Quilts For Orphans

Last QFO gathering for 2016 .. our Christmas breakup lunch :)

                                                                        

Well here 'tis. The last Blog post before Christmas ... and I bring to you our gathering for the Quilters Christmas lunch. Held at the lovely Rose Cottage in Monbulk ... where we enjoyed a delightful meal, which was only surpassed by the pleasant company :) We also 'unfurled' our AWESOME QFO banner, organised by Deborah ... which will grace all the Quilt Exhibitions and Fairs that we are invited to participate in during the years to come. So without further ado here are the pictures ... enjoy!!

Lunch was attended by Gaynor and Reg, Yvonne and Don, Alison, Carol, Maxine, Pauline, Val and Val, Sandi, Joy, Win, Alice, Deborah, Julie and Ian and myself and Peter.

Win, Val and Sandi ....

Julie, Joy, Alice and Val.

Pauline and Win.

Deborah unfurls our amaaaazing pull-up banner. Isn't it HUGE??

Such a wonderful promotional tool for our future 'outings'. Absolutely thrilled to bits with it :)

Overview of the lovely dining room at Rose Cottage.

Peter, Alison, Yvonne ... with Gaynor in the background.

Val ... showing off her reindeer earrings :)

Reg and Don.

Alison, Carol and Maxine.

Ian, Sandi, Julie, Val and Alice.

Val, Sandi, Ian, Deborah, Julie, Joy and Alice.

Just a sample of the delicious fare on offer at Rose Cottage. Think everyone was more than satisfied with their meals. I know I was ;)

And time to go ... Val,Joy and Alice ... soon after this we were all on our way home.

Now we meet again in 2017 ... February 11th 2017 ... where the Lunch 'Theme' will be Cold Meats and Salads. Prior to that our 'Workday folk' will be meeting at the Barn on Monday January 30th, to set up the kits and other items that we will be working on at our first sewing day. It's a BYO lunch on the Monday Work Days .. and extra hands are always welcome to pop in and help the 'regulars'.

And on that note I will sign off for 2016 .. direct you to our wonderful new Website, to be found at www.quiltsfororphans.org .. and also remind you that we have a Facebook page which is regularly updated. https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsForOrphans/ It can also be accessed thru our website, as can this Blog. Pretty neat huh?

Wishing you all an absolutely beautiful Christmas and a safe New Year. And I look forward to bringing you all the news of our QFO projects and events in the year to come.

Blessings to all, and a huge Thank You to all who have supported and encouraged us over the last twelve months. Special thanks also to Annette at Monart and Renee at Rubidesign who have worked their collective fingers off in creating our new signage and website. Kudos and appreciative thanks to you both. Thanks also to the fellows from the Monbulk Mens Shed who are installing much needed storage in our Barn, even as I hit the 'publish' button on todays Post. How blessed are we all ... to have such awesome folk working with us :)

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:

 

Monart Graphic Design www.monartgraphicdesign.com.au QFO's Graphic designer

1stbase.ai www.rubidesign.com QFO's Webmaster

http://www.facebook.com/Chelseaonesock .... for delightful retro fabric childrens clothing

 http://mrsmartinsquiltshop.typepad.com/  ...whose customer blessed us with awesome fabric

We also stitch for the following Childrens Homes and organisations ....

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/

http://mahbobaspromise.org/about-us/ 

 

We have a new, all singing .... and slightly dancing website!!!

                                                                                

You may have noticed that our Blog has a swish new look, new header art is just a small part of what we've been up to in recent weeks. I can now let you know that we have a new website .. and, creaky as I am at techno stuff, I think I just 'may' be able to keep it chugging along without any wheels falling off. Well that's the plan ... and we have awesome support from our Web manager at Rubidesign. So go have a looksee and enjoy as we move even further into the 21st century. Or .... as Buzz Lightyear would say ... 'Infinity and beyond'.

 

Blessings to all ... Oooooh and the website is called www.quiltsfororphans.org Almost forgot that rather important bit of information :)

 

Cheers all,

 

Susan :)

From China ... one of the organisations that we have blessed over the years.

Just received a message from one of our Members, regarding the Butterfly Hospice in China. We have previously blessed the babies in this Hospice with our quilts and other items ... and they continue to fundraise to support their efforts for these little ones. I'll share the pic I received and add the Link to the Hospice should anyone be looking for a philanthropic cause to support in the New Year.

                                    

                                    Brian, Joseph, Zach and Olivia. Four children with very different stories and very
                                    different personalities. But they all have one thing in common; they currently don't
                                    have enough in sponsorship and funds to cover the cost of their ongoing care.

 http://butterflyhospice.org/about-us/

Blessings,

 

Susan

Gaynor Peterson ...phone (03)9756 7950

email: [email protected]

Susan Hamilton .....phone (03)9737 1825

email: [email protected]

QFO Stall at the recent Monbulk Market .. resounding success :)

 

Hello again ... had a visit today from our Deborah who shared pictures taken last weekend at the Monbulk Market, held in the grounds of St Georges Church Monbulk.

Deborah, Gaynor and Jenny had a small marquee for QFO and were well patronised, selling several quilts, Christmas stitcheries and other items. They were extremely successful in sharing the work of Quilts for Orphans with customers ... well done ladies. Here are a few pictures taken on the day ...

 

Gaynor at our Stall ... and what a beautiful day they had for it.

Jenny, assisting some shoppers ....

And the market organisers kept our ladies well catered for during the event.

So nice to have been invited to participate in this lovely local Market ... and always a blessing to be able to showcase our 'wares' AND our little Ministry.

Now, I'll hit the 'send' button on this Blogpost, as I have another one up my sleeve with pictures from China, where our Joy has a sponsored cot at a Childrens Home that we have previously provided quilts for. We always enjoy being able to see some of the children that we have provided with a fabric hug over the years. So on that note ... I'll publish this Post and start organising the next.

 

Blessings all,

 

Susan

 

 

 

 

 

CALENDAR FOR 2017 ..... grab your pen and save the date. Includes our Monday 'Workday' too :)

                                                            

            
Hello again ... yes, tis me ... on an absolute roll with the Blogging lurk today, and THIS little entry is our Saturday Calendar for the year ahead. I'm also including our Monday 'prep' days, where a small team meet up at the Barn to make up kits and generally get things organised for the following quilting day. So ... I'll start with our Saturdays.

They run from 9.30 till 3.30, but there is absolutely no compulsion to stay the entire day. If you have other plans and need to either arrive later or leave earlier .. we are TOTALLY fine with that. If you cannot make every single month, we are fine with that too .. we understand life can have complications and other obligations .. so don't stress if you miss a month now and again ;) I would like to mention though that we are super appreciative of a small gold coin donation to help offset the cost of electricity in the Barn, so if you could factor that in it would be awesome and appreciated muchly.

We suggest that you cast your eye over the dates and make note of our lunch 'Themes' .. we ask that you bring just a smallish dish to share, within the 'theme' of the day. If, however, you are allergic to a particular cuisine, feel free to just bring your own lunch that day. Generally we have plenty to go around and its just lovely to have a shared meal to add to the relaxed and convivial feel of our day at the Barn.

So .... without further ado ... here goes with the Saturday dates and 'tasty comestibles' menu:

11 February ....                 lunch 'Theme' ....              Cold meats and salads.

11 March .......                  lunch 'Theme' .....            Barbeque meats and salads

8 April ..........                  lunch 'Theme' .....            Finger foods and quiches.

13 May ..........                 lunch 'Theme' ....              Chinese food

10 June .........                 lunch 'Theme' ....              Winter casseroles

8 July ...........                 lunch 'Theme' .....             Christmas in July

12 August .......                lunch 'Theme' ....              Indian food

9 September ....               lunch 'Theme' ....              Soup and Sweets

14 October ......               lunch 'Theme' ....               Build your own 'Subway' .. cost $5.00

11 and 12 November will be our two day Quilt Fair weekend  ... details to be advised.

9 December ..... our Christmas lunch, to be decided closer to the day.

                                            

Now .... on to the Monday 'Work Days' where we set up for the next sewing Saturday. I have been advised that these take place on the LAST MONDAY in the month ... so the dates will be as follow ...and you just bring your own munchies to eat that day. Its pretty informal :)

Monday   30 January 2017

Monday   27 February 2017

Monday   27 March 2017

Monday   24 April 2017

Monday   29 May 2017

Monday   26 June 2017

Monday   31 July 2017

Monday   28 August 2017

Monday   25 September 2017

Monday   30 October 2017

Now .... I'm not too sure about the November date ... as we don't have a sewing day in December ... so I'll 'get my people to talk to your people' about that one eh?

Look forward to seeing you in 2017 folk .... and a super warm welcome in advance to any newcomers who may wish to join us. Extra hands are always welcome at the Barn :)

 

Blessings

Susan

 

Gaynor Peterson ...phone (03)9756 7950

email: [email protected]

Susan Hamilton .....phone (03)9737 1825

email: [email protected]