After careful planning and hard work the Clare Valley welcomed a new business to this wonderful tourist destination. In October 2013, Vine Art Studio, Gallery & Therapeutic Massage opened for business.
Here is a simple record of the happenings at Vine Art, with
occasional new updates and dating back to its opening day!
Saturday July 16th
2016
Halfway through the year and so much has happened! The B and B
has opened for business, with glowing reviews from every customer so far! Our
sheep, Frozen (No, we did not name him!) has been relocated to a new pasture as
he became too aggressive for us to handle. Instead, we now have a cute little
pygmy goat called Manny to accompany our other goat, Luna.
Also, finally, the website has a new look! It is still currently
undergoing construction but will be finished well before the next news entry.
Wednesday January 27th 2016
And now the quiet time of the year here
Very quiet
Just a few more weeks to complete the B and B
Sunday January 3rd 2016
It's going to be an early harvest this year
We are nearly ready to open our new B and B, just adding the final
touches.
Sunday November the 1st 2015
Its dry, its been dry and it looks like it will be
dry for some time
The Valley is looking great at the moment with lots of vines
growing their harvest for 2016
The L'tle Lolly Shop" is being really well received and
we are noticing greater numbers coming in
The last 6 months we have been really busy organising our B and B
business and hope to open our
"Bed in a Shed B & B" in February 2016
Pop in soon and see us
Monday September the 21st 2015
Our new "L'tle Lolly
Shop" is being "found" now and we
have English and American sweets in stock.
Our Bed in a Shed B & B is
nearing completion, we hope to open in 2016.
Our wine label "Grape Vine in a
Bottle" has been registered at last ready for release in
2017.
After a long and very cold winter the vines are now budding and
bursting in readiness for the 2016 harvest.
Monday August 3rd 2015
SALA is well underway here at Vine Art and at last plans are in
council for our new Bed and Breakfast business "Bed in a Shed"
You will find the page on Facebook under that name
Our new "L'tle Lolly
Shop" is being received well now into its second week.
We hope to have English sweets in soon
Wednesday July 15th 2015
So great to see all the rain at the moment
Great for the farmers and really great for our vineyard
More importantly though is our Choc Mint milkshakes that are
getting rave reviews
Drop in soon
Wednesday June the 3rd 2015
A very sad day today having to call the Clare Police to have a
badly injured kangaroo put down after being hit by a car
Friday May the 15th 2015
A very exciting night at the Clare Town Hall tonight with the
announcement of the 2015 Rotary Art Shows winning artworks
Congratulations to all the winning entries and Andrew was pretty
chuffed to pick up "The Best in
Exhibition" for his work entitled "The First
Drop"
Sunday April the 25th 2015
Its wet, its been wet and it looks like it will be wet for some
time
The Valley turns green again after a long dry spell and now we
wait for the cold and the chill
Work continues on finishing our new Bed and Breakfast business
and plans are underway to bottle our own wine in 2016
It’s busy, busy, busy around here but we look forward to getting
all the work done soon
It's seeding time too as farmers plant the next crops of grain
We LOVE the country life
Numbers are picking up again and our reviews are growing on Trip
Advisor
Pop in soon
Tuesday March the 17th 2015
Well it's getting busy again and next week the new Wine, Food
and Tourism Centre opens in the Clare Valley complete with a wine bar
This is great news for so many of those who have a business in
the Clare Valley as visitor numbers have been down substantially since the old
Visitor information centre closed 11 months ago
If you are reading this and you live in another state, city or
country do come and visit our beautiful Valley and stay a while
You will become so relaxed you will not want to leave
Thursday February 12th 2015
Here we are and its February already
Its harvest time in the Clare Valley and its HOT
Perfect time for Andrew to be painting in the air conditioned
comfort of his Studio
Being February it's also he quietest time of the year so
why not drop in and say hi
Andrew is always up for a chat :-)
See our progress on Facebook at our Vine Art site or google Vine
Art to then go to our recent Trip Advisor reviews
And if its art you want Andrew has a whole lot of new work
currently available for sale for private and corporate settings
Welcome to 2015 Have a great year everyone!
Tuesday December the 9th 2014
Busy getting ready for Christmas
We have lots of great things to buy for those last minute gifts
The grain harvest is almost done and the grape harvest is
looking good for February
We will only be closed Christmas day and Boxing Day so pop in
and say hello
Saturday October 25th 2014
Sunny, warm, fresh air, singing birds and grapes a growing
It’s just a beautiful day here in the Clare Valley today
Nice to see people enjoying Victoria Bones amazing fabric
exhibition with good sales
Her work will look great on anyones wall and her works
are very keenly priced
Pop in soon and see her exhibition on till the end of November
Thursday October 16th 2014
We can't believe it, it's the middle of October already
As usual it has been really busy and on the 4th of October we
celebrated 12 months in business with around 1700 people through in that time
The business has grown but will need a few more years to become
profitable as it takes time to get known
We really try to make people welcome and have met amazing people
from all over Australia and overseas
We plan to increase the Studio size in due course so we can
display even more art in time
We really want to make our own wine from our vineyard and serve
platters and wine but it all takes time and a lot of money so we just have to
tread slowly and carefully
Carolyn now has a fully set up massage room or she can come to
your bed and breakfast in the Clare Valley and with over 20 years experience
you will be in good hands
Andrew has had some good sales of his work and continues to
create new works
We have a great exhibition on at Vine Art at the present so why
not pop in to see Victoria Bones amazing fabric art which is really unusual and
very keenly priced
You will now find reviews on Trip Advisor under Leasingham
attractions so check that out
Come and visit soon its beeeeeeuuuuuiiiiitttifffuuulllll at the
moment
Saturday August 9th 2014
SALA is well underway since Cathy Pike opened our exhibition
just over a week ago
Today was a busy one with lots of happy folk in from SA and
interstate to enjoy some scones jam and cream, coffee tea in a really relaxing
environment
Drop by soon and enjoy some time with us
The addition of Frozen our seven week old lamb and Luna our
gorgeous goat a week old is a talking point around here
Finally this week the undercover area has been completed with
the completion of the retaining stone walls and plantings
Next the chook house is to be finished along with setting up a
small nursery
Roll on springtime
Thursday July 17th, 2014
Here we are in the depths of winter, looking forward to sunny
spring days. All around the Clare Valley, vines are being pruned, the ground is
damp, and everyone is ready for the sunshine soon.
Andrew is very busy finishing off paintings for the 2014 SALA
exhibition in August.
Please drop in during SALA and see wonderful works by four
dedicated local artists.
Wednesday June 25th, 2014
Well as you can tell we have been really busy getting the
food side of the business up and running, installing a public toilet, finishing
off the outdoor areas ready for the spring rush etc etc
Now getting some commission paintings done and working on SALA
works for August
Its been a really busy year of our lives and there is still a
lot to do
At the moment we are not sure what the bus will become but feel
that the cafe part of the business just won't work from there we think
We had a great harvest this year God gave good rain and sunshine
Have a great winter everyone
Saturday April 5th 2014
Very busy first day serving Devonshire teas!
Bus still being worked on, should be ready soon-ish!
NEW VINE ART AD FINALLY!!!!
Thanks to all those who were happy to be in it!
Wow, what a month!
We've had great time serving all our great customers our
wonderful Devonshire teas!
The ad is also FINALLY on Youtube (and our website)!
To view on Youtube, copy and paste this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6or9ablEHCU
Tuesday March the 18th 2014
It has been a very, very busy few weeks
Currently we have builders installing the new pitched roof and
verandahs to our home, a toilet block is getting ready to be completed,
undercover area for Devonshire Teas is being completed today and the bus is in
place hopefully to be ready to trade in May.
We have our first major exhibition opening on the 26th of April
so keep an eye out here for happenings.
Monday February the 17th 2014
Bus buying day today, we looked, we saw, we conquered.
Vintage starts this Friday in our vineyard.
We are finishing off the animal enclosure as a family in this
cooler weather and also preparing a new path and garden as the entrance to the
proposed Devonshire Tea bus
Busy busy busy………
Monday February the 10th 2014
A very busy
weekend with lots happening at Vine Art Studio, Gallery &
Therapeutic Massage.
Vintage has commenced all around us so the cooler nights mean
autumn should soon be with us.
We have been really busy getting ready to hopefully open our
Devonshire Tea business in April.
A concrete slab was poured last week for the toilet and bathroom
facilities, the builders are due in 5 weeks to remove the skillion roof and
build a new truss roof with new verandahs all around.
We are in the process of negotiating to purchase a very large
bus which will be gutted, will have really unique furniture in it, this
being a place for a wonderful Devonshire tea with northern views out over our
vineyard to the Annies Lane and Claymore vineyards, a haven from
wind rain and snow????
More to follow on that in due course.
We are trying to keep things green at present in the middle of a
very hot summer.
Stay tuned folks, its all go at Vine Art
Studio, Gallery & Therapeutic Massage here in the
beautiful Clare Valley.
Wednesday January the 22nd 2014
Its been a really busy start to 2014 with watering through the
very hot weather being high on the agenda for the vineyard
The grapes are getting closer to harvest and it's shaping up for
a good vintage in 2014
On the food front work has been progressing steadily on the new
kitchen ready to serve Devonshire teas in the autumn.
