Favourite things Friday and in case you missed it.

Here we are at Friday again and it has been a difficult few days for me having had a death in the family and I struggled to find a "Favourite" but immediately my wonderful loving Husband and Children and their partners would have to be it. There love and support has proved invaluable to me.I have chosen to share with you a photograph of myself and each of my lovely children on their wedding day. I love these photos and I loved the moments shared having them taken together.
If you visit the SHAYS fantastic blog you will be in for a treat. Shay never fails to uplift and inspire us with her wit and humour. I wonder what other Favourites are being shared today?

"Christmas Fixin's" Stitchery book

Just in case you missed my previous post I was very excited to tell you that I have completed a little Christmas book of drawings....see previous post for details.

Tuesday's Treasure with Melody and A New Little Christmas Book.

Tuesday is here again and as I was thinking about my treasure for today I thought nobody would ever consider me a minimalist.....I just can't do it. I can't part with my memories or my treasures. That is not to say I like junk everywhere but I do love my precious things around me in my home. Which brings me to my love of little dishes. There is about 11 in all and I think they are so sweet. My Nanna started all this when she gave me a little "Shelley" china dish with sweet pink roses all over it. She said I ought to have it seeing as I was a Shelley too. Only my family on my Mums side has ever called me that or indeed gotten away with it. But from them it always seems just right. The dish photographed with it was given to me by my friend Barbara who has since passed away so I do treasure it. It's a Wedgewood dish called "Angela"

Barbara's "Wedgewood" and My precious "Shelley" dish.

The "Carltonware" belonged o my Great grandmother and I still have it's original box. The lovely pale green set was my Mum's and is "Royal Devon" china. the sweet little pink one I bought in Melbourne...just because!

"Crown Derby" dishes. Gifts from my Mums English trips.

Of course there had to be some "Old Country Roses"

What are you treasuring today visit MELODY to see who's treasuring what!
"Christmas Fixin's!"
Now lately I have been working very hard to try and stitch a little sample to show you for my new little book.  It is a very simple little book and it's called "Christmas Fixin's"  I wanted to do a little book which had some of my drawings in it for you to use....there are no instructions....just drawings! You must use your own wonderful creativity when you trace them and stitch them. However (don't want to grump) they are to be used for your  own personal use or as gifts only. But you wonderful folks already knew that I know.
They are suitable for cushions, wall hangings, little quilts, gift bags, table runners, framed pieces or even cards. There are 12 designs + the front and back cover  approximately A5 in size featuring my favourites e.g. gingerbreads, snowmen, reindeers and some tags. I hope you like my little book. I loved doing all the drawings for it. The cushion in the photo is the front cover  design of the book.
The cost will be $14.50 (P&H included within Australia) I accept Paypal, Direct debit, cheque or money order

"Christmas Fixin's"

Another lovely quote from Paul Wilson's little book "Moments of Pleasure"
"Create"
"Paint, play,sculpt,write, dance (stitch)....to create anything is one of the greatest pleasures of all"
Have a wonderfully "creative" day everyone.
Blessings Michelle xx

Weekend doings.

Just as I sat down to write this post the postie bought me a lovley big parcel and inside were lots of lovely gifts from MARGARET my 'Friends' swap partner....I was very spoilt with lots of goodies and the choccie might make it to morning tea. I was very thrilled to recieve from Magaret a gorgeous addition to my Cranberry/white collection...a Royal Albert sugar bowl. Even the box is Cranberry/white. Yum!

All my "Friends" Swap goodies from Margaret.

My beautiful "Royal Albert" gift from Margaret.

Thank you so much Margaret for your thoughtfulness and lovley gifts.

I also wanted to share my doings on the weekend. My husband bought me  a free standing vegie tub last year so as I could pretend I  really was the hippie, earth Mother, vegie growing type I so longed to be.
We didn't get to fill it or plant anything because of the incredibly wet Spring and Summer last year (they would have drowned). So on Saturday whilst I was made beautiful at my hairdressers No 1 Husband went and got some beauitful organic soil......have you have ever shovelled soil with newly coiffured hair??? Well I did AND added my home grown compost to the mix along with resident earth worms (very chuffed about those fellows). I have planted all the little seedlings and companion plants, basil and marigolds (confuses the bugs apparently) I have mulched and given them a weak drink of 'worm tea' (don't ask). So there is no reason for these vegies not to grow....I even gave them Reiki (neighbours think I'm nuts anyway).
I shall keep you informed of their progress (I can hear you all yawning out there)....is it too much to want my very own cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce from my garden and grown with my hands.

Isn't it pretty all planted out.

Husband's strawberry plant...he thinks 'cos it came with fruit there will be more!

Companion Planting......don't I sound clever!

At least with Husband involved I have some one to blame if it all goes pair shaped (sorry).
Have a great day all
Blessings Michelle xx

Favourite things Friday.

Welcome to Friday! It's time once again to visit the wonderful SHAY at 'Quilting in my Pyjamas' for Favourite Thing Friday. My favourite today is a cross stitch I worked many years ago when I first started quilting and I just loved the verse at the bottom. I think I still feel the same way about stitching and quilting.

It brings together so many wonderful women in a circle of friendship that sometimes starts simply by the utterance of the words "Oh are you a quilter, so am I." So to all my "Favourite Stitching Sisters" I say thanks!
I am off to pop the kettle on and arrange the Tim Tams artistically on a plate as my blogging friend Maree is

This beautiful graphic is from "The Graphic Fairy"

coming for a cuppa and a chat.
"Whatever you do make sure you do it with all your own magnificent style"
Have a great weekend all,
Blessings Michelle xx

Just Because.

Good Morning all. As my blog is also a way of journalling for me I wanted to have a record of some of the beautiful plants in my garden who despite having the unfortunate luck to reside in a try hard (very hard) gardeners garden survive and reward my neglect with startling displays of gorgeousness. It truly makes me believe in a power higher than myself.....'cos somebody's taken care of them and it ain't me. A shocking admission I know. Not much sewing been happening here....too many  boring domesticso.....like a new washing machine as my old one is shuddering an sighing and saying "it's over".

So as they say -
"The Earth Really does Smile in Flowers"
Blessings Michelle x

In in the post!

Gifts for Margaret for our "Friends" swap.

Just a quick post today. I have been in KHRIS 'S  "Friends" swap  from Sew Prim Khris in which you send 7 gifts beginning with the letters of the word "Friends" My partner was the lovely MARGARET from Cosmos and Chrysanthemums. I have sent it off with the trusty 'postie' this morning and hope Margaret enjoys it all. I had such a lovely time doing this swap. So a big thanks to Khris for organising it for us all and a big thanks to Margaret for being my partner. I am not going to show what I sent unwrapped as I would like Margaret to see it all first as it's her pressie after all. I have a photo of all the parcels ready to go.
Hope You like it Margaret!
Blessings,
Michelle xx

Tuesday's Treasure with Melody and September Giveaway winners.

Good morning everyone! It's Tuesday again a favourite of mine as I get to visit MELODY'S lovely blog to see what  Treasures she and all of you are sharing today. Go for a visit you'll love it.
Today my Treasure is my love of "Buttons". I can't resist an old button especially. I have loved them for as long as I can remember. My first memory of buttons was playing in my Nanna's old button tin. I love them all the sweet little pearl ones, glass ones, bakelite ones, vintage, antique, handpainted and ceramic.

Button, buttons and more buttons!

I love them huge down to teeny tiny and all the sizes in between.
I love to see them in jars and tins, on quilts and cushions and lovely items of clothing, on handmade cards and I cannot resist a cute Christmas button. The list goes on. For such a simple little thing I think "Buttons" have gone beyond their humble beginnings and some now are works of art....So! Here's to the humble "Button".
What's your Treasure today? What or who do you love?


Antique and glass ones



Vintage buttons.

Lovely Mother of Pearl buttons on my quilt.

September Winners:
First prize winner is Rosalie (Briar Rose) from Village Quilters and the 2nd draw winner is Donna from Donna's Lavender Nest. Your gifties will be winging there way to you soon. Congratulations!
I just want to say thank you to everyone who joins in on my giveaways. I get as much pleasure from doing them as I hope the winners get from receiving their little wins.
A little favorite of mine:
"A candle's light does not dim when other candles are lit from it's flame"
So share your special light (you do have it you know) with all who come to you.
Blessings Michelle xx