Do You Love Red???

Well as you know I do and I am really happy to have all of these...

All together in the one place...

I have decided to leave it just as it is....I like being able to see the process.

There are 13 little redwork hexies (and no I am not bothered about the 13) that are all little red treasures that I love e.g. little red birds, red letter box, red bicycle, cherries, red tulips, red roses, strawberry cupcakes, red spotty shoes and umbrella, red watering can, hearts, red ribbons on Miss Sophie and of course RED thread....a little close up.

So "Red Fancies" is finished. The pattern still needs to be written and made up but it will have to wait as I have some other Christmas sewing to get done. Hopefully after Christmas I will get it out there for you but I just had to share it with you now that it is done.
I thought I would say 'hooroo' with this ever so cute little birdie with it's red flower umbrella from "Let's Enjoy Beauty"

May all your weeds be wildflowers.
Blessings Michelle xxx
Footnote:
On a very sad note our wonderful and very talented Aussie designer Viv Robinson from Viv's Creations is very unwell you can read about it here. I have long been a huge fan of Viv's work and loved all her creations and designs. I am sending my love to her and her family at this very sad time xxx

First Block Started

Good Morning and welcome to another week. I hope every one had a lovely weekend. Mine was very quiet finishing with a visit from this little chappy and his cute sister.

Showing us his new recently learnt skills in the pool which was interrupted by a huge storm....my garden is smiling as are my newly planted lillies gifted by my friend Cathy.

Sewing wise I have completed all the hexies needed to finish Red Fancies although I am not sure whether I need to add some half hexies along the top to even off the top and bottom edges....hubby says yes. Me I like the look....but you know how it is when someone makes a comment and then you wonder..hhmmm???
So I am still thinking about that one.

I have however begun "that project" with 2 blocks under construction. Here is a sneaky.

Ohh! I love the beginning of new projects!!!
I also have some show & tell from our friend Joy who I am excited to tell you now has her own blog called
Joyful Stitching. I am sure she would love to hear from you and give her any hints and help on our blogging world. Joy bought my Alphabet Noel and has made this lovely placemat using the letters which just happen to spell her name as well.

The bottom stitchery is a free little design Joy recieved from me when she bought another pattern of mine.
I love all the gingies together. Thanks for sharing Joy.

Today my thoughts and prayers go out to all those in our Defence Forces who have defended our Country, gone to the aid of other nations, paid the ultimate price, lost loved ones or suffered as a result of war.

Blessings to all,
Michelle xxx

Secret Santa Stitching

Yesterday I spent the day in my sewing room (Chaos Cave) to finish off the last of my Secret Santa Sewing.

I am very pleased to be all done now except for a couple of tiny details....

Hoping they give the recipient Joy. I have enjoyed getting it all together and it is nice to be 'almost' ready :)

Now my rule of "finish something - get to start something new" is now in play. Sooo... I am planning a long term project which I am very excited about and have been mulling over, stitching in my head, losing sleep to and basically itching to get started on for quite a while.
I have most of the fabrics for the basis of it all which I have been collecting and many of the drawings...still a bit more to do....a bit of tweaking.

I am auditioning the background fabrics too.

This project is quite a large undertaking for me anyway and in typical Michelle fashion I have bitten off a large chunk and am  going to be chewing like crazy as I proceed....I will show you bits and pieces along the way. Wish me luck folks! Can't wait!!!

A favourite for me in the warmer months is when my Frangipani comes in too bloom and delights me with her perfume and gorgeous flowers. I love them so much they were featured on my Wedding cake and bouquet.

Must dash....off to play with those fabrics.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Happy Cup Day

Today is the day that celebrates the running on the famous Melbourne Cup horse race and as they say it is the race that stops a nation....everyone downs tools to listen if even if you don't have a bet. I used to work in the Telephone Exchange here in Brisbane as an overseas telephonist when I was a baby and as you can imagine the place was full of huge switchboards with a myriad of flashing and glowing lights and very, very noisy with over 120 telephonists talking at once. Every first Tuesday in November however the lights would stop flashing and go out and a hush would come over the room as all the calls ceased and Australia stopped to listen to the running if the cup. It was just amazing.

Ok enough of tripping down memory lane. I have no sewing to show as I am still working on my hexies but I have also been reading my Nora Roberts trilogy that I was supposed to take away on holidays with me.

