Gum Valley Patchwork

Quiet but busy......

It must have been the hot weather but I have had a very quiet weekend in the shop. On the up side I have made a bit more progress on my version of Gail's Berries and Bluebirds Block of the Month. I haven't quite finished my first block but as you can see I'm well on the way.

 
I'm very pleased with the way the colours are looking.....these will be used when I offer it as one of my BOM for 2011. The cost will be $28 per month for the 8 months with P & H extra if required.

Linda   :)

Hexagon Quilt Update - Week 41

Sshhhh....don't tell Russell but here is the latest update on my progress on my Hexagon Quilt. He doesn't want me to show anyone but instead keep it as a surprise. But feedback from fellow bloggers and friends say NOoooo.......and that you want to see it.

So here it is: 41 weeks of stitching everyday ...... 15,337 hexagons

 
Sorry the photo is wonky, but I was standing on a chair with my arms stretched up in the air with the camera........couldn't see a thing! It now measures 185cm from point to point. Now it's on to the final border....and to keep Russell happy there will be no more photos of the finished quilt posted.....well maybe just a sneak peek of the final border!

Linda    :)

Berries and Bluebirds

I have finally got around to making a start on Block One of Gail's Berries and Bluebirds Block of the Month.
I have decided to run this beautiful BOM but thought that I had better make up the first block as a sample with the fabrics I have chosen.
I love that fabrics and think that I will continue on and make the whole quilt. I am going to machine buttonhole the applique pieces so hopefully this will make it a bit quicker for me.

Don't forget the other Block of the Month for 2011 is Lenora's but you will have to wait just a little longer to see that one.

Linda   :)

A shop update

Every now and then I like to do an update with lots of news about things happening in the shop.......so here I go.

The final bolt of Crazy Corner Wool arrived the other day.....woo hoo! It's black, and it joins the red, green, blue, beige, mustard, and dark beige.

 
I have precut fat 1/8ths available at $6.50 or it is $52 / m off the bolt.

Also arriving was the 8 bolts from Deb Strain's newest range 'Java'.

 
I'm planning to make some new placemats out of the blocks.......not sure which colourway to use though......blue or brown? And check our these cute selvages........
I will just have to save some of these for my huge stash of selvages.

The newest range of fabric that arrived yesterday is something completely different from what I normally in stock. As soon as I saw this fabric I just loved it. It is called 'Dragonfly Daze' and it's by Laurie Godin.

 
(sorry about the photo by my battery was starting to go flat)  

I'm still waiting on one more bolt and also some pattern sheets. I know that it won't appeal to everyone but that's okay because I love it.....especially this print.....

 
The blues are just gorgeous.

The Lecein Basics are almost all in. I am just waiting on a couple of the blues and the red spot. There is a good selection and they really complement Rosalie's Sweet Broderie range of fabric.  

And don't forget that Fig Tree Quilts new range 'Buttercup' will be arriving in February.
But in the meantime I have got Layer Cakes, Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs available now.

When Rhys was at the shop on Tuesday I placed an order for some of the Season's threads from Cosmo. These are lovely variegated stranded threads and I have ordered 12 different colours. Don't forget that I have the full range of Cosmo stranded embroidery threads in stock now.....selling for $1.20 per hank.

After a break for Christmas the Melly and Me Fan Club will meet again on Friday 28th February. Members can bring along any of their Melly and Me patterns to work on. This is not a class, just a sewing day get together.  

Finally I will be leaving Russell in charge of the shop on Sunday for a few hours while I attend a family reunion in Cobden. I should be back by 2pm.........

Linda   :)

'Grace' and 'Reindeer Games'

With a new year comes lots of new fabrics. Rhys arrived yesterday afternoon armed with all of the new Moda ranges for me to drool over and try to pick the ones I like the best. There are so many to choose from and so little room in the shop now to put them! So while Rhys enjoyed his coffee I enjoyed looking at the fabric.....it's a hard life but someone has to do it....lol! He had sent thru the pdf links a few weeks ago so that I could have a little look......and it didn't take me long once I saw 'Grace' by 3 Sisters in the fabric 'flesh' to make my mind up. Even though it is a Christmas range it doesn't really look like it.......the only thing is that it has greens and reds (as well as browns and creams). I haven't got any photos to show but if you click here it will take you thru to the pdf for your very own sneek peek. Delivery isn't until May so don't get too excited just yet.

The other range that I have order is Sandy Gervais's new christmas range called 'Reindeer Games'. This will be Sandy's third Christmas range that I will stock........mmmm a pattern emerging I think! I really liked her 'Crazy Eight' and 'Adoring' ranges from past years, and this one is similar but different.......that makes sense doesn't it? Well you can see for yourself if you click here. I have ordered most of the range (25 bolts) and it will be delivered in July.

Linda   :)

A tough decision.....but onto Plan B

Sometimes we have to make tough decisions in our lives, decisions that we don’t want to make but know in our heart and mind that it is the best one to make. This sounds very dramatic especially when I’m only referring to a sewing project but this project has been a huge part of my life since April of 2010. Yes you guessed it ……it’s my hexagon quilt. I have worked on my quilt every day since the 11^th April, sometimes spending up to 10 hours working but averaging about 4 hours a day on it. Progress has been slow but steady with the hexagon tally now sitting at 14,852. My highest weekly total has been 726 with my lowest 242. Last week was a 242 week. Most of you who visit my blog regularly will have followed the progress reports as I complete each of the borders. Some of you have left lovely comments which I really appreciate and love reading. I have almost finished the second last border……..just waiting on some fabric to arrive (I ran out and had to search the internet to find some more). Last night was the time to reassess the final huge border. In the original quilt, this border is comprised of approximately 11,000 hexagons. Working on a 10 week timeline to complete, it doesn’t take a genius to do the maths and see what a massive job it would be. As Russell put it – “ you would need to work on it about 11 hours every day of the week”……a task I know is impossible. I had considered scaling down the design of the final border thinking that would work well, but when I started to scale back the hexagon flowers I found that I had to add more rows of straight hexagons so that the new design would fit. In the end I would only be reducing the total by about 500 – 1000…….not enough in the scale of things. So after thinking and bouncing ideas around I have decided to change the final border completely. The new border will be comprised of approximately 3,000 hexagons – a target I know I can reach so that I can finish the quilt by the 1^st May deadline. I am extremely disappointed that I will not be able to replicate the quilt, but know in my heart (and head) that it is the best decision for me (and my family). Maybe one day I will get to make another quilt just as Prudence made way back in 1857 ……. Just don’t tell Russell I plan to! So my ‘Dear Prudence’ quilt will now be renamed to add a little of me into her design……. ‘Dear Prudence with love from Linda’

Linda    :)

PS. For last update and photos: Click here

Early Closing

The shop will be closing early on Saturday 15th January due to a wedding. The shop will close at 3pm.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Linda   :)

Snug as a Bug in a Quilt

This is my quick and easy cot quilt that I made last week.

 
It measures 106cm x 122cm is ideal for a beginner sewer or someone looking for a quick baby present to make.

 
The 'Snug as a Bug' cot quilt kit is only $55.

Linda   :)

Beetle Boy

The first fabric for 2011 was delivered late last week and it was exciting to see that it was 'Beetle Boy' by Ellen Crimi-Trent. It is the first of Ellen's fabric ranges that I have stocked, but what caught my attention........besides the super cute and cheeky bugs.......was that this fabric would make a great quilt for a boy.

 
So on Friday I set myself the task of making a quilt that would suit a cot / single bed topper. I finished the quilt yesterday but here is just a little sneak peak.

 
I will work out the cost of the kits and show the finished quilt in my next post.

Linda   :)

New Year tradition

In our house we have 'celebrated' new year's eve and new year's day in rather a different manner. Russell usually gets the job of helping out with the parking at the Cobden NYE festivities and then he goes to Premier Speedway to watch the Sprintcars on NY day..........all this means that I get to stay at home and milk on my own.........something I have done for years. Don't feel sorry for me as I've never really enjoyed going out and doing the count down thingy to 'just another day'......let alone getting snogged by strangers and possibly ending up with some dreadful viral disease! Give me a pile of dvds, a box of chocolates and my stitching and I'm quite happy. This year Russell was busy doing hay instead of the parking gig but it still meant a night on my own. As for going to the Speedway......well I did enough of that when I was young and first in love.........now I'm still in love, I'm certainly not young anymore but my idea of a night out with hubbie doesn't involve getting clods of clay hurled at me and listening to the roar of loud engines.........mind you the bingles were always exciting and there's nothing like the smell of the fuel.

Well I hope that you enjoyed your start of 2011 ..... whichever way you chose to spend it. 

Linda     :)