Back to Quilting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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