Happy Holidays

 Hi Everyone,

We finished our quilting year on a high note with our Christmas party. It was a little different this year and some members think that we should use the same configuration next year.  Ros and Narelle's table had the best decoration and food. I fear they have set a precedent so I expect a lot of competition next year!

It was wonderful to have 32 attend. Marie K brought Moina along and it was so good to see her. Also Karen joined us which was a nice surprise as she has not come to any meetings since the lockdown.

A great big thank you to Narelle for organising and serving the drinks. Ros helped her too. Narelle handled it with aplomb and made sure no one went without some form of liquid in front of them. Narelle made a delicious fruit punch as well this year which was very popular.

I read out messages from Suzie L, Lindy and Laurel - all wishing us a Happy Christmas and New Year.

Felicity contacted Judy S. to say that she was thinking of us. She was worried about coming as she has been in and out of hospital so often this year.

Gill organised a card to be signed by us all for Doreen.

Robyn S took 103 quilts to Westmead. This brings the total number given to them this year to 150. There are 33 more ready for next year.

Marie G made 40 little fabric Christmas trees for everyone. These were handed out with the Lucky Door prize tickets. I called her yesterday to say there were 8 left over and did she want them. She said no keep them so I have given 3 to my grandchildren for their trees and the remaining 5, I will distribute to friends.

Sandy handed out more of the Christmas Challenge kits. Many had been finished and returned to her already.

Of course the highlight of the day was June's game. June had many more tricky questions again this year. It was great fun as usual. Nobody was wearing pink undies! June announced that this is definitely her last year! She has two deputies in mind who will take it over from next year. I think though it will always be known as "June's Game".

Thank you June for doing it every year for so long. It is always the highlight of our Christmas Party.

Show and Tell:

June's quilting friend Bronwyn has given us 5 beautiful quilts to be sold at our show. Meg has kindly offered to take them to Suzie L for safe keeping.

Only parts of the quilts are shown:

I wish you and your families a Happy Christmas and I look forward to a brand new year in 2021 that will hopefully be more normal.

Keep well and take care.

We start again on January 14, 2021. I will send out an email to everyone before then, re numbers who can attend etc. depending of course on the status of the virus.

 Until next time.........

Penultimate Blog for 2020

 Hi Everyone,

We are almost at the end of our very strange year. Thankfully we have been very lucky overall but it has been a very mixed year.

We had a group of 24 this week. Joy arrived with 4 huge bags full of quilts and bits and pieces from Norma McMorran who died recently. A lot of the quilts are finished and ready for Community. A number of the other quilting items were sorted through and taken by those who could use them. Narelle kindly took the crocheted wool rug to wash and give to a charity.

Bev met a lady at Kathy's shop who asked if we had any quilts to donate. Bev gave the details to Sandy who has contacted her. She works at a Palliative Care facility in Greenwich and will be very happy to receive quilts for the patients. Sandy will follow up early next year.

The Christmas Challenge:

We have started to hand out the Christmas challenge with more to come next week for those who have not received one.

There is an error with the instructions. Just sew a coloured rectangle to each of the grey ones as the photo below shows. Do not try to sew them into a block as they won't fit.

Christmas Party next week. 

Some of the groups who sit together each week want to keep the two table arrangement and share their food. Every group will have a table to access. It is fun to mix around though and get to know others in the group who you don't normally speak to. There will also be a looser arrangement with some of the tables and chairs to allow more freedom. I am still not keen on sharing food eg dips etc. so be sensible. I will bring my own lunch and something else as well. 

Still observe the correct distance between people. Narelle will serve the drinks to those sitting.

Don't forget to bring a glass!

Also Iris is going to hang the Show Raffle Quilts so she can take a publicity photo of us all in front of them.

Show and Tell:

I finished one of Rhonda Taylor's quilt tops with backing, wadding and binding. It looks very Christmasy. This is for Community.

Heather made this wonderful Christmas stocking for a new little baby on its way. It is very detailed and a good size ready for all the goodies.

Christmas Challenge: Only join each grey piece to a coloured piece and leave them like that. They will be sorted and arranged into blocks later.

