A Social Week

Monday saw me out at Green Frog Hollow Cafe at Logan Village. It's very nice out here.

Of late, life and it's ups and downs had gotten in the way of the Yoga girls spending time together. So we decided a catch up in what has become one of our favourite haunts was definitely in order.Hugs were exchanged, news caught up on, wishes for healing delivered and lots of laughter indulged in.

There may also have been a little cake action....

So nice to all be together again...

Tuesday - always very social at art. I finished my latest drawing after playing with my new untouched Pan Pastels for the background....I love this sweet little Silvereye in the Cherry Blossoms. I got the photo reference from Pixabay.

Wednesday.....stitching with my friends down by the bay at Sandra's. Lovely day, lovely company!
Wednesday night.... stitching with friends at Diane's. AND I have show and tell!
I finished my Rainbow Scrap Challenge block for April.....Orange/black/brown.

Sue was busy crocheting these beautiful Mandalas which she is sewing to cushion fronts....they are so lovely.

Diane was busy working on her latest Sashiko project. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Monica finished another beautiful UFO. It's a Faeries in My Garden project....so much work in it.

The fabric inside this sewing satchel is soooo pretty too.

Of course the detail and stitching is gorgeous!

Most of the hexies are embroidered....beautiful!

So today.....dog sitting a crazy old little black poodle and back to my secret sewing......I have enjoyed spending time with good friends this week.....blessed is what I am!

Namaste and Blessings to you all,
Michelle xxx

More Splendid Sampler

Friday dear folks was spent in the pursuit of a completed half decent paper pieced block no 15 for Splendid Sampler. There was quite a number of do overs and reprinting foundation papers! Could have also been a number of very imaginative words....however! I  did sign on to learn a few things and I am so chuffed that I got there in the end....'twas a hard battle lol!
Block 15

I oh so very nearly piked out! Block 16 after this....for me a walk in the park!
Block 16

I thought perhaps I had earned a little look see at them altogether so far...

84 to go....that's all!
My Nora Roberts trilogy is finished and I am sad about that....loved them! If DD had not insisted that I would love Nora' s books I would not have chosen to read them. Glad I did! A very nice, naughty friend has given me the heads up about a couple more...so a searching I shall go! Boy it was hard work vanquishing that evil sorcerer!

This weekend we have been working in the garden and I have had it. Off for a nice coffee in my favourite mug and favourite chair.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

A near empty pantry required a little shopping to replenish supplies this morning.
These pretty blooms caught my attention and I decided to treat myself.

It feels good to treat yourself occasionally. ...they look so pretty! I thought they might also be good to draw.

I have been stitching lots and lots of leaves....I am  dreaming about them!

So I  decided to take the advice of a like minded friend namely Kris from Tag-along-teddies and get stuck into book 2 of my Nora Roberts trilogy...Dark Witch! Kris and I  love a bit of woo woo...other worldy stuff.. love this Celtic flavoured tale!

These books are so lovely to hold in your hands and even the inside covers are beautiful.

Must say.....a couple of chapters in and I am hooked again! Thanks Kris x
Speaking of books the postie bought me my latest edition of the printed version of my blog.

I love curling up and having a read of it, remembering ordinary and special days.
A question? Do any of you get your blog printed here in Australia?  The exchange rate with the US is getting a bit prohibitive and I would prefer to do it here?
Ok dinner is organised...I am  off to make more plans to defeat the evil sorcerer with the O'Dwyer clan!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

A Few of My Favourite Things

Being busy with secret stitching I don't have anything that I am  allowed to show you so I decided that.......
"happy & gratitude" was going to be my post today.
I love my home! I'm most myself and comfortable there....it's old and well worn but well loved also....you can tell it's had a life and a family and still does.
Do you have favourite things beside your treasured loved ones of course that just make you happy and thankful? That say "home" to you. I thought I would share a couple of mine....
My very favourite coffee cup...ahh! Coffee in this cup is always just right!

My little nature corner of things collected and treasured. Seeing my Grandies intrigued by what's here makes me so happy....lots of talk ensues!

My overstuffed and very crowded book shelves full of much turned pages and many journeys to other places.

A favourite quilt made by dear friends to snuggle under....with above books.

Beautiful stitched words from a friend.

A furry friend and work completed. .

A favourite collection gathered and gifted over many years...

A pencil or three......

Feathered visitors. ..

