april opam

Ok first off I want to say how crazy is it that April is over? Where did it go?

I don’t have many OPAM finishes for April. I did finish the cathedral window mini wall hanging that i started a few months ago, so I’m pleased about that. I’m grateful to Peg and Kris for starting this group as it does give me a bit of a shove along and has helped me to stay focused and complete things. (I am easily distracted) 

 

I also finished the little cardigan that I started on the last Friday-Night-Sew-In. I am not a great knitter but I am persistent and I have a mum that is a great knitter that I think sometimes regrets the fact that she taught me to knit lol as I call on her quite a bit to get me out of knitting chaos. But I think the end result was worth it.

I am still working on two small Mini Dresden quilts, i really need to get a move on because one of the babies one is for is due mid May. eeek What is an acceptable time frame after a baby is born to give a gift??? I hope it doesn’t turn into a first birthday gift!

During April i did a Kay D Haerland “postcards” workshop and managed to finish a few. I mentioned this in an earlier post and I am still quite in awe of her talent. She is an award winning landscape artist and my Postcards do not reflect her talent. Just her patience!

I also am very disappointed in myself that i didn’t finish block 4 “Dancing with Daisies” bom. I seriously don’t know where April went.

Bring on May I’m ready for you!

Annie

Postcards

Hi Well Friday Night Sew In turned into Friday Night Knit in.

The usual gang couldn’t get together so I just had a quiet night knitting up a lovely baby cardigan, in bamboo. This is a lovely silky yarn to work with and this pattern is pretty simple , I'll post a picture when I'm finished. This will be for a very special baby in our life. My daughter is 27wks pregnant and we are thrilled.

Also on Friday night I had to pack my bags for a Postcard workshop with Kay D Haerland on Saturday (today). This was organised by some ladies in our sewing group and it turned out to be a really great workshop. Kay is a very generous tutor with both her expertise and supplies. She was at all times calm and professional and most of all inspiring.

I have taken photos not just of my work but also the work of some of the other ladies. Unfortunately I didn’t take any photo’s of Kay’s work but believe me it was great. We all finished our leaf postcard and started on our own design before completing what Kay calls “Hug” cards. This workshop was full of useful techniques and gave me confidence to be a bit more adventurous with thread and my machine.

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Have a great weekend and enjoy what you are doing love Annie

Easter Feasts

Hi everyone I hope your Easter was spent with family and friends, as was mine. On a sad note we lost my grandmother on Sunday night, she was 94 and always a force to be reckoned with and was more than ready for death when it came. It was just the rest of us that were taken by surprise.

This picture was taken on her 90th birthday with the quilt I made her. This stayed on her bed in the nursing home and was one of the things she remembered even when we were a faded memory.

On a happier note I  also got to spend time with my family and we all had a lovely Sunday lunch where I made an apple pie that Heidi from Hand made by Heidi posted on her blog. it is a great recipe and we all enjoyed it.

I also made a potato salad by Rachel from P S I Quilt (no photo sorry) and I also made a Lemon Meringue Pie from my grandmother’s recipes.

You will need shortcrust pastry to fit a 9”pie tin I used the left over from the apple pie. Frozen pastry also works. Blind bake

The Filling

1 can condensed milk

1/2 cup lemon juice

and 3 eggs lightly beaten.’

Combine and pour into pastry.

Topping

3-5 egg whites

1/2 cup caster sugar

1 tsp cream of tartar (optional)

Beat until egg whites are stiff , gradually add sugar and cream of tartar. Continue beating until mixture is stiff and glossy. Spoon or pipe onto filling.

Bake in moderate oven until top is golden brown.

So thanks again to the blogging community for great food ideas and I hope someone enjoys my grandmothers  lemon meringue pie.

I have also joined a Pillow Swap organised by Jami from Modified Mix. There is still time to join and it sounds like fun.

Love Annie