Happy Father's Day!

As Tomorrow is Father's Day here in Australia I just wanted to say Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there and in particular to 3 of the best Dads I know My Husband, My Son and My Son-in-law. All have taken the role of Father and their children to their hearts and as I didn't have a Dad from a very early age it fills me with Joy to see them embrace Fatherhood this way. The importance of being a loving Dad cannot be overstated in raising the special men and women of our future.
So have a great day 'fella's' and I hope you are spoilt more than usual.


HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

 Blessings Michelle

Favourite things Friday.

Well Friday is here again already and I have to say the weeks a flying by a little too quickly for my liking these days. The up side of being Friday again is we get to share our Favourite things with SHAY over at "Quilting in my Pyjamas". I have two favourites this week.

The first would have to be open windows......SUNSHINE! Flowers in bloom everywhere! So yes my 1st Favourite would be that SPRING! has finally decide to pop her pretty little head up and smile upon us.

My second Favourite today is a pendant my Husband bought me while we were on holiday in Tasmania.
Now all of you who know me will already know that I have a passion for 'old china'. Within that passion is one for Cranberry & White china. My husband was looking in a gift cabinet and spied my pendant and said
"hey this would be great for you. You could wear your china around your neck". Much chortling followed from his quarter. I walked over to take a look and just loved it. You see it is indeed a piece of 'old china' (1850's to be precise) set in a handmade silver frame. It is a piece of the rim of an old plate. I have looked everywhere this morning for the artist's name but couldn't find it. So Sorry.
So my lovely pendant lets me take my 'old china' with me whenever I feel the need and reminds me of a wonderful holiday in a most beautiful part of Australia.
Whats your favourite thing today?

This beautiful sentiment comes from Mo at ROSE PETALS FROM HEAVEN.
Blessings Michelle xx

P.S. How to ruin a lovely finish. I have caused some confusion it seems with my "Christmas Bakehouse" quilt. The quilt pattern itself has a sign that says "Christmas Bakeshop" on the canopy at the top of the quilt whereas the cover of the pattern says
"Christmas Bakehouse". This title refers to the fact that it is a series called "Christmas Bakehouse" the quilt being one of the patterns in the series. The other 2 patterns are incomplete at the moment. I'm sorry if I confused anyone. When ordering if you mention either name I will know what you mean. Thanks!

"Christmas Bakeshop" quilt of the Christmas Bakehouse series.

Some Nice Mail and a Lovely Quilt.

Yesterday was my turn to have my friends over for a day of stitching. The day was warm and glorious and I was able to throw open all the windows and doors and I felt as if all the wintery cobwebs just disappeared.
It was a lovely morning. One of my friends Sandra and her Sister have been making a wedding quilt for their Niece. We have been watching this quilt evolve bit by bit as each sister did took their turn as they live in different States. We got to meet Sandra's lovely Sister when she came for a fabric hunting expedition for the quilt. Now Sandra is the most gorgeous lady, kind and generous, a fabulous (and I mean fabulous) cook and just happens to have the most exquisite taste which is obvious in this quilt. It's all needle turned applique and handquilted beautifully with a gorgeous scalloped border.

Sandra hiding behind this gorgeous quilt.

Yesterday we got to see the finished quilt along with a beautiful matching carry bag for the quilt. There were Oohhs & Aahhs from all quarters.I took a photo of the quilt to share with you. It doesn't do it justice as it was a spur of the moment thing to get the camera before it was put away.  but I'm sure you can see how beautiful it is. I know their Niece and husband will be thrilled.
I also received some belated Birthday gifts from some of the girls who I hadn't caught up with around that time....don't you just love it when your Birthday keeps on going for ages. I now have some yummy "rhurbarb & Cranberry Chutney" which will be all mine as Hubby doesn't like it, some beautiful new teatowels, a gorgeous placemat and a gorgeous childrens book about Birthday wishes which I will share with you later.Thanks Girls. Lovely! I am very spoilt.

I also recieved some lovely mail from CAROLYN from Clenbar cottage who had a giveaway to celebrate her 50th post and I was the winner. I now have some beautiful vintage lace, buttons, embroidery threads, a pattern and some gorgeous 'liberty' charm squares which will have to be made into something a bit 'spec.' I feel. Carolyn also included the most gorgeous card. Carolyn has a lovley blog and you should pop over and visit.So thank you so much Carolyn and Congrats again on 50 plus posts.

I know it's an oldie but I think it's a goodie.
"When you sleep under a handmade quilt, you sleep under a blanket of love."
Blessings Michelle xx

Tuesday's Treasure with Melody

I recently was struck when observing my first 'crazy patch' wallhanging  of our far I had come since then. I tried out new skills on this wallhanging, refined old ones and stitched some treasured pieces of lace and buttons on as well. There is a little pearl heart with "Mother" etched into that was sent to my Husbands Grandmother from a son away at war in New Guinea which I treasure. I had a wonderful time creating this piece. I revisited the excitement I felt when I first discovered this form of quilting in books about the subject. I loved the stories and memories stitched into these quilts.
I think it is lovely to have some of your early pieces and efforts so you can  reflect on the journey we take as stitchers and how we hone our skills sometimes without even realising it.
So my treasure today is my little wallhanging which has found it's way home to me once more.
Visit  MELODY'S wonderful blog to see what other folks are treasuring today.
I do apologise for you having to read the story after the photos...I just can't seen to get that bit right. LOL!
Blessings Michelle xx

Welcome to Monday.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and I hope all of my East coast US friends are safe and have seen the worst of the terrible storms.
It was such a glorious day here yesterday I have hope that Spring is not too far away now.

