Birthday Club

I belong to a lovely group of ladies who participate in a Fat Quarter Birthday Club. It is overseen and organised by dear friend the fabulous Cheryll of Gone Stitchin'
We get to nominate a colour range or flavour of what we may like to receive by way of a fat quarter.
This year I nominated anything vintagey from Moda. You also get to make a special gift for one on your list. My Angel was Claire from ClaireBear Quilts. Poor Claire is very unwell but she has still managed to spoil me so much with this beautiful parcel.

A lovely fabric project basket, the sweetest little tissue holder, Not 1 fat quarter but 4! Two of the yummiest charm packs, one of which is Christmas, lovely perle threads and a delicious chocolate which may/maynot be still in existence. Thank you so much Claire. I love it all!!! I wish you a very speedy recovery. Take care of you xxx
The other lovely fat quarters all came with a pinch of extra spoiling too I might add. Thank you Barb, Anthea and Sharon....all gorgeous!

Thank you Tarnyia, Chookyblue and Dzintra...

 I wish you could smell the soap Dzintra added to my parcel....oh it is just devine. It was called Ocean. I am going to have lots of fun playing with all my new little fatties.
Thank you lovely ladies for helping make getting another year older so much fun.
There has not been too much stitching going on around here....however a lot of hand quilting is taking place.
Have a lovely weekend all.

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Many Happies to Me!

Good morning all. It appears that yesterday morning I turned another year older...such a blessing.
I have been totally spoilt by my tribe which includes many of you. This post is photo heavy so don't say I didn't warn you but gratitude and saying thank you is important to me.
As you know without Mr R's early wonderful gift (my new tablet) we may not be even having this conversation....thanks dear! I spent the day with my dear friend Ann who travelled down from the Sunshine coast to be with me. Ann was well enough to travel on her planned overseas holiday...awesome news! So we had to catch up about that too.

Miss Erin popped into say hello too.

She was not keen on being interrupted from her important conversation for a photo. My friend always spoils me rotten and this time the birthday spoiling came all the way from Canada.....you know how I hate Jim Shore's work......lol!

Insert *Squeal* here! Gorgeous! I had been eyeing this fellow off on his website and drooling! Now he lives with me....I just love all the little creatures, especially the snowy owl.
Ann also made sure I had a tree decoration from her trip to Alaska....now you know who has led me into the path of obsession with all things Christmas don't you.

and a beautiful 2016 calendar full to the brim of gorgeous feathered friends...

and I was so happy that Ann has been making her lovely cards again (even though she is far from satisfied) I love it.

We did lunch...oh and had cake! Maybe a bit of retail therapy, definitely lots of talking lol!
It was just perfect! Makes my heart so happy to have my friend doing so well.
The postie has been very busy dropping off parcels over the past week and it makes me wonder how I got this very blessed with my friends. One such parcel came from my dear friend Fiona from Bubzrugz. Fiona knows me soooo well!
Inside a beautiful birdie.....oh love it!

It is very happy in it's new home.

Thank you so very much Fiona xxx
I was very spoilt by my friends at Stitching group as well....thanks so much girls x

Another parcel was from my dear friend and LGS roomie Cheryll talk about spoilt!

Beautiful sewing caddy so beautifully stitched and the yummiest of fabrics....thank you Cheryll. You are very naughty xxx
I also belong to a Birthday Fat Quarter club and received some beautiful fabrics but I am off to do a separate post because they deserve to have their own.
DD is taking me out for afternoon tea on Saturday which I am looking forward to very much....so it is stretching out this birthday.
Thank you so much for all the lovely gifts and messages....a beautiful thought goes such a long way and I appreciate each and every one.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Super Saturday

Yesterday I was asked to join some lovely blogging friends at the Full Moon Hotel Sandgate.

The meeting was to meet Holly from Nimble Thimble-Stitchery Do all the way from Canada. Holly is so delightful and has been enjoying her trip down under.

