Gum Valley Patchwork

It's nice to do nice things

Last night Russell and I decided to go to the cinema to catch an early movie.....the things we can do now that we don't milk cows anymore! Afterwards we headed to a local Hotel for dinner. It wasn't packed, surprisingly as it was a Friday night, and we found a table. A table close by had a young couple seated at it with their 6 month old baby girl in a high chair. She was very cute and was smiling and playing with a toy and 'eating' a serviette. Our meals came and we ate them. I looked back over to see the young mum cradling her sleeping baby while trying to eat her dinner with a fork. After a few moments I got up and walked over. I offered to hold the baby so that she could eat her dinner......and I promised not to run away with her baby. She looked shocked but very happy that someone would offer and gently handed me her sleeping baby. I returned to my seat and left them to finish their meal in peace.....using a knife & fork. The young couple claimed their still sleeping baby, thanked me very much, smiled sweetly and left. It's nice to do nice things for people.

Linda    :)

TBT#34

For today's TBT I thought that I would go way back....way way back. Here I am with my sister Ann.....not sure how old I am but probably about 8 months old.

Don't forget that the Friendship Frolic continues until Sunday. It has been fantastic catching up with lots of ladies so far, with many traveling with friends and making a real day of it.

Linda  :)

 

The Friendship Frolic......we're almost ready!

I did say almost! I still have a long list of things that I need to do before Wednesday's launch of our very first Friendship Frolic but I am about to cross one off just by doing this blog post....yay!

Lenora and I met on Friday night at the Timboon Railway Distillery for a business meeting which was also a great chance to have a lovely dinner together with just maybe a glass of wine! (We have been meaning to get together for dinner for our birthdays last December but life somehow gets in the way........I think we need to have more of these 'business' meetings.....I'm sure that they would be tax deductable!) It was also great to meet Josh Walker, the new owner of the Distillery. Josh has come on board and is offering a coffee & cake deal for our Frolickers during the 5 days.......you might also like to choose to have lunch there on the way between the shops.

Lenora and I will be having different discounts and in-store specials throughout the 5 days so pop over to Elm Grove Patchwork to check out what Lenora has got for you all.

Here at Gum Valley Patchwork, I have lots planned to celebrate the event. Each day of the FF will have different discounts on offer.

Wednesday 24th June : 20% off all books and 10% off bolted fabric

Thursday 25th June : $5 Fat Quarters (normally $5.50) and 10% off bolted fabric

Friday 26th June : 20% off kits (valued at $30 or more) and 10% off bolted fabric

Saturday 27th June : 20% off fabric bundles and 10% off bolted fabric

Sunday 28th June : 20% off all stock

For the entire FF, there will also be a special box of patterns for just $10 each, as well as 40% off all extra wide backing fabrics. My clearance rack is chock full of bolts for just $12 per metre and the $8 per metre basket is also full.......these are great for backing fabrics and work out cheaper than the plain solids.....and much prettier! These racks will be kept stocked throughout the entire 5 days.

The classroom will be cleaned out and set up with a very special display of Selvedge items. The wonderfully talented Jodie has very kindly lent me her world famous Selvedge Frock, gorgeous umbrella and some other items......and I will have my items on display as well.....including my new Button Box Quilt.

The Frolickers Passports have arrived and they look fantastic!

Shoppers will be able to collect their passports at the first shop that they visit........when a minimum of $20* is spent......which isn't hard is it! Completed passports can be left at either shop and Lenora & I will be getting together on Monday 29th June to draw the winner......so don't forget to drop it off!

As a special 'thank you for coming to our Friendship Frolic', every customer who purchases something during the Frolic will receive a free gift.

Well I'm off to start crossing a few all of those things off my list......while at the same time trying not to add any extra things on to it!

Linda    :)

 

* the $20 minimum excludes class fees, BOM, Clubs & laybys.

 

 

 

TBT #33

Not sure where that week went to but here it is once again....Thursday......the start of my working week and TBT. Today I have decided to put up a baby photo of Lister......taken when he was a cute little puppy. He is now 8 years old.

Now that we live at the shop Lister's main job is to welcome everyone who visits.....whether you want to or not he will greet you. Last week a mini bus pulled up out on the side of the road. Out piled 3 ladies and 4 young children. They made their way across our lawn and down towards our apple orchard. Lister was a bit slow but he finally realised that a bus had pulled up and wandered out to have a look. Then he saw the 'visitors' down in our garden and decided to greet them. As he ran down towards them there were screams.....kids clinging on to their mother's legs......frantically  running back to the bus.....and one puzzled looking dog wondering what was going on! Don't think that they will be visiting us again any time soon.....lol!

Linda    :)

 

It was going to be May but June will have to do.

I had grand plans that May was going to be my gardening month. The month that I put in a big effort into getting the garden whipped back into shape. Last year the roses never got a prune as we were busy packing everything up to move after we sold the farm. By the time we were settled in to the shop  the roses had started shooting and it seemed such a waste to cut off all of their beautiful buds......so I let them be. That has also meant that the little blackberry plants that were hidden down amongst the rose foliage stayed out of sight until this year......OMG......don't they grow fast! Well May came and went and I think that I spent a total of about 30 minutes in the garden.....oh dear. Now that we are in June I have at least made a start on pruning those roses and digging out those blackberries.....and boy what a difference it makes!

I will gradually work my way around the garden so hopefully every time you come to the shop you will see a little bit more done. We have purchased a whizz bang heavy duty mulcher.....so as I prune, Russell mulches.....we make a good team!

Although there isn't much flowering in the garden at the moment, there are a few plants providing a little bit of Winter colour. These Snow Flakes (or Snow Drops as we called them) are starting to flower under the bare leafed Silver Birches at the moment.

And these Miniature Cyclamens are quite happy in the shady place in front of the classroom.

The Daphne is stating to come out and I can't wait to smell their beautiful perfumed flowers again this Winter.

Linda     :)

Black & White

In May I blogged about ordering a lovely range of Black & White fabrics from the 5 talented designers that make up Cotton + Steel.

Well the good news is that it has arrived. The bad news is that one of the bolts is on back order and won't arrive until July. The bolt that is missing is the typewriter print which is sad but the others certainly make me happy! Price is $22 per metre.

Linda    :)

Happy Home

'Happy Home' by Christine Graf is just one of 3 new fabric ranges that arrived last week. It is a fun range of fabric in happy colours......including orange, green and blue.

This cute print would make great feature blocks or a lovely border.

Priced at $22 per metre.

I can't wait to get the rotary cutter into some of it!

Linda    :)

TBT #32

For the past month my Mum hasn't been well. Last week she got got worse and, according to Mum, we (Cathryn & I) ganged up on her. Yes we took her back to the Doctors and yes they put her in hospital and yes she was really sick. A virus that she contracted, coupled with a pre-existing medical condition made her very ill and a blood transfusion was required. Mum has improved and is heading home which is great news. So for today's TBT I thought that I would pop up a photo taken at Mum and Dad's Golden Wedding Anniversary party.

This was in February 2008.......Dad didn't look very impressed but we all had a really good time with family traveling from afar.

Two short months later dad passed away from a stroke.

So yes Mum we might have ganged up on you but we did it because we love you!

Linda    :)

Yes I'm back!

I am sorry that I have been absent from my blog for the last 11 days. I had good intentions but with everything that has been happening within our family it just kept getting put off. I even forgot about TBT last week.......didn't remember until the Saturday and by then it didn't seem worth it. I will be back tomorrow with the next TBT photo.....can you believe it will be #32!.....and I have had some new deliveries lately so I will blog about them as well.

Until tomorrow....

Linda    :)