Sew...this and that!

At the moment I have several "needles" in the fire so to speak. I have been planning and working on my hexie ufo. I decided to add a little cohesion to the quilt by making some smaller hexies...

I am going to stitch them between the larger ones on the quilt.

The applique border is still forming in my mind but having little hexies in some of the applique fabrics will hopefully help bring it together.

I decided the little stitchery detail on the big hexies should appear on the border so I added it to the heart...

I am not sure whether more hexies will go on the borders as well or just straight applique??? Decisions! Decisions!
Now as if I didn't have enough to think about, I had seen in blogland all manner of blocks for this challenge. I loved the idea of a different colourway every month.

Lovely Dasha from Patching Pixies who embraces the challenge gave me lots of info and encouragement and so I  decided that I  would embrace this challenge in my own way....I did not want to piece anything or make loads of blocks but wanted a little hand work project that I  could do each month in the monthly colour.....using only my stash.
Ta Da! January which is blue with a hint of purple...

Each month I am going to stitch a little EPP Dresden Plate block! Thank you so much Dasha for your inspiration. To see what it is all about you can visit Angela at
http://superscrappy.blogspot.com.au Hopefully I will end up with a pretty rainbow of Dresdens!
Lastly I have continued to  work on Blessings....some more leaves!

Nearly there and then on to the little circles.
I have had a lovely morning spent with some beautiful women who constantly support and inspire me.....you know who you are xxx
Also this little dilly bag was recieved with delight by its new owner.

I  hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

A Special Evening

Last evening I joined my friends to wish our dear friend Sue a very happy "Special" birthday. Sue has been a friend for many, many years. Sue also in the winter months sails (yes in a beautiful boat) the seven seas...so it was very easy for us to get up to mischief whilst she was away and make her a quilt.
Sue was delighted and to say she was surprised is an understatement.....a truly beautiful moment! WARNING! Extremely photo heavy!
The parcel unwrapping...

The big reveal.

and...

Group shot with the birthday girl....thanks Paul!

Our Sue is a lady of quiet elegance and beautiful taste and so we went for simple and understated. A beautiful Moda jelly roll was out starting point...thank you Theresa. Such delicious fabrics in a simple Rail Fence pattern.

Of course before Sue got back we took a sneaky shot when we finished it...Diane and Robyn P. (invisible or so she thinks) modelling Sue's quilt.

I stitched a little quilt label and I had to note her lovely sailing ship.

Happy Birthday lovely lady and many blessings for the future xxx
Now as if that wasn't enough excitement it was also lovely Monica's birthday. Diane made a delicious pumpkin cheesecake to celebrate...I know vegetables and cake! Has to be good for you...there are no photos as it disappeared down lots of little rabbit holes very quickly. Happy Birthday Monica xx
Monica bought some show and tell as she, like the rest of us has been ufoing....I just love this project folder from Faeries in My Garden...

Close up of Monica's gorgeous embroidery.

Look at inside...

Beautiful!

Thanks for letting me share Monica.....it is truly gorgeous!
Needless to say it was a wonderful evening of joy, laughter and friendship and we did stitch! I think I just managed to crawl into my bed before the stroke of midnight...what good fun.
I think some quiet stitching may be the order of the day here today.
I shall leave you with a little scribble I wrote in my journal.
"A true friend is with you in sunshine and shadow. Both circumstances have the power to uplift us and hold us in a warm embrace.Nothing delights more than seeing Welcome in a friends eyes." - Michelle Ridgway.
Have a beautiful day folks.

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Stitching Day!

I am off down to the beautiful bay today because it is our first stitching day for 2016.

I am so looking forward to catching up.....and because I am extremely fortunate I get to do it all again this evening with some other lovely friends. I cannot promise a lot of stitching will happen....but I can't wait.
In a previous post I mentioned that I was keen to learn the art of water droplets....my model was a beautiful rose out at my friend Cathie's property. I nearly didn't bother getting out my camera because we had just had a very heavy shower of rain....very glad I did now!
"Raindrops on Roses"

I loved this piece from beginning to end....I really did get lost in these beautiful petals. I also have to say that I am quite chuffed with my raindrops!
Have a lovely day,  stitching and chatting await.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Happy Australia Day

I hope you enjoy your Australia Day celebrations.

I am off to my art class at Berrinba Sanctuary.

Couldn't be any more Aussie as some of my favourite furry Aussies live there. ..

Mr. R. is on call but has sport lined up  to watch this morning  while I am away...
Very Australian! I feel sure he would be disappointed if I decided to stay home lol! So I better do the right thing and go....such a hardship!
I hope you take some time to reflect today on how blessed we are to live in this sometimes harsh but astonishingly beautiful country.
Be kind to each other people.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Yum or Erk?

My hexie UFO has had me thinking hard. Stash diving over the weekend revealed an exciting find....

Several small pieces of some of the fabrics I used in the big hexies...yay! So I  have decided a combination of applique and small  3/4 inch hexie flowers using these fabrics would be perfect for the tan border....and may add a little continuity to the quilt.

 The first border however needed sorting before I moved on....I was DETERMINED to find something amongst my stash! I  finally decided on this blue/small brown print.
As I said in my heading....this may end up looking YUM or ERK!

