Well here I am again ... first Blogpost for 2017 .... and getting it done even BEFORE our first quilting day!!
I received a call yesterday from Gaynor, asking if I could come see and photograph the incredible fabric and quilt donations that she had received in the post. Needed to record the donations for 'posterity, so that Gaynor could proceed with integrating them into our shelving. Such blessings I hardly know where to start ... so I'll begin with one that I collected just before Christmas from local lass Chelsea, who has destashed and donated to us several times in recent months. So many lovely pieces of printed fabric from her, which I look forward to seeing converted into quilts. Thank you so very much Chelsea ... really appreciate your kindness.
Then onto the donated items Gaynor had received ... firstly some lovely fabrics from Rita Williams in Moonee Ponds. So very generous of you Rita ...:)
Also from Rita ... some lovely stitchery projects ..... how gorgeous are they eh?
Next ... from Sue Claughton in Fraser ACT .... three delightful quilt tops ... nautical, beach and elephant print fabrics. It's always amazing to hear how very far news of our little Ministry travels, receiving quilt tops and fabrics from interstate is just incredible :) Thank you so very much Sue :)
Love the fabric ..... especially the sandy foorprint border ...
And isn't the 'window effect' piecing on the elephant fabric top just so clever?
Next ... from Julia Ozolins in Yarragon ... three lovely quilt tops ... love this stunning floral top. Divine!! Julia has been an offsite supporter of QFO for ages and its always a delight to receive her work :) Thanks Julia .. :)
And this birdhouse and appliqued butterfly top ....
And a cheerful sun and floral combo ....
And now from another of our 'regulars' ... Sylvia and Edith in North Ryde ... this mother and daughter team are incredible!!
Just so sweet Sylvia and Edith. That's three little babies who will be blessed with these delightful quilts. And always a thrill to open parcels from you :)
And now ... the donation that meant that Reg had to make extra space in his car to accommodate bringing it back to the Barn ... from the Highland Quilt Works in Bowral. Mystery boxes ... pretty exciting!!
Imagine the gasps of delight when Gaynor opened THESE!!
Fat Quarters in every colour under the sun .. and then some. How awesome, generous and incredibly wonderful are these boxes of fabric. Thank you SO very much, we are going to get so much pleasure from creating with this 'stash' and are appreciative of your generosity :)
But wait ... there is MORE!! From another supporter, Margaret Sykes .. we were gifted bolts of fabric (and more boxes of fat quarters) which will be incredibly useful in our little Ministry here at the Barn. And I believe that Margaret will be joining us at our monthly sewing days too ... that means we are doubly blessed!! Cannot wait to meet you!
Love this musical fabric ... isn't it beautiful?
And ... as the blessings are received ... so we are also able to bless others. Gaynor tells me that the Quilters gifted 6 quilts to the Discovery Community Care Emergency Relief organisation in Lilydale before Christmas, so that they could be used as part of their Christmas Gift Appeal. So not only are we able to support folk in need in countries across the globe ... we are also able to work with our local community too. How awesomely satisfying is that eh? No better feeling than to be able to help others. Absolutely heartwarming.
And that winds up this first Blog for the year .. hope you got as much pleasure from seeing it as I did in photographing our donated goods. Really look forward to seeing them incorporated them into quilts for even more folk across the globe during the year ahead.
Now a group of ladies will be meeting up at the Barn on Monday January 30th ... to start the 'setting up' process for our first sewing day which will be on Saturday February 11th. Really looking forward to an amazing year again at the Barn, cannot begin to describe just how very satisfying it is to spend time with these wonderful ladies and to be part of such a worthwhile Ministry. Look forward to sharing news from the Barn as it happens, till then .. blessings and thanks to all who follow us and give us your encouragement (and your excess fabrics too of course!!) Your generosity means the world to us!!
And, before I go, I must also thank the wonderful gentlemen from the Monbulk Mens Shed who created some awesome shelving and storage for us in our 'attic' area atop the Barn at the end of last year. Haven't taken pictures yet ... Ooops ... but am assured that they did a superb job. So thank you very much Malcolm, David and Bill, and pictures will most definitely be taken and shared here after my next trip to the Barn!!
And also a HUGE thankyou to Terry Lambert and Signex Displays for the absolutely INCREDIBLE banner which they created for us and which we were thrilled to unveil at our Christmas breakup last month .. such a useful and beautiful banner!! Will really lift our profile when we are invited to attend and participate in local Quilt Fairs promoting the work that we do :)
Blessings till next Blog .... and don't forget to check out our website too :)
www.quiltsfororphans.org
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 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/