Gum Valley Patchwork

The Great Australian Craft Show #2

Earlier this month the team at Craft Alive held their first Great Australian Craft Show, and I was excited to be part of it. It was a steep learning curve for them, and although there were a couple of issues with the website, it was a great success. They have taken on board the feedback from the 'visitors' and after making some changes (for the better), The Great Australian Craft Show #2 will be held from Friday 1st May through to Monday 4th May.

I jumped at the chance to be part of it again, and will have a few specials during the Show. Please pop back to my blog over the course of the Show, or like and follow my Facebook page to check them all out. Oh, and I managed to forward a video through to Dave this time around, so you will be able to have a little tour of the shop and enjoy a little taste of what I have on offer. 

Linda   :)

Heartstrings

Sometimes this waiting game for new ranges to arrive is way too much for me. The time frame between placing an order and the boxes being delivered can be anywhere from a few weeks up to 8 or 9 months. The later is what we will have to wait for the pretty new Heartstrings fabric collection by Natalie Bird from The Birdhouse. The original delivery date was March, but with a few little hassles at the production end, it is now not due until August.

But in the meantime, here is a little peek at a few of the 22 different fabrics that are part of the collection.  

(Photo credit: Natalie Bird)

But wait........it's not all sad news.........guess what is on it's way?.........the pre-printed panel of 30 different stitchery designs. Each design measures 2" x 2.25" and is pre-printed on lovely linen/cotton blend fabric. Natalie has been busy embroidering hers

(Photo credit: Natalie Bird)

and I will be starting on mine very soon........and just maybe a special project with them and the fabrics when they arrive.

The panels are listed on my website HERE and are just $9.95 each.

Linda   :)

The Good Boy Quilt

Just over 12 months ago I ordered and received The Good Boy Quilt pattern from Laurie Simpson of Minick and Simpson fame. I read it and reread it, and promised myself that one day I would make this quilt for myself.

In February, I decided to make it my project for stitching at our monthly sewing days, and by the end of the first day I had sewn 4 rows out of the 24 that I needed for the centre block.

Over the last few months I have sewn a few rows every now and then, but yesterday I decided to make it my mission to get it finished by the end of today........and I did it!

My centre has turned out darker than the original quilt as I have more mid to dark blue fabrics than lighter blues in my Minick and Simpson fabric stash. I also decided to add some of my blue and red fabrics.

Some of the fabrics date back to the first Minick and Simpson range that I bought in for the shop in 2010..........'Wiscassett'. The same fabrics that I used in my Dear Prudence quilt. While the cream background print is from one of their newer ranges called 'Northport'. It is a directional print, so I had to make sure that all of the rectangles were facing the same way.......all 588 of them.

Now that the centre is finished, it's time to start on the applique borders. Just sticking the pattern sheets together for one of the sides was a mammoth task.

I think that this is going to take me a while.......

Linda    :)

A Most Wonderful Time

Yes, I am talking Christmas again today.

Last year I ordered, received, made samples from, and sold out of the Most Wonderful Time Flannel fabric from Bonnie Sullivan so quickly that I didn't even get a chance to list it on my website. I placed an order for some more from the collection, and yesterday it arrived in the shop.

This is the gorgeous flannel panel from the collection......

and from it I made 3 projects.........a wall hanging from the main centre piece from the panel, a table runner from the top piece, and a bucket from the bottom piece.

I have a limited number of kits available for $60 each. The kits include one panel, extra flannel fabric for the 3 projects (borders, binding, lining), fusible foam for the bucket, and the pattern. It does not include the backing fabric or fusible Parlan.

I also have a very limited number of panels available. The panel comes with a pattern for the 3 projects, and are $20 each.

So if you missed out on one of these kits or panels last year, don't dilly dally as I'm sure that they will be popular!

Linda   :)  

Is it too early for Christmas stuff?

I certainly hope not!

Today I spent time stitching up a table runner using some of the circular designs from the new Scandi 2020 Circle Panel that arrived in the shop last week.......or was it the week before? I've got no idea what day it is, let alone what the date is.....lol!

All of the designs are so lovely that it was hard to just pick two for my runner. It's quite a simple design, but I love the way it has turned out.

The kits are $26 each and are online HERE.

There is also an Advent Calendar in the Scandi 2020 Collection......

I think that it might be the next on my list of samples to make up!

Linda   :)

Stupid vs Snazzy

While doing a little tidying up in the shop yesterday, I rediscovered a roll of lace that I had purchased a few months ago. It was looking all forlorn, so I decided to whizz up a new snap bag and combined it with some of the lovely Le Beau Papillon fabric from French General.

(you can certainly tell that I have been doing a lot of sewing lately......look at the fluff on my machine!)

