MY SOUL IS FED BY NEEDLE AND THREAD
....ohh and pencils and paper

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Excited!

Very excited around here today....you see we picked up our new "baby" and bought her home...
Looking forward to setting off and having some adventures around our beautiful country. A few test runs first....yay!
Stitching wise... I am a bit of a 'boring bunny' ....Block 37 of Splendid Sampler is finished. Dashing Chocolate! No wonder I enjoyed it...
I have a tiny bit to go on Block 38.
That's it from me today. ....short and sweet!
Now to work out the muddle that came out of our old van....yikes! What stays? What goes? Wish me luck!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Monday, June 27, 2016

Out of Sorts and Show & Tell

I seem to have reinjured an old injury on my knee.....this has resulted in a lot of lying around.....
Resting it. I'm not a very good patient lol! It did allow for extra hand stitching though.  I won't bore you with photos of  all the hand quilting I have been doing but it has been very nice settling down with it. I also finished the  little hexie block for Splendid Sampler and really enjoyed stitching it.
Loved using up those little scraps of favourite fabrics.
Recently I recieved a photo from a lovely lady called Fay who bought my Calendar Bears pattern. Fay beautifully stitched "June" bear as a special gift for her Mother in law and mounted it over canvas. I love Fays idea....it looks so lovely.
Thank you so much for sharing what you have been stitching Fay.
Well that's it from me today. I hope you are managing to stay warm here in Oz with winter finally arriving.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Teeny, Tiny!

Teeny! Tiny! Is how I  would describe Splendid Sampler block 36.....very cute little hexies....
They make a little hexie wreath.
I just need to choose a background fabric, remove the papers and get it appliqued on.
They took a wee while but I  found them enjoyable....I am even going to buy myself some precut 3/8th  papers for another day. I fancy a little mini hexie quilt.
Remember I was working on a very sleepy koala...
"Snoozing" is now finished and I love him! I was advised to try a beautiful watercolour paper Arches 300gsm with my Polychromos coloured pencils and I was impressed with how it worked.
Thank you Sue (kiwikid ) for this gorgeous photo reference.
Now to choose a new subject. I enjoyed this one so much it ....hard to pick a new one.
Bye for now!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Oops!

Well I thought I signed up for Friday Night Sew In ......but senior moment obviously!
I was however with you all in spirit as I was tucked up under my quilt hand quilting until the wee hours....
Progress is slow but progress nonetheless. You can visit Here at Wendy's to see who was stitching what...
Splendid Sampler blocks were caught up on....although I definitely admit to not having my "accuracy " brain in gear *sigh*
Block 33....Selvage Saver block by Pat Sloan. Easy peasy!
Block 34 Lemonade by Amy Gibson...mine is a bumpy bush lemon lol!
Block 35 The Wishful Garden by Kristyne Czepuryk....a beautiful design. Unfortunately I kept cutting it out wrong and after several attempts and wasted material I settled for no embroidery at this stage. I really hope to redo this one later but for now...
Block 36 is lovely teeny hexies....prep to do. Maybe I can use some of what my tired brain wasted in the previous block. Lol! Thanks designers for your great work.
Have yourself a very nice weekend folks.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Bounty!

I received a lovely slice of a dear friends bounty from her fruiting citrus trees.
The oranges are Pink Navels......so delicious and sweet....oh and pretty inside.
It is not until you sample homegrown and its taste that you realise what 2nd rate stuff we accept as fresh in the city. Thanks lovely friend.
I have finished stitching Pudding Ted in Mistletoe. Just deciding on fabrics now.
It was great fun to restitch him.
The last few days have seen me using all my little grey cells to get a swathe of instruction writing done. Happy with the results so far.
It feels really good to see everything all finished and ready to go. It will be a little while before I  can share.
Ok folks off to art. Little sleepy koala is waiting for more attention.  I am loving working on this little furry Aussie.
Have a wonderful day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Friday, June 10, 2016

Pudding Ted Revamp

My design "Pudding Ted" is such a little cutie. When my LQS Quirky Quilts thought they might like to have his pattern in the shop I decided a new sample was in order.
So a newly traced Ted is in the hoop and I  am  going to stitch it in my favourite Cottage Garden Thread Mistletoe.
So that's my project for this evening's stitching.
My bedtime reading has come to an end.....another Nora Roberts book.
Bit scary but I loved it. Don’t you hate that feeling of being thrilled to find out the ending but sad the journey is over. Oh well! The good thing is there are so many stories out there just waiting for me to slip between the pages.
Enjoy your weekend.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Lovely Sunshine

Well in my little patch in suburbia this morning it is glorious! Beautiful sunshine to enjoy my coffee in. Brings to mind how blessed I am.  My heart goes out to those who haven't fared so well in our lower states. Our beautiful country can be brutal at times.
I have done a little catching up on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge and have Aqua/Lime Michelle version done.

I now have 6 pretty little plates finished. I have loved this easy scrappy challenge.
Especially as my friend Lorel is keeping me company in this venture. I will ask if I can share hers later...they are lovely too.
This is my little collection.
Splendid Sampler block by Laurie Simpson "Constant Needle" was lovely to stitch.
After my Lions effort I chose this sweet project gifted to me by lovely friend Sue from Kiwikid
Loads to do yet but loving working on this one. Thanks for sharing your little friend Sue.
Today is stitching with the girls day and I am off down to the bay to my friend Gayes.
Blessings block 6 is in my sewing bag.
Must fly! Enjoy your day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Wet and Wild and Chookshed Stitching

Yesterday was very wet and blustery here.....I had to venture out in the morning for an appointment!  Scary stuff....water everywhere!
So it was very nice to get home, get dry, get warm and settle in with everyone cyber celebrating Chookyblues 4th birthday of her Chookshed. HERE

Because I am all over the shop with my projects at the moment  I decided to break them up and do a bit of each.
The Bears won 1st dibs, so I completed "Priscilla ".
And then there were 3.....Beatrix, Viola and Priscilla! A couple more friends still to come.
Next on the list was finding something in my stash for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The colourway for  June was aqua with a pop of lime....hmmm!
Took me a while as I do not really own any bright fabrics. I found some jelly roll strips and they helpfully went together.
My take on "aqua & lime".
Ok it's very light aqua but the stash was used! Cutting the blades out and basting them took me through to dinner time. I had cooked corned beef in the slow cooker so quick and easy was the go and then it was time to pick up the hand quilting.  I now have finished 2 corners....
and started on corner 3...
Had a lovely time despite the weather.
This morning I awoke to a glorious day....sunshine and the garden having had a good wash down seems to be smiling and standing up tall.
 I have family commitments today but hopefully can pop back to the Chookshed for a few more stitches later.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Friday, June 3, 2016

Progress and 6 is a Big Number

I have really loved stitching the latest Splendid Sampler block designed by Jenny-of-Elefantz....sweet, sweet stitchery!
I was wondering now that we are past 30 blocks what they looked like together.
Must say that I am loving them...the touch of French General blue is coming through nicely....seeing as my challenge is to only use my French General stash I am really hoping that the blues hold out.
When June comes a calling it means a great big Happy Birthday to my youngest Grandson Cooper....big no.6! He is our little naturalist and fellow pencil wielder.
So pizza and cake features later in my day! Lots of love and Happy Birthday Coops xx
June also brings my dear Grandmother closer to me and strange as it sounds pink carnations,  her favourites always cross my path.....these did just that yesterday.
Aren't they lovely.
It's pretty dreary here today and rain is forecast for the weekend.....I am  hoping to pop by and join all the fun over at Chookyblues for her 4th birthday celebration for her creative Chookshed.
You can drop by to http://chookyblue.blogspot.com to check out the highjinks.
Enjoy your weekend.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx