Our August 13th 2022 offering … I call this the Day of the Fat Quarters. Many, many Fat Quarters.

And here we are again … on a sunny but cool day at the Hall in Hoddles Creek.

A small turnout again with a couple of new faces joining us. Present were Annette, Yvonne, Libby, Christine, Carmen, Sandi, Impi, Isobel, Deborah, and newbies Joy, Anne, and Marg. As well as yours truly who spent her day taking notes and hand stitching bindings on a couple of lap size quilts (her 'homework' from last month ... ooops!!) 

Whilst Yvonne was occupied showing Libby the workings of our quilting machine ... others spent the day sorting, cutting, folding and ironing fabric for Fat Quarters … for the fundraising arm of our organisation. We are hopeful that the next time we gather we will be able to break out our freshly serviced sewing machines and get stuck into the sewing 'arm' of QFO. And many thanks to David Godfrey from Kilsyth for the brilliant job of servicing our sewing machines. Excellent job and we are most grateful for your expertise. 

We look forward to sharing our skills and creating some amazingly lovely 'fabric hugs' for the many outreaches we are connected with and which Annette mentioned in detail on the latest Newsletter (to be found on our website). 

Christine had been busy assembling this owl cushion in between our Gathering days whilst Julianne had turned her skills toward the creation of these delightful stitched items. 

How utterly gorgeous are these? We hope to be able to offer some of Juliannes work at our upcoming fundraising tables. Details of which can be found on our website.

Libby and Yvonne at their spot working our quilting machine.

The quilt trimming 'station' ... Joy preparing a fresh quilt for the next stage which will be the attaching of a toning binding.

Our newest member .. Anne ... ironing Fat Quarters for our fundraising. 

Sandi ... refuelling her inner stitcher with a restorative and warming cuppa ... 

Fat quarter fabric being sorted by Margaret .. with Annette and Impi in the background busy folding.

Carmen got an 'early leaver pass' after a session of busyness with us ... 'see you next month' :)

A well earned break for a spot of sustenance and cameraderie between our ladies.

And some shared ideas .... this little stitched item is a bookmark created by Sandi. What a clever idea .. a way to mark your place without damaging your book. Look out for these at our next market stall :)

I actually meant to snap this last month but got distracted (Ooooh shiny) ... but this amazing piece of work was gifted to us by offsite stitcher Judith. Isn't her work incredible? 

A wonderful use of toning fabrics to create this beautiful autumn coloured quilt. The combination of reds, creams and apple greens really work well I think.

And finally .. this donated huge quilt top ... I'm afraid I don't have any details of the donor .. but the work is incredible.

And that winds up this rather short and sweet Blog offering. I look forward to sharing with you again soon. In the interim keep a watch on our Facebook page and website for interim updates on what we are doing. There will be Markets (and a Quilt Show in Monbulk) attended by us from October I believe as well as a presence later in the year at Mont DeLancey. Details will be shared when I have them.

* Edit: Just found some of the dates so grab a pen and note in your Calendars accordingly. 

Save the dates and add to your diary
CFA Quilt Show at Monbulk 1^st October

Quilts and Crafts display at
Mont de Lancey 19^th - 27^th November.

We are seeking craft items to sell at these events and invite you to attend or roster on for a session or two.

Please check the calendar on https://www.quiltsfororphans.org for details of markets and events

In the meantime many thanks to all who support us and I will make a special mention of our Jenny Stokes who is taking a 'sabbatical' from QFO for a while as she rests and refreshes with family. Jenny has been an integral part of our QFO organisation and has shared her amazing quilting and piecing skills with us both at our monthly gatherings and our Tuesday preparation sessions here at the Hall (and prior to that at the Barn and the Shed). Her willingness to teach and share her artistic giftings and her heart for others has been much appreciated by all who have learnt from her.  Her contribution to QFO over many years has been most significant in many areas and I do hope that we will see her again soon.

 

Many blessings till next time,

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