Gratitude.

 I feel very blessed to be able to do something I love and which benefits others as I love making quilts and also finishing off other people's UFOs. I also love to donate them where I know they will bring comfort and let's face it I don't have enough cupboards to store all the finished quilts I have made.
This week I was invited to a luncheon held by Peter Mac to thank their volunteers and it was inspiring to talk with other people who volunteer and donate to the patients of Peter Mac. I felt privileged to be in  their company and  I met some ladies who have been making chemo hats for 27 years. The co-ordinator for volunteers assured me that they could use as many quilts as I can supply so I have committed to making them my main area to donate and will try to donate 100 quilts by the end of this year. That's a big undertaking with all that we have happening here but I can but try.
    I really am blessed to have so many fellow bloggers who send me fabric, tops, quilts, orphan blocks or QAYG blocks because it has only been possible to donate so many quilts due to all the help I have had over the years. We can be very proud of the quilts we have donated as they are beautiful and much appreciated by the recipients.
    One of the blessings of blogging has been meeting and corresponding with other like-minded quilters around the world and I was lucky enough to meet Felicia and Marijke 3 years ago when we visited Holland. Marijke has sent another box of wonderful string pieced blocks as well as a lovely top and more QAYG blocks which will all be finished off and donated on her behalf. Thank you so much Marijke for all that you do for others less fortunate.

 Marijke also sent these 2 beautiful cups, one for DH, and it will remind us of such a happy time when we visited you and Chris in Delfzel.

 I am also grateful for all those lovely bloggers who stay in touch and support these quilt projects. It does help to keep focus on how we can connect around the world and help others in need.
  Peter Mac Cancer Centre is the only hospital which solely treats cancer patients in Australia and we are very lucky to have such world class facilities and I know that every quilt we can make and donate will cheer a patient and their family and that is really why I quilt.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Full Steam Ahead.

 I had a lovely Mother's Day visit with my youngest DD and her lovely husband and it also gave me the chance to give her her quilt. She was totally surprised and very emotional about it. Thankfully I made it how she had imagined it and used the correct Cat photo.
     Now that huge project is finished it's time to get some more gift quilts finished and ready for donation.

 I added borders to this purple one to make it larger and I think it looks more finished.

 These 4 tops were all made by members of my Melbourne quilting group and it's great to be clearing the cupboards of some of the tops that have been waiting for quilting.

It's been a busy week but it's great to have time for some quilting and I'm also cutting scraps up into different sized squares so I have a stack of them ready for another donation quilt.
Hugs, Jan Mac

It's Time For The Babies.

 The last few days have been busy with sewing for our expected new grandson. I've already made 6 muslin wraps and couldn't resist one more, as well as a bib and 6 burp cloths. I'll probably make more bibs when he's older and more burp cloths before he arrives.

 I also finished a small knitted helmet and a knitted jacket in newborn size. I have knitted others but forgot to take photos for they were packed away.

 Our DD is using a woodland theme and loves foxes so this was a cute stuffed animal I made to add to the nursery.

 Tonight I thought I'd better get busy with more baby quilts for the nephew and nieces having babies soon and I want to get them done soon so I can pack the fabric away again.

 I've finished with another QAYG quilt made from more donated blocks and I have more to put together but I am off to Melbourne tomorrow so more to share soon.
 Happy Mother's Day everyone. I hope you're having a lovely weekend too.
Love, Jan Mac

Finshes To Share.

 I'm feeling a real sense of achievement and relief in having the Cat quilt finished and it has made me feel like getting some more of my UFOs finished. That is if I can find them as they have all been packed away. I can't wait to see my DD's reaction when I give it to her on Sunday.

 I also quilted 2 more tops made by members of my Melbourne quilt group and these will be donated to various groups such as Foster Carers, Anglicare and Peter Mac. It's always rewarding to donate quilts to comfort others and we are donating more at our Biggest Morning Tea this coming Monday in Melbourne. Email me for directions if you would like to come as we are always happy to welcome guests and it's for a good cause.

Hugs, Jan Mac

A Long Time UFO Finished.

 The "cat" quilt has been on my list to make for about 9 years and it is finally finished. It takes a long time to make a quilt you're not actually working on!! My quilt hanger wasn't well today so I hope to show photos of the finish tomorrow. I';m very happy with the photo transfer which was done by my local printing shop, using a technique similar to printing on t shirts and they assure me it will be washable.

 We spent a few days in Melbourne last week, taking more boxes down and also tidying up the garden, trimming trees etc at our new home, and it is feeling more like home each time we stay. Today I pinned and quilted 2 more tops and will finish the binding tomorrow.

I've also put together crocheted squares to make a blanket to donate to a group of needy kids. Crocheting sqaures is a nice relief when I need a break from stitching but I did hand stitch the binding down on the Cat quilt last night and just need to write on the label so it's good to finally have a finish off my own list of UFOs as I'm usually busy finishing off other people's UFOs to donate.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Quieter Week.

 A nasty head cold meant that there was less sewing this week and although I managed to clean out 5 cupboards, I spent a few days doing not much while I recovered. I also managed to finish the baby quilt up to the last borders. I added a large border in white for the top of the quilt and that is where I will applique the child's name when he arrives. I chose a bright aqua for the final border and I found a lovely aqua chevron pattern for the binding but might use a darker teal instead of the aqua. It will depend on the colours chosen for the nursery and this one will be for our expected grandson if his mother approves. LOL. Otherwise I'm sure one of the other expected babies will be a boy and I will have one ready to go.

 My DD had requested a "cat" quilt about 7 years ago after her beloved cat, Tiger, passed. I have been collecting cat fabric and really should have made the quilt long ago but kept collecting and puzzling over how to make it. She also wants a photo on fabric of her beloved pet as one of the central blocks. My indecision probably stemmed from worrying about how to do that too.
    Luckily when I packed away most of my fabric I kept the pile of cat fabric and decided it was finally time to get it done. Even if it's not exactly what she had in mind at least it will be finished.

I had already made 8 of the 30 blocks needed and I remember there was also a worry that I didn't have enough of the blue for the whole quilt. I must have found some more because I have enough and hopefully enough of the cream too. I spent a couple of hours working on it last night and should be able to get the blocks finished soon and then try to find a place to copy a photo onto fabric. I used alternate blocks to add more interest and I think I'll add a wide border too in a darker blue.
  It will be good to have it finished and gifted so I can focus on finishing more UFOs. I haven't put myself under too much pressure with UFOs this year as we have so many other things happening.
Linda, the Square in a Square pattern used 6.5" central sqs and 5.75" sqs cut on the diagonal for the outer pieces. I always start with them larger than I need and then trim to size. A couple of the central sqs were only 6" but with adding the outer triangles, it's not obvious.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Change of Pace.

As I had to pack up my quilting things for house inspections I decided it was time to work on a few things which don't create so much mess. LOL
   I finished the first baby quilt top I'd started and have put it away for now. It will be for one of my nieces or nephews' babies and I will add borders and the baby's name when the baby arrives.
  I also found a half jelly roll which has a Woodlands theme which is what my DD is having for their nursery. I didn't want to cut the fabric up too much and lose the designs on the fabric so I made it up like a jelly race quilt then cut 6.5 inches off twice and reversed one panel. I'll border the inner panel with white and then add borders so almost finished that one too.

 They are also talking about eliminating plastic bags for shoppers here, and some states already do this so I thought I'd make some more cloth bags. I started by covering eco bags I already had but will also make some without as I think that might be quicker. I will have very stylish grocery bags now.

  I also needed to start on more baby sewing as my DD is already half way to delivery. I made these little pants in newborn size but I think I will add to make the waist band higher on the next pair I make with this pattern as they don't seem to be big enough to cover a nappy. I'm also knitting baby jackets now that the weather here is cooler. I will return to finishing more quilts but it's nice not to have too much stuff to tidy away for house inspections. More decluttering will happen over the weekend too.
Hugs, Jan Mac