A Little Show & Tell

I wanted to share with you some Show & Tell from two lovely ladies who had fun stitching a couple of my designs. First we have the lovely Joy from Bundaberg (no blog)who stitched not One but Three of my little Easter goodies bags which were featured in the latest edition of Handmade Magazine for her Grandchildren....
How cute are they. I hope the "Bunny" fills them to the brim.
Thank you Joy for sharing your versions with me.

Next we have gorgeous Pam from Pam's little Place who stitched her initial from my "Stitcher's Alphabet"

Isn't it pretty. Love the fabric. Pam also tried out a design I am putting into pattern form called  "Stars & Frosties" table centre. I think Pam did a great job.

I hope you enjoyed seeing them as much as I did.
Blessings Michelle xxx

I'm a Little Late

I know I am a little late to herald the beginning of Autumn but nevetheless a very simple little mini for this season in my "Seasons Stitcheries".....

I chose a pumpkin because pumpkin soup is one of my cooler weather favourites and these rusts and reds are also some of my favourite colours. We don't get the spectacular changing of the colours of the leaves here in Queensland. Visiting the southern States as they change is something I love to do.
I am still trying to get to "Winter" in this series to get it's borders on and get the pattern finished but impending babies arriving has taken precedence as well they should. Speaking of which I am sewing the binding down of Red/ Pink Faerie Bear.

I have loved how they have turned out. You know when you imagine something and then struggle to bring it to fruition, well that is how I was with these two quilts but they have come together in the end.
On to the other one now.....but first I have to draw out some redwork as I have none on the go....Withdrawals happening!!!!!!
Legs and knee are coming good my right ankle is still a little sore and I am still a little achy in my back but it is all definitely on the mend and no real damage done except as I have said before my pride which really is of no consequence whatsoever. My lovely blogging friend Kaylee and a lot of you will know her is having real strife with her knee and needs surgery. It would be lovely if you popped over and left her a comment to cheer her up. Poor girl. You are in my thoughts Kaylee xxx
Blessings to you all,
Michelle xxx

Little Ted

Good morning all. I am beginning today's post by telling you about the cutest little Bear with a huge liking for Plum Pudding ( I think I may have been channelling myself really). But oh what a tummy ache he has!!!When my dear friend Sandy over at Cookies and Cream Craft commissioned me to create a special little pattern exclusively for her on line shop "Pudding Ted" was born. I think he is extremely cute and hope you like him too!

Sandy has kits to make him just as you see here. He is only available from Cookies and Cream Craft.

No Yoga for me today as I am still stiff and sore from my balletic efforts on Saturday :(
My lovely friend Gaye and I have had similar love affairs, mine lasted 9 years and hers 14 years. The objects of our affections were our beloved Staffy dogs. Sadly Gaye had to say goodbye to her gorgeous boy Gruffy just recently and I know how she feels. There ain't no love like "Staffy Love". So I decided to make her a little keepsake of Gruff.....

Yes I know it is not a "Staffy" but I have used a little poetic license and as Gaye loves vintage and blue I think she will love him all the same.
I am going back to my baby quilts and I am keeping one eye on the sky so I have plenty of time to hobble down to the line to get the washing in.
I wish you a lovely week.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Wet,Wet, Wet & FNWF

As you can see we are still receiving an over abundance of the wet stuff...

Some of my gardens are starting to resemble a jungle.

Still doing things you love to does bring a little sunshine regardless of what the weather is doing outside.
My FNWF stitching consisted of embroidering some little baby singlets for the soon to be new arrivals.

Nice undies always make a girl feel good, may as well start at the very beginning.

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed stitching these. As they were quick to do I finished off my evening doing a few scribbles and before I knew it the clock chimed eleven. I hope drawing is counted as I was still right there with you all and the drawing was stitching related.  After this post I am popping over to CHERYLL'S to see who signed up and then I am off for a visit.
Yesterday after managing to go head over turkey and almost doing the splits and banging my knee heavily on a rainy roof drip on the floor outside Spotlight ( and you would not  believe the amount of people who walked around me and just looked save one gorgeous old couple who came to see if I was alright) I limped home and set to finishing Master L's I Spy quilt. I am pleased to say all done.

One more to go! I then machine quilted in the ditch the rows on the baby quilts as I wanted them to be a bit more sturdy. I plan to hand quilt around the bears. I don't know how you clever girls do it. I bow down to your ability. I cannot honestly say I enjoyed it at all nor were my efforts that pleasing to me. Give me a needle and thread any day. Oh that sounds like I am speaking "old lady" doesn't it.
Today will be another day spent indoors and I have a couple of little creatures that need stuffing and then I think I might take up my pencils again and rest my poor knee and sore leg which has stiffened up considerably overnight. I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday.
Blessings Michelle xxx

FTF & FNWF

Friday means it is time to join SHAY over at Quilting in my Pyjamas to share our favourite things. As I am feeling a bit below par today it occurred to me that when you feel a bit yuk there is nothing more comforting than snuggling up under a special quilt. I have been looking for ages for a book for children about receiving a special quilt just for them and then I remembered "The Calico Jungle" by Dahlov Ipcar. A search was commenced and I found it on line as it is still in print having first been published in 1965.

The artwork in this book is extraordinary as the author is an artist of quite some talent and note. I love the cover as it has one of my very favourite people on the cover. Sorry the photo is not as vibrant as it is in real life. It is the story of a Mother who gives her little boy a handmade quilt. But it turns out to be a fantastical world where animals run, hide play and the little boy joins them. The stuff kids dreams are made of.

I was so thrilled when I opened it up from it's packaging and I love the smell of a brand new book. I hope my Grandkids are going to enjoy having it read to them. So that's my Favourite thing today.
Speaking of quilts and grandchildren, yesterday I basted the 2 baby quilts...

and  Master L's "I Spy" quilt.

I just have Master C's now. 2 rows left to sew plus borders and then it can be basted up too.
Tonight I am joining all my other friends both here and around the world for...

I am not sure what I will be stitching as there are a couple of things I would like to do but you can be assured  I will have the correct supplies on hand. Those biscuits are full of herbs.....mint is a herb!!!!

If you haven't joined up pop over to Cheryll's  to see what it is all about and if you have I shall be by to visit tomorrow to see what you got up to. It will be nice to be stitching with you all.
Blessings,
Michelle xxx

One Thing Leads to Another

Not long ago I received a desperate plea from one of our blogging friends Susan of Thimblestitch on behalf of one of her lovely friends Patricia (not sure if she has a blog. Love to know) who was at a crucial part of Kate Morton's latest book "The Secret Keeper" only to discover she was missing pages...eeek! Can you imagine. Horrible for an avid reader engrossed in a wonderful book, anyway a remedy was delivered and today I received the most gorgeous card  with the most beautiful words chosen by Patricia and oh so pretty Cottage Garden thread in the mail from her as a thank you.

Now as I was contemplating her kindness and gazing at the gorgeous thread I felt as if I really wanted to use it on something special. After a little pondering I decided to get my 'long term (very long term) crazy patch blocks' ( some of you will have seen them before) out and ponder some more. This in turn led me to sewing all 9 blocks together.....

As I have wanted to do some layering and embroidery over the seams. Most of the blocks are complete like these two...

and...

but there are others that need a lot more stitching on them. Which led me to source all my lovely threads, beads and notions and find a case to put it all in.

I want everything together so I can do a little whenever the mood takes me. These blocks are very special to me as I began them after joining a Crazy patch stitching group hosted by the wonderful and very talented Ruth Stoneley who passed away shortly after from breast cancer. I even have a few very special stitches in some of my blocks that were done by Ruth herself. So I would like it to be completed at some stage in the near future. So thank you Patricia for your kindness and for getting me inspired all over again.

I have backing fabric, batting and I am all set to sandwich the "Faerie Bear" quilts hopefully tomorrow.

I have finished stitching block 4 of my bear stitcheries and I bet you can't guess what she is celebrating???

Block 5 is in the hoop.

Today is a very special day as my lovely friend Teresa from All Things Vintage is celebrating a very special birthday so why don't you pop over and help her blow out "ALL" those candles. LOL!

I wish you a day as special as you are. *****Happy Birthday****

I am off to get myself ready to be out the door quick smart for a spot of stitching tonight with some friends.

Blessings Michelle xxx

More of the Same

I am hoping I will be able to get my webbed feet back into my shoes after the downpour here over the last couple of days. I braved the elements to get to Yoga yesterday so I think I am entitled to curl up at home today. I took some bikkies I had made from Christine's yummy recipe. They were a hit.

Mine are a little paler as I didn't have any essence and I subsituted a teaspoon of dissoloved coffee which was fine but I really want to try it with the chikory and coffee essence as I am sure it will maker them nicer.
I am now just doing the emboidery on "pink faerie bear (that's why she has thread across her face)

I assembled her in her top this morning and I should have sprayed and pressed before taking the photo.

Little "red faerie bear" now has a ladybird on her toes....

A little bit of stitching on ladybirds antenae and then it is backing fabric, wadding and quilting for both of them. I have both lots of binding all set to go.

As they say "Thats was all she wrote"
I am off to throw some more wet washing into the dryer. Somehow that just doesn't conjure up the image of a Domestic Goddess does it....
Wherever you are be kind to yourself.
Blessings Michelle xxx