Friday 20 April 2018

School Holidays and Reminder

It is the first week of the school holidays for NSW.  Our group was a little smaller as a result.

Important Reminder:

The Sensory Mats are due on Thursday May 10.  For those who haven't finished theirs, you will need to get a move on.
Grace will be collecting them on the 10th.

Member News:

Merlyn and Val have been to visit Doreen during the week.

Val had lunch with her and said she is in good spirits.

Merlyn was able to give Doreen some information about her accommodation as her brother also is staying there.

It was wonderful to see Joy back this week. She is not 100% but is much better.

General:

We were sad to hear that Quiltsmith at Annandale is closing the shop. They have an amazing selection of fabrics and many of us bought fabric there.
With increasing rents and expenses, the owner has decided to go online.
They are currently having a sale with 25% off everything.

Show and Tell:


Robyn and Iris packed 50 baby quilts to take to the Grace Centre at Westmead Hospital.
Our cupboard is now bare, awaiting a refill.



Marie K. made this lovely hexagon quilt for our Community stash. Marie is very talented at putting colours and various fabrics together. Her quilts always look stunning.



 This is another quilt for Community. It is a joint effort between Gill, Val and Doreen. Elephants are always a favourite. Lovely work.



Iris asked Marie K. if she would be able to make a matching bag for her hexagon quilt. What a great bag. We all wanted it! Thank you Marie.

I will be away next week. Grace has kindly agreed to step in for me. I hope you enjoy the the rest of the school holidays which includes Anzac Day next Wednesday.

Sunday 15 April 2018

Visitors and Quilt Donations

Visitors:

* This week Tracey Sherwin from Unisson (formerly known as Sunshine Homes) joined us to tell us about her charity.
They have 30 staff and 800 participants. They help all ages with disabilities and also offer a day service as well as respite care.
The charity is government funded through the NDIS but extra funds are raised from selling arts and crafts, including painting and pottery, made by participants and also by raffling a quilt.

We donated 6 quilts for their use. Tracey said these will be used by their elderly residents to keep them warm during the winter. Residents in wheel chairs use them both as lap quilts and when they lie back in their chairs.

The quilts were particularly colourful and all made by our members.

* Heather brought a friend along to our meeting this week. Her friend Glenda lives near Dallas in Texas. She has an Australian grandson whom she likes to visit when she can.
It was such a pleasure to have her join us. She showed us a quilt and spoke to us about it.
The photograph is below.


Member News:

Norma -  one of our older members can no longer come to meetings as she requires more care. Elva has been to visit her and she is happy and enjoying her "new home". She misses us all though.

Doreen - is also in care at the moment while her daughter is away. She is slowly recovering.

Joy - is always at our meetings so it was noticeable that she was "missing in action". She has had a stay in hospital but is home now and recovering.
We all wish you a speedy recovery Joy and look forward to seeing you back here soon.

Show and Tell:



Heather showed us this very colourful quilt. Heather had quilted it using special Ruler Templates on her home machine.
These come in various shapes - straight lines, circles, etc.
Many of us did not know about these templates. They attach to your machine and make it easier to guide the needle for quilting.



Above and below, we have Glenda's quilt. Glenda said it is from a pattern which she offered to anyone who would like it. A number of her friends made the blocks separately, the only stipulation being that there was to be No Pink!
When all the blocks were returned they made this lovely, fun quilt.
It would be a great pattern for a Christmas quilt in Christmas fabrics.


Below is a close up of Heather's quilt to show the detailed quilting. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the back of the quilt which showed the quilting more clearly.




A number of our members visited the Fairholme Quilt show at Thornleigh last weekend. It was a lovely show. 
I particularly liked their challenge. The instruction was for a 12" block in black and white with a splash of colour. 
All the blocks were amazing. It was difficult to choose a favourite. This was one of mine.
The blocks will be made up into quilts for Community.


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.