Those welcoming words rang out at the Inverell Girl Guides Hall on Tuesday morning.

Tables filled with fabric, ribbons, tapes and pins were flanked by women who find pleasure in crafts, visiting and making things for others.

Lorraine Brown is the group organiser and said the informal gathering comes together once a week from 10am to noon to share time with other craft-loving women and have a catch-up.

It is little cost at $2 a head for morning tea.

“As you can see, it’s quite a social thing to do. We’re all having a bit of a giggle,” Lorraine said.

“Just bring along your own craft project that you’re working on at home.”

“Talk and have a cuppa,” agreed Tanya Townsend, who was engaged with scissors, ruler and a marking pencil.

The women were focused on a particular project on this Tuesday.

‘Dress a Girl (around the World)’ is an international endeavour that creates new and colourful dresses for little girls who have little or no clothing of their own. The basic design is simple; creating a little dress from a pillowcase that ties at the shoulders.

“One day a month we do a community project, and this is what our community project is this month,” Lorraine said.

She said they were using strong bias tape and denser material so the dresses could endure hand-washing in rivers and allow modesty for the girls.

Ann O’Brien is a dedicated group member and felt a value in the dress project.

“I think it’s lovely to do it. We used to sew for our own kids. Just to think there’s people overseas-the kids that’ve got nothing-that’s what gets to me, and that’s why we’re doing this,” she said.

“And the other thing that we’ve done is we’ve made heaps of booties and bonnets for the hospital,” Lorraine added.

“We knitted the basic jumpers for little babies that are born with AIDS,” said Di Tome with a handful of rick-rack for the dresses.

“All in one piece. They sort of go up and out and then again and then behind the back. Leave a hole and just sew under the arms,” Tess Wardle explained gesturing with her hands.

The little jumpers are destined for Papua New Guinea.

“I give them to a fellow, Jason Tom, his wife organises that,” Lorraine said.

Other weeks over the months have seen the women at work with jewellery making, cake decorating, knitting, and coming projects include brooches made from zips and 

“We made necklaces out of old t-shirts,” Tess said.

“How to plait and make mats,” added Di.

“We sort of grab everyone’s resources. Just find out what skills everyone’s got and then we share them,” Lorraine said.

“What we do is we look up on You Tube, and get the tutorial and then talk each other through it.

“There’s a lot of jokes and laughs. That’s the main thing.”

For more information about the crafts group, phone Lorrain Brown on 0447 683 134.