Princess Birthday

Today our eldest Granddaughter has her birthday. Yesterday it was Princess party all the way.

You have to have a Princess cake too...

Blowing out lots of candles....

Your cousin got dressed up too.....Batgirl of course.....plus tiara lol!

And taste testing the cake with the girls!

Happy birthday darling girl xxx
I have finished my quilting on the Heart quilt but nothing to show as the right binding search is on.
Back to my UFO stitcheries.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Anzac Day

Today here in Australia and New Zealand we commemorate the brave men from our countries who fought against ridiculous odds in a land far from home to protect our way of life. Today we also commemorate all our Defence Forces both past and present on this day.
It touches my heart to see young people today continuing to honour them.
My Grandson sings in his school choir and they have a beautiful service every year.
My DD captured him yesterday....

DD's class handmade these beautiful tributes. There is something so touching about seeing the effort these 8 year olds went to.

I have permission to share this exquiste work of art by Queensland artist Sandi Lear. It also speaks directly to my heart.

Lest we forget.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Sunday Stitching

Yesterday I travelled down the highway to spend time with the Sunday Stitchers. A lovely time with lovely ladies.
There were birthday celebrations and very nice show and tell from Lynda and Helen.
Lynda's very sweet pin cushion with beautiful fussy cut hexies.

And Helens very cute Christmas Bear quilt....two favs together!

Cheeky girl....winking at the paparazzi!
I took my Gardener's Journal blocks to work on.

Progress is being made! So officially now a WIP.
Mr.R. surprised me by cooking dinner....oh so love that!
Settled in to finish my hand quilting......would you believe that I got this close.....

Before my eyes slammed shut! Darn it! Hopefully tonight! 

I  recently did a "work of heart" for a special friend and she gave me permission to share it....."I Spy With My Little Eye".....loved creating this one.

Ok that's me done for today.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

FNSI The Extended Version

I began FNSI at 10am with a sewing day with my friends.....selfie courtsey of ROBYN at Pidgeon Patch

There was some lovely show and tell.....Theresa's lovely quilt. I forgot to ask the name of the pattern but it is so pretty!

A few of the girls have been working out of their Edyta Sitar books and making the House quilt  and the Spool quilt. 

This is Sarah's beautiful spool quilt (these are SO on my bucket list )

Diane has her spools ready...

But she has been busy finishing her House quilt top....did I mention I love these quilts!

Fionna to the right of me in our selfie was celebrating a birthday. Diane baked a delicious Victoria Sponge. I  would love to have shown you but unfortunately on my plate there wasn't even a crumb left lol!

It was a very nice day with extremely nice friends.

I continued on with my hand quilting after dinner. ..not very exciting for you but it was for me....on to side 3!

I have 3 different needles threaded...1 for each side of the border in the ditches and one for the stippling in the centre.

I  find doing it that way keeps everything under a similiar tension and helps not to get puckers or bumps....works for me anyway. So after a night channel flicking between my favourite "who dunnits" on the ABC and Fox for the Broncos game, I was happy with my evening. I hope you enjoyed yours too.

Thanks WENDY for hosting us again.

Well must fly....more decluttering happening here and must get stuck in.

Sadly this is not true for me today...

Ahhh well! I did have a wonderful quilting day yesterday.

My sidekick awaits. Enjoy your weekend. 

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Being a Complete Nana

STILL QUILTING folks!

Thankfully I am now on the last border. I do love hand quilting. I find it very meditative actually. However I am not the most creative of quilters and it usually consists of straight lines, maybe a leaf or heart occasionally and lots of meandering or stippling type quilting.

But as the definition of "Quilting " is to hold 3 layers together with a series of small running stitches.....I think I have happily and joyfully achieved that.
As I  have shared before my Daughter is a beautiful photographer especially in photographing children. Hers are always shanghaied as guinea pigs lol!
I really loved these she took recently of Miss E. Who seems to just love it.
So please indulge me while I share.

Have a wonderful day.....as in full of wonder at life's simple pleasures.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Quilting

I hope you are enjoying your Easter break. I have been enjoying a nice quiet time. All other projects were abandoned this long weekend in favour of a serious hand quilting marathon on my Robyn Pandolph Heart quilt. I am so far along that I really wanted to get closer to finishing it.

I did take a break to visit my FIL and take him lunch. His first Easter alone...always difficult. We had a very nice visit and he was so proud to show me his gorgeous Cooktown Orchid in bloom. The colour was just stunning!

Today was Family day and we had a casual easy lunch....BBQ. I did a very easy cheat cake (store bought) and I decorated it with chocolate eggs and some of my Cooktown Orchid blooms.....pretty and it definitely disappeared down the rabbit hole!

Tying the Grandies down to get a photo was near impossible and resembled herding cats......too much playing to do! They get so excited to be together madness ensues lol!

Dinner will be my favourite.......leftovers!

Ok now that peace and quiet reigns again, it's back to my quilting!

I just loved this bit of Easter silliness so I hope you will excuse me?

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Birthday by the Bay

Yesterday I joined my friends to wish our dear friend Gaye a very happy special birthday.

We had lunch at the Lighthouse restaurant on the point at Cleveland. 

We had delicious local seafood. The tide was in during our lunch....our view across to the islands.

The sea is still a bit murky, I guess from all the flood waters flowing into it.
We had a lovely time and it's always nice to celebrate special occassions with lovely friends. Happy birthday Gaye xxx

Easter is fast approaching and mine will be very quiet....some time with family. I have a few Easter items that are old but treasured and several gifted items that I like to put out each year. They are all in place now.

Old favourite bunny is enjoying the yearly visit....she was made for me by a dear friend.

These bunnies are my favourite and are as old as my children......very old lol!

I love the runner too. The fabrics were also a gift bought back, from the USA.
And so my friends I wish you all a very Happy Easter.  If you are travelling please be safe.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx