Celebrating in the Country

A little country road trip was on our dance card for yesterday for hubby and I. The reason was to have lunch and celebrate my lovely mate FIONA'S milestone birthday.
We chose the town of Forest Hill.

We had lunch at the Post Office Cafe which was delicious and ohhh the coffee was so pretty! Lots of lovelies to admire during lunch as well.

After lunch we went for a bit of a wander and took in the history of the place....lovely old pubs and bank complete with window bars!

I also took the opportunity to snap some art reference photos to keep on hand..love rust! On the other side of that mural was a quilting shop that was closed by the time yours truly realised there was one....oh well just means another visit lol!

A little mischief is always in order....especially after all those candles *wink!

We found these two in the park....

Such nice company. Happy birthday my friend.....loved our day!

Hubby decided to go home through a neighbouring town with a few detours.....he cannot resist a sign indicating a dam or lake or a "scenic" lookout either......so we detoured!
Lake Dyer was a bit underwhelming due to sadly, the low levels of water....

Lots of pelicans enjoying what was there.
Then off to Cunningham's Crest lookout......this is the lake from up there!

It was a lovely spot and great views.....I loved all the grass trees!

The story of the area is on the sides of the steps at the lookout.

Beautiful sculpture greeted you at the bottom.....

So I have to admit a very nice and interesting detour!

I did get to bring home my Circles quilt from Fiona.....Gorgeous! Love it! I will share some photos later.
Thanks for hanging in there and letting me share a very nice day!

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Between the Pages.....

Is where I seem to have preferred to be of late. It all started when I managed to get nearly the full compliment of a Nora Roberts quartet from the library....3 with the final installment booked.
It's a wee bit fluffy and tooo romantic for me but nevertheless got me hooked!

Her range does amaze me! Before that I absolutely loved this lend from a friend.

This author is steadily growing on me.
After I had greedily polished off these tales I did get back to a little stitching. I completed block 7 in Beyond the Garden Gate.
NOSTALGIA....

2 more to go...they do take a bit of time but nice and relaxing.
I have also fished out my UFO CHALLENGE No.

These 4 little blocks of Frosties that I stitched from my pattern FROSTY FRIENDS...

I stitched them in Country Garden Thread...."Blue Wren". So rather than leave them as little orphans the plan is to make a simple wall hanging from them....so fabric needs to be sorted for them.
So that is about it. I often feel the need to stopping pushing and striving and lately I've done just that.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

February Sunday Stitchers

Yesterday was our February meeting for Sunday Stitchers.  As we were very close to Valentine's Day and Lynda was our birthday girl we decided to share the love with a Valentine's Day theme for morning tea.

Another lovely gathering with lots of great company and beautiful show and tell and UFO CHALLENGE progress.....which I have completely mixed up in my collages lol!
Sorry about that!
Helen has been super busy with wonderful minis, embroidery and quilts!

The black and pink quilt was also Helen's and  it was  a stunner! Noela had very cute Christmas projects almost done to share....beautiful stitching and thread.

Our birthday girl Lynda has been on a great trip to Japan and did some Shabori dying and weaving workshops and shared her results!

See that sweet teeny tiny little Japanese girl....it was 2 sweets gifted to us by Lynda....none of us could bear to unwrap it and eat it!

Sandi had lots of lovelies to share also.....minis, a travel group of zipper pouches and very cute camera ornaments!

Loved Inca's beautiful Flower Sugar quilt....it's pretty on both sides! Maria had finished another glorious and very snuggly rug....we know we tested it out. Also a pair of cuties also from Cheryl.

Tatyana had pretty hexies and lovely cross stitch and a very OLD UFO she told us in the shape of a tote bag.....we all have those lol!

I was very happy to flash my No. 8

This month we have....

Which for me is a wall hanging of cute Frosties.....I will share them next post.
I worked some more on a Wings Block......too much talking resulted in reverse sewing.....TWICE!
A lovely day!
That's it from me.
Namasteand Blessings Michelle xxx

FNSI

I thought I would show my "Wings and Pretty Things" some love last night when I linked up with all the other bloggers over at WENDY'S at Sugarlane Quilts
No actual stitching was done but....tracing....

Bias strips cut and pressed....

Templates made and applique pieces traced and cut out, then pin and basted in place.

Ohhh I tell a lie basting is stitching lol! Because I basted 3 hexies too.

So I am now set to start some applique....May just be my Sunday Stitchers project to work on tomorrow.
I have been taking my Beyond the Garden Gate with me to school pick up and block 7 is coming along.

That's it from yours truly!
Thanks to Wendy for hosting us once again.
I hope that you are spending your weekend how you choose.....

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

UFOS and Birthdays

Yesterday was a special day. Our eldest Grandsons birthday.....so dinner and cake was in order.
Master L loves sharks....can tell you anything you may wish to know about them lol!
So of course a Shark cake goes down a treat on your  birthday .....action shot!

Lots of candles now!

Our best mate....

Oh and those sisters just have to get in on the act....sweet!

We cannot believe how quickly time has flown by.

Lovely dinner and celebration 💙💙💙
I am pleased that I have completed this month's postcards.....

And did some more assembly.

Also my task for Sunday Stitchers UFO challenge is done.....in fact 2 blocks sorted.

And they are stitched together too. I like the hexies and I can see a few other adjustments in its future.

It's been so humid here that I put stitching aside yesterday and finished off an art commission piece I had been working on. You can see it HERE
Well that's it from my neck of the woods.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Off on a Tangent

Hello fine folk. I haven't had too much to share of late. I have had a good old dose of the "dizzys ". I have low blood pressure and every now and then I get a bit swoony.  This has meant no reading, drawing  or sewing until the world rights itself. Thankfully it has passed and normal transmission can resume.
I am doing a little secret sewing....

Which I will share when I am done.
Another little postcard is on the go also.....sorry about the crinkles!

And now I am getting ready to stitch the last bits on my February UFO challenge.
Some leaves and a stem for this block...

The second block I have dithered over as I wasn't overly fond of the design on the side.....after some time I decided...Heck** when In doubt throw some hexies at it lol!

That's better! I do worry about myself sometimes. I just can't always follow the pattern to the letter....ah well!

The other nice thing is back to reading. I was half way through the second one when I had to stop.....enjoyed them both!

That's me caught up.
Sending healing hugs and thoughts to my fellow Queenslanders in the North 💖
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

FNWF

February link up seems to have arrived in a flash. CHERYLL from Gone Stitching hosted us HERE  for our virtual sew in.
After a hairdressing appointment and an easy dinner I headed off to my sewing CAVE on a mission....tell you about that shortly.
When I finally parked myself with my stitching, time was slipping away.
I had the tiniest bit left to stitch on this Postcard from Romancing the Road trip quilt.

 So I finished it off and then began my next one......

I ended up having a bit of a late night and got a good head start on the next one.
Recently looking back over some photos friend Lorel bought to sewing group of quilts we had made each other for special birthdays....we came across the one made for the baby of our group Jacky.
It suddenly dawned on me that somewhere in the CAVE were blocks I had made for the same quilt!  So that was my mission.....to find them!
The quilt is the beautiful design by Leanne May....Beyond the Garden Gate.
After much drawer diving and bin peeking, I  found them!

But there were only 2 traced ones left and I couldn't find the last, as the quilt has 9 blocks....more rifling and I found this pretty tin. I remembered it held the threads for this project. Yay! More progress!

When I opened it the last block was tucked inside partially stitched!

So folks I guess I have another UFO. Lol! They are such pretty blocks....I can't say I am that displeased! And two and half  blocks is not toooo bad.
Enjoy your weekend and if Mother Nature's not playing nice where you are please stay safe!
My thoughts go out to all those affected by the bush fires in Tasmania and the deluge from the monsoon in North Queensland.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx