I'm Still Here

 Thank you all for your kind words and support. I have received several requests to keep this blog going so I'll continue to show the quilts I finish which will be donated. I finished two more QAYG quilts today as well as one on the weekend. I also quilted the donated top. It was a large medallion quilt top and I received several of these. They have sat in the pile waiting to be quilted but they were all too large for the groups I'm supporting now. Therefore I have started to de-construct them so that they are no larger than 50" by 70" in size as that is the most useful for them. I'm using the leftover bits and pieces to make more tops or they will be used to piece backing.
  As you can see I am still busy with the donation quilting. I guess that then only difference is that I'm not taking donations now so I can focus on getting some of my UFOs finished- a lot of those will most likely be donated too and it gives me a chance to work on some of my own projects. I have promised 35 quilts to a group which runs camps for abused and neglected children and I want to get them finished before we head off on our travels again in a few weeks time.
   Thanks for stopping by again.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Retiring From Active Duty

 These three quilts are the last ones I sent off with the last shipment on Sunday. The first is fabulous and came all the way from Finland. Ulla, one of my generous blog readers, made this beautiful quilt and cleverly used the striped fabric to create a stunning design. The second quilt is a cheater quilt I quilted and the last one is a lovely bright kid's quilt which was a donated top.
 I delivered 17 quilts and 4 blankets as well as lots of school supplies and knitted items and they all went to Janice of Needy Stitches in Melbourne. Janice's email is needystitches@gmail.com and she supports many different organizations which help the needy in Melbourne and country Victoria.
   She is able to accept finished quilts, knitted items as well as crocheted or knitted blanket squares. I have been sending quilts to her as well as she passes them on to many different organizations. She is unable to accept fabric or unfinished quilts and tops though.
   After almost 20 years of making and donating quilts and other items I have decided to retire from active duty and will be closing this blog down. I will still make and donate quilts and blankets but on a much smaller scale and I will no longer be accepting donations as I still have a lot of donated tops and blocks to finish off. I have also donated most of the wool and yarn I had stored as Janice will distribute it to people who are happy to knit but can't always afford to buy supplies. They then donate finished items back through Needy Stitches.
  I want to say a very heartfelt thank you to everyone for their support and donations for the needy and those affected by floods and bushfires. We have managed to bring comfort and warmth to many in need. I do encourage you to continue to make and donate as you see fit, and there are many organizations which help in our communities.
 I need to take time for me as well as more time for the family and I hope you all understand that this wasn't any easy decision to make. I will still be blogging regularly on my other blog at Sew Many Quilts- Too Little Time so please stop by and say hello some time.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Is Eight Enough?

 I've been busily quilting over the past few days as I want to make another delivery at the weekend and the more I can fit in the better, as far as cost of transporting quilts goes. I sewed until 11.30pm on Tuesday night and again all day yesterday but only finished one today as I had family commitments this afternoon. I need to get more finished as we are planning more traveling very soon and I don't want to leave un-quilted tops and blocks here when winter is on its way and quilts will be appreciated.
  I am also trying to finish off some of my UFOs (some of which will probably be donated too) but it is good to get more quilts finished and out of here so I can tidy the shelves a bit before we leave on our travels again. I'm working nights again tomorrow but hope to get some more quilts finished before that so maybe eight isn't enough! Check back soon to see how many I manage to add to the finished pile.
Hugs, Jan Mac

With a Little Help From My Friends

 I have received three more beautiful quilts from Maria Wilson of WA while I was away and they are all so lovely that they will be sure to bring a smile to their recipients. They are on their way to be distributed at the Melbourne Homeless Connect day which will be held on April 17th. I also managed to finish off a QAYG quilt from donated squares as well as quilting a crumb scrappy top, so I'm posting off 18 quilts and 2 more crocheted blankets tomorrow. I have 2 more quilts that wouldn't fit in the box so they will go with the next shipment.
 All of these donations are only possible thanks to all my generous quilting and blogging friends who send tops, blocks, fabric or finished quilts as well as donations to help pay for the costs.
I hope you are all as blessed as I feel when we are able to help the needy to stay warm and bring some comfort as well.
 Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Five For The Week

 Thanks to all your generous donations I've manged to get five more quilts finished this week. The first is a large QAYG quilt from donated blocks and the remainder are quilts made from donated tops. They will soon be on their way to bring comfort to the needy and finally our hot weather is starting to ease off now that we are entering autumn. I'm going to be away again in two weeks time as we are taking a long-planned trip to Tasmania so I plan to get as many quilts finished and donated as possible before we go.
 Many thanks for all your help in getting quilts finished and donated to those in need.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Just Do It

 It's been unbelievably hot here with temperatures of 41 degrees C. and sewing has not been easy but I decided to just get it done. So I sat in front of the floor fan as well as having the air conditioning on and sweated through making two quilts yesterday using QAYG blocks. I also completed the blanket I was crocheting but I did wait until it cooled down a bit before I crocheted all the blocks together.
  More QAYG blocks have arrived from around Australia, while we were away, so I plan to get busy making more quilts this week. Many thanks for all your lovely donations to help others.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Three Finishes

 I finished these a few weeks ago but didn't get time to show them on the blog. I have also been busy making more QAYG blocks and the pile is starting to grow nicely so I plan to get more quilts finished soon. The need for donations of blankets and quilts for the needy is ongoing apart from the parts of the country affected by bush fires and floods so I know these quilts will be appreciated by the recipients.
Hugs, Jan Mac