Donation Days

 I have been working on my own projects but decided that it was time to make some more donation quilts. Last night after our evening meal I sewed until 11.30 at night and completed two QAYG quilts. Today I kept at it and finished another QAYG quilt as well as quilting 3 more donated tops. Wow I'm tired tonight so will probably sit quietly and crochet more squares for blankets.
  I want to get another delivery of quilts off this weekend and then have a bit of a break again as we are planning our next trip as well as some more night shifts for me over the next few weeks. I was too tired to post on my other blog about these quilts so that will have to wait. I have another quilt pinned and hope to get that one done tomorrow before family commitments take up my time.
  I should have more finishes to show again very soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Almost There

 I have written down a list of four quilts I want to finish before I start any new projects and have been focusing on getting this top done as it is the closest to being completed. I have only 2 more half hexagons to make and then 6 of the quarter hexagons. I'm hoping to finish them in the next few days before I have more night shifts to take up my time.
  In the meantime I'm auditioning quilting patterns so I can free motion quilt this top while I am still enthused. I also need to prep more applique blocks so I can keep the momentum going by working on some of my own projects. I also have a special quilt to make for my sister's 60th and as she is almost 62 I'd better put that one at the top of the list.
 Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Whole Lot of Hats.

 Our weather is just beautiful at the moment with lovely sunny autumn days and it's so nice to have finished with the hot days of summer at last. I've been excavating the sewing room and sorting fabric again- not fun but necessary at times. When I took a break I worked on another hexagon flower and I can see the end in sight for the hexagon quilt which is encouraging.
 I also received a parcel absolutely stuffed with knitted beanies from Sharyn Caspar of Vic.  There were 24 and they are in lovely bright colours and will bring some warmth and cheer to the needy this winter.
  I plan in crocheting more squares tonight so progress is happening here and I have more sorting of projects to do again tomorrow. At least I can reward myself with some stitching too.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Moving Forward

 I can't remember when I last shared my progress with this quilt top but I have added it to my list of four to be worked on until they are finished. I have added 3 more large hexagon flowers and only have 3 more to make as well as6 more half flowers and then some quarter flowers. I want to get this one done and practice my machine quilting so I'm stitching this on every small amount of time I get. That is when I'm not crocheting more blanket squares as I am working on another blanket for the needy.
 Of course that is when I'm not sleeping as I've done a lot of paid work over the past week and it has cut into my stitching too. Never mind it helps to pay for the projects. I have a few days break from work and I'm planning to get this one done ASAP.
 I'll be back to show my progress very soon. Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

I've Got a Plan

 Today was a day of finishing as well as some sorting and planning. I took all my Civil War reproduction fabrics and put them together, sorting them into their different colours. They usually reside in a large tub which corrals them together but makes it hard for me to select when I need a particular colour. At the moment they are arranged on a spare bed but I do plan to put them into separate drawers so it will make it easier for me to prepare blocks for the applique projects on which I am currently working, or  should be working if I had prepped the blocks.
 I have also listed four projects I want to work on to completion. Actually there are five and that doesn't count a couple which just need to be quilted.I'm trying to stop myself starting new projects because it would be easier to do that than getting some finishes done. I'm hoping some forward planning will help me to focus on finishing some quilts for me. I wonder if anyone else has too many projects they are working on? Please let me know that I'm not the only one.
  With the donation quilts and blankets I don't have a problem at all and just focus on each one until they are done.I finished off another QAYG quilt and crocheted blanket today and hope I can share one of my own finishes very soon. Probably one reason they stall is because I don't have a deadline for them or else I want to try fancier quilting designs and "fear of messing it up" stops me from starting.
 Oh dear I just remembered another project I should add to the list! I'd better get one finished before I add any more or I might just think it's too hard and start something new- because you know I want to don't you?
 Hugs, Jan Mac

AQC 2013

 I was lucky enough to attend the Australasian Quilt Convention yesterday and enjoyed seeing the quilts from the Best of each State as well as the quilts submitted by the tutors conducting classes. I have taken classes for the last 6 years but none of them appealed to me this year and I decided to focus on finishing off some of my current projects rather than starting something new in a class.
  I took some photos of the quilts that appealed to me and unfortunately I didn't always make a note of whom the quilter was, but I'll name them if I know them. The first quilt is by David Taylor from the US and he does fabulous art quilts of nature. I loved the cat quilt which was made by Susan Brubaker Knapp from the US. I also loved the quilt of the two children by Gillian Shearer, submitted in the competition "Free", and it took second place. The quilt of three horses was fabulous with metallic thread and won the "Free" competition  and was made by Helen Godden.

 The girl in a tulle dress was by one of the featured Korean quilters and the following photo shows a feature of the precision piecing of one of the quilts I liked. The last quilt is by Gloria Loughman and it is on the cover of her latest book- Radiant Landscapes.
 One of the parts of the convention I enjoyed the most was a talk by Todd Purcell from Superior Threads of the US. He spoke for almost an hour and it was a free seminar and well worth attending as he explains the differences between thread types and the appropriate needles and tension to use with them. He also gave out an excellent handout on the best needle types to use with each type of thread and I hope he is invited out again as we tend to focus on fabric and design and not as much on thread which will make the quilting experience a pleasure or a pain.
 My other favourite part of AQC was catching up with friends I hadn't seen for a while and although i didn;t buy any fabric I did buy some books as usual.
  Today I worked on putting another QAYG quilt together and will finish that tomorrow as well as another crochet blanket I'm finishing off before night shift again.
Thanks for stopping by again.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Fun Catch-up and Donations

 Yesterday was a fun day of catching up with a quilting friend I hadn't seen for a while. I'd been reading about her cycling travels in Europe and it was fun to hear about them firsthand. Kay C. was formerly from Bendigo and a member of one of my online groups and we used to meet about once a year but she's now retired to a lovely seaside town and she's been very busy traveling and not so much quilting. She very kindly brought a beautiful crocheted blanket, a piece of fleece as well as some QAYG blocks she'd made and these donations will all help make life a little easier for someone in need. It was lovely to share a cup of coffee and catch up on sharing our news. Then I had to rush off to a birthday party for a special 10 year old but didn;t have my camera so no photos to share.
  On reaching home again I found another lovely parcel of QAYG blocks and fabric donated by Anne Wasson of Vic. They are going to play very nicely with the blocks that Kay made and another quilt will soon be finished.
  I'm off to the Australasian Quilt Convention today for two days before I come back home to work more night shifts. Hopefully I'll see some familiar faces there and if you spot me please say hello.
Hugs, Jan Mac