Two at Once...

You may remember my little bear friend Violet minding a little secret "violet" project I was working on..

Well the issue of Country Threads magazine it was featured in was waiting for me along with the previous one when I arrived home...

So if you are partial to violets like I am you may want to make my "Vintage Violets" cushion...

The other issue featured a quilt I made from a charm pack I received as a gift from a friend and I wanted to keep them altogether as they were so pretty and being my favourite French General fabric assisted my decision. I really wanted something special to finish off the quilt.....so "Wonder Quilting" friend Fiona from Bubzrugz was consulted and she outdid herself...see for yourself!

Truly, truly gorgeous.....I just loved it. I was so happy to see it in print. Thank you clever Fiona xx

It is such a nice way to use up a charm pack particularly if it is one you adore or a gift. Hope you like it too.
***Just a reminder...yes pushing my own barrow lol! If you are beginning to think about your Christmas stitching you will find some cute inspiration in my book "A Holly Cottage Christmas"...tags, door hangers, gift bags, a Santa cookie mat and more...

To purchase my book just email me at michelleridgway53@hotmail.com

Off to do the domestic goddess thing and create 'magic on a plate'....
Enjoy your evening,
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Some Stitching

As promised some stitching to post about. I had big plans to catch up on my quilting and a little stitch a long while I was away. I made real progress on my quilting....got to the final border and eek! forgot my ratty old clip on frame I use to quilt all my borders...so it had to wait until I got home. But I am making progress...

I decided on a meandering stitch as the border print is very busy and any quilting would not show up terribly well. I made it around the first corner last evening. I cannot wait to see this one finished because the fabrics are such favourites and I have really enjoyed it...and... it was begun on one of our camping trips. I have also begun to quilt my Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt...no piccie yet. Boy looking back at my first attempt at EPP all those years ago has been quite scary. Getting up close and personal as I quilted with my very less than accomplished stitching (I had no clue what I WAS DOING and not lots of tutorials as there are now) was a tad confronting...however it is a good lesson in how we learn and progress on our creative journey.
I also made some headway in stitching my little letters from my Country at Heart Alphabet. Hopefully it will end up in a nice quilt for the Grandies to read under when they come to Nana's.
Please excuse the poor pressing skills of the maker as I wanted to get them up to show you.
1st batch...

 2nd batch...

When I see them all laid out together it makes me feel as I am getting somewhere...

I really like these two letters and I think they would look lovely on kitchen towels...trimmed and pressed of course!

It was also the perfect place with just the river and the birds for company to really indulge in some art. I will show you them in the next couple of posts but I wanted to include this one which my lovely friend Raewyn
from Love To Stitch so very kindly supplied the reference photo for...from when she visited Australia earlier this year. I just loved it and was itching to draw it... especially to practice my Grevilliea drawing skills as well.

Thank you Raewyn and your lovely son Anthony for it.
Birdie close up.

I do have a little freebie that I drew for you too but I have to trace it from my notebook first so stay tuned for that. I thoroughly enjoyed just being able to indulge in and  work on whatever took my fancy, or not with no pressure to finish anything.
I am off to pop the kettle on now but I thought I would leave you with a photo (not a very good one but) of the full moon we had whilst away. I wish you could have seen it just above the cloud and spilling beautiful moonlight down onto the water below. It was stunning ..anyway hopefully it will give you some idea.

Namaste and Blessings
Michelle xxx

Farewell Holidays

Hello everyone.....I'm back from my very relaxing break. Of course you know there will be those boring holiday snaps...I did try and limit them and collage a few so as not to send you all scurrying away.We stayed at our go to spot for a laid back break...."Beautiful Bruns" as the locals call Brunswick Heads in Northern NSW.

We had lots of lovely freshly caught fish dinners...

BLTs at our favourite cafe "The Terrace" such a friendly bunch and delicious food.

Treated ourselves to the "best" burger I have had in a long time at the Bangalow Hotel....

Do you ever say "must visit there" and never do because it is close to home? We have said that about Cape Byron for ages so we decided we had waited long enough..

 It's our most easterly point....

It really was a glorious day and you could see for miles.

Two humpback whales, mother and calf delighted us by cruising past. Now you probably won't be able to see them but I am including it so I can always remember just how special it was.

Speaking of creatures....I encountered a few. I especially loved the water dragon out on the groin....just chillin'. A couple of surfers were sitting so close to them and he never moved.

We also visited the town of Ballina....I loved the sculptures down by the river which runs beside the main part of town...

It was showery yesterday which really helped us feel not tooo sad...although we were a little as we packed up our home on wheels.

"Swannee" as she is affectionately known as is back snug in her garage waiting for our next journey.
I do have some blocks to show you but I shall do that next post....I am presently up to "Q"
on my Country at Heart Alphabet blocks...

 Which stars our favourite thing....QUILTS!
Whilst I certainly enjoyed the break from work, technology, stress and worry, there is something special about 'coming home' especially when you get knocked over at the door by little people who love you and whom you love right back....I am so blessed with my family.

See you next time,
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Ahhh!

Just popped by to say....

that its been another beautiful day...

A little breezy out on the heads....

I have been doing a little of each of these as the mood has struck me...

Hoping you are all well and giving your needle and threads some exercise.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

A Little Blogging Break

Hello all. Just wanted to let you know that even though I am having a little break...because very limited wifi *sniff* I am going to  pop in from time to time.
Thought I would show you my view....

The weather has been lovely and I have been getting some quilting done and lots of art.

I am enjoying the peace and quiet.

Take care of yourselves. 

See you in a little bit.

Namaste and Blessings 

Michelle  xxx 

I Love My Postie

Boy another lovely birthday gift arrived with the postman today.

From one of the nicest girls I know, my dear friend  Shez....inside that pretty bag

The sweetest tin and button...love them! Plus lots of lovely stitching goodies. I love the card too....I am such a pushover for a lovely card. Thank you my dear friend for spoiling me so much xx

Well my Grandmother Flower Garden quilt is all basted and ready to go. So at stitching group today apart from enjoying delicious homemade soup and orange, mandarin cake and lovely company(thanks Kay) I worked on my BIG flowery hexies and its growing....slowly.

I hope that you have enjoyed your hump day too.

Well must fly as I have to go out this evening. ...more stitching! Oh it's a hard knock life lol! Good news is that Mr R. is cooking (our favourite chinese takeaway ) yay!

Namaste and Blessings 

Michelle  xxx

More Hexies and Lovely Mail

I have received some lovely mail already this week. Firstly from lovely Sue all the way from the UK. A beautiful card featuring a quilt from the 1700s that Sue was lucky enough to see in the flesh so to speak....

Also a lovely birthday  pressie from my dear friend Cheryl from Cheryl's Stitchings. 

She knows me so well....gorgeous feathered friends....a lovely notepad  and drawer smelly. I pop them amongst my fabrics! Beautiful handmade card too....VIOLETS sigh!

Thank you  Cheryl and Sue. Your kindness made my day.

Sewing wise I am so pleased to finally be basting my Grandmother 's Flower Garden quilt together ready for quilting. ...

Its only taken me nearly 10 years lol! As you can tell by the  fabrics...to be fair I did want it to be scrappy and vintage looking. I have even had the backing put by for it.

Well I must get on....more basting to do!

Namaste and Blessings 

Michelle xxx