Finally some sewing...........

Well the blog has gone back to blue............my favourite........bad luck if you don't like it............the pink for breast cancer awareness month was fun and if one person saw my blog and checked their boobs it was worth it.............and the new header pic is from my garden............I just love my Jacaranda's...........

............this is a bag I have made in the last week...........fun bag to .........make great size...........the pattern comes from Natalie Ross - In Stitches...............the pattern is the Isabella Bag..........I just didn't include the ruffles...............

Oh and a month and counting until the Secret Santa Christmas Swap deadline Dec 1st...................if you are having any problems let me know ASAP please................I would prefer to know now then later....................

---------------take care--------------

Presents..........

Annie from Flower Garden had a 50th post celebration recently and I won the present......I mean presents look what she sent me....................OMG was I a happy girl when I opened this parcel..........this bag Annie even went to the trouble of taking a picture of the draw with my name with her chookies...........how cute..............

all these goodies................

this great fat quarter..........

and finally this fab fat quarter ...........Japanese.........linen.........I think this is my fav peice of material............

One of the many Jacaranda's flowering in my garden.............one of my favourite trees...........

Do you know who is following your blog..................I have just discovered these people have me in there links.............Minki and Country Painting (French???) and Julie K Quilts.........I was really surprised and Julie had left a comment on my blog yesterday and then when I emailed her she said she had been lurking for quite awhile and started a blog since following mine............kind of odd and very exciting all at once...........leave a comment if you have me in your links and I haven't left a comment on your blog as I may not know you exist.............of what the hec just leave a comment anyway and tell me how cool the presents are from Annie.................

Storms at my house......

Hi all another post tonight but this is the storm that just passed by.........the best lightning storm for ages.....and I am sure there will be more to follow as it is just the start of the season and we usually have lots of storms...............I was so excited I just had to share................

another one is coming in now.............but I think I will go to bed before the power goes off again............our time has changed (to summertime) here today..............I am confused and will be for a few days................I hate it...........kids going to bed in the daylight............travelling on buses when it is the worst time of the day for heat............

weird hair day .................what do you think...........

(I had emailed this pic to the weather on Sunrise (national news/breakfast show) and they showed it in the weather segment - I am so excited)

Oh and don't forget my last post about camping and the kangaroo pics...............

Camping out.......

We went camping and here are some pics.............this is a very friendly kangaroo - this is the most common type Eastern Grey..........there are lots of them........we have heaps at our place but they are not this quite - this is unusual.................

A goanna.........we stopped and lucky he was patient so I could take a picture for my blog friends

Mountain views

A flower DH took...............very cute and different.........

I am cute aren't I............

...................Take care till next post................

Best thing in the world........

RAIN

Yes after 4 - FOUR yes 4 months it is raining..............we had had a couple of showers in that time that didn't even measure up to 1mm so not counting them.................

One of the heavy showers...............if it wasn't so cool I would have gone out in it.........

Rain in the rooftop and rain on the windows..............the sound of rain on the roof is magic.........

Puddles............

Drips..............

Watering my garden...............yippee.................some water into the tanks...............

Well it isn't drought breaking yet but at least it can rain................64 points(16 mm) so far.............I am a happy girl..........just have to hope for some more........

I will leave you with my Jacaranda's that are flowering at the moment

---------------Take care-----------------

I won for someone else!!!!

OMG I am so happy..........I just popped in this morning to see how Nicolette was going with her pink ribbon quilt.............the story behind this quilt is that she decided to make one and give away to someone with or healing from breast cancer...............
Now to decide who this was going to go to you had to nominate someone to receive the quilt and Nicolette would draw a winner (don't know how she did that - they would all be deserving)

Instantly a lady in my town who I have a little to do with and thought had amazing positive attitude to her situation came to mind and I nominated her.................anyway I have won the quilt and the bit I didn't realise is that I get a little prezzies also...........

Along the way Nicolette has taken suggestions and she has drawn all the applique for the quilt.........she is quilt (I mean quite) an artist I think they are the cutest little pics (and I told her this)........So yesterday when she had a post with some more material I thought she was getting closer to showing a finished top and today I wake up and find she has done the draw and it is coming all the way from the Netherlands to OZ as soon as Nicolette gets it quilts and bound (I could do the binding Nicolette)

You must go and see the quilt here it is gorgeous..........

THANKYOU Nicolette

....it was by Nicolette going pink that I also went pink for October................ go and check your breasts and make sure they are okay....
..for more info...Australian National Breast Cancer Centre website


Don't forget the new bloggers in the last post..........(but I had to do this new one)

It all about new bloggers - check them out

Hi all no birds in this post I promise..............

Just a quick post to welcome Bloom to blogland - man is she eager........she has been lurking around and she is not completely new to the whole blog thing as she shares the job of administering this groups blog of amazing quilting friends that are very prolific.........and I have had the pleasure of meeting some of these ladies a few weekends ago.........they are so nice.............

...........anyway back to the story..............Bloom has managed to start her own blog today and not only does she get her header sorted and do a post she does 3 posts so please head over and welcome her.................please be kind as she is now the 2 person I have pushed into blogland this last few weeks...............I am sure Happy in Quilting and Day Day's have both been encouraging her to take the leap..............

