Gum Valley Patchwork

It's Christmas Sale time again

It's that time of the year again when I have my Annual Christmas Sale.

It starts with a special opening tonight from 5pm to 8pm. Last year I had Russell cooking a BBQ that we all enjoyed but unfortunately he will be away driving tractors tonight.....sad face. But don't worry I have fresh sandwiches and shortbread for those popping in tonight.....happy face!

The sale then continues tomorrow, Thursday through to Sunday 4th December, 11am to 4pm each day. There is 20% off all stock......the new and the not so new. There is even 20% off the Specials fabrics ($8/m & $12/m) and the Bargain Bundles, and if you finish a bolt of fabric it's double discount.....20% off for finishing the bolt and 20% for my Sale. It really is Christmas at Gum Valley Patchwork! There are a few things not included.....Block of the Months, Clubs, the purchase of gift vouchers and lay-bys.....but that's it!

Oh and if you spend $30 or more (after the discount) you get to pick a present from the Christmas Basket.

Ho ho ho!

Linda   :)

It's getting there.....slowly

I have been aching in places I forgot that I had.....not because I am ill but because I have been gardening. Although I still have so much more to do, it is starting to look nice.....especially when the lawns are mown.

I do have to keep my eyes peeled for those wriggly sticks.....I haven't seen any yet but I do make sure that I make lots of noise and I have the radio playing rather loudly. But these fellows get my heart racing when I first catch a glimpse. This was the third one that I have interrupted over the last 2 days.

Before I head back out into the garden I thought that I would share a photo of the garden bed near the Classroom window. Last year a friend gave me some self sown seedlings of these annual delphiniums. They grew, set seed and then this Spring up they came. They just kept growing taller and taller......they weren't this big last year!

They are almost to the eaves, but they are way too pretty to chop off.....even though I have cornflowers and sweet peas hiding in there somewhere. I will be saving some seeds this year and relocating them to another part of the garden.

Linda    :)

Midnight Clear table runner

I have had the lovely Midnight Clear Christmas fabric in the shop for a few months now and on Saturday I decided that it was time to make up a new Christmas table runner from it.

The pattern is quite a simple design but looks lovely with the beautiful 3 Sisters fabrics. If you are thinking that you haven't got time to make this up for the table for this year, or to make it and gift it....then think again. The fabric in the kits is all pre-cut for you........you just have to lay it out and start sewing.......how easy is that! Everything is included in the kit.....fabric, binding, backing and Parlan......and they are just $25 each. You can pop in to the shop and pick one up......or place your order online here.

Linda    :)

 

 

Portage Lake Block of the Month

Well I have finally finished my sample of the beautiful Portage Lake Block of the Month quilt by Minick & Simpson. I first saw the quilt at Spring market in Salt lake City and knew that I wanted needed to make it! So I ordered the patterns and started work on it early September and on Friday I stitched the last blocks.

It is now with Wendy being quilted and I can't wait to get it back and get the binding on!

I will be running it as a Block of the Month, which will start in January.The fabrics that I have used are from the 'Grand Traverse Bay' and 'Miss Scarlet' fabric ranges as well as some other Minick & Simpson fabrics. The fabrics provided in the BOM are the same as the ones that I have used in my sample, but not identical to the ones in the original quilt......but you really cannot tell the difference.

Original Quilt by Minick & Simpson

The quilt measures 64" x 84" and is a 12 month program. The cost per month is $30 (plus p&h if required) and there are limited places available, so if you would like to put your name down please contact me as soon as possible. Also available online here.

Linda     :)

Russell......can I build an extension?

I have been spending a little lot of time updating my online shop recently.....making sure that out of stock products are removed; new ones are added; events calendar updated; slide show changed, and a new blurb on the front page. I decided to list the new fabric ranges that will be arriving over the coming months and......well.......let me say that there are quite a few. So I thought that I would give you a little peek at what's due to arrive before the end of the year........

'Promise of Spring' by Cori Dantini.

I love Cori's fabrics and the bunnies are extra cute.

'Plush' by Sandy Gervais is also due by the end of the year and I just ordered 20 from the range......a nice mix of blues and greens.

Another range that is due soon is 'Garden Gate' by Robyn Pandolph. More like her beautiful fabrics from years ago, but they never lose their appeal.......*****UPDATE they arrived yesterday so I will blog about them when I get them all unpacked!

After Christmas......and when the companies return to work there is even more fabric to arrive. I have already blogged about 'Bumblebee' by Tilda........I really do love this range! Then there are 29 bolts of 'Garden Notes' by Kathy Schmitz, along with the charm packs, jelly rolls and layer cakes.

In February, 'Mermaid Days' (also) by Cori Dantini should be on the shelves.

'All things Christmas' by Gail Pan; 'Sweet Blend' by Laundry Basket Quilts; and the under-wraps 'Ocean' by Tilda are all due in April........oh my goodness! There will also be some mixed bolts from 'Compositions' by Basic Grey; 'Urban Zoologie' by Anne Kelle; and to round it off some 'Hipster on the Go' by Deborah Edwards.

Pardon me.....I think that I need a lie down.

Linda    :)

Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs

Isn't this a fantastic name for a quilt!

It's the newest, hot off the sewing machine, block of the month quilt from the lovely Anni Downs from Hatched and Patched and I am excited to say that I will be running it through the Shop! 

The quilt has been set out as a 12 part block-of-the-month program concentrating on a whimsical journey of dreams and random thoughts which Anni does so well. It combines linen with woven wool appliqué and stitchery. If you have never worked with wool then this one just might entice you to have a go. Each month's pack includes great instructions along with a pack of woven wool for the applique and the linen for the background. Threads are not included but most stitching ladies have a supply of embroidery threads that they can use from their stash. The cost of the BOM program is $26 per month and will commence in January.

There are many options for this quilt.......If you don't like the sound of wool, then the quilt can easily be made using fabric scraps from your stash.....or how about a combination of fabric and wool.  The pattern is available now for those who would like just the pattern. 

The finished size of the quilt is 48" x 50".

Linda   :)

Please Note: With every Block of the Month program, on signing up you will agree to subscribe for the full 12 months. The price does not include postage. Full details are on my website for both options......click here to take you straight to the page.
You can also phone me to arrange to sign up for the program.

TBT X

I have decide that this will be my third last TBT post.....I will only be going up to TBT Z. I have probably shown enough old photos of me and my family and although there are still quite a few that I haven't shown you all, I'm getting confused with it all and it's time to finish it!

For today's throwback I am only going back 2 1/2 years (May 2014) to when Hannah and I went to Niagara Falls. We weren't able to go on the Maid in the Mist boat ride as there were still big chunks of ice flowing over the falls.....just a wee bit dangerous. So we had to be content with the walk behind the falls. It was cold and wet so of course we had to put on the delightful yellow ponchos. Hannah decided that we looked a little like Kenny off South Park........

We also did the Niagara's Fury and had to get dressed up again.......this time in blue ponchos.

And yes we got wet both times, but it was fun!

Linda   :)

 

 

 

Sweet Blend

'Sweet Blend' is the newest design from Edyta at Laundry Basket Quilts. I have placed my order for the full range of 30 prints, and with delivery due in April 2017........it seems so long away to wait for these lovely fabrics. I was lucky........and quick!.......to purchase some pre-cuts in advance of the range on Saturday at AQM. A lovely fat quarter bundles for me to play with and make some samples up ready for the Shop.

But I do have Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Charm Packs available now.

They are all listed on the website here.

Linda    :)

All things Christmas

'All things Christmas' is the next range of fabrics from our very own Australian designer Gail Pan. Gail has been a friend for about 8 years and she was actually one of the very first designers that I purchased patterns from for my shop at my very first AQM back in 2006. I was very lucky on Saturday when Gail gave me a lovely bundle of fabric from her advance yardage of All things Christmas.

I opened it up to reveal 15 beautiful prints

and one Panel.....check out those little pieces along the top and bottom of the Panel....aren't they cute!

I am busy drafting up a design for another Block of the Month using the All things Christmas fabrics, panel as well as some other prints. I have placed my order for the fabrics but they won't arrive in the shop until next April, so the Block of the Month will start then. Watch out on Facebook, Instagram and my blog for progress photos!

Linda    :)

'Bumblebee' by Tilda

As I promised yesterday, I am back today with a look at the new Tilda fabric called 'Bumblebee'.

It is due to arrive in January and could possibly reach me before then if we are lucky.

There was a great display at AQM with lots of lovely things made from the fabrics.

Fiona from 2 Green Zebras did a wonderful job of showcasing the fabrics with several designers showcasing their Tilda projects.

One that caught my eye was a new quilt by Natalie Bird......it was absolutely gorgeous.

It was hard to get a good photo but I'm sure that you will agree it is a beautiful quilt.

I spoke with Natalie and I will be running this as a Block of the Month starting early next year. It is so new that the quilt doesn't have a name yet.....but the patterns will be ready in a couple of weeks so I will have more information then. Keep your eye out for more details next month.

Oh and there is another new Tilda range coming out in April called 'Circus' and I might just have ordered the full range of that one too!

Linda      :)