Still Quilting.

 I'm still coughing and not getting much sleep, but have decided to keep quilting anyway. It's better than getting behind with my quilting donation quilts and it doesn't seem to be affecting my recovery. I've heard from others that they have been really sick with a nasty chest infection after having the flu vaccination too. It's the first time I've been vaccinated and I don't know if I would have it again as I have been sick ever since. There's not much I can do but soldier on and cough a lot. Lol
    The first quilt was a donated top using Bonnie Hunter's String X free pattern, found at Quiltville. I also pieced the backing from some fabric I want to use up. This one will go to Peter Mac for kids with cancer. I'm trying to cull some fabric and make room for new fabric that appeals to me more.
I've also quilted another donated top which will go to Quilts of Valour, Australia. The last quilt is another one for the homeless teen group.
    I'm still piecing backings and have another couple of quilts needing binding from today's session. Hopefully I'll get a better sleep tonight as I have plans for more finishes tomorrow.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Soldiering On.

 After three days of antibiotics I am finally starting to feel a little better. The proof will be whether or not I can get a good night's sleep without being awake and coughing for most of the night.
    I'm sick of being sick so decided to just soldier on today and get some quilt tops quilted. Now I have to bind them and make some more backings to match the other tops waiting to be finished.
   I also received 14 lovely QAYG blocks from Stephanie D. of Perth, WA and they will soon be added to the diminishing pile of QAYG blocks I'm working with at the moment. I'm also starting to make some larger 12 inch QAYG blocks to make more quilts for the homeless teens.
   I'm hoping to get a good night's sleep and get busy with the quilts again tomorrow.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Altering Quilt Tops and Babies.

 This top was made in fabric suitable for a man but not large enough so I added two more rows after removing the border from one end. Luckily I found some more of the border fabric so it was easy to make the alterations. It was a donated top and now measures 52 x 72 inches so it's suitable for Peter Mac or QOV? I don't think you can tell which are the new blocks, can you? It's finished and ready to be donated.
   Yesterday I met up with the mothers and their new babies and it was lovely to be able to give them their new quilts. They loved them which makes it all worthwhile.
    The rest of the day was spent doing some hand stitching and relaxing while I try to get over this nagging cough. I finally went to the Dr for antibiotics so hope I start to improve soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Four More Finishes.

 I'm still working my way through Bev's QAYG blocks and it makes it so much quicker to make them when I have a pile of ready-made blocks. I still have another 3 to make for the homeless teens and I've  started making some more blocks with my scraps.
  The next quilt was made by an AQA member when they had a class on using jelly rolls. It was a bit garish so I trimmed some off the side, and added that to the backing to make it large enough. I also added borders and that has improved the look of the quilt.
    The cot quilt was beautifully button hole stitched by another AQA member and she does a lovely job. She also made the following lovely heart and none patch quilt, with the hearts being button hole stitched as well. She was so happy to see her quilts finished at the last meeting that she is keen to make some more. There will be some very happy kids being kept warm by her quilts. These four quilts will all be donated and I'm enjoying working my way through some of the tops our quilting group has accumulated. Hopefully there will be time for some more tomorrow before I'm back working nights again.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Productive Day.

 I had an early start on quilting today and was lucky enough to be able to sew all day. Our DD even cooked our evening meal for us which meant more time for sewing. I have been altering some donated tops to make them more appropriate for specific organizations. The first quilt was in colors which are appropriate for men but not large enough so I took off one part of the border and I'm making enough blocks to add two more rows before I add the border again. This one will probably go to the Quilts of Valour program.
     I finished little Henry's quilt last night and have started cutting more kid's prints for a couple more baby quilts.  I also quilted two more quilts and will get them bound tomorrow. The weather continues to be cold so it's good weather for quilting. I think I'll get back to the sewing machine again tonight and make a start on another QAYG quilt.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Busy, Busy.

 We've had a busy time over the past couple of days with a trip to Melbourne on Sunday to stay overnight with our DD. It was great to catch up with her again and on Monday I attended my Melbourne Quilting Group's meeting. It was a lovely day of catching up with friends, lots of chat and some lovely quilts were shown during Show and Tell. We also donated 60 quilts to three different organizations which was very rewarding. Hearing how much the quilts are appreciated by the recipients always inspires us to keep making more and the members all seemed to go home happy afterwards. We were also very fortunate to have two guest speakers from the National Gallery of Victoria and they spoke about the recent embroidery exhibition and conserving pieces for display.
     As soon as we reached home I went to bed as I worked night shift that night. Then I slept for 4 hours on Tuesday before getting up and putting another QAYG quilt together. I have another 4 to finish for the group working with homeless teens so I hope I have enough blocks here for them.
    Today I was determined to make the baby quilt for my niece's baby. I finished it and will share those photos tomorrow. I have two more baby quilts due by January so I'm going to start the next one soon so I only have to appliqué the names on and quilt them and I hope to gift them just after the birth.
    I'll sleep well tonight after all the activity and hope to deliver the baby quilts tomorrow. I also plan on putting another QAYG quilt together too.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Baby and a Block.

 One of my nieces' had a baby girl last week and she told me she loves pink for girls so I hope she likes the quilt. I make a large cot sized quilt for the new babies in the family and they use them as a play mat when the baby is little and then a cot quilt or cuddle blanket as they grow. I also appliqué the baby's name on their quilt as a nice keepsake. This little girl was going to be named Charlotte and then known as Charley but Prince William and Kate calling their baby Charlotte made the parents change their mind. They decided to name her Charley Rose and I also added lots of pink rose prints.
    It's the quickest one I've made as they will be coming up here next week. I still have another one to finish for Charley's cousin so I need to get that one done now. At least I have a plan! My sister has four children and they have each welcomed new babies in the last nine months, so there's been lots of baby quilts to be made.
    I also had to make a 12 inch block for my Melbourne Quilting Group's challenge and, as I am going to Melbourne tomorrow for the meeting on Monday, I wanted to get it finished too. We've enjoyed some much needed rain which has helped to fill our water tanks and it's been good quilting weather.
Hugs, Jan Mac