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Okay so we have had 3 (sort of) cute/nice photos of me for the last 3 TBT, so today it is time to embarrass myself.....and maybe a few members of my family as well!
Yes that's me on the end with the dark glasses, flannie shirt and pants up to my armpits!
Actually I think I make the rest of the family look pretty good! I think that I was about 19 or 20 in this photo which was taken at home in Timboon.
Okay you can all stop laughing now........please.....
Linda :)
My love of hexagons is well known, and I am certainly not on my own when it comes to my obsession. There is just something about this little shape that is appealing in so many ways. So when I came across the Quilted Bags & Gifts book at Spring Quilt Market and I saw the gorgeous bags which incorporated hexagons into the designs I knew that I just had to order it.
I have made a start on my version of the 'Two-way Hexagon Purse' using the new 'Ville Fleurie' range by French General. The main piece is all stitched and I am about to start piecing the bag. I 'cheated' a little by using some pre-cut hexagon papers which were exactly the size of the template in the book......5/8".
As with most bag patterns there is always seems to be a problem finding the right handles and hardware to complete your bag. I am constantly on the lookout........trying to source bag hardware at reasonable prices and this includes ordering in bulk quantities from a supplier in China. The communication pathway isn't always smooth but they are generally very obliging and eager to please which is very helpful. Last night I placed another large order for some new bag handles, shoulder straps,tab closures and more bag handles.......those that are very similar to the ones used in the 'Quilted Bags & Gifts' Book. There are so many gorgeous bag patterns in the book including this one.....
And these are the handles that I was able to order......they aren't exactly the same but they are still very nice.
Now I just have to wait for them to arrive so that I can finish off my bags. It will take them about 3 - 4 weeks to arrive, but in the meantime I will continue to add any new stock to my online shop and will be sure to add the new products as soon as they arrive.
Linda :)
I have been waiting for an order of wallet frames to arrive so that I could make up a sample of the Diva Frame Wallet. I purchased the patterns from Jessica at Sew Many Creations while I was at Spring Market last month.
The frames arrived earlier this week, and with today's weather being so cold and horrid it was a good day to sit in the classroom (with the heater cranked up) and tackle the wallet. I had a great time stitching it......the pattern was easy to follow and it took no time to make it. The hardest part was selecting the fabrics! I finally decided upon the new 'Ville Fleurie' by French General.
I chose to add an extra fabric on the inside and I just happened to have a zip that matched perfectly.
I can certainly see how it would be hard to make just one of these wallets.......I am already thinking about what other fabrics I could use......but I think I will try the Prima Diva pattern next. Both patterns are available online or in the shop for $15 each. The price does not include the 7.5" frame.......but these are available here as well as in the shop for $9.50 each.
Linda :)
Well that week went very quickly......I guess having the Friendship Frolic in the middle of it certainly helped and I have spent 3 days in at Mum's continuing with our Winter clean. I have been finding so many 'treasures'......school reports, cards, letters and even my art folder......I now know why I didn't do well in art! There have also been many more great photos found.......some good and some not so good! Today I have decided to pick a good one.
This was taken in my first year of work as a Clerical Officer at the SEC in Flinders Street, Melbourne. I started in January 1981 and was just 18 years old. Although I am glad that I don't live in Melbourne now, I have many happy memories of my time there and wouldn't have traded it for anything.
Linda :)
They came....they frolicked.....and they left........oh wow what a busy 5 days Lenora and I have had with our second Friendship Frolic. So busy in fact that I forgot to take any photos of the shop when it was busy.......so you will have to settle for the 4pm Sunday afternoon photos just as the shop was about to close.
Everything is back in place ready for the shop to open again on Thursday.
Over the Friendship Frolic the classroom was transformed into a mini quilt exhibition with a display of my Mum's quilts. All of the quilts on display were hand quilted, with this blue sampler quilt being entirely stitched by handed......yes even the sashings and binding.
You can see that my Mum loved to applique too. (The quilts in the corner are my ex shop samples that are for sale)
There were also some of Mum's smaller quilts on display......all hand quilted of course.
But the highlight of the display for me and probably most of the frolickers was Mum's 'Candlewick and Lace' Quilt and her wedding dress from 1958.
The two pieces matched perfectly!
Lenora and I met yesterday afternoon to draw the winners of the Frolic prizes.......and they are......
Marion Prime, Beeac won the 2 x $150 gift vouchers (one from each shop). Marion is very excited and I am sure that she will have fun spending her prize. Congratulations Marion.
