Gum Valley Patchwork

Last day of Spring

The last day of Spring turned out much cooler than yesterday and although there has been a lot of thunder and lightning around the rain hasn't been as much as we want need. Maybe we will get some more overnight......fingers crossed.

After yesterday's encounter with the young Gang Gang Cockatoos, I decided to take my camera with me today on the motorbike.........just in case they were still around. Alas they had moved on.........probably looking for more wattle seed pods. While gazing up into the trees, I snapped this fellow resting in the branches.

We see quite a few on the farm.......they have certainly made themselves at home amongst our gum trees!

The Black Cockatoos are back, chewing their way through the banksia seed heads and hakea seed pods.
 Their powerful beaks crack the hard coverings with ease and destruction.

After milking I discovered this little fellow hiding behind the hose.......
I guess he found a cool place and was waiting for the rain to come.

I was also excited to find that 'our' pair of Grey Strike Thrush have built their nest again in the office area in the dairy. I climbed up and took this photo of their nest quickly so as not to upset the parents.

 

Grey Shrike-thrush pairs generally remain together for life and inhabit the same areas throughout this time. The nest is a cup-shaped structure of dried vegetation, and may be constructed in the same site year after year. Both birds share the nest-building and incubation duties, and both care for the young birds. I also love the songs that they sing and they echo in the dairy making it sound even better.

I took this photo as I was locking the cows in the yard.........legs everywhere!

I promise tomorrow I will post about sewing stuff..........no more wildlife.........at least not for a while!

Linda    :)

Three younguns

With the official start of Summer only two days away, we got a taste of what is around the corner today. The temperature reached about 38 degrees but as the sun has gone done it is quite pleasant outside. Milking in the heat is always a job I'd rather not do, but as Russell was off baling hay I had to put my big girl panties on under my shorts and just do it! Our farm has lots of trees so on hot days the cows have plenty of shade to get under and out of the sun. The trees also come in handy for people on motorbikes getting cows on hot days.

I do a lot of shade jumping. When I got the bottom of hill I sat quietly in the shade....soaking up the serenity.......it was then I noticed three young Gang Gang Cockatoos in the trees. One was chewing a branch and the other 2 were eating wattle seeds. They seemed blissfully unaware that I was there.......even when I started the motorbike up they just continued feeding and keeping cool in the shade.

Unfortunately I only had my phone with me so the photo isn't good. It has been quite a few years since I have seen Gang Gangs on the farm so I was especially excited to see these young ones. Over the years we have counted and catalogued over 60 different birds on the farm.....and that is without even trying. I'm sure that there are many more 'hiding' on the farm.

Next stop was overlooking the dam.

This dam holds quite a few special.....and not so special memories for our family. Once a year we would take the girls and their cousins eel fishing. We would dig out a hole, gather wood and light a campfire. There would be lots of laughing and quite a few screams as eels were caught. Their favourite hiding spots were under these waterlilies which made it difficult to get a line in.

It's the dam that our motorbike ended up in after it rolled down the hill one day and it's also the dam that Emma almost drowned in when she was 3.

The final stop was of course the dairy.......I ditched the rubber boots for thongs and milked the cows.....hopefully tomorrow will be cooler and it will be back to the overalls.

Linda   :) 

  

Mulberry Lane

While at AQM I was shown so much beautiful fabric my head was spinning......and I only saw about 10% ! I have already shown you Paint Box and Follow my Heart so now it is time to show you Mulberry Lane by Sue Beevers for Northcott. I have done a little cut and paste and here is the Raspberry Lane colourway of the range.

There is also a colourway called Mulled Cider and you can check out the swatches here. There are 12 fabrics in each colourway so a total of 24 lovely bolts. But don't get too excited just yet as delivery is not expected until June 2013........yes that's June next year......I will probably forget that I have ordered it by then!

Linda    :)

Follow my Heart

'Follow my Heart' is the second range of fabric that I ordered while I was at the Australian Quilt Market on Saturday.

This beautiful new range is from Australian designer Lynette Anderson and will be in the shop in January / February. I purchased a lovely fat quarter bundle ........... mmmm now what to make?

Maybe this gorgeous new cushion by Gail called 'Cosy Home Cushion'

And if you didn't want to make it into a cushion it would make a lovely wall hanging.

Linda     :)

Paint Box

'Paint Box' by Laundry Basket Quilts (for Moda) is just one of the four new ranges of fabric that I ordered yesterday while I was at the AQM.

