FNWF and CHOOKSHED STITCHING

I was lucky enough to have a day to please myself yesterday so I guess I had a 'Friday' rather than a Friday night with friends. CHERYLL left the key under the mat for us again, so we could still have our virtual stitch-a-long.
I started cutting out 2 1/2 inch squares for my Country at Heart Alphabet blocks.

Got almost half done....Because of my neck I can't rotary cut for too long. I then took my trusty scissors and dove into my stash to chomp some pieces to make clamshells out of....Mr.R. is whisking me off for another trip shortly and I want to work on my clamshells on the road...hence the chomping.

In my stash I found a charm pack I won in a swap a couple of years ago and it will be perfect for clamshells and I will get little pentagons out as well.

I then set about finding my squares for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge block for June. The colour is YELLOW....boy struggled with this one. Thankfully I found a couple of yellows in the part charm pack I had used in a earlier month.

This month was also bird applique time. Back to that same charm pack and we now have a green birdie.

So from just scraping in last month...this month I am ahead lol!
After a very nice day of pottering around I settled down, got cosy and continued my hand quilting on Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.

I was really pleased with my little bits of progress.
When I can over the weekend I will be stitching along in spirit with CHOOKYBLUE

The 5th birthday celebration of the Chookshed.
Today is a special day in our family too. Our youngest Grandson is having a birthday.

So we are off  to deliver hugs, gifts and birthday wishes to our little Superman.
Have a lovely weekend,
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Hello Winter

Apparently today is the first day of Winter here in the Southern Hemisphere. But as you can see we are having a lovely Queensland Winter morning, with sunshine streaming through my window...

I guess working on my little Frosties is a perfect match for the start of the Winter season......I have finished one...

And working on the second.

As I knew I would need more of CGT Blue Wren I popped online and ordered some from Fabric Patch....www.fabricpatch.com.au Not only were they an Aussie company but a Queensland one as well. Yesterday my little purchase arrived and they had popped 2 pretty charm squares in as a thank you....how nice is that.

They went straight in my clamshell tin as I am aiming for that vintage type look for my clamshells and need lots of variation.
On the drawing front I have been working on some heart projects...this one for a family member who resides overseas and doesn't read my blog so I can share.
This is wee Tinker who has gone over the rainbow bridge...he was a Yorkshire Terrier. Most beloved by his owner.

Wasn't he cute!
Well I must dash. I am off to have an afternoon coffee with a bunch of blood suckers lol! My old work collegues. We have kept this ritual for about 9 years...great women!
We do it about every 2 months.

Stay cosy.....or cool!
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Just Scraping in Again!

Good morning. Its It's a bit cool around here this morning for this thin blooded Queenslander. Well it did drop to single digits....that's cool to me!
Anyway I digress. I have gotten May's Rainbow Scrap Challenge block done just in time before the next one is due. GREEN was the colour for May.
It was a butterfly turn as well.

This years blocks are starting to look very "Rainbowy"....

Ok bring on June!
Something struck me recently when I was preparing some patterns to go out. My process is usually getting the image in my head down on paper.....sometimes they get stitched and sometimes they have gone into my stitchery alphabets and patterns and I don't get to stitch them. Whilst packaging this one....Frosty Friends...

A few of the cute Frosties just stole my heart all over again and I really felt the need to stitch a couple.

I have chosen Country Garden Thread Blue Wren (washed and tested) and it is stitching up so nicely.

I am not sure what they will become yet but they are so darn cute.....even if I do say so myself lol! I must remember to have a look see in my own pattern drawers from time to time for some more stitching projects.
I am off for a cuppa in a nice sunshiny warm spot.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Finished!!!

As the car ad says "oh what a feeling! "Heart's Desire" binding attached, is finally finished.

I am a very happy quilter! It really is a beautiful design by Robyn Pandolph and I love that my quilt is made with all her fabrics too. I have long been a fan.

When I look at all those tiny stitches I think I may just be a tad crazy......but I don't want any help lol!

I am really going to enjoy snuggling under this one!
As I said last post I was off to a Rainbow birthday party. It was great fun and our littliest Granddaughter had a blast.

As you can see everyone got into the swing of rainbows.....especially Mr.R. alias Grampy! The kids just love him getting into the act lol!

Oh dear! There was indeed cake....

And it was definitely of the Rainbow variety....

We weren't too indulgent as DD made these beautiful rainbow cups of delicious fresh fruit and cream!

Big birthday hugs to our little Batgirl....note batgirl wristband lol!
Enjoy your Sunday,
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Binding Time.

I spent yesterday getting the binding on my Robyn Pandolph Heart quilt. I also found the original pattern. Turns out it is called "Hearts Desire"....not sure if it is still available but there it is for those who asked me.

I was a bit concerned about what I could match up with regards to the binding as I had purchased the fabrics sooooo very long ago. I bought this pretty blue for another project but changed my mind....I think it works. Looks much better than the photo.

As this was the best option I had, slicing, dicing and sewing it on took place.

It took a while. I haven't bound a quilt this big for quite a while. I love seeing the little valleys the quilting makes. Aren't we blessed to be quilters.
Now some quiet hand work to stitch it in place. I really look forward to this part of the quiltmaking journey. With each little stitch observing and reflecting on your work.

Hopefully not too long away from a finished UFO of long standing and then it is back to Grandmother's Flower Garden quilting. I really want this one done this winter!
Managed to fit in some reading as well.....I enjoy Aussie author  Di Morrisey and this one is turning out to be a good yarn.

Well must away as I have a "Rainbow Birthday" party to attend for our littliest Granddaughter.....my Rainbow scarf is already.

I forsee "Rainbow" cake in my future...yum!
Take care,
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Talk Amongst the Teacups

Yesterday it was my turn to have my friends in my stitching group over to my place.
I picked some of my orchids for the table....the wind was knocking them around. So I thought it would be lovely to enjoy them in a vase.

We always get out our pretty teacups when its our turn, which I love doing. After advice from a friend many years ago after she lost everything in Cyclone Tracey in Darwin, I use all my treasures....her advice "stop saving everything for THAT special day....today is special" What could be more special than good friends visiting.

Whipped up a batch of pikelets to have with delicious Aussie strawberry jam and cream.

I worked on my Gardener's Journal block......well 4 stitches is work isn't it?

So enjoyed catching up with the girls....too busy talking to snap their piccies.
On a completely different tack.....as you know, like many of you I love our natural world and I feel sick when I think of what our ridiculous addiction to plastic bags etc. is doing to our planets oceans. I use reusable shopping bags for the weekly shop but it annoyed me trying to find a solution for loose fruit and vegies instead of those plastic one time use things.....well very happy camper now!

I bought them online from www.shopnaturally.com.au
I bought the 8 pack, they come with a cute little bag to keep them in your bag, nice and handy for use.

The bags themselves are light enough not to effect the weight of your purchase and they are sheer enough for scanning at the checkout!

If the cost is prohibitive another great idea was told to me by my friend and fellow Aussie designer Vicki Knight......Vicki buys net curtaining at charity shops, chops them up and makes her vegie and fruit bags from them....love that idea.
Reusuing! Recycling! Fantastic! What do you do? Love to know.
If we all as individuals do what we can, when we can....it is no small thing folks.

Enjoy your day.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx

Sunday With Lucy Boston

Today was time for Sunday Stitchers and trying to share the stitching love around I decided to work on my much neglected Lucy Boston blocks.
DO NOT FALL OFF YOUR CHAIR CHOOKYBLUE! Lol!
This was the state of affairs when I emptied my tin...

Some single blocks, some assembled and one with cream background almost completed. That's the one I chose to work on.

I realised that I am a closet perfectionist (probably not a surprise to some) and a not very well matched stitching thread  (that is visible to me) put me off and poor Lucy was abandoned in the tin. I am going to try and rematch the thread for a better fit.
I finished the almost done block....

And also got it sewn on to the assembled piece...happy camper! Just have to keep giving Lucy a turn out of the tin occasionally! However I do not think this will be a bed size quilt lol!

I also get sidetracked by other peoples pretties.... so want to make a scrappy Orange Peel quilt and seeing Lynda's cute little blocks just tempts me each time I see them.

*sigh*
A lovely day....lots of giggles and chat and we did stitch.
On the way home I just had to stop and take a piccie of  these Native Golden Penda blooms which are flowering profusely all around where I live. Stunning!

They are medium size trees covered in these fist sized blooms.
I hope you have enjoyed your weekend too.
Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx