Gum Valley Patchwork

Monkey Madness

Monkey madness will be a fun night of sewing on Thursday 14^th May starting at 7pm and going til ?????? Just bring along your Melly & Me's Magoo pattern, sewing machine, fabric etc and join in the fun. This is not a class – just a great incentive to get down to some monkey business. There is no charge but bookings are essential as there are limited spaces. Dress is very casual….in fact you can even wear your PJ’s if you are game…..lol. I’ll even throw in some nibbles and a hot drink.

Linda   :)

PS. Magoo patterns ($15.00) and kits (inc pattern) ($29.00) are available at the shop.

New arrivals

Just a quick post to update everyone of a couple of new arrivals in the shop. There is a great range of quilt hangers ranging in size from 6" up to 26" – stars, angels, hearts & gollys – some with dowel rods others just plain. Also new in are some lovely patterns from the Rivendale Collection. Sally Giblin designs mainly stitchery projects including cushions, bags, wall hangings and quilts. They range in price from $10 to $15 and I now have her complete range in stock.

Linda   :)

A day in the garden

I have just spent the best part of what has been a glorious Autumn day in the garden. I was able to do a bit of whipper snipping before the cord broke off …. oh well the rest will have to wait for another day. A few big barrow loads of weeds were disposed of - I swear that they grow twice as fast as the plants do. I bought some mega punnets of poppies, primulas and cinerarias a couple of weeks ago so they have gone in where the marigolds and petunias were over the summer period. I’m hoping that they will provide a good show over winter when the garden looks a little bare. I have fallen in love too……this time with the chrysanthemums. They are in flower at the moment and this means that Mothers Day isn’t far away.

I only have 3 different varieties but I know that I will just have to get some more.

They are very hardy and multiply into clumps very easily…….which means I divide them up and make more new clumps.

After a bit more planting I put the sprinkler on …….

 I couldn’t believe how dry the garden has become – we really do need more rain very soon.

Hope you have had a great day too. Better fly as the cows are home and ready to be milked.

Linda  :)

Monkey business

I lost my earring……now I just have one…..

Went to look for it at the shop…..Oh no the Magoos are missing!

Found them hiding around the corner……What have you two been up to?

Naughty Magoos......but doesn't Pirate Magoo look cool!

....but don't tell him I told you so....lol.

Linda   :)

Princess Polly has arrived

Wow what a busy day it was in the shop today. The local football club – Simpson Tigers were playing at home so quite a few of the ladies made the most of a great opportunity and left hubby and the kids at the ground called in for that must have purchase. It was also great to catch up with Lenora who was out for the day with her family. Lenora dropped off my order for her new bag pattern – "Princess Polly".

I’m also very lucky to have the sleepover bag for a little while before it goes back to the girls. As a special offer with every "Princess Polly" pattern sold you will receive a ¼ metre of iron-on stabiliser free. Patterns are $15 (plus postage).

Another finish……

…..the "Field of Flowers" Quilt. I am very happy with the way it has turned out….and so is Hannah as she has already told me that she’d like it! The machine quilting was done by Clever Ducks Quilting .... but you can't see how lovely it is in this photo though.....thanks Margaret & Wendy for another excellent job!

Linda    :) 

Finished projects

I have managed to finish a few projects off this week. It’s a great feeling when that last stitch is done. I have had a ‘big one’ hanging over my head waiting to be finished for about 4 weeks. It was an order……a local man whom I have known for quite a few years called in to the shop on December 23^rd last year wanting to buy something for his 4 daughters for Christmas …….something that they could keep and cherish for many years to come…….not something "disposable" as he put it. We talked about options for a while and then he made the decision to buy them each a quilt. Of course I couldn’t make 4 quilts in 2 days……I’m good but not that good…….lol!. So I suggested that the 4 girls (or should I say young ladies as the youngest is about 17), come to the shop and pick out their fabric and pattern for their quilts. I must admit I probably didn’t charge enough but how can I say no to a father who wanted to do such a lovely thing! Well I finished the last one on Tuesday…..yeah……. and then delivered it on Wednesday. I really loved how it turned out…..

The centre of the quilt is a reduced version of ‘The light of the moon’ pattern from Leanne’s House, with a couple of borders added. Claire picked the fabrics from the ‘Tranquility’ range by Sandy Gervais.

Another finish has been a soft version of the ric rac table runner that was the first project in the current Material Girls Club.

I have actually made 2 of them. One for a sample in the shop and the second as gift to my hairdresser, Sarah as an apology for me totally forgetting that I had an appointment with her last Monday! I didn’t realise until the Thursday that I missed it. She was very pleased and said that I could be late any time I liked….lol.

Back soon with some more finishes.

Linda   :)

Reflection

Today has been a day of mixed feelings for me. It has been one year since my father passed away and although I have felt sad during the day I have also spent time remembering all of the happy times that we spent together. I really wanted to say some wise and wonderful words about Dad but I’m having a hard time deciding exactly what to write and knowing that it probably won’t mean much to anyone else who didn’t know him. So I have scanned some old photos (so please excuse the quality) and here they are:

This was one of my favourite photos of Dad. He was a stock agent / auctioneer for almost 60 years……any Colac district people will recognise the truck.

This next photo we found when we were preparing a photo board for Mum & Dad’s Golden Wedding Anniversary party in Feb 2008. I love it. Dad is on the right with his brother Don (who we affectionately call Uncle Donnie).

It was taken down at Peterborough many many years ago. On the same day this photo was taken of Mum & Dad…….Dad has his box brownie camera in his hand.

Dad mowing the lawn…….very unusual as I can only remember Dad mowing the lawn once…..he did such a bad job of it that Mum told him to get out of it and leave it alone…….that worked for Dad….mmmmm I think he may have done that on purpose!

It wouldn’t be complete without some with the kids……this one is also a favourite. Dad with his father – Pop, and my brother Peter. Three generations of Goode men.

Dad & Mum all dressed up andgoing out for the night……..notice the absolutely gorgeous baby – that’s me…..lol…..with my older sister Ann – in a pretty chenille dressing gown!

The whole family in 1967. I’m the one looking to make sure my shoes are clean…….love the hat Mum!

Finally one a little more recent.....

Malcolm Goode 1.3.1933 to 11.4.2008

Linda   :(     &     :)

Indulgence after a hard week.....yum!

It has been a week of highs and lows on the farm. Just over a week ago the factory that we supply our milk to decided to drop the price that it was going to pay us for our milk. This was in addition to a 30% reduction that was announced in January – due to the global economic crisis causing a severe drop in the demand for our cheese and butter from overseas countries. This pay cut would mean that we would be getting on average 15 c per litre for our milk when it costs us about 30 c to produce. It was a real kick in the guts. It left us all angry and upset – especially when the other dairy factories weren’t dropping their price for their farmers. We really didn’t know how we were going to ride this one out……working our butts off for ‘nothing’……..no holiday again this year! This has meant that in a week Warrnambool Cheese & Butter has lost over 100 of their farmers to other factories – a huge loss to the company. We decided to stay and stick it out………then came the ‘high’. The company reversed it’s decision…….still no holiday……but it was a great relief with the budget now looking a bit better.

Well I'm off to have crayfish for tea.....sounds very extravagant seeing I was just saying how tough farming is….…but I didn’t buy it my Mum did. She ate her half last night and I’m having mine tonight……..thanks Mum.

Linda   :)

Caught out big time

I hate mending……. "but you sew" says dh "so why can’t you mend?"…….My reply has always been the same "because I’m an artist and artist's don't mend"….…lol. Actually I don’t think I have ever met any woman who enjoys the horrible task of mending. I have had a work jumper of Russell’s up at the shop for about 12 months (or more) just waiting on a seam to be stitched….honestly a 5 minute job…..but there was always something more interesting to do. That was until Sunday. While joking with Russell, I told him that I would have to teach him how to blanket stitch – I am making up Lynette Anderson’s ‘Friends for Christmas’ BoM and have lots of bs to do. His reply was (and I quote!) "I will learn how to blanket stitch when you mend my clothes!" By Sunday night the jumper was mended ……… not sure that dh will live up to his end of the deal….lol!

Linda   :)

A new Block of the Month

My first Block of the Month Sampler Quilt has come to an end. It has been great to see some of the blocks and talk to the ladies about their progress. The April blocks and finishing off patterns are awaiting collection, but those who get them posted should receive their parcel on Monday. With that BoM finished - well actually I have to quilt mine but that can wait because Lynette Anderson has now released her delightful ‘Friends for Christmas’ in a Block of the Month pattern set.

I have decided to make it up as a shop sample as well as running it as a Block of the Month starting in May. This 6 month project will cost $27 per month (plus postage if required). If you are interested please let me know as places are limited.

Linda   :)