Why I walk.......

Prepare yourselves girls.................the 2nd 10min challenge I am adding to my life is EXERCISE...........

Most of us  do NOT get enough exercise daily............I am out of my routine walking program so it is high time to get back on track and I can usually do 20 or more but I am doing 10 and my 7 minute workout challenge. (app on my phone) 

I'm on day 2 of my exercises and hooley dooley.............the body knows about it but tomorrow it will be better and by the next day all will be good............it's just starting and I have to stick with it..........

I had done no where near enough steps today so went for a short walk just before dark....................the sun was setting out the front and as I headed off out the back the moon started to rise...............

there was a gentle breeze.............the birds were calling there last calls for the day as they were roosting for the night............

It was magical............I am back to walking............

so no matter what - you do what exercise can you find to do each day this month for 10 mins..........

Who's joining me and Googy Girl????

Susan's keen...........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.......

PS don't worry I am still doing my 10 mins sewing on the machine.............

this is extra.........

Leaning tower of churn dash......

Well that's what it looks like on the wall at the moment....... All leaning to the left..... Lol..... Now to add the sashing rows..... So far very happy.......this 10 min thing is great....... New 10 min chalenge starts tomorrow....... Can't wait....... It will be added onto this 10 mins....... An extra challenge....... 

Catch you later.....

Chookyblue......

Edwardsia.....

I started these back in October I think.......introducing "Edwardsia"...... The first few blocks....... I didn't show you all then when I started it....    

Can you believe I have not done any EPP until this week since mid November when I jammed my finger in the door as it slammed....... I obviously damaged some nerves and the nail went black and there was blood and a few bad words but I was a mess when it happened.....could not bend the finger for weeks........the last of the nail came off a few weeks ago and the new nail is growing slowly and causing a few issues as it does..... But finally on the weekend I had a go and it was OK.....still some issues with finger..... Just bits at a time is OK though.......

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.....

Prepping new projects........

Cutting into a new project so I am prepared for my 10 mins a day sewing.......

I've missed a couple of days being away or just to hot and missed the morning time due to other jobs that needed to be done....... 

epp gluing..... 

And great clouds yesterday but no rain....... 

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.......

Australia Day..........

Always involves time with friends and a BBQ...........

the heat and flies are always free.............

I watched the Australia Day awards last night and huge congratulations to the winners............

Its a day to celebrate living in the best country in the world......for which I am so thankful.........

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

Chookybue.........

Playing and play dates.....

I've been a bit annoyed with the churn dash quilt not enough time to fiddle but not happy to sew so I had started joining some of the sashing.....finally yesterday morning I got it sorted..... I'm much happier with the layout now.......Only 1.5 rows left to join then back to sashing rows and joining the top......

Had a couple of play dates..... No sewing just socialising..... Drinks and bubbles by the pool with Jenny and lunch with Fiona, Kris and Maree........ Great to catch up even if it is only a short time..... I have such lovely friends I am very lucky.......

Worried about family near the massive fire in the Pilliga Scrub which is not even making the news.....it's burnt nearly 120,000acres....massive......still out of control and the weather is very hot..... Not helping....... 

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.......

Matching colours........

Wow what a difference today....... This year we have not had a day under 34........today it is only just 27......feels like heaven......

The Bird on the Border has flown in and we are sewing away...... Actually not a lot of sewing for me yet but lots of prep work to keep sewing my 10 mins each day.......

 A quick trip to the Home Patch and a sale saw me getting the setting triangle fabric for the churn dash quilt..(plus some other treasures)... So that is cut along with the corner stones.... Also cutting some bindings.......

But colour coordinated drinks is the go...... 

Catch you later..... 

Chookyblue...... 

Biggest finish of the year......

It is a huge 2in square...... So cute..... Filled it with crushed walnut shells..... It's a great little weight....linen on the back.........

Catch you later........ 

Chookyblue........ 

Driven to the drink.......

Two dust storms in three days.......it's taking its toll...... Driven to the drink at least today with a friend......we got some rain also after the dust...at least the dust stopped blowing earlier then the other day today......temps dropped down for the evening

Catch you later.....

Chookyblue....

Progress......

I wasn't getting caught out again today with the heat so I got my 10 mins in before running out the door to work.....progress so far...... The blocks were made for this one and the first two rows joined so it's adding sashing strips and joining.....

Catch you later...... 

Chookyblue.....

10 mins in a sauna?????

no pics.........I missed getting into the Chookshed this morning cleaning up from the dust..........when I went in this arvo it was 40deg in the Chookshed......the air was so still in there I set my timer for 10 mins and got it done and out of there ASAP before I melted........suppose it could be good for weightloss?????

Never been in a sauna before......

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

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

Another wall of dust.....

And you wonder why someone turns to the drink........ its not good when the neighbours trees disappear to a brown wall..........

Yet another dust storm to clean up from....

the last one was less the two weeks ago.......

another day in paradise...... 

Catch you later...... 

Chookyblue.....

Grabbing 10mins......

The next project is up on the design wall....... 

Got 10 mins in yesterday morning just...

Today I got 15 mins in....

i have to make sure I get it in before work as the heat is extreme so not possible after work.......

Catch you later...... 

Chookyblue......

