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

Hello March

 Hello friends.....Autumn is here so the calendar says.....the humidity and heat here indicates that's a fib!

So what have I been up to? Lots of those yearly chores like car services, pest inspections and treatments etc. But a lovely celebration also took place in February....my eldest Grandson turned 18. So feel free to scroll on by.....a few pics lol!

He didn't want anything partywise....that's not him.....so we took him to an interactive baseball venue with the family for a day of crazy fun. We had a ball (pun intended) all the boys were playing for keeps lol! And the girls weren't slackers either!

Snaps with the family....Aunty, Uncle, Cousins, Sister, Mother and little old me.

These two were mates as well as cousins from the get go. Love this!

Cocktails were tried....

And lunch was very much American fast food themed cuisine but we all enjoyed it. I have to say how proud I am of my Daughter. Through a lot of adversity she has raised this boy almost single handedly and he is a credit to her and her alone x

He got to celebrate again the next day with his mates from his baseball team.

The sensible and the silly lol!

So Happy birthday Lachie xxxx

Stitching has been Book 2 of Textile Tales. It's taking me longer than expected but I am ok with that because I don't want to rush it. A little preview. I shall show details when it's done. I am running behind but I am ok with it.

So you can see I have not been idle lol!

My Galahs are coming along. Lots of extra details being added so still a ways to go.

Plus my Elephant Mama and Baby are all framed up and being loved in the UK.

Last year a dear lady and friend who encouraged me greatly when I began quilting passed away in her nineties....she was a fabulous human being and the most exquisite needlewoman. Anyway her lovely Daughter contacted me to see if I would like the initial I had embroidered for her...25 years ago would you believe. I agreed. So nice to have this special piece Mavis and I shared.

Some people just make the world better by being in it!

That's me caught up.

Be kind and take care.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx