Nice Christmas Mail and Show & Tell

Good morning everyone. I have been so spoilt by my lovely friend Shez...ooh this gorgeous bundle of goodies arrived yesterday with the poor postie ( I am sure she is getting shorter).....look at the gorgeous birdie ornament!

I just can't wait to have a play with that gorgeous thread. Thank you so much Shez...you really are a very naughty/nice little Christmas elf. I love absolutely everything xxx
Yesterday I received a lovely email and photos from Jenny (no blog) across the Tasman in New Zealand. Jenny purchased my Stitcher's Alphabet and has really been putting it to good use. Jenny stitched individual letters for some friend's overseas and popped them in frames....so sweet!

She then made a personalised bunting swag for a friend for a Christmas gift.

Isn't it lovely. Jenny has also added little stitching embellishments to finish it off. I love what you have done Jenny and thank you so much for giving me permission to share your beautiful work.
Well as you know I have 4 gorgeous Grandchildren and I love receiving a copy of that very important photo with Santa each year. My dilemma has been trying to find room to put them all up. But I love them all from when they were babies and as they have grown....so last year I found a solution. My dear friend Ann painted this gorgeous box for me a few Christmases ago.

 I popped all the photos inside along with some little Christmas story books and the best part is the Grandkids love to open the box and go through all their Christmas photos and read a story or two.
That's it from me today as I am off to a little Christmas gathering, one I look forward to all year. My stitching group Christmas lunch.

Have a lovely day all.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

As I type lovely rain is falling on the garden...beautiful! I swear I can hear the plants cheering.
Not so long ago I was given the sweetest little book by a friend when I was feeling a little down. It contains beautiful photographs and inspirational words and so I thought I would share it with you. Australian Nature photographer extraordinaire Steve Parish whose work I just adore has produced these little books with Kate Prentice having written the text.

I think that if you are looking for that perfect very reasonably priced gift or stocking stuffer (that is not junk)these little books are just the ticket and are real treasures... there are 8 in the series....

All gorgeous! This is Steve's website Here You should pop over for a look see. I just love my little book.
Not much stitching going on here at the moment.....I keep getting seduced by my pencils and the beautiful creatures we share our world with. This often happens when I need inspiration for a new project. It seems to let the creative muse come up with something without my interference.
Just on a side note...you know one of the dumbest things I ever did was to let someone tell me it was time that I grew up and stopped playing with those pencils! So if you have a child who draws or is creative NEVER say that and always encourage their efforts...thankfully I am now making up for lost time even if I do mourn those lost years.
Hope you get to do something creative today.

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

December FNWF

I had all intentions of stitching up a storm last night over at Cheryll's with the rest of my blogging friends. However I had such a full on day of running around getting all the "domestic duties" that besiege us all that by the time I got home I was had it......so much so I actually forgot I had a coffee date with my old work colleagues (feeling very bad and sucking up the teasing like a big girl at the moment) that afternoon....so not like me!

When I eventually got over my disappointment about my senior moment and not seeing the girls I did achieve one of my goals I had set myself for the evening which was...because I can't count, to make an extra gingie person!
So! Ta Da!.....my whole nights effort....

I also christened my new Santa mug rug.....very festive having a cuppa out of my fav Frosty mug! Thanks again Teresa...love it!
Thank you so much to the very lovely Cheryll for encouraging us to stitch madly once a month with all our blogging friends. It is always good fun.

It is the time of year when poor old postie has a very full satchel but I so appreciated some lovely mail she bought yesterday. It came all the way from the UK. If you are a long time follower of my blog you will know I love the art and works of Beatrix Potter. So does a lovely lady who follows my blog, Sue who lives in the UK. Sue has spoilt me in the past with special Beatrix Potter cards and yesterday I was spoilt again....
A beautiful Christmas card...isn't it adorable! I never tire of looking at her beautiful illustrations.
Thank you so much Sue xxx

Sue also popped inside a postcard featuring another favourite...hexies!

 It is from the American Museum in Britain in Bath which has a collection of antique quilts. Sue recently made a visit there. The quilt on the postcard is a friendship quilt dating from 1848. Each of the 90 flowers has a signature on it. What a very fortunate person was the lady who received this quilt from her friends. Thank you so much Sue for thinking of me on your trip and ...yes! I do love my hexies!
I am off to write some Christmas cards...

I wish you all a wonderful weekend,

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

All Sorts!

Today I have some Show & Tell for you but first a bit of this and that.
My tree is all decorated and what does a bona fide arctophile have on her tree? Well lots of teddies of course...

These little sweeties are a collection of ornaments from Harrrods in London that my friend Ann aided and abetted my acquisition of.....I love them and it gives me great enjoyment to hang them on the tree each year.
The other idea which I have blatantly stolen (with permission) from Christine from MacDonald's Patch is her idea of a little "bloggy friends" tree.....but um! as the little boy on the ad says "We're gonna need a bigger boat (TREE)"..

These ornaments are so special as they were made with love and I treasure each and everyone of them. I love that my bloggy friends are part of my Christmas celebration.
Speaking of gorgeous bloggy friends....my postie delivered the sweetest little gift from my friend Teresa.

Ooohhh! I love him! A Santa mug rug! He is almost to cute to put my hot cuppa on but I am told he can take it. I adored this when I saw Teresa making them and now I have one of my very own. Big hugs and Thank you Teresa!
I promised some show and tell! A lovely lady by the name of Daniela (no blog) sent me a piccie of one of my favourites that she has so beautifully made....Walter!

It makes my heart very happy to know that there are little Walter's gracing your homes for Christmas. Thank you so much Daniela for sharing your Walter with us and Merry Christmas to you and your family xx
Now that my tree is decorated I have been a very good girl and put my FHFS parcels under the tree..

I'm allowed to start opening on the 14th December.....very difficult leaving them be!!!!
Believe it or not I have actually been working and can show you a little sneaky...

It's a simple little project but I think you are going to like it.....I love this fabric.
Ok folks enough from me. I have a full day of chores ahead...hunting and gathering...overdue library returns (ohwah!) and other Mister directed requests.

Enjoy your day,
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

A Fun Morning

Today I was finally able to meet my long time blogging friend Shay from Quilting in my Pyjamas who came all the way from South OZ and Marg from Sunshine? Paradise? 

What a fun date these two girls were....loved spending time with them.
Shay's blog had me at "Quilting" and then in the same sentence "Pyjamas" my favourite stitching uniform and then after that her fabulous way with words and sense of humour...oh and did I mention she just happens to make gorgeous quilts too! Now Marg got a dressing down for not blogging as often as "I" would like so that I could keep up with the gorgeous quilts that she makes.....so beautiful! Must do better Marg!!!
Shay and yours truly...

and Marg and yours truly...

Thanks girls for a wonderful catch up...loved it! Have fun you two!
Oh! This little bloke hitched a ride in Shay's luggage all the way from South OZ....

Isn't he just the cutest!!! Last time I saw him he was in "Gingie" corner making friends! Thank you Shay, he is just perfect.

Being in good company definitely is one of life's treasures!
Namaste and blessings,
Michelle xxx

Winners!!

Good Morning to you all. I apologise for being tardy in announcing the winners in my 800th post giveaway.

I thank you for all your lovely comments and it seems we all get much the same thing from our blogging experience.....connection with like-minded people, friendship, inspiration and laughter. Can't beat that!
So the Aussie winner is Dzintra from Queen of the Armchair
The overseas winner is Lyn from Stitches from the Mainland who is from New Zealand.
Congratualtions to you both. If you could email me with your snail mail addresses I will get your little win in the post to you.
Ok I have to go and turn a very naked Christmas tree into something like this...

Have a lovely day all.

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

GOMA - Japanese Fashion Exhibition

I had such a very nice day today. Mr R. dropped into the Cultural precinct so I could catch up with my old friend Trish who also happens to have a lovely blog called Red Cardinal Now I mean "old" as in the fact that we have known each other for a very long time....we are both in our prime you see!
Trish was so generous and gifted me a complimentary ticket to "Future Beauty" an exhibition on Japanese Fashion and as we both love textiles we found it extremely interesting.....some pieces very intriguing!
We had lunch at the GOMA cafe overlooking our beautiful Brisbane River.

We did lots of chatting and catching up and had a giggle or two as well. I hope you appreciate the windswept look that I am sporting in the photo....lol!

Trish and I have always loved little red birds and Trish so much she named her blog after one. I received this lovely gift from her.....

The sweetest little 'red bird' brooch which has been beautifully handmade and by the company ELK which contributes to UNICEF work for disadvantaged children.....don't you love a double gift! Plus a gorgeous Christmas card too.
I adore my little red birdie xxx Thanks Trish for a wonderful day!
While I waited for my Mister to collect me I had to snap our G20 artwork as a keepsake.

Well folks as it is 1st of December, it is officially "Jingle Time"....woohoo!

So get those bells a- jingling and that tree decorated.....no grinching will be tolerated!

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx