Snuggle Quilts

Snuggle Quilts Sewing Day ... August 13th, 2011

2011-07-10T13:30:00.000+10:00

The next Snuggle Quilts sewing day is:

Saturday, August 13th

10am - 4pm

@ my place

Come for as little / long as you are able.

Things to be done:

Piece blocks (blocks and fabric already here) - but you can bring more if you want
Quilting - tops, backing and batting supplied
A couple of quilts need binding
A few quilts need SQ labels sewn on

Bring:

Sewing machine - extension lead - power board if you have one
Thread - especially neutrals ... white/cream/grey etc ... SQ has some, but not a lot
Your sewing gear
Something to share for lunch or to nibble with a cuppa

Let me know if you're coming

Feel free to bring a friend ... we have plenty of room!

A xo

Assembly Day #1

2011-03-18T17:00:00.003+11:00

On February 6th this wonderful bunch of Snugglequilters met to start assembling blocks and fabric for a sewing day to be held at the end of April.

We started to work our way through the MANY sets of donated quilt blocks, matching them with sashing and backing fabric. Each pack can now be assembled, ready for quilting. Caroline took several completed quilt top/batting/backing sets to be quilted by a wonderful quilter who has a long-arm quilting maching.

To say I am thankful for this quilter's offer would be an understatement! There are many of us who are willing and eager to complete quilt tops, but finding quilters is my greatest challenge.

There are still many blocks to be assembled, and I plan to have another get-together to continue making up quilt top packs. I think the packs are a great idea - all they need is to be sewn together - (hopefully) enabling the completion of many tops within a short period of time. At the moment I'm thinking of the 1st or 2nd weekend of the School Holidays (April 9th or 16th). I will keep you posted!

Until then ...

A xo

How many is enough?

2011-02-05T15:05:00.005+11:00

As I start to get my house organised for tomorrow's Snuggle Quilts get together, I started thinking about HOW MANY quilts would be needed to give everyone, in one of Eastern Australia's disaster zones, who currently needs a snuggle - a quilt.

The number is overwhelming!

I live in suburban Melbourne - NOT an area one would consider a flood zone - but our cellar is currently flooded. We live close to The Yarra River - it has a flood warning - as do so many of Victoria's waterways.

So much of this country is in crisis mode today ...

Queensland floods

Cyclone Yasi

Victorian floods

... on top of this, Monday is the anniversary of the Black Saturday fires ...

Black Saturday Anniversary

Like I said ... it's overwhelming!

A quilt is only a small thing, in the scheme of things ... but each stitch is filled with love.

It really is the least we can do.

A xo

If you know of other groups making gifts of love, let me know and I'll happily post a link to their site.

Snuggle Quilts Organising Day

2011-01-31T23:49:00.002+11:00

Time to get organised to make those quilts ...

With so many completted blocks and bits and pieces that can be made into quilts, we've decided to get together to package up blocks and sashing fabric to be sewn into quilt tops. These can then be picked up by and taken home whenever Snugglequilters are ready.

We are also running very low on batting, and need to work out how we can acquire some more.

HERE is what we plan to do ...

Snuggle Quilts will meet to package up the materials needed for the quilt tops and quilting.

THIS COMING SUNDAY
February 6th
My house
2pm

I know this is very short notice - but we want to be able to hand out the packs so they can get started.
If you know anyone/group who might be willing to donate $ or batting ... ASK them if they could help out and let me know.
SEW
- If you need fabric ... Snuggle Quilts has a great stash ... come and get some.
- Grab a pack and start putting a quilt top together.
- Grab a quilt top, batting and backing and do some quilting.
Let me know if you are aware of who is distributing donated goods to the families affected.

I'll keep you posted as to what will happen next.

A xo

It's time for us to help the people of Queensland

2011-01-11T09:20:00.003+11:00

I've just been listening to the morning news ... such devastation from the floods in Queensland ... and I'm figuring all that water will continue down the system until it eventually peters out (when/wherever that will be).

Queensland quilters helped us out after the Black Saturday fires - now it's our turn to help them.

Snuggle Quilts have been quiet for some time ... it's time for us to get going again.

Here's where we're at ...

There are MANY finished quilt tops that need quilting.
We have enough completed blocks to make up (perhaps) 8 or 9 quilts - they just need sashing and borders.
Fabric donations have seen our stash grow to a bookcase-full - plenty for us to work with.
There are currently 2 ENORMOUS (and I'm not kidding here) rolls of (eiderdown) thick batting in my lounge room. It's too thick to use in our 'normal' quilts, but would be great in quilts with large blocks that had minimal quilting.

So ... I'm thinking ...

I will organise a sewing/organising day at my place after school gets back.
If anyone is able to help out with 1 or 2 above NOW, let me know and we will get together what you need.
If anyone knows of someone who has a professional quilting setup and is willing to quilt for us - that would be sensational. Please let me know so I can contact them.

I will post more information soon.

A xo

Snuggle Quilts sewing day #2

2010-08-06T12:25:00.000+10:00

As those on the Snuggle Quilt email list have no doubt realised ... we DIDN'T meet on July 24th ... it was the Melbourne Quilt and Craft Fair ... and we quilters were 'otherwise engaged'.

But we ARE meeting on Saturday August 28th.

If you are not on the email list, but you would like to join us on the 28th let me know and I'll give you the details.

A xo

Snuggle Quilts sewing day

2010-06-15T00:47:00.002+10:00

It has been such a LONG time since we've worked on any Snuggle Quilts - so let's get together on July 24th.

Here's my current idea:

Meet for the day at my place.
Snuggle Quilts now possesses SO much fabric that I can no longer cart it around. At my place we have easy access to everything we need.
Come for as long as you are able, when you are able.
If we meet between 10-4 then those who want to make a day of it can, and others can come and go. No pressure - just do what you can. You can even stay beyond 4 ... I'm not going anywhere!!!
Share morning/arvo tea and lunch.
Chatting, eating and cuppas are VITAL to happy quilting.

What do I want to do on the day???

As I mentioned in the last post, Janet gave us a huge amount of fabric and quilt tops. All the finished quilts found homes in the Kinglake area in time for Christmas. My friend who distributed them said they brought much joy to their new families.

#1 Priority
What I still have are quilt tops sitting here waiting to be quilted. It would be wonderful if they could make their way to their new homes too. I have plenty of backing fabric so, on the day, we could baste to our heart's content.
#2 Priority
Don't worry if you're like me, and not good at the 'quilting' part. There are an enormous number of blocks to be made into quilt tops. When we last me we sorted them into possible quilts - there are a lot of them! So, there is plenty of opportunity to sew.

Bring along:

Any SQ quilts you are already working on or have finished.
Your quilting tools.
Basting pins - if you're going to take one to quilt (if we use our own pins on the quilts we're going to do, then we don't have to worry about returning them). No pins? No worries - we'll tack!
Food - for morning/arvo tea and lunch (whichever you're staying for).
Your sense of humour and willing to have a chat. ;-)

I so hope lots can make it. I loved the times we spent together last year - so let's keep it going ... there are lots of people who are still in need of a Snuggle!

Please let me know if you're coming - so I can be prepared.

If you'd like to grab something earlier, contact me and I'll get whatever you need to you.

A xo

The latest quilts and quilt tops

2009-12-20T21:17:00.006+11:00

When I met up with Janet Rowe last Sunday I was TOTALLY unprepared for what awaited me ... to say the car was PACKED would be an understatement! There was SO much, in fact, that I'm now having to completely rethink how I have all the Snuggle Quilt goodies stored at home - I have NO space left ... LOL!

Due to end of year craziness, we ended up having to meet before the Snuggle Quilts meeting, at a Spotlight carpark halfway-ish between our houses. I must admit we must have been quite a sight having our 'clandestine' meeting in the corner, unloading bags and boxes of quilts and fabric!

I've taken photos of everything Janet gave us, but ... it's Christmas ... and my focus tonight is on getting quilts ready to go to their new homes. What I wanted to do is show you the wonderful finished quilts that will go home, and the tops we aim to have quilted asap.

THANK YOU Janet and your band of quilters - these are just amazing.

... remember, my pics are not to scale ...

Finished Quilts

Quilt Tops

I will put up photos of the REST of what is hiding in those bags and boxes after Christmas.

May Snugglequilters and all our Snuggle Quilts followers have a blessed Christmas and New Year.

A xo

Snuggle Quilts get together

2009-11-30T00:00:00.004+11:00

Greetings Snugglequilters,

My goodness ... it has been AGES since I last posted - I can't believe it's been so long. It has also been an age since we met, and I've broken pretty much every promise I made to get together asap ... but I'm afraid school and my daughter's wedding (last week) kind of over-filled my days.

SO ... because the days in the year are fast running out ... those of us who can ... MUST get together asap ... in fact ... on Sunday December 13th - at Plenty Valley CC (where we had the quilt hanging).

'Why the rush - it's the Christmas crazy time of the year?' I hear you shouting. Well, there are several reasons (in no order of importance - just how I'm thinking tonight):

It's nearly Christmas - and there are STILL families who haven't received quilts. I have the names of quite a few, and there are more coming - they need snuggles - and perhaps a lovely Christmas present that lets them know we are still thinking of them.

Holidays are coming up for many of us, and that may mean that some who are usually time-poor will have a 'bit' more time to put towards a quilt (or 2).

If Snuggle Quilts is to continue, we need to meet.

On the 13th the wonderful Janet Rowe, from Wildcraft Farm (quilt and stitcheries designer http://www.wildcraftfarm.typepad.com/) can join us, as she would like to deliver a HEAP of goodies for us. Janet contacted me after reading the article about Snuggle Quilts in Nurture magazine. Here's a bit out of her email:

I live in the thick of the Dandenongs where bush fires threatened daily (Jessica's school was cancelled a few times due to the danger), so in order to keep my sanity I went on my blog and asked my followers world wide to help out - and they did (in a very big way). Unfortunately the fire threats got in the way of us being able to complete and distribute some of these quilts, my intention had always been to see if we could help the Plenty Valley School first, and it's surrounding families. It's a long story, thats why I'm wondering if you can give me a call - as I am now in the possession of a lot of items I need to get to where they are needed.

Janet has quilts, blocks and MORE that she would love to donate to Snuggle Quilts for us to finish/distribute/make into more quilts. To get an idea of what her group have done, check out her February blog posts:
http://wildcraftfarm.typepad.com/wildcraft_farm/2009/02/index.html. I can't wait to meet Janet in person, and see what she has to share with us.

That is why I REALLY hope you can all come along - even if only for a short while.

That said, given the time of year, I totally understand if you can't make it 'this' time.

Here are my (current) plans for the day:

Get together for an afternoon of sorting out what we 'can' do.

I'll bring the Snuggle Quilts fabric we already have (including backing fabric etc).
I'll bring the batting offcut 'bits' we have + any other batting people have let me know they need.

Janet can show us what she has - and we can work out who/what we will do get it organised.
Work out what could be distributed before Christmas.
Spend some time sewing/planning/cutting/plotting/working out who can do what/grabbing some supplies ... whatever else!!
Work out when we will next meet.

If you can't make it on the day, but would like to be involved, email/phone me and I we can arrange to get some goodies to you.

At this time of the year, let's share our love, the way He shared with us.

PLEASE contact me with any ideas/questions etc.

A xo

The Snuggle Quilts Go Home

2009-08-02T20:40:00.027+10:00

The July school holidays was a great time for the first batch of Snuggle Quilts to find a home. Mid Winter makes for great 'snuggling', and we wanted families to be able to snuggle beneath a quilt made with love.

Snuggle Quilts batch #1.

Small quilts

Large quilts

Middle-size quilts

Baby quilts

Kid's quilts

Lined up in the hallway, waiting to go.

In the Conference Room, ready to be picked up
(along with the gorgeous teddies).

THIS is what Snuggle Quilts is all about - having our quilts find a home. What I wasn't ready for was the emotions that hit me. Leaving them was akin to saying goodbye to an old friend. But there was also great joy - in knowing they would wrap someone else with our love.

A xo

Diamond Creek Snuggle Quilters Quilt Hanging

2009-08-02T18:06:00.026+10:00

Every Wednesday morning a group of quilters gather in Diamond Creek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Creek,_Victoria) to share their passion. When Monica heard about Snuggle Quilts she asked the 'gals' if they'd be interested in being involved. To say their answer was 'yes' would be an understatement - they took the challenge by the horns!.

Using blocks and fabric I had been given, and adding their own touches, they produced fabulous quilts. These photos were taken at a Quilt Hanging to support the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea (http://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/).

Dick and Jane

Blocks from Bristol

Noah's Ark

Dalmations

Racing cars

Australian native applique and 4 patches

Flower blocks

Butterflies and Bears

Spotty bear

Scrappy blocks

Teddies

Toy Story, bugs and critters, and flower blocks

Basting the Dalmations quilt after the quilt hanging

The 'gals' at their Quilt Hanging

I can't thank this group enough - they are dedicated, fantastic quilters, and continue to contribute to Snuggle Quilts. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

God Bless!

A xo

Sandwich Basting

2009-08-02T17:41:00.006+10:00

Quilting terminology gives me the giggles sometimes. When I tell people I'm 'basting the quilt sandwich' I've had some rather odd reactions.

Yes, basting is what you do to a chook as it roasts ... preparing it to be devoured by a hungry mob ... but that's where the similarity ends! Quilt basting is where you join the quilt 'sandwich' together.

'The sandwich!' I hear you saying, ' ... is that to keep up the energy levels as you quilt?' Well ... yes, quilters are known for their preoccupation with yummy snacks as they work ... but the Quilt Sandwich is the 3 layers that make up the quilt - backing, batting and quilt top. They are carefully laid out, held in place (so they don't move around) and then joined together with either safety pins or cotton tacking (the large stitches kind, not the metal ones put into wood).

The quilt sandwich - held in place by masking tape and large clips - ready to be pinned.

William supervising - to make sure I do it properly!

Phew! That was tricky (the difficult to explain tricky, not the pulling the rabbit out of the hat kind of tricky). Goodness ... English is a complicated language, isn't it?? ;-)

A xo

More Blocks & Prodigal Pics

2009-07-19T23:40:00.011+10:00

I owe the makers of these gorgeous blocks and quilts a big apology - partly because it's taken me so LONG to get the photos up, and partly because I'm still finding errant photos. For someone who prides herself in her 'organisational skills' ... I've found out I am a mere mortal and can't 'do it all' after all (especially when the work/life/everything else balance gets overloaded).

Adreanne & Fran

Margaret & Colette

Genevieve

These have been put into quilts and have found their new homes - keep watching for the quilts they now live in.

A xo

PS If I have mislabelled anything, or if I haven't got a pic of your handiwork up ... PLEASE let me know - my brain is slowly returning to 'normal'. ;-)

Fabulous Findon

2009-07-19T20:07:00.016+10:00

You may remember this photo from the Quilt Hanging post - and I promised to tell you more about this dynamic duo and their fabulous kids.
Many moons ago I had the pleasure of teaching with Mary and Merrill at Findon PS. There was never a dull moment - some things don't change!

Mary's class were doing a unit of work about helping others, when she heard about Snuggle Quilts - so they decided to get involved. Over the weeks the class talked about the messages they could put onto a quilt. Each student made a block - and the results are in their two gorgeous quilts.

Nicki, the art teacher, got involved too - and there is another quilt on the way. Merrill is a quilter - she guided them along their way, put the blocks together and did the quilting.

This is the first one they finished - isn't it wonderful?

Just before the school holidays I headed over to Findon's Friday assembly for the official 'handing over'. It was fantastic to look at all the changes that have taken place since I left - a couple of Mary's students took me around and filled me in on all the things they're doing, and I had a chance to do some catching up with 'old' colleagues.

At the assembly Mary and her students explained what they'd been doing to the rest of the school.
I filled them in on what the Snugglequilters had been doing, then they gave me the two finished quilts.
THANK YOU guys - wherever your quilts end up, I know the new owners will feel the love that has gone into them.

A xo

FINALLY!

2009-07-19T19:43:00.003+10:00

FINALLY ... I've found some time to update this blog!

During the last weeks of term 2 all my time was taken up getting quilts finished and out to their new homes. As a result of, shall we say, falling a 'tad' behind in my school 'paperwork', my holidays were spent sitting right where I am now - at the computer ... 2 solid weeks of intensive catch-up ... boy, it was SO much fun (not!).

There is much to tell ... so I'd better get on with it :)

A xo

Snuggle Quilts First Quilt Hanging

2009-05-24T23:43:00.062+10:00

What a big day it was yesterday - Snugglequilters met to celebrate the completion of our first 'batch' of quilts. I knew we had finished around 70, that they were as diverse and individual as the people who had made them, and that they made tall piles on the table in my family room - but, until I started to hang them, I had no idea how truly fabulous they were.

