blog buddies "f" list

Check out my other posts by clicking on the label "blog buddies" or to see the full list which is added/edited to regularly click on the page above this posts "blogs to visit......." to see the whole list........

Definitely not "F" for "fail"........it's "F" for "fabulous"...............

Fairy Floss Stitches - it's always a chatty fun time with Lea........a very crafty talented buddy...part-time farm girl too..........lol.............
Farmyard Stitches - Maree and I have been friends for many years now.......a beautiful stitcher she doesn't get to blog as much with the tribe of kids keeping her busy....she makes lots of softies too.....always lovely when we get to spend time together........
Farm Girl Stitching - Nicky is one of my oldest blog buddies from NZ.......cross stitcher, quilter with nice fresh colours......we've been known to have an occasional wagers on netball and rugby......nothing like aussie/kiwi rivalry........
Fat Quarter Bird - an Aussie quilter.......a newer blog I have been following ...just loved seeing all her recent posts for her trip to France......
Fleur McDonald  - an aussie author and blogger......sharing her passion of country life.............
Flower and Linen  - I enjoy seeing what Susie has created......she enjoys stitchery etc....
Flower Garden - the first blog meet I ever had was with Annie and a couple of other friends............we had  the best time........one day I will get to see in real life all the gorgeous flowers Annie has in her garden............
Frog Cottage Design - a designer buddy...love catching up with Deb......she's always busy doing some kind of stitchery.....
From the Verandah - I enjoy looking at Ainsley's pics of farm life in her part of Australia

Gosh this could take some time we are only up to "F"

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

Fairy Girls sewing look out.........

Fairy Girl started holidays early since she hadn't been well.............yesterday she came out sewing with me...............we had all the ends joined at Christmas but never got to joining the rows for this jelly roll race quilt...........

We forgot to cut off the 18 inchs at the start so a lot of the joins are close but anyway thats ok................

doing the first join bored her to death but then it all came together quicker and quicker and quicker................a happy girl............

Thanks so much Jean for giving this to Fairy Girl.............she LOVES the brights..............I think this is Swanky by Chez Moi..........

reinvogorated to sew she was inspired by my EPP project and found these 1/2 inch hexies she wanted to try..........who knows what this will develop into but i'm quite sure it won't be the master piece Linda has created..........massive congrats to Linda for still remaining sane after joining what looks like one bazzillions 1/4 inch hexies yes you read that right 1/4 inch hexies..........but even more so she has taken out Traditional Quilt - Professional Class and Best of Show at the Melbourne Show...........check out "Elenor Jean" next year she will travel around Australia with the winners from each State to decide Best of Australia................

Catch you later

Chookyblue

another present..............

well Janice was well meaning with this gift but it might bite her in the butt..........we might be working on this one together as she got the pattern for herself too........maybe there's a method to her madness after all....lol......what we both agreed is we can't start at the moment...........thank goodness.....

one thing is for sure..........we both love it..............

these postcard projects too..............

Thanks so much Janice and it was so nice to have you and Mick visit recently..............

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

Chookyblue.......

paper piecing..............

OK so the big paper piecing update.............
the quilt I am working on is Floral Lanterns by Australian designer Sue Daley
I'm calling mine "blue lanterns"
I've only seen one other finished online and it was Leanne The Stitching Post she posted it on her blog just after I had purchased the kit.............that was in Sept 2011.............I started mine while I was on the road with the cattle droving.............once the droving stopped it stopped too until I saw Anne Ida"s posts earlier this month............reinspired I pulled the basket to the centre of the bench and resorted and worked out what I was doing....................

My tin is constantly being emptied and refilled at the moment...............

I have gone thru heaps of glue................got a new supply thanks Sandy...........

Since I pulled it back out I have got heaps of blocks done..................
blues 
had 19 prepped another 43 and have sewn 20 of these so 39 of 88 done
another 10 are cut
cream
cut all the blocks except the 1/2 jewels for the side............
had 22 done prepped another 16 and have sewn 6 of these so 28 of 70 done
3 edge blocks done too

so excited by this at the moment.........love the templates..........makes the cutting so quick for me..........

some of the original block done back in 2011............

sorting those ones out.............some I have done more then 2 blocks..............but thinking I will see how I am going and I may only have 2 blocks from each blue.................

ok before I pulled this out I had the top 3 rows..........

growing.............

This is where I am up to now.............put a few edge blocks in..........was going to add more here but wanting to get at least one of each of the blue blocks done and more cream blocks done.............

unfortunately I didn't realise at the time but the kits only come with so many papers and you need more........you need about 350 of each shape but you only get 200 of each shape.............if only I had known I would have requested more when I did the order but they don't tell you that do they..................the idea is you start to put it together and reuse the papers............which is what I am doing and I have only bugger up a couple of papers...........but I would have preferred to prepare all the blocks and then start putting it together..............

cream blocks waiting for more prep..............

