Bit Quiet

We are enjoying (I use the term lightly) an early touch of Summer....boy it has been a bit warm and it continues today. Our roof and solar panels issues seem to finally be resolved so at least there is guilt free air con.
The lovely Helen from Sunday Stitchers told me she wanted to see clamshells from all my pretty birthday fat 1/4s......so apart from a beautiful Christmas piece, I obliged.

I think they are very pretty! Not a lot else to show you as I have been working away on the cottage block in Gardener's Journal and my goodness there is some stitching involved in this block....feels like it will never be done lol! Although.....

I was glad of something to keep me occupied at the end of this week. I always get extremely anxious when our DS petscans come around....joyfully another clear scan!
If you ever made a donation to cancer research then this is your gift in action! And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As quiet time was what we needed I stitched and kept hubby company and we both enjoyed this beautiful story on DVD.

Definitely a box of tissues movie!
That's me caught up. Thank you to all of you who have left me lovely comments about my new blog Nature of Art. If you missed it....you will find it at the top of my sidebar.
Enjoy your weekend folks.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

Nature of Art

Dear fellow bloggers, followers and friendly lurkers, after much thought I have decided to create a separate blog for my art and interest in wildlife and nature. You will see my pretty red honeyeater on my side bar. If you click on it you can pop on over and follow it if you choose. Either by email or as a Follower. I shall still be posting here in my regular blog just the same.
Ok back to stitching!
Two months required catching up on in Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
August was quite a challenge as it was LOW VOLUME BEIGE. As these blocks will join cream Dresden Plate blocks I couldn't really do beige. So I chose these fabrics.

This month.....ORANGE.

Nice to be caught up.....new colour next week lol!
Another little Gardener's Journal block is complete. The Dovecote.

I have started the cottage which is the largest block and involves lots of stitching. I am really loving working on these.
Just a quick post today to let you know about my new blog.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Out and About

I have had a creative, stitchy kind of few days....which I love.
Friday I had a very nice time at friend Jan's with other friends too. A little show and tell....Jan's lovely flimsy of her cotton reel quilt. So pretty!

Don't you love it when friends let you dive into their stash for donations to a project...thanks Jan....the new clamshells are great.

Sunday I was off down the M1 for Sunday Stitchers. Some more delightful show and tell.....Cheryl's lovely quilt, getting its it's binding sewing down.

De's delightful Quilter.  So very cute!

We told Helen she should have bought a bigger bag to carry her show and tell lol!

Oh my! The hexies in it were 1/4 inch.....teeeny tiny but gorgeous!
When it is your birthday at Sunday Stitchers we gift the birthday girl with a fat quarter or buttons etc. of their choice. I was away for my birthday and had completely forgotten about it until friend Susan reminded me. What a lovely surprise! My choice was vintage type fabrics, French General or similar!
Absolutely loved all my fat quarters.....every one beautiful! Thank you so much girls.

Unfortunately I had to leave early as I had a meeting close to the city.

I  do love this precinct at Southbank....art galleries, library, museum and performing arts! Not to mention the leafy trees giving shade on a hot day.

So as you can see I have had a very nice time. It is a warm old day here in Brisbane today and more to come apparently.  So I am indulging in a nice cuppa, an old Poirot movie and a little stitching in the cool.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Splendid Sampler Quilt

Good morning! I am a very happy Stitcher! Splendid Sampler Quilt is now completed!
Binding all stitched down. Never thought I would end up with a quilt folks....I took tge liberty of doing it my way and not all blocks were attempted but I am thrilled that I at least gave it a good go.....

I chose a medallion for the centre and surrounded it with the blocks.

My very clever friend FIONA FROM BUBZRUGS quilted it so beautifully for me.

I really enjoyed stitching the binding down and being able to look at all her lovely work as I stitched.

I am however completely cured after this adventure lol! So there you go!
I think that it is appropriate to mention that this gift from all those clever designers from all over the world bought stitchers from all corners of the globe together in peace, harmony, sharing and encouragement through stitching.....wonderful stuff.
Happy Peace Day my lovely friends.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Plodding Along

With all manner of domestic chores to see too around here of late, I have just plodded along and fitted some sewing in when time allowed.  Another Gardener's Journal block is complete. GARDENING TOOLS.....

I have also been very keen to get the binding sewn on to my Splendid Sampler quilt.

So happily it is now ready for hand sewing down.....a step that I always enjoy.
This week saw me back at my art group which was very nice indeed. My little Galah now formally called "Galah Grooming "  is now finished.
I think I may just frame this sweet chap.

My work on the scratchboard piece of the young male lion is coming on very slowly.