I am reserving judgment until the applique and little hexie border are done. The final red border has this blue in it so I am hoping it will  gel rather than jar. Besides I banned the quilting and stitching police from my door long ago so anything is possible if I like it.
It wil be interesting to find out.
Lastly, thank you so much for taking my Tiny Teacup Teddies to your heart...it feels so lovely when you have enjoyed a creation so much and others love it too xx

Ok! Almost time to don the walkers and venture to my favourite place.....

Enjoy the rest of your day.
Namaste and Blesssings Michelle xxx

FNSI

After a very busy week I settled down last evening to stitch a long with my blogging friends. Hosted again this year by the lovely Wendy at Sugarlane Quilts.
I was extremely tired so I  chose to relax and quietly work on my current Blessings block...

And then there were almost 3!

If you joined in too, I hope you enjoyed your evening. I certainly did.
I have begun a new book.....one that has been on my wish list for ages....

The inspiration for the book was a rural district about 2 hours from where I live. So that drew me in immediately. I am only a couple of chapters in but really enjoying it.
I  was a wee bit sad this week to hear of the death of talented songwriter, singer and guitarist Glen Frey from the Eagles.

I offer no excuses  for being a complete tragic Eagles fan. Their music has accompanied Mr. R. and I from our youth through to current times. Our children were traumatised by years of being trapped on long road trips seranaded by their music and trying to shut it out with closed bedroom doors...without much success lol! We have never missed a Brisbane concert. I  know it is part of life but it is sad that we won't get to see them intact again and hear those beautiful harmonies live. Glen Frey gifted us with some fabulous music which will be forever in our hearts. These two little old Aussies are going to miss him.
Rest assured the music will continue in our household.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

UFOing

It seems at this time of year we all reflect on what was left undone the year before or even the year before that. There has been a lot of UFOing going on in blogland and I have to admit to pondering mine as well.
I began this little quilt ages ago and even got the blocks sewn together but was stuck for inspiration on how to finish it.

I think as I couldn't get any more of any of these fabrics I abandoned it. That is so Michelle......I do love a scrappy but also like some cohesion in the finish. A holiday down south and a little visit to Echuca in Victoria resulted in some lovely red border fabric but still how to finish it has alluded me.....until now!

As I still have background fabric I fancy a pretty applique panel across the top...maybe a birdie or two and some blooms to match the  stitchery ones....so my thinking cap is on!
Meanwhile I have been quietly working on Blessings and have the next ring done for Block 3....this is going to get very boring for you folks...sorry! Nine in the quilt lol!

But I am loving stitching these blocks.
Enjoy your day.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

A New Quilting Store

Good morning.  How exciting is it to discover a brand new Quilt shop locally right where you shop......

It's called Quirky Quilts Qld and is at shop 14 Arndale Shopping Center Springwood.
You can find them on Faceblook too.
The ladies are lovely and they have classes, a Tilda Club..

and lovely fabrics...

I've been for a visit and may have made a couple of little pretty purchases. I am sure that I  will be making many more visits too.
Stitching wise I am working away on my Blessings block. Last night I got nearly all the center leaves appliqued on.

As it is lovely and cool and showery here today I think I shall curl up with this block.
I am back at Art....aahhhh! So good. To start the year off I decided to extend myself a bit more. I really wanted to learn how to achieve realistic raindrops so I have drawn this rose to be my subject. My reference is a photo that I took of a friend's beautiful rose. The first two layers of coloured pencil are on ready for the raindrop placements.

The rose is actually a lot deeper in colour so lots of shading and highlighting after the raindrops to come.....I have discovered that I really love drawing roses....who knew!
Ok that's it from me.....I think after our very long and challenging uphill walk through the bush this morning I can treat myself to a nice cuppa and a bikkie.
Happy weekend lovely people.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Time in the Cave

For the last little while and at least for the next 18 months my little sewing cave is also hosting Mr R. who has the option to work from home. After a few adjustments we have settled in to the new routine. However the whirring and clattering of a sewing machine is not ideal when the Mister is having a conference call type meeting of which there seems to be many. So I either sew on the dining room table or I DON'T! Yesterday however his presence was required in the city. So I took full advantage and got cracking on a couple of projects needing assembly.
I had been working on a little stitchery. .

Which was to become a little dilly bag...

I  am pleased with how it turned out...

I  then put the little Dresdens together with their stitchery to see if I had enough fabric....being a stash buster and all...

I had plenty and the different background fabric looks ok. Of course when and if you stitch it you can have it all the same. I will have enough fabric to coordinate the other stitchery projects as well which I am pleased about.
After all that pondering and thinking I was definitely in need of some quiet hand stitching. So I  worked on my 2nd Blessings block and almost finished the centre star.

Nice to feel I am making progress.
I am truly blessed with my friends....so when 2 of my lovelies come knocking on my door because they can't wait for 2 weeks to have my new Teddies pattern...well of course I let them in Lol! Robyn and Monica are fellow bear lovers....

I had to do a bag search to make sure none of my little bears were bearnapped....they almost got away with  the Tiny Teacup Teddies table centre lol! That's not the idea...you have to stitch your own!
Seriously though it was lovely to catchup.....nothing nicer than settling down in a comfy chair with friends for a chat...thanks girls xxx Enjoy your goodies.
Off to fill the larder.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx