This Week...

We had a huge surprise recently in our backyard by the fence

This is the second year we gave had new neighbours on one side and previously we hadn't noticed a vine growing as she kept everything meticulously trimmed......

And look at this......a grapevine with grapes coming on......Mr Arnchair trimmed some leaves to see what was happening and check it out!!!

Michael Edgley's Moscow Circus has hit town and due to good reports JoJo and I headd off to buy our tickets......looking forward to that

And playing around with a new programme for taking pics 365 days and adding them to a calendar daily and because Mimi was in front of me she was the first pic I took......she is growing up to be the most affectionate and beautiful dog!!!

Happy Weekend everyone.......Dzintra

~Cook Up with donna hay and Irina~

Another Cook Up happened just before Christmas here

from donna hay magazine Issue 71 Oct/Nov 2013

On the menu was Mustard and Fennel Port Skewers with Pea Hummus

Vanilla Sponge Cake with Cream and Passionfruit

I served it with a bit of Beetroot Dip

So very, very tasty!!!

Donna's sponge

and mine

This was a bit of a challenge as I hadn't made a sponge cake forever but I substituted for gluten free flour and it was delicious.....especially with that tangy passionfruit!!!

Irina has joined me in these cook ups and I'm loving her choices

Anyone is welcome to join

All you have to do is cook something from the current donna hay magazine and blog it......

Bon Appetit

Dzintra

~I'm In Print~

Here's a pic of the coffee pot warmer I did a few years back

Front

Back

I showed it off to Homespun magazine and this morning I awoke to see that Fiona at Dragonfly Crafts had let me know that it was in this month's issue....

Woo hoo but I haven't received my copy yet!!!

Thanks so much Fiona for letting me know....You MADE my day
I'm stalking the postie now LOL!!!

~OPAM and New Projects~

I hope all my lovely readers have had a wonderful Christmas break and are enjoying these lazy days of the New Year!!!

For my final OPAM (One Project a Month) for 2013 I used Anni Downs' Christmas fabric line

and this pattern

to make 2 needlecases and 2 scissor fobs which were my OPAM for October

and this little sewing basket.....I ended up making 2 baskets

1 for me and 1 for my Swap Partner Sandi.
Thank you Peg and Kris for again running OPAM!!!

Meanwhile I have chosen a couple of new projects to work on (I love to start new projects) in the New Year.  The first one is the Sing bag by Anni Downs again.

This bag will be perfect to take along with me to my lessons

I bought the kit last year intending to starting it now!!!

Also I have chosen a quilt from this book Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts by

Pam and Nicky Lintott

called 'Diamonds at Large'

I'm going to make it for my Brother for his birthday later in the year as he has serious health issues

I'm going to be using a Collections for a Cause Layer Cake that I have been saving for just the right occasion!

Happy New Year and Happy Stitching......love Dzintra