All these things I am very thankful for and make me happy...they make my old house a home.....a retreat from the sometimes craziness of the world outside my door.
Here I am  always

So what are your favs and comforts? Are you are homebody too? What makes you happy about your home? Is it a favourite chair, cup, outlook, quilt, hobby, garden ?
For me Home is the happiest place to be!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

The Things You Find

After being bombarded on the head once again from a pile of badly organised towels and linen in my linen closet I decided before Easter....enough was more than enough! I was so fed up I ditched my "better keep it! might come in handy!" philosophy, that by 08.30 that morning I had charity bags filled, rubbish bin filled and I could actually see the back of the cupboard! Husband stared as if I had lost my mind....AGAIN!
During this knee jerk purge I shamefully uncovered a once loved half finished quilt...
Want to see?

It is  a  Robyn Pandolph design and pattern. Begun many moons ago. I had collected all Robyn Pandolph fabrics to make it......I had begun hand quilting it even, got the centre done...

And made it to the corners.

I think Summer must have arrived and it was put aside until Winter once again returned. How it ended up lost in the Linen closet I have no clue! Maybe unexpected visitors and an emergency pretending "I am really neat" tidy up lol! I  missed Domestic Goddess training I admit it! Who knows...
So my pile of UFOING just got bigger *sigh* It is very pretty though.
Come on cool weather so I can begin! Would you believe we are still sleeping with a fan on! Shorts and sleeveless is still daily attire....
I'm off for some pain killers and a lie down......headache! But I  thought if I  shared my shame it may make me accountable to finish it.
Enjoy your week.
Sharing this photo of my little Granddaughter in Yogini training mode lol! Think she has been watching Mummy.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

FNWF for April

Last night I joined my on line bloggy friends for

hosted by Cheryll over at Gone Stitching.
As I am a bit boring at the moment and still working on some secret stitching I worked on one of those during the afternoon...

and worked on my latest Splendid Sampler block in the evening. I was very happy to see a simple applique design pop up...it is lovely in it's simplicity. The designer is Janet Clare. I am also really enjoying reading each and every inspiration for the blocks by their designers that accompany their designs.

I cannot believe that I really wanted to make one of the bonus blocks....which was pieced! I know! Surprised myself but I liked it so much...and it IS the right size and the seams meet pretty well...happy dance!

After receiving the next month's colour in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge I was unsure

with what I could possibly use. I guess that's why it's called a challenge lol! The colour for April is orange with black or brown accents. Inspiration being the gorgeous Monarch butterfly. As the challenge is to only use your stash, this morning I went searching....and found these little pretties. I like my eventual choice and as it was as close as I could get, I have gone with it. Challenge met! Yay!

All basted and prepped and waiting for a quiet moment to sew it together.
I am off back to my secret sewing.....keeping Mr. R.  company as he watches his beloved V8 racing. Two happy little Vegemites.
Thank you Cheryll for hosting us again. I will be visiting to see what you all got up to!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

No April Fool

Recently a little snippet of family history was imparted to me and I decided I wanted to write it down for posterity. ...not terribly exciting but I hope you will indulge me.
The little snippet....
Well it turns out my Grandparents were married on April 1st. It was an Easter Monday at the Woodford Methodist Church near Caboolture Queensland. It had to be on the Monday as my Grandad being the local Minister had services all over Easter.
My Nan actually told my Grandad she would not marry him until 12.30pm as she was
" No April Fool" lol! Obviously she wasn't as they had a long and happy life together and she missed him everyday after he died until she joined him.
I only have this one old photo of them on their wedding day....so serious!

The pearls are hers and the boot is a ceramic piece my Grandfather bought from his home in Lancashire in the UK when he came to Australia as a very young man. His first posting as a minister was outback Queensland in December. ....can you imagine! I treasure these little pieces.
They lived all over Queensland from Mareeba to Coolangatta. Whenever they had company for tea, and being in the church they had a lot..... they always took theirs in their own special cups...

I discovered long after they were gifted to me by my Grandmother that hers is a beautiful Colclough set and Grandads is by Clarice Cliff.
The  cloth I have arranged these little vignette upon was worked and crocheted by my Grandmother.

She was a beautiful needlewoman and this is the source from which my love of needle and thread sprang from. Also sharing a cuppa with friends whilst you stitched or crocheted.

I miss her still everday. Her wise counsel, her tinkling laugh, naughty sense of humour and kind heart. Her most precious gift she gave us was that you were under no illusions that you were truly loved within an inch of your life. You had no say in the matter lol!
So Happy Anniversary Nana and Pop. I know you are together.
I do hope you have a lovely day folks
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx