spam emails..........

I've received a few spam emails over the last week.............I know one friend who clicked on the link in a spam email and it caused lots of trouble.

Gmail is where all my online emails go and I don't get much general spam but they have a great filter and it all goes to the spam folder and I delete them all without even opening them...............

BUT sometimes you get spam from friends..............they may have clicked on a bad email link/website.........somehow their account has been compromised..............

mostly they have no idea spam has been sent out to you...........If they are friends I always send back a new email to them to let them know I got an odd email............

So how do you know if it is "dodgy"

1. you keep getting emails from people you don't know (like Cheryl Ashmore - I am not sure who you are but I keep getting spam from you)

2. the email has an odd "subject" to what you may "normally" get from that person.........

3. The link isn't making sense to what they may have sent to you..........eg a link to a blog post ..........it is usually longer and the web address may make no sense at all...........

4. the email may have gone to LOTS of people in the "to" spot..........The only group emails I send out are to people who are part of a group I am emailing for a specific reason eg. SAL, SSCS, 

5. Sometimes you get links to join things or view pictures of your friends, a mailing list you haven't joined up to...........usually SPAM.........

6. sometimes blog post get spam comments...........if you see a blog comment that has nothing to do with the post you just read with lots of links don't click on them.........

SO IF IN DOUBT DELETE

Your friend won't be upset if you delete what you think may be a "spam email"..............when you email them to let them know they sure won't mind emailing you the link again if it was a good email that you should have opened..............but they sure will be happy to know they got hacked..............

how to protect yourself

keep your antivirus/security up to date.............and remember to scan your computer regularly..........

if you get hacked by someone change your passwords..............

don't open emails that don't "look right"

I'll add the link to this post to the help section on my sidebar

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Calling USA friends...........

Happy Australia Day....

lots of events held all around the country..............cities and small country towns.........what a wonderful country we live in..............I am so lucky......

I am slowly improving with my USA geography...........

Now I do know where some places are now...........

Don't get excited because unless I win lotto I am not coming

but.....is anyone near Houstan, Pennsylvania or New York (city) (also Washington)

Also if your around that area do you have a sewing group, great quilt shop etc............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

Advent swap sent................

Following on from yesterdays post this is what I sent to Kris in  Fee's Advent Swap

As soon as I saw this in Country Threads I knew I had to stitch it for Kris............she is bear crazy..............

up close..........

I made mine into a wall hanging..............it's a bit dull in the pics as it was cloudy when trying to take the pics...............I know she loves soft and pretty...........

The design is by Deb and she had it published in Country Threads Vol 12 No5

here are some of the other goodies I sent to Kris..........

It was fun getting all the bits and pieces together..........enjoy Kris

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

Chookyblue

Advent Swap received............

This year I was part of Fee's Advent swap for the 3rd year...........we had a blog where we could post to show what we all received...............Advent Swap 2011
this was a direct swap and had one main present and 24 small presents to open each day leading up to Christmas..............2 crazy girls who shouldn't have signed up being too busy were paired together...............but we had a great time..................this is the main gift below from Kris......
3 ruler covers with Chooky stitcheries.................I just love them............perfect and I have a ruler to pop into each one...............

I love the blue chooks............wonder why................

anyone want some eggs............

here are some of the other goodies she sent me..............

cute mouse........the only one I want in my sewing room............

some decorations............

lots of wonderful gifts.............

Thanks heaps Kris.............I love everything you sent to me.............
Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

FIS swap sent and received..........

My online group Friends in Stitching had a Christmas swap..........5 small parcels from the 20th Dec and a main present on Christmas Day...............Now I did show what I received on the group blog at Christmas so that's ok..........firstly what I made..............one of these key fobs was one of the smaller presents..........I don't have any pics of the other gifts I sent.......you can see what I sent here....but small bits and pieces and some cards...........

I got this pattern when i was at Anni's - The Home Patch late last year.............linen and "Strawberry Fields" fabric.............Fig Tree Quilts "Notions To Go" I started making 2 and I have another nearly finished for myself...........

some of the stitching I worked on out at the cows last year............... finally into a finished project...........2 of the stitcheries from Tis the Season quilt by Natalie Bird.......so different to my Tis the Season quilt................
All these goodies went to Kylie..........I loved making for Kylie......we have met a few times too which was lovely.............enjoy the gifts Kylie...........

now De was sending to me...............the first day i got a bottle of champagne...........(I think De has been reading my blog)..........I the bag with a some of the smaller parcels...........

A cute reindeer to hang on the tree............

This gorgeous backpack was just perfect.............

Designed by Brenda Dean in Patchwork and Stitching Magazine Vol6No5
It's very cool how it is nice and wide but narrows in when shut..................
I love all the gifts you sent De thanks heaps.............

Sorry I am so late with the posting..............
Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

random emails can = new bloggers.........

