Goodies and the project...........

Last report......onto the goodie bags............

Floral mug - I always try and find something floral, bush, birds or stars..........

chocolates........

Cherish Each Day Sewing Case by Hatched and Patched..........

thanks once again for the amazing kits Anni..........

Brenda made us each a bag of coconut ice - to die for

also the smiley faces..........thanks heaps Brenda

Di made the Scrub Stitchin' mug rugs........

Deb @ The Crafters Cottage gave us all a Purple Thang

close up of the kit..........

it's got some lovely wool applique on it also..........

Here are the mugs for this year........I got a yellow one............

Each year we have a swap and I got a gift from Brenda........

a beautiful 🌟star🌟 coaster........and a lovely soap......

Mixing it up by Making It and Faking It......

perfectly thoughtful given our dinner theme.......

Trish very kindly gave me these bed socks..........Oh my goodness I have needed them the last few nights.........snug and warm.........

Betty gave me a lovely Chooky casserole carry bag full of the yummy jars below..........

there may be no quince paste left now...........

we had to make sure it tasted ok..........not sure what happened next but it disappeared..........

I had asked Lianne to bring some of her pickled cucumbers if she had any.........

OMG she did they are the best........thankyou

Stephanie gave a demo on how to make these coasters and this one found it's way to my sewing table.........thankyou Stephanie.......

Finally a little bit more shopping..........I need to baste a quilt and it's only small so will try this spray adhesive.............

the cute birdie pins were a must and I liked this sashiko...........

also a little addition to Chapel Street.............

after finding I have a couple of these already once home I am now trying to take some pics of what I can find and have them a little bit more organised............never mind they will be used in something else........

AND finally I split a fat 1/4 pack.............so a nice bundle of fat 1/8's...........

Annette made me do it.............

SO that's it.........

I know Scrub Stitchin' makes my heart sing.......

It's a great part of my "tribe", "community", "social connection" but I know it's important to me and I appreciate the distance those who attend travel to get here..........

Thousands and thousands of km's...........but we all come for the special time with like minded people..........friendships are made, strengthened and deepened.........

I always breath a big sigh of relief once I know everyone is home safe and sound..........

see you all next year.......

who knows what's next on the blog......

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

Chookyblue.........

far far away.....

sorry girls I forgot this one has been sitting in drafts...............

love this pic of the moon setting one morning early........still amazes me how far the moon really is away from us......

the other far away thing is this beautiful parcel from Flo in France @ Chez Princesse Nounouche...........it arrived in the mail last month.........just gorgeous and perfect for me.......a lovely  stitching bag and some beautiful fabrics........all blue.....wonder how she knew I liked blue............LOL...

so very much appreciated thankyou Flo........

I've been trying to catch up on some blogging.......

miss my blog friends......

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

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

highs and lows...................

A high is this lovely parcel that arrived from Gail@Gails Place in the USA...........

thankyou so much Gail..........so very thoughtful.........

A cute chook fob, a great fat quarter that will make it into one of the Lucy quilts.............and a badge that says "intentional design element" (not a mistake).........

the high the sunset today..............the low I need wind  (pump the windmill) and rain desperately..............Kate usually brings wet weather with her to the Chookshed party but doesn't look promising this year...........the cows knocked the trough lid off and emptied the tank again............this supply also comes to the house so yes no water.......we have some rain water but with it being so dry that is also being treated with extra care.........and the dam in that paddock for that mob of cows is also the buggered one so they need to me moved ASAP............I opened a couple of gates but it was to dark to move the cows..........Mr Chooky will have to do that first thing in the morning............

Awhile ago I got an order from the The Singer Featherweight Shop...some parts for my new featherweight 222 I have not shown you and also some parts for my for my other old machines..........lots of little white envelopes with ricrac around......... I accidentally deleted the first pics I took..........anyway so handy for parts, how to look after your machines etc........

I must show all my machines at some stage......they all have stories to go with them............it's becoming an addiction..............

ok best go.....

winter sure is here today........

we had our first frost............

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

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

Keeping the love of blogging alive

Swaps, Shopping, Prizes..........

