Quilts For Orphans

Update on Romania ..... fabric 'hugs' on their way :)

 

                                                                                    

Hello again readers ..... remember I recently mentioned that we were now in the process of connecting with Romania?

Well on Wednesday we were blessed to be able to be involved with providing more quilts to the Foundations Worldwide ministry. This organisation sends two 40' sealed containers a year to Romania and we are thrilled to be able to partner with them in sending quilts to those in need in that country.  Gaynor has just messaged me with the following details ... in her words ... 'Three men two SVU's and it all fitted into one car. What a lovely man is Ford and he has promised us some photos when they arrive. The first 41 quilts are already on the ocean and will arrive in Romania mid November'.

The quilts we were able to provide this week brings (I think) the total number of quilts provided to around 200. How wonderful :) I do indeed look forward to seeing and sharing the photographs of our quilts at their destination with you all.

Now a further update on some wonderful, and extremely welcome, fabric donations that have found their way to our Barn since last I blogged.

Last week our Pauline dropped off a lot of material and wadding that had been given to her over the past months.  I would like to say a big thank you to
the following people who made the donation possible :  

Lynda - for the backing sheets. Always an extremely helpful donation as often larger pieces of uncut fabric are hard to find in our existing 'stash'.

Helen  -  lovely material for the library bags sent to Vanuatu.  Some of this material will be used for backings for kiddies quilts.

Grace  -  for quilt materials, and bindings. Where would we be without the generosity of 'destashers' who gift us thus?

Veronica  -  for a lot of materials for backing and quilt tops. I look forward to photographing these donations.

Laurelle - lots of material with cat designs - great for childrens quilts. How lovely, cannot wait to see them.

Merri   - received a lot of material from her friend Gemmy and sister who gave us just so much material, backing and 2 bags of batting which will be
so handy.  Yes indeed, wadding is such an important part of our quilting ... and what a generous blessing, Thank you.


Many thanks to you all as you bless so many others. We truly are appreciative of these gifts ... without them, projects such as the quilts we have sent to Romania would be so hard to keep up with. 'Fabric in ... quilts out' .... what a wonderful cycle it is indeed. Thank you so very much ladies :)

Till nest Blog update, and accompanying photographs ... blessings to all,

 

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

 

October .... and we had visitors to the Barn .... and they didn't leave empty handed :)

                                                        

Well here we are, October already, and our Annual Quilt Fair is getting closer by the day. We met up at the Barn today to work and also to discuss plans for next months event. Present, and most welcome today, were Yvonne, Carol, Maxine, Deborah, Val and Val, Win, Jan, Christine, Gaynor and yours truly .... and everyone was soon busy hand sewing, measuring and doing much organising for our November fundraising weekend.

Win ... giving directions ... and at the same time demonstrating that she hasn't skewered herself on the overlocker needles.

 Deborah .. getting a teensy bit excited at obtaining a labeller, pricing 'gun' and tags for our Quilt Sale items.

Then Deborah 'retired' to the handsewing corner, joining Carol, Maxine and Yvonne in finishing off what had been a significant stack of quilts needing the bindings handfinished. It was, for a long time, looking a bit like the pile of straw that had to be spun into gold in the old fairytale. It never diminished!!

And Val kept busy at the cutting bench ...

 Before our guests arrived we opened some of the donations we had been blessed with since our last gathering. Firstly a lovely parcel of quilt tops and bindings from Judith Howard in Warragul. Thank you so very, very much Judith ... your quilt tops are just beautiful and much appreciated. 

Such lovely detail in the applique too Judith. Again, thank you so much for your donations. Its always such a help to have offsite support from stitchers sewing and gifting us with their handiwork. It's an enormous help to us and we appreciate each and every one who sends us their handiwork. You are an integral part of what we do .... thank you :)

We also had donated, from a friend of Yvonnes, a large bag of overlocker threads. thank you so much Lucy, this donation really helps us in finishing off our quilts. So welcome and appreciated.

Meanwhile one of our members, Jan ... had been busy with a million small squares, creating a quilt top for us. how she has the patience to piece these I will NEVER know. Absolutely brilliant ...

She also created this ... and isn't it great?

 Now, as I mentioned earlier, we had visitors today ... from Billanook College in Mooroolbark.

You may remember that each year a team of students and teachers travel to Thailand in order as part of the schools Thai Service Project. This year they will again be travelling to Mae Hong Son and will be taking 40 of our quilts with them to gift to the children there. Today we welcomed Kate, Jacqui and Joh and students Nikolas, Brigette, Nathan and Laura. They brought with them a lovely picture of last years trip and the children who received our quilts then. So good to see our quilts wrapped around children in far off places. Best feedback ever :)

Here the students selected quilts to take ....

As well as admiring some of the quilts we were sorting for potential sale at our upcoming Quilt Fair.

Decisions, decisions, decisions ...... and meanwhile here is one of the children who received a quilt in a previous Thai Service Trip by Billanook ... I love seeing our quilts wrapped around a child ... its a gift that gives back to us when we see those beaming faces :)

And to take their minds briefly off the decision making .. we broke for lunch ... a 'Do it yourself' Subway lunch ... delicious!!

Mmmmmmmnnnnn ...... Oooooh yeah!!!!

Such a nice Spring Day ... eating lunch outdoors seemed the obvious thing to do ...

 

Such a glorious day .... always nice to be in the garden on days like this ...

A brief pause from 'sun soaking' ...  and dessert beckoned ....

 And finally .. a group shot before our visitors departed ... we look forward to hearing how their Thai trip went when we again host them next year :)

Now don't forget .. (if I haven't already mentioned it a few times)  that we are having our Annual Quilt Fair in November. Grab a pen and ink in the weekend of Saturday November 12th and Sunday November 13th. Held at the Barn ... 345 Macclesfield Road Monbulk from 10 am to 4 pm both days. Melways reference 123 J8. Parking WILL be available onsite, as will refreshments. Admission is $5.00 and this money, and the money from the sale of quilts etc will be ploughed back into purchasing the batting so necessary for the middle of our quilts. Each roll of batting costs us $240 and we can create 40 quilts from a roll. We buy two rolls at a time. Completely reliant as we are on the generosity of folk 'destashing' and gifting us fabric and quilt tops ... batting is a HUGE 'ask' and not often donated to us. Hence the need to fundraise annually in order to continue our quilt 'ministry' both overseas and locally. Please do consider visiting us in November, bring a friend or two and have a lovely day at the Barn. We will have quilts for sale, Christmas items and something for everyone ... as well as a display of needlework and show quilts. Spread the word.

We are on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsForOrphans/?fref=ts so consider, if you are also on good old Facebook, wandering over to our Page and giving us a 'Like' as well as sharing our Event on your own Walls. Every bit of getting our message 'out there' is a valuable aid in assisting us to achieve our aims. We are also featured in a very recent edition of Down Under Quilts magazine ... look out for us in your Newsagency.

And that just about wraps up this Blogpost, we hope this week to be part of the organising of 200 quilts heading to Romania .. I will let you know next Blog how that went. See ... the 'demand' for fabric 'hugs' never diminishes .. and as long as they are needed, QFO will endeavour to meet that need. So please continue to support us, spreading the word about what we do ... word of mouth is such a valuable help to us. Now I will do the usual direction to our Links and our Contact details and look forward to sharing more with you as we get closer to our Quilt Fair (did you see what I did there? Yep ... I got in another shameless 'plug' for our Quilt Fair. Yaaaaay me!!!!

 Till next Blogpost ... keep sharing our news and blessings to all our readers,

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/

 

 

 

 

September Blogpost ..... gosh the year has flown!!!