I have finished book one and I am now reading book 2 and loving them....I am not a ghosty type person but these books have got me hooked.
That's it from me today. I am off to the post office to post lots of order....bless you all! In particular a parcel of my BOM Christmas Memories across the "ditch" to New Zealand....tad excited about that.
Have a great Cup day. Good luck to all those beautiful horses and ladies if you are lucky enough to celebrate a win, remember pleasssse.....

keep your fascinators tidy!!!!! LOL!
Bye for now,
Blessings Michelle xxx

A Very Late FNWF

I guess you could say I had more of a Friday Afternoon Stitching with Friends as I went away camping for the weekend with dear friends that we have been close to since we were very young and some even pre-children and I am afraid there was far too many of these...

with these girls (one is missing)..

Untidy lot aren't we. So I knew if I did stitch too much there would be a fair bit of 'unsewing' later. I did manage this little bit in daylight hours. So I was thinking of you all until the bubbles took over.

It was a glorious sunny weekend and between eating lots of nice things I also did a fair bit of this...

We stayed up "very" late both nights and I don't think I have laughed so hard for ages. Very good for the soul. It is wonderful when you know friends are as delighted to be with you as you are to be with them.
So Mr R. and I are very tired little vegemites this morning....but it was  so worth it.

Plans are already in the works to "circle the wagons" again soon.
I hope you all had a lovely weekend too.
Blessings Michelle xxx
P.S. Thank you to the wonderful Cheryll  from Gone Stitchin' who was once again our lovely hostess. When I recover I shall be around to visit to see if you were all more diligent than myself.

A Little Show and Tell

Yesterday I had a lovely day stitching with my friends at Denise's home. Gaye bought lovely homegrown lemons to share...we are spoiled.
My friend Lorel has been making a supreme effort this year to finish some of her UFO's some of which have been decent size quilts I might add. So far she has crossed 13 off her list. She bought her latest finish to show us.

Beautiful models..Lorel on the left, Denise on the right. Apart from the dark pink and the floral border every thing else came from Lorel's stash. I think it is really lovely.
Lorel has also been working on my "Jolly Holly Gathering" and started quilting her version yesterday.

It always amazes me how a different colour way and fabric choice makes the same design completely different. I was working on my hexies so nothing to show. I do however have another sneaky of some Secret Santa business...

Now for something completely different. My youngest 3 1/2 year old Grandson has been trying his hand at a bit of gardening in some containers...

And how exciting to have your very first strawberry that you have grown....

Too cute!
Enjoy your day.
Blessings Michelle xxx

This and That.

Good Morning everyone. I hope all of you in SE Qld are safe and didn't sustain any damage in yesterday's storm. The skies got very angry...

and my garden got very excited but I am afraid apart from a bit of a drizzle was disappointed. Thankful for any of the wet stuff at the moment though and also thankful we didn't receive any of the hail or damaging winds. I have been a bit 'off colour' this week hence the scarcity of posts. So a bit of time has been spent lolling about feeling sorry for myself. So....

I have been working on some Christmas goodies which I can't show you because snoopy little Elves may be about and we don't want to spoil any surprises and....

I have also been working away on "My Red Fancies" framed hexies quilt. It features 13 little redwork stitcheries of all the red things that take my 'fancy'. I really love it. I have had this quilt in my head for years and love that it is finally being created. I got it all together and quite quickly as well which surprised me as I thought it would take forever but I then decided it need another row all the way around.

So here I am back on the hexie making trail. Such a hardship... tee hee!

As far as favourite 'red' things go I had to include DD's naughty black poodle Miss Sophie after one of  her groomings in her pretty red bows...always loved how she thought she was very special in those red bows.

Speaking of pretty red things I finally succumbed to the new French General range "Josephine" I resisted for as long as I could but ...oh my delicious!! After looking through the charm squares I think there is a little more of it I fancy. I feel all "Appliquey" when I look at it..hmmmm!

Love!!! The little honey bees!
One of my next little jobs is to make stockings for my two new Granddaughters so although these are panels I think they are so cute and I am going to embroider their names along the top. They are both such gorgeous little girls I am sure Santa will fill them to the brim for them xxx

***Just a reminder about the quilt stolen from Springwood Community Neighbourhood Craft group. I have a photo for you of the quilt.

If you see it or are offered any raffle tickets for it please contact the Springwood Police on 07 33878333. The proceeds of the raffle were to go to making up hampers for needy families and helping children in the district. It would be wonderful if it were recovered and those responsible were caught.

As I have been really feeling my age and beyond this week I thought a gentle reminder was in order. So note to self....

Blessings Michelle xxx