Gum Valley Patchwork

Goose Creek Gardens

The fabric is really starting to arrive, and it is so nice to be able to fill up some empty shelves in the shop. As a followup to the bright 'On the Go' collection that arrived last week, the new soft and pretty 'Goose Creek Gardens' from Poppie Cotton arrived on Monday.

There are 21 prints in this collection and all are available now for $26 per metre. I also have 2.5" strip rolls, 5" and 10" squares available in limited numbers.

My job this evening is to fold fabric ready for the Fat Quarter and Fat Eighth bundles.

There was another big delivery this afternoon, but I will save that for tomorrow's blog post!

Linda   :)

New projects

It's been a busy week here at Gum Valley Patchwork, and although I would love to be out in the garden.....it's in desperate need of some TLC.....I have been glued to the cutting mat and my sewing machine. Nights are filled with packing kits and folding fabric, or designing the next project to make.

I have 3 new projects to share with you all......the first being the 'Cherish Bucket'.

This was our project for the Material Girls Club last Monday, and I have a limited number of kits available HERE. There will be extra kits available once more clips arrive in a couple of weeks. Oh and this is a pre-cut kit!

The second new project, and another pre-cut kit, is my 'Backyard Fun' table runner. This is made using the new 'Backyard Happenings' fabric collection by Gail Pan Designs.

A simple runner that can easily be stitched and completed in a couple of hours. The kits are $29 each and include everything that you need to complete the runner.

The last project for this blog post is a new version of my Caddy Bucket, using the brand new 'Scrap Happy' fabric collection by Janet Rae Nesbitt.

This time the handles are on the sides, making it easier to pick up and take with you. Kits include everything that you need and are available HERE for $19 each.

I have a pile of fat quarters and Tilda Fat eighths to fold up tonight, and tomorrow a new cot quilt to make using the 'On the Go' fabric collection. Maybe if I get enough done, I can sneak a couple of hours in the garden on Monday......fingers crossed!

Linda    :)

On the Go

That's what I will be doing for the next 2 weeks....On the Go getting ready for the Ballarat Craft Alive Event. It is also the name of the new fabric that arrived in the shop this afternoon.

On the Go is the fantastic new fabric collection designed by Stacy Iest Hsu for Moda Fabrics.

Bright colours and transport themed prints make up this collection, which is ideally suited for the young boys in your life. It is often hard to source fabric suited for boys, and that is why I was drawn to this collection.

I have the full 35 prints in stock, along with Layer Cakes (10" squares) and Charm Packs (5" squares).

I also have a very limited number of the Let's Fly Quilt, Boxed Kits.

and patterns for the quilt.....Traffic Jam

I have ordered the canvas On the Go Panel, but this has not arrived yet and is currently on backorder......but it looks like this.....

I have plans for a new and simple cot quilt, and maybe a pencil case as well. In the meantime you can check it all out HERE on the website.

Linda  :)

Grunge Hits the Spot

The first of the wide backs that I ordered back in October last year have started to come through.

These four are from the 'Grunge Hits the Spot' wide back collection from Moda Fabrics.......Manilla, White Paper, Red and Black......108" wide.

They are listed on the website HERE and are $44 per metre.

Hopefully the rest of my Wide Back order won't be too far away.

Linda   :)

Retreat 2021

What a great weekend we had at our 8th.....yes 8th!....Retreat. We just managed to squeeze in the Retreat last year before we headed in to lockdown, and this year's was just perfect timing. The weather was great, there were no travel restrictions, and......the big plus.....we didn't have to wear face masks!

Friday was set up day........the tables were set

table centres and numbers done

Goody bags filled

and the pop up shop all organised.

We were back home by about 2.30pm, and it was on to some last minute baking before the big first day.

It was so lovely to see so many happy and excited faces as the ladies arrived for the start of a weekend of stitching and friendship.

As I spent most of my time in the kitchen over the course of the two days, I didn't get to see what everyone was working on, or take any photos. I managed to pop out to make the odd announcement, draw the winners of the door prizes, and also present the Show & Tell. And wow what a Show & Tell it was! It wasn't hard to see that an awful lot of sewing happened last year during the Covid lockdown periods.

This beautiful quilt by Jacqui wowed the crowd....and it was quilted on her domestic sewing machine!

Vicki's beautiful red and white hexagon quilt was made using just 2 fabrics.

And just like that the weekend was over, and it was time to pack it all up and head for home. In just 1.5 hours it was all gone.

A few special thanks:

Michelle, Sharon, Annette and Julie who helped to pack up......you are wonderful!

Tabatha for her help in the kitchen over the 2 days, and also as a whizz on the vacuum cleaner.

Jodie for all of her support and help during set-up, in the kitchen, and during pack up.

To Hannah who worked like a trooper in the pop-up shop over the weekend, and helping me out in the kitchen too.

And last but certainly not least....Russell. He puts up with all of my crap and was there working along side of me in the kitchen all weekend......except when his pager went off during Show & Tell and had to dash off in the CERT vehicle to attend a call out. Yes we did all hear the pager!

Thank you all.......I certainly could not run these events on my own.

And of course thanks to everyone who attended and made it a great weekend. My feet have now recovered.....although it did take 4 days for the soreness to disappear. The shop is back together, but the classroom is still a mess, and I am about to start making up new projects to kit up to replace the very depleted stock levels in the shop. New fabric is arriving today and also on Tuesday, so I will be back soon with more blogging.

Oh and the dates for the 2022 Retreat are 19th and 20th March. Registrations will open later in the year.

Linda    :)

 

 

Shop Closed

Just popping in.....in between getting everything organised for my Sit & Stitch in Simpson Retreat Weekend.......to let you all know that the shop will be closed on Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th March.

I will be open again at 11am on Thursday 18th March.

Sorry for any inconvenience this will cause, but unfortunately I can't be in two places at the same time....lol!

Linda   :)

The Hartfield Quilt

As many of you know I have a fondness for Minick & Simpson fabrics. All of those lovely blues, reds, tans, creams and sometimes the odd pink thrown in the mix. I have stocked several of their fabric collections over the years, and more importantly have made their way into many of my quilting projects. One of my favourite has to be the 'Portage Lake' Block of the Month quilt.

I sometimes sell off my shop samples but this one is definitely a keeper. I'm currently making my Farmer's Wife quilt using fabrics from my large stash of M&S fabrics, and also of course my version of Laurie's 'The Good Boy Quilt'. I'm on to my fourth border at the moment, and am a little more advanced that this photo from September shows.

And what will I do once I have finished my Good Boy quilt you ask?

Well I have already eyed off my next quilt project......Hartfield!

I was able to order the patterns in for Hartfield, and they are available in the shop now for $45 each. There are a limited number available.

I have also been busy cutting, folding and bundling up some fat eighth fabric bundles. These fabrics are from a variety of different Minick & Simpson fabric collections, some current and others are no longer available........I even raided my stash to pull some extras out!

The blue bundles contain 20 fat eighths ($60), while the red bundles contain 15 fat eighths ($45). These would suit the Hartfield Quilt pattern, or any of the scrappy Minick & Simpson pattern.

Linda   :)

A letter to my daughter

I have just received in the pre-printed stitchery panels for the 2021 Homespun Block of the Month.....A Letter to my Daughter, designed by Natalie Bird.

There are 15 small stitchery designs on the linen,

and it is available online HERE for just $5.50.

Linda   :)