Wanderlust and Words

 Pottery, glass, weaving – all these handicrafts bear the firm imprint of the artisan’s fingers, and I find it easy to feel the connection and relate to their work. And make no mistake about it, this is art, just as much as any Renaissance or Cubist painting. But it’s more grounded, more connected to daily life. Craft in the Bay , Cardiff, displays and sells the works of the Makers Guild in Wales. It’s almost across the street from the Wales Millenium Centre and other well-visited sites in Cardiff Bay and yet I fear it’s often overlooked. What a shame! Craft in the Bay is a well-lit gallery displaying an amazing array of handicrafts. I fell in love with at least half a dozen pieces, ranging from pottery to fabric art to glass. If you’re in Cardiff, be sure to visit.

I'm convinced that the sun came out from behind the clouds the minute the train crossed the border into Wales. And there was my first Welsh castle in Chepstow (sorry, no photo). The good weather continued once I'd arrived in Cardiff, and I was delighted to discover a Christmas Market in the pedestrianized city centre. I sampled local cider, beer and liqueur; tried 3 different brands of local cheese; and bought some Welsh cakes for tomorrow morning's breakfast. There was also a wide variety of handicrafts - pottery, glass and silver ornaments, and much more. It's such a shame that the weather doesn't permit a similar market in Saskatoon.