Gum Valley Patchwork

Just a little tap

Followers on Facebook and Instagram will already know that 3 weeks ago Russell had someone run in to the back end of our new VW Golf TSI.

It was on the Monash Freeway.......the traffic ahead stopped suddenly......Russell stopped suddenly.....the guy behind Russell stopped suddenly when he hit our car. The car was new......picked it up from the dealer on the 31st December. Lucky for Russell that he wasn't seriously injured, although we are not quite sure what extra damage it has done to his neck. The car was a write off.....$23,000 worth of damage.

We had a hire car for 2 weeks but after a lot of negotiation (six phone calls to our Insurance company) they let us keep the hire car over Easter. So Tuesday we decided to return the hire car.........to Dandenong.......a 3 hour drive.......because if you return it to another outlet (like Geelong) you get charged an extra fee. We drove the ute to Lara and left it at the Railway Station, then drove the car to Hertz, and caught the train back to Lara.......that way we would only have to drive on the Monash once! More hassles with the extension of the hire car when we got to Hertz, after being ensured that morning by Youii that everything was fine. Finally, after a 'loud' conversation on the phone it was all sorted, although we were unimpressed by the attitude of the young woman we dealt with in Hertz.

So now we are a one car ute family.....that is until our brand new car arrives in the country. We are really in no hurry for it as I am tied to the shop for the next 2 weeks in full AQC preparation lock down......and after that I will be away for 4 weeks. Hopefully it will here when I get back in late May.

Better get on with the prep work. I have some new projects to show you over the next week.

Linda    :)

Dogwood Trail II

I had been waiting for what feels like forever for this fabric range to arrive.....and it finally arrived a couple of weeks ago. I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to blog about it so here goes.

Dogwood Trail II is the newest fabric range from Sentimental Studios for Moda.As soon as I saw this fabric I fell in love with the beautiful floral prints of the Dogwood blooms. I have long loved Dogwoods......Cornaceae family, and after seeing them in full flower when Hannah and I were in America two years ago I decided that I loved them even more. Yes I took photos of Dogwoods!

The true flowers are quite insignificant.....what is beautiful (and often mistaken for the flowers) are the 4 large decorative bracts. These can be white, cream, or pale green that may become flushed red or pink. Last Winter while I was at the local nursery I spied a Dogwood tree in a pot. I am not quite sure how well it will grow in our climate. Although we think our Winters are cold, they really aren't.......and we don't get any snow. But I thought what the heck.....$20 isn't much to take a gamble.....so I bought it.....and so far so good.....and it has almost doubled in size.

I kept the water up to it during our hot dry Summer and I think that it appreciated it! I know that they do grow quite large but I will be quite happy to prune it back if it grows too big in it's current location near the carpark!

Now back to the fabric......and what pretty fabric it is!

Check out these new Fragrant Discs ($12.90) from Aromabotanical that match the fabrics perfectly!

I have also made up a lovely table centre using the fabrics.......

.......now I just have to write up the pattern and make up some kits.......better get to it!

Linda     :)

Easter Trading......and some stitching.

Yesterday we had our Farmers Wife Stitch Along group in the Shop. I am really enjoying these days as it is the only day of the month that I stitch my blocks. I love doing these blocks but with so much other sewing that I need to get done, I have made a promise to myself to only stitch these blocks at our monthly get together. I try and get 4 done during the day and yesterday I made 3 while the girls were here and one after they left.

I know have 18 blocks completed. I have skipped a few in the book and my aim at our next day is to start doing those skipped blocks......so I don't end up with all of the 'hard' ones at the end!

I also wanted to let you know that the Shop will be open over the Easter weekend. I am open today, as well as tomorrow and Sunday. Normal trading hours of 11am to 4pm each day. I wanted to leave you with a photo of Georgia's first art creation at Daycare yesterday. A special little bunny container.

While I am sure that she got a 'little' help from her carers while making it, I can see that maybe we have another crafty person in the family......fun times ahead!

Linda    :)

Retreat Wrap-up

I was meant to write this blog post yesterday but with a meeting in the morning, called in to see Mum, a hair appointment in the afternoon, a visit to the Laundromat, a doctor's appointment (for my Typhoid needle....and my arm is still red), then home to bookwork for a meeting last night....and the day was over! So I have spent all day catching up on paperwork and accounts, with more to do tomorrow......so I am taking a break to do some happy computer work and write a Retreat Wrap-up Post.

