Prepping

Hello everyone. I do hope you are all well and finding lots to keep you occupied during this very weird time. Being a bit of an introvert (yes believe it) staying at home is never a difficulty for me......but worrying about family and friends certainly is. My mind is much better occupied. So  I have been doing some prep work on my Flowerville and lots of drawing in my Nature journal.
The beautiful stitcheries of Flowerville are the centrepiece of a large Dresden plate with 36 little blades....I have a variety of Tilda fabrics for these blades....
So I got to chopping and because I am a dinosaur...did them the old fashioned way of drawing around the template and then cutting them out.

Next step, sewing all those tiny blades into pointy blades.

Backgrounds have been cut out and I have appliqued the first plate to its background.

Rather fiddly but pleased with how it looks. My next job is to applique Block 1 to the centre.

Last week I received some very happy mail and a bargain! I have for a very long time wanted a copy of Edith Holdens "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" to call my own. My Mother had one and I have always loved it. Until recently it had eluded me......or more to the point my Frugal McDougal pocket lol! I was flicking around on EBay and discovered a smaller hardcovered 2nd hand copy for a measly $9.95 and free postage from the UK......it looked fine and I did think if it was very ordinary I hadn't sacrificed too much.......however to my delight it has turned out to be in beautiful condition.....definitely a bargain! The smaller size is actually much nicer to hold whilst reading it.

Ediths attention to detail and observation skills were amazing. Not to mention the wonderful watercolour illustrations she made throughout!

I love her handwriting and on some pages you can see the pencil guide lines for her handwritten text, not quite erased away.

I have been having a lovely time reading her words and enjoying her art and favourite poetry she has added to her entries.

The other thing I have been doing is considering another one block project.....like my completed circles to sew........thinking, thinking!
Meanwhile some elongated hexies are waiting for me.
Take care dear friends, wash those clever hands and stay well.

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

FNSI March

WENDY from SUGARLANE QUILTS gathered us together for a night of sewing with others across the country cyberly. 

I worked on the last of  my Wings applique blocks....

I got it finished......woohoo!

It's funny these two weren't my favourites when I drew them but I love them now....

This morning I have attached them to the centre.....

I was a bit disappointed that I haven't enough of the trellis fabric for the next border......

I can make the red spot work......and I will just have to get over it!

I thought I would use the trellis fabric for the butterflies in each corner of the next border.....hopefully tying it altogether. 

Next.....lots and lots of long hexies for the last border........whose idea was THAT!  Lol!

Thanks Wendy.....I hope you joined in.

***If you missed my previous post, I have several drawings you may wish to use for little stitcheries.....to keep your hands busy, needles flashing and your mind at peace.

I think this afternoon I shall go back and scribble between the pages of my Nature Journal....

Be kind and stay well.

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Free Stitchery Designs

Good morning lovely people. I decided to pass the "Happy Hat" around because I am  fed up to my back teeth with the grim news being fed to us at every turn....
So I am posting on here 6 little stitchery drawing photos (still can't work out the scanning bit yet) that you can save the images for and stitch if you choose.
I stitched them as framed hexies......but you could use them in lots of different ways.

They would make nice needlebook covers.....or a little wall hanging perhaps in a table runner......Love to know how and if you stitch them.

I know that you will all do the right thing and not use them commercially but I hope they will brighten up this time if you want some quiet stitching to keep your thoughts in a restful place.
As I type this post I am sitting in my living room overlooking my little front patio.....a little somebody is keeping an eye on me.

He was very relaxed when I went out very close to him to take a snap.....

He often visits and just rests there for ages. I don't know if he gets fed elsewhere and is hoping he might get lucky here. I don't fed them as I don't want them dependent on me. Also I have seen him hunting in my garden for lizards.
As they say it is the small things........
Encounters with wildlife is always a privilege.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Sunday Stitchers March

Alison and I were on morning tea and we went with St. Patricks Day.

We had our very own little Leprechaun complete with treasure.....and he even shared!

A little bit of nonsense.....finding our Leprechaun name......

Mine was " Musical McNoodles" haha!
We enjoyed lots of yummy goodies too.

De was our birthday girl along with Inca who sadly had to miss the meeting but we are looking forward to peering into her gift bag! Happy birthday Inca xx
De was celebrating a special birthday and Noela was De's person.

Beautiful gifts....

We all out did ourselves with our UFOS.....I forgot to put my completed blocks in my bag (I am making progress on projects my UFO CHALLENGE) so luckily for me I had electronic evidence of my industrious efforts...A Wings block and a Flowerville block.

Be warned.....loads of pics!
Marilyns lovely project book...

Our new ladies Anita and Jacinta had beautiful work to share....

 We all wanted Lyndas beautiful wallet...

And cute pincushion.

Helen shared her gorgeous runner and stitcheries.....

De's sweet mending kit..

Alison had a lovely journal....

Last but not least Cheryl had a completed block....

A really lovely day, filled with laughter and for me anyway....loads and loads of inspiration!
I had a great night Friday night which you can read about *HERE
But one little moment was definitely a fangirl moment for me. I got to meet and have a chat with renowned Australian author and photographer Steve Parish. I have always loved his stunning photography. Dear Daughter couldn't resist being a fan too.

He was very gracious....asking me where a piece of my art was so we could take it in front of it.....so my little froggy picture got in the act too!
Ok that's me done.....if you are still with me....Thank you!

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

Marvellous March

March has come with some cooler weather and showers too.....also DD's birthday.

I love this photo....you know you're getting older when all your candles set the smoke alarm off lol!
I also had a lovely visitor.....my friend FIONA. It was wet, wet wet. But chatting and stitching made us care less.....

Fiona bought her beautiful version of my Wings design that she and some other friends and I  have been playing with.....Fiona has her top finished....I love it!

It is always hard to imagine what is in your head and how it will look in reality.....so pleased and just love Fionas colourways and fabrics.
This inspired me...and now that I can get back into my cupboard in my sewing room, I worked on one of my Wings blocks and got it finished....thanks for the inspiration my friend.

Another Flowerville block is finished also.

I am mostly moved back into my sewing room but lots of tidying and putting away needs still to happen....but will have to wait as I stupidly hurt my back doing practically nothing at all.....anyway it is improving which I am very glad about.
Some little areas sorted and treasures in place....

I am pleased that lots have gone to new homes and that I have been able to maintain my "Frugal McDougal" ideology and use mostly what I have to create a much nicer and more workable space....ohh and THAT awful pink wallpaper is GONE!!!

Showers are still about today so I think a quiet day for me.
Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx

FNWF March

OMGOODNESS! March??  Well last night was time to have bloggerly Friday night sew in.

CHERYLL from Gone Stitchin once again gathered us together.
As my sewing room is still in all sorts of disarray, I worked on Flowerville as it was accessible.....and I love working on these sweet blocks.....

It is Block 5.
I have finished Block 4....

I also have to admit that I have only been stitching in the evenings as I have been holding to the promise that I made to myself this year and that is.....more drawing......more journaling and art challenges.....trying to be a bit more disciplined about time given to my art. I gave a lot of attention last year to getting UFOs and projects finished stitching wise so I plan a bit more of relaxed stitching year this year.
And hopefully my newly painted sewing cave will be a bit more enjoyable to be in once I get it sorted....I cannot believe after all the rehoming and donating of things I have done...there still seems SO MUCH!
Happy weekend folks!

Namaste and blessings Michelle xxx