Kia Ora Everyone,

Only three weeks to go before the big event and what an incredibly busy time it is proving to be. As it is the school holidays I have had my two grandchildren staying for the first week. It has been fun having them to stay and at 10 and 7 years old they are great company. They are beginning to take an interest in what their grandparents do and have done in the past, able to discuss some interesting topics of conversation and ask some good questions. In turn we have found out a lot more about what they think and what school life is like for them.

During their stay the quilts have begun to come in so they have enjoyed seeing what is in all the packages and making comments.  ‘How did they learn how to do this?’ was the main question. We had a great discussion about the various ways we all learnt and how we continue to learn. My 10 year old grandson will be going to the Intermediate next year so I told him he might get to learn how to use a sewing machine or at least get to do something using soft materials. He totally surprised me by saying that he had already tried knitting at school and he didn’t think he would like it but really enjoyed it. This is the boy who told me he was a builder not a cook when I tried to get him to help me in the kitchen several years ago!

In the next few weeks all the quilts will have arrived, be unpacked, sorted into categories, numbered and laid out flat in the bedrooms of my house. It is exciting to see them and I am sure you will be inspired and impressed with the exhibition. The committee have worked hard to keep you entertained with exhibitions from regional and other community groups, workshops, demonstrations, raffles and a huge variety of merchants. Don’t forget the community quilt drop off and be in to win a small prize.

I hope to see you at the Prize Giving and at the Members Breakfast. It will be great to catch up with you all and put some faces to the names on the quilts.

Regards Valda Sutton,
President and GNZQS Convener.