Granite bench tops, a new dishwasher and a bay window have
been installed which will be great for hygienic food preparation.
A new kitchen garden courtyard is being built at present behind
the kitchen to provide fresh herbs and the like for great food freshness.
Today the order for the timber for the new verandahs and
roof is to be ordered, the builder is booked for mid March to install the
new pitched roof and verandahs.
Applications are going to council for new signage on the main
highway.
It's a busy time but great now the weather is cooler as it
allows more things to be done in the evenings.
Sunday December the 29th 2013
Great to have so many through from all over the world this
weekend
Really enjoyed painting today with my 11 year old daughter along
side me
Keep up to date with our goings on, on our Face Book page @
Andrew Quixley Artist
Happy New Year everyone from Andrew, Carolyn, Oliver and Izzy
Quixley
Friday December the 20th 2013
Just so, so hot in the Valley this week around 40 degrees
Celcius
Looking forward to cooler weather over the next few days and
planting out our Buffalo grass runners to survive the hot summers up here
As summer settles in the numbers of visitors is dropping
allowing us more time to get the grounds ready for the Autumn Devonshire
tea opening
The new roof and verandah have now been pulled back into March
for construction so the mess will be over before April.
Sunday December the 8th 2013
Dark clouds tell of a storm a coming in the Valley tonight and
rain is always welcome
On closing this afternoon i locked up the Studio only to notice
a kangaroo and joey both enjoying our lush green lawn
I sat on the front verandah just peacefully watching them
munching
Its just so beautiful in the Clare Valley at the moment
I should mention a big congratulations to Raza and Richard who
have just opened their new winery in Watervale called "Shut the
gate"
Drop in there and say hi after you visit us in the coming weeks
Now after 9 weeks of being open we have had 363 people
through our doors
All of the comments have been great so thank you
Have a great week everyone
Wednesday November the 27th 2013
Its harvest time here in the Valley
Wheat is being loaded from golden paddocks with searing heat
rising from the dusty earth
Its 37 C today, thats 100 degrees for you guys from the USA
Its a hot dry wind that cooks everything in its way
The grapes are increasing in size and it is looking like a good
vintage in the autumn
We have a lot of new products in now, come and have a look
Friday November the 15th 2013
Work is progressing well on the 'Olde verandah'
Will post progress photos soon.
Friday November the 8th 2013
Work has started on the undercover area at the moment an ongoing
process that will have great results
Will post progress photos soon.
Friday November the 1st 2013
With November here we start to wonder where the time goes.
A quieter week in the Studio allowing time to plan the upcoming
outdoor undercover area adjacent to the Studio.
This morning Andrew set up a display at the Clare Valley Visitor
information Centre for Vine Art after being invited to do so.
Looking forward to a busy weekend.
Tuesday October the 22nd 2013
With Tuesday being our day off what better thing to do but dig
trenches and extend the existing pipework to the septic tank to allow for our
toilet facilities to be installed at a later date.
Monday October the 21st 2013
We had a lot
of wonderful people through on the weekend and Andrew enjoyed the friendly
chats with them.
Andrew works on his own this week as Carolyn and the kids take a
much needed break in Bali for 8 days.
Yesterday more Riesling vines were planted and watered
a really rewarding task though the flies were everywhere even at 7 am.
Friday October the 18th 2013
Today our new Riesling Trail sign went
in at the Leasingham exit.
A big thank you to Mark Hill and
to the Treasurer Peter for all their help in getting this up
and running.
This evening work started on our
"Citrus Walk" at the entrance to the Gallery.
Will be wonderful when fully grown.
Wednesday October the 16th 2013
100 new Riesling vines planted out in
the vineyard where some vines had died.
The vineyard is being improved on an
ongoing basis.
Good numbers through the Gallery today
even on the windiest of days.
Tuesday October the 15th 2013
Plans are underway to build an
undercover outdoor area, to serve coffee, Devonshire teas and in the future
wood fired oven pizzas.
Will go to council with this in the next
few days.
Our idea is for a unique outdoor eating
area to complement the gallery with a a focus on relaxed outdoor relaxation for
tourists and for locals.
Saturday October the 12th 2013
Currently, we are attending to the construction of fences and
animal enclosures.
Alpacas, sheep and chooks are expected to shift into our
property in the near future.
Also, at present all of the vines are budding up ready for a
great vintage in 2014.
We are also in the process of making a short video promoting our
business.
Saturday October the 5th 2013
Open for business for the very first time
A busy week we welcomed visitors from the local area,
Adelaide and interstate.
Very pleased with the responses and sales!