Queensland Floods, Cyclones and the Kindness of Quilters

Early in March I was introduced to some of the Noosa 'Wallace House' Quilters! They were getting another day underway and busily making up quilts for Charity. With the recent floods and Cyclone Yasi, many families have suffered great loss and devastation. The quilts put together by groups and individuals all over the country have been donated to families who have been in need of a quilting hug! It's the little things that mean so much and the thought that someone out there cares enough to want to make a difference can and does help cope with such enormous losses.

It's very encouraging and uplifting to see so many stitchers getting involved with helping those of us who at some time in our lives might need a little love - it can happen to any one of us!
I especially remember a day in Leeton (NSW ) following our evacuation after CycloneTracey! Crossing the road with four young children, they promptly had hysterics when it started to rain and the three screaming children ran through the traffic straight into a fabric shop - much to the astonishment of the two ladies in residence (and my horror). After calming the children, the kindly ladies gave my youngest daughter a huge, brightly coloured and beautifully made clown complete with vinyl boots- they had it on the counter to sell I believe - a gift to this day much loved! I'll never ever forget their gentleness to the children and the kindness shown to me, despite thinking we were crackers on arrival!!!



Donations of fabric make the Quilts possible. Time and Friendship makes them all happen!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARGRET!

Secret Friends have been busy again - little fingers sewing and cooking!




















A DAY TO STAY AT HOME AND HAVE A CATCH UP!

Wandering out onto the verandah with an early morning cup of coffee! Looks like a day to spend at home!

Guess Norm will have to find his own breakfast - these borders just HAVE to get put on and this was just the day for it!




Barney & I enjoyed a quiet morning
of therapy, whilst Norm hunted
around for his missing sock!












Took a few minutes to do the laundry -
I don't think Barney's in there ..............

The Inspector - 4 months old and lots of fun

Barney, also known as The Inspector

a third generation beautiful shitzhu maltese cross

often in trouble

frequently demoted

Sometimes known as Barney Trouble he is still to learn that others live at our house too!

Christmas 2010

Charles Dickens Village

Christmas 2010

Ssssssssssshhh! The Secret Friends have tip-toed in!

The Secret Friends have had a busy year and now we get to swap hugs and gifts and enjoy this special day! As usual, we were pretty blown away with the industry that has been quietly and happily hidden away during the year. Our little circle of friends have been together for a long while and it is tradition to pick a name from the envelope and immediately scheme and plan the next project for the coming year! We add some laughter with guessing who our 'friend' is, and not surprising, we often hit the mark first time!

Jacqui found the time to make this gorgeous bag and pin cushion - despite whipping up quilts for her newest grandaughter!

Coral reckons she's never seen one as big as that before!
It's a pin cushion, girls!

Jenny was delighted with her surprise - a white decoration with the obligatory touch of pink

Now Jayne - you don't have to share! Just let us have a little peek!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lyn discovered that Dimitri was her Secret Friend - these appliqued place mats just kept on coming...........and coming ..................and coming!

Margret will always know how many days till Christmas!

Coral has been very busy in her spare time - the colours are lovely! They look great in Sandy's lounge room too!

We were blown away when Dimitri showed us her bag - Jayne - you are a soooooo clever!

Judy J's Birthday & just look at Sandy's Bookshelf!

Judy J has a Birthday


Whatever happened to the birthday Cake- the girls must have eaten it before I got there with the camera!

Sandy's sister is a very lucky lady. The bookshelf quilt had us in stitches - we enjoyed the quirky titles and funny anecdotes as they literally came out of the woodwork!

We were not surprised to hear that it was the big hit of the night with the family when rolled out! Sandy had thought of everything and had even included a bottle of champers for the occasion! (see top shelf - left) Thoughtfully she had included a cup of tea for the next morning!

And another birthday -they just keep on coming around, but this one was extra special too!

Happy Birthday Jenny!

We had plenty of time to get stuck into this quilt because Jenny was still freezing to death in Albury! However, I knew she would be coming home soon and was beginning to feel a little edgy when the girls kept on asking me - 'when'? It was a relief when it was finished and ready for the day and I didn't have to keep on mumbling about 'probably fairly soon - I'll have to give her a call' etc

Maureen, Lyn & Sandy working on the 'pink' quilt - we all know that Jenny loves pink and that the quilt was destined to go straight into 'THE PINK ROOM' at home!!!

A Special Birthday Girl!

Our Lyn had a Very Special Birthday on October!

We took advantage of her holiday and pieced a blue and white quilt for her!


To make her day even more special, who should turn up but Jenny, our absent member who quietly returned from eighteen months 'down south' in Albury, N.S.W. I made her promise to keep mum and give all of us a great surprise! Welcome home, Jenny!

Margret brought in another Phd - it looked spectacular with the colours she had chosen - the savannah hues of gold and brown with black. Stunning!


My hand pieced hexagon quilt coming together at last! Using reproduction fabrics - (of course) - been working on it all year - on and off!

and then ............................................ along came 'the committee' and 'another coloured border please! And just when I thought I was nearly there!!! To my shame I had to go around and take back some of the 'left-over' (not) hexagons previously given away (with relief) and carry on! Will it ever end?

close up view of fabrics

Inspector Barnaby Rubble

The Inspector

Our newest family member - such a cute little fella! He is third generation shitzhu-maltese and at nine weeks of age, just an adorable and very cheeky bundle of delight!


Unfortunately he failed promotion boards and eventually found himself on probation and tagged as Inspector Puddles!

Spot the Dog

Eventually, as we learned to understand him, he lifted his game and the puddles diminished (a little) Help arrived in the form of a crate - had never heard of crate training - and his promotions back to Senior Constable have been remarkable!