Spreading The Love About.....

 Amongst a number of my projects at the moment. 

I got back to some boring old nine patches for Natures Journey. I am almost halfway there.

While I was at it I joined some of my little hearts together.....these are seriously becoming an addiction and I lay the blame squarely with friend Marina lol!

I tried my hand at some fussy cutting for these little hexie flowers.

And I finally got to the job of cutting the remaining Dresden blades for my Flowerville blocks. 

Drawing has been taking up a bit of my time too. I have begun a special piece for my brother who is having a big birthday later in the year. He loves the Yellowtail Black Cockatoos that inhabit his coastal home....so thats  on my drawing board.

You may be able to see him starting to emerge from the page.

Some of the lovely pops of colour in my garden of neglect of late. I am thrilled with my Moth orchid and they are so pretty, tiny  and delicate. 

The noise from the Rainbow Lorikeets enjoying our red bottlebrush is deafening each morning and at dusk....wouldn't change a thing!

The Clivia is now bursting with orange flowerheads.....this one was the first to open. Fingers crossed my yellow one will oblige again this year.

Ever since I discovered tiny little flowers on my Crotons I love seeing their delicate little blossoms......

Ok I am saying by for now.....I don't know about you but I am finding the new blogger frustrating......jerky and I don't seem to be able to use it as easily as the previous version as far as photos and linking to other blogs....so I am going before something else doesn't work! 

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Sunday Stitchers September Plus....

 I have no clue where this week has gone but it seems its nearly Friday once again.

On Sunday it was our September meeting for Sunday Stitchers. We were down in numbers but a nice day was had by all.

We all were very industrious....

And there was still some lovely Show and Tell.

Our photographer has managed to miss out on her piccie being taken.

Wednesday I had friends visit for stitching and lunch.

We were also missing some of our gang this time....you were missed girls. It was very nice to catch up and share a cuppa and conversation. 

It was Basket Case time again and I am adding these four to the tally.

Recently I found out what leaders and enders are....I know......I like the hollow log I live in lol! Anyway as I am not a big piecer I wondered how I could embrace this activity.

I then saw gorgeous little appliqed heart blocks on Marina from Maisie and the Boys blog and asked if I could borrow her lovely idea. 

So my leaders and enders will be little heart blocks as they fill my project bag.

These were joined during my machine sewing stint today.

My Daughter shared this memory recently on FB of my youngest Granddaughter and I want to record it here for my own memories....so please indulge me.

She has been since the teeniest tot a huge fan of Batman.....and still is as you can see in the second photo, taken a few days ago setting up her worm farm.

My Daughter took this photo when she first got to meet her hero....she wasn't a bit frightened but definitely awestruck! Batman dress and all lol! She was about 3 years old...she is a big 7 years old now. Batman was great getting down to her level for some serious "Batty" conversation! 

I just LOVE  this photo.

Well it is getting late here now so I shall say goodnight folks.

Sweet dreams.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

FNSI September

 

Last night  a little secret sewing happened.....

And then it was working on Heartstrings stitcheries.

I finished the last little bit on the cute house....

Stitched the cute lady bird.

And got started on the pineapple.

I love these sweet  stitcheries.

Big thanks to WENDY from Sugarlane Quilting

For gathering together this month under trying circumstances xx

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Charming Charm Quilts

 As I have posted about previously I am trying to accomplish making a "charm quilt " out of my Applecores quilt. I have always wanted to make both! 

So I went off to research exactly what a Charm Quilt was as I was not sure if fabrics of different colourways but same design were permitted.....as I have a few in this category. 

It is permitted as long as it a completely  different colour of fabric. I also discovered they were called "Beggars" quilts because quilters often 'begged' their friends for scraps to grow their quilt with no duplicates!  But often a quilter would duplicate ONE fabric in the quilt and the challenge by others was to find it!

Fabrics attached to a joining fabric were not considered a charm quilt....usually One Patch blocks were used.....clamshells, squares, triangles, hexagons and Applecores which I was interested to learn is also known as SPOOLS or DOUBLE AXE....who knew!

Some lovely friends have once again surprised me by popping 5 inch squares in the mail to add to my collection and aid my challenge. 

I am using only Botanical or Floral fabrics in mine just to give it an extra dimension of difficulty. Anyway I found these little pearls of information interesting and thought you might too. Call me crazy but I love knowing that what I am stitching was stitched by  needlewomen before me.

So today adding more to my pile.....

I have also been stroking this favourite piece of Christmas French General fabric and decided that it needs to be used so I will be playing with it to in the near future.

Earlier this week drawing and reading had my attention.

DD gave me this book to read......could not put it down! Loving our talented Aussie authors lately!

Set in rural Australia....a murder mystery......loved it!

Ok little people due in for afternoon tea soon.

Namaste and blessings Michelle xx x

Hello There

 I am not sure what I have been doing since I posted last, but I have been very busy doing it! The days just seem to be zoomimg by!

Caught up with friends for stitching, art and a long distance chat. All very, very nice.

I have finished my little orphan clamshells mini quilt. I quilted it very simply with some hand quilting. I really enjoyed quietly sitting and quilting this.

It has filled up the space on my sewing room wall very nicely!

I have also added a couple more rows to my Basket Case quilt top.

Which means more baskets are required! I am making sure that these are my stitching day project.....four more for the pile.

So that's me caught up....not exciting but enjoyable and peaceful. 

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Friday and FNWF

 

Yesterday Hubby and I had a hankering for some sea air and some fish and chips. So we headed down to the bay....

It was a glorious day.....blue skies and sunshine. The fish and chips weren't bad either! 

It was quite busy so we found a quieter spot to enjoy them and then had a lovely walk by the marina. I always love the views of all the masts and white boats against the sky and water.

These Bird of Paradise shrubs were stunning!

On closer inspection a busy bee can be seen hard at work. 

Never tire of bright red bottlebrush bushes in flower.

It's hard to reconcile beautiful Spring days like this with a world that gone to pot!

After that lunch easy peasy toasties for tea for us.

For FNWF I wanted to finish off the last 4 squares on Nature's Journey. 

It didn't take too long and there was a little bit of jiggling and fudging but I think it looks ok......it will have to wait for its 9 patch border now.

I then worked on a little orphan block of 2 inch clamshells. I found it when looking for another pouch for a project. Originally it was for Brinton Hall but never was used. So I hate to waste things and I added 3 rows.

I am thinking of making it into a little wall hanging to go in my sewing room......right where that blank space is near Ted.

In the same pouch I found some pretty floral clamshells....they were for a gift that turned out to be not suitable for the person.

I think perhaps I will work a larger square with them and make them a central panel for another quilt.....hmmmm thinking! Hate to waste them.

So folks that was my very enjoyable Friday.  Thanks to CHERYLL from Gone Stitchin for gathering us together again across the country and across the waves.

Until next time, take good care of yourself. 

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx