Need a New Year’s Day Sewing Suggestion?

Now that some of the Holidays are over, are you looking for some quality quilting time to unwind from the hustle and bustle?  Well, have we got a swell idea for you! 

 

Marcella Pirner-Cormier works with the Quilts of Valor Foundation as its Destination Coordinator, Region 10, and she is sponsoring:

 

The First Annual New Year’s Day QOV Sit & Sew!

 

She is inviting all of us to join her.  You can spread the word and ask your friends and guild members to join in, too.  Then:

·         Pick a patriotic pattern that meets the minimum requirements for a QOV that you feel you can piece in a single day (any pattern – it’s your choice).

·         Select and cut your fabric in December to make yourself a “kit” for Jan 1^st (this is a great excuse to spend a few quiet moments in your sewing space!).

·         During the Jan 1^st Sit & Sew, post your progress on Yahoo Chat, Facebook, the QOVF blog, your own blog…or wherever you want.

·         When your top is finished, request a volunteer longarmer here (or if you are a member of our own CT Quilters QOV Group, bring it to our January 18^th meeting or drop it off at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop).

·         If you are not a member of the CT Quilters QOV Group, and after your quilt is finished (bound, labeled, washed & in a presentation case), you can request a destination – please put NYD S&S in the comments section of the Request Form.   You will receive information on where to send your quilt and your name will then be entered into a drawing for prizes (to be announced).

·         A winner will be drawn for every 13 NYD S&S quilts that are completed by March 13, 2013 for which a destination is requested.  The sooner you finish your quilt, the better your chance of winning!

·         Keep in mind that the overseas destinations request red, white & blue, non-gender specific quilts.

 

NEED SOME PATTERN IDEAS?

Check out these easy to make designs that look great in patriotic colors

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Country Spirit from McCall’s Quilting

(there are other patriotic patterns at this link also)

Homeward Bound from Patchworks Studio

(needs to be enlarged to meet minimum QOVF requirements)

 

Independence Day from Fons & Porter

 

With Gratitude (*)

 

(*) This pattern designed by Sandra Fraenkel, Sue Goehring & Holly Erdei-Zuber of What’s Your Stitch ‘n Stuff, Inc., is offered as a courtesy to any workshop or any quilt shop making Quilts of Valor.  If a member of the CT Quilters Group from the Crafty Threads (an Under Our Wings shop) would like a copy of this pattern to make for our QOV Group, please comment and leave me an email address where you can be reached.

 

Don’t have the time to quilt all of New Year’s Day, but have a little time?  Check out Florida Cabin Fever Quilt Guild’s "Blocks of the Month for 2011".

You can select one (or all) of these blocks and make it (them) at your leisure.   When your sampler is complete, add borders or more blocks to make it QOV size.  Here’s the link:

http://www.floridacabinfever.com/pdfs/BOM/2012_Archive.pdf  [EDIT:  this link no longer works due to the website changes in progress at FL Cabin Fever - I will post the new link when it becomes available - it looks like they intend to repost these blocks - thank you for your patience]

 

HAPPY QUILTING!

Happy Holidays

The CT Quilters Quilts of Valor Group meets at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop - an official “Under Our Wings – Quilt Shop”.

During this busy Holiday Season, we take time to remember that the Quilts of Valor Foundation has no political or religious motivation.  Their stated mission is to “cover ALL combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor”.  

Because no matter where we stand politically, we accept our warriors and veterans with open arms and open hearts.  One only has to talk to the veterans of previous wars and conflicts to get a glimpse that the profound effects of war never really leave.*

* http://www.qovf.org/content/meat-potatoes.html

So in that spirit, we wish you Happy Holidays with the

intent that you will celebrate under your customs,

whatever they may be … and we wish you Peace.

Last Quilt Delivery of 2012

The leader of the CT Quilters QOV Group recently took a stack of 8 Quilts of Valor over to the Poly-Trauma Unit of the James A Haley VA Hospital here in Tampa.  Pat said they were very happy to receive the quilts due to the Holidays that are upon us.  This is a sampling of the quilts included in the delivery:

We at the CT Quilters are happy to take part in the mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation:   to “cover ALL combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.” 

Quilts stacked up in their pillowcase presentation packages

These quilts are a tangible way to say “Thank you for your service, sacrifice and valor.”  We look forward to continuing with this mission in the New Year of 2013.

