Monday 28 October 2013

Concord Community Hostel, MS Society & Minnamurra Aged Care Facility

 Concord Community Hostel
 
Back a long while ago, someone donated bits of a quilt which was half made.  In quilty terms that is a UFO or an Unfinished Object.  There were quite a few blocks completed, all the fabric required to make the top and, as a bonus, the pattern was with it.
 
Recently, Robin took it home with her, and in double quick time finished it off, including all the quilting.  Here it is
 
 
 
Each of the 9 blocks were constructed onto a circular piece of fabric, and then appliqued to the background. 

 
All of the applique was done by using a variety of machine embroidery stitches.  Each block was different both in the fabrics, and pattern and also in the stitches used in the applique.

 
I think anyone would agree that it has turned out a stunning quilt.  Robin then quilted it all by outlining the different shapes on the blocks, and then stippling in the background.
 
The whole quilt was finished with a scalloped edge (not an easy bit of construction).

 
Robyn deserves a round of applause!  It is one of the most beautiful quilts I have seen come through our doors.
 
The quilt has been donated to the Concord Community Hostel at Rhodes as a raffle quilt.  This is a Residential Care hostel unit with a 22-bed Residential Care secure dementia unit.  We have still to hear how much was raised by the raffle.
 
MS Society
 
Several weeks ago, the group presented 8 single bed quilts to the MS Society for their Respite care unit at Lidcombe.  The Studdy MS Residential Unit at Lidcombe in Sydney is a facility operated by the MS Society providing long-term accommodation and short-term respite for people with MS who have moderate to high care needs.
 
We received a lovely letter of thanks which included this fabulous collage of the quilts presented:
 
 
Also included was a photograph of one of the members of Western MS Social and Support Group, while on respite in the MS Residential Unit, with one of the quilts on his knees.

 
So lovely to see the fruits of our labours being used and enjoyed.
 
Minnamurra Aged Care Facility
 
Minnamurra is a Presbyterian Aged Care's facility in Clements Street, Drummoyne with 65 beds.  Over the past month or so we have been working on quilts for this facility.  It is planned to present the residents with the quilts at Christmas time, as some residents do not have family or friends who are able to visit at that time, and the staff felt that it would lift their spirits. 
 
More on that as we start to deliver the quilts.
 

Thursday 17 October 2013

Several Visitors

Over the last two times at Cabarita we have had some visitors with us.

First up was Shirley who visited us for lunch last time. 


Today Margie, Darleen's daughter came for an hour or so. 


And then we noticed this fellow, tucked away behind the piano on the stage.....

 
An adult Brush Tail Possum.  We think that he fell through the ceiling in the main hall.  One of the ceiling tiles has dislodged and there is a gaping hole.  We called the Council, but he will have to stay there overnight.  Hope he doesn't do any damage before they manage to collect him.

 


We put some water out for him, a pear core, and half a banana.  All of these were consumed in short order.  I don't know how long he had been trapped in the hall, but he was very thirsty and hungry.

Colleen brought in some quilts which have been donated to us.  These two are complete:



 
This gorgeous quilt is just a flimsy, so needs to be quilted.  It is rather large, so we have planned to use this as a raffle quilt sometime after it is completed.

 
And here is a close up to show the detail.


Today has been a dreadful day - temperatures in the high 30s with strong, gusty winds and devastating fires across the state.  There are two really bad ones near Sydney - one in Camden and one in the Blue Mountains, and something like 30 other bad fires in other parts of NSW.  Poor Ellen got a call mid afternoon to say that her daughter's home had been destroyed.  She of course dashed off home. 

We need to pray for the people who have lost everything, that there are no lives lost and that the fires are brought under control before too many more homes are lost.