Merry Month of May

 Hello friends. It's a dreary old day here in SE Queensland today. We seemed to have been getting a drenching here on the coast and as life goes our western friends have been left wanting. My garden of neglect is growing like it's summer and not approaching Winter.

Totally overgrown! My poor little orchids have had their blossoms knocked about from all the heavy rain....lucky to snap one little spike for you.

So what have I been up to? Well.....I really have been trying to make some headway with my framed hexie quilt....so prepping lots of them to add on.

And I am happy that it is growing.

So many lovely fabrics featured....and lots of donations from friends. I do love scrappy like this! Consequently not a lot of other stitching has been happening.

I did start a new drawing project....a beautiful Magnolia that I was so lucky to snap a reference photo of in my friend Sandra's garden....my progress so far. It's been a little challenging blending the pencils to get the correct tones for the blooms.

Really enjoying this beauty. I also recently treated myself to a new small journal for sketching. 

But I seem to be suffering from" new blank page" syndrome. Can't seem to make a mark in it....I am really going to have to have a talk to myself lol! It's a bit like that fabric that you just can't seem to cut into! Sigh*

Since I posted last I have had a bit of socialising happening.....lovely lunch with friends and I adored this sweet dish of tiny pansies on our lunch table. They were so delicate and exquisite. 

Sunday Stitchers also happened...

With lovely show and tell....

I was treated to a movie date with my Daughter and Granddaughter on Mother's Day.

AND...We now have 2 new teenagers in the family which of course was celebrated with cake. These cousins were born 3 weeks apart.

I love spending time with this group of crazies x

Youngest Grandson participated in an exhibition match for his club for Muay Thai fighting.....my Son and Grandson.

He was called in at the last minute (after a late night Macca's shift I might add) due to a no show by another competitor. He was happy to oblige so his opponent didn't end up wasting his 3 month gruelling training. His opponent was very apprecitve....even though punching and kicking was involved lol! He did really well....how after such a late night I don't know. I guess it's called "youth" lol! Anyway proud he stepped up! We couldn't work out where this interest came from and then discovered my Dad was a featherweight boxing champion....who knew?

Well my friends, not a terribly exciting post but I have been busy doing nothing exciting lol!

So I shall get back to my hexies and see you down the road.

Take care of one another.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

April Roundup

 Hello friends. I hope you are all well. It seems Easter has come and gone. Mine was very quiet but did have a lovely casual gathering with family down by the Bay....our family spot for fish and chips...which were very delicious!

I was the experiment of Grandie girls doctoring photos lol! It was a bit showery but ended up being a beautiful evening that allowed for a wander out along the jetty. I have always loved the mosaics out there.

Youngest Grandson tried his hand fishing as the tide turned out at the end of the jetty but no luck. If there is any kind of water, he's got a fishing line in it lol! Just like his Grandad that way.

Are you a sucker for clouds....I am. More of the Granddaughter's shots. So pretty! The last one was the moon peeking through the clouds before we headed home.

This past Sunday we had a belated Easter catchup at Sunday Stitchers. 

The morning tea table was very cute and delish! We also had a little Easter treat bag swap.

This was what I made....

And I received Sandi's with the cutest chook and eggs inside....

A really fun day.

Now I have a couple of finishes. The first, one of my all time favourite Anni Downs designs...GOSSIP IN THE GARDEN. I found that projects that I was working on whilst sitting with my husband before he died just got put away out of sight. But recently I just felt like I wanted to get it finished. So ta da.....

Fiona and I worked on our own versions  together which was very nice.....kind of a long distance Stitch a Long and she also worked her quilting magic on mine as well.

The other finish was my Roxy's Journal of Stitchery Vol 7 project which was a Still Life in Textile. I really struggled with this one for some reason. Started out well and then I just couldn't make what I envisaged come into being. But I felt because it had a lot of special pieces on it I couldn't toss it either. Anyway I punished it by quilting the living daylights out of it and adding some binding and I can say now that I have moved from distaste to mild lukewarm like lol!

It's been school holidays here last week and I went with my Daughter and my Grandkids into the city to see MJ The Musical at QPAC. We had a great time! The music and performers were wonderful! It's special to be included in these outings with the younger generation.

We were in the "nosebleed" seats as my Daughter puts it....but was just fine! In fact I  preferred looking down on it all.

It was lovely seeing my city all lit up when we came out afterwards. 

I have been giving my framed hexie quilt some love at the moment....she's been a bit neglected. I've been sitting in the beautiful Queensland Autumn sunshine working on it and chatting to you nice folk. Also pondering my next drawing project, for some reason its illuding me. But it will make itself known if I am patient enough....simple pleasures.

I hope something beautiful comes to you today.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

Almost Easter

 

Well I don't know about you but Easter has kind of crept up on me this year. I had a hankering to admire my little collection this year so made a little display of my favourite pieces.

A friend several years ago gave me an Orchid piece which in usual Michelle fashion I tied it on a palm tree and crossed my fingers. I have been waiting for a blossom...and surprise this week....it's flowered. So pretty! Apparently it's known as an Easter Orchid. I have no clue if that's correct.

I've also had a few other pops of colour showing in the garden of neglect at the moment.....blue gingers and a little Dendrobium Orchid spikes.

We've celebrated DD birthday with first ever, from scratch, on her own, cake from Granddaughter. She was pretty chuffed with herself.

Book 2 in Textile Tales is complete. Sorry about the photo quality but it's such a dull day here.

And this ended up being my favourite page.

Book 3 is underway.....JANE EYRE. I was that annoying girl in English class that adored this book and that has never wavered. My Daughter gifted me for my 70th a beautiful gilt edged copy.

Currently working on this page spread.

Art space....I  am calling my galahs done....I've named it "Meringandan Mates " after the place and folks who inspired it. Really enjoyed creating this one.

Still art related I framed up my little watercolour fishes to gift to my Sunday Stitchers birthday friend....De. Also enjoyed putting this challenge together. We went with all things about your birthday month....zodiac sign, Chinese sign, birthstone, birth flower.....hence the little piscean fishes lol! 

It's a showery old day here today so after some chores I think it will be back to Jane Eyre and a coffee. I hope you are all enjoying your day.

Namaste and Blessings friends, 

Michelle xxx