A Tribute to the Navajo Code Talkers

Have you heard about the Navajo Code Talkers?



These wonderful young men from the Navajo Nation were serving in the US Marine Corp during WWII when they were able to devise an ingenious code using words and the alphabet of their native language.  They served bravely in every major engagement in the Pacific where their unbreakable code saved countless lives and, according to military commanders, undoubtably hastened the end of the war.

Made by Donna, Wilton, CA

Made by the Contra Costa Quilt Guild

A Valley Springs, CA group awarded 20 Quilts of Valor, including the above, to the surviving members of the Navajo Code Talkers in Oct, 2010.   Often called “silent heroes”, the Code Talkers efforts went unrecognized for decades as their exploits were kept secret in case this unique code was needed again.  The Navajo Code was finally declassified in 1968 and these true heroes could be publicly recognized and receive awards and accolades long overdue.

This beautiful quilt was created by Johnny and Flo Brooks of Stockton, CA, and quilted by Gail Belmont, of Valley Springs, CA.

Flo had learned of Quilts of Valor awarding quilts to the Navajo Code Talkers.  Her quilt includes symbols and traditions important to the Navajo People; including the circle of life with four cardinal directions, the Tree of Life and four colors – red, white, yellow and black.  Her quilt now hangs in the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, AZ.

To learn more about Johnny and Flo’s story, read this entry on the Quilts of Valor Blog.  Be sure to click on the link to the Additional Photos of Quilts on that same blog site for some more fabulous photos of the quilts awarded to the Navajo Code Talkers.

Learn more at this site:

http://quiltsofhonor.wordpress.com/2010/10/16/navajo-code-talkers-monument/

It’s Quilt Show Season in Florida!

Some of the best things about our area are the quilt shows put on by the various guilds.  You’ll find creative quilters everywhere, of course, but if you haven’t been to some of the following quilt shows, then you’ve missed a real treat.  Plan to put one or more of these dates on your busy calendars!

The Quilter’s Crossing Quilt Guild of Palm Harbor is presenting their show today and tomorrow (Jan 25 and 26) at the Countryside Recreation Center.  The show is called "Quilting Under the Palms" and has more than 200 quilts from Traditional to Contemporary.  Learn more at:  http://www.quilterscrossing.net/Pages/qpalms.html

One section of this show had various Americana quilts – very inspirational for making Quilts of Valor!

God Bless America – Sue Walworth – quilted by MK Quilts

America the Beautiful – Sophie Messinger

American Heritage – Nancy Morrison – quilted by Quilting Ladies of

N Halifax Fire Dept, Nathalie, VA – Eight wall hangings

pieced together – Very Clever!

Lone Star – Chris Peckham – from a Jinny Beyer Kit - 

Design shown in McCall’s Magazine

Special Event with Quilts:

Check out the Kumquat Festival – tomorrow, Jan 26 – a special Quilt Challenge is part of the many, many Festival activities – take the whole family to this one!  Historic Downtown Dade City.
Website:  http://www.dadecitychamber.org/?page=KumquatFestival

These are some of the other upcoming shows with their dates and locations.  In addition to fabulous quilts, most will have vendors, auctions, boutiques, basket walks or raffles, opportunity quilts, demonstrations, and much more:

Quilter’s Workshop of Tampa Bay - February 15 and 16

“Quilts From the Heart” - Salvation Army’s Community Worship  Center on W. Sligh Ave, Tampa.  See their guild website at:  http://www.quiltersworkshop.org

Peace River Quilters’ Guild – Feb 22 and 23

“Quilts on the Riverfront” – Charlotte Harbor Event Center, Punta  Gorda

See their guild website at:   http://www.peaceriverquilters.org/new_page_2.htm

Largo Cracker Quilters - February 22 and 23

“Celebrate the Quilt – Explore the Art VII” - Christ Presbyterian Church, Dryer Ave, Largo.  See their guild website at:   http://www.largocrackerquilters.org/

The Feather Princesses – Mar 1 and 2

“Applique in Tampa Bay III - Reflections” – St Lawrence Catholic Church – No. Himes Ave, Tampa.  See their guild website at: http://www.featherprincesses.org/Quiltshow2013.htm

Kings Point Quilters – Mar 8 – Free Admission!

“Color Our World With Quilts” – Kings Point Clubhouse, Sun City Center

For more information see:  http://www.zvents.com/sun_city_center_fl/events/show/169198505-quilt-show

Friendship Knot Quilter’s Guild – Mar 8 and 9

“Quilts in Paradise” – Robarts Arena, Sarasota.  See their guild website at:   http://www.friendshipknotquiltersguild.com/quilt12/

Recap of 01/18/13 Meeting

If you couldn’t make it to the meeting last Friday, we missed you!  And what a hustling, bustling meeting it was – we got so much accomplished.  We thank everyone that was able to be with us and help with our Quilts of Valor assembly line.  We had a great time.

¤  We were especially grateful for the fabulous response to our plea for fabric and batting donations.  We received lots of partial bolts of the perfect red, white and blue fabrics.  We also received lots of big fabric pieces that we can put to good use.  And last, but not at all least, we received a GIANT roll of batting!  Thank you each and every one for your very generous contributions - we really needed them and rest assured, our veterans will cherish what we make of them!

