Birthday Club Spoilings

I belong to a lovely group of ladies deightfully wrangled and organised by Cheryll from Gone Stitchin' We nominate a colour or theme of fabric we would like to receive fat quarters of for our birthday. This year I chose cream small print fabric to use for backgrounds. We also get to make and receive a lovely handmade gift. My sweet Angel this year was Simone. I  received a  beautiful runner. It fits perfectly on my coffee table.

It is beautifully stitched and I don't even know how you would do all that fussy cutting....you are very clever Simone. I am in awe! Thank you soooo much I love it.
My other little fatties.....from Cheryll

From Julie...

From Asta...

From Illene...

From Dzintra..

Thank you so much girls for your lovely parcels and all your little extra gifts. Looking forward to using my new fat quarters for some applique.

Your kindness made my heart very happy.
Thanks to Cheryll for organising this wonderful group.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

I Had a Birthday

I have had a birthday and I share my birthday month with a favourite lady...
Beatrix Potter....its her 150th!

I love her artwork and beautiful tales...I have a few little treasures in a collection.

So happy birthday Beatrix xx I am not quite a 150 yet lol! Although my gift from Mr. R. is definitely many birthdays worth.....heart still palpitating!

This has been my dream (as in ...in your dreams) machine. I never thought I would ever have one. I need to learn how to drive it now. Lessons are coming up plus I have several Bernina owning clever friends.
So terribly spoilt here. My art fund has been topped up by family...thank you!
All I wanted was a lazy day which I got and enjoyed so much....

Bliss!
I received some lovely mail which included my Birthday Club girls...I will do a separate post about that.
My dear friend Shez sent me this pretty parcel and I had to look at it for ages!!!

Inside a gorgeous hand stitched lavender Hankie sachet....with a pretty hankie. I love pretty hankies and have some beautiful ones but never had anywhere to put them. Divine smelling lavender bath crystals and yummo peanut brittle which is now reduced in size considerably! I just love the Mum Ellie and baby card too.

Thank you so much Shez for spoiling me so xxx
My lovely friend Lorel also knows the way to my heart.....a beautiful piece of vintage china...complete with pretty bluebird, gorgeous French General fabric and a sweet beautifully stitched little bird which is a very sentimental piece.

Thank you Lorel xx
No sewing to speak of accept more little stitches on Blessings.

Have an enjoyable day everyone xx
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Saying Goodbye

It's been an emotional week here as yesterday we had to say goodbye to Mr. R's Mum. She passed away last Saturday. We were sad for us but relieved for her that her pain was over. It is a strange time....tears, reflections, laughter and memories shared.

Once again we were reminded gently.....people make your life not things or achievements. So I have been with my family supporting where and when I can. Our children have been so caring towards their Dad and Grandad. It was beautiful to witness from a Mother's heart. It's been a difficult time for them all.
                                               ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Needless to say not a lot of stitching as taken place. That's the great thing about stitching it waits for you very patiently until you pick up  your needle again.
I have 2 completed Splendid Sampler blocks to show you.
Gail Pans lovely block.

As I  needle turned my little squirrel block he and the tree are rather robust looking. I also made an error with the flower stem so I embroidered it. Little bit of a messy beginning but I enjoyed it and I still think he is very sweet.
I am rather behind with my other blocks but thats ok. The gap will close when I  have time.

Blessings has been keeping me company with some easy soothing applique.
Block 7....it's growing!

It is a beautiful Queensland winters morning here today....blue skies and sunshine. A cool morning just to remind us it is supposed to be winter.
Enjoy your day folks...

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Quick Post

Good morning lovely people. Just a quick post this morning because its "Stitching Day" with my friends....my sewing bag is packed and ready.
Pincushion block in Splendid Sampler is done.

I will be working on the lovely Gail Pan block today.
The postman bought me these cute little hexies because I enjoyed them in SS.
I fancied making a little mini perhaps.

Since going to an art teacher who is a renowned Wildlife artist and being surrounded by like minded people, my love of little birds as increased tenfold.
This is my latest effort....Scarlet Honeyeater. I just loved the red. Black and bright coloured birds are a little challenging in coloured pencil as you have to lay down the undercolours correctly so they don't look flat! Anyway I thought this teeny pretty chap was so very pretty in amongst those blossoms.

Ok must fly or else I shall be going in my pj's.
Little thought......"learn to love yourself because you spend a lot of time together"
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Rainy Day at Mt. Tambourine

Yesterday we traveled up to Mt Tambourine to celebrate our Son's birthday. We went to the Bavarian Grill Haus for lunch. Warning: photo heavy!

It was a bit cool and rainy but this lovely fire kept up warm as toast!

Cake and Candles and very bad singing were the order of the day.

Miss E got right into cake eating mode...delicious cake!

A rare quiet moment with these two rascals...

Luckily I have got TWO knees lol! My gorgeous girls.

Great interest in the water feature....

"Is it a real kangaroo Nana?" Lol!

Lovely outlook on to the little lake.

I wanted to bring this rustic table home with me...

Fun time with the family. It was great to celebrate with our Son and not beside a hospital bed! We all went home with very full tummies.
Stitching was called for ...... Blessings no.6 DONE!

No.7 BEGUN!

Only 3 more blocks to go.
I shall be working on Splendid Sampler blocks today....the prep is done.
Enjoy your Sunday folks.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Brrr! Road Trip.

Whilst we are not nearly as chilly as our southern neighbours it is chilly enough for yours truly. Yesterday with hubby as chauffeur we took a flying visit up the range to damp and very cool Toowoomba so I could collect my quilt from my lovely friend Fiona from BubzRugz  We met for Coffee and a bit of a chat at a lovely cafe....warm too!

Fiona had a surprise visitor for me....Miss Chooky and family. So lovely to catch up ....definitely not long enough as time was short lol! Chooky escaped before a pic so luckily I have an oldie lol!

So nice to see you in real time! Hubby also discovered  that we bloggers perhaps aren't all axe murders after all lol!
Here's a sneaky of what I collected...

Beeeeutiful!  I am thrilled with it. Shame you have to wait a wee while. Sorry!
Stitching has been happening....a little secret stitching...

I am using CGT Dog Rose. Oh it is pretty!
Splendid Sampler block number?....I forget! But I loved it! 2 more lovely ones waiting in the wings and right up my street too!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for July was Watermelon colours...

Prettier in real life!
I am all set with my 1 inch papers just need to finally decide on the other medallions for Brinton Hall. .......decisions!

Yesterday was also special as it was no 1 Son's birthday...

Happy birthday Lucas and lots of love xxx
Thats it from me.....BTW is anyone else having issues with Blogger taking FOREVER to publish your post. It says its published but unless you go searching for my blog does not appear for ages...interested to know??
Have a great weekend....stay warm and safe if you are here in OZ!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Sunday

Today I caught up on the two pieced blocks from Splendid Sampler.
Block 40 Flights of Friendship....

Block 42....Pencils. Of course I loved this one!

Bit messy but at least my pencils are sharp. Lol!
I chose a day of drawing in my journal Friday as it was the day of the revolving door...you know the kind...drop this off here, pick up the husband here....back out to collect this and that. So my journal was a nice respite in between trips.
I chose a couple of pretties fom my poor neglected garden.

My versions...

The lavender smelled beautiful while I was drawing it.

I am off to prep the Splendid Sampler hexie block and then I will be "almost" up to date....until tomorrow lol!
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx