Yes folks .. you read correctly. QFO is baaaack ... no snap lockdowns, no circuit breaking closures, no Ring of Steel locking us into a bubble .. we actually managed to get a Gathering Day under our belt with no hiccups.
All the fun new Covid normal protocols were in place ... BYO lunchbox, stay distanced, no sharing yada yada yada .. but we still managed to smile and get stuff done regardless :) The picture below is for humour only I hasten to add ... thankfully not fact.
Just a small gathering on Saturday .. we welcomed back Yvonne, Pauline, Jenny, Win, Libby, Gabby, Cheryle, Julianne and Isobel and also our newest member Jennifer. Sheryl dropped by briefly to drop off a rather wonderful quilt top which will appear later on in this Blog among photos taken on the day.
We had apologies from Annette who was at a CWA Meeting, Joanne, Christine, Sandi, Deborah who was holding fort at our Stall at Mont De Lancey and Julie who had a dental procedure.
Below are a couple of photos showing the revamped and spaced out work areas in our Hall. Stay within the circled lines please :)
Win was soon busily handsewing bindings on the many quilts created during lockdown.
Jenny recording incomings and outgoings ...
Pauline and Gabby at the cutting table ...
Libby en-route to her preferred spot .. plenty of spots to choose from ... no waiting :)
Cheryl and our newest member Jennifer, getting a spot of handsewing and 'getting to know you' happening.
This rather impressive pile of quilts were brought back to the Hall by Julianne, who had busied herself during lockdown by machining and then hand finishing the bindings on them. A magnificent job indeed.
Yvonne setting up the quilting machine ...
I have always had trouble adhering to the prescribed 'rules of engagement' ;) Clearly nothing has changed <lol>
Short break for lunch ...
We had 3 visitors from the North of the Yarra Quilters as well as Jane from the Steels Creek Stitchers come to our Hall on Saturday. This is the photo you get when you use your 'outside voice' to get attention ;)
We were gifted a number of quilts from the group as part of their Community Quilt Gifting ... thank you SO very much Jackie, Marilyn, Sandra and Jane for your kindness and generosity .. we truly appreciate your talents being directed our way. Many thanks.
THe work that they do is absolutely beautiful I think you will agree.
Remember I said that Sheryl had dropped by with a quilt top? Well here it is below .. aren't the colours beautifully coordinated?
And our newest member Jennifer kindly brought us a destashing from herself and her friend Carol .. these fabrics are amazingly colourful, I cannot wait to see them incorporated into quilts. Thank you both so very much ladies.
Cheryl was recently on holiday in Mallacoota and popped into an Opshop there ... aaaand was gifted three quilt tops from a lady volunteering there who founded the 'Hands of Hope' ministry in Africa. Below is one of the quilt tops ... aren't these moments and chance encounters just wonderful. We never know quite who we will 'connect' with next.
And that just about winds up our March Blogpost ... glad I hadn't forgotten how to log on and type whilst we were in lockdown <lol> and I look forward to reporting back after we next gather in April. Second Saturday of the month .. which by my calculations will be the 10th. Starting at 9.30 and running till around 3 pm.
We also have details and Jennys Newsletter on our website (details in our Links below) for those wanting the 'nuts and bolts' of our Covid protocols and other updates of where we will be and what we will be doing in the realm of QFO fundraising and Workdays at the Hall in the immediate future.
Till next Blogpost,
Many blessings,
Susan
Contact us via our Website : www.quiltsfororphans.org
Blogger: 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.quiltsfororphans.org
On 'social media' aka Facebook find us at https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsForOrphans/
Check out the following Links:
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 have also stitched 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
www.ujamaachildren.com