Sunday 8 April 2018

Community Day and a Visitor

This week many of our groups were very busy piecing quilts for Community or finishing baby quilts.
We also had a visitor.

One of the charities we are supporting this year from our Show proceeds, is the Hornsby Kuring-gai Women's Shelter.

The President, Sallianne McClelland, came to visit our group and to speak about the shelter. They offer shelter for single women of various ages. During the three years that they have been operating, they have helped 230 women. This sounds very good until Sallianne followed up by saying that they have also turned away 780 women.

There is a a huge demand for shelters such as these. The women usually stay for a period of 3 months during which they receive counselling, advice and help finding work.

Hunters Hill Quilters presented Sallianne with 6 quilts that we had made. When a woman first comes to the shelter she is shown her bed, clean and made up. Then she is taken to choose a quilt from the cupboard. This quilt is something only for her and she takes this with her when she leaves.

These quilts mean so much to the women. They realise that they have been made with love and care and are a great source of comfort.

Show and Tell:


Marie G made this quilt which will go into our Community stash. Very colourful Marie.


Another quilt for Community from Jenny S. Jenny makes many quilts for Community. I always love the bright colours and the designs.


 Moina presented this baby quilt for the Grace Centre. Tiny hexagons and delicate colours.



Another baby quilt from Jenny S.



Carolyn presented 4 baby quilts, all made from her stash. Carolyn always knows which fabrics go well together.



We had a lovely visit from Laurel this week. Laurel has been one of our best sellers of raffle tickets for our show over the years. Laurel has also bought many raffle tickets. She has never won any of the raffles though.
However, Laurel won first prize at the quilt show in Mittagong recently. This is quilt she won.
What a thrill! Laurel said it suits her new house perfectly.

Until next time.

Monday 2 April 2018

Entry Forms Due for Show Quilts

Our numbers were down a little this week due to the Easter break. There was a lot of activity in the hall nevertheless.

A reminder that the entry forms are due on April 5 for your quilts to be displayed in our show. The forms can be emailed to Iris but a hard copy photo of your quilt is required. If you are entering two quilts, please specify which is Number 1 and which is Number 2.

Grace reminded everyone that Membership fees are now overdue. Unfinancial members are not permitted to enter a quilt in the Show.

Next week we are having a guest from the Hornsby Kuring-Gai Women's Shelter coming to talk to us. This is one of the charities that we are supporting this year.

Also a reminder to bring your half square triangle blocks in for the Community Quilt being organised by Grace. 7" squares in pink colourings are requested. We put some of them up this week and they are looking pretty good. I have a photo below.

Show and Tell:


We have called this quilt "Rioting Colour" and what a feast of colour it is. Pamela R. works as a costume designer. Pamela has fascinating stories to tell. She was fortunate to work on the costumes for the the film "The Great Gatsby".
Pamela made this beautiful quilt which will go to one of our charities.


 Marie K. made this pretty quilt using fabrics designed by Kathy Doughty.


Sheila finished another baby quilt for the Grace Centre at Westmead using soft coloured fabrics. Above is the front and below is the back.


Some girls had returned their half square triangle blocks in pink for Grace. I love the way the diamond patterns emerged. I look forward to the finished result.


This quilt from Pamela R. is also made from leftover fabrics from Pamela's work as a costume designer. Lush velvet fabrics are used giving the quilt a luxurious look and feel.
We have called it "Purple Passion".
This quilt will be donated to one of our charities.


Sunday 25 March 2018

Welcome News

We had a busy Show Committee Meeting this week.

A number of members have been wanting to submit two quilts for our show.

It was decided that members can submit two quilts this year. Members should specify which is their first choice and which their second.
Once all the entries are in, the Show Committee will decide which of the second preference quilts to display. Smaller quilts are preferable for this.

A reminder that entry forms are due on April 5.

Note that your first preference will definitely be displayed.

We have also requested to have a stand at the NSW Guild Show in June. Our application has been submitted. Members are encouraged to come along to help 'man' the stand for a couple of hours on the day. Many visitors to the show stop to chat and it is a fun day.

Grace returned from her holiday with a project for us. She had met a group who needed a quilt to raffle. So we are all preparing a half square triangle block in pink colours. I will post a photo when it is finished.

Upcoming quilt shows:

AQC in Melbourne April 5 - 8

Fairholme Quilters 6 - 8 April at Thornleigh Community Centre

Now for Show and Tell:



Joy showed this Community quilt that her group - the Black Wagga Group - had made. This group is very busy making Waggas for sale for our show.


Sheila made this baby quilt out of donated scraps for The Grace Centre. Very suitable for a baby boy.


Ellen is working on a quilt for her granddaughter. The backing which I will photograph when it is finished, is decorated with Unicorns - her granddaughter's favourite.