Kathy O'Keeffe, Warrnambool won the $150 voucher from Devine Quilting. Thanks Barb for donating this wonderful prize, I'm sure that Kathy will have fun selecting a quilt for you to quilt! Congratulations Kathy.
Our FF Car Trial filled in the time between shops with laughter and fun. There were quite a few entries with all of the correct answers, so we drew one from the pile. Gail Mundy, Hamilton was our lucky winner and she will be enjoying a bottle of Strawberry Schnapps (donated by Josh at the Timboon Railway Distillery) and some lovely chocolates. Congratulations Gail.
Finally I had a small competition in the Shop.....Guess the cotton reels in the jar. The winner is Sharon Roberts, Leopold guessing 131. Sharon has won a $20 Gift voucher to spend in my shop. Congratulations Sharon.
We would like to thank everyone who came along and made our event such a great success. Plans are already underway to make it better for next year and we hope that everyone will again join in the fun. We would also like to thank Josh Walker at the Timboon Railway Distillery for joining us and offering the special deal for our frolickers. If you weren't able to make it for the frolic, you could always do your own special frolic between Elm Grove Patchwork and Gum Valley Patchwork another time. Check both our pages for our opening days/hours.
Linda :)
Yes that's right....the 'yes pleases' won from the 'oh no not agains' which means today I bring you TBT B. So if you are one of the no people.....look away now.
This photo was taken outside the Lady Bay Hotel in Warrnambool. The occasion was my Uncle Arthur and Auntie Gwen's wedding and we were all dressed up in little dresses and coats that Mum had made especially for the day. We even had cute hats and handbags to match our outfits. Dad looks so young....but I guess we all do! And I am not sure why Dad has a hold of my sleeve......
Linda :)
PS. Don't forget that the Friendship Frolic continues today......10am to 4pm at both shops.
It is almost time for our second Friendship Frolic between Gum Valley Patchwork and Lenora's shop, Elm Grove Patchwork. We held the first Frolic last June and we both had such a great time that we decided to make it an annual event. So from this Wednesday (15th June) both shops will be open from 10am until 4pm every day....yes that's right we are opening an hour earlier and an extra day to give you more time to shop, eat, and then shop again. The Frolic runs through until Sunday 19th June.
For those who didn't come along last year, here is a little run down about the Friendship Frolic. It is no secret that Lenora and I are friends......we met each other through our mutual friend Jodie some years ago and from that day on we have become great friends sharing lots of common interests and experiences. We are/were dairy farmers, we have families that we love, we design, we stitch, we run our own Patchwork Shops and we also have very patient husbands! The Friendship Frolic came about because we wanted to celebrate all of the friendships that have be made through stitching. Those who have met though a class, or a retreat or through mutual friends like Lenora and I. I know that I have met and made so many friends through first teaching and then having my shop......hence the Friendship Frolic was 'born'.
So what makes it so special? For starters there is the Frolickers Passport. Spend $20 or more * (at both shops) get your passport stamped and you will be entered into the draw to win 2 x $150 vouchers.....that $150 to spend at each shop. But wait there's more........this year we have a second prize which has been donated by Barb Devine from Devine Quilting. It is a $150 voucher for edge to edge quilting.....thanks Barb! While on the road, present your Frolickers Passport at the Timboon Railway Distillery and receive a free hot drink with every meal / cake purchase. Josh at the Timboon Distillery has given us a bottle of Strawberry Schnapps, and as tempting as it was for Lenora and I just to drink it ourselves we have decided to team it up with some chocolates and use it a special prize for our Frolickers Car Trial. Just pick up your list of questions at either shop, look out for the clues as you drive between the 2 shops, fill in the answers and drop it in to box when completed.......the sheet with the most correct answers will go into the draw to win the prize.......easy!
Each shop will also be having their own in store specials, promotions and displays. At Gum Valley Patchwork there will be:
* The launch of my 'Bargain Bundles'. These are packs of 4 x 1/2m pieces of fabrics for just $22 per pack. I have made up almost 100 bundles including cream, tan, green, red, blue, black, black & white, Christmas, themed and mixed colours. Great for bindings, backings, borders, backgrounds, piecing etc etc or just to pop in your stash.
* All of my pre-cut Flannel Fat Quarters are now just $4 each.........normally $5.50
* Sample Sale......yes that's right.....I am selling off some of my Shop Samples.......bags, table runners, table centres, purses, quilts and more.
* There will be a special table of 40% off items.......including books & fabric.
* "Guess the number of cotton reels in the jar" competition and win a $20 GVPW Gift Voucher.
* "My Mum's Quilts"....... I will have a display of some of my Mum's quilts, including a Candlewick Quilt, a Sampler Quilt (completely hand stitched) plus more.
* And some Lucky Dip prizes.....spend over $100 and get to pick a secret prize.
In addition to the list above, I have some new stock that has recently arrived:
The new fabrics include 'Ville Fleurie' by French General, 'Little Ruby' Flannels by Bonnie & Camille, and 'Heart & Home' by Natalie Bird.
Along with some new purchases straight from Spring Quilt Market in the US:
Three new patterns from Laura Heine: Garden Party, Irene and Zinnia........I just love them all!
The fantastic Fat Quarter Pop Up bucket from the Fat Quarter Gypsy......The pattern comes with one internal wire frame for $24.50, and I also have some extra frames for $16.90.
I have 2 new books which I am sure will be popular......the first is Gail Pan's new 'Christmas Patchwork loves Embroidery' Book for $35, and the other is the beautiful 'Quilted Bags & Gifts' Book
The wool 'cupboard' has been restocked with some wool pieces from Primitive Gatherings, along with a cute little Sunflower Sewing Box kit from Briar Root Primitives.
I have some lovely purse/wallet patterns but I am waiting for the hardware to arrive.....if they arrive I will pop them out too!
And don't forget that there are also lots of bolts on the Clearance Rack for just $12 and $8 per metre........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.
So as you can see there will be something for everyone at this years' Friendship Frolic......hopefully you will be able to come a frolicking with us!
Linda :)
* the $20 minimum excludes class fees, BOM, Clubs & laybys.
'Heart and Home' is the debut range for Australian designer Natalie Bird from The Birdhouse. I placed my order for the full range last November and it arrived just before I got home from the US. I have been trying to make some room to pop up a small display and this morning it finally came together.
There are 16 bolts in the range and it is a great mix of patterns and colours. While I was at Quilt Market I visited Natalie's booth and picked up 3 of her new designs.....made especially with her new fabric. This morning I finished of the 'Eva Zip Tote' and I have kitted up 6 of them........all ready for The Friendship Frolic (which starts on Wednesday....eeek!).
I have also kitted up Natalie's remake of her 'Happy Stitcher' pattern. There are only 6 of each available so don't dilly dally if you are interested.
Back tomorrow with all of the news about what's happening at Gum Valley Patchwork for The Friendship Frolic......it's going to be exciting!
Linda :)
With the Winter weather well and truly here, I thought that it was very appropriate to share one of two new fabric lines to arrive in the shop. It is 'Little Ruby' by Bonnie and Camille, beautiful high quality flannel fabric from Moda.
Isn't it gorgeous! Something bright and warm to make us feel just that little bit better on these dreary Winter days.......and nights. There are 16 fabrics in the range and I have listed them all on my online shop here. They are priced at $26 per metre.
Linda :)
While I was away my Mum fell ill. She was admitted to Timboon hospital and although she didn't want me to know that she was in hospital ("it would ruin my holiday"), my sister told me. I was very glad that Cathryn did as I would have worried more about Mum being at home on her own. I knew that with her being in hospital she would be well looked after. When I arrived home I went to visit Mum, and although she was very pleased that I was home I knew that things weren't quite right. To cut a long complicated story short.....(I'm trying to take Hannah's advice....."Mum your stories are too long!"), Mum has had a number of health issues but has managed them well in the past. Unfortunately something else is not quite right and she is now in the Warrnambool Hosptial undergoing tests. Mum has three excellent doctors caring for her so we hope that we will find out what is wrong soon.
In the meantime our family has rallied together and we have decided to give Mum's house and garden a good Spring Winter clean for her. As a result I have found a whole new batch of family photos which I never knew existed.....and there are some real doosies amongst them! So my question to everyone is.......Throwback Thursday......do you want me to do it all again? While you are thinking about it, I will pop one of the photos up that I found yesterday.
This photo was taken outside my Grandparents' house in Cobden. Here were all are Peter, Cathryn, Ann and me on the end with our cousins Carolyn and Paul, and Sam the Brown Curly Retriever. I still remember the jumper I was wearing. It was dark blue with a zipper on the front......and it wasn't handmade like all of my other jumpers. I guess that made it special.
Linda :)