Proudly Featuring Our Quilters …

We’ve posted lots of pictures of our quilts in progress and our finished quilts, but now we’d like to highlight the remarkable contributions of the people who have ultimately made this possible - namely our machine quilters.  It has been said that “Quilting makes the Quilt”, and we can truthfully say that our quilts go out with every stitch speaking a special “thank you for your service” to the military personnel that receive them.

We have four quilters that have made our quilts very special:

Barb, Pat, Diane and Jan

We all owe a debt of gratitude to these ladies for the thought and care that goes into the designs that are quilted on these Quilts of Valor, and also for their time and commitment to ensuring quality heirloom quilts.  Oh, and we don’t want to forget to mention that Barb’s Dad is special to us also in that he tends the computer-aided process on occasion for Barb - ever vigilant for that annoying empty bobbin …. 

And, here’s a sampling of their products:

Barb from Crafty Threads Custom Embroidery and Longarm Quilting

Closeup of design being quilted by Barb in the photo above

Closeup of quilting design



Pat holding a quilted quilt waiting to be bound



Jan's Quilting

Closeup of Jan's quilting (on a home machine, not a longarm!)



Another item quilted - binding to be sewn down

 The CT Quilters Group thanks all

of our quilters so very much!

A Delivery - A Welcome and - A Good-bye

The CT Quilters were so pleased that we were able to put together and deliver another batch of quilts to the Poly-Trauma Unit of the James A. Haley VA Hospital here in Tampa, FL.    Pat (a founder and leader of the CT Quilters) delivered nine quilts for our group – Wahoo!

While at Haley, Pat discovered that Ronika, our liaison in Volunteer Services, has been promoted and will be leaving Haley and working in another state.  Congratulations to Ronika!  The CT Quilters want you to know that you will be missed down here in Tampa, but we wish you well with your new posting.

Dawn (l) and Ronika (r) with Patricia's Donated QOV

 And Pat was introduced to our new liaison, Dawn.  Dawn is a Volunteer at the VA from the American Legion Auxiliary.  We are pleased to be working with you now, Dawn, and we are happy to report that we already have more quilts in the works!

Here are some of the pictures of the preparation and delivery of the quilts. 

Quilts and Presentation Packages (pillowcases) being prepared

The volunteers reported that they were sorry that we couldn’t all see the joy on the recipient’s faces when they received their quilts, but we understand that security must remain tight and that privacy should be protected.  We just want each of these service personnel to know that we are trying to give them a piece of home and a touch of comfort.

Each quilt has a special label on the back

We also enclose a letter of thanks with each of the Quilts of Valor that we award so that the recipients know how much we value their service and sacrifice.  Each quilt is awarded in a pillowcase presentation package.

Stack ready to go with letters

Pat at Haley with the QOVs

And as a side note, we received a lovely letter of thanks from the Department of Veterans Affairs for our previous donation of quilts.  We feel privileged to be a part of the Quilts of Valor program and in turn, we thank the Dept and its volunteers for facilitating to get the quilts awarded to their new owners.

Pat has more news about their fall fundraiser and I will write more about that in another post!  Keep your eyes out …

Recap of 8/10/12 Meeting

Question:   If rising productivity means getting more output from less input,

 what do you get with more input instead of less?

Answer:     Plentiful abundance, that’s what!!

We were so fortunate this month to welcome four new members to our group and the various Quilts of Valor projects were all in high gear at the meeting:

v      We laid out blocks for three more tops from our favorite design (the Fourth of July by Bonnie Hunter) and numbered the rows ready to be sewn together next month

v      We cut and cut and cut:

-         Squares for “A Blocks”

-         Preparations for backings

-         Border strips

-         Binding strips

Cutting borders and hand sewing bindings

 v      We ironed and ironed and ironed:

-         Backings

-         Borders

-         Bindings

v      We sewed and sewed and sewed:

-         Borders

-         Bindings (by hand and by machine!)

-         Labels (by hand)

Sewing on borders and bindings

v      We assembled more “A Block” kits

Cutting blocks and kit assembly

v      We made packages of blocks ready to layout into more tops

v      We had a mini-tutorial on how to square up a quilt after it has been quilted (thank you, Barb from Crafty Threads!)

And, we were delighted to receive two completed tops that were made and donated by our members – these are now in line to be longarm quilted:

donated by Debbie

Mystery Quilt - donated by Kathy

♥         A special thank you to all of our at-home volunteers who continue to sign up to take and return our pre-assembled block kits – just drop in at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop and sign out a few kits at your convenience.

♥         And another special thank you to those that have donated fabric to our group – it is greatly appreciated – we are always in need of 100% cotton red,  white or blue fabrics (and a special hug for our new member Sharon who brought in a lovely huge piece perfect for a quilt back)

We missed seeing some folks this meeting, but we look forward to hearing about your vacations and travels next time.  Just wanted you to know we’re thinking of you.

Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Sept 14^th … pencil this in on your calendars now (we will be confirming this date on or after Aug 25^th) – watch this spot and/or look for your email!

August Meeting – Friday, Aug 10th

The CT Quilters-Quilts of Valor Group’s meeting date is fast approaching!  Please plan to come to the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Friday, August 10th.  There are always a variety of projects in the works and everyone will be able to join in the fun (whether you can sew or not – it doesn’t matter)!

Some of the projects include:

¨       Layout blocks into quilt tops for our normal design, called the Fourth of July;  we still have packages of the right number of blocks all ready to lay out and assemble,

¨       Sew rows of the quilt tops mentioned above, some are already in stacks of rows and ready to sew together,

¨       Sew up some of the “B” block kits since the A’s have been very popular recently,

¨       Monitor the status of the pre-packaged kits – possibly cut and assemble more if required,

¨       Make up some pillowcases for presentation packages,

¨       And, as always, whatever else comes up (like ironing, binding, labeling – eventually they will all be needed)!

Definitely plan to attend and bring your sewing machine if you’d like to sew.

We meet from 10:00 – 2:00 at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop (click on the link here or on the sidebar for address, phone and directions).  We’ve been very happy to welcome new members each month – so drop in and say hello!