cheating on my buddies......

I feel like I am cheating on my zoom sewing buddies......

I've been working on Blue Lanterns without them........she's coming along well isn't she...............

I'm just a little excited.........

Only one centre block to make...... Then I will lay this out on a bed to see what the size looks like ..... 

If all good I'll make a decision on the sides......

&&&

thanks for all the great feedback re zoom..........

This is a gum blossom at the front ramp.........some branches are getting too low so I broke some off and brought some flowers inside..........

Catch you later.......Chookyblue.......

zoom explanation/questions answered......

 Hi All

I had a comment from a blog friend and I thought I might explain zoom..........I never have so now's the time..........its started due to xxxxx and I wished we had thought of it before..........it will stay long beyond xxxxx also.............

Just wanted to say how I plan a zoom sewing day.......it isn't planned.......there is no consistency as to the frequency.........

I can't say I will do it at a certain time as I need to be able to be online when we zoom...........Sometimes I have posted earlier in the week..........sometimes it's been Thursday or even as late as Friday morning my time............Zooms are usually on a Saturday my time....I have done one on a Sunday but that wasn't so great to back up for work on Monday........they always start early my time so as to catch the overseas girls.........they are often a sewing marathon for some of us and others pop in and out...........hanging out on zoom for so many hours is not draining like work meetings/training.......

The last one was shorter......ended up being 7 hrs but I initially had only committed to 4-6hrs as I had to juggle some other things around..........

But the 1/2 day worked well also so maybe I may do some more often.......I really hate saying goodbye to everyone.......its easier at the end of a long day as I am so tired by then I just want to go to bed before I fall sleep online............don't laugh I am not great late of a night and if not to active can nod off......my friends who have seen this will be laughing right now...............

Who can join in.......any crafty bloggers.........it's not a select group.........it's not hard to get onto zoom.....you can do it on a phone, ipad, computer.........yes the first time you do a zoom meeting might be a little daunting seeing yourself and others on the screen but you quickly get over that as we mostly have our heads down sewing unless someone is leading us off in search of a "squirrel" or enabling us to shop for some fabric or start a new quilt..........some people have started off quieter but are now more confident to add more to the conversation and ask more questions........

Yes I pay for a zoom account every month which enables us to stay on for a long time but that is what I choose to do.........its my couple of coffees a month social fun........

So I probably annoy some people sending them an email about zoom as I don't hear anything back from some but I have thought maybe I should just have an email list.........then I am only contacting those who want to be contacted.....

If you haven't commented on the blog post when I put it up do you want me to send you an email to let you know????

WHAT DO YOU THINK?????

Catch you later......Chookyblue........

refueling the soul.......

The day started off pretty stunning.......

Gail @ Gail's Place wins the stayer award today....... She and Lou were on when I logged in...... And yes we only went until 1pm but later then planned but Gail stayed with us the whole time......

Was stunned when Jo @ ButterZ arrived bright and early..... Surprisingly she achieved lots at an hour she is not accustomed to.......lol

I plugged away at Blue Lanterns once again.....5 blocks needed to get joined to a big section I had prepared last zoom to fiIl in the right side......

People popped in and out.......

I think maybe 18 different bloggers....... As always a wonderful mix......

I started joining the big section in the right 3 wide by 4 long of blues...... Sewing from the bottom up you can see the break in the quilt where I am yet to sew.... Sadly I was thinking this was the end of the right side but alas I have another cream then blue row to add to the bottom corner.......

But I can see the end in sight .... Then I will lay this on the bed and see what it looks like for size before I start the edge pieces............

I've shut off all media, social, TV and radio re covid......I just can't do it at present.......

Times with these girls is great in a time of social isolation...... 

But even when it's just due to my rural isolation.......

It feels like everyone is sitting around the table in the Chookshed......

thanks girls.......

Stay Safe.......

Catch you later......

Chookyblue......

Zoom quicky.......

I don't have a whole day so this one will need to be a quick one......... 

Aussie girls as they say "early bird catches the worm"

Starting at 6am AEST Sat morning........

The rest of you check the pic below.....regulars you know the drill

This time I only have 4-6hrs.....NOT A LONG DAY

Just because we need a bit of beauty in our day some daisies I took the other evening..........

You know the drill.......leave a comment and I will get a link to you.........

Catch you later........

Chookyblue......

bits and pieces....

Not a lot happening here.........Lockdown got extended (no surprise) and I'm still working from home........thats good and bad.....

The daisies in the paddocks are flowering well at present and we has a bit of rain to freshen them up.........there has been a few frost still.....some really nice days some really windy ones.....and a few dam freezing......the washing has done several laps around the clothes line today.........

not really achieved much but I have joined a few blocks.......

still not made the extra backgrounds I need yet.........

Clean up around the yard and burning stuff is always a good feeling.........

Some stunning sunsets......

Stay safe everyone.......

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue........

Super Sewing Marathon..........

Well i'm not sure I will be breaking that zoom sewing marathon record..........

It was huge......

fun friendship encouragement enabling inspiring

lead off on far to many paths of sewing goodness......everyone has their own patterns and designer etc and it's great finding new ones as we chat about different things, styles techniques etc

googling and sharing the screen to show everyone........

(taken during the morning)

Kicking off at 6am is early but I am usually awake so no issue......and the international girls are ready to start popping in.........we all live in about 6-7 different time zones........

There is always someone ready and waiting at 6am (my time)

As usual I am working on my Blue Lanterns.........I got this big section together............I actually laid it on the floor this afternoon with the rest of the quilt...........

OMG I didn't have my phone with me for a photo but it is so exciting........I can see the end is in sight.......But I ran out of cream blocks so had to stop joining........

Chatter goes on all day..........

Anything and everything. I am sure we could fix all world issues........

There was lots of chatter about covid and lockdowns with the whole state I live NSW in lockdown and the Victorian girls on were regional girls and all went into lockdown at lunch time.........so they had to pop out for awhile in the morning to grab a few things.....they had about 2hrs notice..........

So back to making cream units since I had run out......the exciting thing is I only need to make 5 full blocks and then I am onto making the edge units.......I need to cut some of the papers in half so hadn't done that until I had some spare to reuse..........

Once I had sewn all I could of the creams I need to cut some more fabric...............OMG that was so long ago that I did that.......I had to go find the fabric and concentrate and that wasn't happening at that hour...........

Starting to become exhausted as it was getting late I decided that I wasn't going to start joining blocks and my shoulder was getting a little sore so I reverted back to Lucy............

People do really pop in and out all day.....Some stay all day with me.......

27 girls joined in and the most we had was 14 at once........

Later in the evening it was dwindling and I thought I might be finishing about 6.30-7pm but we were still chatting away and a few girls came back in..........and later on Lou popped back in she had been to work and home again and wondered if we were still on............YEP we were...........she was impressed to see me working on my Lucy fillers as I had bullied strongly encouraged her to work on her new Lucy quilt she is making.......I was excited as she got 2 sewn.........Just before 10pm we signed off......

Anyway better wrap this one up..............

I've added the new girls to the sidebar - Aus Maree, Aus LyndaH, USA Swooze (you must have fallen asleep for the night. Hope you join us again next time) my friend Leah doesn't blog.....

Until next time which if we stay in lockdown could be sooner rather then later....
thankyou all for joining me in the Chookshed

Stay Safe....

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.....

Zoom ZoOm ZOOm...........

 How is everyone today..........I'm still in lockdown and don't see an end in sight yet.........its not been long and I feel relieved to be in lockdown to tell the truth to reduce people moving out of the city areas that are in lockdown.......As of this week I am working from home until X...........

Last time that lasted 8 days........see what happens this time. 

Its ok when I freeze in zoom with you girls you all keep talking..........when i'm in a small meeting it's really weird and you miss stuff you need to hear.....

Anyway lets forget about work.........really need to win lotto so I can quit..........

but as i'm in lockdown with my whole state, parts of Victoria and the whole of New Zealand is now in a snap lock down also I thought it was time to zoom...........been wanting to do it for a few weeks but the last while has been challenging and I just wasn't up to seeing all you beautiful bloggers.....or organised.......

So you know what to do............leave a comment and I will add you into the link............time zones below............as usual pop in and out as you please.............I'll be on at least 6am-6pm if not later.........(ok mostly we have ended at 9pm)...........But I need to make some more sewing progress and I know I get heaps done on these days...........

Be brave........if you blog and have not joined before leave a comment........we had a few new people last time also............

prep some easy quick food and ignore the family for the day.........

Stay Safe and see you all Saturday..........

Chookyblue........

Lucy update......

As I said I would add a Lucy update here it is...........

I think she has enjoyed getting a breath of fresh air and I know I have enjoyed working on her again............she been a journey thru lots of good and bad times........so in some ways what will I do when she does get finished............don't worry that won't happen this week.........and we need to end in a good time and that isn't now so it might take some time..........

Its been so long I forgot what I was up too......maybe a few years since she has been alive.........

I have some blocks that don't have background added so got a few of those ready.........

These are the background blocks and I have 2 full ones to make like above and several edge ones to finish.......if I have the blocks like this and the one above I just keep joining blocks............no other pieces need to be fitted in...........

So here she is before we went away..........(which seems like a million years ago)

See the big section on the bottom right..........While away I got that together and a few blocks needed some work to get them to the joining stage so very happy with the progress.........I have since added a block to the bottom left of that unit and located what block goes in the gap up the side......so once I sew it in I will attach this unit to the main quilt............then I will be well over 1/2 way............on the home straight some might say but there is another 2 rows to add on and i'm still not decided on the final size until I get more together and lay Lucy on a bed.............

Is this some motivation for you Lou@Manxgirl Living and Crafting Downunder 

Mind you i'm so far behind she may have her quilt done she's such a busy girl......but she may have been lead astray by the squirrel once again and off on another project........

Apologies for not replying to my last post.......thanks for the advice........life has been a little challenging and now we are in lockdown........I may actually be working from home.........who knows...i'm on a few days leave........I was supposed to work from home last year and it lasted 8 days.........but the numbers are not great......worse again today regionally so I doubt we will get to come out of lockdown next week.........

Take care and stay safe..........

Chookyblue.....