Our Special Christmas.

 The last two days leading up to Christmas were a bit of a rush as our DD asked me to sew a Christmas stocking for Jake as well as making Christmas shorts for all of them. No pressure then. LOL

 Jake was happy to show off his new stocking and he's such a happy baby that he is a delight to have around. Of course we spoiled him with more gifts than would fit in his stocking but this stocking is for his home and I have a lovely cross stitch one I plan to make as a keepsake but I'd better get busy stitching or it will be a few more years before it's ready.

 The much loved grandson and his parents spent the 3 days before Christmas with us as well as we have just worked out how to operate the 10 person spa at our new home. We thought it might not work but surprisingly it did. DH wasn't interested in it but I asked him to get the filter going so we could use it as a swimming pool, and that was all I wanted for Christmas as our grandson was our special gift. Our son in law cam over and together they worked out how to operate it and now DH is enjoying using it every day. I must get a photo soon. Believe me it is such a lovely way to relax and I've been swimming twice a day since. I can see that we will have lots of fun family time with swims and BBQs and lots of time spent with grandchildren, and that is the perfect gift for me.

Of course we were exhausted after all that activity so we have had a quiet few days watching the cricket and I have started quilting more tops as I continue to downsize and get organized. It's probably going to take me 10 years before I get through all the boxes but as long as I make progress I'll have to be happy with that.
   I hope you all had a relaxing Christmas with family and friends and that you will be blessed by many good things in 2018. We've had the biggest year of our lives and we're looking forward to having more time to relax and we are going to Tasmania at the end of the month to enjoy some cooler weather and some relaxation. Now the spa is functional we could have stayed at home but we love to travel and see new sights too.
Take care. Hugs, Jan Mac

Last Minute Rush

 I still had a couple of days when I could quilt some tops and wanted to get a few more to Peter Mac in time for Christmas, to join those that Ann G. had donated.

Apart from the QAYG quilt, all the tops have been made and donated by my lovely supporters and will help to make someone's Christmas a little brighter.
 I also have 2 more for Foster kids but the cutoff date for those has passed so they will join the pile for distribution in the new year.
  I have more Christmas sewing to do but I will get done as much as I can and that will have to do. LOL
Hugs, Jan Mac

Warm Hugs for Christmas

 I have received another wonderful parcel of quilts to donate and these are such bright and cheerful quilts that they will be ideal for children undergoing treatment at Peter Mac Cancer Centre. These beautiful quilts were donated by Ann G. of NSW and will be treasured by the families who receive them. On their behalf, I want to very sincerely thank you Ann, for your very generous donation.

Peter Mac told me that sadly, more children will be needing their services over Christmas, so I have been quilting more tops to deliver to them by mid next week. I managed to pin baste and quilt 4 today so tomorrow looks like being a binding day.
   I am supposed to be decluttering still so quilting and donating tops counts, doesn't it? LOL At least some kids and adults will get some warm hugs from us this Christmas and my fabric stash and pile of tops will be diminishing, although that's not apparent at the moment. I still haven't managed to get to the box of Christmas decorations so we might we putting up a very small tree this year, but we will enjoy a family Christmas and I hope you all have your Christmas sewing finished and have time to put your feet up and rest.
We had a couple of days at the beach last week as we were baby sitting our beautiful grandson , Jake, while his parents attended a wedding. We stayed on for a couple of days and caught up with my bridesmaid and her husband as they have retired at Lakes Entrance. We've both been so tired after moving that after handing the baby back, we spent most of our time asleep. LOL
Hugs, Jan Mac

The Gift of Comfort From Oz Comfort Quilts.

 We've been settled here in our new home for a week and we're both catching up on sleep after such a busy time of cleaning and handing over the farm. It doesn't quite feel like home here yet as I have been going to and fro for 12 months now and still feel like I will have to return to the farm again.
  We have been emptying boxes and doing further decluttering while we find room for our possessions here at our new home and we need to downsize further as we have a fraction of the cupboards that we had at the farm.
   Consequently I have been donating more of my quilts which I love but they have been stored and un-used. As I am still making quilts, and my kids don't want more than one or two of their favourites, I decided to donate most of them to where they can be loved and bring comfort. Today I dropped off another 6 to Anglicare, for kids in Foster Care, making 26 donated so far. I also dropped off another 27 to Peter Mac which brings that total to 64 of the 100 I have pledged.

 This was a donated top which was too large for donation purposes so I cut it in half and reattached the border. It's quilted now and I will add new borders to the remaining half and make another quilt to donate.

 I am loving having my industrial sewing machine here now and it's been great to get some more QAYG quilts made from donated blocks. It's always harder to find blocks suitable for males so I try to use blocks without too many florals or pinks and this one will be given to a male patient at Peter Mac.

 I love blue quilts and I'm not the only one as I often receive QAYG blocks all in blue. I save them until I have enough for a whole quilt.

 This quilt was one of my favourites and it was hard to part with but it will comfort a person in need of a hug at Peter Mac.

 I loved this one too, with a combination of hand needle turned blocks and pieced blocks. I love the colours in this one too although they are different to my usual colours.

 This one was hand pieced using 1 inch hexagons and I was very tempted to keep it as it was a lot of work and a lovely quilt, but if I love it someone who can't quilt will love to give it a home too.

 This last quilt was a top made by a member of my Melbourne quilting group and the start of next year's quilts for donation.

Anglicare and Peter Mac are both very appreciative of the quilts, as Anglicare said that this may be the only gift some children receive. I can imagine that a pretty quilt will also lift the spirits of anyone in hospital at Christmastime.
 Many thanks to all of you who have donated fabric, blocks, tops and finished quilts. You are making a difference in the lives of others. I hope you also have a very blessed Christmas. Mine is going to be extra special, spending time with out first grandson.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Super Donation.

 Maria W. from Western Australia has sent 3 fabulous quilts for the Peter Mac Cancer Centre, including a fabulous Superhero quilt. Maria is a very generous supporter of my quilt projects and I know that these beautiful quilts will bring comfort to the recipients.
    I love the bright colours of the quilts and the Disney quilt will be loved by a child too.

 This lovely quilt is a fabulous use of fabric to make striking hexagons and looks brighter than shown here.

Thank you so much Maria, for your ongoing support in bringing comfort to those in need.
Hugs, Jan Mac