Last weekend was my Stitching by the Sea Retreat in the beautiful seaside township of Port Campbell. Set-up day was on Friday, but Russell and I took a load of stuff down on Thursday afternoon (to beat any possible rain on Friday morning) and it made our job a lot quicker on Friday morning. With Jodie and Russell's help we were all set up by just after midday.

There were goody bags for 46 ladies

and name tags for everyone who attended.......except Russell......for some reason he didn't want one, but then again everyone knows Russell!

We had this little person back again to help us out. She spent her time helping Hannah in the Shop, smiling at the ladies, playing in the Kitchen (the brush and dust pan, and spoons were a great hit!), eating and sleeping, and just a few grizzles.

There seemed to be a lot of talking, laughing, eating and stitching going on over the 2 days.

We had some wonderful Show & Tell with touching stories of why quilting is important to us. Our little challenge competition was won by Irene Heyden......voted on by the attendees. Runner-up was Jeanette Rowe (aka Madonna......lol!). We also had some lucky draws, lots of cups of tea & coffee, and maybe just a little bit of food. Before we knew it the weekend was over and everyone was packing up to head for home.

I would like to thank Russell for helping and supporting me (especially when the power went off Friday afternoon while I was trying to bake and cook!). To Emma and Hannah who always jump in to help me out........Emma does it for the free fabric and supplies I give her, and Hannah for the things I will shout her in the US......oh and I think they do it because they are great young adults and they love me :) . To Jodie who helped set up on Friday, was in the Kitchen Saturday and Sunday morning, and stayed and helped to pack everything up. And I cannot forget Tabatha who offered to vacuum the floor for me......a task that I think she was starting to regret after awhile......better than any gym workout! We said goodbye to the beautiful view......

until September when we do it all again (albeit a little differently) for the Stitch in Spring.

Now to put the Shop back together........tomorrow's job I think!

Linda   :)

A Retreating we will go

Our 'Stitching by the Sea' Retreat is on again for the third year this weekend. Forty-six excited ladies will be converging on the Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club for 2 days of stitching, fun, friendship, food and some retail therapy. As we will all be in Port Campbell helping these ladies to have a fantastic weekend, the Shop will be closed today, Friday, for setting up and then all weekend.

Apologies for any inconvenience but I will be open next Thursday 24th March right through Easter until Sunday 27th, 11am - 4pm each day.

Linda    :)

Stitch in Spring.....Registration forms

Monday is usually my quiet day........the start of my faux weekend after working since Thursday (well actually I have been working 7 days a week lately). But today has been somewhat different..........what a busy Monday morning I have had. Registrations opened this morning for the 2016 Stitch in Spring. I turned my phone off and when I turned it back on at 10am, there were 38 messages from eager ladies wanting to put their names down for my yearly event. After listening and writing and sometimes relistening, I had Saturday booked out by 9.01am. Sunday is not quite full yet so there is still time to pop your name down if you forgot to ring this morning. I have only 13 places left, and any extras will be placed on a waiting list. For those who rang and have had a text, email, message, or phone call confirming your place, the next step is to download the registration form (for the Saturday or the Sunday) below, pay your deposit and send them back to me by the 1st April to secure your place. 

Download STITCH IN SPRING 2016 Registration Form Saturday

Download STITCH IN SPRING 2016 Registration Form Sunday

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support my 'Stitch in Spring' event. Here's to a great weekend in September!

Linda    :)

Stitch in Spring 2016

Gum Valley Patchwork

presents

‘Stitch in Spring’

with Natalie Bird & Leanne Knell

Saturday 17^th September 2016, 10am – 4pm

and

Sunday 18th September 2016, 10am - 4pm

at the

Santos Room, Surf Lifesaving Club

Cairns Street, Port Campbell

Cost : $130 per person

 

Includes: Patterns & kits for 4 different projects designed by Natalie & Leanne; morning & afternoon teas; 2 course lunch; tea, coffee & drinks; special goody bag; lucky draws plus much more.

No charge for the fun, friendship and laughter.

Natalie & Leanne will have some of their beautiful creations on display, with patterns available for purchase.

I will also have my shop set up for a little retail therapy.

All of this while enjoying the view over the beautiful

Port Campbell Bay.

 Registrations open at 9am (and NOT before) Monday 14^th March (yes this Monday!)

by phone only to 0427 943 201 (leave a message)

Enquiries - Linda @ the Shop 0427 943 201     or

email sales@gumvalleypatchwork.com.au

 

 A deposit of $50 is required by 1^st April 2016 to secure your place.

The balance of $80 is due by 1^st August 2016.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel before 31^st July, your deposit will be refunded in full. Cancellation after this date, refund will only be given if your place can be filled by someone else.

Full refund if the day is cancelled by the organiser (Gum Valley Patchwork).

presents

‘Stitch in Spring’

with Natalie Bird & Leanne Knell

Saturday 17^th September 2016, 10am – 4pm

and

Sunday 18th September 2016, 10am - 4pm

at the

Santos Room, Surf Lifesaving Club

Cairns Street, Port Campbell

Cost : $130 per person

 

Includes: Patterns & kits for 4 different projects designed by Natalie & Leanne; morning & afternoon teas; 2 course lunch; tea, coffee & drinks; special goody bag; lucky draws plus much more.

No charge for the fun, friendship and laughter.

Natalie & Leanne will have some of their beautiful creations on display, with patterns available for purchase.

I will also have my shop set up for a little retail therapy.

All of this while enjoying the view over the beautiful

Port Campbell Bay.

 Registrations open at 9am (and NOT before) Monday 14^th March (yes this Monday!)

by phone only to 0427 943 201 (leave a message)

Enquiries - Linda @ the Shop 0427 943 201     or

email sales@gumvalleypatchwork.com.au

 

 A deposit of $50 is required by 1^st April 2016 to secure your place.

The balance of $80 is due by 1^st August 2016.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel before 31^st July, your deposit will be refunded in full. Cancellation after this date, refund will only be given if your place can be filled by someone else.

Full refund if the day is cancelled by the organiser (Gum Valley Patchwork).

Watermelon update

For months now I have been growing some Watermelon plants. They started off slowly, took off when the weather heated up, had little 'babies' which grew really quickly, and all the way I blogged about the progress. Last Tuesday I noticed that the vine on one of the plants was starting to whither so I decided that it was time to pick my big 'baby'..........weighing in at 10.6kg. I decided to enter it in the Heytesbury Show.......more as a matter of interest and to show the visitors to the Show what can be grown in our cool climate area. Apparently the judge thought that it was okay too.

Yesterday I decided it was time to see what was inside this beauty........hoping it wasn't hollow......

Wow......a beautiful pink watermelon which tastes delicious.

I shared some with the ladies in Class on Monday, and I have been eating it every day since.......breakfast, lunch and dinner......and inbetween.......lol! With the warm weather we have been having over the last few days I am hoping that some of the other smaller watermelons might also mature......fingers crossed!

Linda     :)

 

 

Three Years

Three years ago we were celebrating the wedding of Emma & Ryan.

It is really hard to believe that it was in 2013, and now we have a little person to love in our family. Happy Anniversary Emma & Ryan.......may you have a lifetime of happiness and love together.

Love Mum & Dad :)

The Heytesbury Show

The Heytesbury Show is over again for another year which means that I finally have time again to blog. It is always a hectic time of the year for everyone on the committee as we ready ourselves for our one big day. This year has been extra busy for me as I took on the role of the Treasurer for the Society, but I have finally wrapped my head around it all and I'm sure that it will be easier next year. Apart from the money side of things, I also co-ordinate the Homecraft Pavilion........this year was my tenth year and I really can't believe that I have been doing it for so long. We were a little worried this year as it has been so dry and our flower gardens have taken the brunt of the low no rainfall year. Despite this we still had a lovely display of cut flowers.........albeit a little smaller than last year.

The vegetables on the other hand were amazing.......the largest display in years!

Check out those prize winning heritage carrots.......hmmm they look familiar ;)

And how about those sponges........

Another area that had a huge amount of entries was our Produce Section........preserves, jams, sauces etc.

I decided to enter some Floral Art.........yellow and green....

pretty little pink arrangement......

and some beautiful red roses and red chillies.........and a Best Exhibit award.......woohoo!

Outside the pavilion there was plenty of Show activity..........the Beyond Blue truck pull.

The cattle in the new undercover cattle area.......

and no Show would be complete without the Woodchop!

And to top it off the weather was Goldilocks perfect........not too hot, not too cold........just right!

I am now back to catching up on lots of Shop stuff, so please be patient while I get the back log of work done.

Linda  :)