FHFS Day 3, Nice Mail and Something Different.

Good morning everyone. Today when I dived into my box of goodies this one jumped into my hands.

Inside beautiful threads and a length of gorgeous fabric that would make a perfect table runner.

That thread on the right is just so Christmasy....the photo doesn't do it justice. I am going to have to think of something extremely special for this gorgeous group. LOVE!!!! Thank you Keryn xxx
I also received lovely mail yesterday...
a lovely "gingie" card and great magnetic bookmark from fellow "gingie" love Joy....

Thank you Joy it will be perfect for my Summer reading xxx
I also received the sweetest teeny tiny Angel from Liz from Village Quilters and a beautiful Dresden Plate card...

Thank you so much Liz...she is lovely xx You are all so very kind.
A little purchase that I made a while ago and been languishing in my cupboard and so I decide yesterday to have a little play.....coloured pencils! I had some very inferior ones from years gone by and decided to buy some "Artist" quality ones (sounds very highbrow doesn't it lol) but they were lovely to use.
Now the subject I decided would be something festive and what better than one of my favourite things.

The blending and shading need a lot more work but I am sure there are ways and means when you explore deeper....anyway it all amounted to FUN!!!
I am off to do some making of applique templates as I am going to play with my Deux Rouinerres Dresden Plates border.....some little birdies involved!
Remember to hug those you love.

Michelle xxx

FHFS Day 2

Day 2: I dove into the box of goodies and chose this one..

Inside the wrapping was a smaller version of what all the gifties came in...

Nestled inside the cute little box was a very cute little person waiting to surprise me..

One of Keryn's gorgeous little reindeer ornaments!

He is already gracing my little friends tree...

Thank you Keryn...I love him xxx
I wish you all a wonderful week.

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

12 Days of Christmas Day 1

Today is the first day of our 12 Days of Christmas swap for FHFS...and we get to open 1 gift. My partner is the very Christmassy little Elf Keryn from Christmas Creations When I received my beautiful parcel Keryn requested I open my last gift first (the big one) So I asked our lovely "Queen Elves" for permission and they granted it. So.....

this lovely parcel was unwrapped (maybe ripped to shreds...not admitting anything here) to reveal this most
GORGEOUS table topper...

and it is just full of delicious French General goodness!!

Thank you so much Keryn for all your hard work and thoughtfulness and for letting me feel very naughty opening the biggy first! See I knew I was on Santa's "Nice" list after all!
You know a bit like when you were a kid and you unwrapped all the chocolates had a bite to see what flavour they were and then wrapped them up again! NO! You didn't do that....oh dear! I have shared to much then haven't I LOL! I am off shortly to rearrange my dining room table to show my new topper off to advantage and I am also constructing pledges "that all great care will be taken" to be signed before sitting anywhere near it.Very Spoilt!!!!
Despite all this excitement waiting to open our parcels I have managed to get cracking on a new Magazine project.....just a sneeky!

Enjoy your Sunday all. R&R for me today!

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Logan Art Gallery

Good morning all. Today after getting the old once over to make myself beautiful for the festive season I took myself on a date. I often do this as I enjoy my own company (yes I know strange, but I do). A very nice friend Jan told me about an upcoming exhibition at the Logan Art Gallery.

The exhibition was by super talented members of the Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Inc. You can read all about them Here 

You know how much I love wildlife. The exhibits were just stunning and I loved every second I was there.
So many talented artist's work to admire.
A lovely lady by the name of Gail Higgins got talking to me and I was admiring a lovely piece of work with Pigeons and it turns out they were Gail's and not only that she had won "Best in Show" for it. Gail was generous enough to let me take a photo of her with her gorgeous piece.

The detail was amazing. I was so inspired by all that I saw. It is well worth a visit to see the 60 + beautiful pieces of art. You will not be disappointed. Thanks to my friend Jan....I loved it as you knew I would!
We have a house guest for a couple of days.....yes Miss Sophie has come to stay!

There goes the neighbourhood! LOL!
I thought I would end my post by sharing with you one of my favourite very old Father Christmas's made by my friend Ann. I always look forward to putting him out every year...

I hope that you are taking time out to do something you love this weekend.

