~A Gardener's Journal Quilt Top~and a pic of The Police of Penzance

After much deliberation on deciding which border to use I went with the one below as the red just seemed too bright

What was to have been the backing is now the outer border

I had read I think on Anni's blog a while ago that a backing can be pieced using fat 1/4's and I have seen pieced backings using strips of fabric

So this weekend hopefully I will have a friend down who has offered to show me how to do it all

I was thinking I might even hand quilt it just around the blocks and squares and perhaps do in- the-ditch

around the borders

Did anyone else hand quilt this one?

This is what it looks like on the bed

and on the washing line

I just couldn't get a straight pic due to the wind but I lucked it in with this one

Rehearsals are in full swing now for Gilbert & Sullivans Pirates of Penzance which is the next play put on by Bay Theatre Players

Dress Rehearsals start next week and there are 17 shows so it's going to be full on

So it's Tarantara from me now......wishing everyone a great weekend

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


Oops I just had a look at my blog and saw that it is my Blogaversary today and this is post number 297......so I'm thinking I might be back with a little giveaway, perhaps on my 300th post!!!

~ F L O R I A D E ~ 2012

Last week JoJo and I took the drive up with Mr Armchair to see Canberra's Floriade

but secretly the real reason JoJo loves this event is that the Australia Fair Street Organ is there

along with the Ferris Wheel

Front of the Organ

and back...JoJo with Rick the Gentleman who travels with this marvelous piece and me

JoJo's choice of music ~Phantom of the Opera~

and I couldn't help thinking of my Brother when I saw these

He just loved Al Johnson while growing up

JoJo was thrilled when Rick gave her his postcard

Thanks so much Rick......we'll be back again next year......but you know that don't you

Next was the ferris wheel ride

The view looking down on part of Floriade

JoJo had to have a clown game

Gorgeous tulips

For last year's trip to Floriade and more pics click here

By then it was time for a coffee

Check out these light fittings in the tent

One of the stalls had a vast array of felt goods

Lovely 'stick ladies'

We caught the freebie bus back into town......this bus reminded me of a London Bus with its top deck

One of the scenes going back into town

A beautiful floral display in the Canberra Centre

On the way home we called into my Daughter's for dinner before driving back home again

Here I am with my little Grand daughter Lidija......she just loves cuddles......and to sing songs

We thoroughly enjoyed our lovely day out and look forward to next year's Floriade

~South Coast Quilt Show~ (and some sad news)

On Thursday I received the new Blogger dashboard....still learning my way round it

Let's hope I can get through and work out how to post pretty quickly...

Last weekend saw Batemans Bay host the South Coast and Country Quilter's Guild (SCCQ) 11th Bi-Annual Quilt Show at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club

Above is the striking quilt that showed us the way

The stage was all set for the beach

I took a few pics of some of the quilts that took my eye

This one is Log Cabin by Jenni Miller ~machine pieced and quilted~

'Joelle's Quilt by Tricia Wheeler

Made for a lovely French lady that Trish met in Nice in 2008.   Lucky Joelle is to receive this next year in Turin where she lives......and Tricia is going to hand deliver it to her

Lucky Joelle......and Lucky Trish
I love it Trish!!!

Of course there has to be at least one quilt at a show by Anni Downs

This one is 'Angel Story' hand and machine pieced......machine quilted by Oriel Smith

'Kaleidoscope' by Rebecca Baumgartner 

This one by Martha Trimmer 

Summer Palace by Liesse Chandler of Chandlers Cottage with lots of adaptation

Machine pieced and quilted

'Earth Lines' by Margaret Foster

This reversible quilt was designed to show off a striking indigenous hand printed fabric.  It is coupled with abstract furnishing samples and uses a quilt-as-you-go method

Machine pieced and hand quilted

'Our Harvest Spice' by Robyn Sammons

Machine pieced and quilted

'Chocolate Truffle' by Maggie Froggatt

An Ann Sommerlad design.  Made with the Moda range of fabric called 'Chocolat'

'Monarch Paradise' by Lois Dibeler

Monarch and Blue Emperor butterflies in a garden setting including Monarch life cycle

Machine pieced and quilted

'Kyoto' by Barbara Steller

Machine pieced and quilted

'Eva Trahern' by Margaret Herzog

Paper piecing and broderie perse around a central appliqued panel

Hand Pieced

Designed by Sue Cody

Quilted by Christine Fahey

'Summer Circles' by Irene Coburn

Machine pieced

Margaret and Trish in front of the Raffle Quilt Autumn Leaves

The view looking across the road to the Clyde River from inside the Dining area of the club

I made some small purchases.....above some Christmas fat 1/4 by Lynette Anderson

and some lovely batiks

My hand is doing really well now

Last weekend I was till trying to limit water on it still and not bend the finger area too much 

Mr Armchair thought he'd give making berry muffins a go and here is the result 

Recipe can be found over here

These flowers were bought home to me by Mr Armchair as a bit of a cheer up

My beautiful Brother has been diagnosed with prostate cancer which if he does nothing about will get him in about 10 years time.  He also has diabetes.

He underwent a stress test to see if he could undergo surgery as he has an irregular heartbeat 

He failed the test and the Dr has said he would be more worried about the heart than the cancer

Now he has to see a Heart Specialist ..........

~A Gardener's Journal...and Dinner Out~

~Borders and Bindings for A Gardener's Journal~

A couple of days ago I wrote that I was wondering which border to use for my Gardener's Journal quilt

I had first cut out this blue paisley way back and thought I would use the red for the outer border...

turns out I wasn't quite sure after seeing it together as the blue was quite busy with no defined 'frame'

As it turned out I didn't have enough of the red for the outer border so it will become the inner border

and the backing (which is cream/brown floral) now will be the outer border

I think I am happier with this combination as the outer border balances the stitcheries and seems to carry on the cream

The red as the outer border seemed to take away from the stitching

Not sure now what I'll do with the back

I'm thinking I might piece some of the leftovers together and use some of the cream outer border for the back as I think I will have enough to do that 

Did anyone else do something like that and is there any advice on how to do that as I've never done it before although I have seen it and I quite like the look?

And here are all the blocks together!

After not being able to wet the top of my hand all week (and still not) last night we thought we'd treat ourselves out at Little Restaurant and Bar and have a night off...

A Prawn dish for JoJo and Mr Armchair

 

A little while ago when we there I saw the menu had Gnocchi made with Blue Cheese, Salted Beetroot and walnuts....YUUUUUMMMM

But I couldn't have that as it wasn't gluten free and Gary (Chef and owner) said that if I let him know next time he will make me a gf one

And blow me down it was delicious

Twice cooked Pork Belly with Roasted Pear on Mash......oh soooooo tasty

A Veal dish and salad for Mr Armchair

And Gary also made a gluten free dessert

Yogurt Cloud Cake......this was as fluffy as a cloud and full of passionfruit flavour topped with Pistachios

Absolutely delicious.......thank you so much Gary

We'll be back another time......but you know that don't you!!!!!!