A New Project

An idea has been rolling around in my head for ages and as is with most designs that come....it isn't always at a convenient time. But I am always grateful and usually do as I am bid and get it down on paper. Particularly as my creativity in this area has been missing in action of late. I was a bit reluctant also as it was not my usual stitchery type design. But I just went with it.
After loving designing and working on my "Remembering Roma" quilt, I really fancied working on another needleturn project.

So sketchpad, paper, pencil and pen have been hard at work with my missing mojo.....felt very nice indeed I must say.

I now have a not too rough plan and have all the 12 applique blocks drawn up.  The applique blocks although designed for needleturn would lend themselves quite easily to the fuseable type applique as well. The centre block has some EPP and applique....bit of a loose plan compared to the rest. So I am really keen to try it out in fabric to get a feel for how it will look.
So fabric choices have been made....

Now to get to stitching and see how it works....or doesn't! Meanwhile row 15 has been sewn on my clamshells quilt. I shan't bore you with a photo.
A little "show and tell" for you.
Lovely lady Joy sent me a piccie of what she did with my recent FREEBIE I shared and Joy  agreed to share it.....so cute! A lovely Christmas cushion!

Quite made my day.....I love it when others enjoy stitching my designs. Thanks for sharing Joy. If you would like to stitch the design too, the stitchery drawing is on my sidebar under my Sketchpad. Just click on it to download it.
I can feel my fingers itching to get at this new piece.....so I shall say hooroo!
Happy birthday to our lovely Daughter In Law today.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

FNSI

November's blogging stitching evening was last evening. WENDY at Sugarlane Quilts was our hostess....
My efforts consisted of cutting out and basting more clamshells.

Before turning in I appliqued a few down on row 15.

Thank you Wendy for gathering us together again.
This morning I made an effort to get to my sewing machine early to get the binding on my hand quilted project. I want it ready for me later in the day.
I do love looking at hand quilted stitches.....

Binding on and all ready for some relaxed stitching down when I am ready later.

A series of books was recommended to me by my Mother and after reading the book jackets I wasn't sure they were for me. They have languised for well over a year here. I decided to give the first one ago......a bit violent for my tastes but it is set in early Australia and the wild Frontier of my home State and I am certain the reality would have been far worse than even portrayed in these books.....scary thought! There would have been nothing romantic about living through it. Anyway the Author has done his job and whisked me away on a journey and YES I think I am hooked on this Saga!

No 1 read! No 2 begun......
Well jobs are waiting for my attention and voting in our State election has to happen yet. It's nice to have some stitching waiting for me for afters!
Happy weekend folks.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Lunch With Friends

Visited one of my favourite little Cafes with friends for coffee and lunch today......
Green Frog Hollow.....about a 40 minute drive from home. I used to love this drive out into the rural countryside but I was shocked to see the roadworks and development most of the way there now.......made me a bit sad to see it.
Thankfully a little oasis was waiting with some peaceful green spaces!

I love the calming water features you cross over to enter the Cafe....

The Christmas tree was up and decorated....

And the tables looked so festive and pretty. Perfect setting for our final meeting for the year.

We had a delicious lunch and lots of chat and laughter. We just leave the group shots to friend ROBYN now, our expert selfie taker lol!

We missed our absent girls but managed to cope.....just! Lol!
2 naughty elves delivered sweet gifts.....some of Dianes delicious baking and a pretty felt rose from Monica.....very naughty!

Such a lovely way to end the week....thanks girls!
My footnote is this gorgeous Magnolia trying to steal the show!

I wish you an enjoyable weekend.......whether it be simple pleasures or grander pursuits.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

A Stitchy Kind of Week

Sunday saw me catching up with the Sunday Stitchers girls for our monthly get together. A very nice time was had by all. I worked on my hand quilting and over the last couple of nights got it all done....

Only a sneaky....I will show you when it goes to its owner.
We had two birthdays Susan and Alison....

Alison had show and tell......her first blocks in Ruths quilt stitch along.

