Quilts For Orphans

Getting ready for our 2017 Quilt Fair .. a very busy Monday indeed.

     

Well here I am .. taking a short break from the sewing machine .. to share pictures from yesterdays gathering at the Barn, where an eager team of ladies assembled to turn our workspace into a showcase in preparation for our upcoming annual Quilt Fair, where we look forward to generating funding for the year ahead. 

Present, and champing at the bit to get started, we welcomed Annette, Mel, Christine, Gaynor, Val, Joy, Jenny, Deborah, Yvonne and yours truly. Here are the photos ... enjoy seeing the transformation ...

Gaynor and Yvonne, discussing the most effective use of our almost empty Barn ...

 

Val ... with the shelving that is holding our 'gifting' quilts. These are the quilts that have been created to meet the needs of those we cover in our fabric 'hugs'. Quilts that have been created for us and by us .... for distribution to the Childrens Homes and organisations that we support throughout the year.

Annette and Joy, sorting thru the items destined for our Quilt Fair fundraising efforts. As in previous years the awesome and talented Jennifer Knol has blessed us with many items of her handiwork .. which I'm sure will simply fly off the sales tables.

A 'pop' of bright colour to catch the eye ... 

Our 'display shelving' .. which by days end was transformed ... items created by our members for sale.

The 'Brains Trust' .. making executive decisions about the most effective way to use the available space.

 One corner being transformed ... and display quilts being hung ...

The 'story' of each of our display quilts will be available to read at the Fair ... this particular beauty was a collaboration of several of our members .. isn't it a stunner?

Christine and Yvonne .. busily sorting through various items in preparation for our weekend ..

Gaynor, Val and Christine ... with the workspace behind them being transformed .. starting to look great!

Our 'Christmas Corner' takes shape ....

Fabric gift baskets, place mats, wall hangings and more ...

Knitting needles, retro fabric table toppers, scissor cases and more ... this display takes shape.

Our shelving display of for sale items ... tote bags and many beautiful microwave bowl holders here ...

 

Many more items available for our visitors to peruse and purchase ...

Lovely stitcheries ... and some 'bling' too .... as well as table runners and wall hangings.

Quilts for sale ... from cot size upwards ... at prices to suit all.

But wait ..... there's more ;)

Embroidered 'Linen' bags ... a rather vintage look ... love it!

Prayer Squares .. a contribution from one of our regular stitchers Julie ...

And for those wanting to keep their phones warm and cosy ... we have phone holders.

Just need tableclothes ..... and satisfied shoppers .... our cafe corner ;)

Now all that is needed  .... is YOU!! Looking forward to an awesome turnout at our Quilt Fair ... ink it in to your calendar .. Saturday and Sunday .. November 11th and 12th ... at our Barn in Monbulk...  see you then :)

Many Blessings,

 

Susan 
 

 

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

email: [email protected]

Our postal address (for donations) is  P.O Box 398 Monbulk Victoria 3793

And .... we are www.quiltsforphans.org 

On 'social media'  aka Facebook find us at https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsForOrphans/

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

www.jewelsofhope.org ... the project we stitch for in Lesotho Southern Africa

http://www.thebabesproject.com.au/

http://elishacare.blogspot.com.au/

http://rangescc.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/elisha-care/

The Matombo Village Project vimeo.com/217129149

October 2017 ... preparing for our Fair. And some news to share ....

Well here I am again, after a day of 'busyness' at the Barn, getting bits and bobs ready for our upcoming Annual Quilt Fair scheduled for November 11th and 12th. We had a very full house with Gaynor, Christine, Mel, Sandi, Val, Isobel, Yvonne, Val, Sheryl, Carol, Maxine, Win, Deborah, Joy, Alice, Pauline, Joanne, Annette, Emily and yours truly in attendance. 

Whilst the ladies were busy organising goods for our Quilt Fair ....  I kept myself busy photographing the wonderful donations of Quilt tops and other stitcheries that we had been blessed with since last we gathered. So many generous souls who contribute to our cause with their handiwork and destashing. Truly heartwarming. Thank you all so very, very much .... 

Firstly, from Judith we have 9 lovely tops, complete with bindings ... and our Yvonne will be kept busy quilting them now ... lovely work and thank you so much Judith

Next we opened a large box of awesomeness from Julia ... who had destashed in a major way and gifted us masses of cut fabric and some amazing appliqué cats which we will have fun using. So very kind of you Julia and many thanks ...

 

Now the folk at the Grainshed Church in Swan Hill had been quite busy on our behalf and sent a wonderful package of goodies. Some children's tops, bibs, soft toys, fabric and small bags. So many lovely handmade items and we thank you muchly. 

Next, all the way from Carmen Diefenbach in beautiful Tasmania, two lovely Quilt tops ... one cot size and one standard size. Lovely fabric and binding included too. How kind and thank you so much. 

Thank you again Carmen ... such great fabric and piecing. Love them!!

Next we have a useful donation from local Opshop 'Treasure Corner' ... a roll of fabric which will come in extremely handy for Quilt backings. Thanks folks. 