It was such a fun get together....I was keeping a little secret under my hat.....Chooky from Chookyblue was coming to. I was so excited to meet her after all this time. Almost had to sew my lips together to stop from spilling the beans.....the next big surprise was Lynette Anderson.....I have always loved Lynette's work and one of my favourite quilts is one of Lynette's designs.... thrilled is a word that comes to mind....and they bought gifties! How lucky were we.

Chooky's lovely cards and Lynette's newest fabric range in a sweet charm pack.

.

 Never ever thought that I would be discussing one of "MY" quilts or projects with Lynette Anderson. Took about surrreal! Lynette was so lovely and encourging about my book too.....still smiling!

I was under strict instructions to bring extra books and my quilt from the book...so I happily obliged.

Lots of lovely people wanted me to sign their copies....felt like a bit of a celeb. LOL!

We were a very jolly bunch....

Huge thanks to Susan from Susan's Sewing Space for organising it. Thanks so much to Teresa from All Things Vintage for the photos....some silly person left her camera on the table at home.
And thanks so much for asking me, I had a wonderful time.
Ok back to reality....I think some quiet soothing hand quilting is in order to restore balance.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

It's Time To Reveal?????

Finally I can reveal to you what my "Secret Sewing Long Term Project" is......you see over the last 2 years I have been designing, drawing, stitching, quilting and consolidating lots of projects for this!

My very own 42 page Christmas Book! So I am so thrilled to finally be able to share with you
"A HOLLY COTTAGE CHRISTMAS" My inspiration for the little cottage came from our travels though South Australia and Victoria. I was smitten when we chanced upon them in little country towns. I also wanted a little Aussie flavour too.

 The book contains 9 projects including a quilt and a table topper. The designs are all full size so no enlarging on copiers etc. 2 of the smaller projects have an alternate design and there are 6 gift tags...plenty to keep you stitching your heart out.

Plus a bonus tree ornament and 3 quilt label designs. All the applique blocks in the quilt would be lovely used individually too.....of course there had to be birdies!

And who doesn't love pudding?

My partner in crime in this venture has been my lovely brother Ross.... he took my chaotic work and turned it into something that I am really proud of. Thanks so much little brother for telling me over and over that it will all be fine....

I really hope you love it as much as I do. If you are interested in a copy you can email me to order it.
The cost will be $32.00 AUD plus $3.50 postage here in Australia. I am always happy to quote for overseas postage. Wholesale enquiries are also very welcome.
So there you have it folks....secrets revealed. Having my very own book has been the little shiny star at the top of my wish tree for myself for a very long time. So it just goes to show you that you can always chase a dream and catch it.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

FHFS etc.

Oh my goodness I have been very spoilt with my parcel in the FHFS ruler cover swap. This lovely parcel was waiting at the door....

Lots of goodies inside from my lovely swap partner dear Kate from Show and Tell.

My new ruler cover is beyond beautiful...

Kate has sewn tape measure trim on the cover and the handle. The flap has beautiful punch needle segments on it....oh love it! It is so beautifully done.

I just loved the notepad and the special "Chookyblue" card....

Thank you so much Kate for that lovely spoiling xxx Such a lovely group of ladies!!!!
I have been diligently hand quilting away and I am on to the second border...sorry the photo is a bit erk, but it is very cloudy and grim here today...

I even have 2 needles going at once lol! More action on it today!
Yesterday I finally finished my Cape Barren Goose. My cousin who is a Ranger very kindly sent me a photo he had taken. I chose to place it amongst the Poa grass where they make their nests....this meant lots more hours of work lol! But I am pleased with it.

Time for a snack and a cuppa....bit miserable here today but the garden is loving the drizzle.
It also means....great quilting weather!!!
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

FNSI

As I was joining my online friends for our monthly stitching evening I thought I  would  dress for the occasion. ....you know colour coordinated and all that!

Well my socks match m
Minnies bow! I was nice and snuggly in my pj's by the fire. 
I decided I would have a bit of a break from the hand quilting and just relax with some stitchery...

I managed to get a little done. I do like this one...an oldie but a goodie!
I turned in early as I had an early start today. I booked in for a workshop on drawing flowers in Coloured Pencils.  I  enjoyed it very much. I have been really wanting to  get up close and personal with some of our native flora....but I was a great old scaredy cat. Today I jumped in both feet...
Beautiful Grevillea.

A bit more tweaking but overall I feel much more confident now.
We received some wonderful news last night.  Lucas our son got clear pathology results from all his surgery....insert huge *sigh*. Lots of checks will always be his life but we are so relieved.
Thank you everyone for all your kind words, thoughts and prayers.
Thanks Wendy for hosting us again for FNSI. I will be off visiting later to see everyone's efforts.
Namaste and Blessings
Michelle  xxx

In Our Neck of the Woods

Saturday we had an early birthday celebration for our son as he is in hospital today for it after undergoing major surgery. Not a fun way to spend your birthday. it was a great family day full of noise, chatter, kids, very nice food and laughter.
We of course had to have cake.....and cupcakes even better!

It's always good to have help blowing out your candles...

and doing a bit of a taste test...yep! All good!

Thanks Aunty Melissa for the piccies!

Happy Birthday Lucas...love ya lots xxx
On the sewing front, lots of quilting still and a little bit of red work. I haven't stitch this one for a very long time and I am really enjoying it.

When I visited Fiona up on her mountain, she was telling us she was off the air with computer issues and how awful it was. We all commiserated and teased her just a teensy bit.....I got home and.... my tablet had died lol! That'll learn me!! Much moping took place.....and then...
My lovely husband bought me a very early birthday gift (secretly I think he was sick of looking at the saaad face lol)....it is so nice and takes piccies too! Yay! I was never totally happy with the one before but not knowing anything about them....but I now know better....love this one!

Isn't she pretty? Yes I know that is just the case.
Thought I would tease you just a little more about the "Michelle's Secret Stitching Long Term Project".....won't be too much longer!

Intrigued???? I hope so! LOL!
I hope if you are here in Oz that you are managing to keep snuggly and warm. It's blowing a gale here today.

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

A Little Road Trip

Yesterday I took my lovely Kiwi friend Raewyn who is over here on holiday from Love to Stitch up the mountain to Highfields outside Toowoomba for a visit with Fiona from BubzRugz.

After a very nice coffee reviver and get to know you chats we had a delightful wander around The Quilter's Angel. We had a special little tour to see where Fiona has those special cakes and stitching on some Friday nights.

The fire was going and we were surrounded by all manner of gorgeousness....such a lovely place. I had bought a list and was very chuffed to have crossed everything off....can't show you though...sorry! However just when I thought I was home and free, you know...thinking of others and all that... some beautiful Christmas themed French General fatties fell into my bag.....restrained is what I was!!! Only 2! Why oh why do they keep bringing out more gorgeous fabric??? I cannot resist!

Murmurs of "I don't need anything and I am just looking" were soon forgot by all three once inside.

Fiona then took us down the highway a little to the Danish Flower Shop for a very nice relaxed lunch with Kris from Tag-a-long Teddies. Most of you will know Kris from OPAM. Kris is such a fun date and much fun and laughter took place....and all manner of other naughtiness!

We were visited by this very handsome gentleman. He came to see what all the ruckus was about.

We were also visited by several beautiful fairy wrens pursuing a very pretty girlfriend...alas they were too quick for my old camera....I have borrowed a piccie from google for those of you were don't know what they are...my overseas friends I mean. They are so tiny and I just love watching them.

We sat in the warm sunshine to have our lunch and there were even some lovely roses out in bloom.

A lovely, lovely day.....just what I needed. Such great company too. Thank you girls.

Turn away footy haters now!!! I just had to say....
Our mighty Maroons defeated NSW on Wednesday night by a small margin hehehe!
Just for posterity mind!

Pleased as punch in our household!
I wish you all a lovely weekend,
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx