Well, as winter gets well underway ... we certainly do need to remember what comfort a quilt can give, and how wonderful that we continue to be able to create our fabric hugs and other projects at the Barn. Certainly is no better feeling than to be able to create for others something to make their lives warmer, and we hope ... happier.
We gathered, in a positive frame of mind, on Saturday July 9th .. sewing machines at the ready and more than willing to create, create, create. We had a slightly smaller group than usual ... I think the school holidays may have impacted on some of our ladies ... but those that were able to come were certainly kept busy anyway. We had Alison, Yvonne, Jenny, Sandi, Christine, jan, Val, Win, Joy and Carol (with Poppy the poodle briefly dropping by).
We had also received some wonderful fabric and quilt donations since our last meeting in June ... and it gives me great pleasure to show you what our 'offsite' supporters had created for us ...
Firstly ... from Chelsea, a wonderful bag of fabric pieces that will most certainly be incorporated into quilts in the coming months. Many thanks Chelsea ... your gifting will certainly give our 'stash' a great boost.
we also received a lovely quilt top from our mother and daughter team Sylvia and Edith in North Ryde ... complete with backing fabric and binding. Many thanks ladies, always an absolute pleasure to receive your stitchings ...
Next .. from Linda Johnson ... who is also a regular supporter ... and has had a major 'destash' of some awesome fabrics for us ...
Including some pieced 'blocks' which we will incorporate into some great quilts I'm sure. Thank you so very, very much Linda :)
From another 'regular' ... Julia Ozolins in Yarragon ... who had seen that we were currently busy making bags for Vanuatu ...
Just wonderful Julia ..... aaabsolutely wonderful!! But wait .... there's more ... Julia sent three gorgeous quilt tops too!!
Am a HUGE fan of blue and lemon ..... so really loving this one Julia :)
Now ..... via our Facebook page, I got a message from Tammie Alysandratos who had very busily been creating snuggly warm quilts and wondered whether we would like them for our giftings to those in need of warmth ... indeed we would. So ... here they are. And bless you for choosing us Tammie ... they are lovely!! And so incredibly warm!!!
So much work and beautiful fabrics in these Tammie .....
And THIS beauty I believe ... is called a 'tied' quilt. Backed with a lovely wool fabric ... super toasty warm. Just lovely!!
We also had our 'Show and Tell segment at the Barn ... and here is Jans work ...
Jan added to a panel we received and created a nice size cot quilt .... perfect for one of the children we bless overseas.
Now from Christine .... a 'floating' effect quilt top ....
And our Sandi had not let the fabric 'grass' grow under her feet .... as this pretty shabby chic pink quilt demonstrates ....
And this vibrant kiddy print top ......
Meanwhile Joy had been stitching a set of three matching quilt tops for China ...
As well as this little charmer ......
A brief break for lunch at the Barn ... and the 'Theme' appropriately being 'Winter casseroles' ....
Then it was back to tote bag making for the kindergartens at Tanner Island in Vanuatu.
Jenny .... who pretty much wrote the pattern and guided us along the process ....
Alison and Sandi .....
Overview of our busy Barn ..... Christine and Joy in the foreground. Win, Jenny, Val and Alison in the background.
Ta-daaaaaa!!!! Only took me all day, but I made a bag!!!! And I even managed to stitch the pocket on the right way up, Woohoo!!!
And so concluded another day at the Barn ... and most productive it was too. We meet up again on August 13th ... the lunch 'Theme' will be Chinese/Asian food ... so am looking forward to the taste of the Orient. And I guess we will also be discussing and fine tuning plans for our November Quilt Fair weekend. Please lock in the second weekend of November as the opportunity to visit our Barn and support our fundraising efforts. Further details as we proceed with organising this annual event.
In the interim ... I have a couple of bag kits to put together (yes, we didn't leave on Saturday without each taking some 'homework' with us) so I will finalise this Blogpost with the usual acknowledgements to our supporters and those we have provided with our quilts.
Till next month ... many blessings from the Barn and QFO .... and I look forward to telling you all the forthcoming news in my August Blog.
Susan
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:
http://www.facebook.com/Chelseaonesock .... for delightful retro fabric childrens clothing
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
http://www.austchamshanghai.com/about-us/csr/mifan-mama.aspx
http://www.thebabesproject.com.au/
http://elishacare.blogspot.com.au/
http://rangescc.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/elisha-care/
https://jewelsofhope.wordpress.com/partners/
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