Birthday celebrations...........

Thanks everyone for your well wishes for the Chookshed aka reno central..........

It was a very chilly start to the day.........slight frost........its colder this morning I think writing this post.........

I worked on this sashiko piece..........about the middle on the right there are 5-6 stitches to do and no thread left.......i'll have to dig out my other project and see if it has white thread also...........

very frustrating........

Clare@Crafty Lady in Kiwiland and Janice were the long stayers..........

Clare's other half was away so she was able to stay longer than usual......yippee for us.......

I have one kit left over from Scrub Stitchin this year and it will be in the mail to Clare (since Janice was at SS so has one already)

32 Chookshed Stitchers popped up yesterday to celebrate which was wonderful................

some for a short time others a long time...........

it's so good to sit and stitch together........

While it was the Chookshed's 11th Birthday it really is a celebration of zoom also...........it was the Chookshed's 8th Birthday back at the start of covid that I did the 1st open zoom session...........

We have been zooming together for 3 years now............

the 1st zoom sewing session I did was for Scrub Stitchin' girls when our retreat was cancelled.........

on the right you can see Janice @Jannimary had the birthday cake...........Mick (and Janice) made orange poppyseed my favourite and he even iced it..........he also made sure I didn't miss out by cutting me a big slice and then eating it for me......so kind.....LOL.....thanks one again for the birthday cake.......

If your ever wondering if you should join please leave a comment and join us.......just need to be a blogger...........

Lastly it's a frosty morning this morning.........as I came outside to the Chookshed the colours in this Chinese Tallowwood tree caught my eye........It and the crepe myrtles are about the sum of my autumn colour............with more chilly nights they sure have the colour turned up......they will be bare soon..........

ok best go.......

INSERT EXPLOSION

JUST ANNOUNCING WORLD WAR 3

while I had told the girls yesterday I had a rat in while the renos have been happening I just saw a mouse and I found they got into another cupboard spot I didn't think about........

so LOOK OUT...........

renos and rodents catching are on my list for today.......

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue......

PS need to catch more the rat toes.........

Party time..........

Let the celebrations begin...........

The Chookshed is turning 11 this year.........I cannot believe I've had the Chookshed for so long.........

I still pinch myself that I really have it............

One might say she's having a facelift at present.........but really it could be massive internal surgery..........think she is costing me more now then she ever has........she's the queen of second hand and freebies..........that's how I managed to get her...........

Anyway onto the party....celebrations are starting online this weekend and will continue next weekend in person.......

so who's joining the party???

Let me know if you are keen...........pop the "not available" sign up to family and settle in for a nice long session of sewing with me and other wonderful Chookshed Stitchers on zoom............

prep the easy to grab quick food or better still get someone else to serve you meals............

Times above as a bit of a guide but i'm hoping it is a log session of sewing...........

For those in Europe/UK/Scandinavia we should be still going when you wake up..........

In other good news shearing is done for another year.........

Catch you soon 

Chookyblue

Playing catch up.........

Life's been a little busy as usual.........

away for work sort of buggers up other parts of life............

I'm still planning the big Chookshed Stitchers zoom day next weekend (Friday) for some of you..........

Shearings happening tomorrow but I won't be in the shed except to deliver scones.........

I still have to share some of the goodies I was gifted, won or brought at Scrub Stitchin' but as everything is everywhere it will have to wait until I can gather it together and take photos.............

I'll catch up another post...........

After Scrub Stitchin' Monday found both Gail and Sylvia thinking about there next move for their holiday.............once that was more organised I decided we needed to go to the emu farm...........

Lucky there is one not to far away...........

Sylvia feeding the emu's

Gail trying to not lose a finger............seriously they don't eat them but they do get a bit close when trying to get the salt bush leaves closer to your hand..........there is also a very funny video of Gail saying "fingers, fingers, just leaves, I keep the fingers"

they love the salf bush..........

Tuesday it was very sad and we had to farewell Sylvia and Arky...........

popped them on the bus and waved farewell...........:(

We did a stop at the information centre in town and snapped gail with an emu that will not try and eat her fingers..........

Wednesday we just hung out doing bits and pieces and some sewing in the Chookshed.............

Gail booking some things for the next part of the trip.........

We went back to the dam and enjoyed the sunset...........this time with nibbles and bubbles..........sorry Sylvia you missed this...........

We sat around and watched the sunset, listened to the last calls for the dark and then the night noises starting..........watching the stars slowly appear...........first one then another then they just keep appearing..........we sat until it was dark and then we were looking at the most amazing night sky.......no moon so it was nice and dark.......we counted about 30 satellites..........saw a couple of meteors..........

Then finally Thursday came and as I didn't need food I took Gail to Gular to meet the bus...........

She loved the Galahs on the wall............lots of street art in Gular. 

This amazing bullock team with dray made from wire.........

Just about to hop on the bus......even the bus shelter has a cool photo on every wall......here the blue wrens are sitting on the emu's paint brush......(brush end behind Gail)..........

Here she has her confetti tumbler mug bag..........it was a last minute decision and Gail left it with me.........I do feel so special...........

Was so sad to wave both Gail and Sylvia farewell 😢😢😢.........will I ever see them again who knows.........but you never know what might happen.........I never thought I would meet them and now I have met both of them and the other girls who also joined us at Scrub Stitchin'............

so I guess you never know what's around the corner.........

What I do know is that my they are always welcome at my place...........

And I have a bed in Germany and USA.............

&&&&&&&&&

The work in the Chookshed didn't quite happen as planned............

so it is only part done........

I've been painting the timber for it though..........

Lucky I have plenty of chairs and a large yard to sit them all out to paint.........

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

Chookyblue.........

the sad day.........Sunday SS2023.........

 Sadly the end day always comes along..........

when we have to bid farewell to each other........sometimes there is tears.......

Can't remember what meal this was..........breaky? morning tea? or early lunch?????????

But the numbers were dwindling by then for sure.........AND it always feels like the last supper..........

Gail and Jenny.........enjoying the morning sunny spot..........

the weather was beautiful but I would say it is the coolest as we didn't turn the room air con on at all...........

Me, Jenny, Gail and Sylvia..........

Annette and the other Annette.........which one is which is still a mystery........

Just a few extra fun pics I found from the weekend.........

I know I shared this one before but we did somehow fit into the car to go home..........no Gail is not crying she has laughing tears.........and Sylvia was not drinking just taking care of my special glass........

We were laughing to much at this stage..........LOL

We got most stuff home.......I did go back another day to pic up the stuff we could not fit in........which wa quite a bit.........LOL........

Catch you later........

Chookyblue........

A whole lotta love......

 This year i decided that Moda Love would be a great quilt to do together...........

Some of the girls joined in.............

Maureen made a mistake on cutting so hers ended up a little smaller then the mini............she hand quilted it and bound it while on retreat..........its so cute........

Janice @ Jannimary found a variation of the 3 sizes.........love it.........Denyse Schmidt Quilts fabrics

Pat made hers in purples and it looks great...........

Raewyn and Susan made the same size quilt but its amazing the changes in look you can get by placement on fabric........

Raewyn used the Charm pack she got from Scrub Stitchin' 2019.........

then Raewyn added some borders to hers...........

Lynda made the charm size also..........love the range..........

Jo made a mini I am thinking but it could be a little bigger............it matches her dress perfectly............lol

Another variation on the setting...........pretty cool.........

Lianne made a layer cake quilt............not sure of the range but its a pretty one also..........

Jenny's mini is set for Christmas...........

and surprise shock horror to those who had left early or straight after breakfast I started a mini on Sunday morning.............

Yep I was really sewing............

I made some more progress when Gail was still here but as the Chookshed is OUT OF ACTION for some works to be completed I packed it up like this and put it away..........

Maybe I'll finish it at the Chookshed birthday.........

Last but not least this is Jude's quilt.......lovely and bright................

She also made two charm pack size blocks and then decided that 4 was going to be to big for her idea so buffered these two out with some extra blocks to make it a little wider and added a border.........

so many different ideas and colours from everyone............I love seeing everyone's size choice, colours, and then variations..........

thanks for playing along girls........hope I have not missed anyone........

Who else played along at home......

I know Janet @ Rogue Quilter joined us......

Ok best go......been a little busy here hence the quiet, got to go hang out the washing, paint boards for the Chookshed.......see if I can get another post written over the weekend.........

have a great Saturday.........

Catch you later......

Chookyblue.........

Saturday happenings SS2023.........

Saturday morning started bright and early as usual..........if you beat me to the dining room you get cleaning duties.............Deana had to do some broom work........

Deana's so tiny check her out here..........she's sitting on two chairs and she has a brick under her foot control so she could reach it...........

Helen missed out on a special treat last year so she got these special "tarts" made again this year...........LOL

Not sure she will mention missing out on yummies again........or trust Annette H...........

Tracy got this top finished and those 3D pinwheels are so cool............she gave me one..........i'm going to make a couple one day soon...............

I feel like this is my quilt also..........last year we made twister quilts and Helen missed out cause she was sick at the last minute so she brought her blocks along this year........I cut 1/2 the twister blocks up with her when she got the quilt together to start with.......its hard work on the lower tables and they are a bit fiddly so it was easier she cut two side on the ruler and I did the other two...........we had a great system going.........And lets not forgot the important pin row holder Diane...it was a hoot........

Raewyn and Susan.........

Maureen made the cutest tiny quilt and appliqued, quilted and bound it..........

Gails foundation paper piecing progress............

Tina started the pineapples last year...........so pleased she brought them back this year to finish..............

Lea's trip around the world...........

Brenda got her bag finished first..............

The bobsy twins..........Maureen and Brenda.........

SOOOOOO pleased to meet these girls...........they were very kind to me during the drought...........

Raylene aka The Fairy, me, Pat and Jude

Kylie and he gorgeous liberty hearts.....she's got a long way to go.............

Sue got this top together..........a challenging combination of themes but she pulled it together just like she does............

Lianne got some stuff finished and started on these flowers..............

Can't wait to see more..........

OK that's Saturday...........nearly up to the sad day.........

I really didn't get much sewn at all on Saturday........

To many things going on...........

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

Chookyblue......