Debbie cutting off a quilt's worth of the batting
that Diana brought in - Thank you so much, Diana!

¤  We sent 10 quilt tops out to be longarm quilted.  Here is an amazing quilt show of some tops that came in on Friday for your viewing pleasure:

Jadeen's top

Debbie with Top #1

Debbie with Top #2

Debbie's Top #2 Detail

Debbie with Top #3

Debbie with Top #4

Debbie's Top #4 Detail (round flags - very cool!)

Debbie shared that some of her quilt
tops this month  (including the round flag idea)
came from this book

¤  We sewed borders to tops and we sewed blocks in rows for tops,

¤  We sewed lots of bindings to quilts and others sewed them down by hand,

¤  We cut lots and lots of blocks and borders,

¤  We made up block kits for volunteers to check out (volunteers are snapping these up – thank you very much!),

¤  We cut fabric and made up backings for the quilts going out to be longarmed,

¤  We ate up the goodies that Pat and Patricia brought in [editorial: who sneaked this bullet point in here?!]; apparently, we’ve never met a brownie, cookie or quick bread that we didn’t like - LOL.

¤  Some of our members took home QOV projects like blocks for tops and borders and/or bindings to sew together along with block kits, so we will already have out work cut out for us next meeting!  [editorial:  who wrote that bad pun anyway?! – quality control ladies, quality control…]

Our Show-and-Tell included an embroidered sweatshirt and purse – these items were made by a friend of Maria’s in North Carolina.  Don’t they represent the work of the Quilts of Valor Foundation well?

Maria also showed us an item that her NC guild has designed to hold quilting and other pins.  Maria fashioned hers into a necklace that includes pins from her travels for QOVF and from her husband’s service career.  Thanks, Maria, for the unique Show-and-Tell.

So if you had to miss this meeting, be sure to mark your calendar and join us next month.  It will be Feb 15^th, from 10 – 2:00.  We’ll be looking for you!

Reminder - Meeting Tomorrow - Jan 18th!

We will be meeting Friday, Jan 18^th,

from 10:00 – 2:00

at Crafty Threads Quilt Shop!

Click on this link to learn more.

Remember to bring your lunch or a snack

unless you want to go to a local restaurant

  

A Message From Our QOV Group Leader:

Are you ready to stitch, cut package and enjoy some camaraderie?!!

Well then, be at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on the 18^th at 10 o’clock or be square (our little quilty joke…).  We will plot our course for the next couple of meetings and discuss some other awards of our quilts besides the VA Hospital.

Those of us that attend these Quilts of Valor meetings come from all walks of life and experiences - just as the men and women who serve our Country with honor. When in Crisis we hope that the Quilts we make with loving hands reinforce our honor to make them and reward the sacrifice they have made for us and our Nation.

Please join us or contribute fabrics and battings. Thank you.

Pat - CT Quilter

January Meeting Date - Friday, January 18th

The first Quilts of Valor meeting of 2013 is right around the corner.  We will be meeting at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Racetrack Rd on Friday, January 18^th at 10:00.  Everyone is welcome to join us!

Note also that the meeting dates for the entire first quarter of 2013 have been set – see the sidebar for those dates and mark your calendars now to reserve the days. 

We will have a packed slate of events and there is something to suit everyone’s fancy, whether you sew or not:

·          Sew blocks into rows for tops (enough for ~6 people to help/sew),

·          Lay out another quilt top if space allows,

·          Sew pinwheels together,

·          Cut fabrics into blocks for kits,

·          Cut and sew borders  - both sizes,

·          Iron bindings,

·          Make up more block kits,

·          Cut and prepare more backings,

·          Make pillowcase presentation packages.

Come on over to the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Friday, the 18^th from 10:00 – 2:00.  You'll be sure to have a great time, and we'd love to see you.

AND, PLEASE:  check out your stash - if you have red, white or blue fabrics (or cream or light tan), please bring them with you or drop them off at the Quilt Shop.  We are running VERY low on fabrics.  We welcome (and need) your 100% cotton fabric donations.  Thank you!

Patriotic and Other Barn Blocks

Barn Block in Kentucky

So, when you travel, do you keep an eye out for “barn blocks”?  These giant quilt blocks are showing up all over and have become very popular – and they aren’t just for barns anymore! 

Once only found occasionally in rural countrysides, these painted blocks are now seen not only on barns, but also on businesses, homes, garages and public buildings.  Take a swing over to a fantastic blog that allows you to take a virtual barn block tour of their many documented blocks.

The Osceola Quilt Trail is part of a volunteer public art movement extending across the United States, celebrating our rural heritage and traditional arts, involving area residents in making art, and promoting agri-tourism.  Here’s an example of one of the patriotic blocks:

Robert and Janet VanderPloeg chose the Americana Star block for their barn to commemorate Robert’s military service during the Korean War.  This block is featured in Eleanor Burns book “Quilt Blocks on American Barns”.  The barn is located in Marion, MI.

Check out lots of barn blocks at:  http://osceolaquilttrail.wordpress.com/
But I do warn you, get yourself a cup of coffee or tea before you go over to this blog – you’ll spend a bit of time viewing all of the blocks!

Hoping for a Peaceful 2013