Gum Valley Patchwork

Yes we are open today

There is a public holiday today for Victorians to attend  the AFL Grand Final parade in Melbourne........hmmmm......don't get me started on what I think about that stupid idea. 

But don't despair......I will be open today and all weekend.

Linda    :)

TBT Q

There are 2 kinds of people in the world.......those that are horse people and those that aren't.......I fall into the later category. But I have had one......yes one ride on a horse......and here is the proof.

I remember being with our Uncle Kengie at someone's farm and they let us have a go. I also remember being scared shiteless!

There are also 2 other kinds of people in the world.....those who know what tread shoes are, and those who have no idea at all what they are.......I am the former, and I was wearing them in this photo as proof......lol!

Linda    :)

A short break

Life has been pretty hectic for me recently so I decided to head to Melbourne for a few days of R&R. Russell was busy at the Australian Kart Championships so I decided to spend some time doing me stuff. I wandered around the city......trying to get some steps up......I really do need to get out and start exercising more! On the Friday there CUB horses were at Southgate which was a lovely surprise.

I decided to take in a movie.......Bridget Jone's Baby. I knew that Russell wouldn't be breaking his neck to see it so I decided to watch it on my own. Of course I took my stitching with me so I had a relaxing afternoon prepping for some applique.

Saturday I caught a tram up to Queen Victoria Market. The smells and sounds bought back great memories when Russell and I lived in Melbourne and would go in and buy our meat and vegetables for the week. So much more fun than going to the supermarket.....and just between you and I Russell was a bit of a hoon with the shopping cart....no-one dared to get in his way! It's been about 33 years since then, but I think that these models were there way back in the early 80's by the look of them.....scary.....very scary!

The Arts Centre was my destination on Sunday. There was a Market on but there was also a free exhibition of costumes worn by Kylie Minogue on her tours.

It was a great little exhibition.....she sure is a petite little woman.

But alas the gold hot pants are not on display :(

Sunday was also the last day of the last round of Australian Kart Championships, so the big presentation dinner was on that night at the Medallion Club at Ethihad Stadium. We got glammed up and off we went. They were taking photos as we entered which caught me off guard.......I wish that I had been able to take my coat off!

Monday saw Russell at a meeting all day so I decided to catch the train and head off to the Royal Melbourne Show. I was excited to bump into Goochy and stayed to watch the dog jumping and also the FlyBall demonstration.

The dogs, their owners and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed the demonstration.

I was also excited to see that Judy Florey won a first prize with her beautiful quilt. It was my turn to say to the lady beside me that "I know the lady who made that quilt" when she said how beautiful it was.  Congratulations Judy!

I stopped by the Showbag pavilion to make my purchases.......you cannot possibly go to the show and not get a Bertie Beetle Show Bag....can you!

My diet starts next week!

It was lovely to have a few days away but we are both glad to be back home again. I have lots to do before the Craft & Stitches Fair at Caulfield in October, so I will be stitching my fingers off over the coming weeks.

Linda    :)

A sad goodbye

It has been our family home since the house was moved to the site in 1958......it has always been where the Goode family lived in Timboon. 

But things change in our lives and we must move on. Mum has moved into Lovely Banks in Cobden so we had to sell the house. We were lucky to find the right couple who wanted to buy the house and hopefully it will create happy memories for them too.

So today I shut the door for the last time at 25 Rand Road.......never to enter again.

My head says that it's the best outcome, but my heart is just a little sad tonight.

Linda    :)

TBT P

This time last week I was tearing around getting everything packed up for the Stitch in Spring, so I am enjoying a little slower pace today. But as it is Thursday once again that means yet another photo of me......just switch off now if you have had enough!

This one was taken in the driveway of our family home in Timboon......where many many photos were taken over the years. I'm sure that everyone had a favourite backdrop to take those family snaps. I'm not sure where Ann was on this day, but the rest of us were all there lined up.

Really not even sure what the reason was for the photo, but I am very glad that Mum was very prolific at taking photos of us......otherwise I wouldn't have anything to annoy you with every Thursday!

Linda    :)

Stitch in Spring

This last weekend saw the 6th Stitch in Spring event for Gum Valley Patchwork. I remember all those years ago when I organised the first day......a total unknown to me, but words of encouragement and advice from my good friend Lenora certainly paved the way for it to become an annual event on my calendar, and for many stitching ladies as well! Lenora told me that it was more work than a wedding.......and she was right......it is! But when you focus on the finer details everyone has a wonderful time.....including me.

Our set up day is on the Friday, and we must be getting very good at it as it all went together quickly. The tables were all looking very pretty.

The handmade goody bags included some special treats for all of the ladies.....a fat quarter of fabric, pen, special 1/4" ruler , some clips, my new Loyalty Card and of course some yummy GORGE Chocolates.

The 'flowers' in the centre of the tables needed no watering over the weekend.

The name tags were all done.

And there was a little bit of silly fun organised for those who like to take photos.

Georgia came along and joined in the fun.

and because I need no excuse to act silly.........

Saturday's weather was picture perfect.......we couldn't believe our luck after the shockingly wet and horrid week that we had just had.

Our Tutors for the weekend, Natalie Bird (The Birdhouse) and Leanne Knell (Petals & Patches), arrived to an enthusiastic crowd of ladies. I was really excited when they both agreed to come along and I think quite a few of the ladies were as well. They had a lovely display of their work for the ladies to look at......and drool over!

They designed some beautiful projects especially for the weekend.

The ladies had a lovely time stitching with, chatting to, and learning new techniques from them.

Leanne showed the ladies how to add fabric colouring to their projects as something extra.

And Natalie demonstrated her techniques in applique and stitchery.

But the day is more than just stitching.......it's about sharing time with friends and family members.....like Jenny and her 2 daughters Michelle & Cherie, and granddaughter Shelby.

It's also about making new friendships......like table 1 on Saturday......4 friends and 3 friends became 7 friends by the end of the day. It makes me happy to know that people make new friendships through the Stitch in Spring. 

Sunday's weather turned a little and the sea was choppy, rough and frothy........but it was spectacular. I couldn't keep my eyes off it!

The Sunday ladies had a great day and before we knew it it was time to pack everything up........but not before one last photo.

It was such a pleasure to have Leanne & Natalie join me and I would like to thank them very much for helping to make the 6th Stitch in Spring a great success. I would also like to thank my sister Cathryn and my friend Lyndell for helping in the kitchen; Hannah for running the Pop-up Shop for me all weekend; to Emma for helping to set up on Friday and also for her work in the kitchen over the weekend; to Jodie for helping with the set-up and pack down; and to Tabatha who was a whizz on the vacuum cleaner......apparently vacuuming one room makes up for one piece of Honeycomb Cheesecake! And to my husband Russell.......he helped with folding fabrics and packing kits; with setting up and pack down; he worked in the kitchen all weekend and kept Georgia amused on Saturday afternoon when she started to get a little testy.

And he was extremely patient with me when things weren't going quite as planned. Oh and he was the eye candy too.....lol! So thank you Russell.

But most importantly I would like to thank every one of the ladies who came along and supported my 2016 Stitch in Spring.....I really appreciate your support and hope that you all had a great time.

I hope to be able to announce who the tutors will be for 2017 very soon so stay tuned.

Now I must really get back to putting the shop back together!

Linda     :)

Shop closed

The Shop will be closed Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September due to the Stitch in Spring at Port Campbell. The Shop will reopen again on Thursday 22nd September.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Linda    :)

TBT O

A couple of weeks ago I showed you the photo of the Goode kids with Mack the Corgi all dressed up.  Well here is another photo of us all but this time with our grandparent's Brown Curly Retriever dog called Sam.

Sam was a great dog. He loved to swim and we would take him over to a little dam at the back of our grandparent's place and throw sticks in the water for him. In he'd go and fetch them out......again and again and again.

Linda    :)

 

'Garden Gate'

I am often asked how I select the fabrics for the shop. I guess the easiest answer is that I pick the ones that I really like....that way it is easy for me to make and use the fabric in projects and samples for the shop. Sometimes when the fabric company reps show me the samples/art work nothing catches my eye, but then at other times I find lots that I like. Last week I placed an order for Robyn Pandolph's latest fabric range called 'Garden Gate'.

There are also some nice blenders that go with the fabrics, but it isn't due in until October.......oh wait that's next month!

Linda     :)

Grand Traverse Bay

A few weeks ago I had a big delivery of fabric. I didn't realise that I hadn't blogged about it until Robyn rang and asked if I had it in stock. Yes I most definitely have the full range in stock.......it's 'Grand Traverse Bay' by Minick & Simpson. I haven't uploaded it on to my website as I am trying to get a sample of the lovely 'Portage Lake' Block of the Month made and kitted up so that I don't sell out of the required fabrics. I have made the first block in this 12 month program, and am very happy with the way it looks.

I am really wanting to start on Block Two but the Stitch in Spring is only a few days away so my machine is packed away until at least next Monday. I keep looking at the photo of the finished quilt and can't wait to see my version unfold.

I will have a limited number of the Portage Lake BOM's available, but I will let you all know the details when I have worked them all out. It will be starting up in about November.

Linda    :)