Recap of 12/14/12 Meeting

Wow!  What a Quilts of Valor meeting we had …

Ø      We received some wonderful donations of fabrics – and we really needed them!

Sharon and her mom, Barbara, donated the perfect reds
and blues (and the blues are enough for backings - woohoo!)

Ø     We received one quilt that’s now totally finished,

Yvonne finished binding this one that was designed
and pieced by Patty and Janet and quilted by Pat

Ø      We received these fantastic pillowcase presentation packages from Nancy  over at the ConKerr Cancer group that also meets at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop – if we receive fabrics that we can’t use for QOV we try to send them over to that group so everyone can be sure all of your fabric contributions are welcome!

Thank you so much, Nancy!

Ø      We received one quilt back from a longarmer and sent it home with someone else to be bound

Barb (L) and her dad, Ron (R), holding the quilt
that Ron quilted - and both are Veterans!

Detail of Ron's quilting - you can see the star in the
geometric design and the variegated thread - it was great!

Ø      We sent 5 quilts out to be longarm quilted - three of our usual design (The Fourth of July by Bonnie Hunter) and these two that were pieced by Debbie,

Example of our 4th of July favorite pattern that came back in

Debbie put these marvelous stars around a panel that
had been donated to QOV - she said the stars are in the book below

Didn't Debbie do a fabulous job on this new-to-us design?!



Detail of Debbie's quilt top



Debbie found her designs for both quilts from this book

Ø      We sewed lots of borders,

Trading off sewing borders and pillowcases - very versatile people!

 Ø      We sewed and ironed lots of bindings,

Ø      We cut lots and lots of blocks and borders,

Ø      We cut fabric and made up pillowcase kits for later,

Diana also cut and coordinated making
lots of backings for the quilts going out

Ø      We made up block kits for volunteers to check out,

Ø      We sorted blocks that came in from volunteers and made up kits for quilt tops,

Ø      We sewed pillowcases,



Completed pillowcase presentation packages

Ø      AND WE FOUND OUT WHAT FABULOUS COOKS WE HAD IN THE GROUP!

The potluck lunch was a huge success.  Everybody brought something, from drinks to chips to paper products, from salads to breads to main dishes, and a very special cake.  Jadeen brought this gorgeous confection in because today would have been her mother’s 90^th birthday.  Thank you, Jadeen, for sharing this special occasion and your memories with us.

And in honor of the Season, our Show-and-Tell was a sampler quilt that Pat brought in.

Pat was explaining that lots of hands contributed to this sampler, just like many people contribute to our Quilts of Valor.   We are grateful for all that contribute to making our group a success! 

NOTE:  The sidebar has been updated with the meeting dates for the next quarter - mark your calendars now ...

Meeting Reminder - Fri, Dec 14th

We will be meeting Friday, Dec 14^th,

from 10:00 – 2:00

at Crafty Threads Quilt Shop!

Click on this link to learn more!

Some sewing – some cutting – some ironing – some assembling

AND

SOME POTLUCK LUNCH!

COME ON OVER …  WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU!

 

 

Valparaiso University Display

Diana Richards is the regional coordinator for the Quilts of Valor Foundation in Indiana.  She recently coordinated a display, in conjunction with the Military Veteran’s Law Assoc and Valparaiso University, of Quilts of Valor made by five area quilt guilds.  Over 125 quilts, draped over the pews of the University’s Chapel of the Resurrection, made for a very moving display.

After their one-day showing, 94 of the quilts were awarded to the 713^th Engineering Company of the Indiana National Guard in a ceremony on Saturday, Dec 8th.  These soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan, where they lost 6 members of their unit during their deployment.  The balance of the quilts will be sent to military hospitals in Afghanistan.

The following pictures were taken by an Indiana quilter who was fortunate enough to be able to visit the show:

To read more about the Quilts of Valor Foundation and see more photos, click on this article on the website of WKVI FM Radio:

http://www.wkvi.com/local/valparaiso-university-hosts-quilts-of-valor/#more-38035

December Meeting Date - Friday, December 14th

December’s Quilts of Valor meeting

will be very special  …

and it’s rapidly approaching!

We will meet on Friday, Dec 14^th, from 10 – 2:00 at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop (see the sidebar for the address). 

