New Life Quilts Made in Australia

Since Stitchin' Mission #19 at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Darling Point (Sydney), Australia - that was two Stitchin' Missions ago! - new and experienced quilters have continued to meet regularly, making more quilts for an early learning care center specifically for children with autism. To reach their goal of 70 quilts, the group held a New Life Workshop to attempt to use up scraps generated during their Stitchin' Mission.

Here's Michaela.

And these are the three New Life Quilts she made.

Bright, kid-friendly colors.

Not a sleeper in the trio!

Didn't Michaela do a lovely job!? We're so proud of you! On behalf of the kids, thank you!

Sewing with St. Mark's Quilters in Australia

While in Sydney, Australia, visiting my daughter and her family, I had the opportunity to visit with St. Mark's Quilters. This group began to meet monthly in February, 2010, after they hosted an October/November 2009 Stitchin' Mission at their church.

On the second Saturday of the month, May 8, going to the church, this was my passenger view from the car window. You know you're not in the US when you're sitting on the left side of a car going along the left side of the road.

We crossed the ANZAC (Australia/New Zealand Army Corps) bridge to get to St. Mark's Anglican Church in Darling Point, an eastern suburb of Sydney. Upon arrival, I felt right at home among these welcoming quilters. The group sews in this recently renovated space that boasts a kitchen area with a frig and dishwasher, and air-conditioning which wasn't needed on this pretty autumn day in May.

Just like church quilting groups at home, some of the work occurs on the floor!Several of the quilters are Stitchin' Mission grads.

MichalaMargaret (left) and Moo

L-R: Di B., Barb and Gail Michala
Di C. (Three quilters named Di were at this quilting day!) showed us her version of "Noah's Ark," with Four Rail blocks in place of the Twin Loaf block. Pretty, bright colors, Di!Moo boldly stepped out of her comfort zone to select this bright color combination. Great!
Di J. (left) and Di B. were co-coordinators of Stitchin' Mission #19 and are now responsible for the new St. Mark's Quilters. These are two of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet.CathGail (left) and MichalaMy 11 year-old grand-daughter, Celina, joined us. She did a lot of sewing and pressing, and seemed to enjoy it! Together, we nearly finished making a "Stairs to Heaven" quilt top.Margaret worked on this New Life quilt. It's definitely bright and cheery.

Since the quilters' room is open to a fenced-in garden, two special dogs are welcome during the sewing day. Chester, the black lab, is a puppy who belongs to Di J. (her husband is St. Mark's rector) and was full of boundless energy. The more sedate Matilda is a beautiful, six year-old golden retriever who belongs to Di. B. How nice to have these friends join us.

Matilda and Di B.

When she wasn't loving up Matilda, Di B. beavered away on a mission quilt. She took an Amanda Daley free-motion quilting class, and is now doing a smashing job with her quilting.

Between SM#19 and St. Mark's Quilters, more than 70 quilts have been made that will be donated to the KU Marcia Burgess Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre opening in June. All the quilts will be displayed at St. Mark's on Sunday, May 23.

Thank you, St. Mark's Quilters, for a beautiful day. I will always remember my very special times with you. Blessings!

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.

Stitchin' Mission #21 Third Lesson

Tuesday evening several dozen quilters made sandwiches, and tied their quilts. Everyone was so hard at work - having a good time at it - that very few photos were taken.

Here are some of our wonderful newbies with apologies to those who were not photographed.

Rebekahs Betty and Teresa

We're happy Roy is participating in Stitchin' Mission. He's the fourth fella to do so.

Everyone is encouraged to complete their quilts for the Alpha Women's Center by the last lesson, Tuesday, April 13. For those who may need extra time to finish - perhaps make a second quilt - you're asked to turn them into the church office by Friday, April 30.

Quilts will be displayed beginning Sunday, May 2 through Sunday, May 9.