OUR FIRST MEETING OF 2016

Welcome back to all! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year break.

We had a very good roll-up for our first gathering of the year, especially considering the extreme heat of the day. Thank goodness the air con was working! 

                                  

                                  

                                  

The key cards however were not. News from HH Council is that the system was broken over the break, so the cards don't work. Don't throw yours away yet though, because they promise it will soon be fixed and the cards will be operational again. Promises, promises! Let's see what happens. In the meantime, we have to pass the one key we have been given from person to person each week. Please remember to give it to the next person on kitchen duty. 

We are having a show meeting on Thursday, January 28th for all show committee people. 9.30am across the road at the Baby Health Centre room. See you there.

The AGM will be held on Thursday 18th February, and a notice will be coming  to everyone soon via email giving details. Watch out for that.

We have had thank you letters and a certificate from HH Community Services for our donation of two quilts, and from City of Sydney for the Lord Mayor's Picnic quilt. Well done everyone. 

SHOW & TELL

First up are two quilts (waggas) by Pam Reeves, given to Doreen - welcome back by the way Doreen! Everyone was delighted to see you up and about again. Here are the quilts.

                              

The next quilt is a group effort completed by 'Blue Group' to go into the community pile. It's a Sue Cody pattern - 'Sweet Surrender'. Beautiful work girls!

                                  

                                   

Jenny S showed this Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt which was much admired.

                                  

Kathy D showed her latest, from her own fabrics

                                

                                

And a farewell to Margaret D who is moving up the coast to live. We hope we see lots of you Margaret on visits to Sydney. What an asset you have been to our group as well as a valuable and great friend. Stay safe and happy in your new digs. 

It's going to be another outstanding year. I feel it in my bones!

See you soon again

Cheers, Elva

A Thank you ...

Iris here again ...   I  received a thank you letter from Sharon, the Lord Mayor's Picnic Services Coordinator on Friday .    As well as a lovely letter which I will share on Thursday,  Sharon included  some pictures of the quilt we made for the New Years Eve picnic. This is Zoophoria set up in its frame at the event.    

The quilt was won by a young lady who was extremely happy to win.   Talk on Thursday,  Iris

A 'Face book' thank you

Just a brief post:   I received an email from Anna at HHRCS to say she had posted the information about the winner of Maria's quilt that we donated on their facebook page.      A lovely gentleman Randell won the quilt and said that his wife is absolutely thrilled.    You can see the post with pictures on  https://www.facebook.com/HHRCS  - I have printed a copy for Marie.   Anna wished all the quilters a happy holiday season.   Cheers Iris

CHRISTMAS PARTY - Thursday 10th December. Final meeting for 2015

It was a great turn out for our 2015 Christmas gathering this year. By the time everyone had arrived, the table was groaning with delicious home-made goodies. The Champagne corks popped, and we were off! Thanks to all those who helped in the preparation, planning and carrying out of the event. My apologies once again for being out of action when all the work needed to be done. Fancy getting so sick after such a great holiday! So much for plane travel and the bugs that fly with us!

Iris, Grace, Narelle and Ros, June, and all the others I don't know about who assisted with all the little tasks. 

Iris's Christmas Challenge turned out to be a huge hit. It just grew.....

and grew.......

And grew, till it was obviously going to be a big double bed quilt!

And the winner of the draw was a very surprised Narelle! Congratulations. We wait to hear what she plans to do with the squares. Well done everyone who made one or multiple squares to participate in the challenge, and thanks Iris. It was a big success!

June's fun quiz is always popular, with plenty of running about, mild cheating and hysterical laughter. The basket of goodies made great prizes for the winners. Thanks June. You will most probably be called upon again next Christmas!

A couple of shots here of the food spread along the tables, but unfortunately I didn't get a shot of when they were full! If anyone else did, feel free to post it on the blog. It was amazing! The best and most delicious feast we've had in my memory of these events!

                            

So another year came to an end, and we celebrated in style. Thanks everyone for being such a wonderfully supportive group. We have so much fun and learn so much along the way while doing what we love.

Let's do it all again next year, the year for yet another of our fabulous shows. Plenty to do when we get back, so have a great break. I leave you with the shots of our raffle quilts which we hung at the party - all ready to go for the show. At least we have that part taken care of!

Happy Christmas all. Enjoy your holidays with friends and families. Stay safe and well.

See you on January 14th.

                                    

                                 

Last sewing day for 2015

Elva is still fighting the flue bug so it is Iris in blog-land again.   Elva,  we all hope you can 'kick' that bug before next week.

Stepping Stone House:    The main focus on Thursday was Christmas present wrapping.   Grace and her team of shoppers, with knowledgeable assistance from Judy's son had a very successful day, matching presents to the briefs received on each of the four young people currently at Stepping Stone House.