Well here I am at last ... with all the news and photos from our September gathering at the Barn. Have been provided with notes from the day and will now attempt to create a post worthy of the efforts of Deborah and Gaynor who have kindly provided the 'absent on the day' blogger with notes and USB. So without further ado ... here goes :)

Present on the day were Gaynor, Deborah, Jenny, Yvonne, Christine, Val, Sandi, Maxine, Carol, Alice and Julie. 

Firstly ... remember all those tote bags we have been making for Tannar Island? well check out these photos ... and the email I got from Gaynor about them ... pretty wonderful response I think you will agree. 

25 bags were delivered to Tannar Island Vanuatu by a young man travelling by himself. Lovely photos have been received.  Last week another 165 were delivered to Samaritans Purse to be put into the Christmas shoe boxes. These will be sent to many places in the Pacific area eg - Vanuatu, PNG & Figi.   When the children open the box with all their gifts they will have their very own bag to carry them all in.   The lady in charge was so impressed with the bags - good workmanship.

Always awesome to receive positive feedback for our efforts ... do any of our stitchers recognise a bag they have made?? 

Now ... from stitching going 'out' .. we move onto stitchings coming 'in'. Our very welcome and beautiful donations. Firstly, from longtime supporter Julia Ozolins .... three gorgeous quilt tops.

Aren't they gorgeous? Thank you so very much Julia, your quilt tops are, as always, just beautiful. Such a pleasure to gaze upon!!

Now ... from Carmen Diefenbach in Tasmania, this stunning quilt top, Gaynor was particularly impressed by the incredible and perfectly blanket stitched buterflies. Such wonderful work Carmen. And thank you so much for choosing us to be the fortunate recipient of your efforts. We certainly look forward with anticipation to whatever future 'giftings' you choose to send us. 

Now, from the Grainshed Church in Swan Hill, we received some awesome donated items ... lovely tote bags :)

And many quilt tops too .... thank you so very much ladies ... your generosity enables us to help cover so many with quilts.

Now .... from Kay, who used to stitch with us regularly, until she 'upped sticks' and relocated two years ago. She arrived, bearing gifts in the form of 31 quilt tops!! Amaaaazing effort and SO appreciated Kay. Wish I'd been there to thank you personally, cannot wait to check them (and all our other giftings  next month!     

I spy some of Kays 'trademark' dramatic black sashings too!!

A last minute entry of fabric donations, received this weekend & very welcome too. Firstly from Liz Curtis (Yarra Ranges Craft Hub)

And from Chelsea Aldridge, also from the Craft Hub, another box of fabric.Both these donations will soon resurface as quilts :)

Thank you both so very much Liz and Chelsea ... donations such as these are always welcome and enable us to create even more quilts for places around the globe. Watch the Blog in months to come and see if you can spy your fabric in our quilts :)

Now, from our very own Sandi, who always turns out perfectly pieced and colour coordinated quilt tops ... this stunner!

Now onto the happy snaps of the dedicated stitchers who graced the Barn earlier this month, Maxine, Carol, Alice and Julie. Our handstitching corner is always well patronised and a perfect spot to stitch and chat as the sunshine streams through the windows.

Christine, Yvonne and the meticulous measurer Jenny .... always great at working out the math needed for perfect piecing.

Val .... who actually looks like she enjoys ironing ... that's soooo crazy!!

And when she is not ironing ... she is expertly stitching quilt tops and bindings on her machine .. as is our Sandi in the background.

 

And dear reader, that just about wraps up this months Blogpost, hope it was worth your waiting :) We meet up again at the Barn on the second Saturday of October (by my calendar that makes it October 8th. Our last gathering before our annual Quilt Fair weekend in November. Gosh we WILL be busy in the interim.

Our lunch 'Theme' will be  'Build your own Subway' ... cost will be in the vicinity of $5 from memory and many tasty fillings will be available to fill the many fresh rolls with. Have to keep the quilters well nourished eh?

I look forward to Blogging for you again soon after, and in the interim will post our usual helpful contact details and Links for your perusal. Blessings to all till next time ...

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/