Until next week with my Christmas greetings .........

A Little Late

 Hi Everyone,

My apologies for the late blog this week. We have had our 2 young grandchildren stay over for the last 4 nights. I had forgotten how full on young people are!

I hope you all managed to cope with the heatwave conditions over the weekend.  The relief yesterday was a pleasant change.

Sandy handed out the Christmas Challenge on Thursday for those who were at the meeting. She will bring more this coming week and also to the Christmas Party on December 10.

Robyn Jnst told me that we have achieved our quota of quilts both for Sylvanvale and for the Womens' Refuge. Robyn had also received a very nice letter of thanks for the trauma bears and rabbits that she and Ros have made. Iris has filed the letter in our 'brag' book.

Ros had word from Akiko. She has finished her quarantine in Japan and is with her Mother. I guess it is getting pretty cold there too. 

Christmas Party:

With the easing of restrictions, I am confident that it is safe to hold our Christmas Party while still observing a 2 square metre distance rather then the 4 square metres that has been in place.

The chairs will be set up in semi circles with easy access to a table for your lunch. It will be best if you are sitting when Narelle offers you a drink. Feel free to move around so you get to speak to others who you normally don't sit with, remembering always to stand or sit a little apart. No crowding allowed!

I will send an email out about the party so we manage to reach everyone.

Show and Tell:

Ros has handstitched a beautiful star quilt. She started it 13 years ago! The backing, quilting and binding are yet to be done. 

Carolyn brought in another 10 baby quilts. She made 50 during our lockdown in March. Overall she has made 300 . Carolyn insists that her stash has not reduced!

Ann has finished a quilt top from Val Duncan. A very pretty 'sample' quilt.

Marie K. bought these fabrics many years ago in Houston. Another lovely quilt from Marie who always hand sews her blocks.

Until next week ....

Surprise Visit

 Hi Everyone,

Robyn J and Jonquil popped in for a visit this week. It was very good to see them. Both are looking the picture of health. They will join us from now on. We haven't seen them since the lockdown in March.

Sandy has assured me that we have the required number of quilts for Sylvanvale. Thank you to all who contributed.

As some members will not be coming to the end of year Christmas party, Sandy will bring in some of the Christmas Challenge instructions next week . Please take one for anyone you know who won't be at the Christmas lunch on December 10.

I received a copy of the Guild Template this week. You may not know that Grace is contributing the "Block of the Quarter" for this year. Any member who wants to make a block does so, and sends it in. Another group puts them together for a Charity Quilt.

There is also a listing of Proposed Shows for 2021. These include Avalon Quilters (March), Snowy Mountains Group (April), Eastwood Quilters (April), and Caroline Bay Quilters (May).

The Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair is scheduled for June 23-27, 2021. 

Show and Tell:

Sue D made a rabbit without stuffing. Her husband immediately called it Road Kill. Sue also made a couple of Road Kill throws for her grandchildren. Such fun! 

A baby quilt from Marie G.

A pretty blue and white quilt from Sheila. It is a gift for her friend.

Marie G. made this quilt for charity from bits and pieces. Unfortunately the photo is a bit wonky.

Everyone loved it.

Until next week ......

No News

 Hi Everyone,

I had no news to report this week. We were a group of 22.  I noticed there was a lot of collaboration between members. Alison helped Beryl with a serpentine quilting pattern. Robyn Jnst has finished adding eyes and noses to the 40 knitted rabbits from Ros. Others sought advice on quilts they were making. And of course lots of laughter and chatting - good for the soul.

However we had lots of Show and Tell:

Baby quilts from Carolyn. Carolyn is bringing 10 in each week as she made so many during lockdown.

Baby quilt from Judy. I made two almost the same from leftover 2 1/2" squares I had, using my favourite 9 patch block.

Sue D.'s granddaughter sewed the strips together for this baby quilt. Sue did the binding. A quilter in the making. She is only 9 years old.

Community quilt from Robyn S.

Alison made this using a pattern from Treehouse Textiles, for her grandson.

An Arkansas Crossroads pattern quilt from Alison. This is for Sylvanvale.

Another baby quilt from Sue's granddaughter.

A cot quilt from Jenny for the Womens' Refuge.

Ann made this pretty quilt for her new granddaughter. 

Bev has finished her knitted shawl. It is an intricate pattern that required over 50 stitch markers. It is so soft and warm. Bev and Helena are wonderful knitters, as is Ann.

Another cot quilt from Jenny from the Womens' Refuge.

A very special bear made by Kerry for her granddaughter. It is so soft with a lovely face. We have such clever ladies in our group. 

Until next week .......

Busy Meeting

 Hi Everyone,

We had a busy day this week despite the sudden cold weather and heavy rain. The hall was a good place to be.

Our last day to meet this year will be Thursday 10 December. We will then resume on January 14 2021 to allow the appropriate time for announcement of our AGM to be held in February.

Sylvanvale Christmas quilts: We have filled the required number of 7 quilts for Women and 6 quilts for men. More quilts are underway and these will be for general Community.

Quilt NSW has announced their Special Themed category for their 2021 show - Blue and White, no cream, any blue, if patterned fabric it must read as blue, and no minimum size.

Their Sydney office is still closed. They are hoping to open again at the end of January.

I will send an email to everyone with details for our Christmas party next month. We are permitted a maximum of 34 people in the hall at the moment, with appropriate social distancing. I will be happier if we can manage to do this. We can open the side doors into the playground area if it is fine to give us more space.

If you do not intend to come to the Christmas party I would be grateful if you would let me know.

It was a treat to have a visit from Kathy this week. She and Helena had been hosting an online workshop earlier in the day. Kathy said that the whole world has opened up to us with virtual/zoom workshops. Anyone can join in and learn new techniques, find inspiration from others etc. Kathy urged us to try a virtual workshop.

Akiko is away now until next year. She is visiting her Mum in Japan. Ros has kindly agreed to step in to open the hall each week. Please see me if payment for any expenses is required.

Show and Tell:

Pretty baby quilt from Beryl R.

June's long time friend, Bronwyn, has made and donated 4 quilts. Some have been finished off by June and Iris. Apparently there are many more to come. Bronwyn's work is exquisite. She just loves making them. We are very lucky to receive so many.

Sue D. made this lovely pink quilt for Community.

Until next week ....

Lockdown Projects Completed

 Hi Everyone,

Val Nelson called in with her daughter again this week. We received rotary cutter blades, a large box of basting pins and clamps, and scissors from Val's stash. We were able to show her the baby quilt and the other quilt that had been made from her donated fabric.

Val was pleased to catch up with Robyn, Marie and June.

Grace has finished sewing the Street project from our lockdown blocks as well as the Star blocks. You will agree that the quilt really looks good. We will hang the Street quilt in the hall for us all to admire.

After quilting on Thursday, five of us walked over to check out one of the HH Council's initiatives - The Yarn Space. We had been booked from 2 pm but on arrival, meetings were being held and we weren't able to stay. We were however given a brief talk about the facility. It is a space that can be booked by the community for yoga, storytime, baby bounce sessions, and upcoming village talks and workshops. 

Council has an agreement with Lane Cove library for a click and collect system for books to borrow.

One handy addition for locals is items such as used printer cartridges, plastic, batteries,and various items for recycling can be dropped into the bins in the space. 

I don't think it is particularly suitable for our needs but it was interesting.

Show and Tell:

Ros has made 40 knitted rabbits. Here are three waiting for their noses and eyes to be sewn on.

Three baby quilts from Jenny

Baby quilt from June

Two from Grace 

Cot quilt from June for the Womens Refuge

Community quilt from Ros

Cutest little Halloween pin cushion made by Helen's daughter, Susie.

 Our Lockdown Street quilt. Terrific! Thank you Grace.

The Lockdown Star quilt. This will be for Community. It always amazes me that our blocks, all worked on independently and with few instructions, always come together and look great. Thanks you Grace and Sandy for finishing this one.

Until next week ......