The end result  ....

These parcels, together with 7 quilts and a Christmas hamper will be delivered by Grace to Stepping Stone House before Christmas.      We have been supporting Stepping Stone House in this way since 2000.

2016 Show Challenge:   Make sure you have the information on the 2016 Show Challenge:  Soft copies were emailed and hard copies are available from Grace.   These cot quilts need to be finished by 6/5/2016 for an in-house exhibition.

Show and Tell ;   I finally finished the quilt top that I was working on at the retreat - now ready for quilting.

 and the back  ....  

Last piece of news - Doreen is now at home, still weak but making slow progress.

Christmas 'end-of-year' party next week, 12 noon:  don't forget, a plate to share, a glass for bubbly, your 'raffle' blocks and if you wish, a contribution to the Stepping Stone House hamper.   See you then.  Cheers Iris

Lots of Donations ...

After a fun and relaxing holiday,  Elva then 'caught a bug',  so as it took three of us to 'fill in' for her at news time on Thursday,  we hope Elva gets better soon !  

Helena gave the general weekly news;  a lovely letter from Adrienne, obviously settling very comfortably into her new home,   new Templates now in the library and shopping for Stepping Stone House will be completed by Grace and team on Tuesday.  So Grace will be looking for volunteer 'wrappers' next week,

Community;

Anna from Hunters Hill and Ryde Community Services (HHRCS) visited to collect two quilt donations.    We have been supporting this group for a few years now and it was very interesting to hear from Anna, just how many various support groups operate out of the HHRCS.  

One of the quilts will be given to one of the many volunteers who generously give of their time, and the other will be raffled to raise funds for the Brain Injury Support Program.

'All Stars' by Marie G.

'Diamonds are forever' by Pamela R.

We also selected seven quilts to be delivered to Stepping Stone House with their Christmas parcels and hamper.

Impressive 'pile'  -   check out the Community Page to see pictures of all seven quilts.

I can report that our community 'stash' cupboard is almost empty:  only six quilts left.

Christmas Party time:  10th December

12 noon, with plate of finger food, a glass for some bubbles, raffle blocks and if you wish a donation for the Christmas hamper for Stepping Stone House.

Kitchen Duty

Remember, as a condition of membership,  every member has a responsibility to be 'Morning Tea Hostess'  two mornings each year. Helpful instructions on 'what to do' are available - chat with any committee member if you are unsure of what is expected and would like a copy.

Vienna Cottage:

We missed out on a Christmas shopping day with Colleen: an oversight !  However, next weekend Colleen and many others will be at the  Vienna Cottage Christmas Boutique.   

2016 Quilt Show:

An update from the Quilt Show committee meeting confirmed that all is progressing according to schedule.   A suggestion to everyone from Suzie, who is coordinating the 'Stage Quilts for sale', that if you would like to sell a quilt at the show,  the most needed will be larger quilts.

Show and Tell:

Two cute cot quilts for the Grace Centre:   both by Susan D.  

and Val has finished another cot quilt  ...

Robyn S. has been working on six of these beautiful blocks for Adrienne's William Morris quilt:  Only one shown here,  but six were completed.    The finest machine applique - just like Adrienne's.

And, not shown at Show and Tell,  but I spied this quilt, which needed to be shared.   Recently finished by Marie G. - quote, 'Just using up my florals'. 

A long post,  but lots of good things.     Have a good sewing week ..  Cheers Iris

'Naming Day' Thursday ...

Iris on blog-duty this week as Elva enjoys some holiday time.

An important decision had to be made this week - the 2016 Traditional Raffle quilt was totally finished, on display and ready to be named.  Several names were suggested but the most votes went to  ........

  Circles of the Past.

Sharyn from the Lord Mayor's Picnic organisation came to collect Zoophoria:  it was interesting to hear from Sharyn the incredible amount of effort and coordination that takes places to stage the event on New Year's Eve.  

Zoophoria

A memory trip back to 12 months ago when Sharyn came to collect Fantasia  for last years picnic: 

Fantasia:  circa 2014

and how it was displayed behind perspex at the picnic  ....

Carl R. also popped in to visit on Thursday,  bringing with him two shopping bags of quilting books. They are being shared around.  

There is still time to donate to Stepping Stone House:  Grace and her shopping team will not be shopping for another couple of weeks.

Progress is being made on Adrienne's quilts - Robyn Jo brought in the completed corners of the wedding quilt.

Lindy was the only person to produce some Show and Tell on Thursday:  a wagga in progress. Lining up those diamonds in woollen fabric is no mean feat !

  

Keep stitching  ...  see you next week,  Cheers Iris