2024 Sunshine Linus Retreat

Retreat - a safe and private space to withdraw for study, work and reflection.

The Sunshine Linus retreat at Bribie Island offered participants the opportunity to complete all sorts of projects before the busy Christmas and New Year period. The annual event also provided time for attendees to engage in mini workshops, share ideas and spend time with others.  

Lucky door prizes.

A lovely gift made by Linda and Gail.

The retreat was a wonderful mix of everyone doing their own thing uninterrupted and getting tips from others along the way.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS:

Making the Dance of the Dragonfly

Grace has been working on the stunning quilt 'Dance of the Dragonflies' for a very long time. It is a pattern and each piece was vliesofix so a raw edge applique could be added. Grace confided that a 'long time' was 4 years, what a masterpiece. A job well worth finishing and the retreat was the perfect place to do this.

Robyn has spent ages working on a Kathryn Kerr 365 challenge. The challenge presents quilters with a new 3"or 6 "block everyday of the year. By the end of the year over 400 blocks have been showcased. In 2024, Robyn created a new block every day up until late October and pieced them together at the retreat. She opted to present each quilt block individually rather than as an integrated whole, ensuring that each block is distinctly visible and not overshadowed. The finished product is in the show and tell section of the blog.

The retreat was the perfect place to collate 3 yrs of work. The website  Kathryn Kerr 365 and there is a Facebook page if you would like to know more. Perhaps a project for the New Year?

The range of 365 patterns is amazing.

Chris - adding machine tape beginning.

Barbara working on wheelchair bags, quilt and blockenspiels.

Barbara's quilt in progress.

Pam was concentrating while she worked on a practice piece to perfect her quilting.

Jenny D was working on a really cute 'rat' bookmark and a lap rug, which looked quite complicated but as Jenny explained was quite simple. 

The lap rug entailed a single crochet then a chain.
The combination of 2 rows of sage and 2 rows of multicolor was really effective.

As always there were lots of lovely stories of friendships and family. Sharon H and her sister Linda were working alongside each other on their own projects. Linda had come from Warwick and was finishing a beautiful rug for a Grandson. A productive and fun time.

Sharon and Linda at work.

Denise was creating so many great pieces even though she had mentioned she was currently doing a bit of  únsewing'. 😀 I guess that's what it takes to make the perfect pieces in the show and tell section.

SHOW AND TELL  @ the retreat

Barbara created some Japanese folded bags,
inspired by Carole, following a mini workshop during the retreat.

Japanese folded bags.

Jenny H wasn't able to attend the crazy square workshop at the last activity day.
At the retreat she made a quilt from crazy squares and took photos for the blog.

Pam - panels for quilts

Barbara- 9 patch

Robyn - Christmas placemats

Pam - mug rug using selvedge edges from material.

Robyn - layout of quilt

Barbara - Wonky 9 patch

Kaye Christmas Circles

Barbara- Crazy Cuts

Gail made this quilt last year and
finished it by attaching the binding.

Glorianne - Chandelier quilt.

Glorianne - Plumeria

Glorianne made a bag.

Carole - completed Japanese quilt.

Gail - Floral quilt.

Gail made this lovely Linus quilt.

Kaye - I spy octagonal 

Kaye - Layer Cake Quilt

Kaye- Christmas Panel

.

Kaye - Circle quilt known as a pie or PI circle.

Grace's Dragonfly Dance.

Kaye's quilted bag.

Chris - Wonky Squares

Jennifer - Wonky Squares quilt.

Jennifer made a bag.

and a beautiful piece of embroidery.

Bev's finished cubes also known as blockspiels.

and wheelchair bags

Kaye - Blue circle quilt

Linda's tartan blanket is ready for her grandson.

Vera's donation quilt to Linus.
Vera manages the House of Happiness
where the retreat is held.

Denise - quilt as you go squares.

Denise - Christmas table runner.

Denise - pretty table runner.

Denise made a bag.

Beginnings of a scrappy bed topper.

Denise- Christmas quilt for an Aunty.

So now all that's left for the year is to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas.

Our first meeting for 2025 is on Monday January 20. 

Thanks Denise for setting up the shot and thankyou to Jenny H for the photos.

Sunshine Linus' November Meeting and Christmas party

Just over 50 people attended our final Sunshine Linus meeting for the year.  Christmas was definitely in the air.

MEET AND GREET 

Let the fun begin!

Thelma, Claire and Val welcomed everyone with a lucky door ticket and a chance to guess the number of buttons in the jar. 

Congratulations to Thelma on being the lucky winner of the Bunnings Voucher, Bridget won a bundle of Christmas goodies from the sales table, Elaine and Narelle each won a bag of Dutch biscuits and other Dutch treats. 

The lucky door prizes won by Elaine and Narelle, were donated to Sunshine Linus by Prins Willem Alexander Lodge in Birkdale as a thank you. Prins Willem Alexander Lodge was opened in 1985 to provide a caring home for Dutch Elders.

THE SALES TABLE 

Filled with gifts to help make our Christmas bright. Thank you, Elaine for all your hard work through the year! 

 MORNING TEA 

Once again Bonnie and Leone treated us to a cup of tea or coffee and a delicious morning tea brought in by members. 

Thank you, Bonnie for all your hard work this year.

Thanks to Leone as well.

We caught up with friends and enjoyed a cuppa  and then it was business as usual.

Our meeting began with SHOW AND TELL.

Drainage bags made from isolated squares.

Barbara let us know that one of the Activity Days in 2025 will be dedicated to Bits n Pieces. It will be a time to bring in any orphan blocks, UFO's (Unfinished Objects) and/or isolated squares that have been patiently waiting to be made into a masterpiece.

Quilt made from orphan blocks.

Barbara also informed us of  an Australia wide  'Share the Dignity' project organised by Bunnings. It runs from 15/11/2024 until 01/12/2024. https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/itsinthebag?

Jenny advised that St Vincent's Community Support asked if we could make some 'Bumbags' with adjustable straps for the homeless. They are for their phones and valuables to prevent them being stolen. Bags should be zippered, preferably in dark colours and can be worn around the waist or across the body.

Jenny showed us a prototype made by Marion.
The link to the pattern has been emailed to members.

Crocheted and sewn water bottle holders with adjustable straps.
Jenny reminded everyone to check dimensions
as some have not been made as per the pattern.

Claire has been busy filling requests from the touchy-feely table.

DISTRIBUTION TEAM 

Every month, after show and tell, the distribution team go into action. During the month, Jenny and Denise email a distribution list to members. The distribution list is a detailed list of items requested by the community.  Members then create items to fulfill orders from community groups including hospitals, schools, palliative and aged care facilities. The hundreds of items created by our members are sorted and organised into bags to be delivered to our clients. 

Making sure every order is filled.

Sorting 

Counting and checking

THE MAGIC OF SUNSHINE LINUS 🌟 

There is always something different happening at Sunshine Linus. This month if you were watching carefully, you may have noticed there were four extra visitors in a quiet corner of the hall. Jill is a wildlife carer and was looking after 4 tiny ringtail possums. The little possums required four hourly feeds so they sat quietly in their blanket waiting for their feed.  

   

CHRISTMAS PARTY 

Once the core business of Sunshine Linus was complete the Christmas Party began. Our shared lunch was delicious and was followed by Christmas games. Thank you to our hosts, Carole and Glorianne.  Scattergories was a fun and my goodness, there are a lot of instruments that start with the letter 'B'? Button Bingo - made us a giggle and the Christmas Quiz was very enlightening. We tried to remember the names of the nine reindeers and learnt that people in Japan enjoy eating KFC on Christmas Day? 

See below some pictures from our Christmas party.

IMPORTANT DATES:

25 - 28 November            Retreat at Bribie

20 January                       First Meeting of the year 

24 February                     Meeting

Thank you for the fun and friendship. Wishing you and your families a safe and happy Christmas. 

Guess the Buttons in the Button Jar.

Our last meeting for this year.

A reminder that the next meeting will be one week earlier than normal: Monday 18th November.

Our Christmas break-up party will begin after a normal distribution meeting. .

Please bring a small plate of either savoury or sweet finger food. 

Looking forward to seeing you there.