More Pretty Mail & Stitching

The lovely Birthday Club ladies have spoiled me some more.

Gorgeous fabrics, lovely threads and Pat has knitted me such a pretty scarf. Thank you so much Pat and Sharon for my lovely gifts and wishes xx
My stash of French General fabrics is growing and looking so pretty...oh dreaming of the possiblities!

I have been quilting away on my last "secret" project and am making good progress.

I have also begun a little project with a bit of needleturn applique and stitchery....

I just love that pretty starry fabric!!! I may do a little more on it when I join all my on line friends tomorrow night over at Wendy's.

If you would like to join us you can sign up HERE.
This morning as I was having a little wander in the sunshine whilst finishing my morning coffee I noticed my very pretty pink geranium still had the raindrops from overnight on it's petals and they were glistening like diamonds in the morning sun.

Do simple things like that make you smile? Or is it just me? They make me happy and I am glad she caught my attention....and of course she is a "she" who else would wear diamonds so beautifully!
Wishing you a beautiful day,
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Happy Monday and Happy Birthday

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I was left to my own devices while Mr. R. went away camping for the weekend. I am hoping that he and No 1 Son aren't frozen solid somewhere. So what does a girl do when she only has to look after herself? Why she stitches her little fingers off, eats Tim Tams and watches old girly movies of course. All this stitching time saw me complete the stitching on my Magazine project and today I am pulling out the fabric and bits and bobs I fancy to complete it.

I love these fabrics and have been wanting to use them for a while. They actually go very nicely together although you wouldn't think so in the photo.
Today is a very special day because it is my dear Son's birthday (the reason for the boys trip away)

Seeing as you are getting up there Son a little advice...

LOL! Couldn't resist. Happy Birthday Lucas. Hope you had a great weekend Caped Crusader! Sending lots of love xxxx
Enjoy your week folks. I am off to get rid of the Tim Tam evidence!!!
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Early Birthday Wishes

The postie has been very nice to me the last couple of days bringing me some lovely early birthday gifts from my sweet on line Birthday Club girls. I had asked for anything French General or similiar.

Look at those delicious fabrics....oh yum! I was totally spoilt with extra goodies like gorgeous threads, ric rac, stickers for my journalling, a beautiful soft crocheted cloth, sweet tin with a beautiful skein of Threadworx thread inside and how cute is that reindeer button. Thank you Maria, Sisababe and Tracee....feeling extremely spolit here. I am dreaming about that FG fabric already.
I have also been rather spoilt to lovely lasses in my Wednesday night stitching group.

My friend Jan knows I just about wipe out the DMC 816 peg wherever I go so she has gifted me lots of skeins of gorgeous 816 as well as some hand quilting needles and a lovely "Ann" card. Thank you Jan xx
Robyn P. (we have two) surprised me with these gorgeous matching placemats, coasters and teatowel.

This one is only for the "good" china drying up! Thank you Robyn I love them.
I feel very blessed and for a girl who never liked celebrating her birthday, heartfelt wishes from lovely friends have changed all that.
Now as for stitching I have started a new little magazine project for later in the year....want a peek???
All I can tell you is that I have been dabbling a little with some embroidery and a few roses.

 That's all folks! I wish you all a lovely weekend and I hope you find a little stitching time too.
Namaste and blessings,
Michelle xxx

A Little Show & Tell

Today I have a bit of this and that to share. The first being the very sweet design "Life is Beautiful" a free pattern from the very generous Stacey of Bakercourt  I have finished stitching the design

and I think I fancy a pretty cushion for it. Some nice fabric to go with it. I think it would be lovely propped up on a nice chair.
My friend Lorel has also been busy and has stitched my "Cupcake Capers" sewing set that featured in Homespun Magazine August 2013. Lorel has stitched her set in pretty lavender.

Thanks Lorel for sharing your pretty work.
All the binding is sewn on the 'secret' quilt and I am delighted to say I am basting the last project in this set ready for hand quilting.

When this is complete there will be a ton of instruction writing and a leap into unknown territory....I am both excited and a bit nervous. So folks indulge me a little longer please.
I am also proceeding with a couple of new projects that you will see later this year. Don't you just love a new project....new thread colours and new fabric! I do.

Lastly I wanted to give you a little update on our little Erin for those of you who have been kind enough to ask.
I thought a little piccie might help.

Her Paediatrician is very pleased with her and her physical development is really improving. Blessedly her other development appears unaffected and she is a very big chatterbox (not sure who she takes after there lol) and a big personality.There have been no more seizures and we are hopeful that they don't come back but it is a day by day situation and we are very proud of how our Daughter is coping with an extremely stressful situation.

Every little improvement is cause for much rejoicing. Erin has taught us all that there is no time for the rubbish and petty things in life, that every moment is precious and the simple things in life really are the  treasures. If you have a healthy child you are truly blessed.

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Binding Day and Tilda Swap

Good morning all. Cool and crisp morning that it is. Well all the quilting is finished on the secret quilt and so now all the binding is cut....

and all pinned and ready to be sewn on....woo hoo!

One more project to quilt and then all the instruction writing begins!
I am very fortunate to belong to an online group of friends and we indulge in some very nice swaps. I wanted to share with you what I sent to my swap partner who has now received it....the very sweet Peg from Happy in Quilting. This swap was Tilda themed and so I decided to use Tilda fabrics and a little scribble of my own....so I made a bag.

and as I am addicted to those tiny hexies I made a matching needlecase with a hexie.

I asked my friend Ann if she could make a nice card using some Tilda papers which she did...

But Ann being beautiful Ann made a little gift of her own....a set of sweet little Tilda gift cards...Thank you sweet friend!

in a pretty little bag...

So I popped them with some other goodies and Peg was happy too.

Oooohhh! I do love a theme! I am really enjoying these swaps.
Ok I am off back to my binding,
Enjoy your day.
Namaste and blessings,
Michelle xxx

FNWF - JULY

Last night I joined my other blogging friends for our regular stitching evening hosted by the very lovely Cheryll at "Gone Stitchin'".
After seeing lots of folks stitching this lovely free design

generously shared by Stacey over at Bakercourt (you can find it HERE) I just knew I wanted to stitch it for a friend for my Secret Santa giftie. After a really busy day I was determined to get it traced out so I could start..... as I am trying to be slightly better if not completely good there was only a little treatie handy!

I have to say I absolutely enjoyed stitching this gorgeous design and made quite a bit of progress. In fact couldn't stop stitching it!!! Very late to bed.

I am stitching it in more muted colours as my friend likes the vintage look more than brights. I stitched on a linen fabric and it was so nice to stitch on. Thank you Stacey for this sweet design. Thanks also to Cheryll for once again being our lovely hostess.
On the quilting front I am almost finished quilting the last row....yippee!!! and as I have been quilting the first border in the ditch as I have proceeded only the last border to go!!!

I have been thinking about what to take away on our camping trip in a few weeks to stitch and being a glutton for punishment I have decided I shall keep quilting while I am on a roll (besides the nights are really cold out in the bush where we are going) There has also been lots of grumblings and rumblings from the "Bears" about their turn at getting quilted and finished so I am giving into them and taking them away on holidays with me.

They want their pattern made up without further delay and "Bears" can be soooo bossy! Besides I have another little hug of bears all drawn up and who have been waiting ages to be stitched but ssshhh! don't tell these little furry people or I will have a mutiny on my hands and fur will fly! I know I am crazy but I keep such good company with my furry little friends..hee hee!
Ok folks that is all there is from me today and yes I have had my coffee.
Enjoy your weekend whatever you are doing or not doing.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Sweet Mail and Stitching

As you all know I am a huge fan of the exquisite artwork of Beatrix Potter. I recently received the sweetest card from Sue a lovely lady in the UK who is about to start stitching "Down Reindeer Lane".
The card is a special notelet of a previously unpublished  1890's greeting card.

Isn't it just gorgeous...such a well turned out Bunny!

I shall treasure it Sue. Thank you so much. I just love a beautiful card! Do you love a nice card too?
On the sewing front I have started a little spot of redwork...

Can't see what I am stitching? Oh good because it is a secret...ssshhh!
I have also spent a bit of time sitting here....

and I am so excited to be finally quilting on the bottom half of my secret  long term project.

 I hope if you are somewhere chilly you are cosy and if you are having Summer you are nice and cool.
Ok Coffee Time!
Take care until next time.

Namaste and Blessings
Michelle xxx