These little snap bags go together very quickly.....and I thought that the Colonial Knots (because I can't do French Knots!) was a sweet little addition to the cream lace trim.

Last night I typed up the pattern, and as always, struggled to pick a name. I asked Russell for his suggestion.......his reply "Stupid Snap Bag". As tempting as it was.....I decided on Snazzy Snap Bag instead. The kits are all packed, loaded on the website and ready for new homes. They are $18 each, and details are HERE. Don't forget to check out the other kits and fabrics that I have available.......I will be adding more on a daily basis.

Stay snazzy everyone!

Linda    :)

New phone = new phone pouch

I had actually started making up this new phone pouch a couple of days before my mobile phone died........Monday morning it froze, shut down, and basically that was it for my phone of 4 years. Apart from having to charge it daily, there wasn't anything wrong with it.......I swear that they have a self destruct mechanism in them! So on Tuesday, I broke out of isolation mode, got dressed....in something other than trackies.......and I went to Colac to get a new phone.  It felt quite strange being away from home, as the only place that I have been to in the last 4 weeks is the Simpson Post Office (and most of the time Russell does my mail for me). I was though very relieved that my jeans still fitted me......lol! So I now have my new phone.......I have all of my saved contacts....phew!.....but lost all of my text messages and photos.....sad face.....but my new phone has a memory card which all of the new photos will be stored on. Yes I know.....I should send them to the cloud!

So back to nicer things.....my new Phone Pouch. I have used a lovely mix of fabrics for this new project and have even made a wrist strap to match.

The kit comes complete with everything you need.....except the embroidery thread to stitch the frame on with.

My old phone had one last job......to pose as the model for the photo shoot.......lol!

The kits are available now for $18 each, and are available online HERE.

Linda   :)

Bon Voyage by Tilda

The gorgeous new collection by Tilda has finally arrived.......Bon Voyage!

There are 20 prints in this collection

and I have all of them loaded up on the website.

Prior to the fabric arriving, I was busy stitching up 3 new projects with some advance sampling.

The first is my Bon Voyage Drawstring Bag, and the kits are $18.00 each.....and are pre-cut and ready to stitch!

The next is my Around we go-yo Bucket. This kit is $16.00 and comes complete with everything that you need to make one bucket.

And the third new project is the Sweet Lilit Table Runner. You can find all of the details about this kit on my website HERE.

I also have a limited number of (shop cut) Charm packs available, and also some Fat Eighth Bundles.

While the shop is still closed to walk in customers, I'd like to thank everyone for their continued support through my online shop, and for those living closer my Mail Box pick up service. Take care everyone!

Linda    :)

A Stitcher's Stocking

Way back last May when I attended the Spring Quilt Market in Kansas City, I purchased a cute little stitchery pattern called A Stitcher's Stocking by Tracy from Plumcute Designs. I have had the fabrics set aside for it for months, so on Wednesday I decided that it was time to start stitching.

And last night I finished it off.

I haven't incorporated wool in my version, instead opting for fabric for the stocking applique.

It was fun to make......a little bit of colouring, applique, stitchery, machine piecing and some prairie points tucked in the binding......a really pretty wall hanging to keep or gift to a stitching friend.

I have kits available now for $39 each.....all fabric (including the backing & binding), fusible Parlan and the pattern. There are no threads included in the kit. Finished size is 47cm x 47cm.

Linda    :)

It's certainly Autumn time

With the days getting shorter and the evenings getting cooler, it is really feeling like Autumn here in the South West of Victoria. My favourite season is certainly Spring, but a very close second is Autumn. The colours in the garden change, but unlike Spring, there is so much beautiful red in my garden at this time of the year. My Lipstick Maple has started to turn and I can't wait to watch it over the coming weeks.

My Crepe Myrtle is almost finished,

but the red Apache roses continue to provide a wonderful display late into the season.

I will be harvesting my beautiful crop of Crab Gorgeous apples very soon so that I can make up some delicious crab apple jelly. Usually the Crimson Rosellas come in and clean them all up....but not this year!

A quick polish up and a taste test confirmed that the Jonathon apples are ready for picking, using and storing.

The raspberries are flowering and fruiting again, but unless we get a few more sunny days, the late crop might not amount to very much. I have been picking them daily.........which provides just enough to keep us going.

The last bit of red in the garden will be red for the whole year.........ceramic toadstools.

They were a Christmas gift from Jodie last year, and they now live right beside my seat under the Pin Oak tree in 'Mum's Garden'.

It was nice being out in the garden yesterday afternoon having a little poke around, pulling a few weeds, planting a few bulbs, and just sitting under the Pin Oak and having a rest. Might do it all again today!

Linda    :)