A Belated BirthdayGift...(Ber)nina all set up...Japanese Fabrics for Shattered Nine Patch...and an Award!!!

I'm having a fabulous time at the moment being involved with Cabaret...

lately it feels like whenever I go out I go to the Kit Kat Club!!!

Amidst all this a surprise birthday gift arrived from my dear blogging friend Simone!!!

Little parcels all wrapped up...

and on opening...a sewing machine mat...

I have started using it...and it's fantastic Simone...I just love it!!!
Thank you so very very much Simone!!!
And so very very handy too for all those threads as I still work my way through getting used to using Nina!!!

Here is the new table and chair all boxed up...

Chair all set to go...

And what a surprise to find that the seat lifts up for storage...YAY!!!

Table all set up...

And here is the little accessories box all set ready to go!!!

From a previous post on The Shattered Nine Patch quilt which my Needlework Group is going to begin soon...

For this quilt I have decided to use Japanese fabrics...
Above is the fabric I have chosen for the back of the quilt...it is really stunning!!!

Beautiful gold with an awesome eagle on it...I couldn't resist...

originally I was going to use a black backing...

but the eagles kept calling me!!!

And the fabrics for the quilt...
to see the shattered nine patch...go over here...

Here is The Versatile Blogger award I have received from Natima which I am to forward on...as usual to hard to choose so dear readers...please accept this as I think you are all Versatile Bloggers!!!

Thank you so much Nat!!!

Easy Peasy Swap...Easy Peasy Clafoutis AND 2 Awards!!!

Wow what a week this has been!!!

Summer has certainly arrived here on the Coast...lovely hot days...some with a little breeze, perfect to get into that water this weekend!!!

A couple of weeks ago I signed up for an Easy Peasy Swap with Vicki ...

no sewing involved...just send 2 Fat Quarters to your Partner...along with a metre/yard of ribbon/trim...and 2 Festive buttons...

My Partner was Katie over in America and here are my received goodies...

2 very Wintery looking Fat Quarters...more than a metre of red ribbon...a pack of Festive buttons and a treat...a homemade Snowman Hot Chocolate mix...enough to make 6 cups!!!

Opening the parcel was like opening a little Winter Wonderland...

as Christmas in the Land Down Under is usually quite warm if not very hot!!!

Thank you so much Katie ...I am thoroughly enjoying my Easy Peasy Swap package...

and Thank You Vicki for hosting this fun little Swap just before Christmas!!!

And look what I found while up in the 'big smoke'...

little post it labels to mark recipes in favourite magazines/cookbooks...

how cool are they!!!

A few weeks ago while it was still cool I used these frozen berries to make a Cherry Clafoutis...but mine was Berry Clafoutis...
Clafoutis is batter based dessert from Limousin in the centre of France...
I thought I would try using gluten free flour to see how it worked...


Mixing the ingredients...


Ready for the oven...


All ready...dust with icing sugar...add more berries...


With some cream...all went well!!!
So far the few recipes I have tried substituting gluten free flour for regular flour have worked really well!!!


I have discovered this fabulous book using only 4 ingredients...

from it tonight I have made a cheesecake base using rice biscuits...almond meal...butter...
Hopefully tomorrow I will make the cheesecake for Dessert to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary which was this week...along with a cook-up with Vicki from Donna Hay magazine!!!

This week saw me receive this Over The Top Award from Bev ...
Along with this Award came some 'over the top' questions so I'll have a go at answering them here!!!

Where is your cell phone...on my table

Your hair...hot

Your Mother...well

Your Father...missed

Favourite food...at the moment I am partial to Maggi Beer's Pate

Your dream last night...don't know

Favourite drink...tonight cold white wine

Your dream/goal...to do the best I can

What room are you in...home office

Your hobby...varied

Your fear...who'll do the caring when we're gone

Where do you want to be in 6 years....healthy

Where were you last night...home

Something that you aren't...nasty

Muffins...gluten free only

Wish list item...a holiday with Hubby sounds good with JoJo in good care

Where did you grow up...Sydney

Last thing you did...had ice cream

What are you wearing...bright colours

Your TV...on

Your Pets...happy

Friends...scattered

Your life...busy at the moment

Your mood...cheerful

Missing someone...Dad

Vehicle...red

Something you aren't wearing...winter clothing

Favourite Store...this is hard...I like them all!!!

Favourite colour....today, blue

When was the last time you laughed...today

Last time you cried...watching the news

Your best friend...always positive

One place I go to over and over...beach

One person who emails me regulary...more than 1

Favourite place to be...with family

To pass this onto six blogs was very hard...so I'll go over the top by 1 and pass this Award on to...

Clarity ... whose W0nderland I thoroughly enjoy

Janey ... who does great scrapbooking of family pics on her blog

Kath ... her crafty life in an English Railway cottage

Millie ... whose life with MOTH always makes me chuckle

Natalija ... over in Italy

Natima ... my good Friend

Vicki ... who I have fun with doing Cook-Ups

Thank You Bev for this 'Over The Top Award'!!!

And this Award from dear sweet Clarity I'd like to pass on to all my regular readers and blogging friends...as I think you are all Kreativ Bloggers!!!
Thank You Clarity!!!
Have a great weekend everybody...and I hope you can all get to cool off somehow...Dzintra

A Win, A Meeting, A Gift, New Buttons, A Postcard and An Award!!!

A little while ago I participated in a Giveaway by Bev over at Kainga Happenings...

The prize was a redwork machine embroidered stitchery wallhanging...and from memory I think it was called Sweethearts...with 6 sweet little embroideries on them...

I didn't win but Bev was so very generous in offering everybody a consolation prize...

2 choices of stitcheries from her giveaway prize...

After going backwards and forwards to her blog trying to choose...

I chose the little boy and girl above...

they just so reminded me of my Son and Daughter growing up and being close...

And this one of the little girl feeding her Teddy...

This one was good timing as it reminded me of the Teddy we gave JoJo which just happened to be just around the time of Bev's Giveaway!!!

Thank you so much Bev...this was indeed a surprise!!!

Shortly after that I went to meet my dear Friend Natima...and very good Blogging Pal also and she had a little gift for me...with the sweetest note on it...cut out in a heart shape!!!

We had a Caramel Latte...I reckon Gloria Jean's does the best one...
Nat had a Cheesecake and I had a Gluten Free Pear and Walnut Tart!!!


Nat is proficient in many crafts...this package contained some hand dyed fabric by her in a lovely salmony/pinky shade...not very visible here but just under the floral one...
and also some hand dyed thread to match...
along with a neat little pair of scissors on which was a felted and beaded little strawberry!!!
Thank you so much dear Natima!!!

And here we are just outside the shop...
I think we both had a lovely catch up and I hope we get the opportunity to do this again next time you're in town!!!

Recently I ordered a couple of bags of buttons from Barb over at Theodora Cleave and here they are pictured above...a great selection...

I didn't really know which ones I was getting as it was a mixed bag!!!

Thank you Barb...they're great!!!

During the week we received a postcard...all the way from Iceland!!!

The pic shows The Blue Lagoon...a unique geothermal wonder...

I have heard all about these spa facilites and how warm they are...even in Iceland!!!

After meeting with Nat I caught up with my little Grand-Daughter Lidija...

ain't she just the sweetest!!!

And to finish off...I have received this Friendship Rose from Natalija!!!

Thank you so much for thinking of me!!!

And I in turn would like to pass this Friendship Rose on to all my wonderful bloggy friends!!!

Friends are always close to each other's hearts...

Even if they are on opposite sides of the globe.

~a Thousand Paths of friendship~

David Baird

Friendship Award!!!

Recently I received this very cute Award from Micki and then I was doubly lucky and received the same Award from Serena!!!

Thank You so much gals for thinking of me for this Award...

and now I would like to pass it on to all my Bloggy Friends...as you know me...I find it too hard to choose...so grab it and add it to your sidebar...you all deserve it...Dzintra♥

Cook Up With Vicki (No 1) and A Zombie Chicken Award!!!

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting Vicki over in California who had discovered Australia's Donna Hay magazine. Vicki lives not too far from the ocean as I do...and she has the most fabulous garden...so if you get a chance go on over and have a look...Between us we thought we would both regularly cook a meal from Donna's magazine and blog about it...So here is my turn... Took a 5 minute drive to a little village to purchase supplies...the supermarket is around the corner from the beach...
Latest edition of the mag...Autumn 2009

Couldn't resist putting this page in...
Strum of a guitar
Harmony of friends
Chorus of laughter
Symphony of nature...
(Image and text from the magazine)

Preparations begin...I have chosen Thyme Pork with Parmesan Parsnip Mash...

Had to improvize here...there was no fresh thyme...no parsnip so I used Sweet Potato...help, I needed to raid your vegie patch Vicki!!!
Getting ready to grate the Parmesan with the 'French Grater' all the way from Paris...

Hubby put his mark on the table...a bottle of red!!!

Pork Cutlets frying...

Instead of having blanched beans I added some minced garlic and butter and gave them a quick fry...

Nearly there...

Once I started it all seemed to be ready in no time...

I had fun doing this...and look forward to the next Cook Up with Vicki!!!

Meanwhile...This Zombie Chicken Award was recently given to me by the delightful Catherine for my cooking pot!!!

I'm so happy to join you two Zombie chicks in that big Blog barnyard. Visit their blogs or risk the wrath!

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace, and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least five other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by not choosing wisely or not choosing at all..."

