Thursday's Teddy Bears Picnic with Melody

It seems ages since myself and the bears have been able to join in on a picnic but we are rearing to go. The sun is shining and I am bringing another orphan (or cast aside) bear I have named "Rag-a-muffin". She was made by my friend Ann and has a rag-tag dress (which of course suits us both down to the ground) made from lace and tulle and the loveliest fabric with embroidered flowers all over the material. She loves to sit on her stack of boxes (also rescued) and is very happy in her fairly recent new home.

Visit MELODY to see who else is coming to the picnic today.
I am having an early visitor for breakfast who is bringing croissants....YUM!
Have a great Thursday,
Blessings Michelle x

Tuesday's Treasure with Melody

My treasure today is a little dream of mine from childhood that has come true. As a child as I have mentioned before I had a book called Peg Maltby's "Pegs Fairy Book" Due to circumstances beyond my control this book became lost to me. I was devestated as I could get lost in the illustrtions in this book for hours.
All of my travelling friends were always given instructions that if they ever saw a copy to buy it for me. They have now become as rare as hens teeth. Well my dear friend Gaye on recent travels to Victoria came across a copy in Echuca and I got a frantic phone call.....did I want it. YES!!!!!! It is not as old as my copy was and has a little bit of creative artwork done by another enthusiastic owner but how my heart rejoiced to look at the beautiful artwork and revisit these stories.

Peg Maltby was born in England in 1899 and came to Australia with her husband in 1924. They settled in Victoria where they lived all their lives. In 1946 they moved to Olinda in the Dandenongs (a favourite place of mine). She was a prolific artist and author of childrens books. Peg lived through the depression and supplemented the family income by painting chocolate box lids and birthday cards. When Angus and Robertson decided to reprint the book they discovered the artwork plates had gone missing so Peg at 75 yrs redid all the artwork...amazing woman. Peg died in 1985. My childhood was enriched by her artwork.

My Favourite page always the Fairy princess in the "Gown of cobweb lace" with pink gum blossoms sewn around the hem. I would stare at this page for hours and knew every little detail. Wonder if this is where the love of stitching was born.  Love the tailor on the mushroom.

"Mr Pintuck" the tailor..a favourite character from the "Gown of cobweb lace"Stitching Hmmm!

Bed time a story about quilt hogging litttle field mice....wonder if this where the seeds were sown about patchwork quilts.

So my 2 treaures today are Peg Maltby's beautiful artwork and my dear friend Gaye who remembered my dearest wish on her holiday and helped make it come true. Thank you Gaye you are a real treasure.
Visit MELODY to see what others are treasuring today.
This quote is on a beautiful book mark I have which features a beautiful faerie by Selena Fenech.
"Small Things"
Some faeiries are beings of pure sunlight and mirth,
who fish for riddles, and fly with dreams,
speak with butterflies and sing to streams,
spending their days,
telling stories of small things
and dragons wings.
Blessings Michelle xx

Finished block.

Here we are with a brand newy shiny week stretching out in front of us. I got to finish my 7th block in my "Country Garden" quilt accompanied by the revving of many, many V8 racing cars yesterday.
I am obliged to say "Well done HDT" There I've done my duty as the wife of a Holden nut!

Strawberry block from Country Garden quilt

I also thought I would give you an update on my new vegie garden I know very boring but I am so thrilled at it's progress not to mention downright amazed. I actually have flowers on my tomatoes...woohoo!               

Ain't that a beautiful sight! Even No 1 Grandson is impressed!

Yummy beetroot and lettuce (2 varieties are you impressed) I am!!

Well I hope you all enjoy your brand new Monday. Don't forget to spread the smiles and love around... you may just change someone's life for the better perhaps your own and not even know it. Me I have a date with my Yoga mat and my lovely Yoga sisters and I am really looking forward to it.               

Blessings Michelle xx                              

A day for stitching!!!

Well here in Australia a huge battle rages today. The "Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000kms" race takes place and if you happen to belong to a family who has members who are avid followers of V8 motorcars you better find something else to do because the race goes all day and the 'avid follower' does not budge from the TV all day. Some one is such an avid follower I have lost count of the times I have had to drive in our Commodore around the Bathurst track when on holidays there.It is a battle between Ford and Holden followers and as we are a "Holden" family it's a big day here in our household....SO becasuse of this.....

I am spending the day doing this....

and a lot of this........

Thank goodness it only comes but once a year!!!! Happy Stitching or Motor racing whichever your enjoying today,
Blessings Michelle x

Whats My Name

Dawn at "As sweet as Cinnamon" has been asking how we decided on our blog name. I complicated mine more than necessary and have always felt I should have changed it as I wanted to just called it  after my design name of "Rag-tag Stitchin'" but friends said they couldn't find it as they were looking under my name so hence I have this dual type of identity....Michelle Ridgway Designs and Rag-tag Stitchin' But wait there is more I had to add a 1 to the blog name as there is a Antartic kayak explorer with my name spelt the same  and heavens knows that ain't me. But thankfully you all have found me even if it was boring and supported me and become such dear friends.....so 'what's in a name?'
Blessings Michelle

Favourite things Friday.

Here we are at Friday again which means it's time for "Favourite Things Friday" with SHAY 
I have had the occassion to revisit some aspects of my childhood this week and one of my favourite experiences was holidays I spent with my Aunt and Uncle and cousins at a pristine spot called Woodgate Beach. We stayed in an old fibro cottage directly across from the beach separated by a very quiet track which constituted a road. There were bonfires on the beach and lots of laughs and adventures.....even my 1st kiss as I got older. We ran wild and free came home for sustance and were off again. I was a constant fixture on the front of my cousins bike as we went off fishing, swimming or exploring and he was and still is a wonderful friend and is lucky enough to live there full time now. Yesterday I got to walk on this wonderful beach again, put my toes in the sea, collect seashells and sit and have my wonderful memories keep me company. I also loved sharing all this with my Husband and we have decided a holiday here in our van is in order. Even though it was a bit overcast it still worked it's magic on me.
What, where or who are your favourites today.

The view from the houses on the esplanade

Many a bonfire was collected for and fired up here and pippies collected and cooked in the fire.

This beautiful beach is the beach of my childhood

Putting my much older toes in the ocean for a paddle

There are still loads of shells wash up on this beach.

If you search just a little way below the surface you will find the treasures of your childhood waiting for you.
Blessings Michelle xx

200th POST! Tuesdays Treasures Early.

Well some would say 200 posts in 10 months....gosh the girl can talk! And I can, I am very gifted in that department as you are no doubt aware if you visit my blog regularly. I have throughly enjoyed the last 200 posts and interaction and wonderful comments I have had from all my lovely friends in Blogland. I am so pleased that it happened to fall on my "Tuesday's Treasure" post as well. I love being apart of this exchange of treasures each week and feel I have found a group of likeminded souls. I will get to my "Treasure" later.
I have decided to combine my October giveaway with my 200th and am doing it a little differently. I asked my Husband to chose 3 of my followers (sigh! Do I have to?)....which he has done. Each of you can choose  one of my patterns that you  think you  might like, let me know and I will post it to you. (Gee I hope you do actually like one of my patterns). LOL!
The 3 followers chosen by my Husband are:
1. CATE from "Vintage Cate"
2.CHERYLL from "Gone Stitchin'"
3.TERESA from "All things Vintage"
If you girls could email me your snail mail address and your choice I will get them in the post to you.
Thank you to everyone who lets me know on a regular basis that I am not waffling on to myself and that some one is actually reading my blog. It's nice to know.
Tuesday's Treasure:
I am posting early this week as I would hate to miss it as it has become such a welcome part of my week and I need to take a small blog break for a couple of days.

For my treaure this week I have chosen a small box called a "friendship" box which was made for me by my friend Ann for my Birthday in place of a card. You all know how I love a "tag" well inside are 6 beautifully decorated tags each with a lovely sentiment about friendship. It always cheers me up when I open it and read the tags and they are so pretty......
Pop over to MELODY'S tomorrow to see what other treasure abounds.
I will visit all your blogs later in the week to admire all your treasures.

Finally I would just like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who left me messages of condolences and friendship. I appreciate it sincerely.
Blessings Michelle xx