Busy Times and More Donations

So much for my blogging updates! As well as working night duty I've been busy with family illnesses. My Dad has lost half his vision in one eye so that involved a rush trip to Melbourne to The Eye and Ear Hospital. We were hoping it would be correctable with surgery but unfortunately there is nothing to be done so we came home again at 3am. Then I was up at 10am to drive back to Melbourne to look after my DD who had the flu. I've managed to finish off some quilts but no photos yet so I'll show you the beautiful queen sized quilt that a group from Henty (NSW) made for the bush fire survivors.

Juanita Eime organized the group and sent the photos which show how much fun they had while making this lovely quilt. They used Bonnie Hunter's (Quiltville) pattern.

Juanita wrote:"The quilt was displayed at the local school for a couple of days (they gave us free access to the school to use for our craft group to create the quilt) and then it will go on Sunday to our local church so that the members who contributed fabric and their time in the early stages can see the finished product, then will spend some time at our local craft shop that gave us the queen sized batting to put into the quilt, and then it will go on display at the local casserole luncheon. There are so many people who have been involved with this quilt and we thought that this would be the best way for most of them to get to see it before it goes off to it’s new family.

I’m excited. The quilt is scrappy, but is very lovingly made and has been an amazing community effort including contributions of sewing by a 9yr old girl (my daughter), artistic input to arrange the blocks from a 12yr old boy (who also had lots of fun with the sample sandwiches for the machine quilting workshop that I ran one night to teach the ladies how to use their ordinary sewing machine to quilt a block. He actually can machine quilt now!), and we have had contributions of fabric from a wide range of people and sewing from others. It has really brought people together, and has helped to take the focus of our small community away from the drought and focus on helping others in need. We’ve been surprised by how this design came together and actually all love the quilt ~ so it will be given with much love. There was one lady involved who has sewn most of her life, but this is her first quilt and she has been involved in the process from beginning to end. I am so pleased for her. It has taken our group 5 get togethers at various times. I’ve been coordinating the quilt, and studying full time externally this year and have 4 children (9,7,5,2) to chase after! Completing the quilt has been a wonderful way to unwind after my exams this past semester.

Anyway, I hope that you are excited as I am that you have another quilt coming your way."
As you can see, making quilts has brought many communities together to help the bush fire survivors and they love to read the stories about their quilts' history.
Thank you for all your many donations.
Hugs Jan mac

Over a Week

I can't believe that it's been over a week since I last posted here. The time is going quickly with work and family commitments as well as putting more quilts together.
I'm mainly working with the donated QAYG blocks and have been very surprised that so many of you have been able to find their blocks in the quilts that are finished. I've made so many that I often can't remember which ones I've done.
I received a lovely phone call yesterday from a lady at Kinglake who had received one of the quilts. She wanted you all to know that your generous donations have helped with their recovery.
I think I have almost reached all the people who are still living in the area when I deliver the last lot of quilts to one of the schools for the parents who lost their homes. Then it will be harder to reach those who have moved and won't be returning to the area. I'm relying on hearing about them from other community members so we can get the quilts out to those who still need them.
On a family note, I did have a chuckle last night as our DS was talking about starting a vegetable garden and growing the vegetables that he and his housemates enjoy eating. He also loves using lemons in a lot of his cooking and suggested that he grow a lemon tree in a pot so he could take it with him if he moves. He didn't want to commit to waiting a few years until it bears fruit, so I suggested that he not get a pet if he thinks a lemon tree is too big a commitment.
I think it's a generational thing and I'm sure that many of you can relate.
Hugs until next time. Jan Mac

Another 14 Quilts

I posted off another 14 quilts last week as well as more knitted beanies that had just arrived. I know the people will really appreciate them as they are still in a state of shock in some ways and are not always able to make decisions about what they need. You can still see the effects of post- traumatic stress and some are becoming worried about facing another summer of bush fires and they can even tell you how long before summer is here again.
I've been busy with extra shifts at work again thanks to the flu season and have been putting quilts together in any spare moments.
Just after our last trip to deliver quilts we heard about many more families who haven't received quilts yet so I am getting more ready for another delivery ASAP.
Many thanks for all your help and donations.
Hugs Jan Mac

220 Quilts Delivered

We visited Kinglake again last Friday and delivered 220 quilts. We had to pack them on the roof rack as well as taking a trailer to hold all the boxes. Luckily it was a beautiful sunny day and no sign of rain so the quilts stayed dry.
The photo shows one of the beautiful quilts made by the quilters of Alice Springs (NT) and they have all been delivered to their new homes now. We also took down sewing supplies as well as all the lovely knitted and crocheted garments and the people are very appreciative of all your generous donations.
When we got home I heard of more people who are returning to the areas, who haven't yet received quilts so I'm busy getting the next delivery ready. I've been busy with paid work as well so I plan to sit and rest tonight and start again tomorrow.
Hugs and thanks for all your help and donations. Jan Mac

An Explosion of Quilts

I had a knock on the door last night and found a man outside with a trailer- load of quilts. He'd driven down from Alice Springs and called in on his way to Melbourne so he could deliver the quilts that had been made by quilters in Alice Springs (NT). Tia put out a call on her blog campfollowerbags for wonky star blocks and had planned to make 3. The response was so great that she and the Alice Springs quilters made about 100 quilts as well as tops still needing quilting. Tia has flown back to the USA and arranged for this very nice man to deliver them to me.
I've been busy getting them photographed as we are taking more quilts and sewing supplies, as well as donated warm garments, down to Kinglake on Friday. This is the first time we've been able to go out for a quilt delivery since Ray's surgery and I have found homes for the next shipment of quilts we're taking and also a church who can help with storage for a short time while they contact people to select a quilt.
It takes time to find people who have lost their homes and some have moved away so I'm posting off quilts to them as I obtain their addresses. I also want to say a very big thank you to the lovely quilters who have made this possible and also to those who have donated money which has helped with postage costs.
As you can see there has been an explosion of quilts and I need to get them sorted and boxed up ready for delivery.
Thank you all for making this possible.
Hugs Jan Mac

Oh When The Saints

The red, black and white quilt was made for a St Kilda supporter from Kinglake and the team is known as "The Saints". This was a team effort by Kaite Matilda from Bathurst and my blocks. As Kaite said they looked like they were matched by us and yet we didn't see what the other person had made until they were put together. Great job Kaite as it looks even better when you see it up close.
The other QAYG quilt was made for a young man who lost his girlfriend in the fires. Anne Bennett from Melbourne had donated QAYG blocks suitable for a male. I needed some with an ocean theme and she had used the ocean fabric as the back of some of her QAYG blocks so I used them and made a reversible quilt. I think he'll love it and I've been making QAYG quilts larger with sets of 6 x 8 for the men.
Time for work again.
Hugs Jan Mac

Time to be Creative

I'm still jet lagged from night shift but wanted to get a few more QAYG quilts put together. Kaite M. from NSW had very kindly made half the blocks for a quilt in the St Kilda football team's colours of red, black and white. I made the remainder and finally got them all put together today.
I didn't have enough black strips for joining the blocks together but did find a large piece of gold fabric with celestial figures on it. Luckily the gold seemed to be painted on the black fabric and when I used the wrong side of the fabric it read as "black" so it was perfect to finish off the binding and you can't tell the difference from the black homespun I also used. I love the finished quilt as the colours are really striking and thanks to Kaite we got another one finished for a Kinglake family of St Kilda supporters.
Now to get another queen sized one finished. Hugs Jan Mac