I am enjoying this medium. It is interesting to be working on the same image in two different mediums.
Well that's me caught up for now. After wiping down door surrounds, walls and washing my collection of china and bric a brac after our son repaired and painted our damaged ceilings, I am a wee bit weary. Boy that plaster dust gets everywhere! So I am planning on a quiet afternoon with my quilt binding.
I hope you are enjoying your day too.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

September FNSI

Seems so long since I have joined in with my fellow bloggers for a good old virtual sew in over at WENDY'S at Sugarlane Quilts What to work on?
Another Gardener's Journal block came under the needle for finishing.

Pulling the Weeds....love this block! As I didn't have a lot to do on it to finish it I began the next block in the case and then went back to work on my Clamshells.

Row 12 is now attached.....these are a tad addictive I must say!

Only 30 more rows to go lol! I had a very nice time and my Broncos are still in the game for the footy finals so a good night all round.
I am looking forward to visting the other Friday Nighters to see what they got up to.
Thanks Wendy for being our charming hostess.
Today I plan to drag out the pencils....they are a bit rusty. Even though I took my sketchbook, not a lot was achieved. I have always wished that I was that quick sketch person but I am not! So I appreciate what I have been given.
Anyway I had been working on a Galah portrait before I went away. It is from a photo I took on our trip last year. I love these pretty birds. We take them for granted here and underestimate their beauty. When you see a flock of them in outback Australia they are so beautiful to watch.

So a practicing I shall go......speaking of wildlife, Hubby just called me downstairs. It appears that a little wallaby has gotten lost from the nature park near us. Sheltering in our garden.....waiting for the Wildlife people.

Poor thing is very frightened.

Home is not too far away but usually they don't venture out of the park with all the dogs around.....the whole street is watching it trying to keep it safe.
Certainly didn't expect that this morning in the very heart of suburbia!
Enjoy your weekend folks.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

HOME

It is wonderful to trip around but even nicer to come home again. A few annoying welcome home issues......no phone.....frustrating times with the NBN. Dead washing machine but as they say 1st world problems!

Friend Robyn gifted some of her friends some cuttings from one of her orchids....I was thrilled to see one of my pieces had taken very well but also surprised me with a couple of pretty blooms into the bargain.

Also waiting for me was a birthday gift from my friend Cheryl.....yummy FG fabric and the sweetest notelet set. Beautiful! 

When we travel to outback Queensland and beyond we nearly always go through dear friend Fiona's home town, so it was just so nice to have a catchup under a shady tree with her. 

Just in case you don't know already my friend does the most beautiful quilting and had 2 to return to me. I am only going to show you a sneaky peek as they haven't got their binding on yet but I am thrilled to my toes! 

I will have to get a wriggle on with the binding so I can show you my Splendid Sampler quilt finished. After my 12 months of moaning about it and never thinking I would actually end up with a quilt, I am thrilled with the end result. Fiona definitely bought it to life....

My family laugh at me because you see I have this tatty old brown recliner.....that I adore and stitch and draw quite happily there. Well we had a heartfelt reunion....ahhhhhh! So nice to curl up in it once again.  Lol! I so missed her!

My sewing mojo has been left somewhere out there on the road I fear but I did finish a little bit of stitching,  in my fav chair  on one of my sadly neglected Gardener's Journal blocks. 

The Potting Shed....

Well must away....still lots of chores to do to set the place to rights. Have a wonderful day folks.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

Me Again!

I thought I was going to give you some peace but sorry.....nope! We have travelled south and stayed overnight in Clermont and I had to snap a couple of pictures of course.
Mr R. was keen for me to capture the murals on the old train....surprise!

I loved the pretty walk beside the lagoon in town.

From here we spent the next evening in Springsure. A local told us about a lookout in Minerva National Park, 10 kms out of town. So off we went. Didn't count on the rough road....

The view was certainly worth the rattling of the bones.....Freds Gorge!

Further along the track was Eclipse Lookout....once again another wonderful spot to enjoy the fantastic view.

Mr R. promised me if we had time we would visit an absolute favourite spot of mine on our return trip. So that's where we headed after Springsure but not before I snapped this rustic town signage. I had admired them in several towns but wasn't able to stop for a pic.

Now my favourite spot? Carnarvon Gorge of course. I was born around here and for some reason I feel very much at home here....love it! As we had done all the big wqlks last time we were here we just took our cameras and took leisurely strolls on the easier walks......Mickeys Creek Gorge walk.....so lovely and peaceful.

Pretty bird calls, swamp wallaby encounters, trickling streams.....huge trees...

A truly unique place....another favourite is rock hopping across Carnarvon Creek on the Nature trail.

                   

I love the rock pool too.

Such a beautiful place and your encounter with wildlife is almost guaranteed. You may pick out a couple of local wallabies in these pics.

We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of platypus at our campground...so special! No photos as they only obliged us just on dark. There truly is beauty around each bend in this gorgeous place.....

We are now heading home and these few days were a perfect way to finish our trip.

Catch you in the big smoke *sigh* I am definitely looking forward to big hugs from my babies, I have missed them so very much.

Thank you all so much for keeping us company and your very nice comments.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx