OPAM March 2010...and a new project!!!

My third OPAM (One Project A Month) for 2010!!!

What a great way to achieve a finished project every month...thank you to Peg for organizing this!!!

These Tilda fabrics received from Simone...
(I decided to use a variegated thread in shades of pink)

along with this stitchery...now complete!!!

Along the way Simone sent 2 more fabrics that just had to be included...
you can see them at the left hand side...cupcakes with hints of gold in them!!!

Attaching fabrics around the stitchery...and the layout...

here is the back all stitched together...

and completed...
A perfect Recipe Journal for desserts and cakes...
Thank You so much Simone for organizing this stitchery for 'us' to do...
and I'm looking forward to our next project!!!

Meanwhile...I bought this Hatched and Patched pattern a little while ago...
and I'm going to use it to make a little bag for a birthday gift for someone's special birthday gift...

I have chosen these fabrics...

Not sure whether to use the variegated thread for the stitchery...

or individual colours...
Guess I'll have to go and stare at it a bit longer!!!

Meanwhile...wishing everybody a safe, happy and Blessed Easter...Dzintra

A refreshing drink...and my 20 year quilt project washed!!!

We on the Coast here are having the most glorious sunshiney warm days...

water temperature 25c!!! It can't get much better than that...

We were given some lemonade limes...I had never heard of these...

instructions to use them were squeeze the juice out...

add some sugar for sweetness...
pour in some soda water...I used mineral water...

add a twist of lime...some lemon balm...
and you get the most refreshing 'lemonade' I have ever tasted!!!

Just delicious...I think I'm hooked!!!

Amidst all this beautiful weather a bumper crop of roses...

it is our third summer here and the best they have been!!!

Meanwhile...back to my 20 year old quilt...that's right,

this quilt took 20 years to make...thought I would do a little patchwork course and made 6 blocks...then we moved to some small acres...

it was put down for some years while we reared some animals...

the children were growing up...

we had a daughter with a disability...

but finally...it was completed!!!

To read more about this quilt, go over here...

I thought it was about time I gave it a wash...

the lady who quilted it said when washed it will sort of crinkle up and get that antiquey look...

so wash it I did...

the back of it...

and here it is all washed and hanging...

and I fell in love with it all over again!!!

I'm hoping that my next quilt doesn't take this long to finish!!!

This weekend will be perfect for hitting that beach...

and drinking a home made lemonade!!!

Have a great weekend...and Happy Quilting...Dzintra♥x

TAFE...4 November 2009...and being a GRADUAND!!!

Finally...after 2 years at TAFE (Technical and Further Education) I have completed my Cookery Course...and am ready to Graduate this week...WOW!!!

Whoever would've thought this...

I started this course not long after we had moved here...had surgery and re-cuperation for 3 months in between...caring for a Daughter with a disability...

and I have done it!!!

I had started blogging this course here on this blog but 12 months ago started up a new blog...My Dolce Vita to record my progress, recipes and other foody related stuff...

I thought it fitting to show the meal we prepared at the end of last year...

So for the last time on Queen of the Armchair...

Chef's board with menu and allocated meals for students...

Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes, Black Olives and Basil ready for roasting...

Onion Rings...they looked good!!!

Ocean Trout Gravalax preparation...

Gravlax is a Scandinavian dish consisting of raw salmon, cured in salt, sugar, and dill. Gravlax is usually served as an appetizer, sliced thinly and accompanied by hovmästarsås (also known as gravlaxsås), a dill and mustard sauce, either on bread of some kind, or with boiled potatoes. For a recipe for Gravalax...go over here
For more information on Gravalax go over here...

Brandy Snaps ready for filling...

Whole Sole with Herb Crust ready for grilling...

Roasted Asparagus with Cherry Tomatoes, Black Olives and Basil...

Pan seared Scallops with Crispy Bacon and Sage, Puy Lentils and Green Salad...

Ocean Trout Gravalax served on a Green Salad...

Sorbet between courses...

Beef Curry and Rice...

Pan Fried Veal with a Garlic and Sage Jus with Potato Roesti and Green Beans...

Whole Sole with Herb Crust served with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Sourdough...

Eve's Pudding out of the ovens...

and ready for service...

Chocolate Pots with Orange and Polenta Biscuits...

Brandy Snaps filled with Raspberry Mousse.

Petit Fours.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this course and look forward to catching up with the gang on Graduation Night...

Now, perhaps I should go and sort some of those boxes out!!!

Bon Appetit...Dzintra

Treading The Boards...maybe!!!

Recently I did some voluntary Front-of-House work at our local Amateur Theatre Group...

One of the first things I noticed upon walking into the Theatre were the empty chairs...

a contrast from walking into the Theatre for their production Wizard of Oz...

The last play there was Seussical the Musical put on by The Bay Players Youth Theatre...



After all of those years being stuck on a page...
'A person's a person, no matter how small'


Seussical's story unfolds mainly through song...
'So...let your imagination soar and your inner child run wild as we present...Seussical the Musical'...





Introducing one of the very talented members of Bay Theatre Players...Sam, who also was part of the Costume Construction Team...



Our very own Bay Players participated in the CAT (Canberra Area Theatre) Awards...
55 Theatre companies took part in the 2009 Awards...
Nearly 100 productions, involving an estimated 6,000 individuals...
on- and off- stage were judged!!!



Given such a level of participation, it is now counted a most significant chievement to be nominated for an Award...


For 2009 the BTP were nominated for 6 Awards....including Best Play...


and won the Award for Best Costume Design for a Musical for Seussical!!!


This Award was won by the BTP President...Candy Burgess!!!


GO BAY PLAYERS!!!



The stage is set...

'The Cat in the Hat' (Roy Smith) and 'Mayzie la Bird'/Dance Captain...(Hannah Connell)

Stills from the Play...

'Mrs Mayor'/Dance Captain (Sivannah Brooks)...and 'Mr Mayor' (Danny Round)...
Danny has been with BTP Youth Group for 5 years and has been accepted into the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts...Great Achievement Danny!!!

Final Scene...

While volunteering at this production I saw these posters...

and noticed the one for Cabaret...the much loved musical that starred Liza Minnelli in the Film Cabaret...and I wanted to get involved...and to wear a costume...

I attended the information evening for Cabaret...then one of the auditions and I think I'm going to have a walk-on part...wearing a costume...from the 1930's!!! I am so excited!!!

Here is the Seussical stage re-painted for the next production...Confusions Plus 2...
a combination of Alan Ayckbourn's Confusions and another of his short plays and a monologue by a second playwright from his compendium of plays, Mixed Doubles...

Backstage...some of the wigs...

and costumes...
There's going to be a barbeque held shortly together with all the cast...

and I'm waiting for a phone call!!!

Meanwhile...I can't stop singing...

What good is sitting alone in your room...

Come hear the music play

Life is a Cabaret, old chum

Come to the Cabaret

Put down the knitting, the book and the broom

Time for a holiday

Life is a Cabaret old chum

Come to the Cabaret...

And I'll be back later hopefully with some good news for a small walk on part wearing a costume!!!