With a Lot of Help From Friends...

 I'm feeling better and the coughing is subsiding, energy levels rising and Christmas will soon be here so it's time to get some quilts ready to donate. These three quilts were made possible thanks to my lovely friend, Marijke, from Holland. The two QAYG quilts will be going to a group which helps homeless teens and the other quilt will also be donated to a women's shelter for domestic violence victims.
      Thanks to my lovely blogging readers who have made and donated QAYG blocks, some needy people will be receiving some lovely quilts for Christmas.
Many thanks for your help dear friends.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Slow Progress But At Least It's Progress.

 I'm slowly starting to do a bit of stitching as I'm tired of not doing much other than reading. At least I am finally feeling a little better and the cough is lessening.
   Good news is that I have quilted and bound a cute donated quilt. I've also been doing some hand stitching on one of my UFOs. As long as I rest in between doing some jobs I am doing OK so I hope to be back in full production soon.
   In the meantime, thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

The Last Block.

 I've finished stitching the last block for my Chester County Criswell quilt. This was one of the early blocks and it's great to finally have all 33 of them finished. I have them laid out on the design floor while I rearrange them so the green ones are evenly dispersed. I'm sure that I will find an error as soon as I have them stitched together. The blocks are 10 inches finished as I didn't want a lot of negative space between the blocks. I'm thinking of adding a plain border, using the same fabric as the centre block. I will be machine quilting it as soon as I'm feeling up to the task.
    I hope to have a better photo of the top soon as the daylight was fading when I took the photo. It's a bit frustrating to have time to do things but no energy but I'll just have to be patient.
Hugs, Jan Mac

QAYG Blocks from Victoria.

My chest XRay has given me the diagnosis of pneumonia again. It's most likely that it didn't clear completely from when I had it in July as I have been coughing since then although I was feeling better during September and October. Hopefully more antibiotics will finally cure it. Many thanks for your kind words as well as your donations of blocks.
   I received 24 more beautiful QAYG blocks from Ann Birch from Victoria. Thank you so much for your lovely donation. I hope to feel well enough to get some more quilts finished for donation very soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Special Delivery From Holland.

A very large box has arrived from Holland and it contained a treasure trove of lots of QAYG blocks as well as other goodies. Marijke, one of my lovely blog readers has sent two quilt tops with binding, lots of little shorts and skirts as well as 64 QAYG blocks and some fleece fabric. Marijke must have been sewing for ages to make so many and they will make some lovely quilts.
    The box also contained some beautiful red Dutch handkerchiefs which I can make into a quilt, and Marijke sent me a special treasure- a Dutch market scene cross stitched cushion which her mother had stitched. It is such a lovely keepsake and I will treasure it. I think I may use it as a wall hanging to preserve it.
     When we were in Europe last year,Marijke and her husband, Chris, were so very kind to host us for the day. We took the train to the nearest city where they live and they took us home for lunch and then drove us around the countryside to see the dykes, windmills and their beautiful garden allotment. Ray and I gave such lovely memories of the day we spent with Marijke and Chris and I feel very blessed to have met such wonderful people through my blog. Marijke has also made and sent many quilt tops for me to finish and donate and her lovely work has blessed many people who have experienced disruption to their lives through natural disasters such Bushfires and floods.
      Thank you so much for your donations, Marijke but also for your friendship. On the health front I'm not much better so off for a chest XRay today, and another week of antibiotics.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt of 1858

The original quilt is part of the Virginia Quilt Museum Collection.

The purpose of this blog is to offer a monthly Sew Along to raise awareness of this special quilt and to help fund the VA Quilt Museum. The sale of every pattern is directly contributed to the museum.
These patterns are for personal use ONLY. The copy and distribution of this quilt in any form is prohibited without written permission from the VA Quilt Museum.
   The blog is found at http://svbotanicalquilt.blogspot.com.au/
It's time for a change from illness. I've been to the Dr again and now have more heavy duty antibiotic medication to try and as I'm sick of being sick, it's time foir a change of focus. I am joining in with this blog and will endeavour to catch up as the BOM stitch along started on Oct 1st. I bought the pattern online and downloaded it. I have enlarged mine to 141% of the original so my blocks will be 12 inches square.
Come along and join us. You know you want to.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Over It!

 I can't believe that I have contracted another sinus and chest infection. From the end of June until mid September, this year, I already dealt with a prolonged chest infection so I can't believe it's happened again. I've spent the last 4 days in bed and I'm so disappointed as I had planned on spending three days in Melbourne with our DD. I can't speak without coughing so I have to be antisocial and not share the germs.
      I was so sick of being sick that I spent 10 minutes stitching down the binding on the last top I'd quilted. I also stitched about 10 hexagons but that's as much as I can manage so I'm going back to bed. Hopefully my usual good health will return soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac