Sunday 4 December 2016

LAST COMMUNITY DAY FOR 2016 - 1/12/16

Yes, it was a final push for community work this week, with Grace presenting small repeating workshops throughout the day. These were devoted to demonstrating the techniques we will all need to complete the blocks for the 2018 Comtemporary Quilt. Thanks so much Grace. It was fascinating, and quite new to most of us, but something many had been wanting to try. Below are a few round-the-room shots of the workshops and of girls practicing the art. Looking very promising for another spectacular raffle quilt!

                              

                               

                                


                                 


The other delight this week was that Colleen set up her 'Christmas Shop', and many girls went shopping for gifts to both give or keep! Some gorgeous items as always. Many thanks Colleen. Some of the Christmas shopping is done!

                                 


We congratulated Susan D and Laurel on getting the all-clear from their docs! What a year it's been, but you've both nailed it! Well done. Here's to 2017.....

Iris reported on two letters of thanks from happy recipients of our community quilts. One was from the Grace Centre for their 'Race for Grace' project and the other was from The Brain and Mind Institute for the cheque after the 2016 show. Always good to get this feedback and know our efforts are appreciated.

A group of six quilts being donated to Stepping Stone House was presented.
The first was by Robyn S.......

         


The second by Grace...

                                    


The third by Lindy...

        


The fourth by Grace...

            


And finally the fifth by a combination of girls..

                                

The sixth was by Iris...

                                   

And the back...

                                   


Then at official Show and Tell time, we saw yet another baby quilt from Lindy...

                                   

A group effort from June, Robyn S, Maree, Iris and Jenny - started at the last retreat and called "Tumbles". It will be donated to the community collection.

                                    

                                    

Well done girls!


Finally we got to see Grace's award winning (3rd place) prize quilt from the recent Modern Quilt Show, held in Glebe.
It's a fabulous piece based on the ideas of an 'artist' Grace has been inspired by. The Quilt is called "Square Dance".

                                     


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Congratulations Grace!

Well, don't forget it's our last Thursday for the year coming up. See you on Thursday with a glass, a plate of food and your glad-rags on! Get ready to party....!
We start setting up at 11am, and the fun starts at 12pm.

Cheers everyone.

Sunday 27 November 2016

LAST NOVEMBER MEETING 24/11/16

Well, November disappeared in a hurry! Christmas is barrelling towards us, but still plenty to do.

I hope plenty of members were able to get to the Modern Quilt Show at Glebe Town Hall over the past two days. Congratulations to Grace and Jess for their wins. 

Two visitors this week to collect the quilt completed by our group for the Lord Mayors Picnic event. Linnea and Allison were thrilled at the finished product, and will give us feedback about the recipient when the time comes. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the quilt, and especially to Iris and Jenny who 'drove' the project forward. It was a stunner!

We had some lovely feedback from the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation about the huge amount raised at their Ladies Lunch event. Our donated quilt contributed to these much needed funds, so a wonderful result yet again.

This coming Thursday Colleen will be running her little Christmas Jewelry Shop at the group, so come prepared for that. Also, Grace will run a small workshop for those interested in trying out the techniques required for blocks of the Comtemporary Quilt project. It looks very different and exciting. Grace will email what you need to bring if you wish to participate.
Here's a glimpse of what the blocks will look like......

                                 


The latest Template magazine has arrived from the Guild. There is a copy in the library, and another circulating around the tables. 

Don't forget that our Christmas Party will be on December 8th starting at 11am (for set up) and start of partying at 12pm. Bring a plate of party food and a champagne glass!


SHOW AND TELL

Below are six community quilts which will be donated to a women's refuge in Ryde. These comforting and much needed gifts will make a huge difference to women and children going through extreme trauma. 

This first one is from Pam Reeves and is called Turkish Delight

                               

And the back.......

                                

This next one, also from Pam is called Blue Tango

                                

This one is called Desert Circles, and was done at Material Obsession.

                                 

Spots and Stripes by Maree K.......

                                 

and the back.......

                                  

Crazy Hearts was a group project.....


                                 

This is Dancing With The Fairies done by Iris, begun at the last retreat if I recall......

                                 


Merlyn showed us this stunning quilt which she has made for her grandson. He asked for it, and she took him to choose the fabrics. Very good choices I'd say, and because he is very keen on surfing, the backing has particular significance!

        

....the back

       


Lindy showed yet another of her baby quilts for the Grace Centre. Extremely prolific Lindy, and a gorgeous little quilt indeed.
                               

To finish off, here is a group of Traditional blocks which have already been completed! Very nice too. This quilt will certainly be ready for the 2018 show I think. No problem there!

       

Well done everyone. A big effort to finish off a fantastic year.
See you soon for our second last meeting for the year.
Cheers, Elva

Sunday 20 November 2016

ANOTHER BUSY DAY! 17/11/16

Yes, the room was full and busy everywhere. 
Iris was doing yet another clear out of the cupboards. Thank goodness we have someone who feels compelled to de-clutter, because our cupboard space is finite!
Plenty of goodies spread about for  members to help themselves to, as many did. Thanks Iris and your helpers!

                              



                               

These hoops were a popular item, and we discussed using them to make display quilting samplers, as was seen at the Guild Show this year. I think it would be a great project for decorating a wall or for keeping for display at our next show. Give it some thought. There's a few of us going to give it a try.


We had a visit from Anna who works at the Ryde/Hunters Hill Community Centre in Gladesville Road. She came to collect two community quilts from our collection. One will be a Christmas Party Raffle prize, and the other a lucky door prize for one of their volunteers. Anna expressed her thanks and delight in receiving the gifts.

                              


                              


                             


       


Just a reminder that Colleen will be setting up her 'shop' at Thursday group on December 1st. Come along and get started on you Christmas shopping with some original beauties!

Don't forget our Christmas Party will be happening a week later on Thursday 8th December. Please come, and bring a plate of something festive and yummy, plus a glass for champagne. Let's celebrate a fantastic and successful year in style!

Robyn J and Alison presented the pre-cut blocks for the 2018 Traditional Quilt! Talk about being well prepared! Nothing to do but stitch your block together. If you didn't get a bag, make sure to see Robyn next week for one. Thanks for all your work Robyn.

Next week Grace will present the Comtemporary Quilt block. Wow, we are really getting started early!

News from Adrienne is that she is at home, and very glad to be there. She would still be delighted to receive news and chat through emails etc. Thanks to those who have been doing this. 

Helena gave us a little feedback on her touch with royalty, and it sounded wonderful and moving. So glad this opportunity came your way Helena. Thanks for sharing it with us all.

SHOW AND TELL

Well, this was the only show and tell item on display. Beryl kindly stepped up to show us a skirt she made from fabric she won at the show in August. Very nice indeed, and it's lined as well. I think you have a calling in the fashion industry Beryl. No?


                              

Have a great weekend everyone. See you next week.
Cheers, Elva

Friday 11 November 2016

A NICE PEACEFUL DAY OF STITCHING

10/11/16

With quite a few ladies away for various reasons, we were a quiet and contented bunch working happily in the hall.
We had a visitor from Bella Vista Gardens in Kellyville. This establishment has a dementia unit for which the HHQ ladies have made 17fiddle quilts and 10 muffs. Angela was thrilled at the donation, and brought us a delightful certificate of thanks and a box of chocolates! She gave us a little talk about how valuable these items will be for the patients, and expressed her thanks again. The group also donated a lovely quilt which was made by Beryl Jameison, a former member who sadly passed away some time ago. It is so wonderful to see her quilts going to support people in need, and she would be delighted.



        


                                        



Watch our for the next Template Magazine where you will find an article about the fiddle quilt program at HHQ. The Guild has taken quite an interest in it.

We are starting to think about our Christmas Party organisation, so if you have ideas for games, activities or challenges, please let any one of the committee know. It's always such a great day.

Show and Tell

These gorgeous little teddies have been made by Robyn J for donation to the police Trauma Teddies program. Well done Robyn, and also on all your work with the fiddle quilts as well. What a hard worker!

                                    

The following three little baby quilts have been made by Carolyn D for donation to the Grace Centre
for newborn care. Well done and thanks Carolyn.


     


     


     

Have a lovely weekend everyone. 
See next week.
Cheers, Elva

Sunday 6 November 2016

WELCOME TO NOVEMBER! 3/11/16

Yes, the year is disappearing fast, so there's no time to waste!

We had a lovely card from Inala thanking us for the donated quilts. They're making good money from them, which is wonderful and they are very appreciative.

It was community day again today, and there was plenty happening. A box full of 98 fiddle quilts and 14 muffs is ready to be sent , and we have plenty of local nursing homes interested in more. Many thanks to all the girls who have worked so hard on these. 

This month we also have a quilt almost ready to be sent for the Lord Mayors Picnic raffle, and quilts ready to be picked up by representatives from the Gladesville Communty Centre.

Our famous community efforts continue, thanks to the unflinching efforts of Iris in motivating us to participate. In recognition of this fine tradition, Hunters Hill Council has generously awarded us a Community Grant to help us continue this work. Many thanks to the council for their support.

Here's a shot of Iris already working on another community project (not sure when she ever sleeps!) which some of us remember working on bits of in the stitching lounge during the show last August.


                                    

We were presented with a donation of fabric today from Betty Wilson, a former member. Thanks to Sally for getting this to us. It certainly was appreciated by all, and many people took useable pieces. Community work will see the benefit of the gift as well.

                                


SHOW AND TELL

 Narelle showed us her completed braid quilt which she started working on at the last retreat in May.
It's turned out very nicely Narelle. Well done. All scraps! Amazing what you can do.....

                    

And here is a quilt destined for the community collection. This hexi gem has been worked on for quite some time we believe, by Lin, Ellen, Robyn H, Meg, Josie and Sue. I hope I didn't leave anyone out!
It looks fantastic! Thanks ladies. Most appreciated.

                     

This gorgeous little baby quilt by Maree K will go to the Grace Centre collection.
What a massive community day!

                     

Well done all, and thanks for your efforts.
When Robyn J returns, she will present the details for the next show's traditional quilt, which she has prepared for us as a Christmas break challenge.

See you all next Thursday. Cheers, Elva