~Canberra Craft and Quilt Fair 2013~

I went up to the Quilt Fair a couple of weeks ago in Canberra and saw the Heart above as part of an exhibition entitled Hearts and Flowers

I came across a BOM (Block of the Month) by Yoko Saito being offered by one of the stands
For some images I found on the net for Yoko's work look over here

Somerset Patchwork from Victoria had a stand there

Somerset specializes in reproduction fabrics and patterns

On exhibition were some wonderful quilts

This one took out quite a few awards

I thought of you Geo (no blog) with this one

I loved this bottle one

My purchases included some fabric from Studio Mio

this little glasses case

a little kit and pattern

and I couldn't resist this little wallhanging!!!

A great show with lots to look at!!!

Mimi's First Beach Walk

Yesterday was the most beautiful Spring day here so Mr Armchair and I thought we would take Mimi down for her beach walk whilst JoJo was at Respite Care for a few hours and I hadn't been anywhere due to having this violent cough still

Above is her first step into a rock pool and below her first 'taste' of sea water

With Mr Armchair here

There was a new Memorial Bench here back on the grass and we took a little walk up to it

and this was the view from it......

A lovely Dedication Spot

We even talked about perhaps doing a bench also as people do really appreciate sitting on them and just looking......thinking

I've missed a singing lesson due to this bug and I hope I can get back to it this week but somehow I don't think so

I've been doing a little stitching also

I have read a book The Golden Earrings by Australian Authoress Belinda Alexandra

which I thoroughly enjoyed...

Now it's off to a new week and I'll see if I can't shake the cough off this week!!!

Have a great week.......Dzintra 

~Happy Birthday JoJo~

A couple of weeks ago JoJo celebrated her birthday.......the event of the year in this house!!!

We celebrated with a Wiggles Birthday Cake

The day started off cold for coastal style......8 degrees centigrade

raining.......bleak........blowy......boats bobbing up and down but a calmness at the same time 

Sometimes I just love these sort of days!!!

Perhaps the boat in the foreground 'Crazy Diamond' is a Pink Floyd fan

JoJo is a Floyd fan as well, as we all are!!!

Pancakes for breakfast

At JoJo's request she wanted to go to her favourite Restaurant in Canberra......La Scala

Mind you she requested this back in February so we thought why not......lots of time to get ready for it!!!

Pasta for lunch for JoJo

And gluten free for me......Salad plus Fat Chips

Check out the size of these chips!!!

We happened upon a Hospitality Shop and JoJo saw the biggest potato masher ever!!!

Back to La Scala for dinner

and Dessert

Plus we saw a huge bottle of wine also

Must be the day for Big Stuff!!!

We also took her to see The Phantom of the Opera which opened the night we went to see it at the Canberra Theatre

What a brilliant show this was......we just loved it

Free-Rain Theatre has successfully won the rights to stage the premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera in Canberra and negotiated with two nationally and internationally recognised, musical theatre stars for the lead roles and the services of one of Australia’s most accomplished young theatre directors.

The role of the Phantom will be played by Michael Cormick who has won international and national acclaim for lead roles in The Phantom of the Opera, Romeo & Juliet, Chess, Evita, and most recently; End of the Rainbow for the Edinburgh Festival and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s West End production of The Woman in White.

Julie Lea Goodwin who will play the role of Christine has appeared in the role in 200 performances opposite Anthony Warlow on the Australasian tour and also starred as Maria in West Side Story. 

text from the theatre's site

There was enough Wiggles Cake left

for JoJo to take a small portion in to her Day Programme!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GORGEOUS GIRL JOJO

with lots of love xoxoxo

~A Gardener's Journal......All Quilted Now~

Woo hooo......

After a few days of not being well with a cough that won't go away which has turned into a cold now I had a phone call today from my Quilter Debbie who said that my Gardener's Journal has been quilted!!!!

I had thought about quilting it myself but once she started talking feathers and swirls etc I thought go ahead and let her do it as me not having quilted anything like this couldn't do this!!!

On looking at it I thought it would have been better to surround the centre house with the red fabric but it is as it is now...

Mr Armchair kindly went to see Debbie and picked it up for me and now I can't stop looking at it....

I think I might take it up to GDITC (Girls Day in the Country) next year and show it off!!!

Now to the binding but I won't start until I feel better

I see an OPAM (One Project A Month) coming up!!!

Pattern by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

~Cooking with JoJo's Day Programme (3)......Beetroot and Goat's Cheese Risotto~

I recently went in and did another Cooking Session with JoJo's Day Programme

This time the recipe was Beetroot and Goat's Cheese Risotto

from a now defunct Australian Good Food magazine

How I miss this magazine!!!

The pink rice caused quite a stir amongst the group LOL!!!

Top with Parsley when done and it really is a delicious meal but then again I love beetroot!!!

Some of the gang helped decorate it!!!

Beetroot  & Goat's Cheese Risotto

Serves 4 

Prep 5 m, Cook 30m

Gluten Free/Dairy Free

* 450g can whole baby beets (real ones prepared can be used as well)

* 21/2 C Chicken Stock.....I used Massel Gluten Free

* 25g butter.......can use olive oil, coconut oil or your favourite

* 1 chopped onion

* 2 crushed garlic cloves

* 2 C Arborio Rice

* 200g soft Goat's Cheese

* Parsley to garnish

*  Drain beetroot, reserve liquid

* Coarsley chop beetroot and set aside

* Add stock to reserved liquid

* Heat butter/oil in large saucepan on medium heat

* Add onion, cook 5m until softened

* Add garlic cloves, cook till fragrant......1m

* Add rice and stir to combine

* Add stock, 1/2C at a time and cook 20-25m until liquid has been absorbed and rice is tender

* Add beetroot and goat's cheese, cook 1-2m until heated through

* Top with more cheese if desired and garnish with the parsley

A lovely, lovely Risotto!!!

Bon Appetit and Happy Cooking.....Dzintra

~Pin Cushion Swap Received And Sent~

I was recently involved in a Pin Cushion Swap over at Maree's of Ollie and May
The deal was to send a Pin Cushion to a Secret Partner
My Partner was Tatyana and the Pin Cushion above is the one I received off her
Isn't it just lovely!!!
I just love the traditional star pattern.......Tatyana also included a fat 1/4 with a very similar pattern!!!

Tatyana also included some buttons and one of her beaded creations

And also a little owl

The cute little owl is for JoJo

Thank you so very very much Tatyana for thinking of her!!!

Tatyana also included her little card complete with little owls!!!

To see more of her creations go over here

Thanks you so much Tatyana for these gorgeous gifts....I am enjoying all of them!!!

My little package went to Lynda who I had actually met at Girls Day in the Country this year

This is the card I sent her

My little cross stitched Pin Cushion sitting atop a fat quarter

together with some yummy Lindt Chilli Chocolate

Can't help thinking of one of my favourite movies Chocolat when I seen Chilli Chocolate!!!

To see some scenes from the movie go over here

Thank you Maree for running this lovely little Pin Cushion Swap!!!