little red tractor.......

After a check in with the Dr I'm having the rest of the week off......I have plenty of leave so i'll rest some more and slowly keep increasing my activity......As it takes not a lot of effort I am trying to catch up on some quilt posts........some will be very boring no fun photo shoots.....but I have a few that I could easily get a photo of from the deck..........

Today its about Fairy Girl......Fairy Girl made a quilt this winter.............

it needed to have a tractor on it and it had to be red...........

Out came the grid paper and I helped Fairy Girl to grid up the tractor and work out block sizes etc.........

This is what I was binding as I got sick with covid........it kept me nice and warm.......it was hard work stitching being so thick.........

The quilt was made with my left over flannel fabrics from one of the first quilts I made way back when............its typical of Fairy Girl with bits joined here and there to make things fit......

the rounds just kept growing.........its got soft beautiful pale blue minky on the back......its a big heavy quilt........just what she wanted..........you can see the quilting so well in this photo.........

Quilt Details

Designed by Fairy Girl

Made by Fairy Girl

Fabrics various flannel scraps/leftovers

Quilted by House of Jackson - Jackson Cook

Started and finished winter 2022

Size 83x91in

just a reminder life is precious...... This birdy didn't make the distance.....

Appreciate what you have.....

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.....

soft pretty flannels.........

Much prettier then in this photo........

about 60x70in...........this shaggy quilt is for Little Chicken.......she probably thinks I will never get it done.........

surprise Little Chicken...........it actually got delivered to her today............
i'm just waiting to see what she has to say...........

this is more like the colours................all ready to be snipped...........

the range is "Cute as a Button" by RJ Fabrics.........

Remember I got these scissors (Birch) "Heirloom Rag Scissors" from Cottage on the Hill

It was Mr Chooky's present from GIDTC.........he snipped the whole quilt in no time and no complaints of tennis elbow once he was done................so much easier then normal scissors.............

It's been a long weekend here and after a glorious warm June long weekend (usually wet and freezing) today we have had more rain..........another 13mls which is wonderul and more is forecast this week.........yippee the grass can grow for the sheep and cows.......busy couple of days coming up....... 

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

Chookyblue

shopping..........

well the bonus of this top photo is that I didn't have to pay for the fabrics..................a yummy bundle of flannels........"little chicken" wanted a shaggy flannel quilt just like the pastel one in this post but I couldn't get the fabrics so we went shopping and found these.........I told her if she brought the fabrics I would make it for her.............can't wait to cut into them but will have to wait for a few a little while........I have the batting so ready to go............I love going into a shop and pulling out fabrics..........we had about 3 options pulled out on the table............deciding what to choose.........

I got this lovely piece of linen and a couple of fat 1/4's at The Home Patch last visit..........just forgot to show you...........they have heaps of lovely christmas ornaments too.........

not sure where they were for the photo..........

We have a good number for the blog meet.......I am getting so excited

How many sleeps Peg?

&&&

Off to work on my SSCS presents..........how are you going??

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

Chookyblue

The adventures of Peg and Dale continue...........

Thanks Jo for having us in Tassie.........we had stowed away in Helen's luggage to get from South Australia to Tassie.......but we had to lower ourselves and hop onto Australia Post as we headed north to NSW.......
Since Chookyblue went to Sydney with the "fake" Peg and Dale girls we couldn't go and confuse everyone..........Chookyblue's handbag was way to tiny to fit us is.........
but lucky for us a few weeks ago Chooky has some friends over for sewing day...........
we got to have some fun.............
It was great checking out things in the chook shed.......
"Oh Peg look what's happening on the Threadbear Newsletter"

"No power plugged into this one Dale I can't sew yet...............

"Oh Dear Peg..........the cover hasn't even made it off this one"
"Where are these girls?"
"Dale I think they are still in bed.........not up with us Chooks that's for sure"
"What time is it Dale"
"Peg it's 9am....nearly time for a cuppa and they are still sleeping"

Lucky Chooky was up early and sewing we'll give her a hand and keep her company til the girls get out here.........

"That morning sun is glorious"................

The girls must have got into the sewing as this is one quilt that was worked on.....piecing the backing for this flannel..........
"Hey Dale I have seen this quilt kit at Kerry's shop........."

And Chooky finally got another block done from this old Fat 1/4 Shop BOM............
"Bout time she finished it Dale she's had it going since 2008!!!"

oh and Chookyblue made these great Spinach and Feta Quiches for lunch..........you can find the recipe here.........they were very delicious............

"thanks for having us for your sewing sleepover Chookyblue..........hope Dale and I can come back soon........"
"So Peg where are we off too now?"
"Not sure Dale but I know we're not going home this is too much fun."

