UFOS and Birthdays

Yesterday was a special day. Our eldest Grandsons birthday.....so dinner and cake was in order.
Master L loves sharks....can tell you anything you may wish to know about them lol!
So of course a Shark cake goes down a treat on your  birthday .....action shot!

Lots of candles now!

Our best mate....

Oh and those sisters just have to get in on the act....sweet!

We cannot believe how quickly time has flown by.

Lovely dinner and celebration 💙💙💙
I am pleased that I have completed this month's postcards.....

And did some more assembly.

Also my task for Sunday Stitchers UFO challenge is done.....in fact 2 blocks sorted.

And they are stitched together too. I like the hexies and I can see a few other adjustments in its future.

It's been so humid here that I put stitching aside yesterday and finished off an art commission piece I had been working on. You can see it HERE
Well that's it from my neck of the woods.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Off on a Tangent

Hello fine folk. I haven't had too much to share of late. I have had a good old dose of the "dizzys ". I have low blood pressure and every now and then I get a bit swoony.  This has meant no reading, drawing  or sewing until the world rights itself. Thankfully it has passed and normal transmission can resume.
I am doing a little secret sewing....

Which I will share when I am done.
Another little postcard is on the go also.....sorry about the crinkles!

And now I am getting ready to stitch the last bits on my February UFO challenge.
Some leaves and a stem for this block...

The second block I have dithered over as I wasn't overly fond of the design on the side.....after some time I decided...Heck** when In doubt throw some hexies at it lol!

That's better! I do worry about myself sometimes. I just can't always follow the pattern to the letter....ah well!

The other nice thing is back to reading. I was half way through the second one when I had to stop.....enjoyed them both!

That's me caught up.
Sending healing hugs and thoughts to my fellow Queenslanders in the North 💖
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

FNWF

February link up seems to have arrived in a flash. CHERYLL from Gone Stitching hosted us HERE  for our virtual sew in.
After a hairdressing appointment and an easy dinner I headed off to my sewing CAVE on a mission....tell you about that shortly.
When I finally parked myself with my stitching, time was slipping away.
I had the tiniest bit left to stitch on this Postcard from Romancing the Road trip quilt.

 So I finished it off and then began my next one......

I ended up having a bit of a late night and got a good head start on the next one.
Recently looking back over some photos friend Lorel bought to sewing group of quilts we had made each other for special birthdays....we came across the one made for the baby of our group Jacky.
It suddenly dawned on me that somewhere in the CAVE were blocks I had made for the same quilt!  So that was my mission.....to find them!
The quilt is the beautiful design by Leanne May....Beyond the Garden Gate.
After much drawer diving and bin peeking, I  found them!

But there were only 2 traced ones left and I couldn't find the last, as the quilt has 9 blocks....more rifling and I found this pretty tin. I remembered it held the threads for this project. Yay! More progress!

When I opened it the last block was tucked inside partially stitched!

So folks I guess I have another UFO. Lol! They are such pretty blocks....I can't say I am that displeased! And two and half  blocks is not toooo bad.
Enjoy your weekend and if Mother Nature's not playing nice where you are please stay safe!
My thoughts go out to all those affected by the bush fires in Tasmania and the deluge from the monsoon in North Queensland.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Beautiful Work

Yesterday was our first stitching day for 2019. We met at friend Sandra's home to catchup. So happy to be back together after the break....almost a full compliment....missed you Anne and Moira.
When we walked in we were amazed at the simply beautiful quilt draped on Sandra's sofa. The work of another friend of hers. She is not a quilter and Sandra was helping her with the finer points of putting it together.....

It had four beautiful baby dresses handmade with smocking and embroidery on them. Then appliqued to their backgrounds.

 

They all had their own petticoat....this one....

Had this petticoat.

There was fussy cutting of the sweetest fabric.

Lovely applique....

And embroidery to embellish.

It has been professionally quilted beautifully as you can see.
Sandra's friend had also made a mini version.

It truly was a treat to see and admire and thanks for allowing me to share it.
Friend Lorel had put together a scrappy square quilt of what she termed 'uglies' but with lovely borders ......we thought it has turned out to be very nice indeed!

One of the many things I love in Sandra's home is her quilt amoire.

Ohhh I LOVE it! Just won't fold down and fit in my handbag!
We had a delicious morning tea and lunch....very spoilt!
I managed  between much chatting and admiring brand new Grandie photos (we had 3 over the Christmas break) to get a few bits and pieces done for the next round of 1797 Revisted.

Which now looks like this.

One thing that most of us love in our group of friends is reading and then talking about and giving critique on books we have recommended or shared with each other.  We are also women of a certain age and love, support and laughs about this stage in our lives are often amongst our topics of conversation. I think that is part of the reason I loved my new book so much....so sad it's done! Off tomorrow to source another!

Liz Byrski is becoming a VERY favourite author!
Another long epistle folks lol! This meme on FB seems just right for today's post.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Progress

Firstly, thank you all for sharing your lovely thoughts on my previous post.....
Here's to the Art of Needle and Thread!
The troublesome Yoko block is looking better...3rd time lucky lol! Thank goodness!

And the bias for the stem applique up the side is all set to go.

The other block I have chosen for this month is almost done....I just have to work out how I am going to do the geometric shapes on the dark green.

I have made a few shortcuts. So this quilt will definitely be a 'version' hopefully celebrating the beautiful applique which first attracted me to this quilt.

It was a long weekend here last weekend in Australia to celebrate Australia Day. It definitely was a "sunburnt country" here abouts.  I got cracking sewing binding on Brinton Hall.

And then stitched it down under the aircon to beat the heat.

I used my last vintage doiley from my friend Gayes collection for my label.

Brinton Hall is now complete! And I love it!

Very happy stitcher  here.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

To Quilt or Not to Quilt?

May not be news to many of you but I am a definite "ponderer "....those who know me really well.....say perhaps I doth "ponder" too much!

But it's who I am and I doubt that will change now....I also like a good old waffle about what's going on in my pondering state. So today folks you are the recipients...like it or not! If not  you are welcome to come back another day.

The catalyst for this recent ponderence was two things really...firstly comments said with a smile on the dial by some non quilters. You will have heard them too...
WHAT are you going to do with ALL those quilts? How many beds do you have to put quilts on hahaha? Gee you must spend a lot of money on fabrics!  Aren't you sick of making quilts?  I  wish I had time for hobbies! WHAT are your kids going to do with ALL this STUFF when you're gone????

NOW! As I do 'try' kindness first, I  refrain from saying .....what are you going to do with ALL those empty wine bottles and trashy magazines you love (and NO I am not a wowser) and  don't worry....NO there isn't one left to you in my  Will lol!
It intrigues me with all the waste and minute by minute gratification  today that creating a quilt is seen in a negative light!
The other thing was a project that has proven a bit challenging for me and thus being avoided....namely my Yoko Saito quilt. As it is this month's UFO project I have been working on it....and yes an hour in....problems!
Several reverse sewing episodes and it has to come out again because it's crooked!

So it got me thinking......what is it about making quilts that intrigues us so? Particularly when things go awry!
Gorgeous fabrics and designs that grab our attention for sure....but why do we have four beds in the house and twenty quilts plus numerous projects under construction.

For me? Honing the skills I have learnt over many years. It doesn't happen overnight.....why should I not use them and continue to improve them!

Rising nervously to a challenge and meeting it in your own way, encouragement from friends along the way is definitely good for self esteem and your soul.

Having the joy of seeing my needlework in my home and remembering all the experiences that went into making that quilt......choosing fabrics, stitching along with friends and the pleasure of creating something useful and beautiful.

I quilted long before I blogged so whilst it's nice to share what I am making with likeminded people I have just as many quilts made and given away that haven't made it to a blog post....so I don't think it's for 'poser' value!

You can express your tastes and creativity in a myriad of ways....that says YOU!
And express love to others also.
I do love the invisible thread of connection to all the needlewomen that have gone before. To me its a shout out to say.....what you created with your heart and hands really mattered....thanks for the inspiration!

And attempting to do projects in a manner they would have recognised feels lovely to me....

My conclusion is because the gentle coming together of needle, thread and fabric soothes my soul. My mind quietens. It brings me relief from this crazy world we now live in and the stresses of life.  I like that it's not finished in 5 minutes. It is my happy place.....even when unpicking happens. It's FUN!
To me it is also the act of creating.....I don't care if there are 20 in the cupboard....one day they will warm someone or make them smile. I shan't be here to care!
Lastly but definitely not least is the magic circle of wonderful women who ply their needles.....who constantly inspire and assist with a helpful hint or that piece of fabric you need to finish a quilt, who go to their stash and contributions to your new 'scrappy' arrives in your mailbox unsolicited.....ahhh makes your heart smile!

Thanks for staying with me if you have......I love being a quilter and needlewoman! How about you?

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx