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Saturday, August 10, 2013

Sisters of Stitch and Sunshine Linus...

The last few SoS gatherings I've noticed an increase in numbers of ladies attending...and that is great!
We gather in a meeting room at Chermside Library here in Brisbane. It's actually 2 meeting rooms but our group unlatches and folds back the dividing wall. We set up work tables in one half of this big room...then in the other half we set up an area for afternoon tea, with a table of goodies to share and a trolley with a number of urns of hot water for tea and coffee.
 But in the last month, we've had to set up extra tables and so now our work tables extend into the other half of the room...long may this increase in numbers continue as it's such a great place to spend a few hours with others who enjoy crafts.

This last week, 2 of our members came with a bag of 'Show and Tell'...these two ladies, Judie and Nicky are members of Sunshine Linus. Often they show us the lovely quilts that they make for children who are undergoing treatment for cancer, or cute or way out beanies for young people and children who have had chemo treatments, but this time they had a number of other items which are made by the group.
The first photo shows Judie holding up a 'touchy feely' quilt which is used in nursing homes to calm dementia patients.

In this photo Nicky is modelling some examples of the aprons that are made by Sunshine Linus members. These aprons have all sorts of gadgets sewn on them...again the emphasis is on the tactile. These aprons are used in nursing homes...each morning an apron is put on a dementia patient and especially for males, it is like going to work... it calms them and they are quite happy to 'play'with the items attached to the apron.

Here's a closer look at those gadgets...and Judie is wearing another apron made by a Sunshine Linus member.

here Judie is showing an example of the bags that are made for nursing home residents who are in wheelchairs...the removable footrests can be kept close at hand, ready for they need to be put back on the wheelchair...



In the next photo, Judie is demonstrating how post operative patients wear the bags which are made by the group to hold their drainage bags...both male and female patients are able to leave their home with dignity when the wound drainage bags are popped in these outer bags.

This is a lovely flannel raggy quilt...the latest made by Nikki for Sunshine Linus.

Next the girls showed us the 'Blankets of Love' that the group makes for stillborn and babies who die shortly after birth...the babies are wrapped in these little quilts...

Nicky shows us another Blanket of Love...

In this photo below, Judie is explaining that there is always a need for bedsocks/booties for the Renal Clinic at the PA hospital, and Sunshine Linus provides many.

Now this wonderful group of ladies (Sunshine Linus) is having an Open Day in Nambour on August 31. Details are here...There will be a Quilt Show at this Open Day, as well as demonstrations, Show and Tell, Stalls with Quilt Shop Vendors, as well as beautiful craft items for sale. Sounds like a great day out and the bonus is raising funds for this marvellous and very productive group! 

6 comments:

Marilyn said...

What a great post, Maria. I have known Judie for some years, so lovely to see the photos. My friend and I are hoping to go along on August 31.

Anonymous said...

some many generous people.xx

Marit Johanne said...

So nice to read this! Wonderful people, and great that the group is increasing. I think those aprons for dementia patients were very interesting.

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

Great roll up and I agree those aprons what a great idea...

Nanette said...

It was seeing a Linus Group at a Brisbane Quilt Show many years ago that started my quilting journey...I couldn't think of anything better to do than make fun quilts for sick kids. Great show and tell and wonderful work from these ladies.

Yvette said...

Loved this post Maria!