(another butterfly in my garden since you all liked the last ones)

Now about Happy in Quilting and Day Day's...........they jumped into blogland when I started the Santa swap(back in August)..........they started a blog so they could come into the swap.............how about that......am I pushy or what...........Happy in Quilting shares the administration of this blog and has gradually got things posted onto her own blog but Day Day's just did a few posts and then went quiet for awhile and then last week in one day she posted 6 quilts and one bag.......IN ONE DAY..........so check them all out and encourage Dale to do some more posts.....this girl is on a mission to make a bag a week for some special project for her grandchildren I think and they are all different..........

.....and make sure you check out there groups blog

Oh and about emailing blogger there is a link here which tells you how to set it up and I recommend posting to draft then you can go in and fix it if needed.................and when you post pics they all have to go in the one email and make sure they are made smaller as you email.........email pics first then go to your posts and the draft should be there waiting.......

....email me if you can't work it out........see my profile

------------take care-------------

PS just looked at this posted and decied it was not a quick post...............oh well enjoy my long post...........

Another bird by accident............

Just a quick post to tell you what smashed (very very hard) into my big glass window yesterday...........this is one very stunned Black-faced Cockoo-Shrike..........this is just after he hit the window..........I went out and picked him up and sat him on the lawn.......and he stayed just like this for quite awhile..........fairy girl and I kept checking him but it took him 1/2 hour to get going and suddendly he flew off into the distance........fairy girl said he flew off straight..........I was starting to wonder if he was going to fly at all .............
.............no more sewing to show..............gardening yesterday and then last night we had little insects around the lights...........no good for sewing...........
--------------take care till next post---------------

More pics from my garden

Started sewing these little box bags.................very cute (Gudrun and Hedgehog I have an email to send you)

Since you loved my pet Gular here are some birds that live wild in my garden........

this ia a Willy Wagtail...........to get a pic is near impossible and they flit about constantly...............I love having them in the garden and they chatter the whole time and it is such and happy friendly sound..............

This is a sacred kingfisher................brilliant blue - not the best pic but he was on my verendah and scared and I just snapped so I could catch him and let him out........ "I was scared of that beak it is very long" they only come into my garden this time of the year.........

Thinking of Leanne Beasley here and Butterfly Garden..................I have thousands of these in my garden at the moment and they have been here for quite awhile............they are so pretty - not sure what horrible bug they will bring to me but they are fliting around everywhere

Natalie Ross - Isabella Bag pattern without the frill.................(link in previous post or 2 back)

these 2 panels are going to turn into bags................more news on them later................

I have tried emailing my pics to my blog today.................finally worked out how that happened and it is easier then I thought..................I just got it to save as a draft and then come into the blog and edited it.............will see how it looks on the blog once published.............

-------take care---------

PS the email posting worked very well will use it again when I want to post lots of pics....then come into the blog post draft and do the writing part............

In my garden...........

Just doing some stitching but nothing much on the sewing front since the dresss.......

Our pet gular..........my new standard rose "Imp"

Look....look close and you can see our tomatoes have started to get fruit....yummy.......can't wait till they are ripe and we can start picking..........

Oyster plant..........

the strawberries are starting to get fruit also.......... things are growing very well can't wait to see them after some rain.........how long do we have to wait for some rain??????????The vegie patch - we have about 15 different things growing in the garden this year..........some things I never grow but the kids are so excited about growing and watching and checking things I have added a few things just for there pleasure..........hopefully it will survive our very hot weather..........we have nice days at the moment but the weather is so changy........one day hot and the next cool..........one night you are in winter pjs with the doors closed and then another you have summer pj's on..............weird............now we have the shade area this will hopefully make it better for the vegies when it is 40+.......................

we found this bird nest in the white cedar tree.........not sure who is nesting in it.......
the kids having fun...............look how dry it is outside our garden............we are desperate for rain and no sign of it to come for awhile yet..........I am just ignoring the paddocks.............it is to depressing..........we will be selling some stock in the next fortnight................take care...............

69 sleeps til Christmas...........get sewing

Hi all you Santa's Elves.............(don't you just love being called an elf - I do)

Just an update for the swap............

I have remove one bloggers from the swap as she has weird things happening with her blog and then someone else said she had a new blog and I have left comments and emailed and not heard back so Alison if you are out there and working fine contact me asap so I can work something.....

..............I have made other arrangements for the person she was making for so no need to worry as you will still receive your present but thats a secret for me to know and you to find out............he he he........I love being Santa's elf...........

**************Posting Pics**************

now as I have you all in my bloglines and know what you have been up to some of you are starting to mention your swap making..........if you have not got me to ask any very specific questions you may post pics of the present so long as you don't let any information slip that identifies anyone................

