Well here I am again peoples .... with the last of the working bee postings for QFO for 2009, and hasn't the year simply flown?
The ladies met up again on November 14th at Gaynors and were kept pretty busy, unpicking, stitching and attaching bindings to completed quilts ... some destined for the Childrens Homes in India, and some destined for sale ... as part of our fundraising efforts. Before I continue though with a run through of the days doings and the photos that accompany our activities, I must share with you the statistics of what we have achieved so far for the children halfway across the world in the COM Homes.
Give or take a quilt or two ....we have sent 314 quilts to India, have a further 200 completed quilts ready to go ... and another 200 are being quilted even as I type this. That makes approximately 714 quilts toward our planned target of 2000 quilts. Of course we will continue our stitching even after reaching the 2000 mark ... as there will always be more children coming into the Homes, to take the place of those who have graduated and been placed in employment or similar pursuits. And all of this has happened because Gaynor and her daughter Rachel saw a need .... and set about creating a degree of comfort and a tangible show of our love for these children. How amazing is this project!!
Now for some photos, showing the willing helpers involved in QFO ... and how their hands and hearts worked steadily and willingly at our get together on the 14th ..
Here we have Margaret & Pauline stitching bindings ... whilst Isobel &Joy cut fabric for more quilts.
And here are Emily, Yvonne, Noelle and Christine busily attaching pockets to the backs of the quilts. These calico pockets will have a small laminated card, created by the Careforce Sunday School children, popped in them for the children in India ... another gift from us to them ...
Absolute proof that the family that sews together grows together ... Amber and her Grandmother Yvonne are a regular part of our gatherings and have turned out an impressive amount of stitching for us.
Now for some Show and Tell .... what wondrous things have been created since we last got together!
Just a small part of the detailed quilting that is on the piece below ... this was done by our wonderful friend Lynn in Mildura on her splendid machine ..... her work is truly inspired!!
And some more of Lynns quilting ... she 'themes' her quilting to match the quilts ... great work!!
Something 'fishy' going on here & it's Dolphins, afraid my photography didn't do total justice to Lynns work.
Lynn also quilted two of my efforts ... and it was lovely to see how good she had made my 'Newbie' piecing look ... thanks Lynn!!
Bears above ... and boats below .. and the quilting complemented the fabric patterns nicely, clever Lynn!!
We had a short break for lunch ... a delicious BBQ presided over by our chief cook and bottle washer Reg ... and he did a wonderful job as per usual. And whilst he may not stitch ... he keeps us well catered for and always does it with a smile. We would be lost without him ..... our honorary QFO member!!
Soon we were back to Show and tell ... so many beautiful quilts, so much amazing fabric used with flair!!
Here is Margaret with her two variations of the '9 patch' design .... aren't the colours delightful?
Here we have some of the work done as a combined effort by Yvonne and her sister Barbara ...
Barbara pieces the quilts .... and Yvonne then collects and quilts them ... what teamwork!!
Isn't this fabric just amazing .. and I was told today that while Barbara has been stitching for us offsite, she has also been caring for her husband who has been quite unwell this year. So, as he returns to good health, we look forward to seeing her in 2010 ... and thank her so much for her commitment to our project in the face of what must have been a pretty hectic and worrisome time for her.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful ladies from the Ringwood Church of Christ 'Piecemakers' ... and Linda Akehurst, for the incredible number of quilt 'tops', part tops and quilt fabric that they have given us. This material, and the backing fabric, has come in very handy indeed and a great number of quilts have been made as a result of their generosity. And I am not forgetting Margaret Butcher, Nancy Selwood and Robyn Geyer for their donations of wonderful fabric also. This has been used in the creation of some wonderfully colourful quilts. It is the kindness of people such as these that is enabling us to make so very many more of our fabric 'hugs' for the children in India. We know that the children will treasure the quilts and we thank you all so very, very much for your generous spirit which continues to bless and encourage us.
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NEWS FLASH.NEWS FLASH.NEWS FLASH. EWS FLASH.NEWS FLASH.NEWS FLASH. NEWS FLASH.
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There .... that got your attention ... didn't it? I have been told to advise all off-site 'top' stitchers .. and those who may have missed our last meeting ... that we have had to revise the size of our quilt tops. This has been necessary to fit in with the new batting that we have procured. So ... the new size for quilt tops is now 44" x 55" folks ... OK? Of course this doesn't mean that we won't accept completed quilts that fall outside these measurements ... how silly would that be?? Don't answer that please. But it does mean that if you are piecing tops for us to quilt and complete, they need to be the size mentioned above ... or they will have to be trimmed ... and how sad would that be?
Now we have more news flashes ... are you excited? I am ... and with some justification ... (Drum Roll please) .. our shed will be delivered in about 10 days ... but that's not all. NOT BY A LOOOONG CHALK!!
This deserves its very own paragraph ... and so it will get it ... we have had the services offered of a builder!!! A wonderful man by the name of David Higgins saw our little blurb in the Careforce Life Update, where we begged for a suitably qualified builder to help us get the footings etc in so that our shed would meet Council specifications and we could proceed with its completion. David has put his hand up, met up with Gaynor and Reg this past week ... and we are absolutely blown away by this answer to prayer ... I cannot even begin to thank you enough David.... words fail me completely!! I have been told that David has a heart for Mission work ... and we could not be more grateful that he saw our need and felt drawn to help us. may you be indeed blessed as you have blessed us.
Now for a picture ... and this one shows where the tree was ... and is no more ... and where our shed will soon be ... I'm excited ... we are ALL excited!! To finally see light at the end of what has been a pretty long tunnel .. to know that Gaynors dream is about to materialise, and that we quilters for orphans will have our dedicated workspace. How wonderful is this indeed!!
I will also show just a small sample of the fabric that will soon be stored in our new workbarn .. and will no longer be 'insulating' Reg and Gaynors verandah. Of course this fabric is for sale .... and if we manage to sell more of it between now and when the shed is up .. how much easier will the move be eh? This stunning mock suede furnishing fabric wants to be used by YOU ... can't you just imagine whipping up some beanbags, or covering that footstool that is in need of an upgrade? Call Gaynor NOW on 9756 7950 and she'll have her cutting scissors out before you can say 'I'll have xxxx metres of that colour please'!!
And don't forget ... that we still welcome extra hands to the 'wheel' or wheelbarrow when it comes time to get that barn built .... so if you have a heart to help and would like to do something constructive over the next few weeks ... please call Gaynor and Reg on 9756 7950 to offer your services. And that offer is also extended to our quilters ... who are more than welcome to bring a plate of 'tasty comestibles' to help feed our workers as they toil away for us. Notice how confident I am that we will be inundated with offers of help .... optimistic to the maxxx .... that's me!!!
********************************** OUR CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON .... AND MORE NEWS ****************************
We met today at the Yarra Ranges Estate in Monbulk for a lovely end of year break-up. Present were Margaret and husband David, Alice, Joy, Emily, Yvonne and Amber, Pauline, husband Chris and grand daughter Della Rose, Myself with husband Peter and Emily, Isobel and husband Jim, Noelle, Rachel, Reg, Gaynor and Tom, Inge, Lesley, John and Joseph Hansen and Clive and Annette Stone.
You might recall I mentioned Clive and Annette in my Blog of last month. They have built a childrens Home in Gokavaram in India. They raised the money for this Home by negotiating to sell water rights from their farm here, and then forwarded the money to India. This Home will house around 50 children, who up until now had been living in a second storey rented house with very limited space and amenities. Thanks to the amazing generosity of Clive and Annette their lives will now be immeasurably brighter. Anyone wishing to help support Clive and Annettes' project can partner in their program by contacting COM on 9760 8040 and mention the Gokavaram Childrens Home Project.
Here are Clive and Annette ... whose amazing generosity has blessed the lives of the children in the Gokavaram Children Home.
Yvonne, Tom, Rachel and Gaynor. Reg, Tom and Emily enjoying lunch.
Joy, Isobel & Jim enjoying the meal .. also enjoying were themselves were Chris, Della Rose & Pauline ....
Margaret and David chatting to Reg .... Alice and Noelle enjoying a cuppa ...
Inge and John enjoying the music at the luncheon. Lesley, Joseph and John,with Chris and Della Rose.
No gathering of QFO ladies would be complete without a couple of 'Rachel moments' ...and here are todays!
Emily & Yvonne with 'Santas little helper' .. Amber. Peter and Margaret ... enjoying the serenity ....
Emily, Peter and Margaret ... and that lovely view ! Margaret, David, Reg and Alice ....
Now just before the lunch was at an end we made a small presentation to thank Gaynor ... and Reg, for opening their home and their hearts to this project. They have worked tirelessly and been the absolute backbone of this endeavour. Each month they have provided us with all the comforts of their home, made sure that the urn was always boiling, the coffee jar always full, the table alway set with the best china for our lunches. This they have done willingly, so we were more than pleased to be able to repay them with the gift of dinner out at both Rose Cottage and Coonara Springs Restaurants. We hope that they will have a lovely time ... the very least that we could do for them .... as they always do so very much for us andthe children in India ... so thank you both ... from us all!!
And just to prove that there is no end to Gaynors giving heart ... we QFO ladies didn't go home empty handed either. Each of us was presented with a lovely plant ... and a neat little fabric stash. The stash is a two way gift ... we take it home ... and bring it back in February at our first get-together for 2010 ... as a made up cot quilt for the Chinakidz project. Look out for pictures of our completed efforts in the February Blog!!
Only one fabric stash left ....
Soon to be turned into a cot quilt by the Blog editor .....
And finally .... yes, there is an end to this Blog ... the first Working bee for 2010 will be held on Saturday February 13th 2010. Starting at 9.30 a.m. Lunch theme will be pizza and salad .. and the Chinakidz cot quilts are to be returned completed. And if anyone of our QFO ladies was unable to attend our Christmas lunch ... but would STILL like to participate in the Chinakidz cot quilt project, I am sure Gaynor would just love to rustle up a stash pack for you. Call her on 9756 7950 to ask :)
I will be posting the entire dates for our 2010 get togethers in a separate Blog entry ... just so that you don't have to re-read this humungous blurb each time you need a refresher on our calendar. 'Thoughtful' is my middle name .... but you knew that already, didn't you?
Blessings till next Blog folks ... don't forget to offer any assistance you can to our barn raising, offer any assistance whatever to our quilting for orphans project, offer to sew, offer to donate fabric, offer to donate money for batting for the quilt 'insides, offer to buy one of our awesome wedding dresses, offer to buy furnishing fabric' ... just offer .... and we will accept!!
And .... don't forget to haunt your newsagent on December 10th ... for the copy of Homespun magazine that has a wonderful article on our Quilts for Orphans in it ... OK? Buy two copies ... give one to a friend .. spread the word!!
Susan