This blog is all about me......I come here for respite in between caring for JoJo (our Daughter who has Special Needs)......I am addicted to starting new projects......I am becoming a fabric-a-holic... I love to try out recipes... take a beach walk and breathe in that salty blue air......love to have coffee...sip a glass of champagne......read a book......I am Queen of the Armchair and am inspired by all the wonderful blogs out there!!!

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

~OPAM~ (One Project A Month) December 2014 and Happy New Year

Introducing......


'Wrapped in Paisley' by Kansas Troubles Quilters
a little Lap Quilt that I unexpectedly started when I saw a Tutorial at Moda Bake Shop
And only using 1 Jelly Roll for front, back and binding
Tutorial over here called Jelly Roll Jam





The front


The back


And in the Tree Fern


 Loving these rich, dark colours!!!

Thank you so much Sweet Peg and Kris for running OPAM again this year
Who would've thought I would make 2 quilts in one year!!!


And to all my lovely Readers and Commenters out there
Thank You so much for being a part of my Blog
I appreciate all your visits and comments and love the interaction with you all
So much appreciated

A rose from our garden for you
Happy New Year everyone
May 2015 be good to you all and bring much Peace, Joy and Contentment
and Many Happy Hours of Stitching

and of course Bon Appetit

Love Dzintra


Tuesday, December 30, 2014

~SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap) 2014 Sent~


 I can now finally show my SSCS gift that I sent to Dagmar 


Designed by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched, one of my favourite Designers
This is one I have been wanting to make since I saw it at The Craft Fair a couple of years ago and I decided now is the time 


The little label at the back


And to re-cap this is the little Christmas Ornament I made for her


 Dagmar sent me this lovely, lovely photo showing off the little quilt and I just had to share it
Hope it's okay Dagmar
This just makes me smile!!!

Thank you so much dear Chookyblue for once again running this Swap
It was a pleasure to be involved in it once again!!!


Saturday, December 27, 2014

~SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap) Received~


My SSCS from Diane has finally been opened


Inside was this bag


together with a tea cosy which was used this morning,


 This Ho Ho Ho box


 full of goodies


a mug


little stick on note bits


and this colourful panel!!!

Thank you so much Diane and a BIG Thank You to Chookyblue for organising this wonderful world wide Swap.....always fun to be a part of!!!

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas 2014

Just popping in to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas 2014 with a day of Peace, Joy and Contentment and Much Love......Wouldn't it be good if it was like this Every Day......just what The World needs

Many Thank Yous to all the Beautiful Bloggy Friends who comment and read my little Journal......I may not get around always due to Caring Duties but You just make my Day

And to everyone a very Merry Christmas......love Dzintra 

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

A Give-away Win

Recently I entered a Give-away hosted by Michelle Ridgway

And to my surprise and delight Michelle informed that I had won
My little package came all wrapped up in a chequered red and white ribbon
A little original card by Michelle
A Festive Stitchery Booklet full of lovely original designs
And patterns for Quilt Labels.......How cool is this!!!

Thank You so much Michelle......you really surprised me and you made my Day!!!

To see more of Michelle's work go over here

Saturday, December 13, 2014

~A Surprise From Shez~

Jo Jo and I had a lovely surprise this week from our Blogging Mate Shez

First of all this gorgeous little Snowman all stitched in blue.....JoJo's favourite colour
Front and back hanging on the tree
And I was lucky enough to receive one too!!!!!
Thank you so much Shez.......we had so much fun receiving and opening them!!!

And here's our Christmas Tree totally decorated by JoJo...... Good Job Gorgeous Girl.......
If you look on the bottom left you can see the little Snowman hanging!!!!!!

Happy Saturday everyone........Dzintra

Monday, December 8, 2014

Queen of the Armchair meets Fans!

On Friday evening briefly we caught up with our other Daughter and she told me I had a Fan that reads my Blog!!!!     Whaaaatt!!!!!!  And also that he wanted to meet me!!!  Cool!!!!!

