Slow Stitching in July

 Hello friends. If you are here in Aus. you will be decidedly chilly. And here in beautiful sunny Queensland overnight temps of zero are just not welcome lol! Thank goodness there's an abundance of quilts.

As I mentioned last post, I have joined in with #roxyjournalofstitchery once again. The project for Volume 6 is "Field Notes" which is right up my street. The inspiration was UK Edwardian naturalist and journal keeper...Edith Holden. I have loved her pages for years....all her delightful watercolours and poems and quotes appropriate to her theme and nature walks discoveries. 

Because I was eager to get started I made some preparations for the cover I had in mind. I am trying where I can to have an Aussie flavour....not always going to be possible as the inspiration is from the UK. 

The project is to be a concertina form.

So it will unfold in one long strip. The cover will technically be stitched on the back and I am going to use some stiffening to make it robust. I have to admit to having gone a bit over the top with my cover but I love it! You will espy my little Fairy Wren drawing, embroidered and I did the same for the Dandelion...the bees favourite. A real feather collected on a wander.

Now because I jumped the gun with the cover I didn't realise there would also be a title page and not wanting to NOT have a title page I did that too...yep completely over-the-top! But I  care not lol!

The silk ribbon pansy was one of several I made many moons ago. Many of you have probably done the same....so happy to use it. OK still with me? We then moved on to Prompt No. 1 which is SPRING BULBS. Hmmm dilemma. Australia has only about 3 wild bulbs plants. So I caved and went with a Tulip. Thinking of Floriade in Canberra was as close as I could get to Aussie flavour. I drew and embroidered a tulip.

I made a pocket from lace and then drew a tulip and bulb on an aged tag to pop inside.

I added a little quote about Spring on the back....oh how I wish I had lovely hand writing *sigh

I am hoping that I can combine stitching and drawing in this project. I have a little accordion booklet with birds who visit my garden waiting in the wings...pardon the pun for a future prompt.

So I am having a very nice time with this project and hanging out for the next prompt.

I can hear the kettle boiling...definitely cuppa time and I think today a little hand quilting to keep my knees warm.

I shall leave you with this poem which speaks to me and reminds me frankly of myself all through the years from childhood until now.

Take care, 

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

Hello July

 Good morning everyone. I know time goes by at the same pace so it's silly to say.....it went by so fast but my perception was that it did! 

I have been muddling along....hand quilting Where We Love is Home when my shoulder allows....medical advice....stop using it! Hmm not going to happen so I must not complain and hopefully not irritating it too much will help....I am now over half way on my quilting.

I have also managed to get the binding on my 1797 Revisited quilt. This quilt is a recreation of a 1797 antique coverlet ftom the UK.

It was a huge amount of work, all EPP with one elongated hexagon as the template.

I told myself I would count how many but haven't. I used mostly my stash of lovely French Feneral fabrics....

You can see friend Fiona's beautiful quilting on it. I decided on a French Blue binding.

And I had saved a pretty blue embroidered doiley for my label.

Very happy to have this one complete. Really love this quilt and feel a sense of accomplishment to have stitched it. Thanks to my dear friend Fiona for her beautiful quilting on it.

A little project of the heart for a stitching friend is happening. I chose one of my own designs....reduced it down and stitched it in the nominated colour.

It's been school holidays here so have enjoyed some family outings and delicious treats....fortunately there was some walking involved too, so hopefully negated the kilojoules. 

My Daughter has been researching my Father's side of the family as I had no real knowledge in that area. She has uncovered so much and it's great to have that information. 

So she and I had an adventure to our historic Toowong cemetery where many of them rest.

It was very interesting and we found my Grandfather,  Great Grandfather and several others resting together....still on the hunt for others. We decided that it was very sad the condition most were in....neglected after several generations had passed.

I have been very excited to start Roxy's Journal of Stitchery Vol 6 which is using Edith Holden's beautiful nature diaries for inspiration. 

It is called FIELD NOTES. I am aiming to have the feel of a vintage nature journal to my interpretation. So will see how I go.

I will share progress and beginnings next post. 

OK almost done. Thank you to those of you who leave lovely comments that I can't reply to you....appreciate them all.

Often I am asked why I sign off with Namaste. I have been a practitioner of Yoga for nearly 40 years.....the physical arm now is not as it was but that is real life. Other aspects have given me tools and peace over these years. Namaste to me is a beautiful greeting and I have inserted the meaning below....so...

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

                                                                

June is Busting Out All Over

 Hello friends.  Life has kept me busy and away from blogging. A lot has revolved around family. I was recently very proud of our youngest Grandson who and 3 mates took part in a 48km hike (actually was 51kms) to raise funds for disadvantaged youth in the Kokoda Youth Challenge.

To pass the time, his Dad, Sister and I  had dinner out at my footy teams clubhouse. The Brisbane Broncos. Lovely meal and company eased our nerves.

They completed the trek in just under 15 hours. They were also held up for an hour waiting for an injured walker to be rescued. He hit his pillow at 1.30 am the next morning. Along with his poor Mum who volunteered as a check point person. Biased but awesome effort I say!

I have also attended the extension workshop for Gel Printing with my friend Alan. Really enjoyed this one and felt more confident at the end. Plus exploding brain with ideas lol!

We got to play with a big gel plate which was interesting. I loved how much more Botanicals we could play with on the bigger plate. 

But the "ghost" prints still were my favourites.

This delicate blue ghost is beautiful and so detailed in its print....you may not be able to see it very well....LOVED this one! Feathers of course!

We are hoping to go back to Kim's for more adventures in this medium. The beautiful drive up into the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast is a lovely bonus!

Now as well as fun there are chores. After 3 years of neglect I finally am tackling my disgusting sewing cave.....I now have a clean art and cutting space, tidy machine area and clean and tidy shelves.

Lots of charity bags, rubbish bags and recycling have happened. I still have to sort a big cupboard....arrggh! And sort and place paper and art supplies in their new containers! But looking MUCH better. 

Stitching has been slowly working away on my hand quilting of Where We Love is Home.....shoulder permitting.

I've made some pretty papercraft tags....

And attempted....not terribly attractively a junk journal from those nasty bill envelopes that come in the mail...but it has been fun.

The purpose being to try out ideas for a lovely mixed media journal my husband bought me before he passed away.....that I haven't attempted to use....you know keeping it for goodness knows what....he would be telling me to just get on with it and use it! So that's my intention!

OK lovely folk that is it for now. 

Take care.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx