Cross Stitch Tuesday.

 Well I didn't manage to finish this block but I did make some progress so I am happy with that. I am almost finished back stitching the fairy and then need to stitch the border and add beading.

 Looking back at last week's photo I can see changes even though they are not as obvious now that the outline stitching is taking more time than filling in the fairy outline.

It will soon be 7 finished calender blocks, with only 5 to go.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

Weekly Catch Up.

 A really productive week meant that I quilted 5 tops for AQA to donate for their Gift Quilt Program.  I finished most of them on Saturday and really felt like I was on a roll. Then Sunday morning I was sick with the Rotavirus AKA stomach flu so nothing has happened since.

I've had no choice but to rest and recover so hope to have some more finished quilts to share soon. I will skip UFO Monday this week as I'm not up to taking photos etc, but hope to be back in action soon. It's school holidays here at the moment and luckily we don't have Jake to look after so I can just take time to recover, but I'm very annoyed to be sick when I had so many things planned.
Maybe next week will be better.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

Thanks Again Delys.

 Delys R. from Western Australia, has been very busy again and has sent 20 beautiful QAYG blocks as well as some lovely yarn. Thd blocks will be made into more quilts and the yarn will be crocheted to make more blankets.

Many thanks the for your ongoing and generous support, Delys. Everything you send is soon used up and donated to help someone in need. Our weather is lovely here at the moment but winter is coming and I have been knitting and crocheting more to get more warm things made to donate. The organizations I support say there is always demand for large blankets so the yarn will be used up quickly.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

Licorice All Sorts.

 Thanks to Linda A.'s (UK/NZ) donation if crocheted squares, added to what I had on hand here, I had enough to make 2 blankets to be donated to the needy. The variety of colours always reminds me of licorice all sorts and will bring warmth and comfort.

 I had a child's beanie to finish off and also a baby jacket and they will be donated to the needy via Anglicare. Speaking with them earlier in the week,  they said they gave already had demand for blankets and warm clothing so the blankets will be very welcome for their clients and I have some quilts ready to donate to them too.

Many thanks, Linda, for your generous donation of the squares as they will make a difference to those in need.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

Cross Stitch Tuesday.

 I was very surprised to see how much I had managed to stitch in just a week as I have also been spending time knitting and crocheting. It really helps to have a weekly accounting of progress with these UFOs and as you can see from last week's photo below, I am almost up to the border, beading and outline stitching.

 There are 12 of these blocks to stitch as they represent the months of the calender. I have completed 6 and will have 5 more to stitch when I finish this May block. I  have also found more finished cross stitched pieces which need to be made into finished items so there will be more cross stitch UFOs in my future for a while and my DD woukd like me to stitch a cross stitch piece for Jake with his birth details. I need to create the pattern first so that is still brewing in my mind.
Too many things to work on but at least I am never bored.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

UFO Monday - 4th Finish for 2019.

 This UFO was donated as a few made 9 patch blocks and lots of pieces of fabric cut, quite a few years ago. I love the small nine patches made from 1.5 inch squares and it's size and colours make it ideal for a male. It's great to have it finished and it will be donated to a male patient at Peter Mac Cancer Centre. I'm also really happy to have another large UFO off the shelves and it will make more room for some of the many sets of orphan blocks I have to put together as quilts.

There's some really pretty fabric in these blocks and it's a fairly simple design but effective. It didn't come with a pattern, just a few blocks were sewn together so I made up the design myself and it may not have been as the original quilter intended but at least it's finished.
Hugs, Jan Mac 

Progress Has Been Made.

Jake is finally well again and has started sleeping well again for the last few days so I have been able to pin baste quilts and have them ready for quilting, which I did at night time. This first lovely quilt was the top, backing and batting sent by Desley R. Of Western Australia. It is such a pretty quilt for a girl and I am sure it will be loved.

 This second monster top was hand button hole stitched by Margaret C. of Victoria and it's a fun quilt for a child receiving treatment at Peter Mac.

 This top, backing and batting was donated, I think by Lesley L. of Victoria, and it's a lovely quilt for a child and a relief to have it finished for donation.

 This last quilt was cut down from a larger one which had been damaged and it will be going to Anglicare to warm a needy person they support. I dropped off 25 AQA quilts to them today and they were thrilled to receive them as winter is coming. I am finishing off the crocheted squares into blankets as Anglicare are also in need of them.

Many thanks to everyone for their donations which will bring warmth and comfort.
Hugs, Jan Mac