Donations to Queensland Flood Victims

Wondering about the best way to go about supporting our quilting sisters who have been affected by these dreadful floods? read on....Queensland Quilters Inc. have the answer!!.
As we all know, so many Queensland quilters, quilt shops and quilting groups have been affected, some only mildly but so many have lost everything, and as you can imagine, it's not an easy task to co-ordinate the donations and then the distribution of the donated goods.

Kim Boland, President of Queensland Quilters Inc sent an e-mail to a quilt shop, it was then forwarded to a Scquilter who posted the e-mail on the Squilters site.   It's a bit hard to try and condense such an e-mail, so here it is, copied in its entirety for your information.
Oh, and the flowers? just a little something to cheer us all up, they were a pressy many many moons ago, see, flowers can be forever.......well for as long as the hard drive hold up anyway.

E-mail from Kim Boland

January, 2011.

Hello everyone,

The recent floods in Queensland have caused terrible loss and grief for a
lot of people.  The size of this devastation is unimaginable.  Queensland
Quilters Inc. is organizing the collection and distribution of comfort
quilts for flood victims.


We would appreciate the donation of quilts.  The preferred sizes range from

1m x 1.50m (40”x60”) to 1.2m x 1.80m (48”x72”) but anything you are able to
give is appreciated.

We are also asking for donations of the following:

# Quilt tops not yet quilted

# Cotton quilting fabrics for tops and backs

# Cotton wadding to make and finish quilts

# Quilting books and magazines in good condition


We have many Affiliated Groups, members and sponsoring businesses in
affected areas.  As they live and work in these areas, we are using this
network to assess the need for these donations.

If your group would like to prepare sewing related care packs we will accept
these also.

We are also offering some financial assistance to our Affiliated Groups
making quilts and we anticipate that they will use these funds to purchase
requirements within their local communities.  We currently have 70 groups
across the state.  One group we have heard from had their premises flooded
and has lost their library, among other things.

If you would like to contribute financially this would also greatly assist
us.


Please send all donations and contributions to:

Queensland Quilters Inc, GPO Box 2841, Brisbane 4001.

Sincerely

Kim Boland

President

 

Hope this makes it easier for anyone who is able and would like to help the flood victims.

 

Cream of the Cloth Exhibition

Cream of the Cloth Exhibition at San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.

Currently on show until January 30th 2011, but for those of us who just aren't going to make it, here is a video of the collection.  Runs for just over 13 mins. So make a cuppa and grab a treatie, sit back and enjoy.
First quilt shown is by one of my fave quilters/dyers/knitters of all time Melody Johnson, there is a link to her blog and sites in our side bar.
Enjoy
oops....had a bit of trouble embeding the video, so try the link below, it will take you to the Quilt Show site and you can view these lovely quilts from there.

fhttp://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/3411#ooid=d2bW94MTrs2CLtJ6pkXDIwrG6t256wAf

Online Stores and a giggle

Two new e-mails with addresses for us to drool over. Both addresses have been added to the 'online stores' list in the sidebar.

Firstly, Hancocks of Paducah now have their catalogue online, as well as going directly to their site for specials you can peruse their fabric ranges at
http://content.yudu.com/A1qigv/Vol54Spring2011/resources/index.htm
Some really beautiful quilts and ideas.
Just noticed, If you order by Feb 5th you get 10% off, the Code is on the back cover of the catalogue.

 
The second is a forwarded e-mail from Kerry of WebFabrics  http://www.webfabrics.net/
clearing up some confusion and concern about an increase in U.S. shipping rates.  Kerry  tells us that their local P.O. has not been given any new restriction on the Flat Rate Envelopes they use for international shipping and that the U.S. Postal service claims that "if if fits...it ships".   Postage to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia is now $13.95 (a rise of .50c) for a Flat Rate Envelope.  A Flat Rate Envelope has a 4lb. limit which 8 yards of fabric falls under.

Enjoy Shopping!

And just because I love a piccie and 2011 is the International Year of Forests, I thought you might enjoy this - given to me by a Dog Lover.

 'Another Problem Caused by Deforestation'

 

STEMM and SUNNY KIDS

Thank you Lorraine for re-sending the pics of all the lovely pressies and donations.

 

As you can see, a mountain of wonderful and varied gifts.

It's that time of year again....

...yep, not only is it creeping/rushing headlong into Christmas it is also the beginning of our Christmas Break.
The group will be back on the 2nd February next year, all enthusiastic and ready to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the business of our Quilt Show, so much to do, and only 6 months to go........no pressure, no pressure!

But in the meantime here is the wind-up of our year, Lorraine took some pics with her phone of the enormous piles of donations to both of our regular charities, the 'Empty Christmas Tree' for the Sunny Kids and lots of supplies for the Mum's and their Babies of STEMM.
Sheila, knowing the groups generous nature bought along 2 very large cardboard boxes, think table size here folks, but the gifts to both groups overflowed the boxes onto the tables.....really a tremendously generous donation to both groups.......so where are the pics??........dunno,... truly I don't, I have searched and searched, they have to be somewhere!, but where??, so  if when I find 'em I will post them. 

The Good news is I haven't managed to loose the collage Heather sent of the wonderful time had by all at the Christmas Luncheon.

 

The food was delish, the jokes many and Lorraine kept everyone on their toes with little jokes and a game that revolved around what you had in your purse........big disappointment from the Gals who decided to use their pretty, going out purses that only held their phone and lippy!! - no prize for them!

So wishes to you all, members and readers,  for a very restful, happy and healthy holiday season, filled with family, friends and of course, lots of yummy food. 

See you all in 2011.......yikes, almost 2011 already??!!...gotta go get that quilt finished for the Show....betcha I'm still doing the binding on the last day.....sigh

Patchwork at the Fair 2010

Popped up to the Christmas Fair with the Grandies, just for half and hour and a quick look.  Well that wasn't how it worked out, we spent lotsa time and even a few dollars.  The first thing the youngest clapped eyes on that his little heart desired was Pam's 'All around the Swamp' Dinosaur finger puppets, he just had to have......as soon as we made it home he couldn't wait to get them out of the bag for a play and is happy to tell all that the Pteranodon 'took 3 hours to make',he's very impressed with that bit of info.

For safe-keeping they now reside in their very own chocolates tin....no choccies of course, wrapped myself around those quite a while back.
We did a little shopping while we were at the Cottage, both boys bought a set each of 'Australiana' Place Mats for Mum, some lovely chutney for Dad as well as a pottery sculpture of a rich red Chilli for a splash of colour on Dad's computer desk.  They also managed to grab themselves a treatie or two from Fran and Jane at the Novelties Table.

Lots of time was spent admiring all the Patchwork creations, with the youngest getting quite carried away taking loads of quilty pics.

Christmas Stockings of all sizes and colours...

 Advent Calendars and Christmas Wall Hangings

 Another Christmas Wall Hanging, Table Runners, Decorations ....

 More quilts, tea towels, 3-D quilted Wall Hanging and a lovely quilted jacket

 Quilts for the younger set

 

and those a little more mature...

 Cushions, baby toys and bibs, sewing tidy and more lovely table runners

 Table piled with cushions of all styles and colours

 Quilts in black, white and red

 Quilts in the 'Brights section with some really cute 'Sunbonnet' Cushions

 The perfect Christmas tree, just the right size and lovely bright fabrics

 

And this was the boys favourite Corner, where they found the place mats for their Mum, along with a couple of table runners,they were very intrigued with the Cat Wall Hangings but so excited and pleased with themselves to work out how the spiral quilt was made.

Another successful Christmas Fair with beautiful, clever and innovative patchwork.