Sometimes I get emails from non bloggers..............people I have never heard of..............sometimes they are thinking of blogging and have a question..........sometimes they might want to join the Stitch-a-Long SAL or the Secret Santa Christmas Swap SSCS.........both required you to be a blogger - my rules but it works..........any way one of these random emails was from a lady who wanted to join the SAL.............it the time it was full but I explained that you need to have a blog and she didn't have one but was a little keen..........anyway several months and emails later she started the blog and now she is on track after a visit from her son to get her a little more sorted and I also had a spot available in the SAL now so Yvonne has a few posts up and she is ready to start a new quilt..................welcome to blogland Yvonne...........head over and welcome her to blogland...............a little nurturing goes a long way.............

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You never know where a random email may lead...............bit like the email from Cindi (no blog) in the last post...................we have kept up sporadic contact over many months..........trading goodies................

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So I wonder how long it will take Salley to get moving..............you know you want to Salley..........lol.

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

i'm back.........

i'm back.........well we'll give it ago and see how long it lasts......21 days and 2 dodgy posts- sorry........the holidays are winding down and I have done nothing I had planned except a quick trip to Sydney to see "Annie" and a couple of days with 2 lots of friends catching up with a few others while there too...........everything else hasn't happened and we have been busy with other things............anyway today I have finally had a day of nothing..............me and the lounge had a date......laptop on my lap............I have been catching up with the SAL blog and going thru emails...........I am nearly done.............I have some blog posts to catch up on that I had starred when I was toooooo busy to do anything else and finally my reader says no new feeds..........

I have totally lost the plot with my blog.............. unusually I have forgotten what I had posted last.....I had to go back thru to see what I was up to myself...........lol.........anyway I so needed to update the header photo...........Christmas is long gone and I can't believe we are so far thru January...........

I had to go hunting for something new for my header............I took these pics in November..........I think it was late November when things started to get too crazy busy.....it does come with the time of the year so is expected but I have usually caught up by the new year.........finally I can show you.........

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I see there are lots happening in 2012...........so many challenges, BOM, a few swaps, goals etc............OMG it is overwhelming...........I am not going to do anything for the time being.................and I am not one for making new year resolutions............but goodluck to those who have plans...........i'm just going to wing it for now.............and I hope to get some good time at the sewing machine soon.........or even hand sewing..........it's been about 3-4 weeks and not a stitch..............I had a little home maintenance sewing yesterday but that's it and I can tell you that wasn't exciting bit depressing really......................  

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this is a parcel Cindi in the USA (no blog) sent to me before Christmas.............she had seen a post where I was asking for a magazine (the one on the right)...........it wasn't available here anymore anyway she tracked it down and a couple more and sent them off to me............and look at that cool piece of fabric she included too.........thanks so much Cindi............she was repaying a favour.........not that she needed too..........

Earlier in the year I helped her out with this pattern............one of the months in the "Breast of Friends" BOM....the block by Leanne Beasley.........I still had the magazine with the design and when she saw the gorgeous cushion Maree made for me she asked about the pattern...........

and I thought I had posted this photo but I hadn't so now here is Cindi's version.........she made it for a friend who of course LOVED it............

Anyway I have emailed all my pics to posts and I have about 7 to do to prepare to show you everything I am behind with................so i'll go and prep another one now and be a little ahead..............maybe............hope to see you again soon...............

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

Chookyblue

PS who is Annette that was at Anni's shop this week??? 

just popping in............

well i'm just popping in to let you know I may be off for awhile longer then planned...............this afternoon I was going to sort out the posts I wanted to do it and get organised and I have been chasing Mr Chooky and his vehicle problems...........lets just say the afternoon went pear shaped.............bit like the last week or so................I wasn't in my working clothes by any means (a dress) and ended up doing some farm work......had my  Cardygirl work boots thongs on......when I should have been cooking dinner I was drenching sheep with the boys (I have an extra boy for a week) while Mr Chooky took a couple of cows to the saleyards..........lucky for him he brought home some dinner..........then it was back out again to pick up a broken down vehicle and finally in at 8.45pm...........so far removed from the plans I had it's not funny............

I did find out about a little blog win so while in the heat dust and sweat of today that made me continue on........

I had great sewing plans for my holidays off work..................I have not got to sew a stitch yet.......a few visitors here and there......the farm jobs have been busy - catching up on work.............I am sick of sheep and we have more work to do with them...........lucky I will miss some of the cattle work on the weekend while I am busy with Fairy Girl.....then it is back to paid work so I am not sure when i will get back here..........I am very sorry as I have so much to show and be thankful for but for now it will just have to wait.............I also have posts to comment on which I am trying to do.............and I am trying now to keep up with the emails..........there were 150+ emails in my in box....google reader is out of control.............anyway I know we all have busy times and it will pass.............sorry Cardy I will try and catch you tomorrow night..........oh and the summer heat is here..............gee we have had it nice but not now................anyway off for now hope to return soon............while all the work is on we are having "quality family time" bonding like you do over stock work..............

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........