Oz Comfort Quilts - Flood and Earthquake Relief Quilts

Final Totals for 2011

2011-12-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that the year is almost at an end and it's been more than usually marred by natural disasters with the floods here, and with earthquakes in New Zealand and in Japan. I'm sure that although there isn't much news from the affected areas now, that they are still working on rebuilding their communities.
The outpouring of support in the from of quilts from the international quilting community has hopefully aided in this rebuilding process as well as bringing comfort to those whose lives have been so badly affected by these disasters.
The very generous donations from people who read my blogs as well as those who are fellow-members of online quilting groups has allowed Oz Comfort Quilts to make and donate an amazing total of 543 quilts for 2011.
It was only possible due to all of your donations of time, money as well as QAYG blocks and quilt tops, fabric etc. The quilts have gone to comfort people in need due to the natural disasters as well as economic circumstances.
Thank you all so much for helping to bring comfort to so many people and I look forward to continuing to make and donate quilts to the needy in the next year. In the meantime I'll be taking a break for January and will be traveling to China with out youngest daughter. You'll be able to keep up with our travels on my other blog and I'll post more updates here when I return.
Please accept my heartfelt thanks for all your support and I hope that you are all blessed with a healthy and prosperous year for 2012.
Hugs Jan Mac

Just in Time

2011-12-21T01:32:00.000-08:00

I am very surprised that I am so organized for Christmas, especially as I'm going to be overseas in 10 days time and still have things to prepare for the trip. However I thought that I probably had time to just get a few more quilt tops finished so that they can be given to the needy for Christmas. I sent off another 6 quilts today and they'll be just in time for Christmas. I took a close-up of the first top to show how cleverly the quilter had used even the narrowest strings. It reminds me of the Lego quilt that is being shown on some blogs recently and Tonya from Lazy Gal Quilting has instructions for the quilt, based on an antique version. It is a great way to use up even those tiny slivers of fabric.
The other lovely quilts were all donated and the last one was I think a tablecloth originally but I took it apart and quilted it as it will get more use as a quilt.
Ulla said that she was sorry not to have done more and yet she sent some wonderful donations which were much appreciated and very unexpected as she lives on the other side of the world in Finland. I love the way that Blog Land allows us to connect and share our quilting stories.
I'm glad that I took some time off for family after the last quilt delivery as I feel renewed and ready to tackle to pile of tops and blocks again. On my other blog I'm also going to feature some of the blogs I read in case you need some inspiration over the holiday season. I'm going to Hong Kong and China with our youngest daughter and will document our travels on my other blog. I'll post more photos here when I return and get back into production again. I also need to add an update on the total number of donations for the year.
I hope you're all enjoying the holidays and taking time for family and you.
Hugs, Jan Mac

One More QAYG Quilt

2011-11-20T22:23:00.000-08:00

I finished off another QAYG quilts from donated blocks today and will be delivering all the quilts and Christmas items on this Wednesday. I still have to donate about 6 quilts to the local Women's Refuge for Christmas and then I've decided to take a short break from the donation quilts.
I have been working on them for so many year that I have many of my own projects and UFOs to finish and I've decided that I need to clean out some of my shelves to make room for new projects. Some of these UFOs will most likely be donated as well but it's time to have a play with my own new ideas as well as finishing off my half-done projects.
I'll be posting my progress on my other blog and will still show donation quilts here when I have more finished.
Many thanks for all your support with these quilt projects.
Jan Mac

Donations from Kyabram

2011-11-17T03:16:00.000-08:00

I met up with the lovely Lesley Lowe again yesterday and she brought over lots of wonderful donations for the needy for Christmas. She also brought these two lovely quilts to be donated and they will brighten the lives of two little children with a warm hug.
Cat also asked if I need more financial donations and I know that this is an expensive time with Christmas etc coming very soon so I have enough money at the moment thank you very much for asking. I may use some of the donated money to buy a few toys for boys as they are harder to make things for and I don't want them to miss out. I'll post if and when I purchase them.
Many thanks for all your help.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Two for Tuesday

2011-11-15T01:31:00.000-08:00

I'm still plugging away on finishing off more QAYG quilts as gifts for the needy for Christmas. As the weather warms up here I'm hoping they will be happy to receive a quilt even though they may not be able to use it too often for a few months.
Thanks to everyone for making and donating QAYG blocks for these projects.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Time for Three

2011-11-09T21:50:00.000-08:00

Having been away camping for 10 days or so it's put me behind a bit with production of quilts but I have managed to finish off another 3 QAYG quilts to be donated to the needy for Christmas.
It's been very handy to still have some QAYG blocks on hand to make more quilts in short time.
I hope you're not sick of seeing these QAYG quilts. Luckily I'm not sick of making them! LOL!
I hope to get a few more finished before I deliver them so I'd better get back to work again.
Hugs and thanks for stopping by.
Jan Mac

Two By Two

2011-10-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

I love the way the darker joining strips make the colours in the QAYG blocks really zing. They look better than the photos show as they were taken when it was very overcast outside.
I'm steadily working my way through the donated QAYG blocks and finished these two yesterday and I have another two almost finished to show very soon.
I also made some fairy skirts to be donated as Christmas gifts to needy families and they are shown on my other blog.
Christmas is almost here and the rest of the year will just fly past with all the activities associated with the festive season so I'm trying to get as many quilts finished as possible while I still have time.
More to show soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Top Day

2011-10-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

I've had some beautiful quilt tops donated recently and I'm getting them quilted as quickly as possible so that they can be given to people needing some comfort at Christmas time. Even though it will be too warm for quilts to be used I know that the recipients will appreciate the gift of a hug.
The first top was made and donated by Gina W. (Vic) and it will be a lovely quilt for a man as it's often hard to get enough quilts for boys and men as most of us have plenty of florals and pastels colours in our stashes.
Sue V. (Vic) also been very busy again and has donated 7 beautiful quilt tops and the pretty floral quilt is the first one I've finished so far.
The last quilt was made from donated string-pieced blocks sent from a blog supporter in Holland and I have enough to put together for another quilt too. I was thinking of adding a border to this top but it was large enough without and I didn't have anything which looked good enough so a bright binding has finished it off.
I have more to work on today so I hope to have more finished quilts to show very soon.
Have a good day and a very big thank you to everyone who has helped with these quilt appeals.
Hugs, Jan Mac

QAYG Quilts Again

2011-10-20T01:04:00.000-07:00

I have had a few family distractions this week and so far have only managed to finish off two more QAYG quilts.
They were made from a mixture of donated blocks and will bring comfort and warmth to a needy person.
I also received a donation of more quilt tops so I plan to spend some time quilting and finishing them into quilts to donate.
Thank you all for your ongoing support of these quilt appeals.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Quilt Rescue

2011-10-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

I was very lucky that Gina W. from Victoria, found this lovely Irish Chain quilt in her local op (thrift) shop, It was complete and had been partially quilted with the lover's knot in 4 of the plain part of the blocks. Another lover's knot had been commenced and they were all hand quilted. I pulled out that part of the quilting and as it was already thread-basted, I completed the quilting on my domestic sewing machine. I just did a simple cross hatch and then found some matching fabric for binding.
It's been washed now to freshen it up and is drying before joining the next shipment of quilts.
Thanks so much Gina for your keen eye in finding this quilt. It didn't take long to finish it by machine and it is now a lovely quilt for a person in need of comfort. I was very happy to play my part in this quilt rescue and I'm sure it will be loved by its new owner.
More finishes coming here soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Quilt For a Boy

2011-10-15T01:31:00.000-07:00

This lovely quilt was a donated top and I think it came from the lovely Lesley Lowe of Kyvalley Quilters. It is a simple pattern but looks lovely with fireman prints in the blue squares. I have family commitments this weekend but hope to get some more tops quilted next week.
Many thanks for donating so many lovely tops, blocks and QAYG blocks which have helped make life a little easier for the needy.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Tops on Thursday

2011-10-12T19:58:00.000-07:00

I've managed to get another three donated tops quilted and they are in the pile for delivery.
I'm off to paid work now so will chat more later.
Hugs Jan Mac

QAYG Anyone?

2011-10-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

Two more QAYG quilts in vibrant colours to warm a needy person. It's always surprising how different they can look when a different colour is used for the joining strips. Even using blocks donated by many different quilters can all be made to play nicely when the joining strips are added.
Tomorrow will be a day for quilting more tops so check back soon for some different quilts.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Slower Week

2011-10-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

I don't seem to have done as much this week with family commitments etc taking precedence. I also had trouble with my sewing machine and I was worried that it was overheating so I had DH take it apart and do some more maintenance. I'm very lucky that he's a techie as I don't like to be without my machine for too long.
I did manage to finish one QAYG quilt and also put another top together from donated string pieced blocks. The blocks were made by Dini Negrijn-Peren from Holland and they are in lovely bright colours. I have enough for two quilts if I add borders and I thought it would be a good way to use the blocks and make more quilts for the needy.
I hope to get more done next week when the school holidays are over and will have more to show you very soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

More Bits and Pieces Finished

2011-10-04T01:37:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with family commitments but have also managed to get some more things finished and ready to donate to the needy.
The first quilt is a Rail Fence pattern and the blocks were made QAYG which meant that they were easy to put together. Sixteen of the blocks were donated as well as more of the fabric so I made enough blocks to make a quilt of 24 blocks.
I also quilted another donated top which came all the way from Holland and was made by Marijke Kleefman. Marijke made and donated 8 quilt tops which was incredibly generous.
I also finished off a crocheted baby blanket as well as another crocheted blanket large enough for a single (twin) bed. The boxer shorts are made from the fabric I had leftover after making some PJ pants for my DD. I'll buy a top to match them and possible stitch a matching piece of fabric to the top to tie them in together as a Christmas gift fpr an 8 yr old girl. I have more things to finish off soon.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Mixture of QAYG Quilts

2011-09-27T04:53:00.000-07:00

I've made good progress so far this week despite paid work and family commitments. I've been combining different sets of donated QAYG blocks and the last quilt was made from 2 sets of blocks from different donations. The lighter green blocks off-set the darker blocks and it looks much brighter than the photo shows.
The second quilt was made from a set of different blocks which didn't really fit with any of the other blocks I had to work with and looks much better on a bed than it does on the wall and will keep someone warm and comforted.
The first quilt was made from various blocks made with kid's fabric as the feature. The quilts are much prettier and brighter than the photos show as it was getting dark when I took the photos.
I'm hoping to get more finished tomorrow as well as quilting more donated tops, so check back soon for more finishes.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Six For the Week

2011-09-23T01:55:00.000-07:00

I guess I should wait until Sunday to give the week's total but as we have family staying I may not get more finished this week. I've had a productive week so far and manged to finish off another QAYG quilt as well as quilting two more donated tops.
Thanks to everyone for commenting on the last post. The lovely quilter who donated all the QAYG blocks for the quilt I mentioned had no need to apologize for sending 34 instead of 35 blocks as I can make the quilts from however many blocks people care to donate. Mixing and matching is easy to do and the sashing and binding fabric ties them all together.
I've been making more quilts for kids using sets of 24 blocks set 4x6 and using bright kids prints so really anything goes if you have time and fabric scraps to make some blocks.
Many thanks for all your help.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Can You See It?

2011-09-21T02:15:00.000-07:00

Three more QAYG quilts finished in the last few days and the first one was made from a set of 34 lovely bright blocks. I added one other donated block to make it up to a quilt of 35 blocks. Can you see the block which wasn't part of the original set? It's the 6th block down on the right hand side. I had trouble finding it too so I think it plays nicely with the rest of the blocks.
The other quilts were also made from donated sets of blocks and the different colours make them all look diffferent, from pastels to brights or darker masculine colours.
I also quilted some tops today and will show more photos when they are bound.
Many thanks for all the donated QAYG blocks which makes it so much quicker to get finished quilts out to needy people.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Just One More

2011-09-17T00:14:00.000-07:00

I didn't get quilt tops finished yesterday as I'd planned but I did get a start on making some Christmas gifts for the needy and they are shown on my other blog. However I did manage to finish off this lovely QAYG quilt made from a set of donated blocks predominantly in green.
I also added the knitting pattern for the mini Christmas stockings to my sidebar on both blogs in case anyone is interested in making a few to donate.
I have paid work tomorrow but hope to finish off some more gifts and of course more quilts on Monday.
Have a fun weekend.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Back to Quilting

2011-09-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

It's been good to get back to the sewing machine and get more QAYG quilts finished as the need seems to be ongoing in many communities. These bright and cheerful quilts may be the one bright part of the Christmas celebrations and I'm getting as many finished as possible in case they are needed as Christmas gifts for the needy.
I'm also working on making some soft toys and hope to have some finished to show soon. The spring weather is beautiful at the moment and it feels like summer is on its way again so I'm going to finish some donated tops tomorrow before it gets too hot to work the sewing machine all day.
Before we know it Christmas will be here so if you have some time and some yarn or fabric scraps perhaps you'd like to make a soft toy or a mini Christmas stocking to donate for the needy. I have the instructions on my other blog at Sew Many Quilts Too Little Time.
Even just one would bring a smile to someone's face at Christmas. The mini stockings will be filled with lollies for the needy and will most likely be the only gift they will receive.
Many thanks, Jan Mac

A Letter From Christchurch

2011-09-13T02:41:00.000-07:00

Just before I left for my 4 week trip away I had sent off more quilts to Christchurch, New Zealand, and Miriam had distributed them for me.
I received a lovely letter from one of the recipients with two photos and she has given me permission to post them here so you can see some of what the residents of Christchurch have endured and how much the gift of quilts have meant to them.

Dear Jan,

My name is Elsa and I’ve just received one of your beautiful quilts (it might have been made by Doreen, as her name is also written on there).

I work in the church office, so I’ve seen many of the quilts arriving and being given out to people affected by the quakes.

I was crushed in my car by a falling wall when the February earthquake happened. I spent two nights in hospital and have almost fully recovered from my injuries. I am very blessed compared to a lot of people. My husband and I got married in October and had planned to wait a little longer to have children, but changed our minds after the accident. I’m now 5 months pregnant and your quilt is such a beautiful gift. I can’t imagine how many hours must go into creating something like that. It is a real work of art!

I hope you don’t mind that I asked for a way to write and thank you. People around the world have been extremely kind and thoughtful and generous towards our city. It often makes me a bit teary. It is hard for us to receive things and not be able to thank the people involved, as often we don’t know who they are. It really does mean so much, all the little gifts adding up, and the knowledge that strangers are thinking of us with no desire to be repaid.

I pray that God will bless you for your kindness. Our family will treasure the quilt forever.

I have attached a couple of photos so that you can see just one of the lives that you have impacted with your gifts.

With love,

Elsa Wright

It's hard to see but that is actually Elsa's car which has been crushed during the earthquake and it is a miracle that she survived. Elsa, thank you for your beautiful letter and for allowing me to share it with all the generous quilters from around the world who have contributed to the donation of quilts.
As you can see, the quilts are reaching the people affected by the dreadful natural disasters experienced by so many people and the gift of a quilt is especially appreciated by the recipients. Now I'm back home from my travels I'm busy getting more quilts finished and will have photos to show tomorrow.
Hugs and thanks, Jan Mac

Quilts for Christchurch

2011-08-13T02:11:00.000-07:00

The first 3 quilts are on their way to Christchurch and they were made and donated by Myra Kerr from Canberra. The lovely fabric and patterns will bring comfort and warmth and hopefully raise the spirits of their new owners.
The last 2 quilts were made from donated tops and I finished them today so they are on their way to Qld for people who have been displaced by the floods earlier this year.
Now I need to go over my travel papers and make sure I have everything. I'll be posting about my travels on my other blog when I get internet access but won't be posting here until I return and finish more quilts to donate.
Many thanks for all your help with these quilt appeals.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Four More for Qld

2011-08-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

I managed to quilt another 4 donated tops and these lovely quilts are now packed and ready to go to Qld tomorrow night with the next delivery. I also have boxes of knitted garments, and fleecy blankets and they will be given to people who are homeless due to the floods in the Ipswich area.
I should have packed but there's still time tomorrow so I have another quilt almost finished and I've just made another backing so with some luck I should get a few more finished before I have to meet the truck with all the boxes.
It was a lovely sunny day today and winter is almost over here but the nights are still cold and will be through most of spring too. It will be lovely to have some summer weather in Italy next week and hopefully it won't be too hot while we're sightseeing in Pompeii and Rome. I guess I'd better pack first thing tomorrow before I get distracted by finishing off more quilts or I may not be ready for the flight on Sunday morning.
Take care, Jan Mac

Time for Two More

2011-08-10T02:19:00.000-07:00

As you may have read on my other blog, in 4 more 4 more days time I will be off to Italy for a 4 week train trip through the Alps. It's been a busy time making all the plans and selecting which sites to see and the planning is almost done now and we will soon be able to enjoy the trip.
I'm also busy finishing off the last few quilts and packing boxes with items to send to Qld. I did deliver all of the quilts for the kids' camp so I won't be under pressure when we return. It will be a big change to go from our cold winter to Italy's summer weather and we
re looking forward to being tourists in some beautiful countries. I hope to keep my other blog updated with out travels, depending on internet access. I should have one or tow more quilts to show before we leave too.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts From ACT and NSW

2011-08-07T02:01:00.000-07:00

I received more beautiful quilts this week from Canberra as well as a financial donation from Tanya Stockton in NSW, Mra Kerr and Robyn McPherson, which will be a big help towards costs of postage.
Myra Kerr and her husband dropped in with 3 wonderful quilts from Robyn McPherson as well as 8 beautiful quilts that Myra had made. Three of them will be going to Christchurch and the rest will be going to flood affected communities.
The last quilt shown was made from a donated top and it will be going to a group which helps under-priviledged children. I posted off another 14 quilts to the camp for abused kids so now I've started on some for the next delivery to Qld and the next camp for kids.
Many thanks for all the donations, Jan Mac

Donated Quilts Arrive

2011-08-03T02:03:00.000-07:00

These first two beautiful quilts were made and donated by Ann Gibson all the way from Scotland. Ann read about the quilt appeal on the UK magazine Popular Patchwork site and very kindly sent these beautiful quilts to comfort people who have been affected by our recent natural disasters. The lovely colours will warm their hearts as well.
The third quilt was made and donated by Jacqy Wong (Vic) and she cleverly constructed the quilt in a QAYG style, and it will be welcomed by its new owner.
I've had a very busy week and have delivered 40 more quilts to a group which helps the homeless in Melbourne as well as most of the quilts requested by the camp for kids. I just need to finish off another 6 and then I can start collecting for the next delivery to Qld.
Thank you so much for all your help to warm and comfort the needy with our quilts.
Hugs, Jan Mac

So Far This Week...

2011-07-27T04:19:00.000-07:00

We had a problem with our internet connection for a few days and it's amazing how much work you can get done when you spend less time on the computer. I'm mainly in spring cleaning mode at the moment but I also managed to finish quilting 3 more donated tops as well as finishing another QAYG quilt. They will all be going to the camp for abused kids apart from the third quilt which will be going to Qld for someone who lost their home in the Qld floods.
The next shipments are for Qld and the kids' camp in Vic, and then I have another couple I'm finishing off for Christchurch where they are currently having snow.
I'm sure that wherever the quilts are distributed they will bring warmth and comfort. Thanks to everyone who has contributed with donations of quilts, tops, QAYG blocks or money for postage/batting. Every little bit helps others who are in need.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Today's Finishes

2011-07-22T02:11:00.000-07:00

The first quilt shown has come all the way from Finland. Ulla Rantakari very generously made and donated this lovely quilt and it will be so warm and comforting that the recipient will love it.
The next QAYG quilt was made from donated blocks and the last 4 quilts shown were all made from donated tops.
Now I have to find more boxes which are large enough to hold the quilts for distribution.
Thanks to all of your generous donations we will be warming many people with these quilts. I hope to have more to show in the next day or so.
Hugs Jan Mac

More Quilts for Kids

2011-07-21T01:41:00.000-07:00

I met up with the lovely Lesley Lowe again and the Kyabram quilters have been very busy again and have sent over 3 finished quilts as well as many other items which will appear on my other blog. These first 3 quilts are lovely and bright and will bring comfort and warmth to children who are attending a camp for abused children. I've been asked to supply 35 quilts and these are helping to bring the number needed closer to being reached.
I also received a lovely quilt donated by Mary Bargery (NSW) as well as a lovely one from Dallas Neumeyer (Tas) and they will be very much appreciated for their warmth as well as their comforting hug.
Thank you so much for all your help with these quilt appeals.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts for Kids

2011-07-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

The first two QAYG quilts have been made for a group of 35 kids who will be attending a camp for abused/neglected children. The donated QAYG blocks are so bright and colourful that they are sure to brighten their lives.
The last quilt is also going to be donated to a group which helps adults deal with past abuse. A gift from the heart, using blocks made by quilters from around the world will give them a warm hug from all of us.
Also Cat has shown the quilts I sent over to her for distribution in Christchurch for earthquake affected families so check out her blog for an update.
More to come very soon.
Jan Mac

Oz Comfort Quilts on TV

2011-07-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

I received the first lovely quilt shown here from Kaite Matilda in NSW. It is a lovely bright and fun quilt and will be going to a child who attends a camp at the end of the year, for neglected/abused children.
The next quilt was made from a donated top and batting and will comfort a lady with its pretty floral fabrics.
The last two quilts are more QAYG quilts made from donated blocks.
Thanks to all of you who have generously made and sent QAYG blocks, we have been able to help over 400 people with a quilt so far this year. I have another box of crocheted blankets, knitted hats and scarves and quilts which are packed and ready to post off to another group which helps the homeless in Melbourne and surrounds.
Thank you for stopping by and for your continued support.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Check out the link to a TV segment on the quilts given out to the homeless in Brisbane yesterday, as shown on my other blog.

Steaming Ahead

2011-07-12T02:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a good feeling to get back to the quilting again and after a good sleep I've been steaming ahead with more finishes.
These QAYG quilts will be going to a group which helps people who have been abused. Some are children, teens and even adults so I'm making them mainly in larger sizes so the children can grow into them. The minimum size I make is 40"x 60" and mostly they are 50'x70" so they will also cover an adult.
I also make some 60"x80" too for the larger men and boys. I love the different looks that the colour of the sashing strips can give to the blocks.
Thanks to all the generous donations of QAYG blocks I've been able to quickly get some more quilts finished.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Just One More...

2011-07-10T03:03:00.000-07:00

...and a blanket. As I was busy with our DD last week, sewing clothes for her and teaching her the finer points of dressmaking, I didn't have time to finish many quilts. She doesn't get home often so we were very busy sewing as much as possible.
I did manage to finish off one more QAYG quilt to donate as well as a cot quilt for my new great-nephew and the photo is shown on my other blog.
I also managed to finish off another crocheted blanket to donate and I'm currently knitting another scarf which should be finished soon.
Now that the festivities and dressmaking are finished for now, I plan to have a busy week finishing off more quilts to donate. At least as soon as I catch up on my sleep. LOL
I hope to have more to show you tomorrow.
Hugs, Jan Mac

One QAYG

2011-07-06T02:34:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with family commitments and teaching our youngest DD to make some of her clothes so not much quilting happening here.
I did manage to finish off one QAYG quilt and hope to get another one done soon. It's been fun to have our DD home for a week's holiday and she's so enjoying learning how to make her clothes that it's great to be able to pass on my knowledge.
I'll be back to normal quilting duties very soon and will have more quilts to show then.
Stay warm as it's freezing here at the moment, Jan Mac

Quilts from Victoria

2011-06-30T23:32:00.000-07:00

These two fabulous quilts were made and donated by Lynne Baker from Victoria. The colours are so vibrant in the QAYG quilt blocks and it is a lovely quilt for a male or female. The soft colours of the other quilt will be lovely for a lady and I'm sure they will be treasured.
I also received a donation of $20 from Helen of NSW and this has helped pay for postage of sending quilts to Christchurch yesterday.
Thank you all for your support with these quilt appeals as it does mean that we are able to help more people.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts From Kyabram

2011-06-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

These beautiful quilts were all made and donated by Kyabram quilters and delivered by Lesley Lowe. They have been very busy and generously donated 9 finished quilts as well as some more quilt tops and many lovely knitted items shown on my other blog.
Yesterday I also posted off another 6 large quilts to Cat to distribute to the families of Christchurch who are still facing many challenges due to the recent earthquakes.
These beautiful quilts will also bring comfort and warmth to their new owners and I really appreciate so much generous help and donations.
Thanks you all for your continued support.
Hugs, Jan Mac

A Special QAYG

2011-06-27T02:18:00.000-07:00

This was donated as a set of blocks and using the same strips in the middle of each block gives them a different look to the QAYG blocks I usually work with. It is a really pretty quilt and the dark navy strips between the blocks makes the colours stand out.
This week will be busy with family as my father is having surgery and staying with us for a few days afterwards so it may be a case of taking hand work to fill in the time.
I also have a box of quilts to post off to Christchurch and the flights have resumed now that the volcanic ash has cleared so
it will be good to have them on their way to Cat for distribution to families in need of comfort.
I'd better get back to the sewing machine while I can tonight.
Hugs, Jan Mac

The End of the Week.

2011-06-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

The first three quilts shown were made from donated tops and will be going to either Qld or Christchurch. I have a pile of quilts to pits off to Cat for Christchurch but the continued volcanic ash cloud has meant that flights to NZ have been cancelled so I'll post them off as soon as they resume flying again.
The last two beautiful QAYG quilts were made and donated by quilting groups. The first one was made by quilters from Bathurst (NSW) and Kaite very kindly post it down to me for distribution to Qld.
The last quilt was made and donated by Maureen Hume and the Camberley U3A Patchwork Quilters from Surrey in the UK. Maureen wrote : We have had great fun in working these quilts; some have already started to make these for their own homes. We are indeed grateful that you have shared your skills with us...
Whereas I am grateful for all the willing help from quilters around the world Maureen, so if I've been able to pay you back by making it possible to learn new skills then it's a win-win situation.
I hope you are all having fun making these QAYG blocks and using up scraps of batting and fabric which can then be used to make quilts to help others.
Hugs, Jan Mac

More Quilts for Christchurch

2011-06-22T02:57:00.001-07:00

The earth tremors are continuing in Christchurch and the residents report their anxiety in trying to rebuild their homes as well as keeping their children safe during these ongoing tremors. A news report on my other blog gives more details.
In the meantime all I can do is quilt and send them over to Cat for distribution to families in Christchurch who are living in appalling conditions with no heating and disruptions to power.
The first quilt here was made from a donated top and backing. I also found some binding in the box of donations which worked well with the colours in the top.
The second quilt was made from blocks donated by Cat and both of these quilts are lovely and large and the bright colours will be loved by teens.
The last quilt was also made from a donated top and will bring comfort and warmth to its new owner. I quilted one more top but still have the binding to finish. So far I've finished 6 quilts for Christchurch in the past 2 days and will be sending a box off to Cat for distribution this week.
Many, many thanks for all your help with these quilt projects.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts For Christchurch

2011-06-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

The first quilt is the remaining quilt I was working on for abused children. An organization holds a camp for abused and neglected children aged 6 to 12 and I've been asked to provide quilts for all 35. I have started working on them now although they won't be needed until Oct as I have a few other commitments coming up and I want to make sure they are done in time. This was a donated top of a jungle print and will be loved by a child.
The next quilt was made from QAYG blocks donated for Christchurch. The blocks were made as a set and sent by Sharon of Lismore (NSW) and will go into the pile of quilts ready to post to Christchurch. Thank you very much to the lovely readers who have donated some money via the Donate button as it means that I will be able to post more quilts off very soon. I'm also putting some money aside to pay for more batting as I am working my way through my supplies very quickly when quilting donated tops.
The last lovely quilt was sent by Patricia Thornhill from the UK. It is a lovely feminine quilt in pastel pinks and will be going to Qld with the next delivery where it will brighten the room of a young girl.
Thank you all for your help with getting the quilts delivered to where they are needed. Kaite tells me that they had snow in Bathurst (NSW) today and winter has certainly arrived here too.
Stay warm everyone and keep quilting.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts For Kids and Thanks

2011-06-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

These are yesterday's finishes and I have one more just waiting for binding. The first two quilts were made from donated tops and the first one was also donated with backing and binding so it was very easy to finish off. It's so colourful that it is sure to brighten the life and comfort and abused child.
The second quilt is a fun quilt with quirky robot and space ship fabric and will be loved by a young boy.
The last quilt is the ever-fun QAYG and this one will be going to a child in Christchurch as they try to recover from more earthquakes.
Many, many thanks for the donations for postage. I have enough to start sending more quilts to Christchurch and I'll be posting more off next week.
Now we're off to a wedding in Melbourne so I'm taking my knitting with me for any free moments I may have.
I'll be back tomorrow.
Have a fun day. Hugs Jan Mac

Can You Help Please?

2011-06-16T16:35:00.001-07:00

This is just a short note to ask advice about how to raise money for costs of sending quilts for Oz Comfort Quilts as well as a way to raise money for costs of toiletries etc. for the homeless.
I am hoping someone can help me to know how I can raise money via the blog.
I was going to add a Donate button which will direct any donations via Paypal but I didn't proceed as I heard that Paypal can freeze the money if you aren't a registered non-profit organization and you need to raise $250 before you can access any funds.
I only want to set up a donate button so that people can just donate their change or small amounts as this would be a huge help and these small amounts would add up to enough to cover postage costs of quilts to places such as Christchurch. It costs about $14 per quilt and this doesn't sound like much but when I send so many quilts it certainly adds up.
I don't like to ask for money normally as people have already spent money in sending the QAYG blocks etc but as I fund all the other costs, apart from donations, it can become an expensive process.
Any advice re Paypal or whether or not I should just provide my bank details via email for direct payment into a special account, would be very helpful.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Thankyous and Kids' Quilts

2011-06-16T00:44:00.000-07:00

This week will be all about the Kids as I have been asked for 35 quilts for kids aged 6 to 12 and I also want to send more kid's quilts to Christchurch as they are having a very challenging and frightening time at the moment. You can check out the NZ news on my other blog.
The 35 quilts will be given to kids when they attend a camp for neglected/abused kids to be held at the end of the year. I want to get them done early to make sure I have enough for them, especially as I will be away for 4 weeks from mid August.
The two quilts in kid's prints were made from donated tops and the QAYG quilts were made from donated blocks. One of the blue sashed quilts will be going to Christchurch and I have some more part-finished too. With the earthquakes of the past few days there are thousands of households without heating again and I know that the quilts will be needed more than ever now they are in winter.

I also received some lovely letters of thanks from some of the people who received our quilts in Rochester.
Kaye wrote: Rochester Community House has received many thank yous for the quilts in person and by phone. They are certainly being appreciated by the recipients- even more so now that it has turned cold. We still have many people not back in their homes yet or without floor coverings, so the gift of a quilt brings some comfort and warmth.

Kaye also enclosed 5 letters of thanks from other residents of Rochester:
"Thank you for the beautiful quilts for my children. They will be used and treasured"- from Ian.

"Thank you so much for suggesting my name to receive a comfort quilt. I love it so much and use it while I knit in the evenings- after a difficult 18 months the flood was the last straw- so the quilt truly is a "comfort" quilt. It was so kind of you and very much appreciated"- Denise.

"Dear Jan, I received one of your beautiful quilts and I love it. You must have spent hours making them. We are still not back in our house and never want to go through another flood. People from all over the place have been wonderful. All except the insurance companies. Well once again thank you very much and I will treasure my quilt"- Maureen.

"Thank you very much for the beautiful quilt Pam received. As you are aware Pam is now a resident of the Rochester Hostel. The quilt is permanently on her bed and looks lovely. Pam's unit was inundated with water, fortunately she was able to gain a place in care"- Wyn.

"Dear Jan, Just a note to thank you for the beautiful patchwork quilt, that you had made, that I received from Rochester Community House. It is so kind of you to make quilts for people and I appreciated your quilt. It is lovely. Thank you once again"- Mary.

I wanted to share these letters with you because you are all part of the Oz Comfort Quilts team and we couldn't possible reach and comfort as many people with the quilts without all of your very generous donations and help.
Now Christchurch is in need of more help so please consider making a quilt and posting it off to Cat at :

For Christchurch

PO Box 13529

Onehunga

Auckland

NEW ZEALAND
If everyone made and sent just one quilt imagine how many children and adults would be feeling a little warmer and happier in Christchurch. I have amended my blog details again and as I have used almost 300 QAYG blocks in the past 10 days I am happy to accept more donated blocks, tops etc as the need is great and I am working on getting more quilts finished and donated quickly.
God bless, Jan Mac

Quilts to Queensland

2011-06-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

After our lovely break of a few days camping it was time to get back to work yesterday. I had already been packing quilts for distribution and thank to some serious sewing I'd managed to finish off more to add to them. The truck is on its way to Qld again and I spoke with one of the lovely people who does so much good work in distributing the items for me as well as for many others.
I sent up 43 quilts- mostly at least single bed size, 20 scarves, 101 knitted hats in various sizes, 6 SB crocheted blankets, 3 knitted sweaters for children, as well as many tote bags which will be used to give out the items to people who have nowhere to store them.
I'm also including a report form the lovely people who have been helping to distribute the quilts and warm items in Qld.

Just a quick message to let you know that Ipswich Streetlinks day went well and the homeless were dumbstruck by everything that we had for them to choose from, especially your quilts!

Some of your quilts we had kept back and on Friday we went to a place called HOPE Care. The lady who runs it (voluntarily) rang Friday morning absolutely desperate for blankets, quilts etc for their residents. It is a caravan park style with little units, the majority of the residents are either domestic violence victims, formerly homeless, very needy families and some recently released prisoners. The police/parole officers place them there, as they know they will be well looked after. Anyway we were chatting with her and a few of the residents were around. There was one lady, newly arrived from interstate , the police/welfare put her and her child on a bus to Brisbane, to get away from very bad domestic violence. She had left her partner a fair while ago, but didn't matter where they moved to, he found them and she got the same treatment, including holding her hands over open fires, stab wounds everywhere, plus the normal bashings etc etc. Her child has a serious illness and she was unable to stay at domestic violence shelters because there was no room for both of them. So for a few nights they slept in a park, until they were both assaulted. They spent a few days in hospital, then the police moved her to this caravan park under an assumed name. All they have is the clothes they have been wearing!! We knew there was a nice quilt or two of yours in the boxes, so my DH and I without any words spoken, just looked at each other and went through the boxes till we found two of your lovely quilts. When we handed them to the mum, she was speechless, started crying and so did the child. She couldn't believe that they were being GIVEN FREE OF CHARGE something so nice and what she knew would be warm!!! She asked us to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE thank the person who had made the beautiful quilts, so this is your thank you from both of them!! I don't even know her name, but after speaking with the manager for at least 2 hours, we will be back there very soon, when we have some more things to take for them. At present there are about 600 residents, not all of them are needy, but about 3/4 are, and about 1/4 0f them flood affected families.

Lorraine does so much for them, with very limited funds. We both came away from there just knowing we want to do more for Hope Centre!!

Just wish you could have seen the lady and her child's faces!!

They also got a beanie and scarf each and some other bits and pieces but they were just so appreciative of the quilts! Had to share this with you!

Hope you are keeping well, and keeping warm. Its COLD up here, can imagine what it is like down there!!

I wanted to share this lovely story with all of you who have been so supportive of these quilt appeals. Please know that we can make a difference to the lives of people who face many challenges every day because they don't have the normal thing we take for granted like a warm bed and a safe place to stay. I know that you will want to continue to help when you hear about these people so I will accept all items again and just have to sew a bit faster to get the quilts finished and out to where they are desperately needed.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help.
Love and hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts For Japan

2011-06-09T04:35:00.000-07:00

Two more QAYG quilts finished off today before we take a few days break on a camping trip. I also posted off 2 quilts to Japan, 1 was a kid's quilt and the other was a QAYG quilt in more subdued colours. These two quilts will most likely be going to Qld to people affected by the floods. I found some blocks which were predominantly purple and used a paler sashing and on the other quilt I used a red, green and black print for the sashing. I'd bought a bolt of this Christmas fabric very cheaply some years ago and when it's cut up into sashing strips the print provides a nice contrast with the lighter coloured blocks.
Combining blocks from many different donors has meant that they are colourful and will brighten someone's life.
Many thanks for your help and donations.
Hugs, Jan Mac

There's More

2011-06-08T02:00:00.000-07:00

I managed to finish off another 3 QAYG quilts today so I'm on roll and the pile of blocks is going down very nicely. I see no point in stockpiling the quilts when there is such a demand for them so I've been packing boxes and getting them ready to send off.
I had a huge box packed with quilts and ready to post to a group which helps many disadvantaged groups but it weighed too much to send via the post. I'll have to send it in two boxes instead which is fine but I decided to stay home and finish off more quilts rather than venture out into the cold today so a trip to the post office is on the list of jobs for tomorrow.
In the meantime I have another QAYG quilt almost finished and as I'm going camping for a few days, it's good to get more blocks finished into quilts, before I take a break.
Thanks for stopping by, Jan Mac

I Love QAYG Quilts

2011-06-07T02:42:00.000-07:00

The photos aren't that great but a cloudy day meant not enough natural light to show the quilts. I made these yesterday and today and have another almost finished and ready to post off. I was given a roll of fabric which I think had problems with the fabric dying as it's a shaded fabric but the pattern doesn't seem to be consistent so it's not that attractive. However it does very well as the sashing strips and binding for these quilts and it's very easy using the same fabric as I don't have to change the thread colours either.
I really love working with all the donated QAYG blocks as it's a very quick way for me to make quilts and allows all the donors to use up some surplus scraps. As soon as I get a few more made I'll be ready to accept more blocks again. If you don't want to hold onto them you can send them now as the numbers are moving down in the box of squares.
I'll be sending off more boxes of quilts very soon which will make room for more finishes.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts Donated

2011-06-02T02:25:00.000-07:00

These beautiful quilts were made and donated by Kyvalley Quilters (Vic) and delivered by Lesley Lowe this week. They are lovely kid's quilts and will soon be on their way to Qld for kids who have been displaced by the floods. Lesley very kindly delivered the quilts to Rochester for me this week and I had a lovely letter of thanks from the community house as well as an email from Kaye who is helping to distribute them. The people who receive them are very grateful for their warmth and will treasure them.
I also received a lovely letter from a lady in Theodore (Qld) who received one of the quilts some weeks ago, after the flooding of their town.
I now have plenty of QAYG squares and tops to work with as well as knitting yarn for beanies and scarves so I'm requesting no more donations other than finished items please, until I have time to catch up with some of the works in progress. Many thanks for all your help.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts Coming and Going

2011-05-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

I finished off another 3 quilts so far this week and they will soon be on the way to Qld to people who have been displaced by the floods. Two of them are for children and will bring some colour to their lives. I'm also packing more boxes of quilts to head off to Qld next week or so, when the truck is available again. Unfortunately it broke down today so I wasn't able to send the quilts this week. At least it gives me time to make more to send.
I also gave another 16 quilts to Rochester yesterday and Lesley Lowe very kindly delivered them for me. She also brought over the lovely child's quilt shown in the last photo.
I also heard from one of the ladies who is distributing the quilts via the community centre.
She said "I had saved a large bed quilt (from your last lot of quilts) for when I needed a bigger quilt - I had an elderly couple come in today who have just returned to their home on Wed - they are really feeling the cold, so I gave it to them - they were so pleased, tears & kisses all round - it was so nice to be able to help them".
It may be only a small donation of your time and scraps but the quilts we've made from the QAYG blocks have brought real comfort to the people who received them. I have one ready to send to Japan and also more on the way for Christchurch so there's lots of quilty comings and goings at the moment.
More to come, Jan Mac

Quilts for the Homeless

2011-05-28T04:31:00.000-07:00

I managed to finish off a few more quilts despite having a very busy week with paid work. Now that the nights are so cold it's been inspiring me to keep finishing off quilts so I can send as many as possible to Qld for the next day for the homeless to receive assistance which will be in Ipswich the first week of June.
I'm hoping to get the quilts sent up by truck this coming week and the wonderful beanies and scarves that have been donated will also be much appreciated and given out with the quilts and blankets. I almost have another crocheted blanket finished and then pile of wool is decreasing. I also have finished more scarves so will post photos of them on my other blog soon.
In the meantime I've included a report on the previous day to help the homeless held in Brisbane a week or so ago.

INDIGENOUS ITEMS....went quickly and we kept getting asked all through the day if we had more. These are beanies, fingerless gloves and scarves knitted in black, red and yellow.

ADULT JUMPERS - Particularly for men.....we could have given away at least another 500 from what we had there!!

BLANKETS - As we expected blankets were in huge demand. But BIG blankets, not so much knee rugs. Once again, another 500 or so more BIG BLANKETS would not have gone amiss.

SOCKS/BED SOCKS - Could have used heaps more of them also. I was very surprised at how many asked if we had bed socks!!

OLDER CHILDREN JUMPERS - Once again, needed more than we had. Mainly from ages 6 upwards.

TOYS - Knitted/crocheted toys were as usual popular also.

TOILETRY BAGS - Please get the word out that we need more unused toiletries; especially face washers, combs, brushes, tooth paste, tooth brushes, deodorant.

I was told by one of the organisers from Brisbane City Council that the first "guesstimate" was around 1150 clients. The appreciation for what we do as a group is just so heartwarming. I wish you could all hear and see the words of astonishment, thanks, pure joy etc that come from those in need. There were lots of "new" homeless there yesterday, (quite a lot because of the flooding in January - no insurance etc etc) and lots of "hanging back" thinking we were selling things, until they were told our items were free of charge!
This year I felt there were more women and men in my own age group ie closer to 70 than 60 and I know how much I feel the cold. One volunteer approached me asking if we had men's jumpers because she had found an elderly man who was too embarrassed to come and look for himself. This made me think about how their self-esteem must be affected. We ran out of adult jumpers. I appreciate they take longer to knit and the materials cost more but I think I'm going to focus on doing more in future.

Grandparents, obviously down on their luck, were thrilled to find our wonderful array of toys (mostly knitted) to choose something from as gifts to grandchildren. Can you imagine being a grandparent whose poor financial situation doesn't allow you to give gifts to your grandchildren.

There seemed to be many more pregnant ladies than I'd noticed at previous days for the homeless. They seemed pleased to have such a large selection of baby clothing from which to choose.

It was upsetting when we couldn't provide a jumper for a sturdily built boy of about 10 who was so focused on making sure his baby sister had a hat and a toy that he didn't care about himself. There seemed to be far more children and their resilience is astounding. Despite adversity they smiled, chatted and had great manners. One sweet little girl of about 10 asked if she could take a beanie for a girlfriend who couldn't get there. It turned out her friend is 35 and they "camp" in the same place.
After hearing how quickly the large blankets, quilts and warm garments are snapped up it inspires me to use up what I have here and get more quits etc out to where they are very much needed.
Thank you so much for helping me to help these people who are struggling daily just to stay warm, dry and fed, particularly after the floods.
Love and thanks, Jan Mac

Quilts for Males

2011-05-24T03:44:00.000-07:00

I've been making some quilts for males from the donated QAYG blocks and although there are some flowers in the blocks they are not a main feature and the colours are more subdued.
The people who helped distribute the quilts for the bush fire survivors of Kinglake said that although I made quilts which would be suitable for males, mostly they just wanted a warm quilt and the colour or pattern didn't matter as much as the comfort of a quilt.
I still like to make some which are in more subdued colours for the males but if the nights are cold I don't think they'll get less sleep under a floral quilt as long as it's warm and long enough.
Still trying to get more done to send off to Qld as well as Rochester so I plan on finishing a lot more this week.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilt As you Go with a Difference

2011-05-22T01:59:00.000-07:00

I love all the different variations of QAYG and I how they can are a great way to use up scraps and strings. This morning I've been packing boxes of quilts ready to send them off to Qld as well as sorting through the piles of quilts for Rochester in Vic.
I've been working on completing more QAYG quilts too and the first one shown is a variation and was made by the Sussex Neighbourhood House (Vic) and sent by Vireya Jacquard. I love the stained glass effect with the black sashing and the use of colour to define the blocks and it is a lovely vibrant quilt.
The second quilt was made for a teenaged boy as they often want a quilt without a floral theme and I try to make quite a few of them so the boys can choose a quilt they like as well.
Hopefully the quilts will brighten up the beds of their new owners and keep them warm too.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Two More Today

2011-05-19T02:17:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to tidy up my sewing area and still finishing off quilts. I need to tidy more but also need to quilt more before the truck goes to Qld again in a week's time. I still have a few more quilts to bind and then I plan to work on the QAYG quilts again.
These two quilts were made from donated tops and it makes it very quick for me to get them done when I have batting and backing the right sizes so I'm quilting those ones first.
At the moment I'm working on more for Rochester (Vic) as well as for Ipswich (Qld) where they have been badly affected by the recent flood waters.
Then I need to finish and post off a couple for Japan and Christchurch.
It's a lovely way to stay warm when it's cold outside, surrounded by quilts and batting. and packing boxes of quilts for delivery.
More to come soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

So Far This Week...

2011-05-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

I've had a good start to the week and have finished off more quilts from donated tops and blocks. The first quilt was a donated cheater panel which looks lovely when quilted. The next two very large quilts were made and donated as tops with backing and binding from Maureen Hume of the UK and will soon be on their way to Qld for flood victims and the last quilt was made from donated string pieced blocks made by Margaret of Scotland. I made them into QAYG blocks by adding batting and backing and they were used with other larger 12" blocks from other donors.
All of these donations have made it much easier for me to get more quilts out there where they are needed.
Many thanks, Jan Mac

Sunday's Finishes

2011-05-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

These are all finished quilts made from donated tops. Someone had started to hand quilt the first quilt and it was donated with the backing and lovely wool batting. I quilted it on my domestic sewing machine as it was basted with thread and I cross hatch quilted it. I didn't remove the hand quilting and it's not noticeable that different types of quilting were used. The binding was a bit challenging as I had limited fabric left from the backing and I had to piece a couple of pieces to get enough width to make the binding at 2.5"; but that was what quilters did in the past so it's good enough for me too.

I'm sure that the new owner will be very glad that someone donated the quilt instead of leaving it languishing in the back of the cupboard. I must be a bit strange but I love to finish off other people's UFOs and then donating them where they will be loved.
Luckily I have plenty of places which are in need of quilts to comfort people. Today I was asked for 35 quilts in time for Christmas, for a group which supports children who have been abused and I think that's a great group to support.
If anyone has time to make a few pillowcases from kid's prints they would be great to keep the quilts in and brighten the kid's rooms and lives.
Back to the machine as I still have more to finish for the flooded areas in Qld and Vic.
Love, Jan Mac

Warm Hugs Sent Again

2011-05-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

I received more fabulous quilts again today and they will bring much comfort and warmth to the people who are living in challenging circumstances due to flood damage to their homes.
The first two beautiful quilts were made by Margo Barber (Tas) and the 2 QAYG quilts in blue's and beige's are from Maureen Hume and her patchwork group from the UK. The other lovely QAYG quilt was made by Vireya Jacquard and the staff of the Moreland City Council and the Sussex Neighbourhood house in Brunswick (Vic).
Thank you so much for supporting this quilt appeal and making life a little better for others.
Hugs , Jan Mac

I've Been Busy

2011-05-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely weekend with family for Mother's Day and have managed to finish off some more quilts as well. The first smaller quilt was donated and just needed the binding applied. I love the simple design and it's a striking quilt which someone will love. I've recently heard that many of the nursing homes (retirement homes) aren't using their heating as the costs are now too high so I'm going to be working on more lap sized quilts as well to make life a little easier for our elderly. Many of this type of accommodation was affected by floods in Qld so I know they will be useful.
The last 3 quilts were all made from donated tops and will be going out to either Qld or Vic for people who lost their homes in the floods. I've also been busy knitting and crocheting as I can work on those hand projects while chatting with visitors and the finished garments and blankets will be very welcome to the people who are currently homeless.
Thank you all for your generous donations and continued support.
Bye for now, Jan Mac

Today's Finishes

2011-05-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

I quilted two more quilts today and finished the binding on 4 so far as well as making backings for more tops.
The first two quilts were made from string pieced blocks made by Margaret in Scotland. I made some of them into QAYG blocks by backing them and adding batting and then joining them as for the other QAYG blocks. The second quilt I just joined the string pieced blocks together and quilted them after adding a backing and batting.
The third and fifth quilts were made from donated tops and the fourth quilt was made from donated blocks.
I'm working on getting more quilts finished and out of here before our winter really starts. The days are lovely and sunny here at the moment but our nights are getting much colder and the people living in homes which have been gutted due to flood damage will really appreciate the warmth of the quilts. I have more bindings to finish off and will show more photos of the finishes soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Donated Quilts

2011-05-04T02:00:00.000-07:00

I've received more beautiful quilts over the past couple of days and they will really bring comfort and warmth to their new owners. The first one was made by Maria Wilson (WA) and the colours are so lovely and fresh and the design is really effective. The following quilts were donated by Terri Pearson and quilters from Nowra and Gerringong (NSW). I love the pattern of the second quilt and I must take a close-up photo in case I have time to make one like it. The thrid quilt is beautifully hand quilted and the last quilt is a lovely one of flowers and their names are stitched on the blocks. They are all such lovely quilts and I know that they will be cherished.
Thank you all for your continued support.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts for Brisbane, Queensland

2011-05-02T01:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I boxed up more quilts and sent off 10 boxes containing 85 quilts, knitted blankets, beanies, scarves, baby and toddler clothes, and cloth tote bags . They are all on their way to Brisbane where they will be donated to people who have lost their homes in the recent floods in Qld. Thanks to a recent donation of 63 quilts from Gladys Schwarz and the Dimboola quilters I had enough quilts ready to send up with a truck and they were added to other quilts I'd finished as well as lots of knitted items I'd either received or made from donated yarn.
I plan on getting another shipment ready as soon as possible as the need is great and will be for some time.
I've included a report here from people who went out with the food vans which feed the homeless in Brisbane. They were there to give out donated warm garments of blankets, hats, scarves, gloves etc and the people were so grateful that the knitted garments were more popular than the food.
We arrived before the food vans but there were still lines of homeless waiting patiently for the food vans. Within minutes the blankets, knee rugs that we had taken were all gone, with beanies going nearly as fast.
We were able to speak with some of the homeless at length (when we weren't helping others find what they wanted), and heard some more amazing stories!! Some of them that were there last night are actually flood victims...most had been renting, lost all their possessions, but hard as they try, can't find more rental accommodation. One lady, her hubby and 2 children told us how they had applied for over....300...rental properties since the floods, and have been knocked back every time. They have "worn out their welcome" at relatives and friends, so now the four of them are living in their car, having to move on every time the police come along and tell them to move on!
All they wanted was to get a couple of rugs for the children...which fortunately we were able to do that and give them all some beanies, a jumper for each of the children etc. They were so grateful.

Another man in his mid 50's told us he had just had 2 days paid work, but he wouldn't get that money until end of next week. Every day he "knocks on doors" looking for more work. He had been living in a boarding house but when they put up the rent to $200 per week, just for a room, a bed with a "flea infested mattress", shared toilet and bathroom he couldn't afford it so moved out!! He was thrilled to be able to get a second hand sleeping bag that had been donated to us. He was going to go last night and sleep at the beach now he had a sleeping bag because "I don't like being around lots of people and all the parks, etc around Brisbane are just getting too crowded with homeless, so the beach is going to be great!!"...But all he really wants is a job that is for longer than a couple of days!! He is willing to do anything he said, even clean toilets, but he keeps getting knock backs even though he goes to 139 Club as often as he can so he can wash his clothes, have a shower etc, so he looks presentable to possible employers!

Then when I was helping one young man choose a beanie and some socks, he said that a lot of the homeless have been looking for us for weeks!! Sure enough, about 10 minutes later a new group walked in, came straight to where we were, didn't worry about the food that was on offer!!

Over 500 donations went within 3/4 hour!! Each and every one of them thanked us so much....but also told us "you will need heaps and heaps of blankets at Homeless Connect". A lot of them were "new to being homeless" and couldn't believe what we do and give away to "someone like me"!!
How blessed are we that we are able to bring comfort to so many people just by doing what we love- whether it's by making QAYG blocks, making a quilt top, making a complete quilt or knitting a beanie, or a scarf. Everything we make and donate is so appreciated that it makes it very easy for me to keep making the quilts and getting them out there where they are needed. Thank you all for working with me with this quilt appeal. The first 2 quilts shown are from the Kyvalley quilters and will be going out with the next delivery. The QAYG quilt was one I finished yesterday and is on its way to Brisbane and the last quilt is one of the 63 made and donated by the Dimboola quilters. Thank you all for all your support and I pray that the communities which have been so badly damaged by tornadoes in the US will also receive help and comfort from quilters there.
Love, Jan Mac

Quilts from Kyvalley and Girgarre

2011-04-30T04:06:00.000-07:00

Lesley Lowe delivered more finished quilts from the Kyvalley and Girgarre Patchworkers (Vic) when we met to exchange finished quilts for Rochester. These lovely quilts are all lap or cot sized and their lovely colours and warmth will bring comfort to those who lost their homes to the floods or earthquakes. There was also many more tops and knitting yarn donated from the group and they will be used up as soon as possible and then donated where they are needed.
Also just a reminder that if you donate to Oz Comfort Quilts I show any finished quilts here on this blog and the rest of the donations are shown on my other blog.
As the nights are getting much colder I know that more quilts will be needed so I'm keeping the sewing machine busy and getting more quilts finished.
More to show soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

35 Quilts to Rochester

2011-04-28T02:04:00.001-07:00

Today I met with Lesley Lowe from Kyabram again and she dropped off more donations of quilt tops, and lots of knitting wool etc to be used for donations. I haven't had time to unpack and take photos yet but there were also lots of tops and finished quilts from the Kyvalley and Girgarre Patchworkers. Thanks to all the lovely donations of bits and pieces we have been able to donate 241 quilts already this year.
Lesley very kindly took 35 quilts back to Rochester with her and they will be distributed by the neighbourhood centre.
The first two beautiful quilts shown here were made by Ros Hawkins and the Southern Light Stitchers from Tasmania and the next beautiful quilt was made by Jo-Anne Dick also from Tasmania, and the people of Rochy will be so happy to receive them as the weather is getting colder now and they have no floor coverings in their homes after having to strip them out due to the floods.
The last lovely baby quilt was donated by the Kyvally Patchworkers and the last 2 QAYG quilts were made from donated blocks from quilters around the world who are supporting this quilt appeal.
Thank you so much for all your generous donations which are making a difference.
Hugs Jan Mac

Back to Work

2011-04-27T03:13:00.000-07:00

It's good to be back home and finishing off more quilts to donate. These are today's finishes and I have another QAYG quilt done tonight so that will be photographed tomorrow. The green bindings are all the same on the latest quilts as a lovely quilter from the US made and donated a large lot of bindings from the same fabric. It is such a blessing of time to have bindings ready to go so I managed to get more quilts finished today. The last quilt is a donated top that I've finished off.
Tomorrow I'm sending a delivery of quilts to Rochester in Vic and will update the numbers when I see how many they can take.
Thank you all for your ongoing support which makes it possible to donate so many quilts. We have sent out over 210 to date this year alone.
Hugs Jan Mac

More Wonderful Donations

2011-04-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

While I was in Melbourne at the AQC I received more beautiful things donated for the people affected by the floods in Qld and Vic. Jenni Omand (Vic) made the beautiful 4 quilts and they will be going to Qld for the flood quilt appeal. Jenni S (Vic0 has made and donated another 7 beanies for the homeless and they will so welcome their warmth as winter approaches. The Chinwaggers of Numurkah (Vic) have been very busy knitting and crocheting and have made these lovely lap blankets as well as scarves, sweaters, mittens and hats. Beryl from Melbourne (Vic) has also made and sent 12 lovely beanies in bright colours for children.
These will all help to bring comfort to those who are living in cars on the streets, many due to the floods in Qld.
My grateful thanks for all your generosity on their behalf.
Love, Jan Mac

Another quilt for Christchurch

2011-04-14T03:10:00.000-07:00

This lovely kid's quilt was made and donated by Merilyn Francis from NSW. She has asked that it be donated to Chch and it will soon be on its way across the Tasman.
The lovely bright and fun colours will really warm the spirit for it's new owner and bring them some comofrt as well as warmth.
Thanks you all for continuing to support this quilt appeal for New zealand and Australia. As our winter approaches so quickly the people affected by these natural disasters will really be grateful for all the quilts that have been donated.
Many thanks, Jan Mac

Boys' Quilts for Christchurch

2011-04-12T04:59:00.000-07:00

Paid work has been taking up some time for the last few days but I did manage to finish off 2 QAYG quilts for boys. These will be going to Cat in NZ to be distributed to families affected by the earthquakes in Christchurch.
Now that the weather is getting colder they will be very grateful for the warmth of a quilt as many still don't have any heating. We live in a more temperate climate but today was our first cold day for the year and it feels like winter is well on the way.
The last quilt was beautifully made and donated by Di Jobbins (NSW) and the St Mark's Quilters of Sydney and will be much loved by the person who receives it.
I'm sending another 7 or 8 quilts to New Zealand, depending on how many the travelers can fit into their cases, and they will deliver them to Chch personally for us.
I also received a very nice email from the Rochester quilter who helped to distribute the donated quilts in her township.

All quilts donated for flood victims are being given to the Rochester community house and the quilts are then given to locals via contact with the co-ordinator . Last Wed at a morning tea for flood victims - we gave out some quilts, and I couldn't believe how thrilled the people were to be given a quilt (lots of tears and even offers to pay!) and some great feedback from locals since then.
We really appreciate the quilts from Oz Comfort Quilts and congratulate you on doing such a great job - thanks again.

It's always wonderful to hear that the quilts mean so much to the people who receive them and I'm working hard to get more finished and distributed as soon as possible.
Many thanks for all your donations, Jan Mac

Quilts for Charlton, Victoria

2011-04-10T05:35:00.000-07:00

The first quilt was a set of QAYG blocks made by Jan Kates (NSW) and they made a lovely bright floral quilt. The following quilts were all made from donated tops and I still have one more to bind. I've also been working on putting more QAYG blocks together into quilts.
Having just heard that Charlton in Victoria, although having help with the clean-up haven't received a great deal of support with donations, so the next delivery of quilts will be going to them.
I have more tops to quilt but paid work is cutting into my time for a few days so I'll get as many finished as I can to send to Vic, NZ and Qld. It's good that I have so many places to donate quilts to as it means that I don't have to store large numbers of quilts here at home. I will be making a couple of quilts for Japan after Easter as they have requested quilts be sent after the 1st of May.
Thank you for all your generous donations which have made it possible to help so many people so far.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts For Christchurch

2011-04-08T02:38:00.001-07:00

Today I sent off another box of 6 lovely quilts to Cat. I finished the binding on the first two shown here which were donated tops and I still have 3 more to bind. The quilts were all large enough for adults and will bring warmth and comfort to the families who are still living in difficult circumstances in Christchurch, where they are still experiencing disruption to their power supplies and no means of heating in the majority of cases.
I'm sure they are worried about the health of their families as winter approaches and hopefully the quilts will warm bodies as well as their spirits.
The last quilt arrived today and will be on its way to Christchurch next week. Robin Walker from Tasmania sent a large bag of fabric as well as a lovely quilt made and donated for Christchurch. It is made from beautiful machine embroidered blocks in golds and greens and the workmanship is stunning. It's a really lovely quilt and I'm sure it will be loved in its new home.
Thank you all so much for helping Cat and I to send quilts to Christchurch while they recover from the devastating earthquake. I'm sure that receiving the quilts will also remind them that they are in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you also for your donations of money which makes it possible to send so many quilts to NZ and soon to Japan.
I hope you all have a weekend filled with fun and laughter and plenty of sunshine.
Hugs Jan Mac

Finished Quilts Donated

2011-04-07T02:04:00.000-07:00

This week I received more beautiful finished quilts and they will really bring some joy and comfort to the recipients. The first quilt came with its own quilted bag, it was sent by Elizabeth Raymond (NSW) and will soon be on its way to Qld.
Janet Stewart and the Candelo Craft Group sent 4 beautiful quilts all in different colours and designs and they are so vibrant that they will bring a welcome bit of colour to their new homes.
The Colleambally Quilters have also been very busy again and have sent 5 more finished quilts as well as 2 sets of QAYG blocks.
The generosity of quilters continues to amaze and gratify me and I am so happy to be able to send these quilts on to people in New Zealand, Qld and Vic who have all experienced such turmoil in their lives and will really appreciate the warm hugs you are sending.
Thank you so much for your donations. I worked hard today and managed to quilt 5 donated tops so tomorrow will be a morning of binding and then more quilting. I'm going to be away next week attending the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne so I hope to see some of you there. If any of the NZ quilters are coming to AQC and would be able to take back a quilt to post to Christchurch please email me as it will be a big saving on postage and every quilt will comfort someone in need. I'm also in the process of setting up a blog button to connect to Paypal in case any one would like to make a small donation to help with the costs for the quilt appeals.
Take you all for your continued support and kind words.
Hugs Jan Mac

It's All About the Kids

2011-04-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

I had a great day of quilting yesterday and finished quilting 7 quilts for kids. Some will be going to Christchurch, some to Queensland and the last 3 will be going to a group which helps young teens prepare for their pregnancy. They were all donated tops except I made the red one bigger by adding a border with a bear print so it will fit a larger child.
I hope these quilts bring comfort to the kids who receive them as well as their Mums who will be able to wrap them in a warm hug from all of us. We had 3 children in 3 years on purpose so I always love to support young mothers who are struggling to raise children in difficult circumstances. Imagine if your children had nowhere safe to play or not enough food to eat, let alone being exposed to radioactive material.
I've found most women to be the same all over the world. We want to raise healthy children who will grow into responsible adults with the values of being kind to others, paying good acts forward and leaving their community better off and people happier for having known them.
Not too much to ask for surely and I've found this to be true around the world, from India, Afghanistan, East Timor and even in Turkey, the UK and the US. Sadly in some countries, trying to keep their children alive is as much as many parents can manage and by donating a quilt it may keep a child alive, particularly when they are under-nourished and their metabolism is busy keeping them warm instead of helping growth. This happens even here in Australia so any donation you make whether here or to another country will help at least one child and may allow them to become adults.
So the last two days have been for the kids and the next few will be for more adults as I get larger quilts finished.
Check my other blog for the latest lot of donations.
Very grateful thanks for having you in my life and allowing me into yours.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts for Christchurch

2011-04-03T01:31:00.001-07:00

These three quilts will all be winging their way across the Tasman this week where Cat will very kindly pass them on to families in Christchurch.
I hope that the bright colours will bring them some joy as well as warmth and comfort.
The first two quilts are made from donated QAYG blocks and the last quilt was a donated top.
It's been very heartwarming to read how much the quilts mean to the families who have already received them in Christchurch when they commented on my other blog. I am very grateful that they took the time to write and tell us about their experiences and I hope that the quilts which will reach their city will soon bring the same comfort to others.
Love and hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts for Queensland

2011-04-03T01:20:00.000-07:00

Today I managed to finish off 5 quilts which was very pleasing. The first 2 are QAYG but using 15" blocks so they went together very quickly. I have a few more of these sized blocks and will make some more to join them into a quilt.
The next 2 quilts were made from donated tops. The pile of quilts for Emerald is growing again and will soon be on their way to Qld.
I tallied how many quilts I'd finished for February and March and found that I'd done 71, which was similar to the 37 I finished in January. I was surprised as I was away for 2 weeks in March. Of course it was only possible to finish so many because of all the wonderful tops or QAYG blocks that have been donated.
I need to start working with the beautiful heart blocks which have arrived from Holland and Belgium to make them into quilts for Qld.
Thank you everyone for all your donations as we have been able to bring comfort to so many people having given out 175 quilts so far this year.
Love and hugs, Jan Mac

Quilts Leaving Soon

2011-04-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

It was lovely to take a break and catch up with my quilting friends but I'm now enjoying getting more quilts finished and donated. The first two QAYG quilts I finished yesterday and the next quilt was a donated top which just needed quilting and binding. I also received the next quilt from a member of AQA and the last quilt shown was from Lesley Lowe from Kyabram (Vic).
I have almost finished another larger QAYG quilt and then plan to finish quilting some more donated tops. Where the quilts are sent depends on the donor's request or the thickness of the batting. These quilts will be going to Emerald (Qld). Check out my other blog for recent donations and comment on my question if you want to share your thoughts.
I received some lovely donations of money to help with costs of the quilts and I posted off another 5 quilts to Cat for Christchurch NZ yesterday. Unfortunately the previous arrangements for shipping to NZ have fallen through so I'll be posting the quilts using donations, to make sure they reach New Zealand and can bring comfort to those who have lost so much in their recent earthquake.
Hugs Jan Mac

Finishing Quilts for March

2011-03-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

It's time to get back to the Quilt Factory and get more quilts finished and donated, especially now that winter is approaching fast and I know that Christchurch will soon be experiencing their cold weather.
I had a lovely time at our yearly retreat for Southern Cross Quilters and was very lucky to receive more beautiful quilts to donate as well as a very generous donation of money to help with the costs of postage and batting' This means that I will be able to send more quilts to Japan and New Zealand as well as here for our flood areas.
The first quilt was made and donated by one of the SCQ members, and I think it was Lola from Vic but there was a lot going on that week so I may be confused LOL. If it was someone other than Lola please let me know so that I can change the information. The quilt is so pretty that I'm sure Lola won't mind taking the credit anyway LOL.
Prue Ling (WA) and Edith Burgess (Tas) both made quilts in the theme of Carnivale for the retreat challenge and they very kindly donated them to Oz Comfort Quilts for distribution.
The quilts are beautifully made and so colourful that they are sure to brighten the lives of their new owners.
The last quilt was made by the group, ANZA Quilters in Singapore and they also very kindly sent QAYG blocks as well. The quilt is so beautiful and fresh with its crisp and co-ordinated range of colours that it will be treasured by the new owner and how cool is it that quilters from around the world very generously donate their gift of time and fabric to comfort others. One of the ANZA memebrs has also contacted me about delivering more quilts when she visits NZ this week and I know that Cat will be thrilled to receive more lovely quilts from around the world.
And last but by no means least, Jenni S. (Vic) has been very busy knitting beanies for the Homeless Connect Day to be held in Brisbane (Qld) in May and so far as made 15 of them. They will be so welcomed by the group who can give them to the people who were among the worse- affected by the floods in Brisbane and this will be such a huge help to making their winter a little more bearable. I am also working on a crocheted blanket and another quilt to send to this group too so I'd better get busy now that we're into April.
I'm very humbled and grateful for all your donations which have allowed us to help so many people around the world and I'd better get busy finishing more quilts today.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts For Japan

2011-03-23T03:08:00.001-07:00

I've been very saddened like many others who have been watching the news about the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan and wondering what I could do to help from here in Australia. Luckily I received an email from one of my blog readers, Sandra Shigeno, and she very kindly shared some information about what types of quilts would be suitable for a Quilt Appeal for the Japanese people.

