It's A Wrap For 2018

I don't usually tally my finishes for the year as I'm usually too busy quilting but thought I'd do a count back for the year.

I quilted 73 tops for my quilting group, Australian Quilters Association.

I finished 6 of my UFOs.

I made and finished 22 quilts for family or donation.

I quilted 27 donated tops.

I received 13 donated and finished quilts for Quilt Projects I support with the help of my blog readers.

We donated 5 crocheted blankets.

I finished 32 quilts from QAYG blocks (mostly donated blocks).

We donated 114 quilts to Peter Mac Cancer Centre and 35 to Anglicare.

Thta's a pretty good result for the year seeing my sewing time as been taken up by our treasured grandson. Of course a lot of the credit must go to those lovely quilters who have donated quilts, tops, blocks and QAYG blocks.

I hope you all have a very Happy New Year and get more UFOs finished than you start next year. I finished 6 which was pretty good and I still have lots more to discover as I unpack more of my quilting supplies. I didn't start any new either so I am making progress but I need to sew faster. LOL.
See you all next year.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Time For A Block Party.

 Tidying and sorting out my sewing room has uncovered some sets of donated blocks which need to be made into tops instead of being stored back into boxes. This first top consisted of 7 scrappy 12 inch blocks so I made 5 more and then joined them with sashing. I thijk the blocks might have been donated by Maria W. from W.A. and I don't thimk you can tell which were the original blocks.

 This set of Snowman blocks were also donated by Maria W. (I think) and I made some scrappy blocks to use as alternate blocks. I think that I will add borders to make the top larger before quilting.

This set of hand stitched blocks were donated by Sue McP, from Vic, and I made 2 more to give a 4 by 5 set of blocks. I will add borders to this one too and it will be a lovely quilt for Anglicare.
   I have found some more donated orphan blocks and my containers of scrappy squares are very full so I can see more block making in my future while I try to tame the scraps and tidy up my sewing room.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

Cross Stitch Tuesday.

 I'm very surprised that I finished the cross stitching on Jake's stocking by Christmas Day. Unfortunately I didn't get the back stitching done but I will keep working on it while watching the cricket over the next few days as I don't want it to become another UFO . Lol

 I think that blogging my progress helped me to reach the deadline so I am going to select another cross stitch UFO when this piece is finished as it has reignited my love of cross stitch.

I hope you are all enjoying some quiet stitching time amidst the bustle of the holiday season. Thank you for continuing reading and supporting my blog.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

Merry Christmas For 2018.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all have a relaxing time with family and friends and some time to do the things you enjoy. I finished the cross stitching on Jake's stocking but still have to do the back stitching and assembling it, but at least I completed it before Christmas as I had planned.
  Thank you all for your invaluable friendship and support with my quilt projects. I will tally the results by the end of year.
Much love, Jan Mac 

Happily Pottering.

 Apart from Jake's Christmas stocking I seem to be ready for Christmas so it's good to have some time to potter in the sewing room. All of the finished quilts have been donated and I really want to tidy up my sewing room and sort all of the scraps which have accumulated.
   Part of the tidying involves sorting through the tops waiting to be finished. Some of them have been divided into 2 tops as the original was too large to be donated. The smaller of these needed borders added to make them larger. Some tops were also a bit small and adding borders makes them a more useful size. I don't always add borders to donation quilts if the size is adequate but I usually add borders to my own as I think it frames the quilt nicely, especially if they are scrappy.

   I'm not sure if I can sew my way out of my sewing mess and might need to just gather up the bits and pieces, box them up and put them in storage while I sew up some of the jelly rolls and scrappy squares that I have on hand.
   It's time to watch a Christmas movie now and stitch some more on Jake's stocking. Hope you're all enjoying some time to potter as well.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

Cross Stitch Tuesday.

 I only have a week until Christmas Day and even if I finish the stitching I don't think I will be able to get the stocking made up but I should have it finished soon after. I'm not really worried as it at least won't be sitting unfinished until next Christmas.  Having a weekly report on my stitching progress has kept me focused on this project and I think that I should continue with another cross stitch UFO when this piece is done.
     I find that I work better if I have a deadline and if I don't meet the deadline with  finish, then the piece is more likely to become another UFO. Stitching during the daytime, while watching the cricket on TV also meant I got more stitching done.
   I need to use the same kind of schedule to finish more patchwork UFOs as well as cross stitching UFOs. Hopefully this piece will soon be finished and then I can select another piece to finish.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Variety of Finishes.

 I still love QAYG quilts made from the donated QAYG blocks that supporters of my quilt projects have sent. I still have some more to put together but these are the last for this year while I take a break.

 These embroidered blocks were made and donated by Sue McP from Vic, and they've made a lovely quilt for a little girl to treasure.

 This was a donated top which I have also quilted. I dropped off 15 quilts  to Anglicare to be distributed to some of their clients for Christmas and they were very happy to  be able to pass them on to disadvantaged children.

 I also knitted a beanie for Jake as he loves to wear his Pa's. He is such a happy boy and brings us so much joy.

 Jake loves his Thomas the train quilt and likes to play with it when watching the show on television.

Christmas is getting closer and I am still working on his cross stitched stocking.
Hugs, Jan Mac