Gum Valley Patchwork

Quilt Showcase 2018

Every year I try and get to the Victorian Quilters Inc. Quilt Showcase in Melbourne. I think that over the years I have only missed going a couple of times. In the early days I would take Mum with me and do the trip down and back between milkings, making sure that we were gone by 2.30pm at the latest so that I could be home by 5pm in time to milk and feed calves. The trip then got too much for Mum, she really missed not seeing all of the quilts, but I still  made the trip......but on my own........still in between milkings. Those days are gone and last year I decided to help with the set up of the quilts on the Wednesday and stayed on to help out on the Thursday. I really enjoyed helping out, so I volunteered my time again this year. I am starting to get to know (and remember) the faces to the names that I see all of the time, and although I accidentally clocked a lady on the head with one of the rods, I am keen to help next year.......if they will have me back!

The display of quilts was amazing. I had 2 quilts in the Show. 'Elenor Jean' was on display as part of the 25th Anniversary of Victorian Quilters. VQ invited all Foundation members who had 25 years of continuous membership to submit a quilt of their choosing for a special display. The other quilt was of course my entry in the Traditional Professional category of the Show.

It was up against eight other absolutely stunning quilts and although it never won a prize, it is always such an honour seeing your quilt hanging in an exhibition. 

You can check out the major prize winners on the Victorian Quilters website by clicking here.

Linda    :)

Ho Ho Ho.......It's over

After months of planning, weeks of frantic work and days of worrying that I wouldn't get everything done, the weekend finally arrived. We set up for my very first Christmas in July on Saturday with the help of Jodie, Emma and Russell.

Ten tables for 61 ladies.

Everyone received a Christmas goody bag with some special gifts inside, and 3 small Christmas themed projects in another bag. 

Jodie worked her usual magic and set up the shop area.

We even had a Christmas Tree with 'gifts' (aka lucky draws) and name badges underneath.

It was home to do some last minute baking before the big event kicked off on Sunday morning.

The weather was perfect and the ladies arrived..........spending the day stitching, chatting, laughing, and eating. We even had a visit from a very important celebrity just before lunch.......handing out a special gift of Gorge Chocolates in a handmade bag to everyone......and entertaining a select few with his jingling bells!

There was even an opportunity to have a photo taken...........a lovely photo of Anne and Santa

I couldn't miss out....

The day seemed to be over before we could say "Merry Christmas in July", and everyone packed up and headed for home.

I would like to thank everyone who attended the day and made it such a great success. Special thanks to my family whom without their help I couldn't possibly run these events.......Russell, Emma and Hannah. Oh and for getting dressed up........it was fun!

And also to my wonderful brother Peter and fantastic sister-in-law Andy, for spending the day helping out. Peter donned the red suit and Andy made the Christmas lolly-pops in the goody bags and also the beautiful cupcakes for afternoon tea. Thank you both so very much!

And will I do it all again next July.......I think so!

Linda   :)

A little down time

After putting the shop back together this morning, I headed outside this afternoon and mowed the lawns. Yes I really do love mowing the lawns. It gives me time to think about stuff, and at the end it makes me feel good looking at lovely neat lawns. I then headed in to the hot house, out of the cold winds, and made a head start on my Spring seedlings. I had sorted out what seeds I was going to plant last week.....mostly flowers but a few herbs and vegetable seedlings too.

They are now all in.......all that's left to do is wait for my babies to grow........

.....and Spring to arrive!

Linda     :)

Closed.......but just for the weekend

The shop will be closed on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd July as we will be busy setting up and running our very first Christmas in July event.

I am super excited and I am sure that everyone will have a great time.

The shop will re-open for normal trading on Thursday 26th July at 11am.

Linda     :)

Bright as a button

Remember that long list of jobs I mentioned yesterday? Well earlier this week I had to add another task to it as I had forgotten that I had arranged to get my new roses delivered in early July......what was I thinking! I buy all my roses from Treloars in Portland (Victoria, Australia) and they come very well packed. This year I ordered a few replacement roses.........2 Silver Ghost roses to replace 2 that just up and died in my lovely border of red Apache and white Silver Ghost roses along the front boundary. I also ordered 10 Bright as a Button roses to replace a very tired and worn out looking row of pale pink Many Happy Returns and yellow Golden Touch roses. I was after a brighter border which I think this new rose will provide.

Ros (aka Bloom) tagged me in her photo of her Bright as Button rose recently as she had heard that I was expecting my delivery this winter. Ros said that they have lovely green foliage and beautiful blooms, which has made me even more excited that I selected them for my garden.

Six of the 10 roses are standards so I wanted to get them in toot sweet.......so I started Friday night after I shut up shop.

I have kept the Many Happy Returns plants.......I might find them a new home........but the others were discarded. I then called upon Russell to help and we measured, dug, bought in new soil, banged stakes in, planted the roses, and started mulching before the daylight ended. I headed back out yesterday morning in the crisp morning air and planted a row of my poppies along the front border. Jodie gave me the seeds for my birthday.......I planted them and I swear every one of the million seeds came up....lol! I finished mulching and by 9am it was done and looking much better. 