Presenting Darcy and Alice.......and look Darcy is even holding up my Blog Card!!!!
It was so nice to meet you both and if you ever start up a blog please let me know so I can hop over and get to know you better!!!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

~SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap)......Received and Sent~




All the way by Royal Mail from England has arrived my SSCS from Diane


Included was this whimsical Santa Card


And 2 Christmas Ornaments......
We can open the smaller package


 but this bigger one has to remain sealed until Christmas Day
It was placed under the Christmas Tree today.......sigh, and now all I can do is look at it
Thank you so much Diane!!!


 This is the package I sent off to my Partner Dagmar in Germany along with some Lindt Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt


Out of this lovely screen print that I had purchased from Shop Handmade in Canberra


I made this little Christmas decoration......I thought it most suitable as she probably has a White Christmas
The ric rac is vintage now as I bought it years ago to make an Angel Suit for my Sister's little newborn first Baby.....
This didn't get made up so the ric rac sat there until I thought I would use it for Dagmar's Ornament......
Never mind now that the Baby is 35 years old!!!

I hope you enjoy your little decoration Dagmar along with the chocolate and now we both patiently wait to open our parcels!!!

Thank you to dear Chooky for organising this fantastic swap.......always a good one to be part of!!!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

~OPAM (One Project A Month) November 2014~


 My November OPAM is this item above but I'm sorry I can't show it as it is a Secret Swap in SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap) hosted by my mate Chookyblue
All will be revealed when my Partner opens it at Christmas time and then I will put up the full pics
A Christmas ornament also had to be made which I did out of this screen printed fabric
This too will be revealed after the gifts are opened!!!

Thank you to Sweet Peg and Kris for hosting another month of OPAM!!!

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Making Butter

I went to a Butter Making Demonstration and came back totally inspired to make some!  I have been meaning to make it for ages but when one wins a jar of this delicious 'real cream' that sealed the deal
Using Tilba Cream
That is so thick
a knife can just about stand up in it
Due to it's thickness it didn't take long at all to beat up
lovely, yellowey and creamy with no additives but a pinch of Pink Himalayan Salt
The buttermilk resulting
And here 'tis.....making our own from now on
Just perfect!!!

Happy Weekend everyone......Dzintra

I've just read a post at Retromummy about being a Special Needs Mum........this really resonated with me and brought a tear to my eye.......especially when she talks about going up to her Sewing Room on the weekend......exactly what happens here while Mr Armchair keeps an eye on JoJo.......

Thank you Retromummy for this very heartfelt post......

For a very special verse on being a Special Needs Mum checkout the verse on my side bar written by another Special Needs Mum Emily Perl Kingsley.......she says it all

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Happy Anniversary To Us

Yesterday was our Wedding Anniversary and we unexpectedly took a trip up to the Big Smoke!
I saw this lovely Christmas light and thought I would really like one of these at home
Lovely Christmas setting


JoJo is still wearing her Halloween neckerchief plus a Beatles tie
She saw a Christmas tie with a button on it that makes music so that was purchased
And yes her next neckerchief will be a Barbara Brackman Civil War one entitled Spring 1800-1830
And she chose it herself so has good taste like her Mum lol
It looks Christmasey too so Geo (no blog) you might get to see it

Lunch at Jamie Oliver's.  JoJo had Bolognaise
Meatballs for Mr Armchair
And if course gluten free for me......A vegetable plank
Walking along I spotted this lovely setting
A quick selfie with my new specs which are a bluey colour on the inside......very nice too
We have our photo taken every year on our Wedding Anniversary
Help who would've thought we were married in the 70's
Seems such a lifetime away
This one is at Koko Bean......one of my favourite places!
Happy Happy Anniversary Mr Armchair......we had a great day
Love Dzintra aka Ingrid

Welcome To My World

Hello, my name is Dzintra Ingrid ... have been known as Ingrid and since our Sea Change I have started to use Dzintra ... pronounced without the D ... (but still known as Ingrid, I know, it's confusing ...)

Welcome to my world ... a journal of our Sea Change ... Mum to three wonderful children ... bringing up a daughter with a disability and seeing life through her eyes ... being a new Nanna ... photos ... inspiring quotes ... taking on a cookery course ... the odd recipe ... and trying to get some stitching done amongst all this ...