Gum Valley Patchwork

Boot Scooting and Yeehaing

I know that if I don't write this blog post tonight then it just isn't going to get done at all! Yesterday we had our bags packed and ready for collection at 7am and were on the bus and away just a little after 8am. We said goodbye to beautiful Palm Springs (with their 5,000 swimming pools and 90 golf courses) and headed east towards the dessert state of Arizona. It was going to be a long day on the coach, so I packed plenty of hexagons to tack along the way, and the trip was broken up with restroom and refreshment stops. The large saguaro cactus filled the landscape.....it was just like being in a western movie! This beauty was opposite the Arizona State Capital Building in Phoenix. No I am not lying on it....I just can't seem to rotate the photo!

After a city tour of Phoenix, we headed back out on the road to Scottsdale, which was where we were staying for the night. Most of the group headed out to Rustlers Rooste for a Western style dinner. We were greeted by a large long horn steer appropriately called 'Horny', walked up through a mine shaft, slid down a slide while the band played country music. I'm not a country music person but it was a great night and we even did some line dancing......me badly.....but it was all in good fun. The food was great....big T-Bone steak and all you could drink....we even tasted rattlesnake.......and it tasted just like chicken.....it really did! The meal was topped off with cinnamon ice-cream and fairy floss....lol!

The view of the city by night was beautiful

And we couldn't resist getting a photo in front of the sign

We sang songs on the bus on the way back to our very colourful hotel......our room had a lime green door, blue vanity, purple carpet, yellow curtains and stripped bedspreads.....it was fantastic!

Linda from Scottsdale, Arizona (well I was yesterday!)

 

 

A day late.....sorry

This was meant to be yesterday's blog post but unfortunately after trying to upload photos for 1 hour I gave up in disgust and decided to try it again tonight. So here it goes....a day late but oh well.

The downside to any tour is getting up early, having your bags packed and making sure that you are not the one that the bus is waiting for! This morning we left downtown LA (although Hannah will be back there on the 19th May), and headed off to Palm Springs.....it is certainly an oasis in the desert.

 
 
Just prior to reaching Palm Springs we took the aerial tram up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon. It was a 10 minute ride up to the Mountain Station at an elevation of 8,516 ft......with the ears popping all the way. Although we didn't see any cougars of the four legged variety, or any raccoons :( , I did snap a quick photo of a squirrel in the snow!

Palm Springs is beautiful but with only about 4 inches of rain a year, I'm not sure that I could live here. The group on the bus is mixed and very friendly........families, couples & singles from Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the US. Off to Scottsdale/Pheonix tomorrow.

Linda from Palm Springs

Baseball virgins

This morning we joined our tour and headed off to Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevarde, and Hollywood. Of course no trip would be complete with THE photo.

 
Along with some stars

And even Grandma had a star!

This is Russell's mother's name....lol!

After checking out cheap eats for lunch.....but with an A rating.....we had a little time to ourselves in the afternoon. I managed to get a couple of hours of hexies while Hannah relaxed and had a hannahnap. We have both wanted to see a baseball game and were lucky that the LA Dodgers had a home game tonight. After a short taxi ride (which unfortunately ended with Hannah leaving her brand new Iphone 5S in the taxi.....grrr!) we arrived at the massive venue. 

 There was no mistaking the colour of the home team as tthe crowd was a sea of blue. It was quite exciting, as we sat high in the stand and the crowd swelled.

We didn't stay until the end, but the Dodgers were winning 5 : 2, with 2 home runs scored which was quite exciting and really stirred the crowd. The games are quite long with a fair bit of dilly dallying around but I guess that all adds to the atmosphere. So we have experienced our first American Baseball game, but not the food......I can still smell those garlic fries!

Linda from LA, home of the Dodgers!

 

A day trip to Santa Monica

Hannah and I decided that today would be the perfect day to make the trip to the world famous Santa Monica Pier......we had a spare day prior to joining our 12 day Cosmos Tour tomorrow morning. The express bus trip didn't seem to take very long (unlike the 'rapid' Metro bus trip on the way home which took over an hour!).

The beach was amazing, and even though it wasn't hot there were plenty of people having a dip.

We strolled along the pier, watched the sights, listened to buskers, played games in the Arcade and had a ride on the carousel, before heading off for some lunch and retail therapy.....I came back with a lovely pair of shoes :)

I am sorry for the lack of photos....I am taking lots but still have 'technical' difficulties getting them from a to b! Hoping for more success tomorrow.

Linda, still in LA

 

Just popping in.

I had very good intentions off doing a blog post before I left on our trip but that just didn't happen did it! I had something wise and witty planned but instead I was rushing around, marking off all of those last minute things off the 'to do' list. I was even packing my bag 10 minutes before we left to head to Melbourne......3 km down the road and we had to go back home as I had forgotten something........my head wasn't in a good space. On reaching Melbourne I realised that I had left the keys to the suitcase locks at home, and consequently had to get the locks cut off my suitcases at the motel Hannah and I were staying at. That night lying in bed, I was having second thoughts about making this trip.....a month away from Russell, home and the shop is a long time.......the negative thoughts were probably brought on as a result of all of the things that had gone wrong, but once we were on that plane everything was fine. I know that everyone will cope just fine without me.......Russell has a well stocked fridge/freezer and is working on getting someone in to help on the farm; and I have left the shop in the very capable hands of Jodie so my customers will be well looked after.

The flight was long but smooth, and I filled my time by stitching hexagons, watching movies, listening to music and trying very hard to get a few hours sleep. The later was unsuccessful, and I know that I shouldn't have done this but I have just had 2.5 hours sleep.......I think I would have fallen down if I hadn't lay down! We have got the rest of our day planned and also tomorrow, and between now and the next post I will try and work out how to upload photos onto my tablet......one of those jobs on the list that didn't get crossed off before I left home!

Linda from LA, USA

AQC Quilt Shows

Phew.....I found my camera card reader......in my handbag, so am very pleased that I don't have to buy another one. Last year at AQC I never got a chance to have a look at the quilts, so this year I promised myself that I would. Saturday morning I arrived a little earlier and went for a wander around the quilts. It is not like the Victorian Quilters Quilt Showcase where there are lots of different catergories with quilts judged and prizes awarded. Instead there were 'sub-shows' (for want of a better word).

The first was 'Living Colour! A travelling textile art exhibition'.

Curated by Brenda Gael Smith, these banner-format works made their debut at AQC. They were spectacular, and several of them stopped me in my tracks in awe of the work and design....something that I could never do myself. I have respected the request for no photographs for public use, but if you would like to read about where you can see the quilts check out the website here.

The next, the challenge theme for this year's AQC 10th Anniversary. The theme was 'Ten' and the finalists selected provided a varied display of the makers own interpretation. The winner was Alison Withers with her quilt called '10 together equals teamwork'.

Alison comes from Warrnambool and was featured in the Warrnambool Standard early in the week. Congratulations Alison!

 

The next was the 'Best of the Best' which is an annual AQC exhibition. It is a favourite as it gives viewers the chance to see the best quilts from all annual state quilt guild shows around Australia on show together. I have seen many of these quilts in magazines and on websites but it is so much better to see the quilts in person.....sometimes photos just don't do them justice (which is evident from my photos!). I could not pass this hexagon quilt by without taking some photos. Made by Lesley Fry, Western Australia.

My photo doesn't do it justice....

check out the fussy cutting......cutting the horse fabric up and restitching it back together as horses again.....amazing!

 

Jenny Bowker, winner of the 2013 Rajah award had a display of her wonderful quilts. Jenny is well known to quilters around the world and is a much-sought after teacher. It was a thrill to see her work .....but I realised that I didn't take any photos of them. Jenny has local connections as the Aunt of Matthew Bowker who owns Kangaroobie at Princetown. I remember years ago talking to Matt and asking him if Jenny was his Auntie....his reply was yes I think she sews and makes quilts.....lol!

Then there was a celebration of Ten Years of AQC with past quilts on display. Check out this quilt....one of my favourites on display.

There was also the 'Best of Australia' Competition which comprised the Best of Show quilts from every state. They were judged by an independent trio of experts and their decision was announced at the AQC Gala Dinner on the Saturday night. It was great to see Helen Stubbings' quilt 'Cornelian' as it won the Tasmania Best of Show. 

It would have been extremely difficult to judge a winner as the range of work included traditional and contemporary, with each quilt magnificent. But the winner was this beauty by Janet Treen from New South Wales

and a close up photo.

and the description

I hope you have enjoyed my small look at some of the quilts on display this year. I can't wait to see what next year will bring.

Linda   :)

 

Easter Trading

I have had a few enquiries about my trading days / hours over the Easter holiday. I will be open as usual, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 11am - 4pm each day.

Linda    :)

It's over for this year

Well this time last week I was on my way to Melbourne and all excited about my second trip to AQC. I had a great time catching up with lots of lovely ladies......some 'old' friends, some from emails, lots of blog readers and fb friends, and many new friends and customers. I never quite know what and how much to take with me, but the new ute and canopy worked extremely well.....a good sign is bringing home less than you take! I would not have been able to do it without the help of Hannah......she is fabulous! And guess what? I'm heading back next year with Hannah and quite possibly 'Elenor Jean"!

So the shop is still a mess.....boxes everywhere.....plonked on the floor ready for unpacking. Sorting out that is tomorrow's job.....today's job is making apple pies......aiming for 16......so off I go!

Linda    :)

PS. I took some photos of the beautiful quilts on display but unfortunately I have lost my card reader and cannot upload them. When I get a new one I will upload them.

Onto the last day

Well I am up and packed and ready to get the last day of AQC going. Sunday is usually the quietest of the four days, but you just never know what is going to happen at these events.

See you on the other side

Linda    :)

AQC 2014.......Day 0 & 1

Well the day finally arrived. Yesterday morning, with ute fully loaded....although I could've fit more in if I was better at tetris.....I headed off to Melbourne. The continual rain didn't worry me......great for the farm....and it wasn't too bad unloading it all. It could have been a lot worse......ie cold and windy.

This year I managed to remember to take a before shot

My 3m x 2m blank canvas. I sat and rested....had a hot chocolate and a piece of carrot cake....took a deep breath and started. It took me seven hours but I did it.

I know that it isn't perfect but by the end I was so tired I really just wanted it all finished.

Gail has kindly lent me her samples from 'Simply Christmas' 2014 and they look lovely.

I also have the newest pattern from Janet at Wildcraft Farms......'So glad you are in my circle of friends' Quilt Card.

I met so many lovely people today......and I am so glad that the ladies introduced themselves......as names sometime elude me! And I had the best neighbour......Lenora and Jane. 

So after a very busy Day 1, I am off to take this advice.........and grab another mint slice biscuit before dinner.

Linda    :)