Block 5  "My Country Garden"

Hubby and I went to see the Australian Movie "Red Dog" which is a true story about an amazing Red kelpie in the 1970's in Dampier W.A. We loved it. But being a dog lover of unlimited passion of course I had  many  huge big wet tissue moments throughout the movie(so did hubby ssshh!) We also loved the Aussie humour in it and the music was great. I can't say I came out rejoicing but I loved that some one took the time to  write about and honour this amazing furry four legged Aussie and that dogs quite often teach so much about life and how to be loyal and are so much more than just "Pets". So if you are a dog lover you will love it. If your not a dog lover..I feel sorry for you!
I did get some stitching done on "country garden" and I am at the half way mark now. Yippee!
My porrige and coffee awaits. Enjoy your day everyone.

"A dog is the only thing on this earth that loves you more than it loves himself" - Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw)
Blesssings Michelle xx

Favourite things Friday and Tea for Six.

My Favourite thing this Friday is a sweet little Tea Shop called "The Willows Tea Room" situated at Mt Gravatt Central a few suburbs away from my home. http://www.thewillowstearoom.com.au/
I went there for morning tea with some of my lovely friends for morning tea.
The Tea Room has a lovely 'olde world' charm about it with lovely linen gracing every table. We each had a delicious Devonshire Tea with lashings of jam and cream and the choice of one of the extensive range of teas available. All served in and on the most exquisite vintage china and REAL napkins. I was in heaven!
Our lovely waitress Lee turned out to be a fellow yogini I had had the pleasure of meeting at a friends once before. We're everywhere!!!
"The Willows" friendly and welcoming Proprietor "Rosalyn" hopes that "people will come with family and friends and enjoy the atmosphere and relax over a pot of tea and a delicious scone or cake"
The girls and I certainly did that and some. Lots of chatting and laughter and next time  a few of us are going back to have a tarot card reading as well as the morning tea. Rosalyn even has a lovely gift area to have a little browse in. I loved a lovely old dresser which held a collection of china jugs and teapots (sorry forgot to get a pic) and a great sign that I had to get a photo with. I am getting a little worried about myself because I am certainly embracing "it's all about me" lately! Anyway!
Thanks Rosalyn for a great morning in your lovely Tea Room we will certainly be back we throughly enjoyed ourselves....the company I kept certainly helped a lot too.
Thanks and Namaste to Lee for looking after us so well.

Warmness and loveliness await inside.

Isn't this tablecloth just gorgeous and you know how I love a beaded cover and cute little sugar tongs too!

Our lovely Hostess and Proprietor Rosalyn preparing another lovely cup of tea!

Now you can understand my temptation. This was my teacup.

Jacky and Gaye enjoying morning tea (look at the china) YUM!

I loved this sign

My friends were worried I would have to be frisked on the way out for contraband vintage teacups upon my person but I was very good and no such embarrassment ocurred.
What is your favourite thing this Friday visit SHAY who hosts "Favourite Things Friday" and see what other Favourites are being expressed.
Blessings Michelle
P.S. You will notice that I am wearing my new scarf and earrings...favourites also.

Shopping and a Movie!

New Jim jams!

A trio of indulgence for another day

This colour made me feel happy and that Spring was surely just down the road!

Yesterday I decided to take myself out on a date. So I went to the movies to see "Jane Eyre" which I have never seen on the screen. No one I knew was all that keen to go so I thought I'll take myself (I often take myself..I'm quite a fun date). I really loved it and my enjoyment was not diminished seeing it alone. I didn't want to drag someone along and then we worried the whole time that they were hating it. So after Michelle and I had a lovely coffee after the movie we set about spending the lovely gift vouchers given to me by my Mum and family for my recent birthday...Now I am an advocate for reusing, recycling and limited consumerism but by golly I still enjoy a little spendathon from time to time.
I bought some yummy new Jim Jams  (I now have to decide which old favs are getting the chop) and a gorgeous bright coral scarf and even found some earrings to match....I do love to match! LOL! I then proceeded to buy a book called "The Goodbye Quilt" by Susan Wiggs (never read her before) and a Julia Roberts DVD "Mona Lisa Smile" (will be watching it alone I should imagine) and I had $2 left ....so what's a book and DVD with out a bargain 3 bar "Timeout". I will try hard not to demolish it straight away!
I finished off by doing a little Christmas swap pressie buying...sssshhhh! (No pictures)
So thanks for the instant cash everyone I put it to good use.
I really enjoyed my date I'm good company! LOL!
"You may as well get to know and like yourself as you spend so much time alone together"
Blessings,
Michelle xx