OPAM...a new sewing machine...catch up with a friend and a postcard from Russia!!!

Wow...the end of August already and another OPAM (One Project A Month)...

how I am enjoying this project hosted by Peg and Kris!!!

Thanks gals so much for hosting this!!!

This month I have finally finished my A Christmas Wish quilt which was a free BOM (Block of the Month) by Gail Pan...

above is the front of it...

and here is the back...
After beginning cross stitch back in the 1980's...after my daughter did a free sample from Family Circle magazine...I went and bought another copy and did the same...and was hooked!!!
I still have many cross stitch projects here to do...
but slowly I fell into stitcheries...
now into quilting!!!

After over 30 years of the same sewing machine last week Mr Armchair and I purchased a new Bernina machine...(instead of saying machine now I will call it Nina)...with a built in stitch regulator...
This will allow me to do free motion quilting with Nina...that's the plan anyway!!!
I'm all keen to learn quilting now and perhaps some machine embroidery!!!

And here is Nina on our dining room table...
I am so keen I have also ordered a new sewing table and this arrives tomorrow!!!

And look Geo...here is the stitch regulator...

The sample from the shop...my bit is on the right!!!

And my gool old trust Husky which I shall keep and treasure always!!!

Hopefully tomorrow this will all be organized LOL!!!

And in the mail today this postcard from Sue...
showing The St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow...
Thank you Sue!!!

And last week my good friend Natima was in town and we caught up at our favourite bookshop and had a coffee!!!
Great catch up Nat...lovely to see your family again...and Happy Birthday!!!

Now I'm looking forward to tomorrow and starting to get organized...

Happy Quilting...Dzintra♥x

Life Is A Cabaret!!!

Rehearsals have been going on for our amateur theatre's production of Cabaret...

and I have started for my little walk on bit!!!

So very exciting...and this experience gives me a whole new insight into what goes into running a play...

For the rehearsal...on stage is a drinks table for a scene in Act I...

Costumes are being made/altered...here is one my one's awaiting alterations!!!

Shoe box...we have to wear our shoes on stage now...

Backstage looking out to the front...

Curtains awaiting the Chorus Girls dressing room...

and their dressing room so far!!!

Meanwhile...I have been quilting my A Christmas Wish quilt by Gail Pan...
I'm just feeling my way in the world of quilting and have quilted it according to Gail's instructions with my 30 year old plus machine...
I'm keen to learn quilting further and am looking at a new machine tomorrow!!!

Here is the full version...binding still has to go on but I'm hoping it will be this month's OPAM (one project a month)...
Topside of the quilting is red and underneath is cream...

And I couldn't resist this...my new purple boots...

which go with these gorgeous Eiffel Tower hairclips and buttons (centre)...they are just so cool!!! These were bought in the new Handmade shop in Canberra!!!
The Designer, Jennie McClelland, who made these named her business after her two Grandmothers...Edna and Alice May...

To check out Jennie's blog go over here
Jennie herself has a Husband over in Afghanistan...and my Heart goes out to her and her Family while he and our other brave Soldiers are over there...

And look at these fabrics...tres chic!!!

So...tomorrow it's off to try my costume on...and check out my new (maybe) sewing machine so I can get stuck into quilting!!!

As they say...Life Is A Cabaret!!!

~Cook Up With Vicki...No 7~

Boy what a busy time it's been here...but in a very nice way...

JoJo's birthday last weekend...the Event Of The Year in this house LOL!!!

The Craft Fair...family down for a visit...Mr Armchair home for a week...

and rehearsals are under way for our local Amateur Theatre's production of Cabaret!!!

Meanwhile...I have had the best fun doing another cook up with Vicki!!!

Above are the aprons...one for me and one for DG...along with matching tea towel and pot holder...how cute are these!!!

But first, Mr Armchair brought home some cheese...the one on the left is D'Affinois Brie and the other one a Sage Derby...just delicious, especially with a glass of red!!!

This Cook Up from the June/July issue of Donna Hay magazine...

Tonight the menu was...Herbed Polenta Chips...Creamy Cauliflower Soup and Pear and Ricotta Tarts!!!

First I fried a little cauliflower for the garnish on the soup...

The Polenta Chips...very very popular!!!

Together with the soup...the pic should be turned around but I couldn't get to do it!!!

And the most exciting part...I found this Gluten and Wheat Free pastry at the supermarket...I haven't had pastry for quite a while now and was very excited to see it!!!

I simply adore pears especially when cooked...here they are atop the pastry and ricotta!!!

Into the nearly new oven...

All ready...I couldn't stop taking pics of the pears!!!

One version with a strawberry over the ice cream...

And another just with icing sugar...

With srawberries...

And again with ice cream!!!
Very very moorish...especially on these cold nights...

and even more so seeing I haven't had pastry for ages!!!
Off now to make a batch of Cauliflower Soup...

and perhaps over the weekend maybe put some batting and backing to my A Christmas Wish quilt...

Have a great weekend...Happy Cooking...Happy Stitching and

and Bon Appetit!!!