Until next week.



Sunday 18 March 2018

Another Busy Day

We have enjoyed the cooler weather and welcome rain but today the heat is back. A few girls were away on holidays.

There were reminders of upcoming quilt shows. Christie brought in a box of beautiful herbs for us to share.  Some members who have finished with books brought them in and also some fabric to share.

I didn't write the blog last week as there was only one Show and Tell.  I decided to hold it over until this week. My apology to June for not telling her that I had her photo on hold.

June's lovely quilt takes pride of place as the first one for today.



June made this very pretty quilt for the Grace Centre at Westmead Hospital. It will bring a lot of joy to the family who receives it.  I love the blending of colour in each block.


Susan H. has made two quilts for her granddaughters. They are very lucky girls. Each girl was able to choose the one they wanted. I love trees in a quilt and these ones look particularly nice.


And this is the back of the quilt. More trees. Hurray!


This one also from Susan H. has houses which I also love. Lots of colour and little things to look at in the fabrics.


And here is the back. Little bunnies running across the fabric.


Here we have a community quilt in progress. Val is hand quilting the little squares in the middle and doing a wonderful job. Val is one of our nonagenarians. Amazing!

That is all for today. Keep well and cool in the hot weather.

Sunday 4 March 2018

Community Day and Birthdays

Today was busy with lots of chatting, laughter, and busy fingers.
Our stash of quilts for Community is very low. We are often asked for quilts by charities who wish to raffle a quilt to raise funds. A quilt can provide much comfort as well as warmth. We are all endeavouring to build our stash again.
There were also a number of March birthdays. We are fortunate to have some nonagenarians as members.  All are active and make lovely quilts.



We received a donation of a full kit for a 'Star of Bethlehem' quilt. The colours are lovely. Ros has made the centre star.  It is absolutely perfect. Great work Ros. Volunteers have been called to applique the flowers for the quilt surround. It will look stunning when finished.



Another donation of fabric and a panel for a quilt started. This is another Community quilt in progress.



A charming baby quilt being made by Moina for her 3 week old great granddaughter. Moina works with the most delicate and prettiest fabric. 


All the hand stitching has been done and the quilt is ready for our stash. So many hexagons.


This is the back of the above quilt. The back of many of our quilts look just as good as the front.


Four baby quilts from Carolyn for the Grace Centre at Westmead. 


Two more baby quilts from Sue D. Such pretty fabrics.

Friday 23 February 2018

Getting ready for our Show

The Show Committee had an early meeting to discuss and plan for our Show to be held in August.
Lots of news items about the Retreat, Quilt Entry forms for our Show and entering our Raffle Quilts in the Quilt NSW Show in June. Also news of a new little great grandson's arrival which is always exciting.


An eye-catching Wagga in progress from Doreen and Gil. The Wagga group is working full steam ahead to have lots of amazing waggas ready for sale in August.


Jonquil is hand piecing this hexagon quilt for her son. Jonquil is trying to decide on another colour to add but her son doesn't like red. There were lots of suggestions to give her some ideas.


Suzie has almost finished her alphabet quilt for her grandson. Each square is colourful and bright and the fabrics 'match' the letter. So much to look at. The quilt will be spectacular.


Iris has almost finished the hand quilting on her latest project. Very pretty.


Sheila brought in a quilted cushion cover she had made in the early nineties! I particularly like the house. Great paper piecing Sheila.


Sandra showed us the baby quilt she finished for the Grace Centre. Very pretty and easy to guess Sandra's favourite colour.





Sunday 18 February 2018

Annual General Meeting

We had our Annual General Meeting this week. The 2018 committee members were elected.  It was Elva's last day as President. A big thank you to Elva for the last 4 years. She has left big shoes for me to fill.


Helena designed a quilt for Elva as thanks for the last 4 years. Each member made a block and embroidered her name on it. It was a lovely surprise. We all had fun looking at it and finding the names on each block.



We had lots of Show and Tell this week.

Lindy made this fox cot quilt. The fox design is very popular. It always looks stunning and this is no exception.


Robyn J made this lovely blue quilt for her son. Robyn hopes it will give him the hint to propose to his girlfriend.


This pretty quilt was made by Sheila for the Grace Centre. Thank you Sheila.



Ellen showed us her hexagon quilt. I forgot to ask her how many hexagons are in the quilt. I am sure Ellen kept count! So much work and a wonderful result.


Meg held up this pretty cot quilt she had finished for her brand new great granddaughter.  It is so soft and pretty with the Tinkerbell fairies. Understandably there has been much excitement at the arrival of Meg's first great granddaughter.


A busy day for us all. Looking forward to next week,