Tuesday's Treasures with Melody

How I love to see this little graphic appear as it means my lovely friend Melody is hosting Tuesday's Treasures. Today we have an extra celebration as it is Melody's 1001st post....how wonderful is that.
My treasure for today is my little collection of 'birdies'. They are not old, or expensive but I love them to bits as I have collected them separately on little special outings or holidays...
First there are the little blue birds which perch next to a very favourite and special gift. A beautiful stitched verse by Anni Downs which was stitched by my friend Fiona which just happens to feature a sweet little bluebird.

Next are two little red birdies which I thought would look good at Christmas time but I just couldn't put them away...

My most recent additions were purchased on a visit to Highfields in a gorgeous gift shop there.

I treasure our feathered friends and I am always delighted when they honour my garden with a visit. So whether it is the real thing....

or one I have created in thread...

I do love a sweet little birdie.
Who, where or what are you treasuring today???
Blessings Michelle xxx

FNWF and other bits

Last night I joined all my blogging friends all over the Auss and did some stitching. Cheryll from Gone Stitchin' was our lovely hostess once again...thanks Cheryll xx
I didn't do a whole lot last night just some more of this...

which resulted in some more of these...

They are so relaxing to sit quietly and stitch which was just what I needed because Mr R. and I spent the day at the Camping and Caravan Show oohing and ahhing and mainly doing a whole lot of sighing "one day!" We did have a purpose though and that was to try and purchase a portable fridge for our road trips as you can't have the camper fridge on with the lid down whilst travelling. We got a great bargain and came home with a big smile and a very empty wallet.....least the Bundy Sars will be chilled now.
At the show they had a Vintage Caravan and I just had to take a couple of pics....her name is "Betty"!!!

Isn't she just sooo cute. She is the palest prettiest pink and inside is full of retro 1950's gear...

Check out the cushions on the bed....

Love the red polka dot curtains lol... Then we had the 'rinky dink' Vintage camper van....

We feel we travel in the lap of luxury looking at this number.
So after our big day there was a spot of stitching and some dozing in the chair and an early night. I am looking forward to checking out what all you girls got up to though.
Now if you are tired of seeing my gorgeous Grandchildren look away now because I want these piccies recorded for my blog book.
Here is sweet little Charlotte (nicknamed Sleeping Beauty by her Dad) She was 6 weeks old yesterday.

And where's my close up Mr De Mille....

Ohhh she is so gorgeous!!!
This photo of little Erin with her eyes open was taken by her big cousin Zoe...

She is 2 weeks old already. What a honey....can you tell that I am a bit partial to our new bubbas.

I think that is about it for me....except to ask you all to pray for a very ill family member of mine who needs all your prayers at present. Thank you.

Have a wonderful weekend folks and be kind to yourself and those you encounter.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Reasons to Celebrate!

My lovely and very talented friend Aussie designer Jennifer Reynolds of Elefantz has created a delightful monthly online Home Magazine which is full of all sorts of gorgeousness which could only have been created from Jenny's clever and caring hands..Jenny also has a lovely inspiring blog too.

I was very excited and honoured when Jenny asked to interview me for this Months issue of her Magazine. There is also a little freebie from me in there too plus oodles for you to put your feet up with a cuppa and devour. Lots to stitch as well. You can subscribe to Jenny's E-Zine. Pop over and read all about how to do it HERE. You will just love it. Thank you Jenny for your generosity and friendship....oh by the way on a more disappointing note after last nights 'training run' by Queensland's Maroons I owe Jenny a Cadbury choccy :( Thanks Fellas!
Speaking of matters of the Queensland variety today 6th June is "Queensland Day". Below is our floral emblem the "Cooktown Orchid" and I am lucky enough to have several growing in my garden..

Happy Birthday Queensland!!! A beautiful place in the world in which to live. A favourite spot of mine.

The other celebration worth mentioning is that on Monday my dear friend Helen and her Husband became Grandparents for the very first time and are very thrilled about it. Congratulations and much love to you all.
Welcome sweet little Amelia.
So why not "Bloom where you are planted" and celebrate your blessings today no matter how small or simple.
Blessings Michelle xxx

It's THAT Time Again!!

I am sorry if you are not a footy fan but up here in Queensland in our household we can only be described as rabid "State of Origin" fans. In case you don't know what that is....every year we Rugby League fans battle for bragging rights against New South Wales in a 3 game series competition. Currently we have won SEVEN yes I said 7777 in a row. So our mission....

We are all set here in our household....

This is Mr R's pride and joy. His Wally Lewis commemorative Jersey. I love Wally Lewis' comment to Phil Gould the other week when he (stupidly) said to Wal "you must be getting tired of winning by now" to which The King replied "yep about as tired as you guys were when you won 20 in a row in the old days when you had all our Queensland players" Yay! Wal!
So all there is left to say is GO QUEENSLAND !!!!!!!!
Well now that I have that out of my system....as you know I have been trying to clear up a few things that have been waiting for finishes...you may remember this one that I started.

I think I scared myself because it is far brighter than what I would usually use but I fell in love with the background fabric and that pink spot. So pretty! I figure it does you good sometimes to leap out of your comfort zone.

I knew I wanted the finish to look a certain way but couldn't achieve it. However thanks to my lovely friend Lorel and her lovely friend Leonie who stipple quilted it beautifully for me I am thrilled with how it now looks. So I just have to sew the backing down and it has already found some interest from one of our Quilting magazines....doing the happy bunny dance here.
That is it from me for today....some domestic goddess duties for me today.
I want to leave you with a sweet piece of artwork from Kindred Spirits just because I love it.

Blessings Michelle xxx

Lots of Circles

Well we got to share some of the Birthday boys cake yesterday....Ninja Turtle cake no less... cutting the cake with Daddy. We partied very hard and I am sure slept very soundly. Lots of cuddles with Miss Charlotte as well :)

I also FINALLY got to have a cuddle of my youngest Granddaughter Erin....ahhh so lovely.

A bit chilly this morning so we were a little bit of a snuggly bunny.

Ok....sewing? I have been really enjoying quietly sitting and hand appliquing my circles down. I had to change the background fabric because some of the lighter ones looked nothing on the cream.
Don't you like the way I pressed them so beautifully for you to view....sorry about that.

They are just so pretty...I love them.
I have also finished Block 2 of the "Frosty" blocks which seems very apt at present.

Block 3 is in the hoop and on the go....
I must apologise for not getting around to everyone's blogs at present ( I am so far behind) but I am having issues with my Tablet and as I use it to read all your wonderful blogs instead of hooking up to the big computer and also when I have some spare minutes I am finding it very difficult without it. I am off to see the folks where I bought it today so hopefully I will be back to "normal" soon. If someone Had told me 3 years ago that I would be this dependant on technology I would have said "You have rocks in your head" but here I am as addicted to my gadgets like the rest of the known universe. See what you have all done to me.
Have a super Tuesday,
Take care of you.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Quick Post

Just a pick post today but just had to say what a special day it is....Our youngest Grandson is having his BIG number 3 Birthday today.....and that is certainly worth celebrating. I love this photo (shows the mischief in those eyes)

He is such a cutie pie....Happy Birthday little man xxxx
Loving appliquing my little circles too by the way.
Happy Monday to all.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Winter is Officially here...

Winter's first day means I get to hang up my "Winter" mini....

which is part of my "Season's Stitchery" mini quilts design which is now in pattern form if you missed my last post. Just email me if you are interested.

Old man Winter has turned on a cloudy old day just to mark the occassion.
Now what does every stitcher worth her salt do when she has many things on the go which 'she' could be putting energy into to get them nearer to the finish line???? Well of course 'she' starts something else doesn't 'she' :o)
My lovely friend Teresa from All things Vintage gave me a lovely charm square pack of French General "Rural Jardin" by Moda as a gift. I have been mulling over and drooling over this pack since she gave it to me. I wanted to use the entire pack but didn't just want to sew them together in squares so I decided to make a circle quilt. So I have cut them all into circles bar 2 which are to light for the background and I am going to applique them on to background squares.

This way I can appreciate the whole pack without losing to much of them....aren't they pretty?
I have several other charm packs (who doesn't!!) that I think I will give the BubzRugz treatment and make into a 'coins' quilt. If you missed my friend Fiona's great tutorial on how to make one click HERE to check it out. She is a wonder that girl....even I could understand the tute...it's great.
My little pile of Granny Squares is slowly growing...

Although like most novices I had no clue how far a ball of yarn would go and because I bought the yarn from Dodgy Brother's cheap shop I could get no more of the pretty green and as I am a girl who likes to "match" I have had to try and make it look much more of a scrappy version. So goodness knows what this is going to look like when I am done but hey I figure if you were chilly you would be glad of it. So I shall keep on practicising. The changing colours neatly is something that takes a little practice too.
I am off to cut out my squares for my circles (that sounds freudian doesn't it) and then hopefully get started appliquing them on.
Lastly I wanted to hop up on my soap box for a moment and just remind you all of how special and unique you all are and to tell you that there is no one anywhere on this planet of ours quite like you, before or since. Sometimes in the busyness of our lives as women we forget this important fact. So embrace your "uniqueness" and take a moment or two to appreciate "YOU"  with love. Hopping down now....
Enjoy your weekend.
Blessings Michelle xxx