It may have been pouring rain outside yesterday, but that didn’t stop volunteers from braving the weather to decorate trees all through Warwick, Queensland in time for the Jumpers and Jazz in July festival opening today. Jumper in the States may mean a shapeless dress, but over here the word refers to cozy sweaters.
My friend Ann and I pulled our own jumpers a bit tighter against the cold so we could check out some of the earliest completions like this gorgeous tree outside the library.
We couldn’t get over the detail in this amazing display in the library parking lot. A whole table covered with knitted food like spaghetti and meatballs…
…and a knitted hamburger with French Fries next to a platter of knitted burritos. Someone was very creative. 🙂
Tucked up in the tree was this little knitted doll with a star-topped wand, and all sorts of other creatures like owls and bugs.
Even the Warwick Town Hall was decked out for the occasion with its stately pillars covered in a rainbow of patchwork squares and larger than life knitted flowers.
For the next two weeks thousands of people will descend on our little country town to attend jazz festivals, gourmet dinners, wine tastings and all sorts of events.
On Sunday afternoon a group of friends and I will attend the Like Chocolate for Women event. I’m so excited to see this interesting combination of soft jazz, delicious chocolate and inspirational speaking.
It’s put me in the mood for chocolate, of course. Something decadent like these oh so simple but delectable Dark Chocolate Cups that my friend Shirley and I made. Filled with coffee-flavored yogurt, fresh fruit and whipped cream, they are light but scrumptious.
What is your favorite chocolate dessert?
Dark Chocolate Strawberry Yogurt Cups
Ingredients:
4 dark chocolate cups
1 small container latte/coffee flavored yogurt
1 banana, sliced
1 pint strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 Tbsp powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
4 sprigs mint leaves
Directions:
- Divide yogurt evenly among four dark chocolate cups.
- Add bananas and strawberries.
- Whip cream until stiff, fold in powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Top dark chocolate cups with whipped cream.
- Garnish with fresh mint leaves.
Only on your site would I see such incredible photography – OUTSTANDING! You are truly living “the life”, Krista!
What an outstanding festival!!!
On a completely different note – have you considered joining our Cheesepalooza project? It will be a riot – and my favourite chocolate desert is the bete noire (on my site), flourless chocolate cassis cake, and the chocolate mousse cups on my site. LOVE THEM ALL! And your little cups look yummy, too!
🙂
V
Thank you SO much, dear Valerie. 🙂 You sure know how to put a smile on my face. 🙂 Cheesepalooza?! That sounds like something I’d love. I’ll email you to get more info. 🙂
Yummy Krista. That chocolate cup looks so good 🙂 There are so very creative people in your town. I love the tree, it’s gorgeous. So now you’re in Australia do you find you keep saying sweater or have you converted to saying jumper?
It’s funny you ask that, Cathy, you would’ve laughed on Sunday. 🙂 I was chatting with three Aussie friends outside and said, “I’ll be right back, I’ve got to grab a sweater.” In unison they yelled, “JUMPER!” 🙂 I’m learning. 🙂
I’m grinning here Krista. I somehow guessed this is what you would say 🙂
Can you imagine how long they’ve been knitting for to be able to do that!! How novel..the tree is absolutely beautiful as is the chocolate cup!!
I know, @jenny_atasteoftravel:disqus! I’m in complete awe. Some of those projects must have taken days, if not weeks. Incredible. 🙂
Yarnbombing is taking over the world! My friend Lauren (aka @deadlyknitshade) has done loads of graffiti knitting projects over the years and they’re just fab. Her most recent project was for @btartbox, where she knitted a giant monster phone box called Muncher. His story is here, if you’re interested: http://www.btartboxes.com/02SculptureDetail.php?boxid=56
I’m very interested, @twitter-91303570:disqus Thanks so much for the links. 🙂
How fun are all of these decorations! Seeing all these colors would make me so happy. As would those strawberry cups. Swoon.
Aren’t they so darn cheery, @openid-119798:disqus ? 🙂 I just love them. 🙂
Such pretty and colourful arts and crafts! Certainly warms up a winter day =)
I kept catching myself grinning as I walked through town, Andrea. 🙂 It made me so cheerful. 🙂
I am ooozing with envy…Jumpers and Jazz so very cool.
Doesn’t it look fun, Velva?! 🙂 I can’t wait to experience more this weekend. 🙂
Oh my, this is so funny, the Town Hall looks amazing! I love it when cities come alive through art. And it looks quite cosy 😉
I do too, Hila. 🙂 It feels like a celebration. 🙂
It all looks to be so much fun, I wonder who had such a great idea to decorate it all this way. 🙂
I have no idea, Linda, but I hope to find out more this weekend. 🙂
What a fun event Krista, and those Dark Chocolate Cups look perfect to fill with the summer strawberries we’ve got over here – going into the recipe file, merci!
I’m so glad you like the sounds of them, Tuula. 🙂 They are so easy and SO delicious – perfect summer fare. 🙂
The yarn bombing looks like such fun. and strawberries n bananas w yogurt is an old favorite. So good! stay warm!
I’ve got my jumper on, tights and boots, I think I’m good to go, Paradis. 🙂