Four hours north of Melbourne, Australia, heading towards the outback, lies the farming town of Swan Hill. Drive another half hour or more along a small road and in the middle of nowhere you will come to an old church which now serves as the patchwork shop “Miss Sampson’s Drapery”.
The church and a train crossing are basically all that is left of the town of Waitchie. But if you are in the vicinity, be sure to stop by this charming shop. I love the message about shop hours on the website. http://www.misssampsonsdrapery.com.au
Shop Hours :
Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. unless we are at a show so check the calendar and/or ring before coming!
If I’m home on Saturdays, I’m more than happy to open up as long as I know you’re coming! The same arrangement for Sundays.
We welcome very small, small and large groups for coffee and cake on their first visit, but please let me know in time so I can bake!!
The proprietor, Sue Bennett, has organized many of my teaching trips to Australia and we have become good friends over the years. Sue and her husband Malcolm and a few dogs and other animals live just down the road from the shop and always welcome visitors. If you are in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by.
Last night Sue sent me this photo of the vista she is seeing right now out her back door. Can you guess what it is? I use it for cooking almost every day but never saw it growing.
Sue, here are the colors. Now I’m waiting for the canola quilt!
So glad she got you to come to Aus.
When my girlfriend and I were traveling through England, we saw fields and fields of this golden yellow colored plants. Upon finally asking someone what it was that was growing everywhere, I was told it was Rape Seed and rape seed is used to make Canola Oil, which is a much better name than Rape Seed Oil! I like the idea of a Canola Quilt, with it’s beautiful colors! (Way better name than a Rape Quilt!)
Oh my gosh, this brought a tear to my eye!! Thank you for the colours, but exactly what pallet numbers are they- just joking!!!! Once again, thank you and the kettle’s on the stove waiting for you!!
Love hearing about other quilt related people’s life! Specially the ones that live so far away but manage to make a living with their passion!
Beautiful story. Beautiful Country. I only wish I could fly and visit, but the pictures and the story have brighten my day
Thanks for sharing and all the best to Sue and her husband!
Yoly T
Ithaca, NY
What a lovely and unusual place for patchwork !
Love this article. My aunty was married in this church years ago I was the little flower girl). I used to attend Sunday School there. I went to the Waitchie school, and later, my husband taught at the school. My grandparents owned the Post Office for many years, and I worked there after leaving Swan Hill High School. I also was temporary Station Mistress for a while. I went to Waitchie school with Daryl Bennett – last saw him 2 years ago cleaning up the cemetery, when I was visiting my little brother’s grave. It was good to see him after so many years. I have many happy memories of Waitchie. Sue, if you or Daryl (or anyone you know from Waitchie) have any photos of Waitchie the way it was in the 1940’s and 1950’s, I would love to have copies. Such a shame the town has mostly disappeared – very sad. Say hello to Daryl for me.