Gum Valley Patchwork

Merry & Bright Block of the Month

If you love stitcheries then this new Merry & Bright Block of the Month by Gail Pan Designs might be just right for you.

Each month you will receive 4 Christmas themed stitchery patterns, background fabric, mixed red fabric strips, and Cosmo Seasons variegated embroidery thread (Border and binding fabric are NOT included).  The price is $22 per month, and the program runs for 6 months.

If you are interested in signing up for this Merry & Bright Block of the Month, please contact me, or sign up HERE online.

Linda    :)

The return of the Clubs

Last year was such a busy year that I was unable to schedule any classes at all. No matter how hard I tried to block out dates, I just couldn't seem to do it. Between preparing for and attending Shows, Shop events, and 2 overseas trips, the year was gone before I knew it. But this year will be different! I am still headed for a very busy year, but I am trying to organise my calendar early and I have already set the class dates so that they don't get 'used' by anything else.

To kick of the 2020 year, the Material Girls Club will be starting up in February. I have run this club for so many years........I think 2008 was my first year......but I could be wrong! In each class you will make a different project. Each project is fully kitted, and the fabric is pre-cut and ready for you to stitch. There are two sessions per date......one in the afternoon that runs from 12.30pm - 3pm, and the evening class that runs from 7pm - 9.30pm. Tea / coffee / hot chocolate and something to eat is also included. Dates are: February 17th, March 23rd, April 13th and May 11th......yes they are all Mondays. The cost is $25 per class, with a commitment to attend all four classes. If you can't make it along, you will still receive your kit. 

And because I am super organised........lol!.......I have also set the dates for the Christmas Club classes. These are along the same lines as the Material Girls Club, but the projects are Christmas themed. The dates for these classes are September 28th, October 26th and November 30th.

Full details are listed on my website under the Events tab.

I am taking names now for both Clubs, so please contact me if you would like to join in the fun. I do have limited places available.

Linda    :)

Just Bee You

A fortnight before Christmas I received a lovely bundle of fabric from Gail Pan........some advance pieces from her new range called 'All about the Bees'.

The designing process started, followed by four big days of sewing.  There was a little bit of embroidery and applique.....

some epp.....

and machine piecing.

The finished quilt is my new Block of the Month called 'Just Bee You'

The fabric arrived on Thursday, so while the quilt is away with Wendy at Clever Ducks Quilting, I am busy cutting up the kits ready for the program to start early February. It is a seven part program, and is $25 per month (plus postage). This price includes all of the fabric, including border and binding; full pattern with colour photos; fusible applique paper for some of the applique; and the embroidery thread. I have also included a kitting guide, which gives the size of the fabric pieces for each block. This will help in sorting out where each piece of fabric belongs. While all of the main fabrics (All about the Bees) will be the same as the ones that I have used in my quilt, there may be some others that will be different. The quilt measures approximately 110cm x 114cm.

If you would like to sign up for the 'Just Bee You' Block of the Month, you can do so by either placing your order online HERE, or by contacting me direct through either email ( whites03@bigpond.com ) or by phone.

Linda     :)

Cool Ties update

I am just home (and unpacked) from a wonderful day of sewing with an even more wonderful group of ladies. We were sewing Cool Ties for the fantastic Volunteers that are assisting with all aspects during the bush fire crisis here in Australia.

We had 16 enthusiastic makers sewing up a storm.....which was evident by the threads on the floor!

We had cutters, sewers, turner-outerers, ironers, finishers and packers. Anne & Mim were tasked with bagging up the finished Cool Ties, along with the instruction sheet.

I have bought home a few to finish off and Dianne has done the same. Once these are finished, our tally for today will be 239 Cool Ties.

We also had 18 completed Cool Ties made prior to the day, so our tally will be 257.

A big thanks to Irene, Jodie, Lyndell, Dianne, Jenny, Chris, Carol, Irene, Annette, Sharon, Di, Dot, Vicki, Anne and Mim for coming along. To Zoe and Thea for dropping in their ties ready for filling. To Lyn and Ros for donating their completed ties. Special thanks to Dot who cut and donated 100 strips of fabric.  I'm sure that there will be 257 very happy, and cool, volunteers who will enjoy wearing their Cool Ties.

I will be posting them all off to the distribution centre on Monday 20th January, so if you have some Cool Ties that you would like to be included in this mailing, please get them to me by Sunday 19th January.

Linda   :)

Happy Campers by Tilda

The pretty new collection from Tilda arrived a few weeks ago, but I have had to wait until today, the official launch date, to have it on display in the shop.

I have the full 20 prints in stock, and have made up a few Fat eighth bundles, and cut some Fat quarters as well.

As always I have made a couple of new projects out of the fabric. The first is a larger version of my pencil case pattern.....a project made even quicker to whizz up because it has been pre-cut for you. It is the Floral Strips Large Pencil Case and the kits are $14 each.

The second project is a remake of my popular Garden Delights Bag. I have had these rose pink bag handles for some time, patiently waiting for the right fabric to come along....and Happy Campers is it! The 'new' Sweet Delights Bag kits will be available from tomorrow, and are $48 each. This price includes everything to make one bag, including the handles.  

All of the fabric is listed online HERE.

Linda   :)

'Cool the Volunteers' Sewing Day

The 'Cool the Fireys' initiative was launched just 5 days ago and was a fantastic chance for makers all over Australia to unite and do something for the CFA Volunteer Firefighters battling the horrendous bushfires in our state. Our goal was to make 10,000 Cool Ties to distribute to the CFA , and then possibly go interstate to other areas. Amy received the go ahead from the CFA Region 9 area command, and the request was made (by them) for 10,000 ties. Unfortunately CFA headquarters squashed the idea very late on Tuesday night. They never contacted Amy or any of the other organisers directly to discuss the situation with them, instead choosing to put it out on their Facebook page. With thousands of Cool Ties already made and donated, it has been decided to change the focus on who shall receive these ties. We will now be sewing them for the countless other volunteers in the fire areas......people like the clean up crews, Blazeaid, wildlife rescue workers, farmers, and possibly interstate (or non CFA) fire crews. So with all of this in mind, I have decided that we will still have our Sewing Day on Sunday to show our support for all of the volunteers working so hard in these areas.

'Cool the Volunteers' Sewing Day

Sunday 12th January

10am to 4pm
at the Recreation Reserve, Lavers Hill Rd, Simpson

What to bring:
Sewing Machine and sewing supplies;
Any 100% cotton fabric (must be 7" wide x 42" long), I will have lots so don’t worry if you haven't got any!
BYO Lunch and snacks. Tea & coffee will be supplied
Patterns are available on the ‘Cool the Fireys’ Facebook Page, and I will have copies with me on the day.
Come for a while or stay all day, every Cool Tie is important!

Can't make it on the day, but still want to make them?
Gum Valley Patchwork is a drop off point for the Cool Ties. Just drop the finished ties off to me at 486 Princetown Rd, Simpson and I will get them to the distribution point.                                            
Any questions?
Contact Linda White on 0427 943 201

I do hope that everyone can still come along.

Linda    :)