I can't wait for them to grow and bloom......both the roses and the poppies.

Linda     :)

Newsletter.....Ho, Ho, Ho

With just a little more than a week before my very first Christmas in July event, it is an understatement to say that I am just a tad excited about it all. I have boxes and boxes of all things Christmas in my lounge room........lots of red and green with a touch of gold. I have been working through my long list of things to do and organise, and although it does feel like I am slowly getting there, sometimes it seems that every time I cross one thing off I add another two things on to it! One of those to do things was to put together a newsletter of information for those attending. As it is a new event on my Gum Valley Patchwork calendar I am sure that there will be a few things that won't go to plan, but hopefully the day will be fun and that everyone will have a great time. So if you are attending you can check out the newsletter by clicking on the link below. Please feel free to pass it on to anyone who is attending with you that may not have access to a computer.

Download Christmas in July Newsletter

Linda   :)

One can never have too many bags.

I am sorry that I promised to post yesterday but I had quite a full day of work, and by the time 9.30pm came around and I had knocked off for the night I didn't really feel like blogging. But I am here now, and while Russell is cooking dinner I will show you all the two new bag projects that I made just a couple of weeks ago.

The first one is Aya's Bag. I ordered the handles first and when they arrived they matched perfectly with the new Tilda 'Sunkiss' fabric collection.

The kit comes complete with all of the fabric, fusible foam (my favourite go to bag wadding!), the super cute handles and of course the pattern. It is listed on line here.

I made the next bag using some of the barkcloth fabric from the Outback Wife range. I teamed it up with some dark chocolate brown bag handles and a leather bag clasp, which I have had in stock for probably about 2 years and have never used until now. They are so easy to put on and I really like the way it holds the top of the bag together.

I have named this bag Rachael's Bag after the fabric that I used. The kits include all of the fabric, fusible foam (did I tell you how much I love this stuff ;) ), bag handles, leather clasp, and the pattern. It is listed on the website here.

I also have my Garden Delights Bag which was so popular at AQC that I managed to kit up a few more. Numbers are limited on these kits and I won't be able to make any more up once they are gone.

Linda   :)

Needle Purse project

As many of you know I source different bag accessories (in bulk) for my shop. By doing this it allows me to keep the prices low and also enables me to make new projects and kit them up completely. That means no buying a kit and then trying to find the weird shape purse frame, closure, or bag handles to match the sample. I received a new shipment of accessories a few weeks ago and have been busy making up some new projects using them. One such project is the Needle Purse. It uses a new purse frame and some of the pretty fabric from the Bohemian Manor II by Jason Yenter. I haven't got much of the fabric left so this small project was perfect for what I did have.

It opens up to reveal a piece of wool for your needles/pins and also a pocket for a pair of small scissors.

When closed all of your supplies are safe from falling out......something that I love!

I have loaded up the kits on my website and they are available for $13 each. This includes the fabric, wool, parlan, purse frame and the pattern. You just need to supply the embroidery thread for stitching your frame on with. Extra purse frames are available for $6.00 each.

Back tomorrow with another new project.

Linda   :)

Home again

This time last week we were all packed and ready for our Wednesday morning departure to Adelaide. We planned on leaving at 8am and drove out the drive at 8.05am so that wasn't too bad. With a few stops along the way, we were in Adelaide and settled in to the Motel by about 4.30pm. Thursday is set up day and I try to get this all done quickly so that we can spend some time being tourists.

My stand was looking lovely......

and we were out of the pavilion by 12noon........a three hour set up time.....almost a record! The afternoon was spent at the Monarto Zoo. It was cold and there was a little rain, but the sun was lovely and warm when it came out. The Meercats were enjoying it as well.......they certainly have the art of relaxation done pat!

My favourites have always been the Rhinos and the Giraffes.

They have such pretty faces, and this little girl has been hand reared by the keeper. It's the first time he has had to rear one, she is doing really well, and is 6 months old.

It was a great Zoo, and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit.

The Sewing, Stitching and Handcraft Show was the fourth that we have attended and we had a great show........and I have rebooked to go back again in 2019. Adelaide is such a lovely city and the weather wan't too bad either......just rained at night.

I headed home on Monday, but this time I was traveling solo as Russell was flying to Sydney for a meeting today. I must say I was pretty pleased with my effort, with just 2 stops along the way.

And don't worry about Russell......I'm about to head off to pick him up from Avalon. Might take some stitching with me just in case he is delayed.

Linda    :)

Sewing Stitching and Handcraft Show.....here I come!

The ute is packed and by this time tomorrow we will be in Adelaide all ready for set-up day on Thursday.

This is the fourth year that Gum Valley Patchwork will be at the Sewing, Stitching and Handcraft Show in Adelaide. I'm looking forward to the 3 day show and meeting up with lots of lovely customers whom I usually only get to chat to once a year. I also have quite a few new projects and kits with me, which I will upload on to my website when I get back next week.

Don't forget that the Shop will be closed from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th July, but will reopen on Thursday 12th July at 11am.

Linda   :)