Elm Grove Patchwork

A New Year Begins

I've sat down to write this post, telling how excited I am to start a new year, after having such a horrible 2019. With broken fingers, broken legs and smashed up ankles in the house. Three months of closing my patchwork business to make room for full time farming, and then the final heartbreak of my Dad's sudden death on December 14th, his funeral taking place on my birthday Christmas Eve, it was a terrible year. But as I stop and reflect,  some good things did happen. Maggie Maguire's Garden was released which opened up some lovely friendships with shops in America, France and the United Kingdom, and also some lovely personal friendships with people who have started working on Maggie. My children have had success with sporting awards, my daughter received an amazing result in her VCE studies and has been accepted to study a double Law/Commerce degree this year, and I think our region was the only part of Australia that received decent rainfall over winter and spring. I am thankful for the good things, but I am looking forward to starting a fresh new year with 2020.

As I just mentioned, by dear Dad passed away suddenly on December 14th. He was 79, but so fit and healthy. It has been a terrible blow to us all. He just went to sleep and never woke up. I have lots of teary moments thinking about him. He was so supportive of everything his children done and he has had a huge influence on the person I am. He was so generous with his time and talents, always ready to help out, he even helped me fold fabric prior to AQC each year. Thank you all so much for the lovely messages I have received on my Facebook and Instagram pages, it has been a great comfort to read all your comments. I am really missing him, but I can hear his voice.......... "You'd better get on with it", so that is what I will do.

 

The shop is open again, and some new Dutch Heritage Fabrics have arrived. 

Barnsley Border

Marlowe Border

Midsummer border

Dutch Heritage Mini's

Dutch Heritage Ashridge

They are all listed on the website, just click on the link above.

I wish you all a happy new year, which is hard to do knowing that our country is ablaze with terrible bush fires. If you are in these fire areas, please stay safe. 

Lenora x.

 

 

 

 

Sydney bound

I am on official notice. There will be no more cutting, folding, bundling and boxing fabric from any of my family until next year. And our ten seat table is to be returned to a ten seat table with none of "Mum's Stuff" occupying the last three seats.

It has been a busy few weeks, with the last long weekend especially busy. Starter packs have been made for the Auntie Tess Quilt and also the Sarah Wistar Quilt, with Sarah Wistar now having a Deluxe pack of 20 fat 1/8ths and 20 fat 1/16th's. More colour cubes have been made and fabric rolls rolled and a great supply of pre-cuts folded. 

On Tuesday morning we set off for the couriers in Melbourne, once again towing the trailer. My 13 yr old son gladly volunteered to take the day off school (if his teachers are reading this he was sick) to help navigate and lift the heavy boxes. He did a superb job. 

I was concerned we might not fit all the stock onto one pallet, but with some careful jiggling we managed to get it all on and just at the height limit of 2m. I felt quite relieved when the pallet was wrapped and contents secured. By now I think the pallet should be in Sydney. So all is in place for hopefully a fabulous time. 

I am now having a few easy days cleaning up the two bomb sites that have emerged at both the shop and home, before I head off next week. 

The shop will be closed next week from Wednesday 20th - Wednesday 27th June, reopening on Thursday 28th June. On-line orders will remain open, but they will not be processed until my return.

Happy Stitching, Lenora.

A New Year Ticks Over.

I hope you had a lovely Christmas, and I hope you are enjoying this new year. I do love the start of a new year. Fresh promises and resolutions, and a great time to set new goals. With our eldest child Amy entering the 'workforce' with a school based apprenticeship fulfilling her dream of being a pastry chef, I am once again jolted with the reality of how quickly the years pass by. 

I have spent the past two weeks at home with the children, having a lovely break and catching up on some of the jobs that have been neglected over the past few months. There has been gardening, house cleaning, farming jobs and also lots of rest. We have been having the odd picnic tea at our out paddock, 

this little fellow seemed quite amused at such a gathering.

A much needed clean out in my sewing room prompted me to have a go at Jodie's Rag Rug. 

This is my first attempt. I thought it was going quite well, but my tension was too loose, and it was quickly converted into a pad for hot saucepans to rest on. My second effort is proving much better, 

although the tighter tension is slowing the growth considerably.

I have been working on some fresh samples for the shop,

and Anni has sent through a quick pattern so I can make a start on Gossip In the Garden.

(Full details will be available soon)

The shop is open again tomorrow, same place, same hours. If you are interested in taking a trip along The Great Ocean Road I would love to see you. 

Lenora x.

 

Tripping About

Last Friday I made the four hour drive to Wonga Park, to visit Quilts In The Barn. I have watched this event through blogs for the past few years, and this year I was determined to attend. I must confess that I actually thought Petra Prins and An Moonen would be in attendance, but on arrival I found that it was only their quilts that were featuring.

Linda, and our friend Jodie, came along on the drive, which saw us arrived mid morning. With the three of us also being dairy farmers, these cows struck a cord as we drove up the drive way.

I am a little embarrassed to report that my photography was not that great, and I am sure we arrived at the busiest time of the day, as a lot of my photographs have heads and body parts involved. I did snap a reasonable shot of this quilt,

Made by Susan Ambrose and inspired by An Moonen's book, A History Of Dutch Quilts.

(I have read some lovely blog entries by Sue-Anne, Carole and Linda, that have lovely photographs of the quilts on display, much better than any of mine, so please pop over and view them.)

Also on display were some of Di Ford's beautiful quilts. I was delighted to see The Morrell Quilt,

in the flesh for the first time. I have been contemplating this quilt since the pattern arrived in store, and seeing it in the flesh has committed me to making it.

Also on display was Drayton Hall,

a quilt that is in a thousand pieces on my sewing table. Time I got a wriggle on with that too!

Of course there was some retail therapy,

Chintz fabrics,

and the latest Quiltmania book. Which I am going to sit down and start reading tonight!

It really was a lovely day out.

After arriving home Friday night, it was time to pack my bag and head off on another road trip, for a few days break with my family.

The Murray River at Echuca.

We have never taken a mid season break before, but two nights away with no alarm was wonderful. 

Lenora x.

 

Christmas time.

Its hard to believe but Christmas is well and truly here for another year.

The shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped, and just some final food preparation and I am ready. My girls have been helping out this year,

 

and made their very first gingerbread house. I cant wait to taste it tomorrow.

I hope that you have a lovely Christmas with your loved ones, travel safe and enjoy!

Lenora X.