Gum Valley Patchwork

A promise I have kept

Quite a few years ago Mum decided to make her great nieces a quilt each. They were made with love and gifted to the girls who live in Sydney with their parents, my cousin Paul and his wife Lyn. With the arrival of more great nieces and a great nephew, the promise of more special quilts was made but unfortunately never fulfilled. As Mum retired from her quilt making hobby, she often would say that she had to make the quilts for the children. Only a couple of months ago I promised Mum that I would make the quilts and gift them on her behalf. I know that it worried Mum, so on Friday I pulled out Mum's stash of fabric, selected 3 different designs, and set about cutting and stitching the quilts. Mum's stash was quite old but I wanted to use it so that they were quilts from Mum and not me. 

The girls were easy as Mum loved florals and she loved pink

and blue

And for the boy's quilt I pulled out lots of Mum's fabrics that she had used for applique as well as some other projects.

Three quilts in four days.

They will go off to be machine quilted and will only need the bindings (and labels) before they head off to their new homes in Melbourne. I hope that they like them.

Linda    :)

TBT T

I really don't know how to write this blog post.

It has been a very difficult 10 days for our family.

There is a hole in my heart that will never be filled but I am hoping in time that it will hurt less.

Thank you to everyone who has sent messages of condolences, it has meant so much to me that so many of you care.

I am back in the shop (as I know that that is what Mum would've wanted), but I am also going to take time for myself and look after myself for a bit. I hope that everyone understands.

Linda    :)

Registration Forms

Registrations open this morning at 9am for the 2017 Stitching by the Sea Retreat weekend in Port Campbell (South West, Victoria).

You can read all of the details about the day in my blog post a few days ago.

If you are one of the lucky ones to get in, please download the form below to complete your registration process.

Download Registration Form 2017

Linda    :)

Farm Fun

This new panel has been designed by Stacy Iset Hsu for Moda and as the title suggests they are fun.

Each of the four mother animals has a pocket at the front for the babies to slip in to. They are easy to stitch and fun to play with.....I can see that when the panels are all sold these will live here in the toy box at Granny's house!

The panels are $22 each and are listed online here.

Linda    :)

Stitching by the Sea Retreat, 2017

The Stitching by the Sea Retreat will be held once again on the weekend of the 18th & 19th March 2017 at the beautiful seaside township of Port Campbell.

Registrations will open at 9am on Monday 17th October for anyone wishing to book in....no early registrations accepted. Please ring me on 0427 943 201 and leave a message with your details.

Here are the full details:

 

Gum Valley Patchwork

presents

‘STITCHING BY THE SEA’

2017 Retreat

Saturday 18^th March, 10am – 6pm &

Sunday 19^th March, 9am – 4pm

at the

Surf Lifesaving Club. Cairns Street, Port Campbell

Cost : $130 per person

Spend two days stitching with friends in the seaside township of Port Campbell. Enjoy the view from the upstairs function room at the Surf Life Saving Club, while working on your stitching project/s. A two course lunch, with homemade morning & afternoon teas will be provided on both days.

You will receive a special ‘Retreat Goody Bag’, and of course I will have the shop there! 

Places are limited.....so book early to avoid missing out.

Not included: Accommodation is not included but there are over 20 options available in many price ranges. The Saturday evening meal and Sunday breakfast are not included, but again there are many options available for those staying in Port Campbell.                  

There will be no tutors at this weekend.  

A deposit of $50 is required by 1^st November 2016 to secure your place. The balance of $80 is due by 1st February 2017. Cancellation Policy: If you cancel before 31st December, 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 ).

 

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Linda     :)

 

TBT S

I look back at today's Throw Back Thursday photo and wonder where have the years gone!....and also what was I thinking with those glasses....lol!

There is only 3 months difference in age, with Lillian being the eldest between her and Hannah. Cathryn and Lillian are away in the UK at the moment traveling around together, and having a wonderful time. I am really enjoying seeing all of her photos on Facebook and it makes me want to go back to England and in particular Scotland. I am disappointed that she has only sent me one selfie of her and Lillian.......it appears that Hannah and my holiday selfie record is safe!

Linda   :)

Under a week to go

This time next week we will be all set up and ready for four days of vending at the Stitches & Craft Show at the Caulfield Racecourse. This time this week (aka today) I am still stitching samples, writing patterns and making up kits. I'm a great list maker and I find it helpful for keeping me on track with what needs to be done. I had on my list to make a new version of my Phone Pouch. I used some cute Hexden papers for the English Paper Piecing on the front.

The kits are all done.....so that is another tick off the list.

I have had some of the short 4 1/2" wallet frames in stock for a couple of months now, so after some working out I have made a couple of versions of a new wallet.

The floral version was the prototype.....and with a few tweaks I made a second version using some fussy cut panel pieces from a past range called "Good Company". I love the cute hedgehog on the front.....and here is the back.

I am not a fan of foxes, but I know they are popular so I chose him for the back of the wallet. He does look pretty cute, and I am sure that he wouldn't eat my chooks....would he? I will have limited kits available for the Good Company Wallet, but I will also have the pattern and frames available so that you could select your own fabrics.

The final new project is a small purse. It took me several attempts to get the shape right and although Russell doesn't "get it", I think the style of it is quite different and I like it.

I have some pattern writing to do over the coming days which is the bit that I hate the most......well as they say no pain....no gain!

Linda    :)

American Country 16

As soon as I saw the panel from the American Country range by Masako Wakayama at Spring Market in May I knew that it was something that I just had to order. I ordered the Panels in the blue and brown colourways, because I couldn't decide which one I loved the most. I also ordered a few of the coordinating prints, and after months of waiting it finally arrived on Tuesday......yay! I spent the whole of yesterday making up 4 projects from the panels and I am super please with the way they turned out.

There is a table runner, a pencil case/pouch, a bag, and a wall hanging.

I have uploaded the fabrics, including the panels onto my website and you can check them out by clicking here. If you would like the pattern for the projects, it is also available in the one pattern for just $12, and is also listed on the website.

Linda    :)
 

TBT R

I've had another look through the big plastic tub of photos from Mum's and found some more gems from days gone by. It's hard to decide which one to post so I decided to post an old colour photo.

Today's photo was taken with some of our cousins and Grandparents at Christmas in 1977......I had just turned 15.

I am guessing that we had great fun playing together that day.......not sure where Colleen was though.

Linda    :)

Stitching samples

I have been a little preoccupied lately. With under 2 weeks until the Stitches & Craft Show in Melbourne at the Caulfield Racecourse, I have been spending some long days catching up on some sample making. Yesterday I made up a sample of the Fat Quarter Pop-up pattern that I bought back with me from Spring Quilt Market in the US.I chose some of the great fabric from the Black & Whites range by Cotton + Steel.

It really didn't take me long to make it up and I should've had it done months ago! The pattern comes complete with the wire rings that make the bag stand up, and then fold down for easy transporting to stitching days or retreats.

Feeling quite pleased with myself I decided to start on the Prima Diva Clutch by Sew Many Creations. I have already made up the Diva Wallet, and it was now time to tackle the Clutch. After making up most of the components yesterday, I was able to assemble the Clutch this afternoon.

I selected some of the fabrics from the Paper Bandana range also by Cotton + Steel, and am very pleased with the result.

I am now thinking of the next colour combination that I could use!

Now what's next on my list of projects to make?

Linda    :)