Visiting Lipica



I get so annoyed when google flips my pics like this!!



I thought I'd share my trip to the Lipiuca Stud Farm with you. It's such a beautiful spot that it's too good to keep to myself.

Lipizzaner Stallions are beautiful white horses which are bred in Slovenia and known throughout the world. The Lipica stud farm is a local and tourist attraction and even offers riding lessons to those who are interested. Personally, I was more interested in enjoying the company of these horses with my DH, which is exactly what we did.

Of course, admiring the stallions is one thing, taking a carriage ride is another...

These horses are so majestic. Interestingly they are born dark and lighten as they mature.

These shots are postcard worthy, so you can imagine how tranquil being there was…. Every moment with these horses was beautiful.

The whole day was wonderful and warm. During our trip this year we experienced Europe’s warmest Autumn in 90 years!

Of course I packed for a traditional European autumn…but that’s another story! And another wardrobe! I can’t complain because the sunshine was not harsh, but warm and gentle.

Oh and here's a pic of my sister Danica and her partner who joined us on our jaunt

WOW: Are You Quilting In The Pink ?

 

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

In the last week I've had several unexpected requests for pictures detailing my quilting on In The Pink.

This is interesting, I wonder how many Pinky WIPs are out there?? I really love this quilt and it was a pleasure to make. I always love it when someone in the Yahoo Group posts an image of their latest In The Pink progress. It makes my day! I think some of you are getting this quilt finally finished in an end of year burst! I can't wait to see them when they are done.

To read more about In The Pink, click here.

Hearts Desire Inspires Another...

When I sit down for my mid-morning coffee to check my emails – well it’s usually all very predictable stuff in there. But not this morning! Every now and then, I get a really wonderful email that makes my day, like this one below from Lucia Martins who was inspired by Hearts Desire to make her own quilt!

Here is Lucia’s inspired quilt, Bluebird

 from what I gather on pinterest, it's needle turn

I think this design is really wonderful. I love it! It’s taken an element from Hearts Desire and created a whole new idea around it. Isn’t it great??? The colours, the scale and the detail is superb. I love the greens,the hearts, the vases, actually I think it all just works. I love the balance of the design. Of course I've shown everyone and they agree, it's lovely!

See more of Lucia’s work by clicking here.

(I've just spent half an hour in there admiring everything. I know, I know, how much longer can I ignore pinterest??? There are more great pics of this quilt there too.)

Hearts Desire is my previous BOM, and here’s my block:

Thank you Lucia

for sharing your beautiful quilt, I feel so privileged that you took the time to contact me.

I love seeing new projects and quilts created or inspired by my own work, that’s why my Yahoo Bom Group is such an exciting place – this kind of sharing goes on daily.

Growing Chilli

10 weeks ago my DD decided to grow some chilli plants for my DH who is very keen on them. She didn’t do the pendulum trick at the nursery and back home we have since discovered that we have 2 male, 2 female. Can you tell?

I’m not giving up on the 2 male (above) because they do sometimes fruit. I hope.

Look at this one,(side pic, female) hopefully it will keep my DH supplied all summer.

 

Anyone else growing chillies? Any tips?

Coffee Holiday Habits

With a coffee machine at home, I did wonder how I would get by on my travels without being able to make the perfect cappuccino within 3 minutes. This is a luxury I enjoy.

Well, I didn’t have to worry, I found coffee everywhere I went, and..

..being on holiday meant that I had to add cake alongside my coffee too

diet? what diet?

Well I thought coffee in Melbourne was overpriced, so Harrod's put it all into persepctive for me.

I usually pay AU $3.80 for a coffee, and my Harrod's coffee converted to AU $8.05

Coffee is now very much the same everywhere you go. It’s still overpriced. But a necessity nonetheless. Of course, after coffees I enjoyed other cafe delights too...

but coffee was the staple...

My school friend Vilinka makes an excellent coffee…and having known each other 40 years, we had a lot to talk about over our coffee. She is an extraordinary cake maker (see below pic!)…and a newly converted quilter! (maybe??…high hopes). She does own an Elna sewing machine and this a good start….

For someone who doesnt ordinarily eat sweets, I sure made up for it on holiday...

And lastly, a lovely slice made by my sister Danica.

Now I'm back home it's time to grind some beans and make some coffee and get down to work! Without the aid of cake...

WOW: Red December

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I must have 20 or so projects just like this – half done and waiting. So, this red WIP of mine has been waiting in the wings for quite some time. I pulled it out of my red stash shelf a few months ago and it’s been on my mind ever since. So here it is, I am calling it Red December because I like the name and I also plan to have it ready to launch in December (yes this year, hopefully). My first version that you can see here is stenciled and I am also going to make it in applique, it's just too nice not to. Also, I have too much red fabric not to, I'd like to use some stash!

It has 3 potential borders which I am still umm-ing and ahhhh-ing over, which may explain why it’s a WIP as I am going through loving / not loving each option all over again. Oh well, time for decisions.

  

Hopefully Red December (or perhaps Red January / February or March) will be a launch soon.

PS

Yes, it’s been nearly 2 weeks and the roses are still alive and I am still enjoying them. No such thing as too much red about the house…

Peaceful Pathways Part 4

Yes, we're already at Part 4! How time flies!

This month we are making the lovely patchwork style border. It’s worked in red and white (of course). This month is the final bit of hard work before we sail into the ending.

The more time I spend with this quilt, the more I love it.

I especially like how classic and easy if looks and feels at first glance, but how lovely the details are when you get to know it better.

The pics here are a bit shadowy as the weather was bright and stormy. Sorry!

I really like the white squares coming together to make the pieced hearts.

I just feel really glad making this quilt. And it's another for my red and white shelf.

Anyone else BOM-ing along with me?

Peaceful Pathways is my current free BOM

You can download the current month via my website or Yahoo Bom Group