Finished projects FEBRUARY 2018 and Goings On

Here we are 29 December and I feel quite the stranger here on my Blog

I've had a few things happening with allergies here namely coughing when I eat plus feelings of heaviness and other issues

This all appears to be due to the environment,  and living at sea level

These all but disappear when I go up to higher ground/altitude

Consequently we are looking at moving up to higher ground but its all such a big deal as we have to take JoJo into account and look into new disability services 

In this case we can see where Health becomes No 1 as it would be hard being how I feel as we are getting older

Thank goodness I have spoken with other people and quite a few have similar issues and have moved for similar reasons

And I thought I was a Beach Chick but looks like I could be a Mountain Girl as per my maiden name!!!

First one is a block for Chookyblue for a Quilt that was being organized for her

Seeing she is into chooks and her favourite colour is blue this was my contribution

Next a little pouch using Japanese fabrics and 3 headbands using fat quarters

I also got around to pinning 2 Quilts

The top one is Past Times using from my fat 1/4 stash

and this one is one of Thimbleblossoms patterns

Next up is a block from York Plains by Hat Creek Quilts which I think will go into being a Table Runner

JoJo brought home a little Valentine's gift that she made for us 

A lovely set of Coasters

And of course she requested a special dinner for Valentine's Day

Chicken, Bacon, Tomato, Sweet Potato, Snow Peas all together

And a Dessert to top it off......Apple Snow

And I made Manu Fieldel's Pear and Almond Tart......mmmm, so delicious

I thought I would work on this Stitcher's Roll which is from a Girls Day in the Country Day

Pattern by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

February also took me up to the High Country for an experiment to see how I fared up there

These comings and goings went on for the whole year and the results are very encouraging!!!

I set myself up with my sewing machine and relished the time alone during the day at a relative's place

I talked with a real estate agent in the area and he said he had moved about 15 people who had moved to the coast back to this small Alpine town due to asthma, allergies, humidity etc

So far so good for me

We will see what Fate has in store for us!!!

So my Friends I'll see if I can catch up with Goings On for this year.......see how I go lol

January 2018 finished items

Phew......what a year I am having....

A few health issues have cropped up which have really knocked me around so this is the first time in 9 years I haven't joined OPAM 

I thought I would just cruise along at my own pace sewing wise while we sort ourselves out

Looks like allergy problems are going to take us up to higher ground away from our Sea Change which I thought would last forever......

Some things are just not meant to be............sigh!!!

Plus this means having to sort JoJo out as well for disability programmes........double sigh!!!

Yipppeeeee I did manage to make a couple of small items!!!

Lovely linen with an Eiffel Tower tape (of course) 

Two little soft sunglass cases for the handbag

One for me and one for the gift box (if I don't end up keeping it lol)

along with my cloth tape name......I call it my brand lol!!!

I needed a red headband one day so I went to my Fat 1/4 stash and found this lovely French General one and found a Tutorial and made one........and it was perfect!!!

I'll be back soon........everyone have a beautiful Sunday......Dzintra xo

~OPAM...One Project A Month, July 2016

Some small items for OPAM this month

First up a little pouch to match the little bag behind

I needed one to put my threads in for an upcoming project and saw I had the same fabric in a small piece of the bag so thought I would use that

Attach a little ribbon and I'm away

After waiting 3 months (sheeeeesh why does it take so long!!!) I attached ribbon and buttons to these two little pouches made in April!!!  These were pouches made of fabric chosen by my GD along with ribbon and buttons and choice of stitching and colour!!! 

Another two little Book Bags

I find the more I have the more I use them

So handy for Books and even Stitching and Patterns!!!

The little label says Au Petit Paris

And the last one a little Fat 1/4 headband for a Friend

Fabric is Everything Autumn by Sweetwater for Clothworks

Thank you so much Sweet Peg and Kris for hosting OPAM this year

I know I wouldn't finish as much without it!!!

OPAM (One Project A Month) June 2016

These months are just flying by and time for another OPAM for June

This time a little Zippered Pouch designed by Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched

Back

Looking In

And here is the little Kit......I love Anni's designs!!! 

Next is a little shoebag (also designed by Anni)

This shoe bag was made for Tarnyia as part of a Fat Quarter Birthday Swap hosted by Chez

A yellow Fat 1/4 for Tarnyia also (yellow was specified as her favourite colour to receive) along with some threads and a natural coloured Fat 1/4 and a Theodora Cleave Prim Cat button

And the gifts all together!!!

Thank You Sweet Peg and Kris for hosting OPAM again this year!!!

~My Birthday Cake~

Even though my Birthday was quite a few weeks back now I feel like I have to blog  the delicious cake and recipe which I need to save here just in case it enters the World of Lost Recipes one day.

Introducing Flourless Almond Cake
Recipe given to me by Anne (no blog) some years ago now and it is well and truly used

I found this French Caster Sugar sourced from Champagne-Ardenne which was really sparkly (above and below) and whipped up beautifully. 

For information on French Caster Sugar go over here 

All stirred and whipped ready for the oven

And about ready to blow out the candles

Hip Hip Hooray

Note.....wearing Fat Quarter in hair by Anni Downs (range 'Kiss Under the Mistletoe')

I find fat 1/4's easier to wear than regular headbands as I usually have one to match

I just go to my stash lol!!!

**RECIPE**

Anne's Flourless Almond Cake

Mod oven 170c for 40 minutes

25cm Spring Tin

Vanilla

8 Egg Whites/Yolks

1 C Caster Sugar

Vanilla

200g Almond Meal or Ground Hazelnuts

Flaked Almonds

Icing Sugar for dusting

**METHOD **

Grease Tin

Whisk Egg Whites

Add Sugar and Vanilla

Gently fold in Yolks then Almond Meal

Sprinkle Flaked Almonds

Bake and then dust with Icing Sugar

Thanks so much Anne, I love this Recipe.......it is a real favourite!!!

Bon Appetit......Dzintra

~Fat 1/4 Birthday Club Gifts~

Phew, I finally been able to get around to blogging my received Fat 1/4's in the Fat Quarter Birthday Swap hosted by the lovely Chez

It's easy to play......once having joined up just specify what brand of fabric you would like to receive on your Birthday

Also one person is allocated another to make a special gift for!!!

This year I specified 'French General' fabric or Cream Tone-on-Tone

Here they all are after having come in

My Special Gift was from Chookyblue

This lovely Table Mat made from the French General range

How lovely is this!!!

The back

My Fat 1/4 along with a few extra goodies

Thank you so much dear Donna......just love it all!!!

Here are the Fats from dear Chez

these ones are 'Panier de Fleurs'

Thank you so much Chez aka Dory........they are perfect!!!

This one is Rouenneries Deux from my good friend Asta along with a very pretty strip of linen type fabric with fringing either side.....isn't it just lovely!!!

Thank you so much dear Asta

Next one is from Tarnyia along with a selection of Red DMC Threads

Thanks so much Tarnyia

This lovely one from Illene along with some DMC thread and Christmas Buttons

Thank you so much Illene!!!

 This one  'Rounneries' from Simone together with some cute little pegs

Thank you so much Simone......those pegs will surely come in handy!!!

This little bundle from Sweet Michelle 

The pink fabric is La Belle Fleur together with a surprise Eiffel Tower fabric, ribbon and pink DMC

Oh you know me too well lol

Thank you Michelle so much!!!

And last but not least this one from Julie who also included a hand-knitted face washer in a little embroidered bag and a hand-made card
Thank you Julie!!!

I love being in this Birthday Swap........thank you everyone for your gorgeous gifts
and a BIG Thank You Chez for hosting this fabulous Swap!!!

Just for fun here it is all together along with a few extras

At the back is a Christmas Stitchery Kit by Hatched and Patched entitled 'Father Christmas' from my dear Friend Geo (No blog) 

Thank you Dear Geo!!!!

JoJo loves to receive and give music/DVD's and I had put in a request for 

'A Place to Call Home' which used to be on regular TV but now on pay TVwhich we don't have

I really enjoyed this Series so now I can catch up on it

Thank You so much Darling JoJo 

And from my lovely Friend Marianela a little Concertina of France together with a Doodle Paris book

How cool is this.....

Thank you so much Marianela.....lots of fun ahead!!!

Couldn't resist showing off this lovely gift bag from Mr Armchair!!!

Thank you!!!!

And I had to make my own Gluten Free Birthday Cake

This one is a Hazelnut Flourless Cake........and very delicious too!!!

Blowing it all out

My Dear Travelling Companion Son took me out for Dinner last week and this was my Dessert complete with a Birthday Candle

What an awesome Dinner this was.......Thank you so much Darling One!!!!!!

And my Birthday is still going

Asta and I went out yesterday afternoon and had a little Happy Hour and I received this gorgeous Mug Rug with a Gossip in the Garden Stitchery on it (Hatched and Patched) and a beautiful mug

My very first Mug Rug.........and I'm going to make one for Asta for her Birthday as she doesn't have one either!!!

Thank You so much Asta........I always enjoy our Catch Ups

Tomorrow is Mother's Day

So here's to all the Mums out there

Thinking of my Mum as she has been in Hospital for about a Month now getting over some leg problems

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

love Dzintra

*********