Wacky Woman here is a pic of the glue I use............the blue shows up a bit more.........just a smear..............it holds beautifully and then just pull the fabric off when ready to remove the papers....easy.......

I got these blues on the weekend from Hatched and Patched.........still unsure about the blue and white but I like it so will wait and see what it looks like with the rest.............

some of the blue blocks I have put together in the last week.............

So thats the big update.............
Have you seen anyone else making this quilt.......have you made this or are you working on it????
I only know of Leannes and Anne Ida..........

Catch you later

Chookyblue

shearing finally..............

yes shearing is VERY late this year.............one delay after another but it will be "cut out" this afternoon...........

I helped with some mustering on Thursday...........

thankfully no rain in those clouds..............(it's the only time you will hear me ask for no rain)

getting them up to the woolshed...........

letting a mob out.............not the clearest pic it was pretty dark I am surprised it was this light.......they look naked being so white and skinny..............

A quick unexpected trip away meant I missed working Friday.........yesterday afternoon I was helping do the final "check everywhere again" muster - make sure we haven't missed any.........

today I went down for a couple of messages etc scones for morning tea and got stuck there counting out, penning up and working on the wool table...............I HATE SKIRTING FLEECES ON THE WOOL TABLE.........I hate working in the woolshed but I especially hate the wool table.........so I don't have any more photos as I was too busy...........but shearing is done...........well it will be finished in the next 30 mins yippee.........Mr Chooky will have some wool to press up tomorrow and it will all be ready for the truck to take to the wool sales............

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.......

a long way to go...............

still can't do the big post............

this pic was taken last Thurs.........

Deep Blue Sea on the wall is 60x70in.............Blue Lanterns as I have called mine is supposed to finish 70x80in so this pic shows how much work i have to go.....
When I saw Anne Ida's first post on the 7th I had the top 3 rows done......I pulled my basket out last Thursday......added the next 2 rows and then got into the preping.............it's grown a bit since then but not heaps............

My pile of key fobs grew to...........I had a pile of stripes sewn but needed to put the metal on...........got that done on the weekend too..............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

gluing and stitching...............

trying to do a big post to update you on my paper piecing but the stupid internet is so slow I can't do the  post so you will have to have a tease until I can get it done...........

I've been thru lots of glue preparing papers.........but I am so in the zone on this project........spent days prepping and stitching.....who knows how long this enthusiasm will last..............lol

OK got to go stitch some papers together.......loving the cold weather......

Catch you later

Chookyblue

winter is here............

I've been busy the last few days getting an old project in order...........lots of gluing......I ran out then found another pack of glue............but just about finished all that too...........

i'll do a bigger post on this in the next day or so.............

Does anyone know the difference between the pink glue sticks and the blue ones all made by Sewline?????

it's very drab day out the window........it's chilly in the chookshed today........it's only about 10deg so far and sort of misty all morning...........14mls of rain Friday night//Sat morning.........very nice.....

A wintery week forecast..............yippee..........

what are you working on...........blogland is a bit quite for the weekend..........

I don't do I,P Or FB so if that's where your posting I don't see it...........I don't have unlimited internet usage so just look at feedly to see the blog updates.......and comment accordingly.........

OK better go find some lunch......fish finger sandwiches yummo.....

Catch you later

Chookyblue

bits and pieces......

a cold weekend is forecast after some rain tomorrow so I might just escape to the Chookshed and sew some more............it's been so nice to have extra time out there.............mind you sometimes I just go and sit out there and have a cuppa........it's a nice bright space and I just enjoy being out there..............
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Thanks for signing the petition for the pancreatic cancer drug...........if you missed doing it it's not to late and we could still spread the word...........they are close to 25,000 signatures so lets get them over the line.......it could be someone you love it helps next.............

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The comment word verification thingy...............some of you don't even realise you have it but you don't like it so maybe check your own blog and change the settings..............here the link for my post............

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Feedly is down this morning as someone is trying to get money out of them and blocking the service............scumbags............
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Anyone interested in a retreat in Bathurst 21-23rd Nov...........email me if your keen.......

Anne Ida Quiltoholic has started a paper pieced quilt called Floral lanterns..............I started mine a few years ago.......she started hers and in 6 days had nearly caught up to me...............but it has prompted me to pull mine out to see where I am up to.............and I even joined a couple more blocks......will try and take some pics to show you where I am up to.........not sure I have blogged it at all previously..............

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

The deep blue sea...........

this is the jelly roll Jenny gave me and Gail gave me a piece of yardage to go with it........I used the yardage for the borders...

I've decided to call it "the deep blue sea" the colours don't show the greeny bits too well but it reminds me of looking in water and the different colours and ripples etc you see in the ocean.......and the seaweed etc.............now I could be wrong as I don't get to the beach much........haven't been for a few years..............

60 x 70 inchs

I tried to make a post and rail years ago but when I cut the strips I cut the wrong length.......so pleased to finally have done another one properly..........

Someone asked what the jelly roll was..........the label is below...........the yardage was from the range I think as it matched perfectly with one of the strips.........

Ok now to think what to do for backing and quilting etc

Catch you later

Chookyblue

prezzies and cuteness............

The chookshed received some prezzies for it's birthday............

this bundle so soft and pretty from Kate......i'll enjoy working some magic with it.............

Jenny found this.............I loved it ...Mr Chooky didn't "love it"....lol

And thank goodness the Chookshed can't wear a scarf...........I got this gorgeous knitted scarf from Kylie - Indigo and Quince...........

She's a talented knitter that is for sure...........I just love it......so soft and warm............

and the cuteness even if it is a little blurry...........

It is extremely rare you would see a dog on here and you will never see a cat as I hate them too.....I know all you cat and dog lovers just put me on the bad lists but I have never liked them........I much prefer the feathered variety of pets......I put up with the dogs as they are working dogs..........Boy Wonder got a new pup........."Z" is his name because he was snug up on his lap sleeping when he got him blowing zzzzzzzz's.....

he is very cute sleeping in between our boots...........I was trying to snap the pic without waking him.....

It's been a great long weekend here...........not too busy..........some visitors.....Fairy Girl had a friend also but we didn't do too much.......not sure how many games of Monopoly the kids played but lots.........

Got the borders on the batik quilt so will be back to show you that soon..........

Loving winter.........

Catch you later

Chookyblue

Chooky's Virtual sewing party.......by Salley

The post below is from Salley...........she doesn't have a personal blog but we have been interacting for several years now.........she wasn't going to miss the party.....she even got an appropriate alcohol..........a label called The Black Chook....perfect I say............

She's had an issue with "Fabulon" has anyone else...........and then below the photo is how her men folk survived the weekend I think my name maybe mud in her household...............lol....very funny....

From Salley..........

An image of my hard work from the weekend. Beginnings of a Scrappy Trip.

Dont look too hard . . I had an infuriating time with them.....

4 months ago I was working on the same design . . .different fabrics . ... I would cut my 16" x 2 1/2" strips, spray them with fabulon, let them dry-ish, iron/press them, line them up and sew, cross cut and sew . . .  Hey presto  . . .total gorgeousness.

This time . . . cut the 16 x 2 1/2" strips, spray with fabulon, let them dry-ish, iron/press them, line them up and then SCREAM

Many of them had shrunk by 1/8 th inch sideways. Nothing was matching up and then no junctions would match up either.

So, I had to spray the fabric first/ iron etc before cutting my strips. A lesson to be learnt.

I believe many quilters use some expensive product to stiffen their fabric, but I'd never had an issue with fabulon before.....has anyone had any issues...........or what do you use????

Anyway, I have to thank you for a great weekend . . . . . 

I let the men folk know early enough that I was "not available" on the weekend . . .that I would do Sat and Sun lunch . . . but it was up to them to sort themselves out for the dinners.

Well talk about hilarious. Son took it in his stride and not only did banana pear Muffins, but also Spatchcock and amazing vegies on the Saturday night. Glad that his responsibilities were now over, the pressure was on hubby.

Who did not cope.

Who wasted too long wandering around Woolworths like a stunned mullet.

Who was handed a Jamie Oliver recipe sheet and still was wetting his pants. 
Who managed to collect nearly all the ingredients

Who did not enjoy the AFL on telly that afternoon because he was so stressed.

Who pulled the pin and ordered Pizza at 6pm

Oh well . . . it proved a point. And I got lots of lovely sewing done and cutting out and fabric pulling and generally just made sure I "did" my thing. 
Salley

comments aaarrrrrhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Previously I have done this post on comments and word verification and it remains one of my big hit posts...................but just lately more blogs I am commenting on have word verification set on there blogs..............

now I know I am not a robot leaving spam but I'm not a miracle worker or psychic either trying to work out what some of the letters are in those stupid things........now the one below I got this morning is not too bad but others seriously I have to go again and again to get my comment to go to you..........If I wasn't wanting to comment on your blog I would have just shut the page and not left the comment..........but since blogging for me is the interaction with you with me leaving comments and receiving comments it's driving me nuts...........

