Mixed Bag

Well where to start. Firstly the clever ladies from the "Quilted Gumboot" in Taihape in New Zealand have been working on my little reindeers in Down Reindeer Lane and have sent me a photo...want to see??

Last year these lovely ladies stitched Christmas Bakeshop. I think they might be a little partial to Christmas like me. Big thanks to Pauline owner of "The Quilted Gumboot" for sending me the photo to share and for her wonderful support across 'the ditch'.
I have a little sneaky peek of my little Friendship Birdie that you all were so kind in your comments about.

And in the 'what's next' in the stitching department.....the Frosties won out.

They all drawn out and ready to go.....little excited. Love a new project. Especially Snowmen!!!
Now you just knew there would be more baby pics so if you are not that way inclined look away now.
My first cuddles...

Very proud Nanna and Grampy.

Wide awake...

Such a dear little girl....and we are not biased at all. The exciting thing is that little Charlotte is going to have some company in just 3 weeks and we get to do this all over again.
Have a great day everyone.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Thrilled!!!!

Look what I was blessed to receive early this morning.....

A brand new little Granddaughter Charlotte Ann.....adorable little girl. We are all so thrilled. Mother and Daughter are both doing well.
Lots of cuddles coming my way later today. I am sure I will have a better piccie tomorrow but just couldn't wait to share her with you.

I would also like to share some lovely show and tell from Illene. My little "Lend a Hand Angel" received some lovely stitching love from Illene....

Thank you so much Illene for sharing her with us.
Well I must fly....lots to do. I don't think I will get any stitching done today. But hey, that's the good thing about stitching it always waits for you.
Blessings Michelle xxx

A Diamond Day

Sometimes we are very fortunate to have one of those 'special days'. Yesterday was such a day. In a favourite place with favourite people. I travelled up the range with my lovely friend Teresa to Highfields to visit gorgeous Fiona.

Don't they look happy amongst all that gorgeousness at the Quilter's Angel.

We had a lovely play in here. (Don't you love Fiona's bag that clever Marina made her. Tried to work our how to sneak it into my bag but Fiona wouldn't give it up) A couple of my purchases....

I said a couple...how much ya buy on the mountain remains a secret.
I was also spoilt rotten by beautiful gifts from Teresa and Fiona. Very naughty but oh so nice.

My fingers have flicked that gorgeous charm pack a dozen or more times already. As we each have one of those fantastic mugs, it will be so nice to know we are all sipping our favourite brews from them....whilst blogging of course. LOL. Aren't you impressed that the chocolate is still intact.
Fiona showed us some of the other lovely sites and we had a yummy lunch at the Danish Flower Farm where I am afraid to say Teresa and I ran amok....check out lunch. We also had the company of the most gorgeous silky bantam chookie while we ate.

Loved every moment of our day....even being stuck in the road works on the range coming home didn't dampen our spirits. Teresa and I just did what we do best....chatted and laughed.
Thank you Fiona for being our wonderful genereous hostess and Teresa for being such great company on our journey.
NOW! Sewing! Well as I am still deliberating my next project (snowmen vs bears on holidays???)I thought I might do a little catch up so I have been doing a little stitching on my Christmas redwork blocks that "Miss Mistletoe" threw out of my basket with relish last year and hence they never made it to being an actual quilt.

I am enjoying them and I was surprised to discover I had done more of them than I thought...3 more to go.
That is about it from me. I am off to package up some more of my "Christmas Memories" BOM  as I am very excited to say I sold some at AQC....thank you lovely people. Don't forget you can still get yours at the
"Patchwork Teahouse"

Lastly to all our Service Men and Women both past and present I would like to say Thank You!

Blessings Michelle xxx

Quick Post

Good morning everyone. This is just a very quick post from me as I am off to have a lovely day out with friends. I have been trying to catch up on some projects that needed finishing off and I am very pleased to have finished both little boys I Spy quilts. As both are about to become big brothers. They are their "Big Brother" quilts.

Thank you so much everyone that sent me fabric to help me get these quilts finished.
I also wanted to share another piece of Show & Tell from our flash-fingered  friend Joy (no blog)
Joy has stitched my "Teacup and Roses" recently featured in Country Threads Magazine.
It looks so lovely. Joy has done a great job. Thanks for sharing Joy.

Love the sweet cup and saucer too.
That's it from me I shall be back to report on my doings up the mountain tomorrow.
Have a wonderful day.
Blessings Michelle xx

Ta Da!

It is a very cheery place here down in the woods as the last two bear blocks are finished.

Yes the last little bear is all stitched up.

Any ideas about what this new quilt might be about???? I think it is perhaps obvious now that my new design is called "Calendar Bears" and there is a sweet little bear for each month of the year. Some will be clearly celebrating well known events for that month and others are more personal to me but I am sure that you can identify with them e.g. August has little heart raindrops to signfy the raindrops that fell just after our wedding ceremony which took place that month. June is a little busy quilter with touches of lavender as a tribute to a lovely lady called June who gave me my best friend Ann. I am a bit scared about November as I think maybe I could have been channelling myself on the beach. EEk! I am really thrilled with these little furry people and I am now choosing fabrics to help them become a quilt. I loved choosing their colours and outfits too. Time to start something new. I have some cute snowmen trying to get my attention, some Dresden plates I fancy and of course a trillion UFO's I could pay attention too....hmmm!
Lastly I wanted to share with you a photo my lovely friend Diane sent to me of a gift she made for a friend of hers using my "Stitcher's Alphabet".

She made a lovely shoe bag for her friend Fionna. It is gorgeous! I hear Fionna was thrilled with it too.
I am really pleased that lots of you are really enjoying creating with the Alphabet.
That is it from me. Lots to do.
I wish you a joyful weekend with those you care about.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Stitching with Friends by the Bay

Today I did one of my favourite things and that was to take the lovely drive down to our Bay area for our Stitching group which was hosted today by my friend Gaye.

We had a great day. Cups of tea out of Gaye's gorgeous china. Loads of chatting, laughing, a little bit of stitching in my corner (too much talking as usual) and there was also some gorgeous show and tell from our lovely friend Lorel. First there was this simply stunning black/white/red number....and it is huge.

Lorel is on the right and Gaye is on the left. Next we have a clever little quilt made from a Jelly roll which apparently you stitch together in one long strip and then bring the ends up to meet the beginning and then start joining them ( Lorel explained it a whole lot better) It is called Quilt 1600 (hope that is right)

Clever isn't it....I might even be able to manage this one....you never know.
Lastly but certainly not least. In fact this block Lorel is working on had us all drooling into our cuppa's.
It is an absoloutely gorgeous design from our very own Brissy designer Nikki Tervo. I forgot to ask the name of it but I have a link here if you would like to see Nikki's gorgeous work. Look at this gorgeous block.

Isn't it just so yummy? Lorel also does exquisite work, such tiny beautiful stitches which being the humble girl she is would vehemently deny. I cannot believe the work in this and there are more blocks of equal gorgeousness. Lorel can piece, hand applique any embroider equally as beautifully.
I had such a lovely day as I always do with these girls. They are all each and every one a true gem.
I hope you are lucky enough to have some "gems" in your life too.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Bit and Pieces

Well I am still down in the woods today with the little bears. I have finished 2 more blocks.

A little close up....

Only 2 more to go....actually one and a half.
I have also at the behest of DD being playing with all this.

I'll let you know how it turns out.
Lots of instructions writing today and I can't believe I am quilting a Christmas project to go with them.

That's it from me for today. I have earned my lunch and coffee and I am going to take it on to my nice verandah and enjoy this glorious day (AND sunshine) that we have been blessed with here today.
Blessings Michelle xxx