Najidah Open Christmas Tree and the Last meeting for 2015...

...well, at least for the Wednesday arvo gals, to cheer us up, Marie bought along a little baggie of cuttings to share.

Wendy has graduated to large blocks, (faster quilts?) and shared these with us, all needleturned applique (hmm...maybe not such a fast quilt) in brights on an assortment of grey backgrounds

Of course, you have to have the bestest nicest scissors to snip your threads when doing needleturn, and Wendy certainly had the right ones, a little treat from Japan bought while on hols in Tassie.

Peer in closely, you can see the makers mark stamped on the blade.

Mary has been working on a quilt for her Grandies big boy bed.  Started out with a set of panels, then it had to be made larger and finally the request for even larger, Mary did a bit of quick thinking, not to mention a quick trip to the fabric shop and with the addition of the quarter square triangle blocks achieved the right measurements.
Deciding on the layout, lots of swapping and changing around.

and then the assembled flimsey.  These two pics are from Mary's ipad.  Thanks Mary, hope to see a pic of the finished quilt in the new year.

When not handing out pelargonium slips, Marie was stitching  lace flowers on what will be sweet little skirts for 3year old lassies.

Ahh Christmas, so much stitching.  Mind you, a quick call by Marie to the daughter to check on the right skirt length got the response, 'Sorry Ma, no one here has a tape measure', guess what someone is getting in her Christmas stocking!

So what's Marlene and Beryl up to? workwise that is, we can see they have been mucking around and doing lots of giggling.
Marlene is E.P.P. kites is what, this is number 7 of ?, its a great little bring along project.

In the project's early days Marlene wasn't too sure of which order to place her fabric choices, she took a pic of her two choices, posted the pics on her Paper Piecing facebook group and asked for comments.  74 responses later this was the fav layout, with good reasons for the choice.  Now thats what facebook is all about!

Beryl is stitching circles, not in circles, just circles.

Beryl makes a little gift for the office gals each year, "nothing big" she says,"just a little thank you".  Lucky office gals, these will have little hanging tabs for versatility.

Sue was getting quite a ribbing while stitching down the binding, smart comments about how the fair is over, getting an early start for 2016?, you can imagine.
After dissolving in a fit of the giggles she fessed up.  This cutie is just for her because...she forgot the wadding!
Yep, that last midnight dash to create more for the fair saw this one quilted together and not a spot of wadding to be found!

Sue says it definitely wasn't a 'Seniors Moment', nope, just a midnight mishap.

Karen, who's hands never seem to be still, is creating something shashiko with a twist.  Using a lovely muted green fabric - yes I know - blaming the camera really- it is a lovely fabric.

Sue on the other hand, pensive, always a danger when Sue gets pensive, betting its all about those Najidah toiletry bags and how to upgrade and upmarket.  I think I can see a workshop or working bee on the horizon.

Those gals at Najidah are a busy lot, sadly they were not able to come along  to the open Christmas Tree day, so no big display for you to marvel at the generosity of a bunch of quilters, just a peek into a  pile of half opened boxes.

There were more quilts than you could poke with a pointy stick,

39 of them actually, 35 for Najidah Mums and Kiddies and 4 for STEMM.
Did manage to snap this cutie as Val was folding it up for the last box. Love the backing, makes it a reversible.

 Then it was a game of stack 'em into the back of Lainey's car to transport to Marcia's garage for overnight storage.

Just that little bit of space left, those 3 boxes and another 2 still in the Cottage! but they made it, good thing it wasn't a long trip!

IMHO - well possibly not so humble - the Buderim Patchwork Group can be justifiably proud of all the work, time, energy and $$$'s they put in to support the Mums and Kiddies who pass through Najidah, and although for obvious reasons we never get to meet any of them, (we do get treasured Thank You notes) -   we all heartily wish those little families a carefree and safe Christmas.

Last afternoon tea for 2015.  

Janice and Denise gave us a lovely afternoon tea, cakes, bickies, mince pies, chockies and cherries.  

What could be lovelier. 

Lastly a Sheila update for you all.

Zoe (left) Sheila and Alison (Right) outside their apartment in old part of Athens called Plaka.

Sheila's note:

We walk everywhere down different little streets each day. Tomorrow we are going on a cruise to 3 close Greek islands,swim maybe ?  The weather has been great. Today we saw a main st closed & lots of police because John Kerry (USA) was visiting.
Yesterday there was a big demo against cut in pensions!
Lots of pointsettia for sale for Christmas.
Cheers Sheila

Merry Christmas  you guys and keep those piccies coming!