69 sleeps til Christmas

**********45 sleeps to postage deadline**********

***********************************************************

********MAIL POSTING*******

Now I have had a few emails about posting to different countries and I will go through all that and make sense and send an email out to you all..............

please ensure you send with enough time for your recipient to receive before Christmas so if you are worring about it not getting there you can send earlier......just not later please............when I receive mine I will put it under the Christmas tree and wait until Santa comes..........yes I can do that and i will not be feeling it and trying to guess what it is...............maybe we could mark parcels "Secret Santa Christmas Swap"

********************************************

Now I am having a problem with blogger not sending my comments

thru to email............not sure what is causing the problem so you can

leave a comment or email me directly chookyblue2(at)gmail(dot)com and I will get back you. For all the people who have posted on my last couple of post (you know who you are) thanks for commenting and I really do like to reply but this is not possible........and as that is my only touch and feel shopping since Nundle in July I did go a little over board but as the dress is made and I have started a stitchery that is pretty good going for me..............all that I can say is thank goodness the shops are so far away as I would be a crazy shopping woman by now...............and be totally broke

...............take care...................Elf Donna

Expo shopping...............

Thanks to everyone for your comments on my last 2 posts............I have read them all but bloggers is not happy and not emailing me my comments so I cannot reply but thanks so much for all the wonderful comments about fairy girls dress........she loves it..........

.............now I have the expo shopping.........
My favourite shop at the expo - Cottage on the Hill..........(is that cool ribbon or what).....I got a bundle of Maderia fabrics - love the colours of this range.......also brought a couple more fat quarters and some green chennile and pom poms for a bag (I think) - see next picture with Natalie Ross pattern......

Anni Downs A Christmas Story............I have looked at this before but decided it had to come home with me............

Also purchased at Cottage on the Hill this bag pattern by Natalie Ross - Isabella's Day Out.............Kerry also had Natalie's new block of the month quilt which you can see her post here............I saw it on her blog but to see it in real life was great as it looks fab and I think I am going to do this block of the month (if only I can keep up with it)..............contact Kerry if you are interested in doing the block of the month............she said she would be running it starting soon..............

.........some chooks cards I just had to have..........

.....the bag in the bottom left is called Ric Rac and Blooms and is by The Riven Collection - Sally Giblin - cute little stitchery on this one and the colours were so pretty I just brought the kit............didn't realise until I got home but I also received a bonus stitchery - yippee.......I have started the stitching on this..........

Bottom right are "kit in a card" (have I got that right Janet) and they are from Wildcraft Farm - great cards with a little project stuck in the card.

Janet is also doing Christmas Surprises this year so if hubby wants to get you something or you have a friend you want to buy a sewing /homey present for head over and make sure you tell Janet I sent you over...............money made is going to charity................hurry email Janet by 31st October - this is available to overseas people also........

The Amy Butler fat quarters in this pic were all $2/fat quarter - bargain - so I HAD to buy some................the quilt hangers were from a new business and will be available online............email me if you want more info

Finally shopping at Spotlight...........the bright pink and greens for some kids projects............collections of fat quarters were a bargain so had to have some (yes I know more blue and green)................the green on the bottom left was also a bargain so I brought what was left on the roll................and the paisley on the bottom right was just because I loved it...............

..........take care........

Strawberries for Fairy Girl.......

Look what i whipped up today............got this material from spotlight yesterday.........found the cool red check elastic ribbon also and thought this would be great for the straps..........Fairy Girl loves it...........
............blogger is not sending comments thru today so not sure what is happening............people are leaving them but they are not coming thru to my email..........
I will post the shopping later I was to excited about making the dress
.............take care..........

OMG what a great day..........

Patch's Place and I headed to the Patchwork and Needlecraft Expo........

This is the best shop at the Patchwork and Needlecraft Expo...........of course it is Cottage on the Hill from Nundle - Oh I spent way to much money here but I did have 10% off so that softened the blow a little (next post the shopping) Some of the Quilt Club ladies...........it was so exciting to meet them in person.........lots of chatter.......Here are more of the Quilt Club ladies - Happy In Quilting and Day-Day's Blog are both here with Patch's Place and Dragonfly...........
Here are some of the quilts hanging around.........all these are antiques except for the bottom right 2 - they are other quilts hanging around that i really liked......

My favourites of the antique quilts were the centre pic and the bottom left quilt...........the bottom left one was found in a second hand shop in the Katoomba for $15..........I love it..........
We also met Jelly Wares at the Expo.........we talked very brieftly then we could not find her when we left..........went and dropped Dragonfly home and had to quickly get some fruit and veg and ran into her at the shopping centre...........alas she came down to McDonalds and had lunch with us.........a quick phone call to Dragonfly and she was there in a flash............we chatted for about an hour it was great.............(to get us all in the one pic I cut Dragonfly out of another and pasted her beside us)..............

............I have just had the best time.............it has been just wonderful to meet some other bloggers as there are not many in my neck of the woods althought I have converted a few and hope soon that Gone Gardening goes public............she already helps do this blog but it is a group so would be great if she had her own...............I would visit all the time.............

........to top the weekend off we picked up Patch's Place - quilt from the quilt lady and man it looks great..............it feels special to me as it was the one she made this year at our Nundle retreat

...........next the shopping.......take care.........