GDITC always means a swap...........Make it, Bake it, Fake it Swap is great as everyone gets to join in......its a swap we do with our blog friends in our group...........if you don't have time to make something or bake something just fake it and buy a gift.......this way everyone can join in.......

I faked it this year and Janice received my gift.......no pic sorry.........

I received from Sandy and you may think she faked it but really she didn't as she designed and put the kit together for this gorgeous little pin cushion.........

This is what it will look like when I make it up.............

I'm sure Sandy won't mind me using her photo esp if I include the link so you can buy one for yourself......

you can find them @ Shiralee Stitches........

so tiny and cute........

&&&&&

GDITC always means some shopping.....both at the Cottage on the Hill and designer goodies on the day............

the kit for a baby quilt..........

Some of Anni Downs Hatched and Patched new fabric just in store Garden Whimsy..........so pretty............

A new bottle of Best Press

WARNING - has anyone else had the problem I had the squirty/spray on and while not using it in summer the whole bottle had somehow leaked out all over the ironing board..........thru the nozzle............so now I will never leave the screw top off when not in use................such a waste of a nearly full bottle...........

Some of Bonnie Sullivans new patterns..........and some cards  - quilty cards are always great...........

Now I must say I was not a huge fan of Bonnie's work before the workshop...........her things were a little more black and prim which is NOT me.......but I must say I LOVE all these new designs.............very happy with the project on the day.............and as Bonnie lies in the USA I had never met her before but she was soooooo lovely and we had a fabulous time...........

Bonnie is preprinting fabric........nothing like I have seen anyone else do......the pattern on the back ground is also preprinted.......the lines you can leave or stitch over..........add a bit of wool work and jobs done...........

the pre-printed christmas ornaments...........just add some wool and stitching....

I won these as I was one of the 4 ladies on the Saturday who had done the whole 10 years...........Me, Marcelle, Helen and Lea......Not sure if there was anyone on the Sunday............Lea I didn't know the first year but Marcelle and Helen we catch up every year since then just at GDITC...........Lea and I are good friends..........spending lots more retreats and sewing weekends together.........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.......

Keeping the love of blogging alive

SSCS ornie.......

wow what was supposed to be a quiet week has been pretty busy.............

We put up some fairy lights..........I love fairy lights.............We had some neighbours over............otherwise no one would ever see them..........

When we first got marreid we put up lights for many years...........very few people ever saw them..........it's was more just because we loved to do it.........

this week has seen some early starts to get some sheep work done............well I am normally up way to early anyway but usually out in the garden putting hoses on and fiddling around in summer........it was pretty dusty..........I tried to stay out of the worst of the dust as the last few times I have ended up sick...........weaning (taking the lambs from the ewes), needling the lambs with vaccination - think childhood vaccine programs and also putting in the required visual ID ear tag..........you can't sell them without the tag  in their ear...........

But exciting news is that my SSCS arrived.......we only get 2 deliveries of mail a week if we are lucky and a bundle of mail came in earlier in the week when I was busy and I forgot to go back and then I found my SSCS parcel............

thanks Marika in Germany........hanging on the tree now how cute is this ornie..........the main present is safe under the tree.........

WISHING everyone a Merry Christmas...............please take it that if I comment on your blog during the year I have read your Christmas post if you have put one up or if you do tomorrow and I have thought of you as I read them but just too busy to comment on all of them........

Stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas........

Hope the man in the big red suit finds you.......

Catch you later......

Chookyblue.....

Keeping the love of blogging alive

More presents................

Some other lovely christmas goodies in the mail..................

Michelle @ Michelle Ridgeway Designs...........
A little ornament and stitchery design..........I have a couple of her stitchery designs and I must trace them off  to stitch..............

Susan @ Oh 2 Sew sent this little angel............

Jewells sent me a christmas pouch and some candles............

Mr Chooky got this little chicken pattern..........

Jacquie @ My Journey sent his christmas ornament...........cute little snowman......

Sandi @ Forevermoore sent me a teatowel, cookie cutter and little ornament...........

%%%

I love all these little parcels.......my tree has so many hand made ornaments that I love.......it's always wonderful going thru them each year remembering who sent them........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.........