The 23 beautiful bolts, plus extra precuts, will not arrive in the shop until April 2013. But if you can't wait until then I was lucky to be able to bring home some Jelly Rolls and Layer Cakes for the shop........they are $46 each.

Linda    :)

Home again home again jiggity jig

What a fantastic two days Lenora and I have had in Melbourne......but it is nice to be home and relaxing in the trackies and slippers. We headed off early yesterday morning......up before the sparrows. Our first stop was a visit to the Charles Parsons Warehouse to check out some of their fabrics. We had a brilliant run along the freeway and up the Western Ring Road to Thomastown......I couldn't believe it but we didn't stop once.......a first! With the boot of the Volksie full we headed towards the city. One place that has been on my list to visit was L'uccello and luckily it was also on Lenora's list.  

Needless to say we both departed with lighter wallets and heavy parcels! After a delicious lunch we did a little more retail therapy........always good for the soul but bad for the bank balance! We even managed to squeeze in a look at the Myer Christmas windows after dinner. This year it was based on the popular book called Russell's Christmas Magic. The sheep were so gorgeous covered with their own patchwork quilts.

And the cute little frogs opening their presents from Santa.

 Two of my favourite animals!

Today we spent our time at the Australian Quilt Market which is a trade & wholesale only event. I have ordered new fabric ranges and patterns, but was able to bring some new goodies home with me

but I will keep those details for another post/s.

The trip home went quick as Lenora and I chatted about what we had bought, who we talked to, what we saw, and our big plans for our shops.......there are exciting times ahead for Gum Valley Patchwork and Elm Grove Patchwork.

But here is one last photo.........look what was under the back windscreen wiper on the car when we got home.........

It had travelled all the way from the carpark at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre to home.........I wonder what the people following behind me thought.........lol!

Linda      :)

My bag is packed

and tomorrow Lenora and I will be up before the sparrows to head to Melbourne. We have a few special 'activities' planned for Friday and then we are off to the Australian Quilt Market (wholesale & trade only) on Saturday. It is at the Exhibition Centre (aka Jeff's Shed) and last year we shared the building with Sexpo.....and wow did we see some 'interesting' sights. This year we will share the centre with the Melbourne Motorcycle Expo........I guess the sights will be a bit different...... and all of a sudden Russell seemed very keen to come along to the AQM......lol!

The shop will be open as usual with the lovely Jodie in charge.

Linda   :)

La Belle Fleur

is the new range from French General and will be in the shop in January 2013. If you can't wait til January I have a limited number of Jelly Rolls and Layer Cakes available now.

They are $46 each.

Linda    :)

Tienen un gran tiempo Hannah

This morning my 'baby' headed off on an exciting adventure.

Hannah has taken extended leave from her full time job to travel to Santiago, Chile for a Study Tour for University.

After that she will travel to Costa Rica to join an International Student Volunteer program for 4 weeks.

And finally Hannah will finish of her 8 week trip with some time in Peru doing the usual sightseeing tours including Machu Picchu. I am sure that Hannah will have a great time and will make lots of new friends.......anyone who has met Hannah will agree with me when I say that she has no trouble talking to people!

One problem she did have was trying to sort out what and how much to take. Last night while we were relaxing in our Hotel room she was showing me the contents of her suitcase and all of the things she had packed. Let me say one thing.......she is covered for any medical scenerio that could arise........she could set up her own chemist shop! While Hannah was going through it all it reminded me of the scene from Toy Story 2 Bloopers when Mrs Potato Head is packing Mr Potato Head.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Vw7KmYjnHYs

I didn't see any monkey chow but I'm sure it was in there somewhere......lol!

Have a fantastic time Hannah......we will miss you heaps.....see you in January.

Mum aka Linda    :)

Stitch, rattle and roll

I have a love affair with all things hexagon and last week I decided to make a ball from hexagons. First I thought about what colours I would use......then I thought how nice it would feel made from some flannel fabric.......then I thought how nice it would feel and great it would look if I made it from some wool fabric! I used some of the great hexagons from Hugs & Kisses and 32 different colours of wool fabric.

Russell's comment "Is it a bra?" .......... no!

The stuffing, rattle insert and final stitches went in last night and today we had a photo shoot out in the garden.........beside the seaside daisies

and then we bounced across to the violas.

I have started kitting up.........look at all of those gorgeous wool pieces  

Kits will be available next week for $25 each.

Linda    :)