Show & Tell from my readers...

It's a real blessing to receive photos of my designs that others have made, so please enjoy the work of their hands...

Gunn Vage is quite prolific in getting her Elefantz projects finished and photos emailed off to me!

Judy Blauer finished the "Give Thanks" BOM I shared through my blog in 2011. 

It was a set of small Scripture stitcheries, a new one shared each month, that were hung on a wall hanging.

Jenny Schulz has made a Framed Calendar Display from my tutorial HERE...

Thank you for sending me these photos, Gunn, Judy and Jenny!

Do you have a photo of your completed Elefantz project that you'd like me to share on my blog?

You can send them HERE. 

I'd love to see your work!

Kathy Shaw would like me to let you know that she is freely sharing a very sweet set of stitcheries for scissor covers HERE on her webpage.

You'd never be stuck for a gift idea for a fellow stitcher with these.

Thanks Kathy!

 By now it is day 2 of my Melbourne trip. I wonder what I'm up to?

I guess we'll all have to wait and see... ;-)

hugs

 

Michelle May - a designer I admire...

I admire designers with integrity.

Like Michelle May from the Raspberry Rabbits. 

Have you been following along with her "Fellowship of the Flowers"?

Michelle is a friend, a mentor, an encourager, a very talented artist, a bunny lover and rescuer, and someone who teaches me about kindness and compassion through the example she lives out daily. Her love of life is worn on her sleeve, and if ever a woman deserves to succeed, it's Michelle.

Enjoy this eye candy from Fellowship of the Flowers; the work of her hands...

Michelle's work with felt, applique and embroidery is sublime.

I have her latest book, and a kit to make one of the projects - waiting patiently for me to return from Melbourne and begin...

 Michelle teaches classes with a delight that is totally authentic, liberally sprinkling her joy-filled attitude onto others. She has even appeared on television in the US, demonstrating her Folk Art Fusion techniques - what a treat for those watching!

If you've not been blessed to 'meet' this sweet friend of mine, take some time out today and visit her blog HERE. You'll come away smiling...

hugs

A sneak peek of something soooooo sweet.....

Tomorrow is the day I hitch a ride with my buddy Wendy on a big plane and travel waaaaaaaay down south where the air is cooler, much cooler than here.

I will get to hug in real life my truly special friends-of-the-heart Vikki and Fee, as well as girls I've known and loved for years like Dawn, Joy and Vicki. And as well as those precious gals I'll have almost fifty new faces to meet at Let's Get Stitched!

I will also be incredibly blessed to spend the whole day on Saturday with my daughter Kezzie, and my two grandsons, Cal and Dee! I haven't seen them since December 2012 so this will be a much anticipated reunion. \o/

I won't show any pics of the two projects I'm sharing with the troops at the Sunday Stitching Day, but I will show you a sneak peek of something new I'm releasing as soon as I return home....

Wednesday...be here next Wednesday, March 12th, for the biggest Elefantz reveal of the year so far...

I'm so excited!

 The three winners of my Zig Millenium pen giveaway were drawn yesterday, so let's shout a hearty

CONGRATULATIONS!

to Lisa, Shari, and Renea!

I've been busy in the kitchen again, nourishing my body with good foods that I probably won't be able to access from a motel in Melbourne.

Raw Pecan and Oat Porridge with Dates...

(recipe from Kemi's dvd here)

Bliss Balls...

(free recipe here)

 

Raw macadamia nuts, orange zest, raw cacao, and medjool dates... 

 ...blitzed to a paste in the food processor, and rolled into little balls with a dried cranberry hidden in the centre.

Store on a bed of coconut, if you think they'll last. They didn't last in my house.

 

While I'm away I've scheduled some blog posts for you, and I hope you enjoy them.

If you have some spare prayers, pray for our safe travel as fifty women are flying in to Melbourne from all over the country. Pray that our families are fine while we're absent. 

And pray that I get to share Jesus.

Bless you heaps!

Cameras in the countryside...

Mr E and I have developed a regular weekend routine of packing our cameras and heading out into the countryside for some downtime after our busy working weeks.

Because we both work from home these Sunday wanderings in the 4WD give us a complete break from the office we share, and any business distractions.

Last Sunday we headed north west 'up the mountain' - my favourite of all places to be!

About half way up there's a fabulous vantage point where you can look down over Townsville and whilst Mr E casually wandered around taking photos of the view and the flora, I took photos of him taking photos...

Back in the car we headed further along the winding road, and higher up the mountain.

Being in the countryside you can just feel the worries of life slip away - breathing comes easier as 'life' in it's natural environment grounds your senses; audible gasps at its beauty are constant...

We even picked up a hitchhiker for about 40 klms...

And then there was the bushranger!

We watched as a bushfire came into view, hopeful that it was back burning and not out of control...

...and marvelled at how the sky matched the colour in the wildflowers.

Bellies grumbling with hunger, our cameras filled with photos to peruse on laptops later that afternoon, and satisfied we'd adventured enough for one Sunday, we headed home again.

Before settling down to go through the pics I pulled out the Wheat Belly cookbook and trialed its recipe for gluten free scones to serve with mugs of good strong coffee...

I added some lemon zest and cranberries. 

Not bad. Not like a normal Aussie scone, but not bad.

 I'll be in Melbourne next weekend, so while I'm away Mr E will be planning our next adventure - to a waterfall.

Think I'll pack a lunch for that one!

hugs

Sewing Day at Michelle's...

It was Michelle's turn to host our fortnightly sewing day this Monday, and we had the added bonus of a visit from Barb!

Left to right: Barb, Heather, Wendy and Michelle...

All the girls were happily stitching away when I arrived almost an hour late.

Michelle was finishing this quilt for a relative's new little son in England...

Barb had this sweet block in her hoop...

Wendy is continuing to stitch blocks from a Smee Designs quilt...

...and Heather had a kitty cat in play which will be framed by this gorgeous fabric.

Michelle served up tuna patties and salad for lunch with a yummy homemade chill dipping sauce...

And for dessert she presented us with her signature trifle!

Naturally the girls couldn't wait to tuck in...

...absolutely yum!

Another brilliant day with the girls, but I can't show you what I was stitching. Not yet, anyhow!

hugs