Favourite things Friday and a Valentine's Day Giveaway.

Well last week I was a whole day late and this week I'm a whole day early.....he who pays the internet connection has decided to commandere the computer all day tomorrow for work. I also want to tell you about my little February giveaway at the end of the post.
As you all know I love Yoga and Quilting so I was delighted to find when browsing through a lovely little quilters notebook given to me by my friend Ann (It used to belong to her Mum) a very cute illustration done by a lady by the name of Elizabeth Stewart who illustrated the whole book, a cartoon that captures both my loves.....what do you think sounds like me? Take a look -

She has a thimble on one thumb and a threaded needle in the other hand and is of course sitting on a quilt in Lotus position. Love it!!! Did you know when you totally absorb yourself in a creative activity it is a form of meditation. Well now you do. Didn't know you could meditate did you?
This dear little notebook has little quotes and stories from quilters from all over the world and very cute little illustrations through out. There is also room on every page for you to make notations or sketches.

It also has featured through out Antique quilts from the Museum Quilts collection. They are bit hard to photograph as the paper is like the old brown paper you used to write on. Way back when......

This little book gave me a giggle and a great deal of enjoyment so it's my favourite for this week. Lastly I loved this quote from Jenni Dobson, Great Britian - " stitches don't only hold patches of fabric together, they also bind the stitchers into friendships that cross oceans and surround the world." way to go Jenni!
Visit the marvellous Shay tomorrow to hear about other Friday's Favs.
NOW about that giveaway...I love red and hearts so I have a little group of pretty red things and inside the little red card will be a heart themed drawing that you can turn into a stitchery. There is spotty fabric, spotty chokkies, spotty buttons, heart ribbon, threads and a red cookie cutter to make your "Valentine" something sweet. I shall draw it on Valentine's Day Aussie Time. So if you would like to go in the draw just leave me a comment and let me know.

I shall beback later on tomorrow to link up to Shay and see what the favourites are for this week.
Have a wonderful Friday,
Blessings Michelle xx

Thursday's Teddy Bears Picnic with Melody

It is time for another "Teddy Bear's Picnic" for all of us Arctophiles over at MELODY'S.
Today a little painted bear called "Honey Bee Bear" that I painted at friend Tracey's class a while ago is going to the picnic. I love her pretty basket of roses and her 'bee friends' and their hive. I also love the sentiments expressed on her skirt. I hope she has lots of lovely honey to share with the other picnicers and her hat as it is very hot here today.

Bless all those very hard working little bees that make all that devine honey for us and help them out and only eat out gorgeous Australian Honey. So check your jar before you buy it or even better by it from a reputable bee keeper. We don't want to see them disappear from introduced disease like their bee friends overseas. That would be a tragedy.

Have a great day everyone.
Blessings Michelle xx

Some one Special is 4 today!

February 8th, a special day in our family as our eldest Grandson is turning big number 4. So it's off to kindy with cupcakes made by Mummy and a special dinner with cake tonight and of course lots of pressies.
It seems like yesterday his Mum was coming in from Outback Queensland to wait for his arrival and now he's 4.

Many, Happies for your special day L.

Blessings Michelle (Nan)

Tuesday's Treasure with Melody

Good morning all. Terrific Tuesday is here again which means I get to link up with the wonderful MELODY (who recently celebrated a Birthday by the way) for Tuesday's Treasures.
My 'treasure' this week is a couple of little things that I love and inspire me. On a road trip with some friends many, many, moons ago just after I started making quilts we visited a little quilt shop can't tell you where and I was taken by these gorgeous gift cards and just had to buy three (they were very expensive). They featured the art work of "Diane Phalen" who grow up in the Amish district of Lancaster in Pennsylvania. All three cards have gorgeous quilts featured and I just loved them. I very selfishly could not give them away and so popped them in little frames and I have them in my sewing room where looking at them constantly delights me.......but wait there is more! You knew there would be!

A few years later whilst visiting the quilt and craft show here in Brisbane I spied a tin with one of her designs upon it. I picked it up only to have it ripped from my hands by a very aggressive woman who told me "she saw it first" I was so shocked it rendered me speechless, something that doesn't happen very often to me. Next thing my friend whom I had gone to the show with along with numerous other customers at the stall expressed there disappointment at this woman's behaviour. She flung the tin at me and stormed off. I was so embarrassed and felt I  just couldn't buy the tin after all that. I was so disappointed because I had really admired it but it was only a tin for goodness sake. I walked off to peruse another stall and try to forget about it and enjoy the rest of our day. I am a great believer in if it's meant to be or I am meant to have something it will happen. and I certainly was not going to get into fisty cuffs over a "Thing".
My friends and I sat down to have a coffee and our lunch and then my best friend pulled the controversial tin from her bag and placed it in front of me saying "I knew you really liked it". She had popped back when I wasn't looking and bought it for me because she knew I wouldn't. So that little tin has for many years held my quilting cotton, thimble and quilting needles. It also reminds me of a friends kindness.

I do treasure this little tin with it's lovely artwork as I certainly didn't think it was coming home with me that day. What's your treasure today?
"Things are just that things and they come and go but special people and memories stay in our hearts forever"
Enjoy your day.
Blessings Michelle x

Very, Very Late for Favourite Thing Friday.

I know I am very late for FTF being Saturday and all. Yesterday a mega headache and the need to join with some friends in giving another dear friend loving support and huge hugs took precedence over getting to the computer. I took some heavy duty pain killers last night so if there are any spelling mistakes or stuff that doesn't make sense you'll know why.

I had to really think hard about a favourite for yesterday and dear and loving friends was top of the tree as were pain killers but I have also been losing myself in a wonderful book (yes I know another book) which my Mum gave me when she was down. "The Forgotten Garden" by Queensland's own Kate Morton. I think the fact that part of it is set in Brisbane around Paddington where I lived and spent a lot of time growing up. There is even reference to the Paddington Antique Centre which has been  and still is a favourite haunt of mine. It also has wonderful characters an author and an artist and is a mystery to boot. Loved every word of it and a little part of me is so sorry the mystery is solved and the journey is over.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and cherish those you love and who love you back.
Blessings Michelle xx

My little Angel has flown across the Ditch

I am very excited as my little Angel has taken me across the Tasman to New Zealand. A lovely lady by the name of Pauline owns a Patchwork and Quilting store called "The Quilted Gumboot" at 6 Tui Street, Taihape NZ  and has purchased some of my patterns for her shop. I have sold lots of patterns to lovely stitchers in  New Zealand but never through one of their Patchwork stores. So woo hoo!! Thank you Pauline!

 Lately I have been busier than a dog with two tails which is how I love it. The little furry girl above is one such project I have nearly completed.....she doesn't know what she wants to be yet.....always my dilemma! But watch this space as she will be along in all her glory quite soon.
I wish you all a lovely day I am off to stitching with the girls which is always nice.

This rose is for Kay with all my love xx
Blessings Michelle xx

Tuesday's Treasure with Melody

I am posting early for Tuesdays Treasures with MELODY as I won't have access to the 'puter until quite late in the day as Hubby is working from home :)
My 'treasure' that I would like to share is my love of little houses and I have several little collections of them. Some were gifts, some I even won in a competition. Among my favourites are the ones I painted from designer Kerry English. A friend sent away to her for the cut outs and I painted them. They were a project in one of the magazines....sorry can't remember when and where. I love this little set. They represent all the things I love.....teacups in Rose tea rooms, a book shop, bake shop, florist, quilt shop and antique store. The only think missing is a yoga studio lol. So thank you Kerry for your gorgeous designs. I also have a collection of David Winters Christmas House ornaments that my friend Ann and I collect together. Sorry no piccies as they are packed away.

Thank you Melody for allowing us to share our treasures. Why don't you pop over for a visit.
Recently I have been trying to make my sewing room a bit more organised and having a little clean out and I am ashamed to say I found an assembled quilt, completely hand quilted except for the last 3 blocks. I had forgotten I had even started it. It is such a beautiful design by Rosalie Quinlan and I remember choosing some Northcott Quest for a Cure fabric and stitching it in the "Chicks in Pink" hot pink. I loved stitching it and cannot believe I forgot I had it. Soooooo! I am setting my self a little task of finishing it when the cooler weather comes.
I tell you I don't need that show "Believe it or Not" I just need to look inside my head. I might also add that I have since demolished my clean and tidy sewing room looking for some fabrics for some new projects. (sigh)

Lastly but certainly not least I am very excited to have 100 LOVELY FOLLOWERS *******
So thank you all you wonderful people who have chosen to follow my blog and let me know you think I have something of interest to offer. I appreciate you all.
"It's the people who live within the walls of a house that make it a home"
Blessings Michelle xx