Stitchin' Mission Tea - A Reunion!

The sweet quilters of Stitchin' Mission #19, the series held in Darling Point (Sydney), Australia, at St. Mark's Anglican Church hosted an afternoon tea for me, and my daughter and grandson. I felt quite honored by their thoughtfulness! They invited all the SM participants to come so I could visit with them again.

Unfortunately, a number of the quilters are employed, so not all of them were able to attend. But I was thrilled to spend several hours with nine of them: Di, Di, and Di (There is certainly no shortage of quilters named "Di" in Australia!), as well as Margaret, Moo, Averil, Cath, Louise, and Christine.

Di C. (left) was our gracious hostess, inviting us into her home on the water's edge.

This is the lovely table with tea, coffee and desserts. Louise is pouring tea.
Christine and LouiseMoo and Averil
CathMe and MargaretDi J. - She's one of the two Di-s who coordinated SM#19.My daughter Jill, and six month-old TayDesserts! I don't know what they are, but they were good!

A Stitchin' Mission tea isn't complete without quilt-talk and show-and-tell. Di C. made this New Life quilt with Stitchin' Mission fabric scraps. She's donating it to the KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning & Care Centre, the mission this group has been quilt making for since last fall. At last count, the group is nearing 70 quilts that will be given to the Centre for its opening in June.

Di C. your quilt is darling! That striped binding is perfect for this quilt.

The only Di who wasn't photographed is Di B. who was behind the camera. Thank you Di B. for taking these great photos. It was a perfectly wonderful afternoon. Thank you everyone!

Last Lesson, Stitchin' Mission #21

The last Stitchin' Mission #21 lesson at Capitol City Baptist Church ended with a celebration of each quilter's work. At least 45 quilts are expected to be donated to the Alpha Women's Center. The final quilt count will be available the weekend of May 1-2 when the quilts are displayed for two weekends at Capitol City Baptist Church.

Thank yous to all 42 new quilters and 14 Rebekah helpers who made this a highly successful Stitchin' Mission. You are all simply wonderful! Here are photos of just a few of our fabulous quilters.

Susan

Roy

Benae

Marcia

Karen

Jeanette

Anne Marie, age 11. This is her first quilt!

Dena, Angie, and Joyce

At the beginning of the lesson, a moving devotional poem was offered. Here it is by request:

My friend, I stand at the Judgment now and feel that you’re to blame somehow.

On earth I walked with you day by day and never did you point the way.

You knew the Lord in truth and glory but never did you tell me the story.

My knowledge then was very dim you could have led me safe to Him.

Though we lived together on this earth you never told me of the second birth.

And now I stand this day condemned because you failed to mention Him.

You told me many things tis true I called you friend and trusted you.

But I learn now that it’s too late, you could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night and yet you showed me not the light.

You let me live, love, and die. You knew I’d never live on high.

Yes, I called you friend in life and trusted you through joy and strife.

And yet on coming to the end, I cannot now call you friend.

May each of us always share the love of Jesus Christ with others, especially our friends, and by the work of our hands.

SM21 Binding Lesson

It was an excellent turn-out for the binding lesson at Capitol City Baptist Church.

The quilters allowed me to show them several quilts I've made from Stitchin' Mission patterns.

Susan hold up "Crusts and Crumbs."

Everyone gathered 'round to learn how to sew together binding strips.

Here they're learning to draw a straight edge around the perimeter of the quilt. The drawn line is the edge along which the raw edges of the binding are positioned for sewing.

Everyone gets a chance to see how to hand-stitch binding to the quilt back, using a blind stitch.

Next week we'll be sewing labels to the back of finished quilts. Don't forget to bring along your hand-sewing supplies: needle, light-colored thread (white or beige), snips, and a thimble.

And even if your quilt isn't finished, bring it along so you can pose with everyone for the group photo. Finished quilts are due to the church by Friday, April 30 for display the weekends of May 2 and 9.

Thank you, almost-finished quilters! You're nearly there! We all appreciate your gifts of time and love for mothers and babies at the Alpha Women's Center.