FNSI January

I think perhaps I just managed to sneak in to sign up for our January...

WENDY at SUGARLANE QUILTS  gathered us together....thank you x
I continued on with my mission to complete 1797 Revisited. So I finished sewing the last five cream pieces on the last long round......

So I am on to the four corners....I got the next lot of pieces basted for the corners before bed.....

I decided on another red row. Getting a bit excited to be doing these.....the end is definitely in sight!
Because I have a little black house guest....a sad one at that....who insists on sitting on my quilt.......

I am going to treat myself to some tracing on another project that has been tempting me to start.....whispering to me every time I passed by it lol!

Flowerville, a gorgeous pattern by Rosalie Dekker. I have decided that I am going to stitch it all in one colour....Cottage Garden Thread....Pansy.  It goes nicely with all my brighter Tilda fabrics. I shocked myself that I loved these brighter colours.
Not at all my usual colour palette.....but love them I do!
I hope wherever you are if here in Aus. that you are getting some of this lovely rain.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Rounding Out The Week

I bought a plate from wildlife artist, Nathan Ferlazzo......100% profits went to wildlife charities helping wildlife from the Bush fires....I chose a Magpie.

I was after the koala but the good news is.....they were SOLD OUT along with lots of other designs! So great result!
We had Granddaughter Miss E. visit this week and she helped her Grampy makes some scones to have with jam and cream. She loves to bake.

We were told with confidence that she could beat the cream.....and lick the beaters after....lol! They were very delicious and Miss E. took hers home to share with her family!

I have a tiny room where I sew and to be brutally honest....it was a disgrace! So I have spent several days having a good old cull.......into charity bags and the bin. I disposed of sooo much paperwork from my other life as a craft magazine contributor......very freeing!   I can now SEE my cutting board and shelves.  I still have some sorting in the fabric draws but it feels so much better.....

I am still working way on 1797.....not boring you with another pic lol!
A nice surprise in the garden also this week.....my yellow Clivia has flowered after 6 long years of waiting.  It was a gift for a special birthday from my dear friend Gaye who sadly passed away......

 I had to wait until some heavy showers passed to get a photo....and the raindrops looked just beautiful! I think the secret may have been DDs little Preppies class. They have a worm farm and collect the "tea" and bottle it as a fundraiser...... in desperation I gave the Clivia a good drink of it.....anyway....happy dance here!
 That's me done for the week......hairdressing appointment now to make myself bewtiful!
I wish you all a lovely weekend.

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

A Little Mini

I have a finish on my little Natalie Bird stitchery.......I teamed it with some lovely Paris Fleamarket fabric and a little dark rose peeper.

I am pleased at how it looks on my smaller mini quilt hanger, which I have had for sooooo long waiting for the right one.

 I thankfully had the birdie button for the top....

I added an extra little butterfly stitchery where the lost button belonged.....

I decided that a big tidy up was necessary in my little sewing cave of mysteries.....wish I  had embraced my inner sloth as I found this.....

Another poor forgotten project! Arrrgggh!  Tidying always leads to trouble for me lol! I am leaving it out overnight maybe the quiltmakers elves will take pity on me and finish it for me **sigh! If not I can't abandon it.....the fabrics are too lovely!
I would like to say after my labours all day, plus charity bags and rubbish bin empties that it's all looking smicko! But my tiny room still seems to be bursting!
Anyway SOME things have moved on.......tick! Looking at the positives.
Sewing time is....back to 1797.

Our pink bottlebrush has decided to put on a wonderful show and cover herself with beautiful brushes.....

The colour is gorgeous and the golden tips....stunning!

Lovely to see something so pretty and cheery.
Ok off to enjoy my evening cup of tea and get back to 1797.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

All Things Green and Bushfire Blocks

After we had some noxious Cocos palms removed from our pool area a few years ago it looked dreadful and the whole garden bed needed seeing to! The remaining trunk and roots bits had to be helped along to break down. Finally the Mister decided it was friable enough to have a good old clean out and he did a great job!

There are still a few rocks to gather together artistically lol! And then it will be ready for less invasive and more wildlife friendly natives.
This enabled me to utilise my Christmas gift from dear husband......a new bird bath for this area......

It is situated next to a large red bottlebrush that the birds just love and it has  lots of trimmed lower branches to rest on and check out the bath in safety!

Love it! Do you have water stations for wildlife in your garden.....so crucial in this on going drought. I have 2 bird baths in my front garden.....I get great joy seeing a magpie, butcher bird or lorikeet having a good old drink or frolic in them.

And the last one I made when I first began pottery many moons ago. Sadly its base is long since broken....but....I use the top as a lizard and small critters water station.....and they do use it. Being very shallow it is perfect!  I have seen bees perched on the pottery rocks and drinking and lots of lizards......even a lazy, fat bottomed possum, one evening who couldn't be bothered leaning down from the low branch near the other bird baths lol!