Wayne (my poor, long-suffering husband) headed out to the College with me in the morning. I was sure that 3 hours would be plenty of time to get everything ready before the other Snugglequilters arrived - but it was a race to the end! I was SO thankful to have him there to help - as I hung quilts he moved tables and chairs and strung up metres and metres (or should I say yards and yards seeing we're quilters) of clothesline as I ran out of hanging room.

When Snugglequilters began to arrive I realised it was going to be an 'interesting' afternoon. As they walked through the door, almost without exception, their eyes widened and as they opened their mouths to speak they only managed a gasp or a 'my goodness'. It was just lovely. I think the 'most used' word for the afternoon was 'overwhelming'. I wouldn't say they were struck 'speechless', but they certainly slowed-down for a while :-)

As we continued to set out the afternoon tea, Snugglequilters arrived with even MORE quilts they had managed to get finished 'in time'. They wandered around, touched, admired, photographed and shared the stories of the quilts as they got to know each other.

It wasn't long before even the backs of the chairs were covered with quilts. As we ran out of room inside the outside clotheslines filled up.

As the afternoon wore on we were able to work our way around to have a 'closer' look at our collective handiwork.

(I have NO idea what we're looking at ... but it MUST have been fascinating!)

These two Snugglequilters arrived with the quilts their students had made in class
(I'll tell you more about their story next week).

The conversation eventually turned to the future - plans as to how Snugglequilters can continue, fundraising ideas etc etc (more about that in a future blog posting too).

It was just wonderful to be able to share the afternoon with the Snugglequilters who were able to make it. To all those who were with us 'in spirit' I can only say - 'wish you'd been here'. You were in our thoughts and hearts ...

... I want to thank you, as I thanked the Snugglequilters in the photo below, SO much for your creativity, generosity, caring and love. Without YOUR collective effort, none of this would have been possible. I started out hoping I could gather 17 quilts for the children at the College ... look at how many 'snuggles' can be had now! What a blessing you all are.

A xo

PS A big thanks to Wayne for taking the photos (my camera didn't make it out of my handbag).
+ I would LOVE to have any photos other Snugglequilters took - the more to share!

Afternoon Tea Invitation

2009-05-22T14:03:00.010+10:00

How exciting! The time has finally come for us to get our 'first batch' of quilts out to families. So ...

All Snugglequilters are invited to the College for

Afternoon Tea

to view our completed Snuggle Quilts & have a chat with other ‘Snugglequilters’

Saturday May 23^rd @ 2.30pm

THIS is why I haven't been keeping up with blog posts lately - the emphasis has been on getting this batch finished. So ... keep tuned ... I PROMISE to have more pics and information up over the next week. There are some FABULOUS things to share.
As I've been sorting through them all, I've suddenly realised that a group of photos seem to have gone missing. There are quite a number of quilts that haven't made it onto the blog. So I'll retake them and make sure they're up. Sorry to those people - I have no idea what happened!

Stay tuned for the next batch of pics of the blocks that came in that have been made up into quilts - they're fabulous.

I've also just found out that some Snugglequilters haven't received their invitation. I emailed them out 2 weeks ago, and have heard that not everyone got theirs. It's those wretched techno gremlins again - they seem to 'have it in' for me at the moment. If you didn't get your invite I am SO sorry - YOU ARE INVITED!!!!
A xo

The prodigal photos come home

2009-05-18T23:15:00.020+10:00

I just found these photos. I took them ages ago, and managed to 'lose' them in the depths of my photo folder! Thank goodness they have found their way 'home'.

These are the ones from Rhode Island - they were smaller that the others, so we sewed them together into larger quilts - I hope that's ok ladies!

Barb and Julie.

Erica

Anita

A xo

The Snugglequilters have been busy

2009-05-17T23:47:00.009+10:00

Goodness, I've been SO busy quilting that I haven't had a chance to post anything. Sorry about that.

Snugglequilters have been VERY busy trying to get as many quilts finished as possible. Next Saturday we are meeting at the College for afternoon tea. The plan is to meet fellow Snugglequilters, have a chat, check out the quilts completed so far and get an idea of how to organise the ongoing 'life' of Snuggle Quilts.

If we manage to finish 'all' the quilts currently being worked on, next weekend I'll be able to display 72 quilts ... that's right ... 72!!! That is just amazing. I set out on this journey to make 17 quilts ... and now we have 72 ... in 14 weeks ... just incredible!

I also have MORE blocks and fabric to be made into quilts ... perhaps another 30.

I'm not waiting for them 'all' to be finished, because I want to get as many out into the community as I can, as soon as possible. Winter hit us suddenly down here ... our Autumn was brief. As cold as it is down here in the city (where I live), it's MUCH colder up the mountain. Even at Easter the cold was 'falling' in Kinglake by 4 in the afternoon - now it's freezing at night. Without the 'warm' buffer of the tree canopy, I'm betting on more snow this year ... and there are people living in caravans on their property. I can only imagine how cold that must be. SO ... the more quilts we can get to people to snuggle under asap, the better.

I'm really hoping Snuggle Quilts will continue on, beyond our current quest. There will always be someone, somewhere in need of a 'snuggle'.

Quilts packed and ready to go ... waiting to be quiltedA xo

The Day Australia Cried

2009-04-21T17:50:00.003+10:00

A friend who lost their home sent me this poem today - thought I'd share it.

The Day Australia Cried

(author unknown but greatly appreciated)

We love to hate Victorians throughout the footy season,

Just for the fact they’re from Victoria would seem a valid reason,

They tend to think Australian Rules belongs to them, at least,

In the west we simply label them “the know alls from the East”.

But Australians came together, sporting squabbles set aside,

When disaster struck Victoria, The Day Australia Cried.

We’ve seen pictures in the papers; we’ve seen them on TV,

Homes and buildings burnt to ashes, the pain and misery,

The faces of survivors, the tears they tried to hide,

Gave us just the briefest glimpse of how they feel inside.

We saw the flames engulf the trees; we saw the sky turn red,

And, in the aftermath, the cars, where some died as they fled.

We heard the graphic stories of the panic they felt that day,

As the townsfolk faced decisions, should they go or should they stay?

The horrors of reality, their lives gone up in smoke,

The loss of whole communities with pretty sounding names.

The toll we don’t want to hear, the numbers who have died,

On that black Saturday, the day Australia cried.

The worst peacetime disaster Australia’s ever seen,

In surroundings long regarded as being lush and green,

Drought throughout the country had left it tinder dry,

At the mercy of the fireballs that “rained down from the sky”

The fires that raged through the hills that February day,

Have changed the course of countless lives in every kind of way.

There’s absolutely nothing left of the futures that were planned,

Just twisted tin and ashes and scars upon the land.

Survivors say they’ll build again in their old neighbourhood,

And life will become normal, and life will become good,

But their lives will be so different and they won’t forget the cost,

Of absent family and friends that they have loved and lost.

No matter where you come from, or how far you may roam,

There’s some place in Australia your heart will know as ‘home’

But above all we are Australians, State issues can’t divide,

And we won’t forget what happened The Day Australia Cried.

---oooOOOooo---

A xo

Those Clifton Quilters have done it again!

2009-04-17T13:12:00.083+10:00

During the holidays I went over to school to pick up a 'box' that had arrived from the Clifton Quilters in Bristol. Michaela had given me the 'heads up' as to what was coming - but, as usual, I was unprepared for what arrived. They had a 'sew-in' and sent what they'd completed.

All I can say is - WOW ... you gals can sew up a storm!!

The box was packed tight with bags ... William helped me unpack it all.

We had quite a task ahead of us ... but ... where to begin??

William chose one, and off we went ...
What a treasure-trove lay within ...
... blocks, tops and finished quilts ... so many!!

Blocks ...

Finished quilts ...

Note: NOT to scale!
Matching quillow and cushion cover

Quilt tops ...

Fabric and labels ...

You'd have to agree with me - the Clifton Quilters are quite an amazing bunch ... I'm so thankful to them for their love and generosity.

To 'see' the gals, pop over to their website ... http://www.cliftonquilters.org.uk/

A xo

More finished quilt tops

2009-04-12T18:44:00.011+10:00

Here are some more of the finished quilt tops. The diversity between them all never ceases to amaze me.

Not happy with the colour of this one - it's mauve and purple with mauve and white check and spots!

A xo

Easter

2009-04-12T12:17:00.012+10:00

As I sit and type I think of the range of emotions that must be running around our community today. I'm sitting here waiting to meet my daughter and her fiance at an engagement party. We have friends and their 4 month old baby staying with us, and have just returned from a great time of fellowship at our Church. Yes, there's a HEAP of work to be done (as always) ... but ... what a joy today is for us.

It's easy for me to be joyful ... but it's also a day for thinking of others - especially those in our wider community affected by the fires. How would I be feeling if I'd lost my home? ... my job? ... my family? How would I be feeling if I'd been terrified by that ferociously powerful 'thing' that struck on Black Saturday? I have NO idea!

Last Friday Wayne and I met friends at the burnt-out remains of their home in Bald Spur Rd, Kinglake. I'd seen photos. I'd heard the stories. But I wasn't prepared for what was there. I didn't know where I was. I know the road - but the landmarks that guided me were gone. I thought I knew the 'lie of the land' ... but I'd never seen its 'real' shape before. I didn't know it. Their home had always seemed such a long way down the road - but we were 'there' in no time. We saw their car almost immediately we entered the road - there was no dense forest around us to slow our path.

The thing that struck me the most was how 'naked' it all seemed. There was nothing ... NOTHING ... beneath the trees ... for as far as the eye could see. Just black towering sticks above the vacant earth. The home was twisted, crippled rubble. The silence was deafening. Glass from the windows lay on the bricks where it had melted into blobs. Only the fireplace was still intact - where I had sat drinking red wine, shamelessly teasing and laughing with our friends. We'll still do that again ... but not at that hearth.

As the late afternoon 'Kinglake fog' descended, blanketing everything with its eerie presence, we walked the street where so many had perished, stopping to pay our respect at a home where cups of tea had been shared on the brick patio, beneath the vines, surrounded by a garden filled with vegetables and flowers. The paradise had gone - but not the memories - they were as clear as if it were yesterday.

We were startled by bird calls - but there wasn't a tree with a leaf on its branches in sight. We spied the crimson rosellas nearby - their vivid colour an amazing sight on the blackened branches, surrounded by the fog. A feeding station had been set up ... they were 'back'. As we looked down we saw other life returning. Bulbs were poking their way through the burnt earth. Trees were sprouting - the grey-green of new gum growth looking like 'fluff' on the blackened trunks. Fungus was growing in the earth around the burnt, old, fallen logs. The ivy, oxalis and agapanthus were sprouting (no wonder we can't get rid of them!), as was the pineapple sage, pelargoniums and aquilegia. From the depths of death and despair there emerged new life.

I was staring at the Easter story.

At times like this we're so blessed to know the love of God and His promise for our future. There will be pain, and suffering, and despair - but new life is close by.A xo

My fabric mountain

2009-04-11T00:07:00.006+10:00

Just thought I'd let you know what ALL that gorgeous fabric looks like when it's waiting to be washed ...

... a fabric MOUNTAIN!
... I had to scale Everest to get to get out of the laundry! :-) ... just as well it's easy to control when it's been ironed, eh?

A xo

Bounty from Ballarat Christian College

2009-04-10T23:38:00.009+10:00

Remember I said that several bags of goodies had arrived at school the other Friday? Well - here's the treasure they contained.

One bag contained three gorgeous quilts. How cute are they??

Two were packed to the hilt with fabric.

There was a large bag that, I thought, contained more quilts.

Imagine my surprise when I unzipped it to find it BURSTING with ...
... teddies!

Look at those little faces ... aren't they adorable!

Many thanks to Mrs Morgan and the Ballarat Christian College community.

A xo

2009-04-09T23:48:00.016+10:00

As I mentioned in last Saturday's blog ... I arrived at school last week to find a box sitting on my desk. The box contained the first 'hint' that God was still at work in people's hearts.

Kym had been busy spreading 'the word' ... inside were fabrics and stitcheries given by two generous quilting and fabric shops.

William helped me unpack it all when I got home. He was a little startled by the 'Pampered Pooch' charm pack.
It's OK William ... we'll make sure the cats of the world are represented on another quilt.The fabrics came from Kathryn at thepersianbazaar online shop ( http://tinyurl.com/dkaqos ).
Kym's mum added some 'camo' backing fabic.Aren't the panels fabulous?

The stitcheries (all packaged up with their needles and thread) are from Marilyn at The Patchwork Teahouse in Warburton. The idea was for students to complete them. This was a bit of a dilemma as I didn't know 'who' I could get to take this on (it was too hard for my Primary students). As it turns out, there has been discussions afoot about starting a craft group for some of the Secondary students, and the staff were trying to work out where to begin ... perfect!

... guess what you're doing guys? Yay!William was particularly attracted to one with butterflies.

You keep an eye on it mate ... don't let it fly away .. ;-)

When the stitcheries are finished we'll put them together into a quilt - it will look fabulous.

Thank you for your generosity - they are all on the way into quilts as we speak (er ... I write).
A xo

One step closer to becoming a quilt

2009-04-09T23:27:00.011+10:00

By the end of last week several more tops had been finished. Some arrived as blocks, and have been assembled into the tops, others weren't quite big enough so we added borders. I hope you don't mind us doing that if we need to ... we spend a LOT of time considering what can be done, while keeping (what we hope is) the original 'feel' of the quilt.
I get pretty annoyed with the colour in my pics ... when I take each one, I take several with AND without the flash in an attempt to get the colour accurate ... but they never seem to do them justice compared to 'the real thing'. It's the paler colours I'm having the most trouble with ... they seem so washed out! For example, the yellow in the Earth Movers quilt above is a real primary yellow. Grr!
A xo

Just when you think you're 'finished' ... God has other ideas!

2009-04-04T13:00:00.005+11:00

I'm sitting at the computer at the moment to have a 'break' from sorting and washing! 'Why would you need a break from that?' I hear you say ... it's because it's sorting a washing a pile of fabric the size of one of the pyramids!!! ... and no, I'm NOT kidding .... well, maybe a little ... but there IS a lot.

I belong to the gang of quilters who wash everything before they use it ... I'd hate to wash a quilt and have one of the fabrics run and ruin it. The consequence of this is that I wash EVERY bit of fabric that comes to me, if I don't know it has already been washed.

On Tuesday this week I 'thought' I could see the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. The piles of blocks and fabric to be made into quilt tops were almost to the bottom, and I could see that I would be able to spend the holidays getting quilts finished. It felt FABULOUS.

But God had other plans. I've regularly found myself talking to Him about His plans ... as they don't always seems to be the same as mine (anyone else find that??). I felt sure He was telling me that all was good, and He was happy with what we've all done. Again - I must have missed something ... someone once commented to me 'Does God have to kick you in the rear before you can see what He's trying to show you?'. I think, perhaps, this was one of 'those' moments.

As I wallowed in the glow of being 'done' he very LOUDLY let me know that He had other ideas.

On Wednesday morning a box appeared on my desk filled with beautiful fabrics and stitcheries. They were just gorgeous, and filled my head with SO many MORE ideas. Gosh, I thought, there is more to do. My Thursday night gals were equally excited by the fabrics - and many are finding their way into their quilts as I sit here and write.

Phew, I thought ... that was 'easy'. Silly me.

On Friday I got a call from school (I don't work Fridays - that is my 'quilting' day), telling me there were several bags of goodies that had arrived for me ... one filled with finished quilts, one with 'something else' in it, and 2 filled with fabric. The quilts thrilled me, the ? bag puzzled me, and the fabrics told me that God wasn't finished. It was only when I went over and picked them up that I realised how much BIGGER His plan is.

To top it off, an email arrived this morning telling me there were MORE coming from overseas.

That's it!!! Who am I to argue? He is working in the hearts of WAY more people than just me ... I'm just the bunny in the middle.

When I get a chance later on on I'll post the details of all these wonderful goodies that have arrived. For now, it's back to the trough. And ... spare a thought for me ... and my prune-like hands ... it's all got to be ironed!

But I'm not going to argue with Him ... He has a plan ... I just have to keep myself a bit more open to noticing what it is :)

A xo

PS Does anyone know if you can buy special glasses that allow you to 'see' God's plans in their entirety when you set out along one of the little divergent paths He guides/drags us along? How handy would they be eh?

A day filled with blessings

2009-03-31T23:36:00.007+11:00

Before I head off to bed I had to share a couple of things that happened today.

Several very generous donations were given to me today - enough to cover the cost of ALL the batting AND some of the backing fabric - SUCH a blessing!
I had a phone call from ANOTHER group willing to help assemble quilt tops - thanks Diamond Creek gals :-)

These came at the perfect time (isn't God's timing fantastic?) as I'm hoping to get as many quilts finished as possible by the end of these school holidays - so we can get them out to our families who need a 'snuggle'.

If you have blocks/tops/quilts ready to give to me, email me and we'll get together.

THANK YOU wonderful people.

... one of the tops finished over the weekend.

A xo

William!!!!

2009-03-29T20:34:00.006+11:00

Hmmm ... like I need MORE challenges - now I have to race William to get the seat at the machine!

... wish he could sew!

A xo

What's a 'normal' school day?

2009-03-29T20:11:00.015+11:00

Over the past weeks I have arrived at work on Monday morning to find parcels filled with wonderful quilt blocks, and others have been handed to me as I have been making my way around the campus - it certainly spices up my 'normal' week. :)

Thank you Christine, Cora, Sue and Cathy ... (have I left anyone out? Let me know if I have).

One of these bags was filled with 2" squares ... I can feel a scrap quilt coming on!

A xo

First Bristol ... Now Rhode Island ... wow!!

2009-03-29T19:51:00.006+11:00

Imagine my joy, when I arrived home from school, to be greeted by these parcels, neatly lined up across the end of our pool table like little soldiers. They looked so CUTE.
The postmark and label gave away their origin - Westerly, RI ... how excited was I? Well ... again ... just a 'bit'! You'd have thought my last 'frenzied opening' would have taught me a lesson - NO - I guess I'm a slow learner. I opened them, one after the other, and piled the contents on the table, counting them as I went ... 30! 30! I could scarcely believe it!

THANK YOU Margaret and Charlotte - you're treasures.

A xo

Elm Creek supports Plenty Valley

2009-03-29T19:11:00.006+11:00

'Where's Elm Creek?' I hear you say ... no it's not in Victoria ... nor is it in Australia ... not Bristol ... in fact - not anywhere - in reality! Elm Creek 'lives' in the Elm Creek series of books written by Jennifer Chiaverini - and, yes I admit it - I'm an addict. :)

The fact is, I'm SO addicted, I belong to a group that meets once a month - we don't stand and verbalise our addiction (that's taken as a 'given'), instead we discuss the latest book on the list and assemble our 'blocks of the month' - all going into our quilts 'in the style of Sylvia's bridal sampler' (fellow Elm Creek 'addicts' will understand what I'm talking about).

How then, has Elm Creek supported Plenty Valley? Libby, an 'Elm Creeker' gave me these quilts when we met this month. The second quilt was made by one of her patients - seems like quilting discussions can be worked into 'any' conversation.

THANK YOU Libby and Corrie.

A xo

The Clifton Quilters - Bristol

2009-03-29T00:15:00.021+11:00

I have been blown away by how far news of our quest has spread. In this case, I believe it was via the Teacher Librarian 'world network'. Heather, Arlene and Jane are members of The Clifton Quilters in Bristol, and they were deeply moved by the scenes they saw of the fires. Here are their contributions that 'arrived' on my doorstep.

The trouble is, I was SO excited (and a tad overwhelmed) by what lay inside the packages ... that I piled them up on my table as I opened each package - the problem is ... I lost track of 'who sent what' ... I can't apologise enough for muddling it all up ... but it was just soooo fabulous! Thank you!!

Here is the 'sum' of their packages ... sorry I can't match each with a name ... but I Do love them all :)

A xo

More Blocks

2009-03-28T23:53:00.011+11:00

Blocks have been regularly arriving, and my Thursday Night team have been working on making them into quilt tops - I'll post the 'finished' tops later on.

Thanks to Anita, Jo and Janet for these.

I have to admit that working with blocks that I haven't made has been a real challenge for me. I've had to work with colours I wouldn't normally use - and that has taken me WAY out of my comfort zone ... it's been FABULOUS ... I think I've learnt more about colour in the past weeks than I have in last 10 years!

Thank you lovely people :)

A xo

We have batting!

2009-03-27T23:10:00.004+11:00

Thanks to Leanne (Leanne's Quilting Service in Greensborough) we now have enough batting to finish ALL the quilts - at 'cost' price. Thank you SO much :)All I have to do now is find the $ to cover the cost.

A xo

Some finished quilts

2009-03-22T15:57:00.012+11:00

Some of the packages have contained finished quilts. It's a lovely surprise to pull out, and snuggle, a finished quilt.

Vicky sent these from NSW

Kim

A xo

Quilt tops

2009-03-22T15:41:00.009+11:00

It's been wonderful arriving at school, or coming home, to parcels filled with gorgeous quilt tops. The diversity of colours and techniques cover the full range of the spectrum - and reflect the individuals who made them.

Here are a few of the quilt tops that have arrived and are waiting to be quilted.

Anita

Barb

It's been a real challenge for me to find the sashing, border and backing fabrics for all the quilt tops. Choosing colours has always been a fearful task for me. As a relatively 'newbie' quilter I have to say it's been a learning 'vertical'. It's been wonderful - I have learnt SO much about colour - I'm no longer afraid. :-)

A xo

Embroidered blocks

2009-03-22T15:31:00.016+11:00

Not all the blocks have been pieced ... these are embroidered - how beautiful.

Lucille

Janet

A xo

Our fabric stash

2009-03-22T15:12:00.007+11:00

I thought you might be interested to see the fabrics we have to work with - most donated by wonderful people, others purchased for sashings and backing.

Spotlight purchases

From Genevieve and Anita

A xo

My 'home team'

2009-03-15T18:15:00.008+11:00

As is their usual way, William and Gidgee (better known as 'that Midge') are my constant 'helpers'. William is the sewing overseer, and considers himself the cutting/laying-out/machine 'King'.

Midge, on the other hand, is my 'Girl Friday'. Packaging is her forte, and she is always 'there' to inspect every crinkly bag that arrives (and departs).
Thanks 'team' ... you're a great 'help'!

A xo

Blocks to quilt tops

2009-03-15T18:00:00.009+11:00

Here are the finished quilt tops using the blocks I showed you earlier - I decided to use all the blocks in the quilt above and make it bigger than the 'snuggle' quilt size because it's a more 'grown up' quilt. The colour is brighter than it looks here.

There were enough of these blocks and leftover bits and pieces to make up 2 'snugglers'.
A xo

Gifts of Batting

2009-03-15T17:15:00.006+11:00

Batting and backing fabric are turning out to be the most expensive part of getting the quilts finished, so I've been 'scouting' for bargains and donations.

The roll sitting on top is part of a larger amount of wool batting donated to Patchwork House by Victorian Textiles - many thanks to them for their generosity.

The 3 rolls beneath, and the scissors, are from the group who organise my subscription to AP&Q magazine. They rang me with the current subscription 'deals', one of which included bamboo batting ... I jumped at the chance, and explained to them why I wanted it. They asked me to wait a moment and , after a somewhat long pause, they offered to throw in another 2 rolls of batting and 2 pairs of scissors to help out. I surpised the poor woman by bursting into tears (I explained they were tears of gratitude) - another example of generosity over-and-above necessity.

There are SO many wonderful people in our wider community helping us out - those of you who read this blog, make sure you thank those you know, and give them a BIG cuddle from me :)

A xox

The long reach of the www

2009-03-15T11:48:00.016+11:00

A parcel filled with these gorgeous fabrics 'appeared' in my pigeon-hole at school one day - looking for a quilt to live in. Sharon had sent them from Kiama (NSW) - and they were the first hint as to how far the Teacher Librarian network spreads around the world.
Keep an eye out for where these 'little treasures' will eventually live.
A xo

Dan & Matty

2009-03-14T17:46:00.010+11:00

These two quilts were sent by my friend Jo. Jo used to teach PE at Plenty Valley, and was on the phone and email to me a LOT thoughout the time of the fires. She has found it difficult to be living in Queensland when her 'old' students and their families have been going through so much trauma. Her prayers have been flowing since day '1'. Jo lovingly made these quilts for her sons Daniel and Matthew. The boys were regular visitors to PV, and know people on 'the mountain'. When the boys heard about my plan to give quilts to our families, they brought these down and told Jo that 'the kids at PV needed them more' than they did - and so they came to us.What a blessing these guys are ... it warms my heart to know that young people who 'care' are part of the 'next' generation.

A xoxo

Frustration!

2009-03-14T17:45:00.003+11:00

Hmm ... not happy with the layout of this blog ... want the middle part (with the info) to be wider so the layout will look the SAME as it does in the composing screen! Somewhat frustrating.

A xo

Hanging out to dry

2009-03-11T23:57:00.009+11:00

No, it's not ME hanging out to dry, but the fabric I bought for sashing and backing!

I found an end of roll of the orange spotty fabric on the bargain table in Heidelberg. Isn't it just gorgeous?

A xo

Kim's blocks

2009-03-11T23:32:00.008+11:00

These blocks from Kim heralded the 'beginning'. Kim is my quilting mentor - and I know she organises the 'challenge' quilts I have been involved in at Patchwork House in Hawthorn - so I asked her for guidance in this quest. She has family at PVCC who were affected by the fires, and gladly offered Thursday nights at her house to help get these quilts going.

Kim is the stash QUEEN ... and generously gathered armloads of fabric, as well as a finished quilt and quilt tops recently completed.

A xo

Shopping for sashing and backing

2009-03-06T23:35:00.007+11:00

Today Kim joined me and we headed out to find material for the sashing and backing for the quilt blocks and tops that have arrived so far. What a challenge! I usually find it hard enough to make choices for one quilt - let alone ELEVEN!!

These are today's purchases waiting to be washed - hopefully they'll be dry and I can start sewing tomorrow.

Buying the fabric is turning out to be quite a major expense - so if anyone 'out' there would like to donate $ towards the fabric needed to finish the quilts I would really appreciate it.

William is always ready to lend a helping hand to tidy up :)

A xo

The initial request

2009-03-02T22:52:00.005+11:00

On Saturday, February 7th, 2009 Victoria was stunned. A firestorm unlike anything we had ever experienced ripped through the Kinglake Ranges, taking lives, homes and our beloved forest with it.

The wider Kinglake area is the main 'feeder' area for my school - Plenty Valley Christian College. Many of our families lost everything. Most of us know someone/many who lost their homes, and lives. Needless to say, the College community went into shock, but banded together to support each other, and those in the wider community. As a staff, our main purpose was (and still is) to provide our children with the stable environment they need - for some, school is the ONLY thing in their life that hasn't changed.

Like many, I felt a great heaviness, as I wanted to do more, but wasn't sure just how I could help. Until I thought of quilts. A quilt is a gift of love - and love is a powerful healer. With this in mind, I decided to make a 'snuggle' quilt for each of the children from school who lost everything. But to achieve this I needed help.

My idea was to make quilt blocks - 9 of these would be put together into quilts large enough to 'snuggle' into. The task was a little daunting, but I knew it could be done - so I set about 'spreading the word'. I emailed the College staff, an online Teacher Librarian quilters list I belong to, and my quilting gals. I let the College community know via our weekly newsletter, and the wider world via Twitter.

The brief:

12" quilt blocks (+ 1/4" seam allowances).
Pure cotton fabric.
Any colour - there are boys and girls from Prep to Year 12.
Donations of $ or fabric or batting to complete the quilts.
Quilters willing to put the quilt tops together.
Quilters willing to do the quilting.

It doesn't matter how many blocks are made - as well as our children there are many more who need a 'snuggle'.

The response has blown me away. It appears there are MANY more who feel like I do. Emails have been coming in from around Melbourne, interstate and overseas. Individuals and small groups from within the College community to as far afield as Bristol and Rhode Island are stitching. How amazing is that???

This blog is the story of the journey.

A xo