~January~

Phew here I am back on the blog and January is nearly over

New Year's Day I like to start a new project so why not make it a big one lol

I thought I would do Anni Downs' My Favourite Things Quilt

The Fat 1/8th bundle is the actual My Favourite Things Fabric and the others are the beiges I will be using

I made a simple Quiche and we thought we would open some Christmas Wine.....French of course

I admired my Bookmark brought home from Riga, Latvia 

The little brooch is the colours of the Latvian Flag......maroon and white
Such a history with this Flag

I made a start on the quilt

I opened up a gift to myself of an apron that I bought in Roussillon on Provence, France

I received this beautiful Tagine at Christmas time
Thank You Danelle

I made a Pear and Almond Tart.......recipe from Manu Feildel's book, Manu's French Kitchen
Mmmmm delicious

My Sister came to visit

and we drove around River Cottage country at Tilba

We checked out a new Cafe/Restaurant at the Mariner, all with a boat view

Took a beach walk

Started some colouring in

Did some quick pickling of cucumbers

And took them to my mate Asta's, a fellow Baltic and enjoyed them with some good ol' Black Rye Bread

Had the little Grandies here for a week

and took another beach walk.

Normally one can get around this corner but not with the tide last weekend....

Hope your January was a good one

Till next time.....Dzintra

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

From my Sonoma Rose Pin

To my Sonoma Rose book

autographed by Jennifer Chiaverini of The Elm Creek book series

of which I have all so far (I think)

Plus Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

I was reading at Fiona's Blog BubzRugz that she had started Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Quilt and thought 'I think I've got that book too'

so ferreted around late one night, found it and got all excited to use my collection of 

Civil War and Reproduction Fabrics

Within a few days I had made up Chimneys & Cornerstones using mainly the Fabric Collections for a Cause - Hope, and Love along with the bottom centrepiece which (I think) is Mountain Creek Quilt Museum 1850 for Blue Hill Fabrics

I'm also lucky to have these two fabrics, Elm Creek Quilts - Gerda's Collection

 by Jennifer Chiaverini for Red Rooster Fabrics

These were bought a few years ago in Numeralla whereby a lady was selling her Mother's Collection of fabrics which filled a 2 or 3 bedroom house!!!

Maybe this was all meant to be

But I had no idea it would be now

6 and a half weeks before my Paris/Latvia trip

Phew........talk about a distraction!!!!!!!

Never mind, my plan is 1 block a week and at this rate it will take me 2 years and 8 months but I reckon it will be closer to 3............

So let the sewing begin

To see updates of the other gals' blocks visit Fiona

Happy Sewing and in my case add Happy Packing and Getting Ready for my Trip

Dzintra xo

~Braidwood Maker's Market~

Lots of twine from Michelle at material drawer

Yarn from Helen at Waratah Fibres

 Margaret spinning......

all at Braidwood Maker's Market hosted by the gorgeous Jen from Little Finch at Braidwood

I met a delightful French lady........Isabelle from La Source

Isabelle had on display her new 'Braidwood' cards

 a tea towel I had to have......

Tags from material drawer

and OMG this made me   *S T O P*

A Hogwarts sign by Anna at swallowtail

Aren't these signs just fabulous!!!

Headbands for the little misses

 Hair accessories

the most beautiful music

and here's my beautiful sign at home

the first package I opened

all set to join my Harry Potter collection......

A great Market Jen.......just fabulous quality hand made items

Looking forward to the next one

See you then......Dzintra xo

~My Gift To Sarah in FIS....Friends in Stitching~

I became a member of FIS this year and there are 2 compulsory swaps involved with this fabulous on-line Stitching Group...

One is a birthday swap and the other is Christmas

Above are the fabrics I have had here for ages just waiting for the right project

Putting them together

It took me about a week to decide what to make for my Partner Sarah

Part of Sarah's brief was that she liked red and she liked sewing bits and bobs

The gift had to include one of a choice of 2 verses and a button

I chose the above verse and some rusty buttons to make the popular bag going round Blogland at the moment......Natalie Bird's  'True Friend's Tote Bag'

I went out the back to photograph the bag amongst some greenery seeing I'd never done that before and ended up putting it on our red car 'Ruby Tuesday' and I thought looks great so went with that!!!

I tucked in a little 'prim' felt pin holder

some red pegs

and seeing Sarah is an avid quilter an 'I Love Quilts' brooch by Theodora Cleave

All bundled up with a block of chocolate also

wrapped up......

and the card!!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed making my first swap gift for a lovely gal and look forward to the next one!!!

Hope you had a good one Sarah!!!