Sandra wrote: Typical Japanese quilts (futon) used every day for covering beds made up on the floor (tatami mats) are rather puffy and not quilted closely -- more like what we think of as tied quilts with a thicker batting than we would use -- and are usually made of large pieces of fabric, not pieced like a Western quilt.    Having said that,  Japanese quilters do spend hours on turning out exquisite piecing and quiltwork for show (as for a living room couch or to hang on a wall), but I've rarely seen what we Westerners think of as a "bed quilt" actually used for sleeping under, except in the homes of a few quilters themselves.    The futon quilts that Japanese use are what we would think of as single-bed size;  each person has his or her own individual sleeping space, even married couples, so there's no need for even a double quilt.   However,  in the summer, those thick quilts/futons are just too hot, so our Western type of thinner quilts would be just fine then.   Western-type beds are more popular nowadays than when I lived there; so the "Patchwork Tsushin" editor probably assumes that with more beds being used in Japan, that more people are becoming used to Western-type quilts.  They would be a lot easier to make, collect, and mail than trying to gather the same amount of the heavier Japanese futon!

As an added note,  Japanese prefer rather subdued colors more that bright ones;  even in their clothing, they don't like to stand out or look "different," so they wear a lot of browns and dark blues and earth colors more than anything else.Quilts with the dominant colors of dark blues and muted tones of complimentary colors would be popular.
The majority of evacuees seem to be older people living in small farming and fishing communities, and they would certainly be more conservative as to colors.   As mentioned on TV, most of the younger folks have in past years moved to larger cities to find work, so it is mainly the "elderly" who are left.

The request for quilts has come from the Japanese Patchwork magazine, Quilt Tsushin, and they are requesting any new or unused quilts to be sent to Japan after May 1st when it will be possible to deliver the quilts where they are needed.

Please post to:

Naomi Ichikawa
Patchwork Tsushin Co.,Ltd
2-21-2,Yushima,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo,Japan zip:113-0034

Even the donation of just one quilt from all of us would make a huge difference to the people who have been so traumatized by recent events.

Hugs Jan Mac

A Festival of Quilts

2011-03-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

Wow what a wonderful donation of quilts from around the world which have arrived for the Christchurch Earthquake and Australian Flood Appeals. The first 2 fabulous quilts were made and donated by Petra McLennan (Vic) and they will soon be on their way to Emerald in Qld. The next 3 quilts were made and donated by Maria Wilson (WA) and 2 will be going to Chch and 1 to Qld and their lovely colours will bring lots of smiles. The following QAYG quilt was made and donated by Julie Lawrenson-Wood from England and she has made a stunning quilt which will be going to the people of Emerald (Qld) for the flood quilt appeal.
Margie Wallin (NSW) sent another beautiful quilt with the lovely blue fabric as a border and it will be going to Qld too. The three last quilts were all made and donated by Jo-Anne Dick (Tas) and they are so lovely that they will be loved by the people in Emerald who receive one of these quilts.
Thank you so much for all your generous donations and I'm honoured to be able to send them on their way to their new homes on your behalf. The people who are giving out the quilts to their community report that they are very well received as a personal gift and they are overwhelmed that people they don't know would take the time to make and then donate such beautiful quilts.
Take a bow ladies as you making a big difference to many people who were about to give up hope. More to come,
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts Do Comfort

2011-03-20T00:43:00.000-07:00

We arrived home Friday night and after unpacking I decided it was time to get busy finishing off more quilts. I made 2 yesterday and 2 more today so far but have only taken a photo of one of today's finishes.
I'm prepping some binding strips now and plan to start another one tonight.
I had a lovely phone call today from Margaret of the Emerald Qld Relief Centre. She just wanted to tell me about the events when the quilts are distributed and that the people are so grateful to have a hand made quilt. She said there are often tears of gratitude and she feels privileged to be able to give them out and help her community to heal.
I've already started another pile for Qld as well as one for Christchurch in New Zealand and also Vic. The need seems to be great but if we only manage to make and donate one quilt, then that's one person who will be warmed and comforted. The news of Japan's disaster is also heart-breaking and as I'm not very good at standing by I'm busy making more quilts as I know for sure that there will be many in need of them. I am also knitting hats and scarves for NZ and their winter is on it's way and will make life much harder for them there.
Please help us to warm a head with a hat or scarf if you don't have time to make a quilt. If you make donations then please just add a note indicating where you would like your items to be sent and I'll honour that.
Thanks you so much dear blog readers for all your help and support while we try to heal the world one quilt at a time.
Hugs Jan Mac

16 Quilts to Rochester

2011-03-11T01:11:00.000-08:00

The first two quilts were made by me over the past few days and the remainder were donated by others for the quilt appeal for Qld and Vic flood areas.

I had a meeting today with Lesley Lowe from Kyabram and she brought over more beautiful quilt tops and batting from the Kyvalley and Girgarre patchworkers and the ladies have been sewing up a storm over there.
Lesley very kindly took back a pile of finished quilts for the township of Rochester and will pass them on tomorrow which is a big help with saving me a trip and giving me more time to quilt.
I sent over 16 quilts and a large fleecy pillow which will be the start of the gifting of quilts to people who are still living in temporary accommodation due to the floods in Vic.
I was very lucky to receive 6 beautiful quilts from Pam Wood (Vic) as well as a lovely QAYG quilt in shades of pink, purple and greens from Jacqy Wong (Vic) as well as 16 quilts from Jenni Omand (Vic). Some of Jenni's quilts will be going to NZ and some to Qld, with the remainder making up today's delivery in Victoria.
I'm going to be taking a break with a camping holiday with friends for a week or so but someone will be at home to pick up the mail and I plan to knit and crochet while I'm away so the pile of knitted beanies and blankets will grow. Then I'll be back to finish more quilts after this short break.
I hope you're all enjoying some time for you as well. Thanks to all your help we've given away 166 quilts so far this year.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts for Victorian Flooded Towns

2011-03-08T23:46:00.000-08:00

I got all of these QAYG quilts put together over the past two days which was fortunate as I had a phone call last night requesting quilts for a Victorian town for their flood victims.
I'm happy to start the quilts for Rochester now and these will all be on their way there very soon. I plan to have more finished before I take them over and I also have some donated quilts to show as soon as I have taken photos.
I also heard from the Emerald Relief Centre that they are very grateful for the quilts and they love them, so it's always good to get feedback.
Better get busy again.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts From Queanbeyan

2011-03-05T18:32:00.000-08:00

These fabulous quilts were all made and donated by quilters from Queanbeyan and they are much more colourful in person. The cat fabric is the backing of one of the quilts and was so pretty that I just had to show it.
The last two quilts shown are on their way to Christchurch, New Zealand for the earthquake survivors and the rest will be going to Emerald, Qld on the next shipment.
The recipients will just love these quilts and I'm so grateful that quilters are so generous with their donations which will help comfort people who have lost everything.
More to come.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts for Christchurch

2011-03-03T18:33:00.000-08:00

These lovely quilts were made from donated QAYG blocks and this next shipment will go to Christchurch in New Zealand. As you have probably heard the earthquake there has devastated the city and many lives were lost.
Now as part of the rebuilding process we are sending quilts and warm knitted items such as beanies and baby clothes for the people who lost their homes.
It seems like we've had a tough year down under and of course we need to work together to let people know they are not alone.
Fiona from the UK and I are working with Cat of Catalina's Cottage to send finished quilts to Cat and she will have them distributed in Christchurch.
I love these quilts and the girly colours and will make some in boys fabrics next.
I'm off to my paid job for a couple of days so I'll be sewing when I can find time before work, so blogging may be quieter.
I'm proud to be able to help our New Zealand friends and repay their kindness with donations for our bush fire and flood quilts appeal. I'm accepting finished quilts or QAYG blocks for NZ and will get them shipped off to Cat ASAP.
Many thanks for all your help and please check my other blog to see if your parcels have arrived safely.
Hugs Jan mac

Seventy More Quilts for Qld.

2011-03-01T00:04:00.001-08:00

These six beautiful quilts were all made and donated by Margo Barber from Tasmania. They arrived in time to join the shipment to Emerald in Qld and the truck is on its way now. These quilts made the total to 70 quilts for Emerald on this trip and I managed to finish off another couple today and have started on a delivery of quilts to Christchurch in New Zealand.
Cat from Catalina's Cottage is helping me to get them delivered to the people in need and I have finished quilts with warmer batting ready to send.
Check out my other blog for the latest arrivals of QAYG blocks from around the world. Quilters can make a difference one quilt at a time.
Many thanks for making this quilt appeal happen.
Hugs Jan Mac

Today's Finishes

2011-02-28T00:47:00.000-08:00

The first QAYG quilt was finished today and it is going to a group which helps homeless people in Melbourne. They have a special day where they provide support and information about the community services which are available for them. This is warm and was made from all the leftover trimmings from backings as well as poly cottons and flannels. It's in darker colours so it won't show the dirt and will be more suited to a man but it will be warm regardless of fabric colour.
The next quilts are all donated tops that I've quilted and finished and will all be going to Emerald in Qld. I have one more to bind and I hope to get some more QAYG quilts made tomorrow before the truck leaves with all the boxes of quilts for Emerald.
Many thanks for all your generous donations which have made so many people warm.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts for Emerald, Qld

2011-02-27T00:53:00.000-08:00

These first two quilts were donated tops and they are much more vibrant than the photo shows here. Unfortunately the light wasn't good by the time I took the photos. The last 2 quilts were made from donated QAYG blocks and they each look different due to the variety of fabrics used. I have another one almost finished for the Homeless Connect day in Melbourne and a pile of 4 quilts to bind from today's quilting efforts. Time to get back to the machine again.
I've also started a pile of quilts made from warmer batting which will be going to New Zealand for the Christchurch earthquake survivors.
Take care and thank for stopping by.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts for Queensland

2011-02-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

These beautiful quilts were all made from donated quilt tops and they will be sent to Emerald in Queensland to assist with their flood recovery. The smaller ones in more 'adult' colours will be given to people living in aged care and assisted living units and as lap quilts they will bring warmth and comfort. The checkered squares are the back of the quilt in subdued colours of black, blues and purples and as the back is made from donated flannel squares it will be lovely and warm and will suit a man's taste.The smaller quilt at the end of this post is one of 5 that I donated to the local hospital for the Wrap with Love program and will be given to families who experienced the death of a baby. The baby is wrapped in the quilt so the family can hold them and take photos of their baby and the quilt can then be taken home by the families.
I have my paid work today and will be packing quilts into boxes tomorrow ready for transport to Qld over the weekend.
Of course it's only thanks to all of your generous donations that so many quilts are finished and donated.
Hugs Jan Mac

What Can We Do?

2011-02-23T00:23:00.000-08:00

I'm sure that like many others the tragic news of Christchurch's (New Zealand) earthquake has been a shock as the film of the rescues and devastation unfolds. I was busy with my paid work yesterday (I'm an after-hours hospital manager) and as busy as we were I was thinking of the medical staff in Christchurch and their monumental task with dealing with all the people needing treatment.
It would have been easy to get caught up with watching the events on TV today but I decided to spend the day quilting as it's something positive I can do from here. I did have very good news yesterday when I heard that I have transport for the quilts to go to Emerald (Qld) at the weekend. Margaret at the Relief Centre is very excited about the donation of quilts and she assures me that it gets cold at night there and the quilts will be very welcome.
I managed to bind these two quilts yesterday before work and today I quilted 7 donated tops- 3 of them are large and I can see a pile of quilts on the table ready for binding so I'd better get them done so they can go to Qld in few days time.
Thank you for all your generous donations and offers of help for the Quilt Appeal. At the moment I'm also working on how I can get finished quilts to New Zealand which I hope will repay, in a small way, the very generous support from our NZ friends.
So what can we do with these tragic events occurring far too often? We can quilt! I do it because I love to make something pretty and useful which will bring comfort to others. I always feel lucky to be able to donate the quilts on your behalf because let's face it it's not easy living in a Quilt Factory and I need to make room for the next lot of quilts I'm finishing.
So if you have scraps of fabric and batting and want to spend your time making something useful then turn off the TV and get busy because the need will be ongoing. We may not be able to help everyone but the people who receive our quilts will be comforted and that's what matters.
Thanks to all of you who have joined in with the quilt appeal and please spread the word and get your quilting friends involved too.
Time to bind! Hugs Jan Mac

Some Berry Pretty Quilts

2011-02-21T15:24:00.000-08:00

The first quilt shown was made from donated QAYG blocks. The young lass who made them was only going to make just a few blocks but loved making them so much that she made enough for a whole quilt. It reminds me of a summer parfait with pretty berry colours and it's a very pretty quilt.
The following quilt was made from blocks donated by Ulla of Finland with a few others added to it.
The QAYG sashed with orange was made from a variety of donated blocks from around the world. I know that some of you comment that when you send your blocks they look a bit drab, and I've felt that about some that I've made too. However when they are added to other blocks and the sashing strips are added to join the blocks, the eye is drawn to the sashing and the colours seem to be enhanced. I've yet to see a QAYG quilt that I haven't loved.
I've also been quilting some donated baby quilt tops and they are now done and ready to be donated. The last lovely quilt was donated finished and it has beautiful stitchery and is in soft colours and will be loved by a new Mum.
I'm just waiting to hear about the final arrangements but it looks like I'll be able to send many quilts to Qld next week and that will give me more room for the quilts I'm making this week.
Many thanks for all your lovely donations which are getting finished. I quilted 5 tops yesterday and still have the binding to finish on two of them.
More to follow.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilts From New Zealand

2011-02-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

These three fabulous quilts were made and donated by Vida McDonald from New Zealand.

The first one has lovely fabric with realistic bird prints and a water theme with dolphins and fish.

The next one is a very clever use of strips grouped according to colour and it's a really well planned design around a central panel.

The last quilt is also a string quilt in a planned colour-way and with a piano keys border which is a great way to use up shorter pieces of fabric.

These quilts are light-weight and have all been packed in readiness to send them to Emerald in Qld. I think I have solved my problem of shipping quilts to Qld as I have fiund a driver willing tot take them to Brisbane and I think I have a courier company who will take them up to Emerald. I also contacted one of the people working with flood victims in Dalby and he said they were winding down their relief centre and didn't require quilts so I plan to send mine to Emerald at this stage until the areas in Vic are able to take some too. Then there will be a need in Tully where they had their homes destroyed by the cyclone.
Time to get some more quilts finished.
Many thanks for all your donations, Jan Mac

Special/Different Quilts Finished

2011-02-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

I always feel that I only give away special quilts but these are a bit different because they were made for a purpose or a theme.
The first one was made from donated 8.5" squares with a blue theme. I made a few extra so that there would be enough for a small quilt and this one will soon be on it's way to Emerald in Qld.
The next quilt was made from all sorts of leftovers and was made specially for a homeless person. It is warm and sturdy but I used up odd bits and pieces that I don't use in the other quilts. This one has some flannel and poly cotton pieces and the binding was a piece of fabric which must be about 20 years old. I originally bought it to make board shorts for my DS and it has green skulls on the fabric. Cutting it up in strips means that the skulls aren't obvious and the fabric is cotton so it will wear well. I'll be sending this one off with it's own bag and it will be given out at the Homeless Connect Day held in Melbourne in March.
More parcels have arrived in the last few days and they are shown on my other blog.
I have a busy few days of paid work so I'm measuring tops and backings and matching them so I can have a big quilt push when the paid work is done.
Many thanks for your donations, Hugs Jan Mac

Monday's Finishes

2011-02-13T22:30:00.000-08:00

The first finish here is one of the tops donated by Kyvalley and Girgarre patchwork group. They included a matching backing, binding and batting and the quilt is very striking and will be loved by someone who loves earthy colours. The next four quilts were donated as tops and it's good to get some more of them quilted and ready to send off. I've been working on finishing more for boys and men as they are often overlooked when I'm working with florals LOL.
The last two very large quilts were donated and dropped off by Maryjane Morris when we met in Melbourne last Monday. The wonky churn dash only need to be trimmed and bound and the lovely navy and blue quilt had been basted with pins and the machine quilting had been commenced. I took the quilting out and loaded it on the quilting machine as it was much quicker to finish it that way and I always love a finished quilt even though I only meander quilt on them.
I hope the donors are happy with the finished quilts and I know the recipients will be as the weather will be getting cooler soon.
Many, many thanks for all your donations.
Hugs Jan Mac

Donated Quilts from Kyvalley and Girgarre

2011-02-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

The patchwork group from Kyvalley and Girgarre have very kindly donated tops for me to finish and donate and I was also very surprised to find these 5 beautiful quilts had also been donated by their members. These quilts will be given out to the farming communities in Victoria where they have experienced devastating flooding and these quilts will remind them that they have not been forgotten.
Thank you so much for your very generous donations.
More to come, Jan Mac

Five Finished Quilts Donated

2011-02-11T23:47:00.000-08:00

These fabulous quilts were all made and donated by Liz Burlington from NSW. The first one is a really cute fabric with cows which will be loved by one of the kids in the farming communities. The next one is lovely and bright and a great abstract design. The frogs are really cute and they come with their own bag with a froggy pocket and will be sure to hold a little person's treasures. The next quilt is a striking one with a girlie print and the fabulous black and white with red trim is a huge Queen sized quilt and my DH has asked for one the same so I know that someone will really love it. Maybe a St Kilda fan? The simple design shows really well with the good contrast between fabrics.
Liz has done a wonderful job and the quilts are building here so there's almost enough to start giving them out in Victoria as well as sending some more to Emerald in Qld.
I have 5 to bind now after a big day of quilting and will have some more to show very soon.
Hugs Jan Mac

Quilt Finishes Again

2011-02-11T02:15:00.000-08:00

It was good to get some more quilts finished after a severe storm overnight which left us without power again until almost lunchtime today.

The first quilt is a combination of purple QAYG blocks donated by quilters from around the world. It photographed darker than it is because today has been rainy and overcast for most of the day.

The second quilt is a variation of QAYG and the blocks were made and donated by Sandra McLay (Vic). The binding is 2" wide and I think it cam from AQA but it also may have been from Maryjane Morris as I received donations from both on the same day.

The third quilt is from a set of "boy" blocks from the Colleambally quilters in NSW. They have cute fabric with checks, plaids and tractors and will be going to a boy from a farming community so it will be well loved I'm sure.

The last quilt was made from a donated top and it has cute kid's prints and will be loved as well.

Sorry that I'm late in emailing you to tell you that your parcels have arrived. Keep checking the blogs and you should see your blocks displayed and then made into quilts and I'll try to catch up with emails soon.
Many thanks for all your help with this quilt appeal.
Cheers, Jan Mac

Donated Quilts from AQA

2011-02-10T14:25:00.000-08:00

These beautiful quilts were all donated to the Flood Quilt Appeal by the very generous members of the Australian Quilter's Association. This is a group which meets in Melbourne once a month as well as having sit and sew days and evenings. The day time meeting means that I can attend and as they have excellent speakers I try to make as many meetings as possible.
Thank you for the donation of these 9 beautiful quilts which will bring comfort to those who lost their homes in the floods and cyclones.
Time to sew again today.
Cheers, Jan Mac

This Weeks' Finishes So Far

2011-02-08T23:58:00.000-08:00

Apart form the visit to the dentist, housework and all the tripping around I managed to get these 3 quilts finished from donated tops and the middle quilt was put together from donated QAYG squares I received last week. I still have another quilt to bind and more QAYG quilts to finish so I'd better get off the computer and back to the sewing machine.
Many thanks for all your donations.
Hugs Jan Mac.

Quilts From NSW

2011-02-08T23:38:00.000-08:00

These beautiful quilts were all made and donated by Margaret Harris from NSW. They are really pretty and will bring some comfort to the people who receive them.
Thank you so much for your generous and ongoing support.
Hugs Jan Mac

And Four More Quilts

2011-02-08T01:25:00.000-08:00

It was my birthday yesterday as well as the two year anniversary for the Victorian Bush fires. I decided to go to my Quilt Guild, AQA in Melbourne yesterday and had a lovely day chatting with like-minded people.
I also met up with one of my blog readers, Maryjane Morris. She is a delightful lady and she delivered five huge bags of fabric, 2 finished quilts and some tops.
I haven't had time to unpack everything yet but here are the two finished quilts I think she said a friend had donated them for the flood appeal.
The last two quilts are more QAYG that I put together before my trip to Melbourne.
Today has been a day of sorting and photographing all the donations from yesterday and today so my other blog will have an update soon.
Hugs and many thanks for all your generous donations.
Jan Mac

A Quilt or Four

2011-02-05T14:35:00.000-08:00

After I uploaded photos on my other blog I tried to upload these but we had problems with our internet connection so I made another QAYG quilt instead.
So today the internet is working and I have some photos to show of some more finishes.
The first one is from a set of pretty pastel blocks from Stephanie Driel (WA) and I love the floral strips.
The next is a combination of QAYG blocks from around the world.
The last two quilts were donated tops which I managed to finish this week.
We were lucky to be spared the second lot of thunderstorms last night and the sun is out so I plan to get some more quilts finished before I'm off to Melbourne for the night so I can attend my quilter's meeting of AQA. I'll be back at the sewing machine as soon as I get back.
It's also lovely to hear from other readers who are now making blocks and quilts to donate. I am also accepting finished quilts now and will be delivering them in Victoria where the farming areas have been wiped out by the flood waters.
More then, Hugs Jan Mac

Some Progress

2011-02-02T23:14:00.000-08:00

It's been a slow week so far with the heat and humidity combined with night shift meaning I haven't had as much time or energy to quilt as usual.
I did finish a couple more quilts as far as the quilting goes but they haven;t been bound yet so they are not finished enough to show.
The quilt shown here was a donated top and it is a wonderful mix of smaller blocks using thin strips of fabric and it looks lovely and will be a real treasure for someone.
The other lovely cot quilt was donated by Susanne Nixon from Tasmania and she also sent over QAYG blocks and thread.
We are in for some rain over the next few days and hopefully a lower temperature too. I plan to go to bed early to try to catch up on sleep again and then get busy with the quilts tomorrow.
Now that Queensland has just experienced their worst cyclone and many homes have been destroyed along the far north coast around Tully and Innisfail again the need will be ongoing for some time.
More tomorrow, Hugs Jan Mac

Too Darn Hot

2011-01-31T00:55:00.000-08:00

It's been 40 degrees C (104F) today and it is expected to be hotter tomorrow so sewing is a bit of an ordeal while I try to stay in the air con.
I managed to finish off this first QAYG quilt before I went to work yesterday and I finished off the second one today. Then I took a break and knitted a child's beanie and worked on some more QAYG blocks in larger sizes.
I also took photos of all the parcels that have arrived and the photos are on my other blog.
I plan to get an earlier start tomorrow before it gets so hot although I suppose I did manage to get quite a bit done as I've remembered that I also made 2 lots of binding.
I'm looking forward to cooler days soon as I will be working night shift over the next few weeks and I want it to be cooler so I can sleep.
Can't complain too much though as we avoided the flood waters and bush fires so far and I can still have fun with my quilting.
Hope everyone else is staying cool and dry.
Hugs Jan Mac