A Guest Speaker

 This week we had the first Guest Speaker in quite a while.

Irene and Fran came along to tell us about their involvement in the Dress a Girl Charity

They told us how they had got involved through their church after retiring from work, and how they have developed their designs, from simple pillowcase dresses  to more fancy embellished creations.

 They now line all of the dresses

 And add frill, ribbons, buttons and ric-rac.

 Or anything else that is available

 Pockets that now hold a pair of knickers for the little girls.

Each of the dresses has an embroidered label form the organisation. These little girls feel safe when wearing a labeled dress.
It is a horrifying fact that the label indicates that an organisation is looking after them  and just maybe a predator will pass them by. 

That's worth the extra time and effort just to sew on a label.

Someone from Irene's church has recently visited Uganda and had used her luggage allowance to take a consignment of dresses over with her.

 Probably the only "new" thing that this child will ever own.

 And amongst the photos I spotted some little boys in shorts that I had made.

 Lets face it, there are no more like this in the world!!  I was thrilled to see my little creations actually where they were meant for.

So far thes ladies have made or inspired other to help make -----

1500 Dresses 👗

 336 Boys shorts

 222 Bags

The bags are made to store any precious possesions that the children may aquire. For some it may just be a pretty pebble. 

Many of our ladies chatted with Irene and Fran and took the dress pattern ( it's a very simple design) off to make one or two to add to the next collection


If any of you who were not able to come and hear this heartwarming talk would like to contribute some of your time  you can download the pattern and a great tutorial for a piloowcase dress from
here 

the shorts from here

(I have drawn out of a few copies if you are unable to download for yourself)

and any simple bag pattern that you can lay your hands on.

And we have a good excuse for a tidy up in our sewing spaces!

Or if you feel so inclined - a pack of little panites from your local supermarket is just £2.50 - maybe drop a pack into your weekly shopping?

Ellen will be bringing a basket to group next time, and hopefully we will be able to fill it with buttons, ribbons, lace, ric-tac, or any other tra la's that you would like to pop in -

I wonder how many we will create.................

Put The Kettle On

and sit back to look at the results of our Christmas Challenge.....

We all had to use this Foundation Pieced pattern

 And then to make an item from this 8" block




We had an abundance of cushions....

 Someone was taking this VERY seriously!

 Part of her City and Guilds coursework

 Some table decorations

                                       

 Book covers

Bags....

                                                     

                                               

 A block that will be added to a larger Sampler Quilt

 A sewing folder

 And this lovey and very clever caddy to put at the side of the chair,  for keeping all those things you need at hand

 Another great big

Well Done

  to all that took part in this Challenge

I am hoping that a few more of these Challenges will surface in the coming weeks. I think there is about 50 here and I did give out 72!!!