OPAM (One Project A Month) May......Diamonds at LARGE

Boy how excited I am to have finished Diamonds at Large for this month's OPAM!!!!!!!

Just before Sunset on Saturday afternoon I thought let's go down the beach to see what colours were happening there for sundown and do a photoshoot of this very special Quilt!!!!!

And the big unroll............

had to get the photo on the side due to the wind flapping around

and then wrap around me

then off it's to around the corner to lay it upon some rocks there

and zoom in and all these birds are there going home for dinner

Mr Armchair trying to straighten it up

and success woo hooooo!!!!!!!!

But not for long as lucky there was a little branch nearby to hold it down........

the back

by this time JoJo (Yellow Wiggle today) was quite cold and she scored the quilt around her

A quick selfie

Back from around the corner and there's a lone fisherman casting his line

the light was just lovely

and just one more time

before we headed back home!!!!

Diamonds at Large is for my dear Brother who has very challenging health problems and I am just so excited to gift it to him especially as I bought this fabric for me as I loved it so much......
It just feels so right!!!!

Quilt Name:  Diamonds at Large      

  Designers:   Pam & Nicky Lintott

          Size:    45in x 60in
       Fabric:    Collections for a Cause.....
                          Hope by Howard Marcus

    Backing:    Vintage Rose by Nancy Odom for P & B Textiles

    Threads:     Scanfil 100% Organic cotton for Quilt Top

                       Mettler Quilting 100% cotton Col Nat 4 for backing
                       Stitch:     4.5 on Bernina Aurora 440
Quilted by Me......Dzintra, Queen of the Armchair

and thank you Rachaeldaisy for the suggestion of quilting about an inch out from the Diamond

And Thank You Sweet Peg and Kris for running OPAM for us to finish off One Project A Month!!!

Needleturn Appliqué

My first foray into Needleturn Appliqué and I discovered it wasn't as hard as I thought it might be!!!

I think the secret to it is using he correct needle which I didn't know about until I actually looked up how to Needleturn on the net..........it also helped using the tiny pins!!!

And the surprise discovery......I really loved the process!

My first project is a Needlecase which I'm trying to finish off for this month's OPAM (One Project A Month).  Pattern by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched and the kit I won from Deb at Frog Cottage!!!

I'll have to go to the computer later and put links in as I don't know how to on the iPad!!!

~Cook Up with donna hay and Irina~

I have finally gotten around to posting a recent cook up we have had here YAY!!!

Above are Chillies for the meal

From donna hay magazine Issue 73 Feb/Mar 2014

Menu is

Sweet Pickled Chilli and Lime Ribs......recipe over here

Crispy Coconut Rings

Cabbage, Celery and Cucumber Slaw with Tahini Dressing

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Brownie Ice-Cream Bars

I began the night before by cooking the ribs with coriander, lime leaves, onion, lime, ginger, salt, vinegar and sugar.

I then made the Sweet Pickled Chillies and rubbed it over the ribs and refrigerated it overnight

The Cabbage, Celery and Cucumber Slaw with Tahini Dressing

and all plated up!!!

Those Onion Rings were so delicious and very, very moorish!!!

The Coriander garnish........from our garden just gave it all so much flavour!!!

The Dessert called for store-bought Brownies but being gluten free Mr Armchair had bought this box of Melinda's Heavenly Chocolate Fudge Brownies so I thought give it a go!!!

The Brownies turned out perfectly!!!

However I did make my own ice- cream though using Tilba Jersey Cream

The recipe did say use smooth Peanut Butter and I didn't

The result being little bits of nuts on the top LOL

Lucky I got these shots in as I just about forgot them!!!

A delicious meal and those Ice Cream Bars were something else.....a bit crunchy!!!

Irina has joined me in these cook ups so follow the link here if you want to see what she has been cooking up!!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra xo

~Celebrating The Chookshed~

Over the weekend my Blogging Buddy Chooky celebrated 2 years in her 'Chookshed'

She invited Bloggers to join in on the celebrations by virtually sewing solo or with friends

I jumped at the chance and thought I would work on my Diamonds at Large quilt

Details of this quilt are over here

A Layer Cake was used for this

The border is also cut up Layer Cake

as is the binding 

A lovely quilt to put together!

I also managed to finish off this little Sewing Wallet

This celebration also offered bubbly (make mine pink) and nibbles

How could I refuse????

Happy Birthday dear Chookyblue and here's to many more celebrations of The Chookshed!!!

Chooky has a poll on her blog if anyone would to check it out

It's about whether she should hold this celebration again!!!

OPAM (One Project A Month......May)

I have a small Sewing Wallet for my OPAM this month

Made with felt with a cotton lining

It's a project from a Stitching Day held by Fiona and Sylvia

The wallet with the lining

and of course a little label

~Thank you Sweet Peg and Kris for hosting OPAM~