Slow Stitching February

 Hello friends. NBN upgrades have played havoc with my internet not to mention a glitch with my personal email....ahhh technology....great when it works!

So I am well. Hope you are too. I have spent January catching up on my "Gathered Treasures " and I  can say now quilted and completed. It's a dull day here today so excuse the dull photos.

I found this sweet little doiley which was perfect for the label.

Loved creating this quilt. So many friends and family contributed to it....whether they knew it or not *wink

My other stitching focus was Book One of Textile Tales.  I made the finish line in time. Really wish I could up my assembly game maybe by the time I make six I will! So here are my pages. As there were some dark themes in this book I felt I had to address them....just wasn't about the bees.

I have added a white ribbon to represent...violence against women....some bold script to represent the courage of terrible racist abuse and hearts for the love the four sisters had for one another. The bright pink throughout represents the pink house where protection and love lived....and of course the beautiful hard-working bees....

My second Book choice for Textile Tales is this....

My most favourite book ever as a child. It's magic has never left me.  I think my love of art and nature began with this book. I would pout over the illustrations for hours....always finding some little detail I had missed! My original copy was lost when I left home. I had searched through countless second hand bookshops and thriftshops over many years all over Australia to no avail. This copy (although slightly damaged) is a later version gifted to me by my dear friend Gaye who is no longer here. She rang me excitedly from a little Victorian country town to tell me she'd found it and did I want it despite the young over enthusiastic artist that had gone a scribbling...of course I did! So it's become even more special because of sharing the love of it with a friend.

The cover plate as child sent my imagination into overdrive....I mean how cool would it be to live in and under a tree....there was even a quilt for goodness sake!

Peg Maltbys art stands the test of time.....gorgeous! The other pages I adored were the Fairy Princess.....and I wasn't ever a girly girl. I adore the little tailor! Can you see the secondary artists orange work lol!

The pages with the Kookaburra was another...

So this is Book Two inspiration....Aussie childhood classic. One day I hope to have a more pristine copy but I'll always love that this one was a joint venture with my dear friend. 

The other thing taking up my time has been getting some of my art ready to participate with my arty mates and our mentor and teacher Sandra in a month long exhibition down by the Bay. The gallery is an historic Schoolhouse. 

So I have chosen my pieces and they are wrapped and being delivered today.

There should be a lovely display to enjoy.

One of my arty friends gifted me the sweetest pendant made by her daughter....it's made from quilling. So delicate!  Coloured pencils...perfect for me. I love it!

I think that's about all that I had to tell you. The years back in gear and activities have all resumed....nice to catch up with friends again.

I'll leave you with a reminder of how phenomenal our bees truly are.

Take care bee-utiful people.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx