~My Finished Bag...with a photoshoot at the beach~

I have finished my 'No Place Like Home Bag' by Anni Downs

I have thoroughly enjoyed this bag and I love it to bits

from cutting the squares

to joining them into strips

and then hand quilting

sewing the binding on

down to choosing the buttons

I looked through my collection and saw that I had timber ones back from the eighties when I knitted Mr Armchair a cardigan......

the other ones I though were a perfect tealy colour to match

the pic shows the teal one on the reverse side but further down there is the other side

I even tried to machine sew the buttons on but ended up doing it by hand

I woke up Sunday morning thinking I'll do a photo shoot down the beach when I have finished the bag

Didn't get there till nearly 5pm though

I wanted JoJo to come with me but she can be hard to move especially if she is engrossed in her music

So off I toddled by myself and about 10 minutes later her and Mr Armchair appeared!!!!

This is the first shot and lucky 2 bits of driftwood were already there......

I took lots of pics of the front of the bag

the tide was coming in so had to be careful although it did get a little wet

I don't mind that though......love the idea of sea water on it

Then going back I thought it might look nice in the grass which of course it did!!!

Then Mr A said what about the back of it

well I hadn't thought of that......so back down to the beach

and he came up with the idea of burying a part of the timber and hanging the back

Great idea I thought (just as well he came down)

and this is the last shot!!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed making this bag.....it was such a pleasure and a lot of fun

especially with Anni's great instructions!!!

Thanks so much Anni for a wonderful bag pattern and kit

I have loved every step of the way of this!!!!

~Two New Shoe Bags~

A quick little post here...

I've finished 2 little shoe bags

one for my Sister and one for me...

A little label on the back of my Sister's bag...

And I managed to find perfect little glass beads for the ties!!!

Pattern by Anni Downes from her Some Kind of Wonderful book...

The fabric was gifted to my by Nat whom I met whilst I was in Bathurst

shortly after I moved and she also moved...

Nat is really into dyeing fabrics now!!!

She dyed the pink one above and also the thread!!!

Now I'm really looking forward to using my shoe bag next time we have an overnight stay!!!

~A Swap from a Special Friend...and a new Sewing Tool~

My dear friend (Geo) no blog has been reading my blog and she really really wanted to be involved in a Swap......I said to her that with a lot of Swaps you don't have to have a blog you can just join up with them!!!  She then said she wanted to do one with me.....

okay then let's do it!!!

For my theme I chose the colour turquoise...

and here are my goodies that arrived a few weeks later...

Amongst the loot was a hand knitted necklace...

turquoise beaded necklace......a book

hand knitted dishcloth/face washer

gorgeous Washrock soap......pencil case......fat quarter

It really did look lovely all together!!!

Thanks so much Geo......lots of fun!!!!!!!

There were lots of choices in what we could send...

some of them were...

something to read

something to do

something from the Op Shop

something for the sewing room

Geo first chose an African theme but that would've been a bit difficult to put together here in this sleepy coastal  town...

so in the end we went with birds

I saw this fabric Geo and thought of you straight away

and I have started on your swap now!!!

Meanwhile the most useful little sewing tool recommended to me by Jan from Finishing School is this purple stick like thing called 'thang'

it pushes...it pokes and it holds down fabric whilst sewing

and was perfect for gathering the base

of my bag which is getting there!!!!!!!

Now it's back to work on my item for Geo...Happy Stitching, Dzintra

~Girls Day Out~ and a surprise package from The Netherlands~

Pancakes with maple syrup it was!!!

Every 2nd Monday JoJo doesn't go to her programmes...

she loves a trip into town to have a cuppa and something to eat followed by a walk around our shops...

Seeing the kitchen floor (post below) was in it's last drying stages yesterday morning we headed out for breakfast on the waterfront...

And here she is outside the cafe with the Clyde River in the background...

work is being done due to storm damage hence the barriers in the foregroud

'Devonshire Tea Pancakes'......a bit full on with the jam and cream though!!!

Yesterday's purchases...

Music runs through JoJo's blood as does appreciation of movies and musical theatre...

her tastes vary greatly......Pink Floyd......Michael Crawford......Dean Martin......instrumental......Big Band

There is music in the family background which has helped her so much and if she could that's all she would do all day!

Other Mums of children with a disability have commented how much it must help with her having that interest......and it sure does, more that I can ever say
It gives Mr Armchair and I time whilst at home, especially on the weekends

All finished off with a nice new haircut in readiness for her upcoming birthday which is the talk of the household at the moment...

I came home to parcel for my belated birthday and geeeezzz it was like a birthday all over again...

From my dear Blogging Friend Simone

And all wrapped in this gorgeous paper......even including the Eiffel Tower...

the card......Simone often sends me food related cards...

the message...

the goodies...

Zakka style etui......small ornamental case

It could even fit my glasses in but I might put pencils in in as a lovely pencil came with the gift...

Pincushion...

I thought this little cushion might be a magnet but it is filled with dried rosebud and has a lovely scent!

Goodies all together...

and a pack of tissues with tulips on them...

this made me think of the song Tulips from Amsterdam which I hadn't thought of for many years...

Now I think I will be singing that tune all day now!!!

And for fun a Blast from the Past from You Tube Max Bygraves singing 'Tulips from Amsterdam'......Enjoy, Dzintra

Thank You/Bedankt so much Simone......I had a birthday all over again!!!

~New Purple Boots~New Kitchen Floor and Dinner~Plus a Special Birthday~

I mentioned to Susan recently that I had new purple boots and she asked to see a pic of them...

so here they are Susan...I love wearing them and they are so comfy...and they go with everything!!!

And perfect with THAT bag that's nearly finished......see post below

Here is our kitchen floor last night with a second coat of tung oil...

no going in there...

so while JoJo was out with her Peer Support Group Hubby organized for us to go out for dinner...

We went to our favourite place in town...Little Restaurant and Bar

This little place never fails to deliver...the Host Gary takes time to get to know you...

and the food Never disappoints!!!

Mr Armchair started with Pan Fried Squid Rings with Chorizo Sausage, Potato, Peas and Paprika...

Eden Black Mussels steamed with White Wine, Garlic, Fresh Herbs and Roasted Tomatoes...

very very tasty!!!

Mr A chose Escalopes of Veal with Crushed Potatoes, Rocket, Red Peppers, Parmesan and Roast Balsamic Glaze...

I had what I reckon was the Dish of the Night...

Twice Cooked Pork Belly with Roasted Pears, Pickled Cranberries, Pear Cider Jus and Potato Mash...

EXTREMELY delicious!!!

Fries...

Vegies...

The wine...Mayhem Big Barrels Small Berries Shiraz 2009......McLaren Vale

A perfect drop for the evening!

Pear, Pistachio and Tamarillo Crostata with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream...

and for me Panna Cotta with Pears......yummy!!!

Kahlua Affogato...

A lovely evening for us both as we don't get out too often by ourselves...

Seeing there is another coat on the floor today it's Chinese tonight!!!

And I just had to do a quick post here on my Dad (mans Papins)

He passed away whilst in his 40's and it is his Birthday today...

Happy Birthday dear Dad

Daudz Laimes Dzimsanas Diena

Even though he's been gone many years now I still think of him everyday

How he would've loved to see his Family grow up and then become a Great Grandfather himself...

I wasn't going to......but I did

I'm off to Rehearsals this afternoon for The Bay Theatre Players Production of Gilbert & Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance playing in October/November later this year

I'm in the Chorus of Police...

so it's tarantara from me for now......Dzintra