Rainy Monday

Hi everyone. It is a very miserable rainy Monday here! We are so glad we got a lot of packing done before the rainy weather came in. Still it's great weather for stitching. Sometimes people ask me how I think of my designs and when I tell them they often look at me a little strangely when I say they present themselves and will not go away until I have drawn and stitched them. So it was with this little girl that I have named "Mistlemouse". She has nagged and nagged me and even though I had a gazillion other things I have needed to be doing..she would not leave me in peace. So here she is.

I started to relax when she was created and stitched but then she told me she likes a whole lot of other Christmas things as well (groan) as Plum pudding, so I guess "Mistlemouse"and I are not finished yet. Watch this space. I am back to the sketch pad and pencil with a very persist little mouse whispering in my ear.

My Mother in Law celebrated her 80th Birthday last week and my family had a little morning tea for her on Sunday. My Daughter made another yummy Kit Kat cake only this one was strawberry cake with lovely pink & white marshmallows.

Blowing out the candles.

Master C loves a party....Wow! Look at that cake!

Master L. just loves a cupcake or two....

I hope your Queen's Birthday long weekend saw you doing something you enjoy.
"The intention you hold in your heart speaks the loudest"
Blessings Michelle xxx

FTF & Naughty Tenants

 Good Morning and Happy Friday! Time to express my fondness for something and share it by linking to SHAY at Quilting in my Pyjamas. Today my favourite thing is my new lovely fluffy "Scottie Dog" flanno P.J'S. I am a big fan of flanno's anyway.

I love Scottie Dogs as we had one in our family when I was growing up ( a black one called Lassie ...what else) and "Wee Jock" the little white Highland terrier in the TV show Hamish Macbeth also stole my heart the moment I saw him. So when I saw these and they were very inexpensive ones  which was even better I knew I had to have them. Aren't they cute?
Now to the bad tenant. My lovely friend Helen lives up in the pristine rainforest in the hinterland around Beechmont and grew these beautiful pumkins.

We were all delighted when she shared her bounty with her Yoga Sisters and I followed instructions to pop it in the sun until the stalk dried out. Visions of yummy Pumpkin soup, roasted pumpkins flashed through my mind....couldn't wait! Well when I came out this morning this is what I found....

Someone helped themselves without an invitation. Guess who?

Who Me? I have borrowed this photo from Here
 as ours was a hit and run attack and my photo through the window screens at midnight didn't came out. Lucky our downstairs tenant Mrs Possum is cute I can tell you!
Not much sewing going on here I have been much too busy with everyday life but I have managed to stitch a few little Christmas Hexies .

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. We have a long weekend here which is always great.
A little favourite quote for Friday by Ralph Waldo Emerson.....
"One of the blessings of old Friends is that you can afford to be stupid with them"
I think it's wonderful that they love you anyway.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Happy Birthday Queensland.

Today is Queensland's Birthday. We celebrate becoming a separate state from New South Wales on the 6th of June 1859.

Our beautiful state floral emblem is the Cooktown Orchid.

I love being a Queenslander born and bred and I love this beautiful state of ours with all it's diversity.

So** Happy Birthday Queensland **

Blessings Michelle xxx

Tuesday's Treasure with Melody & a Little "Elf Mischief"

Welcome to Tuesday at my place. Wild and windy though it is. It's Tuesday's Treasure's with MELODY. My the weeks fly by.
Today's Treasure is my sweet set of Matryoshka Dolls given to be by my lovely God daughter several birthdays ago.

Green and pink and rosey. How could I not love them. There are 9 little dollies in my set.

I think when I look at them that we are all a bit like these dollies with lots of layers and the 'real' & 'authentic' us is the dolly way down deep inside. Personally I think the large glorious dolly should represent our true selves and all the gifts we bring to this old world shining for all to see. So these are my treasure for today.
Santa Sack Swap:
You may have noticed that Cheryll over at Gone Stitching is once again hosting her Santa Sack Swap. I took part last year and had a great time with my partner the lovely Tarnyia. I so wanted to take part this year but as I was going away I thought I wouldn't be able to commit to it properly but Cheryll was so sweet and has teamed up with me and allowed me some "Elf Leeway" so I could participate. So I got in touch with the Elves and got my Santa tote bag organised and some gifties for July & August and I am all set. I thought I might also get involved in a little "Elf Mischief" and flash the parcels all ready to post.....just so Cheryll knows I cannot be trusted!