Namaste and Blessings
Michelle xxx

Wet Friday

It's a wet old day here in old Brisbane town today and I for one am loving feeling cool and comfortable!!! My only prayer is that my fellow Aussies in the bush that really need it are getting the same precious gift.
Yesterday I received some beautiful blooms from DD. Such a gorgeous colour and they have a beautiful perfume as well...

They were quite tight buds but have all now started opening right up.

Gorgeous!!!! Speaking of which a cute little reindeer dropped into visit me as well...

Miss Erin was not relinquishing them for anything!
Love a new ornament for my tree which was beautifully made by my friend Lorel. I don't even want to know how it was made, I am leaving it as a mystery to ponder each year...

I have finally got around to getting a photo of my Christmas tree.

We need more tinsel....No 1 Grandson placed it on along with a couple of other little ornaments and he reminded me yesterday that I hadn't put it on yet. Apparently tinsel is pretty naff when it comes to elegant decorating but I have decided that it makes me happy and I am going to have it (thing is one should read the meterage on packet before purchasing it) also as one who does not buy new decorations each year I figure that little bit of tinsel is going to last me a verrrry long time!
Have a lovely day and I wish you a great weekend.

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Celebrations

Yesterday was our Christmas breakup for my stitching group. Our gorgeous and generous friend Jacky was again our hostess and everything looked beautiful and very festive.

Jacky always decorates her tree with all her handmade ornaments and gifted ornaments from her friends for us to pop our pressies under.

Beautiful food...

and all low-cal of course! There are a myriad of lovely little gifties to bring home.

You may remember these...

Well I was making them for my dear friend Gaye. Here we are a couple of beauties amongst the blossoms lol!

Thank you Jacky for your friendship and hospitality again this year....beautiful girl xxx I love these ladies and we share so much together especially laughter.
BTW the beautiful handmade card at the beginning of my post was made by my friend Kay...so lovely!
*** A little oops!*** Yesterday's post featured some gorgeous stitching by Jenny in NZ and she in fact DOES have a lovely blog (senior moment on my part) and you can pop by and visit her HERE. Her blog is called Romany Quilting. I am so sorry about that Jenny x
The other celebration yesterday was our youngest Grandson has now finished Kindy and is off to "BIG" school in the new year. They had a lovely little graduation for them and I am biased but he looked very handsome in his garb.

They sang "Roar" and he is getting right into the actions of the tiger...

He is a real character and he won an award for being "An Awesome Storyteller" and he definitely is! Nobody loves to spin a good yarn quite like our Cooper ( in the Aussie tradition of course) He cracks us up!
That's it from me....thanks if you hung in until the end....I just cannot seem to do a short post!
I will leave you with some of Jacky's beautiful Hydrangeas which is no mean feat in Queensland.

Namaste and blessings,
Michelle xxx

Nice Christmas Mail and Show & Tell

Good morning everyone. I have been so spoilt by my lovely friend Shez...ooh this gorgeous bundle of goodies arrived yesterday with the poor postie ( I am sure she is getting shorter).....look at the gorgeous birdie ornament!

I just can't wait to have a play with that gorgeous thread. Thank you so much Shez...you really are a very naughty/nice little Christmas elf. I love absolutely everything xxx
Yesterday I received a lovely email and photos from Jenny (no blog) across the Tasman in New Zealand. Jenny purchased my Stitcher's Alphabet and has really been putting it to good use. Jenny stitched individual letters for some friend's overseas and popped them in frames....so sweet!

She then made a personalised bunting swag for a friend for a Christmas gift.

Isn't it lovely. Jenny has also added little stitching embellishments to finish it off. I love what you have done Jenny and thank you so much for giving me permission to share your beautiful work.
Well as you know I have 4 gorgeous Grandchildren and I love receiving a copy of that very important photo with Santa each year. My dilemma has been trying to find room to put them all up. But I love them all from when they were babies and as they have grown....so last year I found a solution. My dear friend Ann painted this gorgeous box for me a few Christmases ago.

 I popped all the photos inside along with some little Christmas story books and the best part is the Grandkids love to open the box and go through all their Christmas photos and read a story or two.
That's it from me today as I am off to a little Christmas gathering, one I look forward to all year. My stitching group Christmas lunch.

Have a lovely day all.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx