Thank Goodness it's Friday!

The weekend approaches and I have managed a few bits and pieces. My quilting is taking priority and progress is never fast...sort of forces you to slow down. I have got a little ahead on my swaps...phew! After the binding was on this little secret number.

Another Tiny Teacup Teddy was completed also....should you love your own little created people? Well I do and can't seem to help it...love this little girl!

SSSh! Don't wake her!
I have also been doing a little thinking and trying to get a little head with gifts and things and you know it is surprising what you find when you look through your own patterns lol! I found 2 cute drawings in my "Gingerbread Kisses" stitcheries pattern....so I am going to stitch them!

All traced and ready to go! I fancy a bit of one colour stitching.
Well my "Just because I like it" today is....

Have a lovely weekend everyone....I am off to a wedding! A High Tea wedding no less. Right up my street wouldn't you say!
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Queen's Birthday Weekend

We are enjoying a long weekend here "downunder" to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 89th birthday.
Nice gentle weekend....coffee with old friends, a very nice breakfast out with Mr. R and a lot of time curled up in my chair...here!

Yes! The evenings do get cool here in Queensland. Nothing like a bit of hand quilting near the fire to nourish and soothe the soul...

I love the hills and valleys and little stitches all in a row...

It took me ages to decide on the inbetween bits near the plates....but even though it is simple, I like it.
I have quilted one row of Dresden's and I am on to the second row with some work on the inbetweeens.
In keeping with my sticking to the "list" I have worked on another little secret for a certain someone..

You know it takes me ten times as long to decide what I am going to do as it does to actually do it!!!!
Today I have been sewing on some binding on a little Christmas project which has been deliciously quilted for me by my clever friend Fiona but this is all I can show you for now.

I can however show you a little Show & Tell from my dear friend Shez....some of you may have seen it over at Shez blog here Shez has made my "Gingie Tabletopper" which featured in Country Threads Magazine a while ago now....I really enjoyed creating this one and I love Shez's version.

Look at Keryn's cute Santa looking right at home there!

Thanks so much for letting me share your beautiful work Shez xx
My "just because I like it" piccie  and what I wish you all is...

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

FNWF & A Friends Treasures

Well after a looong day at the Caravan and Camping show I was absolutely pooped! I am not sure whether it's fun or not seeing all you would like and not enough coins a-jingling in the purse. Last night was

Cheryll from Gone Stitchin was our hostess with the mostest...charm that is! I didn't achieve a lot, only getting a little stitching done on the letter "I" which for all those who have this alphabet it stands for "Invitation"....a few people have wondered.

I have finished "G" and "H"

I managed to keep the eyes open to watch our mighty Brisbane Broncos get a runaway win and then they slammed shut!!!!! So off to bed for me....so sorry to be such a piker. I will be visiting everyone over the weekend to see what you all got up to.
This past week a my friend Gaye hosted our stitching day....very light on indeed as everyone was away. Her lovely hubby treated us by baking his signature baked raspberry cheesecake...yummo!

As you can see in the background, we had tea in pretty cups too.
Now my dear friend is a caretaker of old and beautiful treasures like myself but she displays them oh so beautifully. Gaye kindly let me photograph some to show you...
A wall of gorgeous plates always sets my heart aflutter the minute I walk in the door...no wonder I never get much stitching done at her place.

Beautiful vintage doileys...

There are the sweetest collections...

and pretty corners.

Oh! Do you like blue?

Many years ago Gaye made a hexagon bed throw before she ever was in a quilting group. it looks so lovely on the bed.

This bedroom is so pretty with lots of her childhood treasures on display. Gaye is definitely a kindred spirit and it makes my heart happy to visit her home and see her treasures...not because they are just beautiful things but the feeling that my friend has created by saving, loving and collecting these pieces and their stories....love it and it's nice to know another NON-minimalist!
Hope they made your heart happy too seeing them....thanks Gaye for sharing.

Enjoy your weekend,
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

It's in the Hoop!

Well folks my Deux Rouenneriers  Dresden plate quilt is in the hoop and quilting has begun....yay!

It is nice to be working those little stitches into the quilt finally...well not tooo little I have noticed lately but I love the process and I am satisfied with the quilt staying together.

We have another special birthday in our family today. Our youngest Grandson Cooper is turning 5. Cooper is our "let's go!!!!!!" little man.

Big birthday hugs little man...hope you have a wonderful day!

Love you lots and lots xxx
I also have some Show & Tell....
Joy from Bundaberg has been taking part in my Calendar Bears Stitch-a-long in Country Threads Magazine.
She has done a lovely job and even has her borders on...

Thanks for sharing them Joy. Your blocks are looking great and you are keeping on top of them all. I am so glad that you are enjoying them so much.

My dear friend Fiona from Bubzrugz  has been keeping me company while I stitch my Country at Heart Alphabet blocks. Fiona is stitching my Bear Alphabet...they are looking so pretty!

I just love them....this little girl was a favourite when I drew them...

Thanks Fiona for letting me share them and even though I am letting the side down this end...thanks for stitching along with me. Your blocks are lovely.
I have finished 2 blocks but will save them for next post.
Another "just because I like it" piccie.....love Brunswick Heads and love being silly too! It's so good for your soul....

Enjoy your hump day all.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Let the Basting Begin!

I am pleased that I have managed to keep to my "stitching in order" regime. Last evening was Stitching Group night. I had a very nice evening complete with supper and tea in a gorgeous Wedgewood teacup...ooh very nice! We were a tiny group but throughly enjoyed our evening. Thank you Jan xx I worked on my little hexies so I won't bore you with them...but they are in the plan.
I have begun "G" in  Country Alphabet...

Good to get back to these blocks. After discovering the quilt wadding I was  going to use for my French General Dresden quilt had succumbed to a big quilting thief  chopping a huge square out of it for a project now long forgotten, it was off to pick up some supplies so I could get this quilt sandwiched. Ran into a friend....love an impromptu coffee and chat. Home again and down to work!
All pressed and laid out.

 I thought I would give the basting pins ago...again! But after a few, I took them out. It is just not the same and did not feel like "MY" process for finishing a quilt. So! Out came my trusty looong basting needle and thread and off I went...

Happy little quilter here now! LOL! Seems some progressive things are not for me...and I am more than ok with that. Oh I do like simple days doing simple things....how about you?

Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Birthday Hugs and a Finish!

Another special little someone in our family turns 2 today...our gorgeous Miss Erin!

Mummy made a Dinosaur cake...because we love them! A pretty one of course..

Happy birthday sweet girl and lots of love xxx

I actually have a finish that I can sort of show you..can't give the secret away!

I have the stabilizer on a couple of Alphabet blocks and they are all set to go.

Mr R. bought me home a "Just because" gift and I just love it.....

I am very fussy when it comes to my music...I guess we all are but Sam's soulful voice has stolen my old heart.
Speaking of singing, this beautiful rose I photographed at a friends home last week just made me want to start singing...."Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens".....

Isn't she a beauty!
I hope you are enjoying your Saturday.
Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx

Organised Chaos....Sort of!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Friday. I am having a day of trying to get myself in some sort of order....I have decided that even though I cannot help being a multi-tasker and often quite like it, the adrenalin rush of meeting deadlines etc. sometimes I end up in a mess. I seem to have bits of everything everywhere and as I remarked to a friend...feel as if I have had one foot nailed to the floor and keep doing revolutions and getting nowhere! I have been involved in a large project which has taken up an enormous amount of my time and rendered me a tad loony! What ! You didn't notice any difference??? So after a bit of a chat to myself yesterday I started to get stuck into sorting out my projects into some kind of order....
I got quite near the finishing line with this one. Only the stitchery was done and the pieces cut out....I hope to make more progress today.

As I have gotten so far behind in my Country at Heart Alphabet stitching I decided to trace out the remaining letters all in one go ready to pick up and stitch....two more little stitcheries to draw up to make it even for a quilt. Phew! This took some time! From "G" through to "Z" plus some extras. But they are all ready now. Feels like I am getting somewhere.

I also at stitching group on Wednesday appliqued some more little hexies to their background....getting a little pile now.

After a stern word to my new drawing project Mr. Meerkat and some "don't be a wuss" words to myself, I began putting the first layers on him.

He still may get a face lift with the electric eraser yet! They are the funniest little people to try and draw....still love them though.
I also decided instead of staring at rubbish on the television I would finish a lovely book recommended to me by friend Jan...thank you! Loved it!

I feel a lot better having put a few things in order and hope to keep up the momentum...note I said hope lol! Quiet time for me is on the agenda too!
I wish you all a wonderful weekend and I will leave you with a piccie..."just because I like it" which is becoming my new mantra! Watch out! You never know what might take my fancy lol....off for a cuppa!

 Namaste and Blessings,
Michelle xxx