Peg and Dale

shaggy quilts.........

a few weeks ago I had my sewing friends out and they helped me get these quilts on the way.......I finished them off........

.........quite a good size......
very kindly Kerry donated one and I donated another and they were auctioned at a fundraiser dinner...............

It feels good to finally have something sewn and finished.................

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

Chookyblue

Ruby Flannels.........

.........I have been waiting for them to come in for quite awhile......finally they are here.........

.......Kerry has cut a shaggy quilt kit for me.........going to have exciting parcel this week............

These fabrics only got into the shop on Friday and Kerry has already cut several quilt kits up already............

Get in quick if you're keen for some Ruby in your house............. 

Catch you later.............. 

Chookyblue

Retreat.........

Wow where did the last week go................it was a logistics nightmare.............but I survived and made it to retreat weekend..........just a slight detour to Sydney (unexpected) at the last minute and I am sure I was on "plan y" ........but by the end the kids and the cows were sorted and cared for..........

A very depressing point was the fact I was in Sydney for less then 24hours and they had more rain in that time then what we have had all year and EVERYONE is complaining about it...............not a drop here at home............it may be the wettest start to the year for many places but it probably our worst ever..............

&&&&

This is the 8th year i've been to one of Kerry's retreats at Cottage on the Hill............she runs an excellent weekend...........cuts all the fabrics..........cooks the food............nothing is a hassle or a problem.......and you usually come home with a finished quilt top............how can you not have a brilliant weekend...........

friends, food and wine are essential at retreat too........

busy girls............

the first night we were too warm in our cabin and since I was relegated to the top bunk (thanks to my FRIENDS) I was just about melting with the heat...............second night I pulled the mattress down and popped it on the floor......also saved me climbing onto the top bunk which I can assure you IS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT........anyway the floor was much better but you should have seen the frost we woke to on Sunday morning...............we definitely needed the heaters on.............

everything was frosty..............but so pretty...........

this is my tumbler quilt.............walked in, saw it, loved it..........Kerry said she had a kit with the same fabrics already so a quick decision made .........and then I realised it was one of my favourite ranges (no wonder I loved it) Antique Rose..by Blackbird Designs.......they have the most gorgeous fabrics.........

(Kerry does have another kit if you interested)............it was pretty quick to come together.............I love it...........the sides are zigzag which is lovely and a little different and it's going to be quilted in the next week.............(not by me Sandy...........lol.........)

then I had been thinking about these Bliss flannels that were being stitched up across the table from me..........

Another tumbler quilt but using the Bliss flannels..........(sideways)

so once i finished my tumbler quilt I started on project 2.................see picture below and add some of the bliss big floral prints and red chenille and project 2 had 2 rows joined by the end of the weekend...........

there isn't much bliss left unfortunately by the time we were finished with it...............

Has anyone seen some bliss flannels anywhere in a shop???? 

The florals or a red and white spot????

another of the quilts..............Rum and Raisin......

...(pretty sure there are kits for this one too email Kerry)

I love it and it has a chocolate chenille wide border all around..........LOVE chenille...........

Kerry has a great range of flannels............I nearly left with some of the gorgeous winter palace flannels that she just got in the shop ..........but I am still thinking i'll be putting in an order for some very soon......they are gorgeous...........

&&&&

another friends quilt..........so soft and pretty.........it is huge and she used a beautiful border print..........

she was up to mitering the corners here...........

i've missed a few of the girls quilts............sorry.............

&&&

Still trying to catch up on emails so if you have emailed me in the last week i'll get back to you in the next day or week.............I'm not sure when I have a day home at this stage......the days I am home I am at the cows........life is a whirl wind at the moment.............

Thanks girls for a wonderful weekend.......especially Kerry.........such beautiful company............I am bless to have some very special friends...........see you all next year..........

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

Champagne.............

Remember I made this quilt at Nundle.............the post is here with all the details...........Miss B did a fantastic job on the quilting and also I used her binding fairy as I was pressed for time to get the binding sewn on and stitched down in time for my brothers birthday..............thanks so much...........it was wonderful to pull it out of the package completely finished............

if I can get Fairy Girl out of the road I may get some pics............she is a hoot when she gets hold of the camera............never quite know what your going to get...........sometimes I can't even work out what i am looking at she takes such odd interesting things...........(oh and Julie we had a self portrait session yesterday and it was so funny...........sorry i won't be sharing any here...........lol)

(a)

my favourite place on the farm is down the (very rarely running) creek

(b)

the trees are amazing down there.............

(c)

one of these will become a card.............

(d)

which one is your favourite.............I have (a-f) underneath them...........

(e)

and I really liked this one rolled up...............

(f)

I can't decide which one is my favourite..........let me know what you think........

hope you had a great weekend..............I did.............

Take Care til next time...............

Chookyblue

Champage and Chocolate............

I know what you girls are thinking with the champs and chocolate..............the worst cause I was with Farmyard crafts..............remember I went on a chocolate diet after the last time I saw her............but it is all good..............here are a few snaps around Cottage on the Hill............so many beautiful quilts to make and fabric to choose..........I always have the best weekend when I go to Nundle............this is the 6th year I have been for a retreat weekend...........we travel over Friday........pick our quilt we want to make Friday afternoon and fabrics - sew Sat and Sun and the travel home late............(narrowly avoiding a pair of echidna's in the middle of the road)

in the picture above on the bottom left is Valley Forge collection..........wanted to get some of that but just got 2 pieces for the nine patch block swap...........

basically when you go to Nundle you pick what ever quilt in the shop you want to make.............then whatever fabrics in the shop you want to use........
Kerry cuts all the fabrics for you...........nothing is ever a problem......the quilt on the left is the same as mine but I laided my blocks differently..............amazing the difference by colours and placement.............the one on the right is a first time quilt..............shaggy's are perfect and she is hooked............planning 2 quilts and starting one of those there..........

here we go...........mine on Sun morning now this is where the Champagne and Chocolates comes in........although I did find some Rocky road over the weekend.......

the fabrics are Sachet Flannel II - Marcus Brothers .................the pattern is Champagne by Kerry Swain (different block placement on mine) and I just had to add that Chocolate chenille for a narrow border................just love it.......forever known as "Champagne and Chocolates"

making progress.............

here we are............Champagne and Chocolates.................Nundle no 6 is off to be quilted already........(would be great to get Nundle no 4 finished and Nundle No 5 bound)

also the wonderful news of the weekend - beside spending it with my wonderful friends sewing and eating yummy food - there we some other visitors over the weekend..............Cardygirl and friend called in and stitched with us
(Jeeves is such a lovely driver.........Cardygirl he is worth more money) can't wait to see your projects finished..............

Also the Oh Sew Busy Bec called in with most of the family and the kids were so good............Jessie Girl showed all the ladies her knitting and Xmas decoration swap gifts..........Bec brought lots of show and tell.............loved it...............

thanks girls for making the effort to catch up it was wonderful.................bloggy friends are just so lovely.............thanks Kerry for another fantastic weekend already booked in for next years retreat and Girls Day in the Country 13th March 2010

Take Care til next time..............
Chookyblue

SSCS girls I will send you an email shortly.............basically the swap is closed unless you are a regular on my blog............

WARNING NEVER TRY THIS AT HOME

WARNING WARNING WARNING ....... Never try this at home…..
I started this quilt approx 6 years ago. It was my first quilt I attempted. The piecing was quite quick and not to bad. (Finished size 84"x100") I designed the quilt myself. I started to hand quilt it and had done very little and decided that I was NOT going to do this. Then I decided I would do a cris–cross pattern straight through the blocks…..I started this and only got ½ way thru. OMG it was so hard to feed to quilt thru my little sewing machine. As the DH had gone for the day I stopped as I couldn’t feed it thru evenly. It ended up being put away and neglected. I do not know what I was thinking when I thought I could do this. I will never attempt something so big again especially made of flannelette...so thick....

Now to present time………..it has been sitting out for a few months waiting for someone to “take care” of it. On Monday a friend Bev motivated me enough to get into it and by 11pm that night I hated her big time. My arms were killing, cramps etc (my whole body was aching) from trying to manoeuver this quilt thru the machine. Tuesday night onto the binding….. I cheated and sewed it on completely. Finished this off this morning and now you see the finished product.

I can tell you it is not the best quilting job but not to bad for a first attempt. Didn’t end up going cross both way only one and TOOOOOOO hard for me. I just think of the money I have saved quilting it myself. It will be going to the quilt display here with a couple of my other quilts. They can put it in a corner somewhere to fill up space. I am sooooo pleased it is complete........

To finish up while outside taking to quilt pics I went and saw the girls they have started to lay eggs again thank goodness........I really hate buying eggs................

I have a sewing weekend lined up with a visitor and her 2 kids so should be a great time........will post some pics next week of what we get up to over the weekend. Perfect sewing weather wet and cold....stoke up the fire and sew away. Last year on this weekend I had 19 in the house and it was wet and cold and no one walked mud into the house.

Hopefully if I get to the quilt show (if it isn't to wet on the road) I will remember to take some pics while there to share with you all..........have a great weekend..........or a great longweekend if you are is Aussie land.............

Take care.........