Seville, Spain.

We're all very excited and I've already been buying maternity clothes for Ana, wool, knitting patterns, fabrics and baby clothes, books and presents.  I might be thousands of miles away but I still want to play my part!

I'm sure I'll have lots of projects to share with you over the coming months but right now I'm just walking round with a big smile on my face :D

For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my side bar :D