Okay, Vicki...here's to you...A Zombie Chicken Award for your cooking pot!!!

And Thank You Catherine for this most salubrious Award!!!

Giveaway Win, Silent Auction... and an Award!!!

Recently I had the pleasure of entering a giveaway on Micki's blog...and to my utter delight and surprise...thank you to Joe's (Micki's Hubby) numbering system... I won this fabulous Jelly Roll Book...

...and one of Micki's machine embroidered book marks...of which I chose the pink one. Of course I had to purchase a Jelly Roll...this I wasn't going to get for myself until my birthday for a special treat for myself...and of course I had to rush out and buy one...even though it's not my birthday yet. That's okay...I'll have to think of something else now...as if that would be a problem!!! I probably won't get into making anything just yet due to my Hospitality Course which is taking up quite some time at the moment...

Over at On My Veranda, Maree held a Silent Auction in aid of the Bushfires in Victoria. This raised $700-00 and subsequently passed on to the Red Cross...Three Cheers for Maree...a job very well done!!! I bid and was successful in winning this book on Applique...which will come in so handy...now I can look at and learn the techniques of it all...

But wait...there's more...Micki has awarded me this Kreativ Blogger Award of which I am to pass on to three blogs...too hard to choose as usual... but I would like to give a special mention to: Annabelle at Pastoral Dreams...one of the most creative blogs I have ever seen...

and

Susan at Miss Maddie's...one of the most gentle and delightful blogs...

If you get a chance do pop over and say hi to these lovely ladies.

Now I had better get creative...I have to present a three course meal for my course...will do a post on this later on...play Head Chef (along with a partner) at the College Restaurant with real Patrons...cost it all...quantities needed...menus...

I think I'll need to go out to dinner after this is all over!!!

Share The Luv...

SHARE THE LUV...and very apt in this week of Romance...

Thank you to the gorgeous Millie for her most delightful blog...and for a daily dose of life with her MOTH...and for this lovely Award...perfect timing for Valentine's Day!!!

To share the LUV, follow these instructions...

1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (You can highlight the photo and text of this post and copy/paste wherever you need to).

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE.

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

I'm grateful for the heart & soul these lovely friends put into their Blogs. I have been enriched beyond measure by the beauty of their spirit.

So...in the Spirit of Valentine's Day I would like to share this Award with all my Friends on my side-bar, but especially to...

Andrea...Andrea...and Natima...all these lovelies live in Victoria...My Blessings and LUV to you all on this Valentine's Day!!!

Rich is not how much you have

or who you are

or even where you are going.

Rich is who you have beside you...

(From Dave Wood Calligraphy Art Gallery)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

BOM Hanging On The Line...And Spreading The Love

Hello dear Friends on this very hot Friday leading up to the weekend...but I'm not complaining...I'd rather the heat than the cold anytime!!! Here are my centre blocks for Gail Pan's Block of the Month (BOM) Mystery Quilt entitled Christmas Wish...click the BOM on my sidebar for more details. I tea-dyed my calico, hung the little squares up...went back inside...and when coming out I thought how cute do they all look hanging on the line...will have to blog that!!! Have never done a mystery quilt before but after seeing all the girls on the various blogs showing their ones completed...I thought...mmm...maybe give it a go!!!
Only knowing that Gail suggested using red around the centrepiece I used what I had...
...and then when I went to my local Patchwork Shop to see the new premises...I bought 2 fat quarters thinking they will somehow fit in with the Mystery Quilt!!! If they don't it won't matter...they will look nice sitting on the shelf anyway!!! Pictured also are the threads used so far...I used the colours Gail recommended


A couple of pics of the interior...everything looks so nice and new...the colours are all fresh and bright...there is a buzz about it all...and there were some very pretty quilts hanging!!! The colours are all pastely and soft...something I'm not used to...coming from the country to the coast. In the colder mountain/country areas where I come from I lent towards the country/darker colours...still do sometimes...and all these lighter colours are a whole new world for me...but I think the trend these days heads towards the pretty lighter shades anyway!!!

And then...a surprise from Andrea one morning... The Spreader of Love Award...to be shared amongst 5 Lovelies!!! Thank you Andrea for thinking of me...I accept this with...Love!!!
I would like to share this Award with:
Ann...Catherine...Fer...Kath...Micki and Simone (okay that's 6)
This heart made me think of a Valentine's Day Chocolate Heart...can't believe Valentine's Day is only 2 weeks away...so to all the chocolate lovers out there...and especially to you dear Catherine...please enjoy!!! I check in with all these Lovelies regularly...so please pay them a visit when you have a chance!!!
Enjoy this very warm week my Friends...and keep cool, if you can...and to you all in the Northern Hemisphere...I assure you the sun is on it's way...Our mornings are increasingly getting darker very quickly as are our evenings!!!
Thank You for your Visit!!!