Gum Valley Patchwork

Bee Grateful

Bee Grateful is the newest fabric collection by Deb Strain for Moda Fabrics.

Although the fabrics and pre cuts arrived in the shop in three separate deliveries, prior to and after Christmas/New Year, they are all now in stock and looking very nice in their new display.

I have made up bundles, cut fat quarters, and kitted up a couple of new projects using a variety of the prints from the collection.

The first new project is the Skinny Minny Table Runner (which is the first project for the upcoming Material Girls Club Class). This project uses a Moda Mini Charm pack, and all of the fabrics are precut and ready to just sew together.

A remake of my 'Janet's Felted Pouch'......my 'Bee Grateful' Felted Pouch....also uses a variety of the prints, and as an extra touch, I have added a small bee charm.....can you see it? While there are only a few of these kits available at the moment, I have more of the felted pouches on the way, which means more kits!

There is also a gorgeous panel which is available in 3 colourways......warm white, honey and black. While I haven't made a quilt up using the panel (yet), I have used a couple of the panel pieces in some smaller projects. I have made a simple journal cover using 'The Flower' block,

and am part the way through making up a simple zippered pouch with the 'Bee Grateful' block.

You might also like to have a look at this video by Deb as she introduces the fabric collection.

You can find all of the fabric listed on my website HERE, or pop in to the shop to check it out in person.

Linda   :)

Farmer's Wife Stitchalong group

It's hard to believe that it has been 5 years tomorrow that our Farmer's Wife Stitchalong group met for the very first time. There were just four of us, Jodie, Anne, Shirley and myself, but we spent so many happy hours stitching our blocks.....some by hand and others by machine. Anne finished off her quilt, Jodie has been mastering the art of foundation paper piecing with hers, while I have changed the name of my quilt to the Lazy Farmer's Wife, only choosing to make the easier blocks! Our fourth member, our beloved Shirley, lost her courageous battle with cancer in August of 2019. We miss Shirley so much, as she was loved by all who knew her. Her wonderful husband Clyde, would love for Shirley's Farmers Wife Quilt to be finished, as he knew how many hours she had spent cutting out every block ready for stitching (having sewn together almost half of them), and how much she loved her crafting. Clyde has entrusted me with Shirley's blocks, and it would be lovely if we can help to finish her quilt for him.

So tomorrow is our first Farmer's Wife Stitchalong day since last February, and if you are interested in joining us, whether it be to work on your own quilt, work on a block for Shirley, or both....please let me know. The blocks are finished at 6" x 6" (6.5" x 6.5"), so precision sewing is important. Some blocks will need to be hand sewn, while others can be done by machine. We meet on the fourth Thursday of the Month, 11am to 4pm (or anytime in between) at the shop.

Linda   :)

Hobbies

Yes we all have them.........mine are sewing and gardening, with a bit of baking & cooking thrown in for good measure. Well all of these are covered perfectly with the new fabric that has arrived called 'Hobbies'.

Designed by Sally Payne for Dashwood Studios, I have selected four of these wonderful prints to have in the shop........Baking, Sewing, Gardening and Cooking. How great would they be made up into a bag or incorporated onto a quilt. They are priced at $28 per metre and are available either in the shop or online HERE.

Linda    :)

Sit & Stitch in Simpson Retreat, registration form

Bookings opened this morning for my annual Retreat weekend in Simpson. Thank you to all of those who have booked in, and I'm sure that you will all have a great time. As mentioned I have uploaded the registration form (see below) that must be filled in returned with your deposit by Monday 25th January to secure your place.

There are still a couple of places left, so if you completely forgot to book in, or got your days mixed up, and would like to book in.........please contact me asap.

Download Registration Form 2021

Linda  :)

Material Girls Club

After what feels like forever, it's time to schedule some dates for the Material Girls Club. The Monday classes will be commencing next month, with the dates being: 22nd February; 22nd March;19th April; and 24th May. The cost: $25 per class, with a commitment to attend all four classes. If you are unable to attend a class, you will still receive your kit. 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.
Our February project will be the Skinny Minny Table Runner , with participants selecting which version you would like to make.....the Bee Grateful or Mackinac Island options.

Bookings are essential, as this class is very popular.

Linda    :)

Sit & Stitch in Simpson Retreat

Sometimes waiting for the right time never comes, and for that reason I have decided that life needs to go on.........it is time to take the step and release the details for my Sit & Stitch in Simpson 2021 Retreat. We were very fortunate last year to have had the Retreat, as shortly after everything went pear shaped, and well as they say, the rest is history.

I am remaining positive......so here are the details:

 

‘SIT & STITCH IN SIMPSON'

2021 Retreat

Saturday 13^th March, 10am – 7pm &

Sunday 14^th March, 9am – 4pm

at the

Community Hub at the Recreation Reserve, Lavers Hill Rd, Simpson, Victoria

Cost : $140 per person

Spend two days with friends in Simpson, while working on your stitching project/s. A two course lunch, with homemade morning & afternoon teas will be provided on both days. A Saturday evening light meal of soup and scones will also be included.

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

Places are limited.

Not included: Accommodation is not included but there are options in Simpson (B&B’s and the Ball & Chain Hotel Motel), and Port Campbell, Timboon and Cobden are only 15 to 20 minutes away. Sunday breakfast is not included, but there will be biscuits and the urn will be hot.  

There will be no tutors at this weekend.  

A deposit of $70 is required by 25^th January 2021 to secure your place. The balance of $70 is due by 15^th February 2021.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel before 1st February, your deposit will be refunded in full (less a $10 admin fee). 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 ).

Registrations will open at 9am on Monday 18^th January for anyone wishing to book in....no early registrations accepted. Please ring me on 0427 943 201 and leave a message with your details (and the names of anyone else that you are booking in for). I will contact you to confirm if you are successful in getting in, and will send you a registration form to complete and return.

I'm crossing my fingers....and toes!

Linda    :)

 

 

My favorite color is Moda

This is the name of a new fabric released by Moda Fabrics.

It is celebration of their wonderful Bella Solids fabrics. 

This special print is 44" wide, with a repeat every 20" (50cm).

I think that it would look great in a bag......or a pencil case maybe? I have it listed on my website HERE.

Linda   :)

PS. You don't know how hard it was for me to not include the 'U' in favourite and colour in this post!

 

Milestone Birthday

Our 'baby' turns thirty today.....

It honestly doesn't seem that long ago since that day she entered our family, albeit 2 weeks late.

But with her arrival our small family was complete. We have been through good times and bad times, like all families do, but to tell you all the truth there weren't that many bad times.

Hannah has grown up to be a strong, independent, successful woman, who loves her family and friends very much.

She has been my travel buddy, and without her willingness to travel with her 'old' mum, I would not have had the wonderful experiences that I have had!

So happy 30th birthday to our Hannah. Although your plans to travel to Morocco for your milestone birthday did not eventuate this year, we all have our fingers crossed that maybe 2022 will see us on another adventure together. 

Love Mum and Dad  xx

Animal Crackers Baby Quilt

Early in December a small selection of the 'Animal Crackers' fabric by Sweetwater for Moda arrived in the shop.

While a new pencil case is yet to be made, I have stitched up a new cot quilt using a charm pack of the fabric.

I have enlarged some of the animal designs from the mixed print and used them in a stitchery strip through the quilt. I have packed the kits and they are available for $36 each. This includes an Animal Crackers Charm Pack, Stitchery fabric strip, and the plain black fabric for the binding. No embroidery threads are included, but it only uses 4 colours.....black, yellow, orange, and a dark green. The quilt measures 69cm wide x 98cm long.

Linda   :)

 

Woodland by Tilda

The newest fabric by Tilda is the pretty 'Woodland' collection.

While I can't sell it prior to next Friday 15th January......the worldwide release date for it.....I am able to show you the three projects that I have made from it.

The first is the 'Woodland Blooms' Quilt. I first made this design using the Tilda 'Plum Garden' fabric in 2019, and it was so popular that I decided to make it again using the 'Woodland' fabric.

The second project is the 'Woodland Breeze' Table Runner.

And last, but not least, this cute little remake of my Mini Dresden Felted Purse.

All of the kits for the projects, along with fabric bundles, Tilda buttons and bolted fabric will be available from the 15th January, either online or in the shop.

Linda    :)