And from Kay, who was an onsite stitcher for us before she moved away ... but still keeps in touch ... a bag of 15 Quilt tops ... great effort Kay and thank you so very much. You've certainly kept busy on our behalf eh? 

Next, from the nimble knitting hands of the ladies at the nearby Montrose Church of Christ ... 14 beautifully knitted baby sets. These will be sent to China as part of our global outreach ministry to that country. Thank you so much for your continued support ladies, it is much appreciated. 

And from Pam Tank in Lorne ... this lovely hand quilted cot Quilt and fabric donation ... just lovely Pam and thank you for blessing us with your work. All that hand quilting .... O my word!! Awesome.

 

Now before we stopped for lunch Deborah had some announcements/news to share with our quilters. 

Our founder Gaynor and husband Reg have taken steps toward a well earned 'seachange' and will be relocating at years end to be closer to family ... the reins of the QFO ministry leadership will then  be handed over to the very capable Annette Stone.  Below we have Annette with Gaynor and Reg ...

Annette has been connected to our quilting group since its inception and she will guide our work in providing fabric 'hugs' across the globe with the same dedication that our Gaynor has had since we began. We welcome her warmly and we know that QFO will continue to flourish under her hands. As part of this new chapter in the life of our Group we will also be relocating ....  after our Quilt Fair ....  a few doors up the road to the home of our newest member Joanne and husband Kim who have kindly made available a large workspace for our use. Our Post Office address (for donations) will remain the same and we look forward eagerly to 'keep on keeping on' seamlessly doing what we do best ... making Quilts for those in need. 

Above we have Joanne with our Alice and Gaynor. 

Now a break for our lunch and a few words from Reg who spoke of just how much enjoyment he had gotten over the last 11 years as being a part of our Group. He has been 'chief cook and bottlewasher' and blessed us with Grace at each of our shared lunches at the Barn. An integral part of our quilting group we wish him (and of course Gaynor) much happiness in the future that awaits them ... and of course it goes without saying that we will maintain contact and regard them still as part and parcel of all we do in the years ahead. We will miss them, but appreciate the vision that they made come to life and the way that they created something so wonderful. Im sure I speak for us all when I say that being a part of what Gaynor (and her daughter Rachel)  started has brought so much pleasure to every one that has become involved with QFO. 

Now for the lunch that the wonderful 'chef Reg' created for us .. home made 'Subway' ...

Reg had prepared a 'do it yourself Subway' repast for our enjoyment ... and very tasty it was too!! He's a gem. 

Now some pictures of our ladies as they beavered away at preparing for our fundraising annual Fair.But lets not forget that to effectively work ... we need lunch, as Isobel and Christine will attest.

 

We have Joy, Emily and Christine above .... and Val and Win below ....

Val, Win, Sheryl, Carol and Joanne above. And Alice, Pauline, Annette and Deborah below ....

Gaynor has been busy ... can you guess what she's been creating? 

Go to the top of the class says Sheryl .... bowls for holding hot dishes from microwave. 

But ...... can you guess what Sheryl has created? And .... I'm not going to tell ..... 😉 

Any guesses? Here's another picture ..... you'll have to come to our Fair in November to have a closer look eh? 

Many squares ... of many different sizes ... being sorted into packs suitable for Quilts. 

And I found these delightful little library/toy type bags created for our fundraising Fair. 

And that just about winds up this edition of our Blog ... my next 'reporting' will be just after our Fair and I look forward to what promises to be an awesome day indeed. Please make sure that you've popped it into your calendar and we are pretty certain that it will be every bit as successful as last years. Supporting our fundraising efforts ensures that we can fund our batting and make even MORE quilts for more recipients across the globe. And don't forget to visit our website too .... the more 'hits' it receives, the more visible it remains on the Internet and the higher our profile remains. Many thanks for reading .... till next Blog, 

Blessings and thanks for your support,

 

Susan 

 

 

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

email: [email protected]

Our postal address (for donations) is  P.O Box 398 Monbulk Victoria 3793

And .... we are www.quiltsforphans.org 

On 'social media'  aka Facebook find us at https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsForOrphans/

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

www.jewelsofhope.org ... the project we stitch for in Lesotho Southern Africa

http://www.thebabesproject.com.au/

http://elishacare.blogspot.com.au/

http://rangescc.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/elisha-care/

The Matombo Village Project vimeo.com/217129149

 

 

 

A quick Heads Up .... prior to our October get together ..

Just received some artwork and a promo flyer for a local event where QFO will have a presence. So am sharing it here for those that may just be free on the upcoming Oaks Day. So ... dust off your 'fascinator', get the party dress out and prepare to shine, whilst participating in a great day out.  

How awesome does this Event sound ... and its just a couple of days before the NEXT great Event ... our Quilt Fair!! 

So ... ink in both dates and I also look forward to another Blog update after our October sewing day this coming Saturday. We will be busy, busy, busy .. preparing for our Quilt Fair and I'll share with you photos and news soon after, 

Blessings,

 

Susan