Australian Quilts of Valour.

 Yesterday I made time to have a fiddle with my quilting machine tension and it stitched beautifully. It is such a joy to use when the tension is good and such a nuisance when it isn't. I quilted the first quilt last night and the Bow Tie one today. The star quilt was made from some of my many 5 inch squares. I chose masculine colors and made it 50x70 inches, as it's a good size for an adult male.

The Bow Tie top was donated and a square shape. I took off one of the rows of Bow Ties and added it to the bottom with a few extra squares to make it fit. I added borders too and it now measures 50x70 inches.

I also pieced the backing,using up some of the fabric from my stash. It was good to get it quilted today and these two quilts will be donated to the Australian branch of Quilts of Valour. You can find more information here: www.quiltsofvalour.com.au
 
They like the quilts to be at least 50 x 70 inches in masculine colours and no floral fabrics. They also like a matching pillowcase as a way of transporting and presenting the quilt. At the moment they are delivering quilts to Vietnam Vets suffering from PTSD. It's a great way to donate to a good cause and use up some stash. I plan to finish a few more for them but also need to finish off some more of my UFOs too.
Hugs, Jan Mac

My Appliqué Group.

I'm still sorting old projects, odd blocks which didn't get used in previous projects etc so not a lot of finishes yet. I did find this donated top and decided to add borders and finish it. I'd no sooner laid it on the floor to measure it, and turned around and the cat was checking it out.

    Cats do seem to love quilts! I'm also sharing some of the quilts I saw at my Appliqué Group last week. I am in the middle of finishing off the quilting on another quilt so hope to have a finish soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Jan Mac

Orphan Blocks and A Finish.

 I'm still uncovering scraps and old UFOs as well as more orphan blocks while I try to clean up my sewing room. I found this top of orphan blocks and added some more to make it larger. I decided to add an inner border and then half square triangles as an outer border.  It now measures 42x57 inches so it's big enough for a child now and I plan to quilt it soon.
  I also found another small top which I've quilted and backed with flannel and no batting. It will make a nice baby wrap for a boy. I have also been busy finishing DH's heart quilt and just need to add borders now.
  Progress seems slow but it's good to clear out some old projects and get some finishes too. I must get back to my appliqué soon but I've been busy knitting for upcoming new babies due in April. There's always plenty to keep me busy and I love knitting as well as stitching. Check back soon as I hope to have more finishes to share over the next few days.
 Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Donation Quilt.

I'm still sorting scraps and UFOs and found a small panel which I had planned to finish as a baby quilt. I decided I needed another finish so I found some pink with white spots to match the panel and made some 2 inch half square triangles. I also had some hand dyed half square triangles and enough of the butterfly fabric to make more. I made a border and used flannel with no batting so the parents can cuddle their prem baby and not get over-heated.
This one will probably go to the premature baby unit for one of the new arrivals. Or it may be used for a stillborn baby and then given to the parents as a memento. I think it will be appreciated wherever it's donated and that is all that is required.
 Hugs, Jan Mac

H is for Hudson.

A very quick little quilt was needed for the family's newest arrival. My nephew and his lovely wife have welcomed their third child into the family. He was in a rush to get here at 29 weeks so he still has some growing to do. I made a baby quilt and lined the top with soft flannel, no batting, so Mum can cuddle her baby without over-heating him. I like to give the premise a quilt with their name so Mum and Dad can easily pick out their little one in the nursery.
   I have another niece due in April and one in August, as well as a larger cot sized quilt for Hudson, so it looks like I'll be very busy with more baby quilts this year. At least they are fun and quick to make. I need to get some more UFOs finished so I can start some more new projects too.
Hopefully there will be time to stitch tomorrow too.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Special Guest.

 Our Appliqué group had a special international quilter visit us last Saturday. Petra Prins from Amsterdam is currently in Australia and treated us to her new fabric design swatches. The Dutch chintz prints are stunning in different color ways and will be ideal for fussy cut flowers or broderie perse.
She also shared some of her beautiful quilts and they were stunning. We always have a lovely time but Petra's visit was a special treat. Working nights again has meant less time to blog and stitch but I hope to catch up soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Another UFO.

 I've spent the last two days sewing curtains for my DD's home so there's not much to show you. I have finished two more bedrooms and two lounge room windows. Thankfully I only have two more large windows to cover now. I really want to get them done so tried to ignore the heat and just keep going. Cutting the drop lengths was the hardest part but I've cut them all so now just have to sew.
  I've also pulled out another UFO to finish. This one is almost 6 years old and it's made from lovely heart blocks donated by my online quilting friends from Southern Cross Quilters. When Ray had surgery for prostate cancer my friends arranged for him to receive hearts and I had started to make the quilt but didn't get it completed. The hearts were in red and black, the colors of the football team he supports. Thankfully he recovered but I also had a cancer scare so the quilt was put on hold for a while.
  I'm enjoying getting these UFOs finished and hope to have a finish soon. In the meantime I have more nights to work and the rest of the curtains to finish.
Hugs, Jan Mac

It's Time!

 Did anyone else in blog land swap squares in a millennium swap? I swapped 2.5 inch squares as well as z3 inch squares. That was early 1999. Did I make the quilts? No, I didn't because I was too busy making donation quilts. I did start one with the 2.5 inch squares but I didn't receive many light colored fabrics so the design I'd chosen didn't work. I still had a large tub and parcels of the squares still in their envelopes. It's time to do something with them! There's no point in making a millennium quilt now. That ship has well and truly sailed!!
 Instead I decided to sort the squares and add them to my tubs of pre-cut squares, sorted by size. Some of them had been poorly cut so they have been cut in half diagonally and will be used in my current scrappy projects. It's time to use these pre-cut squares and bring some more variety to my scrappy projects.
   I also found some beautiful heart blocks made for me when my much-loved Mum passed in January 2007. It' s time to make them into a quilt I can use and enjoy. I also found some signature swap blocks which I need to use.
  I've emptied the tub now and need to get busy stitching.
Have a piece flu day.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Wild and Goosey.

There hasn't been much stitching happening apart from more scrap sorting. I should be stitching up larger pieces of fabric to decrease some of the fabric I've acquired but when it's so hot and time is limited, it's easier to just stitch a few more blocks from scraps. These are Bonnie Hunter's design, Wild and Goosey, and I like the effect of the flying geese.
 It' s a really good pattern to use up all of those medium to dark fabrics. My supply of light toned fabric never seems to be as plentiful so I can make these blocks when my supply of light-colored scraps diminish.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Scrap Play Progress.

 I've been busy with hospital visiting etc so not much time to sew. In short periods of time I have managed to sort and use up more scraps for my Pineapple blocks. They only use very small scraps but there is something very satisfying about using pretty little pieces of fabric.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Weekend Break.

 It was my birthday on Saturday and we decided to take a weekend camping trip up into the mountains. The weather was beautiful and we had a lovely time 4 wheel driving on the mountain tracks. Our youngest DD and her partner joined us and we had so much fun we're planning to do it again soon.
   There was no time for stitching but it was a lovely birthday break.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Scrap Play Continues.

 I have put together my first scrappy Wild Geese block and love how you can use fabric you would normally discard to make another quilt.  I also made some more Pineapple blocks as well as more 2 inch half square triangles.
   Apart from that family commitments and sleep have been a priority. Hopefully next week will see more time and progress.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Show and Tell

 Today was my Melbourne quilt group's meeting day. I was very lucky to have DH drive me as I was still recovering from night duty. I slept on the way down and enjoyed catching up with old and new friends. I was very surprised to sit next to another member of the Insanity Quilt group I've started on FB. It was lovely to meet you Chris. The time went too quickly and now I'm off to bed again to prepare for some more night's work. I took a few photos of my quilts I showed for Show and Tell. I hope I can get back to more stitching very soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac