Jacaranda's.........

My favourite tree that I can grow well in my garden is a jacaranda.............so this is my favourite time of the year...................I have them everywhere...........

I know some people will say they are blooming messy trees but that is forgotten with their beauty.............

I think I have about 19-20 in the garden...........

yep heaps........

my bouganvillea's are putting on an amazing display...........

so together they are stunning............

the garden is doing amazingly well considering the drought...........but as spring has sprung some things have not sprung back to life and a few are struggling..........

gardening is not easy out here..........I am constantly chasing hoses etc...... watering things and thankfully my big dam has a good supply of water for summer this year unlike some of our other dams..........

But I would not live out here without a garden.......you need a sanctuary............

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now don't forget to read my last post.............i'll do the draw on the 1st........

Catch you later

Chookyblue

a new shop..........

Finally I can tell you a secret I have been keeping......................

Some of you would know Sandy's blog Shiralee Stitches.............she's been silent on there for the last year or more because she has been so busy with her new business..............

about July last year she launched Shiralee Stitches...........a portable patchwork shop..........

She has regular classes and does markets/craft shows and also takes the shop to your patchwork group if you want................i'm going to see how far west she will travel............

The BIG NEWS now a bit over 12 months and Sandy has launched her online shop........

I was so excited to receive the first newsletter on Friday in my emails.......it's like watching my baby grow.............I am so excited for Sandy..................

Now there is something I want to tell you but maybe I shouldn't because it lowers my chances of winning but anyone subscribed to the email by the end of October goes into a draw to win a goodie pack..............

so head on over and check out Sandy new shop.....Shiralee Stitches......

(pics borrow from Sandy website with permission)

ALSO tell me what you like about Sandy's new shop 

I'll pick a winner in my comments too and i'll pay for Sandy to send out her first designed pattern to someone from my blog comments

It's a lovely project I am currently working on..........

&&&&&&&
Spread the word
&&&&&&

So 2 chances to win......

1. sign up to Sandy's newsletter on her website ASAP

2. tell me what you like about Sandy's online shop in my comments

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

PS I will catch up on my email replies as the internet has reset and I can open the emails...............thanks for being patient..........

feeling hot hot hot..............

So October is the middle of spring isn't well - I think someone needs to tell October that.............

It's going to more like the middle of summer for us................

they say we're in a heatwave...........I think that's 5 or more of days X(5?) degrees above the average temp of the time......... 

So today got to about 34 deg cel..............the next 4 are forecast as 38 deg C but they had some 40's and changed them back.............our average temp for this month is 27.4..........this month our avg is already 28.3...........I hope this is not a sign of a very hot summer but who knows............

I know heat like this knocks us, gardens, animals everything around more now then the middle of summer when we are used to it a bit more.......but 38 is no fun anytime except when your on a run of 40 plus when 38 is a cool change........lol........

it's still 33deg now at 6.30pm...........

Maybe it will stir up the weather and bring us some rain.......

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Thanks everyone for your lovely comments on the bags Fairy Girl and I have made..............bags are a good project to see quick results............

&&&&

OK best go find something for dinner..........

any suggestions for quick and easy...........

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

Fairy Girls bag............

Fairy Girl had been busy during the holidays..............

Finished this bag off...........

Lou Lou by Natalie Ross..........

we changed the handles as we didn't have any rings.........and pieced the outside differently due to the fabric pieces we had............

Made a pencil case for school..........she survived the zipper lessons and did very well........

She loves the Prints Charming fabrics........she still has a bit more to play with...............

Catch you later

Chookyblue..............

there's always a first...............

I know some of you may not believe this (well anyone who has ever been to a workshop with me) but I went to a workshop and finished the project at the workshop..............

now don't fall over with shock...........

Carol from Cherry Pie Designs had a workshop..........

you could do a bag or a needle book - Carols Felted Wool needle book............

why oh why did I put this pin in this spot on the bottom side.............

must remember to change the needle.............goodness knows how I didn't break it...........

But LOOK.......I made this gorgeous bag............."Katies Bag" by  Cherry Pie Designs

the workshop was heaps of fun...........I learnt even better handle making tips............we used a more stable bag lining which I will definitely be using again..............it's a great size.......I will be making this bag again for sure..............love the scallops.....learnt how to make them too..........

ta da...........love the fabrics,,,,,,,,,

some of the goodies on sale...........

it's great seeing the samples with the patterns............I missed taking a photo of the yummy fabrics she had with her...........

OH and was I in heaven going thru Carols English Paper Piecing papers and templates..............

so much choice in one spot..........I got a few more shapes that will go with what I have.........

also a little bit of shopping.............

what a fun day..............

Thanks so much Carol for travelling out west..........everyone enjoyed the day............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

International Day of Rural Women..............

The strongest most amazing women I know are rural women........

today is the day to celebrate rural women around the world.....

and I know I am so blessed to live a rural life......

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

super mail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow the mail man sure did bring a good surprise today.............

Some of you older bloggers would remember Tracey at Oz Country Quilting Mum the blog that is almost dead these last few years..............well she was working on a project........she has a love of woolsheds..........she also has a love of photography and she combined the 2 and has photographed 160 working woolsheds in Western Victoria...........now you have to time this right so you get there when they are shearing as this usually only happens once a year............

And I hadn't heard from Tracey for a little while but look what arrived in my mail box today............a copy of Traceys book.....OMG it's been published........she knows I love woolshed too...........but even without one I love looking thru the book......every property in the book has a double page and a bit of a blurb about the history of the shed etc.............she has done a fantastic job on this book.............

And a calendar 

THANKS HEAPS Tracey

CONGRATS on your gorgeous book

gotta run I have a book to read and flick thru..............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

So Delicious plus jelly beans equals wedding quilt...........

Started off  just over 2 weeks ago to make a wedding present..........

A layer cake + jelly roll + So Delicious pattern by The Quilters Coup + some yardage for borders..........

All purchased at The Quilters Coup

Fabrics are Jelly Bean by Laundry Basket Quilts for Moda

trying to keep bits of the fabrics as a record of what I used...........

I changed mine from the pattern by adding another row

left over I had 2 layer cake sqaures and just over 3 jelly roll strips........

fantastic use of a layer cake and jelly roll..........and it was a good size but I love big quilts so added the big floral border.............

I squared off all the blocks before adding more to them........................

piecing blocks.........

some of the quilting you can see better on the back.........

Quilted by Ruthanne @ Ladybird Quilting

I hadn't thought ahead well to organise quilting so thanks for the quick service..........

Much appreciated...........

the quickest quilt from start to finish probably ever.......

ta da........my quilt holders were struggling to hold this one up............

96 x 96 in

I was trying to think of a name or something to write and this pattern was suited to a wedding.........

2 halves become one in the centre of the block.....2 lives becoming one joining in marriage...

thanks for your comments on the binding.............it is interesting to see how fast I bind..........more to know how long it takes fitting it in then a race...............but I was worried about getting it finished in time................

Catch you later

Chookyblue

Binding.........

Just finished the binding on the quilt..........borrowed my neighbours washing machine to fit it in for a wash..................it's a big quilt..........96inch square..........i'll share some pics in a day or 2...........but I am very happy with the quilt.......

My question today is how fast do you bind?

After having done this quilt I think it took about 9 hours to bind so I think i get about a metre (39inchs) done an hour.........

Is that slow?

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

trip pics.............

Quite belated this post but I have finally got lots of pics loaded onto my computer hence the number of posts your getting..............

These are from the lightning trip a few weeks ago...............we followed a very simple sign to a stunning lookout..............

some of the flowers..............

I was waiting for the sun to hit the cliffs but it was too cool and cloudy............

a gorgeous valley............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

2 tops in 10 in days......OMG.......

With a bit of a delay due to sleepover Aunty duties...........

finally......second quilt top finished................or maybe not............

this is without boarders..............72 x 72inch square.

border options................what do you think???

the big floral would be not quite this wide..........

I do have to get some more yardage which should be fine...........

closer up..............

And with a top together i was inspired to work on another old one.............

it's been in and out a bit lately............

even made it to the design wall and got pull back down................

another block nearly finished and most of the sashing done.....

Need to measure them all but I think the sashing has been cut 4 3/8 instead of 4  1/2 inchs............

It will work out but AARRRHHHH.........

loved the holidays and the long weekend.........

Fairy Girl is playing in a bundle of scraps, selvedges etc...........

no direction really, no rules to follow just having fun joining fabric together..........

also added in a few random left over blocks, stuff ups etc.............

Anyway hope you have enjoyed your weekend..............

So border or no border???? 

Help.......need your thoughts.............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

echidna removal..........

On Wednesday when we were lamb marking Boy Wonder spotted an echidna moving over near the tank down the paddock....................on Thursday Fairy Girl spotted one walking in the garden.............

2 echidnas in 2 days...........OMG.......

Here he is digging himself into the ground............

I really don't want /need an echidna in the garden with a plastic lining pool..................

Boy Wonder to the rescue.............

He flipped it onto it's back...........not an easy task..............it's not so easy for them to get back on their feet but as he was trying to pick it up it got back onto it's feet.................

they are so cute.............

Rolled over again and picked up this time...........

Yes they are spikey and sharp spikes..........
I was NOT going to do this............

Boy Wonder safely placed him at an ant nest OUT of my garden...............

Catch you later

Chookyblue

French star?............

I saw this pattern - Moda Love Quilt online - printed it and put it in a safe spot for a rainy day............well I haven't had a rainy day but I thought it might be a good one to try.............supposed to be made from a Layer Cake, Charm pack or Mini charm........plus some yardage.....

trying to sort out the mini charm fabrics to replicate the big one............

Started making this one yesterday lunch...............

I have incorporated a few more French General fabrics as I had used some of the fabrics in the layer cake in another project..........................

I wasn't happy with the layout of the side squares so I moved them and changed them..............

Less then a hour this morning and it is all pinned on the wall........moved to final positions and ready for me to start sewing once I get back from town.............
I can't wait.............OMG 2 quilt tops in one week now that would be a record........
I can't show you the other one yet.......you will have to wait a week or so..............
Catch you later

Chookyblue

gardens and lambs.............

This is the lambs when we got them.......there has been a few casualties............but we seem to be back on track now.........

the red dots are spray marker to know which was which when feeding them..........

We were given another one yesterday.......yippee..........

Recently I got to enjoy some lovely gardens...........

I've never seen so many daffodils........gorgeous......thanks for the suggestion Janice.....

Glorious day and we even ran into Miss Kate

Catch you later

Chookyblue