Howdy from Houston

Thank you for all your well wishes and I'm going to try to update the blog daily so you can share our adventures if you are interested in what excitement we're having.
Firstly we traveled virtually non-stop since we left home. I left at 6.30am on Sat 30th for a 2 hour drive to Melbourne. I met Julie and Helen there and we boarded our Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. Then after a quick change of planes we flew to LA over night. While we waited for a wheelchair for Helen, The crew invited us to look around the aircraft and of course we had to try out the sleeping area in first class. Then we were whisked through customs and after a quick trip to the next terminal we managed to get an earlier flight to Houston which saved us 5 or 6 hours of waiting at the airport.
We were very happy to arrive at the Hyett Regency, have a light meal and finally get to bed after about 30 hours with no sleep.
Of course we slept in, missed breakfast and after lunch we took a stroll around downtown Houston. Julie and I then walked to the convention centre to get our class schedules. While waiting in line we met up with our friend, Sue McPhee, again and also the lovely Jenny Bowker. After a sort time, standing in line we started chatting with other quilters in line to get some info about things we need. I asked one lovely lady about where to buy a mobile phone and she had no idea what I was saying. Finally I realized that I needed to ask about a cell phone!!
Then as we left to explore a bit I saw Quilting Royalty- Elly Sienkiewicz! I went over and introduced myself and asked about her new book that she's selling at the Festival. She is going to put one aside for me and sign it as I'm doing a half day class with her on Sunday, which will be the highlight of my visit and a long- dreamed of experience. Julie tells me that I was patting and touching her as only I can as I am apparently a touchy-feely person. I wasn't aware that I was doing it but then realized that I can remember the feel of the jacket she was wearing. We had many laughs as I realized how audacious I was.
After a lesson in what iced coffee US style is- we need to ask for an "iced coffee with room" which means room for milk as iced coffee here is expresso over ice and not the coffee milk shake we have at home. Then I guess it's safe to divulge that Julie and I actually entered the Quilt Market and wandered around for an hour, acting knowledgeable about fabric lines and patterns as well as patchwork techniques. We visited the site of the Texas Quilt Museum and I was photographed in front of a vintage quilt which I coveted.
We then couldn't get to sleep until about 4 am but awoke at 8am and we're determined to get through the day and get our body clocks re-set, but coffee may be needed. We were just too excited about rubbing shoulders with Royalty and all the things we'd seen at Market. We didn't attmpt to purchase and just said that we were too tired to make a decision and would return later.
Today we're off to a luncheon lecture and then may shop at the Galleria. We are all looking for a US cell that we can use to stay in touch while we are apart during the day.
Better get a shower now and then off to explore. We are laughing lots and will have heaps more to tell. I feel very much at home here but things are just on a bigger scale than at home. Everyone is very friendly and we are having a ball.
Till later, Hugs Jan mac

Another Award

I was very surprised to receive a letter inviting me to attend a presentation ceremony by my local Member of Parliament recently. Along with 6 others I was recognized for my volunteer work overseas in East Timor. The other recipients had participated in varying projects to improve the quality of life in other countries and we were all very pleased to have our small contributions acknowledged.
I'm off to the US tomorrow where I'm attending the Houston Quilt Show with some other Aussie quilters. Then we are spending 3 weeks traveling in the US and meeting up with some internet friends. I've been hoping for this trip for over 2 years and it's hard to believe that the time has come.
Thanks for your kind comments on my blogs and Amanda I'll post a tutorial on my crochet squares when I return at the end of Nov. Sorry that I've run out of time until then. In the meantime I'll try to keep my blog updated with our adventures. One thing I know for sure is that we will be having fun as my fellow travelers are entertaining and lots of laughs.
Stay safe everyone.
Hugs Jan Mac

Mostly Night Shift ...

but a little bit of finishing off things.
I packed and sent off about 200 quilts and they are on their way to Timor and Pakistan. Apart from that I've been working night shift and have made a warm hat to take when I visit New York next month. I also finished off a few blankets which have been shipped with the quilts as well as more baby jackets and knitted beanies. I've not had enough time to blog lately but only have a few more shifts to work before I fly out on our trip and hope to blog more about that.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts Finished

I'll post more photos on my other blog for donation quilts at http://ozcomfortquilts.blogspot.com but here you can see a QAYG quilt I finished this week. The other photo is of a pieced back which someone generously donated which gave me a gift of time to get more quilts finished instead of piecing backs.
I must count up how many QAYG quilts I've put together as there have been many, many sets of blocks donated and they did make some fabulous quilts. I still have a small pile to work with and will get them done ASAP.
Luckily I never tire of them and they all look different with the varied fabrics featured in them.
Also want to say a big thank you to everyone who leaves a message on my comments page. Thankfully I haven't had any spam messages lately which gives me more time for quilting. I received a lovely message a little while ago, I think from Alison, but I accidentally deleted it instead of publishing it so if I deleted your message I'm sorry. I hope Sheila is recovering well from her accident and I thank you for your kind words which encourages me to blog more often.
I have some clothes to sew for my upcoming trip to the US so I must get back to the sewing machine. I sewed on bindings for 3 quilts today and will post the photos later.
Hugs Jan Mac

Sunday Sewing

Today was a fun day with time to make a QAYG quilt and I just have the binding left to finish as we had visitors in the afternoon.
I've also received a parcel from Julez from Bacchus Marsh (Vic) and she very generously sent 2 beanies and 10 FQs for the donation quilts. The beanies will be going to the Pine Ridge Reservation as they are in constant need of warm clothing, especially for fostered children and the beanies will be loved. I've also been knitting hats and scarves to donate to them too and will probably take them with me when I fly to the US at the end of the month, and then post them while I'm over there.
I've also found some donated 6.5" squares in crazy patchwork which someone had donated. They all had red backing and batting included and some of them had machine stitching along the seams in the blocks. There are enough for a larger quilt if I use the backing squares as well and I've spent the afternoon unpicking the stitching and then I will join the squares and make one large top instead of a smaller QAYG project. The left over pieces of 6" batting will be used to make larger QAYG squares so nothing will be wasted.
All in all it was a relaxing and yet productive day.
I plan to machine quilt some tops tomorrow so i'll have more to show then.
Until later, Jan Mac

A Short Break Over

We're back from our camping trip with friends and spent 12 days in Sth Australia. Three days were spent in the Flinders Ranges and the rest of the time was at Port Lincoln. I'll load some photos of the scenery on my next post. We had a lovely time and really enjoyed our break.
I also managed to visit a quilt shop at Cowell as well as in Port Lincoln. I'm collecting red civil war fabric and also got a couple of double pinks as well as a couple of paisleys I couldn't resist.
I've finally caught up on the usual jobs after being away and have started putting another QAYG quilt together. I also found a pile of 2.5" squares which had been joined into strips and I've separated them back into 9 patches and plan to use them to make a donation quilt. They aren't the usual 9 patches with 5 patches in dark and 4 in light fabrics, and instead are a mixture of values in the squares so I plan to use a coordinating fabric to make a secondary pattern and make them play nicely together. At least that's the plan.
Now to find some fabrics which suit them.
More later.
Hugs Jan Mac

Spring is Here

The floods have receded and the ground is finally drying out. We had no casualties other than a 6 ft long brown snake which had been washed up near the house, by the floods, and it was killed by the rider mower when DH was mowing the lawns. It was obviously still in hibernation mode and after every flood we've had at least one snake which decided to take up residence near our house and we've had to relocate it.
It must be spring as I've been busy purging the remainder of my quilting and craft magazines. It means that I've made a real mess of my sewing room but eventually it will give me more space for my WIPs and fabric.
I received a lovely bag stuffed full of cloth bags which have been donated by a lovely lady from Noosa Heads Qld, and these will be sent to East Timor to be used as rice bags for people who are given rice to supplement their food supplies. Under-nutrition is a huge problem in Timor due to the difficulties with growing enough food for their population.
I also thought I'd show the 4 blocks I've finished for my Civil War Bride quilt. I'm pleased with them and will work on the next one as soon as I have it prepared for applique.
We're off camping with friends for a few days so I plan to take some hand sewing in case I get time to sit and stitch. I forgot to add the number of hats I'd knitted and was happy with the 36 I've made so far. I've also shown the week's supply of finished QAYG quilts on my other blog at Oz Comfort Quilts.
Take care,
Jan Mac