Respite for a day...a trip to Jukejema and Berry, SSCS and a new workshop!!!

Last week I had a day of respite care so I took the opportunity to travel up to Jukejema Quilting Barn run by the delightful Kim...

On entering there were lovely samples around the room...

Karen was putting the finishing touches to this lovely piece by the very talented Anni Downs...

Lynette Anderson's 'A Scandanavian Christmas' fabric...

of which I had to have some...a fat quarter and a fat eighth pack...

corner display...

Anni's fabric...Some Kind of Wonderful...

gorgeous felt in soft warm colours...

Then on to Berry Patchwork where I bought a Jelly Roll and Charm Squares...all in plain colours...

Then lunch at The Emporium at Berry just up the road...

But first a coffee and a sit down after all that shopping!!!

A tasty salad...

Dessert Bar...

Goods on offer...

I have started my Secret Santa Christmas Swap run by Chookyblue...

it's all in the bag!!!

And on Friday I'm off to a workshop at Steph's to learn how to use the BSR (Basic Stitch Regulator) on my Bernina Sewing Machine...this will enable me to quilt with an even stitch...

I'm only just learning to quilt so this will be soooo cool!!!

Happy Stitching...Dzintra

New Charm Pack...New Books.. A Swap and Food!!!

I haven't really participated in many Swaps but have seen this one around...

and one day a couple of weeks ago Chookyblue emailed me about the Secret Santa Christmas Swap...

after a little (not too much) thinking I signed up for it...and I'm feeling a little nervous and excited by it all!!! 

The brief is make something beautiful that you would like to receive yourself...

and most importantly...make it with Love!!!

Not much stitching here lately except for trying to do a little of "A Gardener's Journal" every day...

But I did manage to do a bit of shopping!!!

 This gorgeous Charm Pack Pom Pom de Paris by Moda...

just too pretty to leave in the shop there!!!

And a couple of new books...

Simplify by Camille Roskelley...

and a new novel by Susan Duncan...

 Today Susan lives with her second husband, Bob, on the shores of Pittwater at Tarrangaua, the beautiful home built for poet Dorothea Mackellar in 1925. 


I was lucky enough to meet Susan when she came down here to do a talk on one of her other books...and she is the most charming wonderful lady...full of inspiration after all that she has been through...

And I have gone back to my roots here for an old Latvian favourite...

 Sauteed Red Cabbage in this book 'Latvian Cooking'...  

Recipe Collection from a Baltic Cuisine...

published by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Latvian Relief Society of Canada Inc.

Served with Garlic Mashed Potato...Peas...and Pork Spare Ribs...nice'n'eay!!!

For the recipe visit my other blog  here...

And in Australian Gourmet Traveller the most delicious Cauliflower and Cheese...

for the recipe visit my food blog My Dolce Vita

All ready for the oven...

and just delicious!!!

From the ever popular Donna Hay magazine...

My Daughter made this fabulous...gluten free...

~Chocolate Mousse Meringue Cake~

for a similar recipe for this cake by Donna go over here

complete with candle wax on top!!!

Very very tasty...and moorish at that!!!

And here is my little Grandie Lidija showing off her new gum boots!!!

Happy Stitching...and Bon Appetit...Dzintra

A Gardener's Journal Block C done...followed by a treat!!!

After what seemed like taking ages...

Block C of a Gardeners Journal is done!!!

I have used the same colours for the stitcheries as Anni has done...

Block C all joined up...

I'm thinking I'm going to use the blue paisley (I love paisley...there is a lot of it in this quilt) for the inner border...I don't have enough of the red for the outer border...

and I probably will use the blue floral for the binding...

but this could all change!!!

To see more Gardener's Journal quilts go over here...

I think some strawberries and chocolate are in order after all that!!!

Happy Stitching...Dzintra

A New Quilt...and a Surprise Gift!!!

I've had 3 Jelly Rolls sitting here on my shelves and a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon I thought...right, this is it...go and do something with the top one...Moda Basic Grey...

which is the first one I bought for myself for my birthday after I won a Jelly Roll Book from Micki the year before last!!!

The roll sitting atop the fabric...the top one if for the binding...the centre one for the sashing and the bottom one is the backing...

The book that I won...

Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott...

The quilt is called Bars of Gold...above is a pic of the one from the book...

The strips out of the roll...

all lined up...

starting to stitch them together...

it is lovely, bright and happy!!!

Lying them on the floor...

and here they are all ready to be stitched together...

I'm getting a little distracted now ha ha...

I think I might be turning into Queen of Starting New Projects...I've got a box full all set to go!!!

And a surprise gift in the mail from the gorgeous Rachaeldaisy...

Rachael had made about half a dozen pin cushions and asked on her blog which one I liked...

I said the one with the red pom poms...and next thing I know she said I could have it...

along with it came a lovely fat quarter and a gorgeous card!!!

How sweet is that!!!

And here is the back of it...it's just lovely,

and I've got it right next to me Rachael and in full use for the Bars of Gold quilt!!!

Thank you so much Rachael...it's gorgeous!!!