My work is again in full swing

 It has been a while since my lost post. I have not been very productive in terms of quilt making etc as the events of the last few months have caught up with me. I have still been fulfilling requests for stillborn packages and fidget quilts for hospitals and remembrance packages for families.. Times have certainly been very challenging but we are both well with both our check ups being clear.

I am pleased and very thankful to say that my husband has finished his course of radiation and is healing very well. It is very disappointing that we are unable to travel to the mainland to see our daughter and she is not able to come to see us. Hopefully it won't be another 12 months before we get to see her. It was certainly difficult not having her close by to support her father.

The last week or so I have been embroidering designs to make into quilts for our local women's shelter. I normally gift them around 45 each year but have not bee able to do any this year. I hope to have around 20 by  Christmas for them. Below are just some of the embroideries to date.

I have also just completed another set of white lace bags for our major regional hospital. They are used by hospital staff and families to carry the tiny wooden coffins of miscarried babies.

Last Tuesday I was also extremely proud to have change made to an inconsistent benefit payment that was made to stillborn babies in Australia. My small input has resulted in making what is a heartbreaking and tragic time a little easier.

This article appeared in the newspapers.

I have also made a collection of care bags and teddy bear sets to be given to women in Tasmania undergoing treatment for gynaecological cancer.

Pink Polka Cat Whirlygig Quilt and Tutorial

Thank you to each and every one of you who has sent your best wishes and prayers for my husband. 

I have completed the quilt from the pink themed polka cat embroideries. These Polka Cat embroidery design are from Hatched in Africa. 

I have written a tutorial for this quilt which I named Polka Cat Whirlygig Quilt.

Polka cat Whirlygig Quilt

You can find the tutorial HERE

I have also been busy over the last few days making personalized remembrance sets which I gift to parents of angel babies as part of my Bridie's Blossoms program. It is heartbreaking to think that in these challenging times we have parents experiencing the grief that accompanies the devastating loss of a much longed for child.

Bridie's Blossoms Remembrance set

Bridie's Blossoms Remembrance set

New Quilt and Tutorial

Things have been a bit in a bit upheaval in our household over the last few weeks. Whilst in the middle of isolation during the Covid pandemic my husband was diagnosed with breast cancer. The road to him having  surgery was a tricky one but it has now been three weeks since he had a mastectomy. Unfortunately one of his nodes has tested positive so he will require further treatment and we are waiting on word of the the way forward from here.

Yesterday was the first day I have done any sewing in quite some time. The Polka Cat Star quilt will be used for fund raising at the end of the year for the ABC Giving Tree here in Tasmania which is held to provide funds and goods for the needy at Christmas time. It is one of a few more I will make. 

Polka Cat Star Quilt

The tutorial can be found HERE

New BOM quilt top complete

I have been beavering away over the past few days and completed the Mosaic Cats BOM.

 The designs I am using are the Mosaic Sparkle Cats from Hatched in Africa. 

All of the instructions can be found  HERE

HIA Mosaic Cats BOM

The link will be removed at the end of April

New BOM

In these very uncertain times I think we all need a distraction. I have started a new BOM or perhaps it will be Block every couple of days. The designs I am using are the Mosaic Sparkle Cats from Hatched in Africa. 

Blocks 1 and 2 have been completed and the instructions as well as the requirements  list can be found at the following HERE

The remainder of the block instructions will be added to this folder.

The year is marching on

Once again I have been very tardy with my blog posts. I have had a few health issues over January and February but hopefully on the mend now.

Today is international Women's Day and I made this video for Australia Day Tasmania. I hope it resonates with all of the sewers in the world who dedicate a large portion of their time doing charity and volunteer work.

Here is the original post on Facebook with the video

https://www.facebook.com/AustraliaDayTasmania/videos/3017168381678457/

and also the video 

I also gave the Australia Day address at the Devonport Australia 

Day celebrations.

Devonport Australia Day 2020

I recently completed some more bags to be given to ladies undergoing treatment for gynaecological cancers here in Tasmania. The bags are filled with care items by a group called  Flickering Memories and are then distributed by a clinical nurse consultant. Along with the bags I also completed a number of little teddy and key tag sets to be given to ladies in consultations etc.

Women's Gynaecological Care Bags

Also completed some Bridie's Blossoms layette packages for stillborn and miscarried babies and early pregnancy loss keepsake packages for the major birthing hospital in Tasmania. 

Bridie's Blossoms Layette packages

There have been numerous requests for remembrance  keepsake packages from families who have an angel baby and these are just of them that have posted out in recent weeks.