A few things on the agenda (but there’s always more – just sayin’ … ):

Ñ        Make pillowcase presentation packages

Ñ        Lay out 2-3 quilt tops and number the rows

Ñ        Sew rows of quilt tops from assembled kits

Ñ        Iron bindings

Ñ        Cut and sew borders  - both sizes

Ñ        Cut some light blocks for B Block kits

Ñ        Monitor the status of the kits, possibly cut more

Ñ        Cut and prepare more backings

&      IT’S POTLUCK DAY …  YES, A VERY

       SPECIAL DAY!  BRING YOUR DISH.

Come on over to the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Friday.  There will be plenty to do (and plenty to eat).  We have new members joining us every month and we’re waiting to see YOU!

AND, if you have red, white (or cream or light tan) or blue fabrics, please bring them with you or drop them off at the Quilt Shop.  We welcome (and need) your 100% cotton fabric donations.  Thank you!

Pearl Harbor Day

The Nation will pause today to remember those who gave their lives at the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7^th 1941.  We are rapidly losing those veterans of WWII, oft described as “The Greatest Generation”, who were more than willing to fight for our freedoms.

Yesterday, a Presidential proclamation was issued calling for flags to fly at half-staff today and asking all Americans to observe the day of remembrance and honor military service members and veterans. 

Thank A Veteran For Your Freedom
By J. L. Sager
It was a veteran, not a reporter,
Who guaranteed freedom of the press.

It was a veteran, not a poet,
Who guaranteed freedom of speech.

It was a veteran, not a campus organizer,
Who guaranteed freedom to demonstrate.

It was a veteran, not a minister,
Who guaranteed freedom to worship.

It was a veteran, not a salesman,
Who guaranteed freedom to own property.

It was a veteran, not a travel agent,
Who guaranteed freedom to travel.

It was a veteran, not a politician,
Who guaranteed freedom to vote.

It is a veteran who salutes the Flag,
Risks it all for the Flag,
And who is buried beneath the Flag.

We Need Fabrics!

‘Tis the Season to clean house, fa-la-la-la-la … ♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪ ...

and if you do, we want those fabrics you’ve been wondering what to do with or have to find some place for before the relatives come (or maybe before Santa comes with more fabric!!).

The CT Quilters are in need of fabric donations – especially reds and blues.  We use only good quality, 100% cotton fabrics (no childish prints, please) in compliance with the Quilts of Valor Foundation’s requirements.

If you have some spare red, white (or light tans or creams) or blue fabrics, please remember our group and consider donating.  Or if you are going to your quilt guild’s meeting, ask around and maybe some of your fellow quilters would like to contribute.  Sometimes they’re just waiting to be asked (or to know you have a need)!

We particularly prize ½ yard cuts and will downright fall in love with 4 yard pieces for backings, but smaller pieces are ok, too.  We can always use cotton battings also, twin size or larger preferred (in packages - so we can ensure the cleanest environment for our combat veterans or active duty personnel).

Here’s a collage of various quilts for inspiration and to get you rooting around in those stashes!  We will be eternally grateful for whatever you find … Thank You for looking.

You can bring fabrics to the CT Quilters meeting on Friday, Dec 14^th, from 10-2:00 or drop them off anytime at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Race Track Road in Tampa (just let them know they are for the QOV group).  We will be eternally grateful for whatever you find … Thank You for looking.

Quilt of Valor Delivered Today

I went with another lady to deliver one of the CT Quilter’s Quilts of Valor today and met a most interesting man named Mike.  He had been a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine as they say) and served in Vietnam.  Today he is retired and helps with feral cat rescue and raises amazing orchids.  What a green thumb!  He must have had at least ten varieties of orchids hanging from various trees in his front yard alone.  He had a small water feature and it was perfect weather today to sit out on a little patio and enjoy our conversation.

Kathy (L), Mike and Sylvia (R)

He was pretty modest about talking about himself (as are many veterans) but he told me a little about his work since he left the Marines and we swapped the usual tales about health (some of us are getting to be of that certain age, you know!) and the economy, etc.  Then he shared a story of his friend that had nominated him for a Quilt of Valor.  His friend had been wounded and blinded at Iwo Jima and had gone on to start and manage a flourishing wholesale florist business in California earning a small fortune.  Our Veterans can sure be rugged individuals – they just keep on truckin’!  His friend has also received a Quilt of Valor.

Check out the critter in Mike's tree at the left!!

We told Mike a little bit about our group and the pleasure we took in making  Quilts of Valor.  We talked about the Haley VA Center in Tampa (Mike had been there), and our group’s contributions to the Poly-Trauma Unit.   We definitely thanked Mike for his service, and tried to get across that he was to USE his quilt (he was going to keep it clean in its pillowcase …).  His wife couldn’t be there today due to her work shift, but I hope she gets it out tonight and they both sit on the couch and cover their feet with the quilt … I’m betting their dachshund will want to share, too!

Several of Mike’s orchids and one of his kitties:

Isn't this gorgeous?!

And Mike thinks his Green Thumb is not unusual!!

OK - this one thinks he's a tiny Black Panther

PS  Sylvia is the mother of a QOV Regional Coordinator from South Carolina.  Sylvia lives in Florida and arranged the meeting with Mike.  Thank you, Sylvia, for taking me with you.  I really enjoyed meeting Mike - what a pleasure.

 

Thanksgiving Message

We are ever thankful for those who served our country proudly …

We remember that our liberties sometimes come with great sacrifice.

Liberty Hall in Philadelphia

Special Edition!

We have a very special story for you today.

First, a little background:

©       One of our very own CT Quilters, Maria, is also a member of the Cashiers Quilt Guild in Cashiers, NC.

©       Maria is a flight attendant for Delta Airlines.  She regularly signs up for charters that bring our troops back from various locales, including Germany.

©       Maria’s Cashiers Guild has been making Quilts of Valor for 4 years and donating to our wounded service personnel at Ft Bragg, NC (home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces), Bethesda, MD (the Maryland Medical Center) and most recently to Kaiserslautern, Germany (Landstuhl Regional Medical Center) – and therein lies our tale!

Maria was instrumental in arranging for 57 quilts to be packed and shipped via Delta Airlines (52 from the Cashiers Guild and 5 from the Franklin/Sylvia’s Smokey Mountain Guild) .  She had help with the initial packing from her fellow guild members, Liz, Linda and LeVonna.  And when they drove to Atlanta to deliver the boxes at air cargo, the general manager graciously waived all of Delta’s airline cargo fees (a big “Thank You!” to Delta Airlines!). 



Liz (L), Maria (R) and Linda holding up the quilt (you can see her feet!)

So now the boxes were off and Maria had to catch her own flight the next day to Dusseldorf, Germany, where she rented a car, picked up the boxes and made the trek to Kaiserslautern and Landstuhl.  Landstuhl Medical Center is where our wounded soldiers receive Trauma Level 1 Treatment and is the largest American hospital outside of the US.

This is where Maria met with a PR representative, an Army chaplain with the Pastoral Care Unit, a tech sergeant and a photographer, all who were excited to receive her delivery of wonderful, comforting Quilts of Valor.

Chaplain (L), Maria (center) and PR Rep (R) with quilts and boxes

They were surprised that the quilts included pillowcase presentation cases, and they were thrilled at the beauty of the quilts.

Armed Forces personnel cared for in the Warrior Ward receive quilts through the Pastorial Closet that handles donations.

Maria with the Tech Sargent and quilts

Wounded warriors with Maria
(shading to protect their privacy)

Wounded warrior receiving his quilt from Maria
(shading to protect his privacy)

In Maria’s own words:

“It was a very rewarding and memorable experience for me to have been able to go to Germany and represent our Quilt Guild.  I am so pleased and proud that the company I work for was so gracious to support our cause and sponsor the shipment of the Quilts of Valor.”

On her return flight, Maria was accompanied by and attended to 300 Air Force troops, and more will be headed back home after the Holidays.

There was a very nice write-up of Maria’s very special trip by a columnist called “The Quilt Lady” (Bonnie Talley) in the Crossroads Chronicle on Wednedsay, Sep 26, 2012.  How wonderful that Maria and her guild were able to get the recognition that they deserve and to get the word out about the fantastic efforts of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

Crossroads Chronicle

Kudos to you and the Cashiers Quilt Guild, Maria!

Quote of the Day:

From the world wars of Europe to the jungles of the Far East, from the deserts of the Middle East to the African continent, and even here in our own hemisphere, our veterans have made the world a better place and America the great country we are today.
John Hoeven (US Senator – ND)