Gum Valley Patchwork

Colac Quilt Show

The Colac Quilters held their exhibition last weekend and it was once again a fabulous success. It is held every second year with their Pot Luck Night held every alternate year.....another great event. It is the third time I have taken the shop along and it is so nice to catch up with lots of old and new faces. I never quite know what (or how much) to take, so I decided to go with a bit of everything.

I also took 'Prudence' along for the drive and the ladies took really good care of her for the 3 days that she stayed at the show. Although by Sunday afternoon if I had one more person come up to me and say...."so you're the CRAZY lady that made...." I was either going to start believing them that I was actually mad or snot them in the nose!

On Sunday I decided to take a wander around and snap a few photos. The stage in the main hall is always decorated with a theme and this year's theme was Civil War.....the attention to detail was great and the subtle music was lovely.

The old buggy draped with quilts

The writing desk....

A view of the main hall

Another corner of the Hall

The side room had more quilts but it was also where the girls were stitching (and folding raffle tickets)

Hannah called in to say hi on Saturday afternoon and picked out Ros's quilt as her favourite in this this year's show.

It was stunning and here is a close up shot.

I also loved Ros's quilt (good choice Hannah) but there were so many beautiful quilts on display. So congratulations to the Colac Quilters for another wonderful display and a great show.

Linda   :)

Getting dirty!

Yes I know I have been a bit quiet on the blog and facebook side of life but I have been making the most of the beautiful sunny Autumn days we have been having. I have been out in the fresh air (and flies....OMG where did they all apear from!)  trying to get some sort of order back into the wilderness that is sometimes called a garden. I must admit I have really enjoyed getting out and getting 'dirty'......... although the body doesn't always agree! I had a pleasant interruption on Wednesday afternoon when Lorraine called in to catch up. She was on her way home from the Girls Day out in the Country at Nundle, NSW but was also detouring to catch up with Lenora as well. It was lovely to catch up again even if it wasn't for very long.

Back tomorrow with some photos from the Colac Quilt Show.

Linda   :)

Hold on tight

we are off to the Colac Quilt Show and while we are away Jodie D will be running the shop for us. Please call in and see her if you are wanting anything fabricy. We will be back soon......and we  promise not to get into too much mischief.

The gang (and Linda)      :)

 

Staying put

I have been waiting for details of when Prudence will set sail on her journey around Australia visiting the state capitals for their Quilt Shows. Yesterday I received an email from the Victorian Quilters stating that unfortunately this won't be happening. They are extremely disappointed but it is due to a perceived conflict of interest of sponsorship and only one state/territory taking up the offer to have the Exhibition travel. It was not viable for the Victorian Quilters or Brother to collect all quilts and transport them for them just one venue. I totally understand. So Prudence will remain on display at the shop........but who knows what the future will bring.........maybe I can stow her away in my suitcase and take her to USA........what do you reckon Prudence?

Linda    :)

Packing heat

As soon as Wolf began to feel
That he would like a decent meal,
He went and knocked on Grandma's door.
When Grandma opened it, she saw
The sharp white teeth, the horrid grin,
And Wolfie said, 'May I come in?'
Poor Grandmamma was terrified,
'He's going to eat me up!' she cried.
And she was absolutely right.
He ate her up in one big bite.
But Grandmamma was small and tough,
And Wolfie wailed, 'That's not enough!
I haven't yet begun to feel
That I have had a decent meal!'
He ran around the kitchen yelping,
'I've got to have a second helping!'

Then added with a frightful leer,
'I'm therefore going to wait right here
Till Little Miss Red Riding Hood
Comes home from walking in the wood.'

He quickly put on Grandma's clothes,
(Of course he hadn't eaten those).
He dressed himself in coat and hat.
He put on shoes, and after that,
He even brushed and curled his hair,
Then sat himself in Grandma's chair.

In came the little girl in red.
She stopped. She stared. And then she said,
'What great big ears you have, Grandma.'
'All the better to hear you with,'
the Wolf replied.
'What great big eyes you have, Grandma.'
said Little Red Riding Hood.
'All the better to see you with,'
the Wolf replied.
He sat there watching her and smiled.
He thought, I'm going to eat this child.
Compared with her old Grandmamma,
She's going to taste like caviar.

Then Little Red Riding Hood said, '
But Grandma, what a lovely great big
furry coat you have on.'

'That's wrong!' cried Wolf.
'Have you forgot
To tell me what BIG TEETH I've got?
Ah well, no matter what you say,
I'm going to eat you anyway.'

The small girl smiles. One eyelid flickers.
She whips a pistol from her knickers.
She aims it at the creature's head,
And bang bang bang, she shoots him dead.

A few weeks later, in the wood,
I came across Miss Riding Hood.
But what a change! No cloak of red,
No silly hood upon her head.
She said, 'Hello, and do please note
My lovely furry wolfskin coat.'

Roald Dahl

Little Red arrived special delivery yesterday from the wonderfully talented Jodie . I haven't had a chance to check her knickers for the pistol and she must have ditched the furry wolf skin coat!

Patterns will hopefully arrive this week so you can make and own you very own (heat packing) Red Riding Hood.

Linda     :)

5th Birthday Sale

It was a long time coming but on the 15th March 2007 I opened the doors to my shop. Since then my business has grown and I have met so many lovely ladies (and men) from all over Victoria and interstate. Here is a little look back over the building process.....which a lot of you drove past and looked at over the fence.

The bare paddock with the pile of timber ready for the frame (5 Nov 2005).

Ten days later the frame was up.

Into the new year and it was progressing well (8 Feb 2006)

By the August 2006 it was looking pretty spiffy on the outside but there was still so much to do on the inside......lining boards, stairs, kitchen, bathroom, floor coverings, painting etc.

Even though it took a little longer than expected, we were really happy with the result. These photos were taken on 15th February 2007.

Across the paddock.

But here is the most embarrassing photo of all........the picture taken of the inside of the shop when I first opened.

There was so little stock compared to what I have today.......but as they say 'from little things big things grow'! (and there were no window arcs or dado trim!). Now it looks like this.....

much better.........don't you think?

To celebrate my the shop's birthday there will be 20% off all stock on Thursday 15th, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th March. The shop will be open 11am to 4pm each day so why not pop in for a look and grab your stitching supplies.

Linda    :)

Class List and Newsletter

I had planned on getting this out just after we returned from holidays.......well that didn't happen did it!. But it is here now and I hope that it was worth the wait. Click on the link below to check it all out.

Download Gum Valley Patchwork Newsletter March 2012

Linda    :)

New wool fabric

A couple of weeks ago I received my order of wool from Weeks Dye Works in America. I currently have limited supplies of 25 gorgeous colours. Weeks Dye Works' hand dyed, 100% wool fabric is colorfast, felted and great for wool appliqué, penny rugs and rug hooking. It is perfect for pillows, purses, clothing and the finishing of cross-stitch and needlepoint pieces. 

I have cut them into pieces which measure 20cm x 30cm (minimum)......large (or small) enough to have a play with.

They are beautiful and soft, and they are $5.80 each.

Linda   :)

PS. The photo doe not do the colours justice.......but I only had my phone with me to take a couple of snaps.

'Poetica' is pure poetry

This beautiful range of fabrics has arrived in dribs and drabs but at last it is all in stock. 

It is 'Poetica' by Art Gallery Quilts.

The vibrant colours are anything but drab and they would look fabulous in quilts, bags and clothing. 

I can't wait to make something from them.........I do need some more skirts!

Fabric is $22 per metre.

Linda     :) 

Drum roll please......

Thank you to everyone for all of your lovely comments about my blog and what you like to read. It certainly appears that you all liked reading about Prudence the most but also enjoyed the general goings on around the place. I have drawn a number out of the salad bowl that was sitting on the bench.......and the winner is Annette. She wrote: "I can't choose a favourite. I love hearing about new fabrics but I love the personal touch. The tractor, your ring, the garden etc. etc. In short, keep going I go to your blog every day and enjoy it very much". Thanks Annette....I will pop a parcel of goodies in the mail for you.

Today is another celebration for Russell and I.......it's our 27th wedding anniversary. It has got me thinking ........ especially after hearing all of these stories about the cost of weddings these days.......with some spending $20,000 and upwards to $40,000. Does spending so much money on one day guarantee a long and happy marriage? I have been thinking about what our wedding cost: Mum made my dress for $160.....the girls think it is disgusting but it was beautiful back in 1985....lol!; Mum also did all the flowers; Mum made the cake and it cost $80 to get it iced and decorated; the meal cost about $10 per head with more food than we could eat; the wedding cars were supplied by Russell's Uncle Jack & Mr Rooke; Suits were hired; and the photographer was a local man who took about 30 photos all up. There was no wedding planner, day spas, manicures, pedicures, fake tans, pre-wedding coffee mornings etc etc. And surprise surprise we all had a fantastic day and are still happily married.

And don't we look young!

Linda   :)