A Visitor this week

 Hi Everyone,

Thank you Iris for filling in for me last week. 

Grace has sent a number of wall hangings, quilts and fidget mats to St George Aged Care. She received a very nice thank you note from them.. As a token of appreciation a $250 donation was enclosed. The quilts and other items will be put to great use in their memory support dementia unit and brighten up the lives of many for years to come.

Kathy organised a visit for us from Jessica Rudolf. When Jessica's children were little she was knitting a blanket when she suddenly thought to ask her friends to knit or sew blankets for the many children in foster care.

Her story is a wonderful example of  'from little things, big things grow'.  'My Very Own Blanket' group was formed. It is now all over the United States. Jessica is in Australia to spread her idea to us. In NSW there are 16,000 children in foster care. Many have nothing. To receive a blanket that they can keep for themselves is a wonderful comfort and help. Jessica's charity is non profit and dedicated to providing handmade blankets to children in foster care.

Sandy delivered our donation for the flood victims to True Blue Stitches in North Richmond.  The owner, Robyn,  is ' Healing the Hawkesbury  - one quilt at a time'. All donations go to Hawkesbury residents who were so badly affected during the floods. So many lost everything.

Show and Tell:

When Sandy, Carolyn and I cleaned out the end cupboard a couple of weeks ago we found numerous unfinished projects. The quilt below was folded up and a small amount of quilting had been started. I machine quilted the rest. I enjoyed finishing it.

Baby quilt from Sheila. Sheila used an orphan block in the centre from a class she had attended with Wendy Williams.

Baby quilt from Bev.

Wall hanging from Robyn Jnst.

Ten baby quilts from Caroyln which brings her count to well over 500.

Until next week ....

A day to be creative and generous

 Iris again,    I suppose it was inevitable that Judy's husband would share his germs with her:  yes, Judy has tested positive and is in isolation until after the weekend.     She hopes to be back on deck next week.

We had a very good week on social media, with a beautiful post from Little Wonder.  They included a Hunters Hill baby quilt in each of the gift bags they packed to give to all families in NICU for Easter.   And Grace's 'Ruby' Quilt design got our best 'likes' and 'comments' on our Facebook page.   We have not gone 'viral' yet, but perhaps, one day.

Alison reminded everyone that it is time to get your quilt show entry in.   Last day for entries is 12th May, but sooner is better.     Entries to Iris, either hardcopy or email.  Alternatively, Alison and Judy will accept entries as well.  

We have a visitor from US coming to talk to us next week.  Jessica will talk about the work that she and her team are doing in the US to connect charities in need with knitters, crocheters and quilters.  

Last week, Grace talked about her contact at St.George Nursing Home, Dementia Unit, who expressed the need for help to brighten up the ward and to make some more fiddle quilts.   This week,  Grace made 12 fiddle quilts, 5 wall hangings and 3 cushions and our community stash supplied 4 quilts and a wall hanging.  An excellent response.       Some pictures below.

A wall hanging made by Grace

One of the 12 fiddle mats and another wall hanging

Three quilts from our community stash made by Ros, Bev and Lindy 

And three baby quilts to add to our supply from Jane

Thank you all and have a good week

A 'Ruby filled' Day

 Iris on blog today:   Judy was isolated as a close covid contact, so was unable to join us.

Update on Helena, who had a bad fall from her bicycle and did a lot of damage to her arm. She is in plaster for 6 weeks, but is now at home.   We wish you well, Helena - no golf or sewing for some time.

Sandy has a contact to get quilts directly to flood victims in the Richmond area.   True Blue Stitches, a fabric shop in North Richmond  are collecting completed quilts, completed tops and orphan blocks,  so any of these that you would like to donate, please bring next week for Sandy. 

Grace and Ros took to the design wall to put together our 40th celebration Ruby quilt.  They were very patient as 20+ advisors offered advice and suggestions:  'move this one', 'take out the 3rd one on the 5th row'  etc.etc.

Work in progress

The 'final' positioning

'Purple'  cot quilt from Beryl

Cot quilt from Alison

Cot quilt from Sheila

Enjoy your Easter period, with lots of family,  chocolate and perhaps some sewing  ..   Iris

More Rain

 Hi Everyone,

The forecast said very heavy rain for Thursday. This didn't deter 16 brave members from arriving this week. As we were not expecting too many Grace and I arranged the tables in a long line which worked out  well allowing for groups to interact more with each other.

Ruby Quilt Blocks: 

These should all be in by now. Grace has a plan for the quilt which she will start shortly.

Show Quilt Deadline:

Entries for your show quilts are due by Thursday 12 May. A hard copy of your quilt is preferable. Otherwise a digital copy can be used.

Retreat:

Narelle has done a huge amount of work chasing venues for our retreat. A big thank you Narelle. The long and short of it is Kurri Kurri is the only place that ticks all the boxes. We are looking at September/October for this year.

Bicentennial Quilt:

Elva, Carolyn, Grace and I met with members of Council on Tuesday to view the Bicentennial Quilt which had been taken off the wall in the Town Hall and seemingly disappeared. We were relieved to find that in fact it has been very well cared for and stored. The colours have perhaps faded a little but the quilt looks great. It is an amazing historical piece for the Hunters Hill Community.

The museum is working on hanging the quilt in July/August together with The Kelly's Bush quilt and the Coat of Arms which Judith Burgess made. This will coordinate with our show so people coming to our show will be able to follow through into the museum to see the quilt closer up.

Show and Tell:

10 Bay quilts from Carolyn and one from Jenny

Blocks for this lovely quilt were made by Margaret D and put together, quilted and bound by Grace.

Jenny's baby quilt from the stash above.

Elva made this beautiful wall hanging, helped by some in her group.  It is reminiscent of  a Wendy Williams pattern and made with felt pieces. It is for a 92 year old friend. I am sure she will be overwhelmed.

Until next week ......

Grace Holding the Fort this Week

 

Thursday 31-3-2022

A great turn out for such a miserable day.

In particular it was great to see Robyn S after her knee surgery, Laurel and Lindy visiting from out of Sydney and Kathy able to join us for the day. Laurel mentioned she meets a previous member, Penny Cuff, each month for a sit and sew, with Kate Knight in the Highlands..

Our 40^th Ruby Blocks are due next week.

Being community day we can put them on the design wall to admire.

Sandy has put aside some purple fabric for anyone keen to make a baby quilt for the Little Wonders group.

Lots of Show and Tell this week.

We saw our windmill blocks made into a fabulous quilt by Suzie. It will be for sale at our Quilt show.

Laurel shared a gorgeous baby quilt for a nephews new  little girl.

Lindy donated a colourful Kaffe quilt and a cosy cotton flannel treasure to community.

Robyn Sanford handpieced this stunning baby quilt while she was in hospital receiving a new knee.The fabrics are stunning. It will go to Dragonfly. Can you spy any dragonflies?

3 colourful baby quilts for Sheila

Jane used spots to create these baby quilts

Our newest member, Denise has joined the fun and  created these 2 baby quilts.

Apologies Denise, I think I took photos of the back.

Plus I joined 169, 2 inch finished, half square triangles to make this baby quilt.

I had fun being “President” for the day.

Many thanks Judy for doing it all the time.

Grace Widders

Quilt Shows are Back

 Hi Everyone,

A very busy meeting this week. It was great to see so many of you there - 29.  The old 'buzz' was back!

Margaret and Carolyn shared photos and stories of the making of our Bicentennial Quilt that was displayed in the HH Town Hall from 1988 to 2021.  Council has suggested that they hold a quilt display in their museum along with the Kellys Bush quilt and the Council Coat of Arms quilt. The display would be for 3 - 4 months.

Also Alysoun Ryves daughter arrived with two large boxes of fabric as well as a quilt that will be offered to RPAH to raffle to raise funds.

We have quilt show to look forward to again. I can't wait.

First off is Blue Mountains from Friday 22 to 24 April from 10 - 4 pm. They have a new venue at Warrimoo.

Eastwood Show is from 15 - 17 July at Roselea Community Centre.

Our very own Hunters Hill Quilt Show from Friday 4 - Sunday 7 at the Hunters Hill Town Hall.

QuiltNSW has a new venue for their show this year. It is at the Grand Pavilion, Rosehill Racecourse from Friday 21  to Sunday 23 October from 10 - 4 pm. They will also have a Vendor Marketplace so you can pick up any of your sewing needs.

Everyone should have an entry form for our show. There are spare copies if you need one.

Show and Tell:

Baby quilt from Grace

Two from Jane

Ten baby quilts from Carolyn. The top quilt used Sheila's orphan blocks from the cupboard. If you need inspiration have a look in the cupboard for an orphan block or two. Make them into something fun and useful. Let your imagination run wild!

A lovely scrap quilt from Marie K. for the refuge

Until next time ......

Lots of show and tell

 This is Iris on 'blog' this week as Judy spends time in Melbourne with family.

We had 23 members today,  looking more like pre-covid days and as always lots of chatter, things to share and some stitching, as well.

The Quilt Show Entry forms for our August show are now ready.  Judy has sent them out by email and if you don't have a printer, hard copies are available.   All financial and life members can enter two quilts - 2nd choice will be hung based on availability of space.

Show and tell:

Marie K made this dazzler for community: it really sparkles

Marie G. used her stash to make this fun scrappy quilt, which will be given to a friend.

...   and all quilted on her domestic machine !   Marie admitted that all the twisting 

and turning left her with a very sore shoulder  for a few days.

Then we saw this beauty by Robyn Ja.  - all hand pieced and quilted

My photography does not do it justice:   it glowed and the work involved left many of us speechless

Alison was asked to 'dress' another puppet.  The brief was to create a replica of an entertainer, Brad, as suppled in a photo.   Alison said it took her three attempts to get the jeans the perfect fit, as per the photo.

For members who are not  Facebook users,  this is a photo that I posted on Facebook today which I received from Dragonfly Midwifes:  adorable twins wrapped in one of our blankets.

That's all,   have a good weekend and Judy will be back next week.    Cheers, Iris