April 2026

Every Sunshine Linus meeting is a little different, and April was no exception 😊 It was great to see such a strong turnout of new and old members and supporters. ✨

Available on the Freebie Table,
from little things …

Sunshine Linus is made up of dedicated teams who each month come together to collect items made by members in response to requests from a wide range of community organisations 🤝💖 

Our Distribution Lists and the “What we make and where it goes” link on the blog show where more than 10,000 requested items are sent each year 😊

Meet our amazing teams 💛

We have The Yarners, whose talents with wool and needles seem endless 🧶✨ From cosy rugs to adorable toys, they can create just about anything you can imagine.

Rugs

Mittens

Toys for young and old.

Beanies

Clothing as requested.

Kanyini Bears 

The Yarners receive requests for special bears that comfort and care 🧸💛 These requests come from across the community, including hospitals, Surf Life Saving Clubs, and Domestic Violence units. 

Every year, Sunshine Linus partners with Buderim Private Hospital to gift every baby born during NAIDOC Week a handmade Kanyini bear 🧸💛

Our wonderful Sensory Group 🧩🌈 make a wide range of engaging games, books, and conversation starters to inspire, comfort, and bring a sense of calm. Here are a couple of examples that featured this month.

A cuddle cushion

A special request made by Claire for
someone who loves the sea 🌊💙

Conversation Mats feature a sensory backing
with a conversation starter on the front

A story quilt for Palmview Special School.

Our Sewing Team are superheroes with a needle and thread 🪡💪 They create everything from practical clothing for patients to wear home from hospital, to equipment that helps make medical procedures more comfortable, and beautifully made gowns that provide dignity and care when it’s needed most. 

The Baby Group, provide clothes and layettes for new mums. 👶💛  Be sure to check out the “What we make and where it goes” link on the blog to see what this amazing team does😊💖

Show and Tell 🎉

Quilts are often a team effort 💛 One person might create the top, another adds the binding, and someone else completes the final quilting 🧵✨ Each quilt comes together beautifully. Quilts are shared during the Show and Tell session 😊

Other quilters create beautiful quilts from scratch using materials from the Freebie Table and bring completed quilts back to meet requests from community groups 🧵💛

One of our founding members, Judie B., reminded us that Sunshine Linus items are made to last. Our quilts aren’t just beautiful, they’re strong enough to withstand industrial washing, without any risk of coming apart 🧵🪡

Judie and Barb explained what makes a sturdy quilt.

How to make durable quilts.

The next Activity Day on June 15, where you can learn how to make strong, durable quilts that are built to last ✂️🪡✨ Come along and learn from the best! 😊

Annie

Orange Peel Quilting

Bricks on Point

Annie

Orange Stipling, walking foot stitching.

Chris will bind the quilt.

Orrawin brought in quilts that had taken three years to create, using materials from the Freebie Table 🧵💛

Orrawin with  her 2½-inch square quilt

A Potato Chip Qulit.

Luckily,  all the colours came together beautifully.

Made with orphan blocks from the Freebie Table.

Leone collects materials and wool from the Freebie Table and delivers them to craft groups in Peachester and Beerwah 🧵💛 The groups are always excited to begin new projects. Here are some of the finished pieces ready for binding and quilting ✂️✨

Strips from Peachester

From Beerwah.

Lyn found a vibrant panel and added a startling blue.

Lyn used a sawtooth pattern top and bottom.

Glorianne bought in quilts from:

Chris F.

Chris F.

An Eye Spy Quilt

A Fat Quarter pattern for a Lemonade quilt.

Annie Scrap Quilt

Potato Chip pattern from Toowoomba.

Annie's Block Pattern

Rosalie's Checks

Dinosaur Quilt

Claire with a different type of book quilt😊.

Later, Claire showed us her traditional book quilt, and this month it featured an interactive version of The Three Little Pigs, 📖🐷🐺 complete with houses, pigs, and a wolf. The story quilt helps children sequence and retell the story in their own way. This delightful book quilt will be going to Palmview Special School 💛

Three Houses

A wolf in trouble.

Also this month 

The Sales Table

It’s no wonder the Sales Table is always so well supported 🛍️💛 This month featured a range of beautifully crafted items and some very jazzy knitted slippers looked especially tempting 🧶✨ They’ll no doubt be snapped up quickly next month as the cooler weather sets in ❄️

Kookaburra Mug

A snug mug.

A big thank you to Nicky and Ute for stepping up as our new morning tea coordinators ☕🍰 We really appreciate your help! 💛

A delicious morning tea was provided

Joy with an exquisite bag she made at the retreat.

The bi-monthly raffle tickets was drawn. 🎟️ Congratulations to this month’s lucky winners, Jennifer B. Pam and Bridget! 🎉 Keep an eye out for the new raffle next month 😊

See you next month! 🧵✨

IMPORTANT DATES 📅

25 MAY:                           May Meeting

15 JUNE:                         Activity Day - Quilting techniques  

29 JUNE:                         June Meeting

1 AUGUST:                     Open Day 2026

Don't forget next Monday 👋

 You are invited to our next Sunshine Linus meeting on Monday, 27th of April😀, 2026.

We meet at the Uniting Church on Coronation Street in Nambour, with car park access via Donaldson Street. Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month, from 9:30am to 2:00pm.

New members, sponsors, and visitors are always welcome. 

Tea, coffee, and a light morning tea will be provided.

We look forward to seeing you there!.

March 2026

The March meeting of Sunshine Linus included our AGM, where the 2025 committee presented their annual reports. 📊 Cynthia N. oversaw the election of our 2026 office bearers, and thanks to the hard work of the 2025 committee, the transition was seamless ✨👏

AGM 

A big thank you to Claire T. ✨👏for her five years as treasurer. As required by the constitution, she’s stepping down from the role but will continue as a valued general committee member.

Sharon H. will remain as president, Glorianne P as secretary, and we welcome Marion G. as our new treasurer. Congratulations to the new committee!

We’ve had a change in the kitchen.

Thank you, Bonnie!

Nicky W. has kindly stepped in to take over organising and preparing morning teas from Bonnie. A big thank you to Bonnie for all her efforts. ✨👏 Be sure to say hello to Nicky next time you see her at morning tea. ☕

And remember, a plate to share for morning tea is always appreciated.🍰

A big welcome to Nicky!

RAFFLE

This month’s raffle will be drawn next month 🎟️✨

A big thank you to Val L. for taking care of the raffle each month 🙌😊

Prizes this month include a scarf, knitted doll and a small quilt.

THE SALES TABLE

A big thank you to Elaine for her tireless work coordinating the Sales Table. 🙌💖 Funds raised help purchase wadding and supplies so members can keep creating high quality items for local organisations. 🧵✨

Be sure to get in early each month as items sell fast! 🛍️⏰ 

Next month, don’t miss the beautiful handmade bags, a lovely collaboration between Judy B., who embroidered the motifs, and Kaye N., who crafted them into stylish, sturdy bags. 👝💫

There’s always something special on offer, from holders for iPads, phones, sunglasses, and coffee mugs. 📱🕶️☕ Remember to say hi to Elaine and see what treasures you can find! 🎁👀

Later in the day. 

Available next month.

SHOW AND TELL

For those who missed February’s Activity Day, here are some of the results ✨ It was noted that quilts made using the Marti Mitchell templates are always especially neat and precise 🧵📐

Barabara's square.

Sharon's quilt.

Kaye N. and Judy B. showed us bags they co-created. The bags will be on sale next month at the Sales Table.

A combined effort always works well.

The story of how Rosanna began making her quilt has featured in previous blogs.✨ This glorious creation began life at last year’s retreat at Bribie Island. 🌊🧵

Rosanna's checked quilt is complete. 

Judy B. has once again been busy quilting. Quits featured in Show and Tell have been made by Annie R., Lyn and others. Interestingly, most of the materials and blocks have been gathered from the freebie table.

Thank you, Judy, for quilting these pieces ready for distribution 🙏🧵  

Please remember that measurements and patterns for the items we distribute are available for free on the blog 📏✨

These  bright and cheerful children's Eye Spy quilts are from Narelle and Carole in Toowoomba

Every panel tells a different story.

Jungle Theme

More stories in a quilt.

The classic children’s book Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, written by Bill Martin Jr. and illustrated by Eric Carle, has inspired a beautiful project 🐻‍❄️📚

Twelve very individual panels.

Claire F. spent many hours sewing last month to create a stunning story quilt 🧵✨ Each square is individually crafted, allowing children to retell the story in sequence in a fun, hands-on way.

The quilt was requested by and will be gifted to Palmview State Special school 🎁🏫

This panel features a beautifully ornate peacock, brought to life with flowing folds of fabric and shimmering sequins 🦚✨

A group of peacocks is called an ostentation. 

Farmyard Backing.

After our AGM, it’s back to what we do best. 💙 Items made for community requests are packed and distributed to bring comfort and care across the Sunshine Coast. 📦✨

A glimpse into our day to day work.

See you all next month! 🧵✨

IMPORTANT DATES 📅

27 APRIL:                        April Meeting   

25 MAY:                           May Meeting

1 AUGUST:                     Open Day 2026