Surprise! I am Still Breathing

 Hello friends. It's been so long since I posted. A dear friend (you know who you are) reminded me just how long...so hear I am. It will probably be a long novel so I apologise in advance.

Spring has arrived in my little corner of the world and I am very thankful for all that pretty cheerfulness. My orchids both old and new have been putting on a show as you can see above. How they still thrive despite my neglect never ceases to amaze me!

Life has kept me busy. My youngest Granddaughter....our little drummer girl was rushed to hospital in June and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. She was quite ill and in hospital for 8 days. This has been quite the life altering change for my Daughter making sure Miss E has everything she needs and as my Daughter does all the heavy lifting in the parenting department, quite the challenge. There was so much to learn and understand. So I gave support when I was needed.

Miss E has been just a rock star, getting across everything she needs to do. She never ceases to amaze me that kid. Not to mention my Daughter Seriously! So proud of them both!

I also celebrated my birthday out and about in my city which was such a fun day. Ticking off several things on my bucket list. Why is it when you live somewhere you often don't partake of its offerings.....well we changed that! My Daughter and family gifted me a champagne high tea at historic Customs House (one of my favourite Brissie landmarks) on the Brisbane River, a cruise down the river and back on a city cat ferry and finished with a ride on the large Ferris wheel at Southbank. Not to mention tea and cake with my sons family on my actual birthday. So very spoilt!

I had a lovely weekend away in July with some of the Sunday Stitchers and with the help of Miss Helen FINALLY got my Postcards quilt top together. It had been languishing in a box waiting for me to get my act together to assemble it. The blocks represent all the trips, places and experiences my husband and I shared road tripping around Australia. Its quite special to me as we collabrated together over where and what would be included. I finished the last blocks sitting with him when he was ill. So it was a bit emotional getting it together but I am so glad that I did.

I also have my long term framed hexie quilt together. Still makes me happy looking at all the fabrics in this one. Lots of friends represented too xx This quilt helped me keep stitching when my mojo went walkabout without me.

However due to very LITTLE encouragement from fellow Sunday Stitcher De (although I am laying blame at her door) I have begun another one using pieces of old doilies this time. I fancied making one for a long time. After seeing De's gorgeous efforts....couldn't resist! Have to say loving this one too. Making all the framed hexies at present. Love that although slightly damaged their beauty and some other needle woman's work gets a new life rather than ending up in landfill!

Turns out this one is also bring aided and abetted by friends. Lol!

Do you ever have silly things you wished you'd done when young but then think shame I'm too old for that now? Well lucky for me I have Grandies who think that's nonsense I.e. you are never TOO OLD. So Granddaughter Miss C and I made a pact....she would be brave and get a helix piercing in her ear she desperately wanted but was scared to do if I got my nostril pierced like I had always fancied but also too scared to do, especially as a very old chicky You know...what would people think and all that....SO WE DID. Public opinion and terror be damned.....and then we celebrated with lunch with the rest of our girl family ( I can admit here when the needle went in I was certainly we thinking my actions lol) 

But never to young to learn we girls can do scary things! GIRL POWER and all that!

Speaking of scary things my youngest Grandson won his first Muay Thai fight....cannot believe that this is my littlest Grandson. Bit terrifying watching that unfold. Both lads were great respectful competitors.

OK so to jump in yet another direction. Are you dizzy yet? Some art spam.....currently working on a sweet little Scarlet Honeyeater. Lots and lots of leaves! Plus red in coloured pencil is a challenge trying to create depth of colour but he's coming along.

I think perhaps I have sort of caught you up with what I  have been up to.

I am currently dog sitting my old gentleman Grand Dog for his family....

He's not a bit interested in my stitching lol!

Until next time....hopefully not as long between drinks.....I  wish you some little sparkles of joy amongst the difficult times.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

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