Yours truly flashing my Angel quilt...

A very nice day!
I have put all my RSC blocks out to see what they look like together.

Borders need contemplation now.
Yesterday was stitching day and I worked on my clamshells at friend Kays. I now have 14 rows done....

So today with the men in the family off to cheer on the Aussie cricket team (except our poor SIL....England supporter) I continued making clamshells.

The next row ready.....

All pinned on and ready to applique down...

My perfect companion for a little DVD watching.
My gift for SSCS is ready, wrapped and going on Santa's sleigh tomorrow.

Finishing up todays post by sending love and healing hugs to my dear friend Lorel.

Get well soon! We have stitching to do xxx
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Rainbow Scrap Challenge

My friend Lorel and I have enjoyed our last 2 years of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  We only did one block per month in the designated colour way. We made our own choices for November and December as these months are usually assembly months.
November's choice was an ode to the mass blossoming of the Jacaranda trees in our city at this time of year....Jacaranda mauve. It was also a butterfly month.

December was a bird month so we decided on Christmas green for the block. The birdie is NOT that bright....crazy photo!

The next job is how to combine last years Dresden Plates and this years butterflies and birdie 4 patch blocks to make a pleasing quilt......hmmmmm? Next year for those decisions I feel!
A second block in Angels Story has all its stitchery done....

I am loving these beautiful fabrics......so sweet.
After searching for a while I have finally found border fabrics suitable for my Gardener's Journal blocks.  I think they work really well together. I was really pleased that what I had in my minds eye could be almost replicated.

I wanted something floral to reflect the garden theme but not to dull......
We have been having a bit of wet weather here of late and it seemed perfect weather for a spot of hand quilting on some secret sewing (its ok the recipient doesn't read my blog) I do love this French General Christmas fabric.

Well as they say......"that's your lot"

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Wednesday Roundup

Sunday saw hubby and I take a little road trip up the M1 to Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast. We went to meet friends to visit the Art Gallery there.

It is a lovely gallery with a lush little tropical garden and walkway. The reason for our visit....the  Holmes Art Prize for Realistic Bird Art. 39 exquisite pieces of art.

I am sharing it on this blog because sometimes 2 loves come together. One of the finalists was Bernadine Hine. Her beautiful piece was a textile mixed media.....
"Bush Stone Curlew"

My photos don't do it justice.  A bit of a close up. It was amazing and so lifelike!

The winner was this piece by Brett Jarrett "The Prospectors " I could not take my eyes off the tree. Amazing!

My teacher was also a finalist and it was great to see it hanging there.....
"Family Gossip" by Sandra Temple.

It was very hard to chose a favourite but this one was close.....the feeling you got looking at it was amazing....you could almost feel the cool and damp! Little delicate dew drops on the ferns and the birds.....beautiful!
"Sanctuary " by James Hough

I would have taken many more photos but I was trying to be sneaky, thinking it was not permitted......found out later....it was lol!  Serves me right! It is such a wonderful space and sadly we found out that the 'powers that be' have decided they don't want to support Realistic Art here next year....so sad as it is always well supported.......*sigh* It appears people aren't interested, or so the story goes......so I don't know what the steady stream of visitors were doing there with us, in awe of the gorgeous art???

We finished off our time there together with a delicious lunch not too far away. A very enjoyable way to spend the day.
I have been stitching my Christmas ornies for our arty Christmas event which may or may not come to fruition but I am stitching just in case. I have a few finished. I used several designs.....some from my POCKET MINIS, some from my AUSSIE CHRISTMAS DECOS and a couple I drew up to suit my purpose.

I have also made some tiny hexie ones about 1 inch hexie.....these I just drew up to fit.

I have a couple of felt ones cut out to do next. I can feel the Christmas spirit slowly overtaking me and it feels very nice!  I have resisted jinglingso far. Might have to dust off the tree soon.

I hope you are enjoying your week so far.
I loved this graphic by Red Tractor on Facebook this week. Don't know why....just did!

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx