The End of the Week.

Wrapping up the donations for the end of the week with acknowledging these 5 pair of booties beautifully knitted by Jeanette Mitchell. 

Sharon Siacci donated this cute Spiderman fabric to cover logos on donated uniforms as well as some elastic.

Waverley Patchworkers donated 14 beanies, 2 scarves,  a pretty dress for a toddler and 2 drawstring bags. 

Marie Warden from NSW and the Narooma CWA have joined us I making beautiful clothes from obsolete uniforms donated by Ambulance Victoria.  They made 13 dresses,8 skirts, 6 drawstring bags, 12 pair of shorts,  2 pencil cases with pencils, 1 pair of knitted slippers,  a scrunchie,  5 bucket hats and 4 top and pants sets.

Norma Aitken donated a box of fabric and I'm making drawstring bags from it as they're always in demand.

Jo Algie donated a large amount of fleece fabric which the Inverloch Chatty Crafters are using to make pyjamas and track pants, as well as new tea towels which I have made into drawstring bags. 

Margot Bailey  donated 11 beautifully knitted teddy bears. 

Cathy Bruton and the Inverloch Chatty Crafters have been busy sewing and donated 48 soap pouches,  10 drawstring bags,  27 Santa Sacks,  2 skirts, 1 nightie, 4 pair of pyjamas,  1 pair of leggings, 3 cloth teddy bears and 3 pair of track pants.

Marie Warden from NSW also sent another large parcel containing  32 drawstring bags, 79 cuddle hearts, 1 tote bag, orphan blocks and some new clothes for children. 

Many thanks for your generous support everyone. 

Hugs, Jan Mac xx 

 

Keeping Busy.

I've been busy making drawstring bags,  Santa Sacks and removing badges from Ambulance Victoria uniforms so they can be upcycled. Drawstring bags are always in demand by several organisations and it's a great way to use up fabric which isn't quilt worthy. I received 2 dozen tea towels from a deceased estate and they're ideal for the bags.

I finished 3 quilts made from QAYG blocks donated by various donors as well as finishing off 2 SB crocheted blankets. 

I also finished this lovely quilt top which was donated by Jo Starr. It's the Maltaville quilt and a reproduction of an 1847 quilt. Jo had started making the blocks and decided not to continue and donated it instead. I made another 6 blocks and finished the top, then passing it on to Sharon Siacci from Beyond Meander Quilting to work her quilting magic on it as it's a special quilt. I love the pattern and Jo gave me the patterns so I have started my own version but plan to make all of the 64 blocks.

                  

On Saturday I attended the Waverley Patchworkers Winter Warmer and it was a lovely day of stitching, catching up with new and old friends and a lovely talk and quilt sharing by Jo of These Clever Hands. Some fabric shopping may have occurred too and it was very enjoyable. 

 Jo uses lots of bright colours and her quilts are fabulous. Thanks for a great day Waverley ladies.

Hugs, Jan Mac xx 

Quilts and More.

Lots of wonderful donations have arrived and they will soon be packed and distributed to people in need. 

Diane Cutting from ACT donated another 4 beautiful quilt tops as well as 2 backings.

Karen Barrett from Qld has sent another large parcel containing 88 soap pouches, 3 cute soft toys and some lovely theme fabric for me to use to cover logos on repurposed jackets and jumpers.

Dymphne Anderson donated 16 teddy bears and fabric for drawstring bags. 

Kaye Hardman's lovely mother, Billie,  knitted another 4 warm beanies and Kaye made 12 drawstring bags. 

One of Kaye's friends beautifully knitted 9 jumpers for bears donated by Janet Kidson. 

Stephanie Driel from WA has sent another large parcel containing 42 beautifully made QAYG blocks with binding and 17 beanies.

June Wilson has donated 4 beautiful quilts,  2 crocheted blankets,  4 knitted beanies and a teddy bear.

There was an anonymous donation of 2 beautifully crocheted blankets,  a knitted toy and 2 large bags containing new pyjama pants and track suit pants.

Ann Crimp from WA has sent a large parcel containing 3 beautifully knitted jumpers/ cardigans,  8 beanies,  9 beanies for newborns  and 13 pair of knitted booties. 

Thank you all so much for your donations to help those in need. 

Hugs, Jan Mac xx 

 

Uniforms 4 Kids Victoria and Backpacks 4 Vic Kids.

 

We unexpectedly had a free day on Friday

so I spent the morning sorting and packing donations and then delivered a car load to Backpacks 4 Vic Kids this afternoon.

We delivered 42 quilts, 280 Santa Sacks, 155 soap pouches,23 pair of booties, 14 beanies, 73 teddy bears with their custom made jumpers, 8 small blankets, 8 burp cloths, 4 bibs, 12 jumpers/cardigans and another box of hand knits.

We also delivered the following for Uniforms 4 Kids Victoria : 40 pencil cases with pencils, 8 skirts, 12 shorts, 1 quilt, 25 bucket hats, 6 small pouches, 4 drawstring bags, 3 baby/nappy bags and 4 jumpers, all made by upcycling obsolete uniforms donated by Ambulance Victoria.

It was great to get feedback about what is needed and discuss how we might be able to help. They are starting a new program soon for homeless teens and will be needing tote bags which they can use to provide a change of clothes and toiletries. The Ambulance Victoria trousers we have would be ideal as they need to be dark coloured and non-gender specific so if you have time to make some tote bags please let me know so I can post out some of the trousers. They want them about the size of shopping bags and there's a good pattern for Boomerang bags online which is easy to follow but I would make the bags about 18 x 22 inches.

They also loved the bucket hats and prefer them for up to 10 years of age as the older kids have peaked hats.

They're aiming for 6,000 Santa Sacks this year and have already packed 600 so we'll keep working on those and drawstring bags as well. They've asked for bigger sized Santa Sacks measuring about 20 x 24 inches as a lot of the toys have large packaging. 

 The clothes that they need most frequently are track pants for ages 5 to 7 years, flannelette pyjama pants for ages 4 to 10 years, and shorts for pyjamas for ages 10 to 18 years. They have tops they can match but need the pants.

Many thanks everyone for all of your generous contributions to help children in need. We're also in need for more people who would be interested in sewing shorts, skirts, bucket hats and drawstring bags from the obsolete uniforms, and postage is provided.

Hugs, Jan Mac XX

Comings.

 

More lovely donations have arrived with Lyz Kershaw donating another 3 lovely kid's quilts, a tote bag, 3 Santa Sacks and an orphan block. 

 

Faye Hender and the Murray Mallee Quilters have very generously donated another 9 beautiful quilts and Wendy Yates donated 4 knitted teddies, 12 lovely warm beanies and 11 burp cloths. 

 

Viv Costigan also donated 25 fabulous library bags. A very big thank you to Annette Pearce too as she couriered their donations from Swan Hill. 

 

Jill Khong donated 109 lovely drawstring bags as well as knitting jumpers for 65 teddies and Lucy Peacock donated 14 very cute teddy bears.

 

Kaye Hardman knitted 14 jumpers for the teddies donated by Janet Kidson, and also donated a large bag of toiletries. 

 

Dee McDonald from NSW donated 25 lovely warm beanies as well as 3 knitted teddies. 

 

Many thanks everyone your ongoing support. 

Hugs, Jan Mac Xx