Well here we are again .... another fresh year with much stitching to do ... many projects in hand to brighten the lives of children (and others) with our fabric 'hugs' and other stitched gifts. We'll be busy :)
The reference to 'steaming along' related to the weather we had on Saturday .... Melbourne being in the grip of a heatwave and temperatures over 40 degrees celsius. But, with the help of a portable airconditioner and overhead fans in our Barn, we managed to achieve a good amount of sewing and planning on our first get-together. Present at our first Bee for the year were Yvonne, Pauline, Val, Win, Christine, Sandi, Joy, Carol, Maxine,Isobel, Noelle, Gaynor and myself.
But before I start telling you about our gathering on Saturday ... I have some pictures to share ... the first snaps being the quilts sent to us in November by Rosa and Wendy .... Thank You so VERY much ladies, your kindness was just wonderful and the quilts will be so very appreciated by the recipients.
We also received over the break some wonderful donations of fabric and quilt tops .... firstly the lovely donation of fat quarters from Linda Johnson ....
Thank you so much Linda ... these will be transformed into quilt tops almost before your very eyes!
Next we had a donation of two quilt tops sourced by Alison Morris who had emailed me over the break..,
These lovely quilt tops will be completed, padded and quilted.... and soon wrapped around a child who will receive much pleasure from your kindness Alison .... many thanks :)
Next wonderful 'giftings' came all the way from the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. First from Donna Schubert ..... thank you so much Donna .... we are always overwhelmed when we receive parcels from far away. Amazing how far our QFO ministry can reach, isn't it? Beautiful quilts Donna :)
Also from Katherine .... we received this lovely quilt from another 'Territorian' .... Mary Nunn ...
Just lovely Mary, absolutely gorgeous!!
Another parcel came from Julia Ozolins, who has stitched for us over the last few years, always happy to hear from you Julia :)
Many thanks Julia .... especially for your thoughtfulness in including the bindings as well :)
Now we move on to Show and Tell from our resident on-site stitchers ..... first Sandi ...
Sandi has a great eye for colour ....
A lovely picking up of the colours in the border fabric and finding matches in the centre piecings ...
Now a break for lunch ... and as it was extreme summer .... we opted for cold meats and salads :)
Very tasty indeed .......
Now we move on to our first project for 2014. In response to a request from a past quilter ... Lois .... who is now ministering in Papua New Guinea, we have been asked if we could make up some sewing kits for the local ladies over there who have been given a number of manual sewing machines. This will give them the ability to not only stitch for themselves, but to set up a means to earn a living through their efforts.We will be making up about 16 sewing kits with thimbles, tape measures, needles and scissors to get them started. So our efforts on Saturday centred on working out a simple sewing roll .... which each lady will be able to carry with her whilst sewing.
Joy and Isobel ....
Win, Val and Noelle were busy binding quilts ....
Maxine and Carol were also busy hand stitching ....
Christine sourcing bits'n'bobs for quilts ....
Sandi, Gaynor and Joy discussing patterns for the sewing Kits we will be making.
Plenty more bindings to be attached ... by Noelle, Maxine and Carol ....
Win and Pauline .... who was kept busy measuring and cutting for the sewing kits.
Speaking of whom .... our next Show and Tell was from Pauline ...
Lovely work Pauline ....... :)
And that just about winds up this first Blog for 2014 ... have yet to 'flesh out' our menu for the lunches we will have as sustenance during the year ... but Gaynor thinks that a barbeque and salads would be rather tasty next month when we gather on March 8th .... sounds like a plan I reckon :) Promise we will have a full listing in my next posting.
Ooops .... nearly forgot ... a quick 'Heads Up' that we will be having a stall at the next Monbulk Quilt Fair ... to be held on March 15th .... in Monbulk ... next to the Primary School. More details and a copy of the flyer will be posted as soon as I have access to them. But DO pencil it into your diaries and make time to drop by our stall ...this will be our first opportunity in 2014 to showcase our wares and raise awareness of what we do.
Now our 'regulalrly scheduled acknowledgements' for all those that we have connected with over the years and the Links to those we have stitched for.. and continue to support when needed. As well as how to contact us .....
Our contact details are as follow:
Gaynor Peterson ... phone (03)9756 7950
email ... [email protected]
Susan Hamilton .....phone (03)9737 1825
email: [email protected]
Our postal address (for donations) is P.O Box 398 Monbulk Victoria 3793
Check out the following Links:
www.com.org.au/ .... our very own Christian Outreach Ministry in Mount Evelyn.
Now on to the rest of our Links .....
http://kayleenwest.com.au .... for Art with a positive spirit
http://mellyandme.typepad.com .... creative clothing etc for children
http://mrsmartinsquiltshop.typepad.com/ ...whose customer blessed us with awesome fabric
We also stitch for the following Childrens Homes ....
http://www.butterflych.org/.... for news about the Butterfly Palliative Care hospice in China
And their very own Blog ... which is beautifully written and contains inspirational stories on the children in their care. See the Link below:
http://butterflyhospice.blogspot.com.au/
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d6a59784e7a45314d6a673d0d0a&sb=1
www.freetobekids.org/- .... the rescue organisation that frees children from slavery and exploitation
www.hopefosterhome.com ... the babies we are creating crib quilts for in China ...
www.zoehopeproject.blogspot.com .... giving hope to children in Zambia.
http://english.chinaconcern.org/ ... more children in China that we have stitched for ...
http://www.lolachildrensfund.org/ .... in Ethiopia
http://www.fikelela.org.za/orphan.asp .... the Fikelala AIDS Project in Capetown
http://mifanmama.com/Shining_Star_2.html the Home for vision impaired children in Shanghai
Our Link to Treasure Corner Opshop in Wray Crescent Mount Evelyn .... the brainchild of Helen Greenwood so many years ago, the start of the support for COM Homes in India is listed below. Well worth a visit for the many bargains available, proceeds from the sales go toward the Childrens Homes in India ... 26 so far have been built through funds raised by this shop, an amazing achievement indeed.
And finally ... our very own Website ... courtesy of the very gifted Fiona Peterson :)
http://www.quiltsfororphans.org
Blessings all till next Post ...
Susan