NO! Peeking! Only a tiny bit of squishing is permitted.
I am off to do some Domestic Goddess duties....note I said 'some' not a lot.
Why not have a go at letting your glorious self show through today.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Brissy Bloggers Meet at the Grand

Yesterday I had the good fortune to go along to a meeting of wonderful ladies, fellow bloggers who just happen to live in SE Qld. We have these meetings at the charming old Grand Hotel Cleveland. Even though we didn't turn on lovely Brisbane weather straight away the sun did make an appearance eventually. There was lots of laughter, chatting and loads of oohs and aahs at the gorgeous show & tell bought along for our delight accompanied by lovely hot coffee.
Now because of all the chatting (you know how I love to chat)I have missed some things and so you will have to
make the best of my photos.

 Here we have Helen, Noela, Fiona (from up on top of the range, Toowoomba), Susan, and Cheryl.

Mary, Marilyn and De. It was lovely to meet De for the first time too.

Susan, Cheryl and Lynda.
Several beautiful versions of the SKOW quilts were on view. It never ceases to delight me how we manage to put our own stamp on the quilts we make and they were all so beautifully stitched. It was also lovely to see them in the flesh so to speak.

This is Fiona's pretty version....everyone wanted her jeans.

Susan's lovely version and we all wanted Susan's shoes. De's version was gorgeous too and I adored her colour and fabric choices. No photo I discovered to my disappointment when I got home....talking too much. Sorry De!

I amongst others was trying to work out how I could steal away to the carpark with Helen's simply gorgeous "Earl Grey" blocks in my bag. The embroidery made me weak at the knees but alas they got to go home again with their very talented owner.

Speaking of embroidery we then got to drool over Marilyn's gorgeous "garden themed" embroidered tablecloth....it was oh so pretty. Every block was different with a beautifully embroidered garden.

Teresa had her lovely SKOW blocks in gorgeous Anni Down fabrics.....loved her jeans too..denim! Look at Mary's beautifully pieced quilt held by Marilyn in the background.

Mary who I had not met before bought along a gorgeous gift for us all. So kind and generous Mary. Thank You. It was so nice to meet you.

Lastly Myself, Teresa and Helen. We have chatted away on line like we were old friends from the very first time I discovered their lovely blogs  but had never met. So it was lovely to finally meet them in real time and get a real  time hug. I just knew Helen  and Teresa would be great fun.

I had the best day and it makes me so happy to meet such wonderful and talented women who were such great fun and had such generous spirits. So thanks girls it was a real joy.
A huge big thank you to Susan for organising the day for us. I am looking forward to the next one already.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Family & Friends

Sound the horns it's a special day!!!

It's June the 3rd and I'm 2!!! Mummy made me this yummy train cake.

I helped Mummy cut the cake and celebrated with all my family and friends.

I played with my new gifts and kicked a goal.

It's great to be a big boy of 2!
We had such a lovely afternoon celebrating this dear little boy's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOPS!
Saturday saw us driving to Brunswick Heads in the pouring rain to catch up with some old friends from Sydney up this way on a visit. We have known each other since 'before children' in our case. Despite the weather we had a wonderful time and lots of laughter....just goes to show if you are in good company not much else matters.

Thanks folks for the great company and laughter and safe trip home.
Phew! It has been such a busy weekend. I also was lucky enough to join the Brissy Blog meet today as well but will tell you all about it tomorrow....have to check my photography out as well. Might be a bit of photo borrowing going on.
Blessings Michelle xx

Favourite Things Friday with Shay

Well June may be "busting out all over" as the song goes but for me today I have a very simple favourite and that is....

It means different things to everyone. Many have paid homage to it in lots of different ways.

Stitching, painting  and writing about it.

I know I too have fashioned many things trying to reflect "Home".

But the truth of the matter is "Home" is not a house but it is a "feeling" regardless of how humble or grand the structure may be.......mine is very humble but I just love the feeling of "Home" so that's my Favourite Thing this Friday.
I am linking up to SHAY for other favourites of the day.
I wish you all a very happy weekend. I have a very busy one planned. Meeting up with some old friends at Brunswick Heads and new friends at the S.E Qld Bloggers meet at Cleveland and most important of all our Baby Grandson is turning  special Birthday Number 2. So cake & candles and of course photos are in order.
I know and you know what a besotted Nanna I am but I cannot believe how quickly our two little boys are growing up.
Blessings Michelle xxx