~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!!!

~Merry Christmas 2012~

Decorations above are ones I made by Lenna Green featured in Homespun magazine which actually made it into the magazine and which I wrote about over here

Wow, what a whirlwind week I have had

Spent the week preparing for our other 2 children/partners/grandchildren to come here for a Family Christmas......
I have barely had a chance to go into Blogland and comment on my favourite Blogs although I have popped in now and then to catch up......

Barely any stitching happening here and I think I'm going to have to join a Swap next year!
But I did have my first singing lesson after much encouragement from a few special people
Turns out my voice is alto
The main thing I learnt is breathe....breath....breathe
Turns out this could take 6-8 months to get right.....geeeeeezzzzzzz

Now back on track here
I want to wish everybody a Happy and Contented Christmas whatever you may be doing
Thank you so much for calling in......leaving your wonderful encouraging comments......
It all means so much to me......I've met so many lovely people here!

I'll leave with 2 very meaningful quotes
Merry Christmas......love Dzintra xo

'I believe in everything until it's disproved.

So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons.

It all exists, even if it's in your mind.

Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?'

~John Lennon~

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

~Calvin Coolidge~

Quilt in Stitches continued...and it's Christmas In July!!!

I have been to another workshop hosted by Steph's doing the Bernina Quilt in Stitches...

A variety of stitches are done along with ribbons, braids added...whatever you fancy...

In this workshop we actually cut up 2 of our stitched blocks and added the to our main fabric and this is what my one looked like...

More stitches...

and look at these ones by some of the other ladies...at first look they appear to be braids but they are indeed stitches that look like braids...pretty clever!!!

Some of the braids...chords and ribbon I bought...

haven't had any chance to do any of this in the last week due to having Ryan here...

he is keeping us busy...

and here he is with his little sister and cousins...

Big cooking day tomorrow...

It's Christmas in July so these little decorations that I made from Homespun magazine last year might just have to come out...the pattern is by Lenna Green...

These little cuties actually made it into Homespun magazine...go over here for the article...how exciting is that!!!

Happy Stitching...Happy Christmas in July...and Bon Appetit...Dzintra

OPAM 2011...and I can't keep away from the beach!!!

I wasn't going to...but I did!!!

I have joined OPAM (One Project A Month) 2011 again for this year...

hosted by Peg and Kris...

First project is this little coffee pot warmer from Homespun magazine...

I ended up changing the centre button...

and love this little warmer...it gets used every day!!!

I ended up putting some woolen wadding in it and it keeps the coffee warm for ages!!!

I saw this lovely little kit at my local patchwork shop Steph's and immediately bought it...

and quickly made up the kit...

Thinking it looked like it needed something I added these little red velvety baubles...I totally believe in 'more is more' LOL!!!

I then went on to make another 3...2 in the blue and 2 in softer colours!!!

With the weather here now just how I like it...

I can't keep away from the beach!!!

Back soon...Dzintra



I'M IN PRINT...Homespun Magazine!!!

Back in July I received my subscription for Homespun magazine on a Tuesday...

and ended up making the 3 little felt decorations above by Lenna Green in record time...

They were all ready by Saturday!!!

I emailed the magazine and told them I had done this!!!

Last week I received the latest edition of the magazine...and blow me down these little 'ornies' are on the Reader's Showcase page!!!

WOW...WOW...WOW!!!

I couldn't believe it!!!

Here's how they appeared in the mag...

I've not made too many items from a magazine but almost straight away I went through the thread box...the bits of felt and started almost straightaway!!!

I was only intending to make one for JoJo...but went on to make a Snowman for Mr Armchair...

Santa for JoJo...

Then I thought I might as well have one also!!!

The pic that appeared in the magazine...

And the fruit cake we had at the time to celebrate Christmas In July!!!

Now it's almost time to get baking again...

Planning to do some with JoJo next weekend!!!

Where did this year go???

OPAM (One Project A Month) July 2010...and a Giveaway Win!!!

Another OPAM finish...how cool is this...I'd say I've never had as many completed projects as I've had since joining OPAM...hosted by Peg and Kris!!!

This month a cushion...'Keys to my heart' by Sally Giblin...
This pattern was a birthday gift for me from my good blogging friend Andrea!!!

complete with a first for me...Prairie Points!!!
I loved doing these and they weren't nearly as difficult as I'd thought they would be...

back of the cushion!!!

And another finish for this month...this time from Homespun magazine...

this set of little Christmas decorations by Lenna Green for Christmas in July!!!

Then yesterday I received this package in the mail from Jo!!!

I was lucky enough to be her giveaway winner recently of her first pattern and the gorgeous Fat Quarters 'Fleur d'Paris' by Michelle Blackhurst !!!
Thank you so much Jo!!!

July...a great month this year...and the last day for Christmas in July!!!

One more month till Spring...YAY!!!

It's Christmas In July!!!

'Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before...

What if Christmas, he thought,

doesn't come from a store?

What if Christmas, perhaps,

means a little more?'

Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr Seuss)

~1904-1991. How the Grinch stole Christmas~

It's Christmas in July here in our part of the world!!!

Browsing through the latest issue of Homespun magazine (No 86 Vol 11 No 7) I came across these delightful little felt ornaments amongst others...

Designed by Lenna Green of Little Green Cottage...

and a first for me...I received the magazine on a Thursday...

Had made Santa by Thursday and finished the other 2 off by Saturday...

all in time for our very own little Christmas In July dinner...

JoJo just loves to celebrate all occasions...she was so excited about it all...

How could I refuse...

I started off just intending to do Santa for JoJo...


but these were such fun to make I added a Snowman for Mr Armchair...


Santa...


and of course I had to have one too after all that!!!

We made a quick fruit cake...added cherries to the top...a sprinkling of slivered almonds...some brandy...

and made a classic dessert of the custard world...

Floating Islands...In Latvian...Peldosas Salas

In French...Ile Flottante

Floating pieces of meringue in a custard sauce...

for the recipe for Floating Islands check out my other blog My Dolce Vita!!!

Here's to Happy Christmas in July...and Happy Stitching...Dzintra