Another one bites the dust.......

Forcing my 10mins on each day has results..........as I have stayed inspired to get my top together............especially when you can see it coming together.......most days the 10mins turned into more...........

Started this one on the 1st.....finished the top this morning.......and it's only the 7th.......woohoo............

The blocks came from Googy Girls Traditional Nine Patch Swap..........

I posted about it here and here and here............that I could find..........

You can see Kerry's finished quilt from this swap at the bottom of this post.......

colour runs in the nine patches on the diagonal.........

I had a bundle of 1metre pieces that I cut into to make the filling blocks..........

gradually over the week it all came together..........

Its so exciting when you see this happening.........

And suddenly it was done...........

"Googy's Nine Patch Quilt"...........

Ok onto another project.............that list is being smashed.............
maybe I can start a real new quilt..........

Catch you later......

Chookyblue......

Owl/s.............

How many can you see?

Hhhmmmm........so today was 40..........i'm not going to complain as the next few are 41-42......and the coolest day is next Sunday (a week away) forecast 37..........

Means I need to get my Chookshed sewing in before the sun rises...........

6 days in and I've got my time done each day.......today 2 x 10mins.........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.........

Peeps and borders

I love peeps.... Do you use them bordering quilts...... 

I cut 1 in strips........ Fold in 1/2 and iron.  

When sewing on the quilt I only sew with 1/8 in seams.  When you sew the next border on it gets the full 1/4 in sewn in as it is exactly over the top on the peep.

Doesn't it look great.......gives it a real pop....... 

So last night I definitely got my 10 mins in as I made two backings - taught my apprentice how to make them and she joined one length and i put these borders almost on....? 

 This morning I  attached the last two wide border sides and joined two rows of my nine patch together........ 

Catch you later......

Chookyblue.......

10 minute challenge.......

Trying to make sure I catch 10mins of machine sewing each day...... That's over an hour each week and this morning the 10 mins stretched out to over 30mins in patches between getting ready for work...... If things are ready to sew which they are you can get quite a bit done in this time.

Googy girl and I have challenged each other to grab 10 mins a day on the machines...... You can join us if you like...... Just post on your blog and be accountable to yourself...... But we can try and keep each other motivated....... When working full time and it's stinking hot in the Chookshed its hard to stay on track....... But I sure feel motivated after the sewing marathon...... 

I'm also trying to fit in 10 mins of walking since I am off track with that...... 

Catch you later......

Chookyblue......

No 7 Another one in a plastic box can't remember its name aka mystery box......

OK before Ruby Red Lips I pulled out what you called the Mystery box on the list..........Another Nundle retreat quilt..........this time only 2012......only 5 years old...............

white and bright this one.............three rows were joined in strips.............row 2 a work in progress............

Pattern is Hanky Panky by Abbey Lane

Fabrics Hello Luscious by Basic Grey

it's got lots of bias happening..........Oh my lordy beeeeeee............took longer for all the pinning.............

Clearly I had plans to add borders and compared to the older quilt I actually scribbled some notes down on paper..........

What do you think?????

Left or right............just bind with the green or add the borders on the right.............with the green binding..............

As is it is 60x72in........

Also I need to add some squares on the white patches but not sure if I will add them now or after quilting........Mine will be lots of he same fabrics in the blocks......I'm not adding the squares that are supposed to go in the centre of the blocks.........I love the big print blocks.............

OK must head to bed...........back to reality tomorrow but I sure have enjoyed my "nothing time"..........Gail calls it un time.......I call it nothing time as I want to do nothing for anyone...........have nothing planned..........do what I want, nanna nap if I want etc............easy time.........

6 quilt tops in 5 days................never been so productive ever........ok back to reality..........

Catch you later......

Chookyblue... . 

Ruby red lips.......

Yesterday the apprentice started playing with placement for this flannel..........

Bliss by Bonnie and Camille - such a bright fresh range of flannels.............

Started Nundle retreat 2011................it was a second quilt for the weekend..............I got two rows sewn together.........

there it stopped and got packed into a box.........

So the apprentice niece got it all on the wall...........

then she started sewing it together..............she did so well.......she joined all the blocks into rows and I helped joining the rows and let me tell you it was a struggle getting bumpy chenille and flannel thru the machine............

the chenille was a nightmare sewing wise but it adds great texture to the quilt with the flannel.............

One happy girl...........

now how to quilt it????

We added the narrow border of flannel to tame the red chenille edges...............

was a little challenging to take the photos as  it was windy outside............

It looked like a blood bath in the Chookshed with red everywhere............all cleaned up now and onto another project............

The mystery box no 7 i'll take some pics next and show you...............it's sort of done...........i'm undecided about the borders that I wanted but it did not have...............

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue........

Recruitments open.......

Yesterday I recruited an apprentice aka niece.......it's our sewing time...... Not that she knew what she wanted to sew but it is our first real sewing session together.......

So I put her to work on laying out no 1 ruby red lips........

Then she started sewing it........

I love encouraging kids to sew....... Must show you the quilt fairy girls friend made at the start of the holidays......

I'm still working away on no 7 mystery box .... I know why I stopped it was with frustration at bias edges but it won't beat me this time......

Catch you later......

Chookyblue.....