Also trying to comment on blogs sometimes on my phone is very difficult with word verification...........

Now I know you are all worried about spam.........and trust me I am too BUT.........most of the spam I get is left on older posts....if you set your comments as below you will survive I promise and you may actually get a few more comments left on your blog if you turn off comment verification.......

see below settings.......

Who can comment - user with google account

Comment moderation - sometimes

                                                                   - for posts older then (5) days

Email notification requests to (insert your email address)

Show word verification - NO

SAVE YOUR CHANGES

If someone leaves you a comment after your set number of days it will be emailed to you to either publish, delete or make as spam..........

Moderated comments will not show up on your blog until you publish them............

i'll add this post to the "How to......blog bits" page

Catch you later

Chookyblue

PS I've got some sewing to show you from a non blogger who joined the party on the weekend.....
PSS CHECK YOUR SETTINGS AS SOME OF YOU HATE THIS BUT HAVE WORD VERIFICATION ON YOUR BLOG.

my party sewing..........

ok so your wondering if I actually achieved anything sewing wise...............

not the clearest photo as I had to crop it down....

I worked on the bottom 2 rows of this quilt......it was slow and fiddly compared to my next project below so I spent some time on it then moved on............

A present from Jenny................I decided to start working on this jelly roll............

sew sew sew............

more sewing..............

then some chopping and piecing........

the inside is together............Gail (thanks Gail) gave me a piece of batik fabric and it goes perfectly with the jelly roll............Here I have a strip pinned up against the quilt..........

thinking I will just cut and attach.........I don't have anything to go in between for a narrow border......

what do you think?

I've never worked with batiks before but I have really enjoyed putting this quilt together..............

Catch you later

Chookyblue
PS Oh and yes I will be having another Chookshed party next year.............no one said "no".........around the same time.............

vote.......

Found a new poll to put on the sidebar and it looks like it is working...........
CLOSED NOW........

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

what a party!!!!!!!

whats a party without decorations so I hung a few streamers and killed myself blowing up some balloons.........

spicey pumpkin soup with a loaf of homemade bread was a delicious lunch..........

Saturday was glorious and we sat on the verendah and ate our lunch......

we popped a bubbles too..........cheers..........

The "super fast finisher" cut out a quilt...........

these fabrics are so pretty.........

she got the blocks constructed but she wanted to lay it all out before she started to join the blocks together............heres some of the different ones to get an idea..........

"Mountain Girl" worked on a doll and had a few she had already made with her to show us.....they were very cute but I forgot to snap a pic........I think the pattern is from an old mag so I will try and see if I can find it..........I did snap a pic of the hexagon mini quilt she is working on............

Kate - Show and Tell put together these blocks.........

it looks great..............then she got her Lynette Anderson bag done from Girls Day in the Country but I missed a pic of that........

"Points Princess" worked on an old retreat quilt.........just needs to applique some stars on the cream strip.....

this pattern is from Fab Five - Abbey Lane Quilts book...........

Another retreat quilt this time Jenny's Bird on the Border

Calico Wedges by Kerry Swain

She also got the binding stitched down on this quilt............an African theme......it looks great and she put flannel on the back..........so snug.........

"the finisher" was making this quilt..........

it's from the book below and Dzintra was working on another quilt from the same book this weekend too......

Kate was extra good and gave me a foot massage........oh heaven.........

maybe she's making sure she can come back again............lol....

I missed getting a pic of  Farmyard Stitches beautiful stitchery but check out her blog and you will see the block she finished..............it looks great......

Sorry I haven't got back sooner but the weekend was big............we had such a good time together.......I am so tired today..........

thanks for signing the petition too.........it's very important............

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I have visited heaps of blog posts about your weekend..............you may have been sewing on your own but your sure weren't alone............I had no idea so many of you would have joined in..........but I am glad you did and you got lots done............didn't matter what time zone you would have been sewing with someone else..........lots of Aussies and other countries too...........Canada, Norway, France, USA, New Zealand, Sweden and probably more..........

Some new to me bloggers joined in too so welcome and thanks for commenting so I can visit you too.......

Get around those blog links on the Chookshed party time post......... and see what all the girls got up to with you................maybe I could do it again next year..............what do you think..............I'll be back with a post about what I worked on too.............i didn't finished anything but i really enjoyed my weekend working on a couple of projects in between all the talking, drinks, eating and general Chookshed celebrations..............

Oh and I nearly forgot to top it all off on Sat night we got 21mls of rain and another 10mls just after the last of the girls left............31mls in total........so desperately needed.............and it sure does feel like winter..............excellent...............

Catch you later........

Chookyblue..........
PS UPDATE jut added a poll to the sidebar too...........