Stitching Out and About

 Hello. Before I get to the stitching as it's EARTH DAY today I am thrilled to tell you our beautiful TOONDAH HARBOUR is now protected and the development is not going ahead.....so happy! So if you helped in anyway, spoke about it, shared about it on social media, wrote to the pollies or protested....thank you!

I went to lunch and a day of stitching at friend Bevs this past week. Always a treat. We had a delicious lunch and I got to bring home some fresh figs. So spoilt.

I had a photo of a sweet quilt Bev had made for a new Grand baby but somehow my fat finger ruined it. It was made out of this gorgeous May Gibbs fabric which I did get a pic of.

Bev has a lovely garden and a treat to have a wander in. We enjoyed lots of chatting and laughing....so blessed to have kind friends.

Sunday Stitchers was yesterday. Although a very soggy,  rainy day....a lovely day was had by all with lots of quilty inspiration. I snapped a couple of pretty things to show you.

Susan's sweet cross stitches....

Helens lovely Sue Spargo quilt...

2 beautiful quilts by Sandi....love the "sparrows"

Last year for our birthdays we all put a little kit together and you got to chose one from the stash for your special day. You then had to make something with the kit by your next birthday. This was my kit....

Sandi received it and made a cute drawstring bag which she showed us this meeting.

I was on morning tea with Helen this month and was on sweets. I had a little oops with a couple of the patty cakes I made because I was impatient for the patty pan tray to cool....seriously!

Thankfully I did have some decent ones....lol!

They disappeared so must have tasted fine.

I worked on my framed hexie quilt which has been what I have mostly been stitching this past week...that's the lovely Sue beside me.

I watched my Granddaughter play netball over the weekend too and I managed a walk by the duck pond on the way.

You may remember on a previous post I had a pic of Mother Dusky Moorhen on her nest...well they've all hatched and it's now empty....

Such a lot of work in that nest! 

I had a lovely catch up with my little brother also this week and we had cheeky feathery company trying to steal cake crumbs while we lingered over our coffee......

These are Bluefaced Honeyeaters and they are very cute and very chatty. I have loads visit my Jacaranda tree in October when it flowers. 

I think that's me all caught up. It's been a lot cooler thankfully so I think I may give Caswell a rest and get some hand quilting done while I can.

Take care friends.....hug your loved ones!

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

It's Official...I Am Crazy!

 Hello friends. Hope you are all well. As the post title suggests I have doubted my sanity in wanting to tackle my latest little slow stitching project. It started with a vintage wooden spool that had silken crochet cotton attached to it. I had used this in other projects and was left with this.

As you can see next to the tape measure, it's quite small.

Plus had a bump in the middle. So why I thought a strip of slow stitching would be nice, I have no excuse. But here it is....

I secured it with a bead from my Mum's button and bead collection....you can see how tiny it is amongst the others.

Obviously not a lot could be fitted on this fat little spool but this is it unrolled.

Yes crazy I know....but such delightful fun!

I am thinking now about my next Slow stitching project. My dear friend Fiona sent me a most gorgeous parcel of lacey goodness in the post * sigh The possibilities. Oh my!

My brain is in overdrive lol! Whilst I patted and pondered these beauties I finished Block 3 of Caswell. This one gave me a bit of a tussle. The makers issue entirely....but I got there eventually!

I do love this quilt...

I have now finished my drawing of the Rusty Hebel Heap and Galahs.

So I fancied something pretty....a yellow rose.

People ask me often if I draw freehand and the answer is yes I do. The only tracing I do is from my original sketch to the " good" paper. Getting all the petals and folds on this beauty got the grey cells firing I can tell you. These two pics are the layers going down in coloured pencil.

It will really pop when the leaves and buds are done. I love a project such as this because I become totally immersed in it....blocking out all those depressing thoughts on dark days.

I  have also added a bit more to my framed hexie quilt. I needed more framed hexes as I had used them all. So a new little pile is ready to be sewn on now.

Another row is now begun.

My little possum juvenile is still not venturing too far from Mum. I think he needs to find a girlfriend lol! He is so cute though.

Speaking of wildlife you may recall that last year I participated in an art protest regarding our endangered shore birds down in our bay area, in particular the Eastern Curlew that spend the summers here by our bay. They travel thousands of miles to get here.

This lovely piece was stitched by friend Fiona @bubzrugz for me. Fiona also participated. So friends keep everything crossed and write our Environment minister if you feel you can because she has proposed DENYING the application for the huge development planned there at Toondah Harbour which would destroy this RAMSAR protected fragile habitat. We aren't over the line yet but we all now have a little hope....people power folks! OK I best get down off my soapbox before I fall lol! But as I have always told my children....stand up for what you believe in!

I best away as I have an arborist coming to work on my 50 year old Jacaranda tree. I am very sentimental about it and he is sympathetic to my feelings.

Take care all and I wish you a very pleasant weekend doing something you love.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

Easter Weekend

 Hello friends. I hope you enjoyed your Easter weekend. 

I had a nice quiet 4 days seeing family and relaxing. Happily disposed of some chocolate and Easter Hot Cross buns. I also had quite a readathon. And Stitchathon. Pure indulgence for me.

This one I really enjoyed. The cover grabbed me from the beginning....

And the inside cover....beautiful William Morris design. I loved the mystical tale.

I have been wanting to use the small spool my friend Fiona gave me last birthday. Because I LOVE French General fabric I can never quite throw scraps away. I have tried but failed. So I have a little container of snippets and I felt they would be perfect to save on a Snippet Roll and the little spool would be a good match.

So when I wasn't curled up reading I stitched my new little roll. I came to the conclusion that I would need a dozen to feature all my French General favourites lol!

It was really difficult to photograph so I hope you get the gist.

I think friends I have a bit of an addiction to these lol!

I finished my 2nd Caswell block before I began the spool. I only had a little bit to do on it....looks nicer in real life. Looks all wrinkly in that photo * sigh

Block 3 is underway....just. Such a nice project to stitch.

With all the showery weather we've had lately my Blue Ginger has decided that it would honour me with 3 flower spikes. The Bluebanded bees love the flowers!

OK time for me to be off....sun is shining so laundry awaits.

Thank you to those of you that I cannot reply to for your lovely comments. Each one appreciated x

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

Easter Decorating

 I thought I would share with you my Easter decorations on this damp old day. My little white twig tree has some sweet hanging ornaments...

Oldies but favourites....love this pair!

New Bunny on the block....couldn't resist last year....50% off.

Little groupings of bunnies. I love bunnies....sadly they are not native here and cause huge destruction to native habitats. So having a little collection of pretend ones makes me happy.

This girl is very old and a precious gift from a friend. LOVE her!

My Mum bought me these sweeties many years ago on a trip to the UK.

My little collection of bunny tins.

So there you are. Do you decorate a little spot for Easter? 

I hear the sports haters growling lol! BUT! My Grandson won his basketball Grand Final and Most Valued Player.....was a great game, great group of young blokes and I was nearly hoarse from cheering! 

We can all calm down now until the Winter comp starts lol!

Sewing has been a bit of needleturn. I find it so relaxing and even better there is no deadline....just as the mood takes me.

Another Sashiko block is done. Starting to find some rhythm stitching these finally.

I have started a new tale...I love this author. 

Kept up in my sketch book....feathers suffered in my time limit but I did enjoy this Pacific Black Duck and it is supposed to be a sketch.

Well it's coffee time for me. I would like to wish you all a safe and blessed Easter. Mine will be very quiet but that's just fine by me.

Namaste and Blessings,

Michelle xxx