Giveaway Winner

Good morning all. Happy Monday. Before I tell you Mr R's pick as winner I would just like to thank you all for your wonderful comments on my 1000th post. I appreciated each and every one. Some I couldn't reply to....if that was you, I thank you now. Please continue to visit. I love to have you.

WINNER!
The winner is : HELEN from Helen' Patchwork Passion. Congratulations  Helen. If you could email me with your postal addy I shall get your little parcel in the post.
Thank you everyone.
I did a little stitching last evening but yesterday I was too hot so I just played in my journal with my pencils. I use it to try things out. Want to see?
This little photo was a reference my teacher no longer wanted....I really liked it.
WIP..

Finishing off...

I also loved a photo on Pixabay and wanted to draw it. I wanted more practice on water droplets.

So what am I  up to today?  Off to art of course!
I wish you a beautiful day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Lazy Sunday

Yesterday was just a  bit warm for me.....spent a bit of time in here....cooling down!

The bird bath in my garden is evaporating quicker than I can fill it! At least today is slightly milder....slightly! So hence being quiet and lazy.
"Project Baltimore " is underway! Borders are cut. Fabrics are sorted for the swag and templates are made.

Just waiting for the fabric to dry so I can press it and get cutting....shouldn't take too long in this weather.
Block 4 for TSS is completed...

So cute! This one was designed by Jen Kingwell. Being all snuggled down in my comfort zone with this one....loved every stitch!
Blessings is enjoying a stitch or too also. I am steadily appliquing the cirle down on Block 4.

Ok off for a cool drink! Maybe even another dip!
Embrace this day....don't just take it for granted.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Another UFO!

If you are a long time follower of my blog then you may remember my Baltimore style quilt that has now been languishing in it's box for several years.
Well no more! She is out! Sometimes you have to make the decision to go with what you have or never finish a project. I have decided to go with what I  have....
9 completed blocks. They are quite big blocks...16 and half inches. I have had them laid out on my spare bed for a few days rearranging them and just looking at the line up. I am now happy with this layout.

 I am  a  big fan of the "floating" blocks so there will be no sashings to take away from all the work in the blocks. The final border will float too and I am going to attempt a very simple swag on this to finish it off....wish me luck!

Last evening I went with my friend the beautiful Janeen to this.

We have heard Elizabeth Gilbert speak before and throughly enjoyed it. This time was just as much fun. I love her down to earth, straight talking view on life and creativity. Nice to share the experience with a friend also.
Ok lots to do today and then on to drawing up a simple swag....she says not scared a bit!!!
I was going to enjoy a lovely relaxing weekend away with family but a certain little grandie is now a little sickie so I see some stitching on the horizon instead!
Have a lovely  weekend folks....be it simple or bold!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Block 3 Plus a Bit More

Block 3 in Splendid Sampler is finished. I think the hearts are so sweet. This design is by Melissa Corry.

It's really nice to be using those little bits of favourite fabrics. I am quite pleased at how the 3 blocks look together. I  think I am getting a little braver as I go along.

You will be pleased to know that HEXIE UFO now has a new name. It took me a little while but I decided on "Cherries and Chocolat " Lots of pieces of Moda fabrics Chocolat and Double Chocolat were used in the hexies and quilt and...well because there are "cherries"! I am really happy with how it has turned out...all the borders are on...

I think it works ok.

I even got the binding ready because it is not going back in the drawer!!!!!

On a different note. I said if my Scratchboard workshop project turned out ok I would share it. Apparently it was a very hard subject for our first go...who knew! Anyway I am really glad I did it....Sophia!

I have to say....sorry Sophia but the little fur baby I am working on now is much more fun and even prettier lol!
Well I must get back to my pile of admin.....nice spending my little break with you.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

A Milestone!!!

This my dear blogging friends is my 1,000th POST! What a lovely journey I have had with you all. You have taught me so much, supported, encouraged, made me laugh and you continue to inspire me with your kindness, friendship and your amazing creativity. You make me so proud of the women in this world!
I thought a little gift from me to you was in order. There are 2 parts to my little gift.....
The first part is for Aussie girls only, sadly because of Mr Postman's charges.

As I love a cuppa with friends I have for you a copy of my new pattern "Please Come to Tea" ...11 stitchery drawings with a tea time theme, a pretty tea towel, 2 Tilda fat 1/4s, pretty paper napkins and of course some Twinings Teabags (and no the teapot is mine...a family heirloom thank you)
A sneaky of the designs....

I shall get Mr. R. to chose a name around Monday of next week.....and pop your gift in the post to you. This is for my lovely followers whether you follow by email or by post...leave me a comment to let me know if you would like to be in the draw.
Part 2 is a little teacup freebie which is on my sidebar called "A Cup of Kindness" because I wanted to share a little gift that my dear friends across the world whom I also treasure could also be part of and enjoy.

Hopefully (note I said HOPEFULLY) by clicking on the image you should be able to download it. My quality control officer you see has been swanning around on a Balinese island and so I had to fly solo. LOL!
If I crashed and burned it will get put right.
So thank you for your friendship and every beautiful comment you have left me or just for reading my musings about my life and art. I truly deeply appreciate each and every one.

May the long time sun shine upon you,
all love surround you and
the pure Light within you guide your way on.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

FNSI

After the self imposed trauma of working on the teeny pieced SS block I was very happy to retreat back to my comfort zone and get the side borders on Hexie.

I enlisted the help of a friend.....a new variety!

(Very nice) curled up in my chair and happily appliqued little hexie flowers to one of the side borders....I managed 5 and I  was quite satisfied! The piccie is a bit boring but you get gist.

I hope if you joined us for FNSI you had a very nice time too.
Thank you wonderful Wendy over at Sugarlane Quilts for being our hostess again. I hope your poor foot is recovered now xxx
I must be a glutton for punishment in the learning something new stakes because today I trotted out to an art workshop to learn a technique called Scratchboard. It is awesome for getting very fine details for fur and feathers. It is done on white clayboard that has a layer of black ink and yep you guessed it you scratch through the ink. We learnt several different strokes and how to use the scratching tool.

We then moved on to a small portrait that was provided for us. I found this very challenging but I did like it. It's unfinished and depending on the end result I may share it lol! It was such good fun though with lovely folks and lots of giggles.
My brain is very tired now! Definitely time for a cuppa.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Block 2

Well I have to say that I almost abandoned ship on Block 2. However I persevered and whilst I am not thrilled about it to say the least......it is done!

Thank goodness I am  a  woman of modern times because if my poor family had been waiting for me to make them quilts out of teeny scraps as we bumped across the wild prairies they would have frozen to death! I tips me hat to you clever girls who do lots of piecing....you're all awesome! I suspect that I am going to be thrown out of my comfort zone quite a lot on this journey. Thanks Jane for your pretty butterfly block.
Now that I can finally breathe out I am preparing some stitching for tonight....appliquing these little sweeties on to their borders.

So I shall join you over at Wendy's tonight for...

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Some Quick Show and Tell

I have just popped in quickly to share some show and tell from 2 very clever friends. I was struck by this great idea that I would like to stitch each letter in my "Country at Heart Alphabet" and make a quilt.

I was very good (in the beginning) and stitched right up until I got to "Q"...I even drew 4 extra blocks to make it even! Then! My Faerie muse came calling and I was gone in a flash to new ideas and projects!
My joy and shame has increased in equal amounts however as my dear friends Lorel and Monica have stitched away diligently and have their blocks not only finished but in quilt form. I must add that the blocks were stitched sooo beautifully too!
Lorel's lovely version..

And Monicas too!

I love them girls and thanks for sharing. You are both very clever. I am going to have to have a stern word to myself I feel and move past poor old "Q".
I hope you are enjoying your day.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Stitching Day with Friends..Yay!

Good morning everyone. I am feeling much brighter and bushy tailed this morning!
Because....fang is fixed.....which means smiling oh and eating (cautiously )...woohoo!
And I  get to go and stitch with some lovely friends.

Hopefully I will get some more little hexie flowers made.

I haven't had the luxury of fussy cutting these as I am really using scrap pieces. This whole quilt began when I received a gift of fat eights from a friend. I wanted to keep them all together to remember that lovely gift. So I am quite satisfied that I am using just about every scaric of them along with some like minded scrappy friends.
                                   
I have finished the bottom border. I have decided both side borders will just be little hexies.....so getting there slowly.
Loved this little saying....

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

First Splendid Sampler Block

Good morning to you all.  I was shanghaied into the  "Splendid Sampler " stitch along that started on Valentines day. I decided that perhaps joining in would help overcome my severe aversion to piecing....so we shall see.
I am using my stash of French  General...some old some new.
First block....

It wasn't toooo painful! Only 99 to go! Yes there are 100 blocks! I  scare myself every time I  say it lol! Thanks to Pat Sloan for this lovely first block.
I got nice mail this morning. ...LOVE new art supplies...these have been on order since before Christmas!

They are wonderful for wildlife backgrounds. Can't wait to break open the box.
No art for me this week as I broke a tooth and can't see the dentist until tomorrow. ..right in the middle of class. I am a mega sook re dental work and will only see the one poor dentist....he is extremely patient with me....hence the delay.
I saw this on pinterest and thought I would share it.

Have a wonderful week everyone.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Whatever Happened to Lucy??? For you Chooky!

Chookyblue and I have been having a chat about Lucy Boston. She has made some beautiful blocks and had some great hints about construction. I fessed up to feeling a little guilty about mine.
Would you keep a lovely lady in here...

SHAME on me because that's where mine are. I promised Chooky I would liberate them and show her where exactly I am up too.....
So.....4 blocks joined together...

1 block with border...almost! 4 completed blocks waiting for borders!

With advice from Chooky I have decided to drag myself into the 21st Century and actually glue baste these pieces...I then may have some chance of actually keeping poor Lucy out of  the chocolate tin! She may even become a lap quilt rather than a table runner lol!
Thanks so much Chooky xx
My dilemma over to 'keep the heart' or not has been resolved on the Hexie UFO (must think of a name) I replaced it with a small hexie and I feel now there is more cohesion and I feel much happier with it. Such a small change but it made a big difference.

Must go! Cuppa and break is over...back to "THE PURGE" of very, very old and unwanted magazines!
If you celebrate.....

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

A Visitor and Retail Therapy.

Yesterday I caught up with my blogging friend  Liz from The Village Quilters.  We drove down to the Bay and popped in to a couple of my favourite spots at Cleveland.
Firstly here...

Joy was on duty to help us (lead us astray!) Joy and Liz...

Lots of lovely things to ooh and ahh over.

I suddenly heard 'French' whisperings in my ear.....
these  beautiful French General fatties leapt into my bag!

Joy also suggested I try these french needles for my needleturn...BOHIN. I tried one! Loved it!
See that beautiful Lavender hand cream....I can't visit here..

without bringing some home...so I didn't! Such a gorgeous shop...love visiting! After a cuppa I took Liz on a little visit to the old Lighthouse at Cleveland Point and to look at the bay. It wasn't at it's best, choppy and overcast.

Thankfully the tide was in....

but it was blowing a gale....poor Liz nearly got blown off the block! But we still got a little wander in and checked out the views.

We had a lovely day even if it was a tad warm and humid away from the water. Thanks for coming Liz x
I am being very brutal with a lot of my magazines and am half way through a big job....so I must get back!
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx