New puppy

Miss D'arcy at 13, has a new mate.. the daughter she never had! Remy, so named after our last week in Provence staying at St Remy, is just gorgeous, soft and cuddly and reasonably well behaved for a 16 week old Retriever ! Puppy preschool on Wednesday nights still has me a little challenged but there are signs of progress...

Melbourne Cup!

Thanks to Tuesday morning class for getting in the spirit..

Yuletide Blessings to all & recipes

End of term for another year! It has felt a little like Christmas in classes this week with French champagne and quiche, together with little ' gifts' from my kitchen. My thanks to all who support Judi' s Studio with attendance and wonderful conversation.. Always lots to talk about .... While we sew of course! Enjoy the break and families over Christmas and New Year!

Below are recipes from this weeks classes you asked for. .. The little prune / walnut logs ( thanks to Mandy Walker) make nice gifts to serve on a cheese platter for a change, and the gourmet rocky road( thanks to Julie Darley) looks pretty and tastes rather nice too !
First log is made with 2 cups dried figs, whizzed in food processor ( leave 1/2 cup chopped not processed) add 2 tabs pine nuts with 1 1/2 tabs of vinocotto( available at Harris Farm Markets). Shape into log 4.5x 18 cm. Leave wrapped in foil for a few days then wrap tightly with foil in fridge for a few more days. Keep refrigerated and cut with a hot knife into slices and serve with honeyed walnuts and blue cheese... Lovely!
I have also included my recipe for pastry done in whizz... So easy! For savoury I add 1/3 cup Parmesan to flour and sweet 2 tabs castor sugar. The salmon quiche recipe is also a goody thanks to Jane Wiesener. Served with caramelized onion.. Yum!
Bon Apetit! Bonne Noel!

Bike Ride almost 300kms!

Starting at Blois after catching an ultra smooth train from Paris, did not disappoint... Our first hotel was probably16C and most of town and of course castle date back even further, being first mentioned in 6C!...OLD!
We managed to get away after bike fitting the next morning with a clutch of maps... Not necessarily matching any sort of signposting we are used to... The French way!
Arrived at Amboise in the rain after 45 ks of fascinating little villages, sunflower fields, vineyards and chateaux popping up here and there. The hot shower and delightful hotel De L'Abrelles set in woodland was very welcome. We spent the afternoon wandering around Leonardo's last dwelling, a beautiful small chateau called Clos de Luce and magnificent gardens, the whole experience memorable.

Tricky communications

My blog hasn't been as successful as thought so apologies for not posting as planned. Internet signal and strength have been very erratic in places like Nth Devon, Paris, Loire & Carcassonne, making it impossible to send much at all. Here in Provence at a charming hotel much better signal and a little time before we head home. Photos taken in a Paris 'passage' .... A fabric shop which felt like turn of the century, with gorgeous silks and a wall of buttons all in beige suede boxes.. A little slice of heaven.

Harrod's windows and a day in London

Loved London, can't believe I rode around parts of the city! It made it so easy to get to the changing of the guard without any traffic hassles, cyclists rule here, fantastic.

Beautiful Quilts thanks to Jan!

Congratulations to Jan Manchester who shared her fabulous collection of handmade quilts she has done over the last 10 years in a recent exhibition for charity. Everyone was bowled over by her ability with colour choice, design, hand work and sheer size of her efforts.. Just brilliant! Her are. Some of the close ups I couldn't resist taking on my iPhone, which include some of her friends work as well.