Parcels....

the only good things happening around here is the mail and a new phone so I am sort of back on the air and contacts have been saved.........

and I still have not had a chance to sit down and open the mail........

I was just about to yesterday and the phone rang for an emergency............fire at one of the neighbours.............lost a workshop shed.........

Who ever sent this parcel... Thankyou Santa's little helper...... very sneeky....

Should I open it now? 

What do you think?

Thanks Sandi..... 

And all the way from Scotland my Secret Santa Christmas Swap parcel from Josie.......

&&&

No pic but I also have a parcel from a direct swap with Caroline in the Netherlands......

I think it is still in the car...........been away unexpectedly.......and it arrived as I took off.......

&&&.

just posting so people know the parcels have arrived.............

ok gotta run.........heifers to check, lambs, dogs, chooks and goats to feed, 

the house looks like a bomb exploded and sewing is not even on the radar...........

see you when I see you...........

Merry Christmas in case i am not back here.........

Chookyblue

Bits and pieces.....

Deb @ Frog Cottage Designs gave me this lovely layer cake when I saw her last..........just perfect as I don't have much variety in shirtings..........my head is already thinking of ideas..........maybe is will be included in my mystery EPP quilt........

Recently I called in at Kates @ Show and Tell.............now this girl was in the middle of putting her washing machine/dryer stack together........seriously I walked in at the wrong time......I had to help her lift the dryer onto the stack........I have never heard Kate swear but OMG she was a little frustrated when I got there...........lol.......

this is how she thanks me..........tips my eggs upside down on my toast the next morning.........

dreaming of new EPP bits and pieces..............

it's only sitting on the pink so the white stands out from the table..........

dreaming of fussy cutting...........

Khrissy @ BaiSiNoLil asked me the other day how many EPP projects I have on the go........
I told her 2 major ones and not sure how many others........
well it's 4 major ones and 2 mini quilts and more........
Oh well you only live once so you may as well enjoy it.....
I could die when I am 500 and still have projects on the go..........
&&&&
can't wait to catch up with all these girls and heaps more in a few weeks at our Bathurst Blog Meet..........once again it's a sleepover weekend and it's going to be HUGE...........
the excitement is building........
Catch you later............
Chookyblue.........

Good mail.....

I won a give away on Jacquie's blog @ My Journey.... Omg the royal mail was on fast track as this parcel was posted in the UK on 6/7/15 and I have it 13/7/15.....

omg that is so fast.....

I received this lovely cross stitch pattern and some threads from Jacquie @ My Journey........

So I went digging in the archives to see if I could find some Aida or linen..... Found both but since it is so long since I have cross stitched I went with the Aida......my eye sight is crap these days.......yes I do have glasses for all stitching.........

Hoping it stitches up fast.... Jacquie gets thru hers so fast...... Always so inspired by what she achieves...... Especially since she has had the worst year with her terrible knee and other health issues..... No matter what she tries to stay positive...... Blogland is her connection to the world........

Even more so when she can't get out and about....... 

Thanks so much.... It's just perfect for our chilly weather.... Didn't even bother trying the Chookshed today.....windier today, miserable misty showers etc. 

Stitching, ug boots and a hot Milo (chocolate).... 

Catch you later.... 

Chookyblue.... 

stuff.............

just trying to catch up.........you will be inundated with posts.................

Peg @ Happy in Quilting saw a need to send me a new diary.............Lynette Andersons fabrics..........

Now I can get myself organised..........and trust me with dates for the kids, school holidays dates and stuff on in general well my year is filling up fast............so much so i'm thinking I many not cope without this Peg so thanks heaps............

Jindi came to visit...........she left me a few treats..........more about her visit in another post.............

A skirt for niece no 3 - who came to stay in the holidays for a few days.........

Catch you later

Chookyblue

Thanks....

Shez has been spreading some christmas cheer around........it's on my dining table as a decoration...............currently all the presents are being put on the table as I saw a mouse running around the other night so thought I won't pop them under the tree just yet............

thanks so much Shez............it's just lovely and perfect for my table as I had nothing for it...........

&&&

Glorious day today............lovely temps under cloudy cover all day..........

no rain but it was a nice max 28 deg.....

Chookyblue