I spent some time this week making some blocks for the folk effected by these horrific bushfires. It is being coordinated by Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild and if you look for them on Instagram or Facebook you will get the details, if you wish to join in too.
The theme is Trees.....green leaves, seedlings and new growth....if you follow the hashtag #bushfireblocks once there you will get some ideas.
These are mine...need a press....sorry!

I think we all feel a bit helpless in these times.....so it was good to contribute.
Still on green....I sadly cannot tolerate onions or garlic (which I love) but I can, spring onions....the green bits. However buying them in bunches, some always goes to waste......I dislike waste A LOT!  So I decided to bung the leftover bulb and roots bit into my vegie patch to see what would happen....... so I could perhaps do a visit and pick scenario.....AND they haven't died! Woohoo! So fingers crossed....no more wastage! Snip, snip, snip, when I need them....

I am still enjoying sewing my little stitchery and it is coming along.

Such a sweet design.
Can you smell coffee? No? I can! You'll probably need one after that long winded post.....byeee!
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Normal Transmission Resumed

Now that I am feeling so much better, Christmas decorations finally got put away and my house got a good going over.....

I did some very slow stitching when I was ill, on my 1797 Revisited quilt and now the 2nd last full round is finished.....

The next row is once again lights....so they are now underway!

After this row I can start on each of the corners......yipee!
I have been reading lots of  blogs about getting sorted for the new year of stitching....UFOs etc. But yours truly just doesn't feel like doing that this year....instead I am going to attend to some of the projects that I have fancied without putting pressure on myself....I was pleased with the UFOs I ticked off last year.....so I am decreeing a "PLAY" year for me!
One of such projects waiting is this sweet stitchery by Natalie Bird.

I have a narrower mini quilt hanger that I have wanted a quilt for and this is perfect  for it. I have lost one of the buttons but have drawn another butterfly so all good to go. It's nice to have a little break from 1797!
I also have a new book to read......dropped to me by lovely friend Bev when I was ill.

Very apt title at the moment!  Bev gave me the first book as a birthday present and we both came to the conclusion there would be a sequel.......we were right but we have had a bit of wait. Lol! There is something special about stories shared and enjoyed with friends.
So that's me all caught up for now.
To all of my fellow Aussies in bushfire areas please take care....you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

2019 Round Up

Well here we are on the eve of a new year and a new decade.....like all of you I suspect,  it's been a year of doing life......good bits and not so good bits. Thankfully the scales have tipped in the good bits direction more often than not.  I was very happy to round out the year with a visit to my Mother, Brother and SIL.

We had a delicious lunch made by my little brother.....always knows how to spoil us.....so fresh and summery......we ladies, played ladies and enjoyed a chilled Pimms!

An all round lovely day.
I haven't done one single stitch though as these are my friends at the moment!

So no wild partying for me! Just rest and some movies....nothing so enjoyable as a Summer lurgy!
I did do a little collage of what I have been doing this year both art and stitching......

No wonder I don't get to the dust bunnies as regularly as I should lol! Each project has bought such joy, learning and fun times spent with friends....or often corrupted by friends lol!
Thank you to all of you lovely folk who drop by my blogs, leave me such positive comments and to those who just enjoy reading my posts......it is no small thing to connect with others and how wonderful we can through blogging connect with others all over the world in a positive and caring way.
I don't make new year resolutions......never have! I do however hold wishes for the new year for my loved ones.....health and happiness. And this year for our poor parched and burnt homeland.....it's effected people and wildlife.
Heartfelt gratitude for the amazing humans who risk their lives to keep us safe.
I pray there is some wet stuff in our future to ease their burden.
Finally I  wish you all...... time doing what you love.....and with those who value you.

May the long time sun shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you guide you on.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Christmas 2019

We had our family celebration on Boxing Day at our home.

Beautiful festive food and treats galore.......rumballs from DD a Christmas tradition.

No.1 Son a Toblerone tragic was very pleased with his haul.....

Gifts from the youngest generation to the oldest.....Miss E and her fruit cake and Miss C. rocky road....Great Granddad was impressed!

We had remote control car action from the boys....Miss E. kind enough to lend hers for the contest!

Relaxing with icypoles and planning the next lot of mischief lol!

A fun day for all.......
On Christmas day hubby and I relaxed after preparations for yesterday were done and enjoyed a very quiet time.
One of my favourite bits of Christmas music was listened to and enjoyed with a cuppa and shortbread.  Tony O'Connor is no longer with us. I adore his soft instrumental treatment of Christmas classics accompanied by Aussie birdsong and Bush sounds......beautiful!

I am pleased to have another little sewing tin to use when the goodies are gone...thanks Kay xx
Santa bought me another birdbath to help our feathered friends in this heat and a new DVD.....which I also enjoyed watching on Christmas Day.

Rest day today....May even see if I can find my stitching!
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx