WILLOW VALLEY STORE

Home from the coast....

We had a lovely time away....here are some holiday pics. Sorry about the photo quality of some - taken via mobile ph. Its skinny and fits in my pocket easy ;-)

Beach combing and rock pooling @ secluded White's Beach.

this rock pool was total toe spa!

White's Beach is rough and dangerous. Undertows and a steep beach.

Every day we went to a beach....

Bridegwater has been my favourite for 24 years! This one is safe and perfect for boogie boards so ours kids love it.

The best surprise was that Brian had organized a local riding school to float a horse each for Jordan and myself down to Bridgewater beach - so we could have a private ride with our instructor to Shelley Beach and back (approx hour and a half!) Here is me on Charlie - we had a fantastic ride! We splashed in the waves, trotted and cantered and the weather was perfect!

I will be back soon to show you the close up quilting of my By the Sea quilt featured in Dec Homespun - by Belinda Betts - its AMAZING!

I also have lots and lots of vintage goodies to show you too -china, linen and paper (books)

and a little bit of stitching -  I have been playing with Sue Daleys apple cores - curved piecing - FUN . Now to conquer clamshells. Thanks to great PDF tutorial on Karen Martins blog for getting me started!

xo Cath

By The Sea. Quilt. Homespun 2011. The Summertime Issue.

By The Sea is finished - and the pattern is available for you to enjoy too!

Its featured in this months Homespun - The Summertime Issue

I have had a few emails about this one over the last few months - as I've shared sneaky peaks for a while....so hurray - there you go I completed what I set out to do ;-)  at least on this occasion!

Being accepted into Homespun with this project earlier in the year was a sudden and unexpected turn of events - and I am so thrilled with actually seeing it now right there in the pages!!!!!! WOW!!!

As a family we love going to the country beaches. We are so lucky to have Brian's parents with a farm not far from some of Victoria's best coast line. Some of it famous - and some of it more of  a local secret.

I wanted to create a quilt that bought some of this "summer holiday at the beach" feeling home with me.

Sunny golden sands. Sunshine. Clear blues...deep and pale to represent varying water depths. Waves lapping. Shells to collect. Calming and relaxing.

A compass for a timeless sort of vintage touch.

I am pleased with the compass near the centre of the quilt because to me it represents  "go and explore the big wide world and then come home safe"

Some cotton ric rac for texture. Seahorses for character.

I just adore those seahorses! Brian - his MIL and I sat around the kitchen table at the farm and together we drew him based from a real life specimen that had been found washed up at the shore. Each of us added and erased pencil lines and chatted together over afternoon tea. I have a wonderful memory I have of that.

My waves are represented by a shape that I designed featuring alternating curves and peaks.

 

I also used this unique applique line for my Christmas trees in my quilt in Homespun July 2010 - so I am finding it very versatile (you will see more of that from me in 2012 and beyond too)

I really must give a massive public thanks to award winning Belinda Betts@ Eucalypt Ridge Quilting - who has done the most AMAZING job ever of turning my By THe Sea flimsy into a real quilt. She has beautifully enhanced and completed my beach theme with her outstanding custom quilting.

Without a word of exaggeration EVERY SINGLE STITCH IS PERFECT front and back.

My quilt should be back home with me soon and I will show you some close ups of Belinda's beautiful work.

Here in Oz where most of the population live near coastline its very Christmasy to spend your summer hols at the beach.

For me this year has taken some interesting turns.....some I didnt see coming - and some I made happen.   Lots of things have been harder for me this year.  I'm a very private person and so these will remain held close to my heart. I can't believe the year is nearly over. It really has sped by.

I can't wait to get back to the beach.

If you cant get to the coast.....

maybe stitching my By The Sea quilt can make you to feel as if you were ;-)

This is a fun and relaxing project with a good variety of skills to enjoy - piecing - applique - stitchery - embellishment - and optional colouring for 3d enhancement.

Love Cath xo

 

French Island

We've just got back from a little family holiday that included

somewhere overseas

and French

oooh la la!

um not what you are thinkin'!

Western Port Bay's very own French Island.

The contrast between the very well known, internationally recognized, Phillip Island and the "where is that?" French Island couldnt be more extreme.

To give you an idea...

Phillip Island is about 10,000 Hectares with 7000 permanent residents - the population expanding to over 50,000 in summer.  Over 3.5 million visitors every year.

Its well known and loved for the Grand Prix, the penguin parade and the fantastic surf beaches.

French Island is much larger - 17,000 hectares but has only 75 residents. About 6,000 people visit each year.

Its largely overlooked. And thats what makes it so intriguing.

There are no utility services. No gas , electricity or water. Residents need to be self sufficient for these themselves. They rely on rain water tanks, wind/solar power and diesel generators.

No police. No council. No petrol station. No medical services. No church. No road connection to the main land. No airport. No sealed roads. No speed limit (the corrogations +++ sure will keep your speed in check any way). The cars are mostly unregistered....and have a very hard life - salt and rough dirt roads!

There is just one shop

(a general store - its the grocery shop, pub,  PO and hardware store all in one) It has a piano , book corner and a cosy fireplace too.

French Island has a primary school with 11 students. A cricket pitch. A community hall. A tip. Two jetty's . A cemetry.

I really loved this HUGE jelly mould ?? improvised as a vase.

A camping ground and a small handful of places to stay.

The island had a prison farm and this operated between 1915 and 1975. It housed over 100 inmates serving the last term of their sentence.

 

We met the lovely Lois who is a 4th generation local...and had a tour of the Bayview Chicory Kiln built in 1897 (now tearooms and museum) 

 

2/3 of French Island is National Park - and the rest is privately owned.

It has been inhabited since around 1800 and boasts pristine native flora/fauna and fascinating history.

 So close to home and yet another world away. 

Jump on the passenger ferry at Cowes or Stoney Point - or put your car on the barge at Corinella (permit needed)

xo Cath

Back from the Sea....

Hi All !   We are back from our much needed family break at the farm by the sea....

No trains to catch/no traffic jams on the freeway, no alarm going off at 5.15am, no housework and no falling into bed completely exhausted from my career (even though I DO love it) and regretting that I had no mental capacity left to sketch, design and stitch for WVS.

I didnt wear a watch - had no idea of the time and barely knew what day it was. I avoided watching the news on TV. In fact the only viewing we did was a couple of  David Attenborough DVDs about nature and one about the making of the Portland breakwater in the 50's.

I was able to clear my mind from the clutter of the work load of T3 and 4 last year and I am really pleased with what came out of it!! My brainstorming sessions made my heart race….

As you know I love needleturn applique. I have been doing quite a bit of it ;-)  Cant wait to show you. I have also been playing with an older design that I retired last year. I am so excited about re-releasing it...

and I have also found a new love -hand quilting!

ok back to the holiday...in the usual Baynes way we crammed heaps into our days...beach walks,  fishing (OMG we ate SO much seafood!!), canoeing, boating, boogie boarding....spent many days here at beautiful uncrowded Bridgewater Bay with clean soft sand, perfect waves and some rock pools to explore too

and some days at Whites Beach....pretty wild here even on calm days like this one....

bush walks, caving (the boys love this and I go along to try and 'be cool')

 these caves are amazing - you go through a small scarey entrance like this one and they are HUGE and DEEP inside. We found another 5 caves this trip that we didnt know about last year. These are all unmarked and on private property and some local connections are your only hope of 1. knowing about them 2. getting permission to check them out 3. essential guidance as to how to locate them ...so we are lucky!

a reminder that not everything makes it out of here alive!!!

vintage and op shopping (I got some great stuff!!! have to show you in another post)

and just generally hanging out at the farm - exploring the many sheds....

eating fruit from the orchard, playing in the hay stack,

enjoying the large garden full of hydrangeas, geranuims, fuschias and granny bonnets - very hard to photograph as there is always a gentle breeze that causes blur....

and sleeping until I had enough.

Portland is a picturesque seaside destination - and being Victoria's birthplace - there is lots of historical buildings to enjoy - here are just a few....there are plenty more....

 

I have this thing about churches. I photograph them wherever I go. This year in Australian Homespun Magazine I have a surprise for you. Hope you like it.  

xo Cath.

On returning home it was devasting to see on TV, so much damage  caused by the floods in Queensland. It really is just awful and so many sad stories. I have an email list of people that I know in Qld, some shop owners, friends, and fellow designers - and I have been relieved to be putting a big green tick next to their names as I hear back from them that they are ok....just one more to go - hope the news is good for them....

what a terrible mess....its just so so sad to see so much heart ache

Time for Australia to get together again and lend a hand to help support those who need it!!!

WE can donate HERE

I sure will miss....

the gorgeous view I have had for the past week!!

This was our balcony (one of 3! spoiled rotten!!) where we have been kicking back and watching the surf roll in.

The beach was beautiful...and we had so much of it to ourselves....

I have been busy here when able, working on some projects...

this is one I have been wanting to do for a while

this is the BONUS extra mini stitchery that will be accompanying the main design in my Robin's Nest pattern from now on....

   
I kept the colour palette simple - red fonts, blue eggs and the rest antiqued brown. It will go perfectly into a 6" sq frame. Pretty pleased with that.

 Here is another design I have had in my hands a lot....sweet bunnies and hearts needleturn appliqued. It has a cheerful vintage feel about it that really makes me smile.  More than ever I am finding that quilts made entirely from one fabric range are a bit safe...and they just dont look yesterday enough for me.

 The fabrics are mostly Savannah - with ring ins added from my stash. I know that one of the endearing things that I love about vintage quilts is their almost makedo fabric choices. 

Another reason this one makes me smile is that Louie provided the rabbit silhouette  for me - although I had to change the ears on my design and make them stand up - cos his lop - and he looked like a strange square headed bunny with no ears unless I did.

We have had Louie since he was 6 weeks old and he is very sweet. Thats him on the right. 

I have also taken the time this week to create a new catalogue. Just a few finishing touches and it will be ready some time next week. I am going to add a modified one here to my blog as a PDF. You will be able to view - click and save - email on to your friends - and print.

xo Catherine

 

Cape Schanck

The tweenies protested (they would love to just play X Box all day)  but we ignored them. Beautiful sunny day (at last!!) . Havent been on a family coastal adventure for ages....

time for somewhere new and unexplored....so we headed here....

this is Cape Schanck about an hour away. See that boardwalk? You take it all along the ridge and can easily access the rocky beach. We had a wonderful afternoon! I collected lots of little pieces of ocean worn glass. The green ones were my favs. I took about 30 photos - but I like this one the best.
Hope you had a lovely weekend

xo Cath xo

Seaside quilt update

I've finished the stitched mariner's compass block that will be a part of my Seashore quilt - wanna see it?

cute huh? I am really pleased with it. Looks oval here cos of the angle that I took the pic - but its round in real life. The circles are DMC variegated blue stitched in chain stitch.  I added a small colonial knot to the tip of each of the four main points - to finish them off in a subtle way.

When I was young I remember Pa teaching me that the way to remember the directions on the compass was "Never Eat Sea Weed".

I completed my compass the other night while watching Getaway "best beaches in Australia" we seriously do have some awesome coastlines!!!

Whats your favourite beach?

I love the West Coast of Victoria because its remote, clean, has dramatic waves, seems so vast and the unexpected surprises that you find. Here is a pic I snapped down the Great Ocean Road in 2007...as the sun was setting the cliffs had a glorious golden glow.

Lots of wonderful memories here...

Nearly time to put this strippy row quilt together....

xo Cath

Seaside Quilt

What is it about going to the sea?

 

It always makes me feel like I am on holidays. Relaxing....soothing....calming.... I always feel better for the visit - even if its a short one.

I love blue - and there is a LOT of blue at the beach. The clear blue sky and the wonderful range of blues and aquas  at the shore - some white breakers and the soft beige sand for contrast - hmm no wonder it feels so good for me to be there. Australia has beautiful beaches. I took these 2 photographs at Nun's Beach. Its called Nun's Beach because there is an old Convent on the cliff top facing the sea...legend has it the Nun's used to swim here - not sure about that but it is a "heavenly beach".

I have been playing with some fabrics that remind me of days like these.... 

    

We have stacks of shells collected over the years - so there were many here to inspire me for stitcheries. My friend Robyn in SA sent me one that she found too - on Yorke Peninsula - thanks Robyn - perfect timing!

My seashells are stitched in DMC variegated 4128,  firstly outlined in stemstitch and then the lacey edged openings are completed in backstitch. Stem stitch is great and gives an unbroken stitching line. Just make sure that you have the needle on the correct side for those tight curves - otherwise the stitches fall in on themselves. Sometimes a small anchoring stitch is a good idea too. (Place any anchoring stitches on a slight slant and they will blend in well).

 
Check out my seahorses....(this unique fellow has been in my sketch book for at least 10 years. One of my longest residents!  I drew him from a real one that Brian found washed up on the beach at Portland).

I feel like I have known this little seahorse a very long time and its lovely to finally, after all these years, see him in stitches. I always said I would stitch him one day....

Some lovely applique waves - don't you just love the curves and peaks! I enjoyed appliquing them. They are just like the waves - some round and rolling - some pointed and peaked.

Needleturn applique is my favourite technique. I love the smooth finish. The stitches are hidden from view and the fabrics remain  soft and tactile because they aren't fused to each other. 

Hour Glass blocks - they sort of remind me of flags or signals at the beach.

....might try a mariners compass block next - stitched - instead of pieced?

xoxo Cath

Beach Break

This week the boys and I went to Phillip Island and Churchill Island. 

 

I needed some salty air for inspiration....and they were bribed! LOL! (They love to visit Amazenthings).

The pelicans come in at noon for their dinner and its always fun to see them waddle up to the beach and catch fish in their huge beaks and swallow them whole.

Check out the size of the stingray...there were 3 of them circling the pier. They are so graceful and fascinating to watch. They glide so effortlessly through the water.

The tweens are incredibly tolerant of me....mostly. They dont bother asking questions when mummy wants to take pics of peeling blue paint...or takes pics under the pier - because  the weathered wood and the aqua sea are irresistable....

For a while I have been planning a quilt inspired by the beach. I made a start a few weeks ago.

I am really really enjoying this project because its destination is unknown. It's a strippy layout and that gives a lot of creative freedom.  Maybe I will make it into a design under WVS - maybe I will just keep it for me....it doesn't matter .... I just want to have fun and make it!

The boys let me visit the collectables shop in Cowes.(Rear of 150 Thompson Ave)

This is a wonderful place. A large assortment of goodies and at very pleasing prices too. Bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside - with 2 sheds out the back. One has a large amount of pastel Johnson china for those of you like me - that can't resist it. These were my treats. A gingham apron, Blue piecrust edge Johnson plate, Woodsware plate in buttermilk - and my fav item - a tin Willow Cook's Measure. It says Made in Australia. That means 2 things to me. Its GOOD quality and its OLD!

There are also 3 op shops within walking distance to here. Vinnies and Rotary few shops down on the same side. Salvos directly opposite. The boys weren't feeling THAT lenient so I didn't make it to them this trip.

The boys love low tide - they enjoy running out on the sand that several hours ago was covered with water and seeing what they can find.

We sat on a grassy bank overlooking the sea as the sun set and enjoyed our Fish N Chips from the Fisherman's Co Op at San Remo.

With the Pakenham bypass and Eastlink it now only takes 80 mins from my place to the Islands. Freeways all the way apart from KooWeeRup Road. An easy day trip and it feels like you have had a holiday!!

xo Catherine

Happy New Year

Here are some of my fav NYE pics!

Portland is a fun place for NYE - beautiful clean beaches ....

a carnival on the foreshore....

and later the fireworks are reflected in the harbour....

and the weather was great too!

Next post I will share with you my op shop treasures from the Portland Salvo's Shop - I got a STACK of stuff for the grand total of $5.35 - my bestest effort yet. (there were even 4 Johnson plates - 2 yellow - 1 pink - 1 cream with piecrust edge -  in the "free help yourself pile" so they cost me NOTHING!) OMG gotta love those country op shops!!!!

My wonderful MIL goes there too - and she even got my Christmas present from there - its a dinner set!! Cant wait to show you - l love it and its so different to anything I already have. I am very lucky to have such a fabulous MIL oxox

I have my head down working furiously on a project with a looming deadline.  No sneaky peaks for now - but here is a clue - buddy Cheryl is helping me with this one - and if I ever meet her in person she is at risk of a THANKYOU hug so tight that I might break her ribs LOL!!

I am a bit behind on answering emails and responding to posts since being away - but I am getting there now. Thankyou for visiting me and for your messages too  -  I always enjoy reading them so much!

I hope 2010 (sounds so futuristic doesnt it  - havent got used to it yet! ) is a year of exciting adventures , treasures unearthed, new skills mastered and fun times with family and friends for you ALL!!!!!!! Lots of love Cath