Recap of 11-15-13 Meeting

Let me tell you – our Quilts of Valor volunteers are just the BEST!  We were really settin’ the pedal to the metal this meeting.  We were so happy to welcome lots of new people and then we really got down to it…

We were cutting borders and blocks for our take-home kits, sewing blocks and hand sewing bindings and labels:

We were assembling kits:

We were sewing bindings onto quilted quilts and later making backings:

We were laying out blocks for tops, including this new design that uses 4-patches from our take-home kits:

We took in lots of fabric donations (a BIG thank you to many donors!! They came in fast but I managed to capture the names of Donna P-W, Debbie W., Gale and Kathy B. for this post):

We had some great quilts and quilt tops come in:

 

Debbie (L) with her quilt #1

Debbie (L) with her quilt #2 and Diana peeking out helping to hold!

Pat (L) helping hold Lisa's (R) Curved Log Cabin center - borders will be added to bring it to QOV size and Lisa will be quilting it - it's gorgeous already!

We had lots of pillowcase presentation packages come in:

And we had two wall-hanging size donated to go to a special VA destination (more on that later:

 

Pat (L) and Renita (R) holding the wallhanging top that Renita's friend Kathy donated

The second wallhanging-size donated by Kathy that will be finished by Pat

And the quilts, already matched up and in their pillowcase presentation packages, are stacking up and getting ready to go to their forever homes:

We were also able to meet another volunteer longarm quilter and her husband – who drove a considerable distance to get to us today.  Pat B. has been quilting for Quilts of Valor for some time and the CT Quilters are thrilled to begin an association with her.  We also received back another quilt back in from another volunteer longarmer, Virginia, but I'm sorry I didn't get a photo to post.  It has been sent home to be hand bound by another volunteer.  We want to thank our longarm coordinator, Sharon, for keeping track and making contacts for us.  We now have lots of quilts in the pipeline – we like to keep our longarmers busy!

Thank you so very much – both to the ladies that were able to attend our meeting and to our many, many volunteers who pick up our kits at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop and bring us back sewn blocks.  YOU are what makes it all happen!

We’re looking forward to next month – we will have a regular working session in the morning and then break for a Potluck Lunch at the shop.  Put Friday, Dec 20^th on your calendars now since this busy season tends to book up quickly – you won’t want to miss this next meeting!

Meeting Reminder - Friday, Nov 15th

Our Quilts of Valor Group will be meeting

Friday, Nov 15^th,

From 10:00 – 2:00

At the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop ...

Click on this link to learn more!

Veterans Day

While Veterans Day is primarily a tribute to America’s living Veterans, and is typically observed more as a celebration than as a somber remembrance such as on Memorial Day, it is always appropriate to include a moment of respect for those who gave their lives for our country.  The signing of the World War I Armistice took place in a railway coach near the battle zone in France.  The bugles sounded cease fire and the hostilities ended, marking a most significant moment in world history.  Although 11:00 a.m. remains a traditional hour for this type of tribute, a moment of silence is appropriate at any point in the day today.

We salute our Troops and thank our Veterans.

November Meeting Notice

November Meeting Date - Friday, November 15^th

You are especially invited to attend our Quilts of Valor meeting.

We meet once a month at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop

12330 Racetrack Rd, Tampa

From 10:00 – 2:00

You do not need to sign up to attend!

No sewing skills are required –

But you can bring your rotary cutter/mat,

or hand sewing sewing needles and thread (red/white/blue)

 or even bring your machine if you like to sew. 

There will be lots of projects available to work on.

November Meeting Date - Friday, November 15^th

http://craftythreads.com/

http://www.qovf.org/

Quilt of Valor Awarded

All Quilts of Valor are special, but this particular quilt was special not only to the recipient, it was awarded by a very special friend of the recipient.  Linda Fentriss, a member of the CT Quilters QOV Group, was recently named as a FL Regional Coordinator by the Quilts of Valor Foundation.  She made and quilted this quilt for her friend and fellow veteran, Marc M.

 

Linda (L) and Marc (R) with the QOV

Here’s Marc’s story of her military service and travels to various duty assignments:

I was in one of the last units to go through Ft McClellan, AL as an all female WAC (Women’s Army Corps) unit before its flag was retired.  It struck me later that the school was founded on my birthday, but I am much younger, of course – LOL!

[Editorial:  The Women's Army Corps School was founded at Fort McClellan on September 25, 1952. Approximately two years later, official ceremonies were conducted to establish the post as the first permanent home of the U.S. Women's Army Corps Center. Fort McClellan remained its home until the Corps was disestablished and its flag retired in 1977. Participating in the final ceremony was Major General Mary E. Clarke, the last director of the Women's Army Corps and destined to later become the Commanding General of Fort McClellan, the first female officer ever to command a major Army installation.]

My first duty assignment was at Ft Huachuca, AZ.   Ft Huachuca was a well kept secret back then.  It was a small, beautiful post at the bottom of the Huachuca Mountains.  I killed trees during this duty assignment as a clerk for the Intelligence Center.

One year later, I received orders to Germany.  I left beautiful Ft Huachuca kicking and screaming, but then spent 11 years working in Heidelberg, again at an Intelligence Center.  I grew inordinately fond of Heidelberg and on receiving orders to leave to return to the USA, I was again kicking and screaming.  I was stationed in Ft Hamilton, NY with the 315^th Medical Bn.  Later I was sent to St Louis to work in the US Army Personnel Center.

My “dream sheet” requested Alaska as my final duty assignment so, of course, the Army sent me to Miami, FL.  I reported to the 324^th Combat Support Hospital one month before Hurricane Andrew took the roof off the house I was living in and the roof off of our brand new center that had yet to be dedicated.   Two years later, I retired from the Service.

Linda was very pleased to award a Quilt of Valor to her friend, Marc. 

And Marc, we send a sincere “Thank You” to you

 for your service to our Country!

New FL QOV Coordinator

Meet Linda Fentriss, Florida State Coordinator

I live in Tampa, Florida with my husband Richard and our dog Tillie.  My husband and I met when we were stationed at NAF Andrews Air Force Base.  I was an Air Traffic Controllman and he was an Aviation Electronics Technician.  I got out of the Navy and he made it a career and retired after 21 years of service.  I had been a teacher, an administrative assistant, computer programmer and adjunct mathematics professor before retiring this year.  Now I am a quilter.

My sister-in-law convinced me to learn how to quilt.  I wanted to do something with the quilts and looked on line to see what charitable organizations needed quilts.  I found the QOV site and contacted our local quilt store, Crafty Threads, and asked what did I need to do.  When they said just show up and help, I knew I found a winner.  I have made many quilts from start to finish and am teaching myself how to longarm quilt.

With our QOV group I do a little of everything.  I have only been a member for one year but have cut, pieced and quilted a QOV from start to finish.  Being involved with the military for all of my adult life, I feel like I need to give back to those who protect my freedom.  When I read in the newsletter that QOV needed help, I  volunteered to do longarm quilting; then I volunteered to be the Florida Coordinator.  I look forward to supporting QOV as I believe every service person past and present deserves a quilt of valor.

You can contact me by e-mail at Linda.Fentriss@qovf.org.  I look forward to hearing and working with you.

Source:  http://www.qovf.org/content/region-8-fl-l-fentriss.html

From the Quilts of Valor Foundation

Quilts of Valor Foundation 2013 To the Quilts of Valor Community of Volunteers, We need your help! The QOVF story on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams Monday evening has brought impressive national attention, new Facebook friends, website visitors, interested volunteers, many new groups registered AND over 251 requests for Quilts of Valor since the broadcast.  Each month we have standing requests for over 240 quilts from medical facilities in Afghanistan and Germany, as well as stateside programs working with both active military and veterans. With the additional 251 requests, we are short of Quilts of Valor needed for presentations in the next couple of months. If you have a quilt under way, please get it finished and get it to your State Coordinator or to our Destinations Coordinator. If you have not started your next Quilt of Valor, would you try to get another one completed and to the long armer before the holiday season is upon us?  Here a just a few of the comments that we have received with the requests for our comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. --This request is for my dad. He has Type 2 Diabetes from Agent Orange, and has been sick for several months. Out of six boys in his family five of them served in the military. Thank you for all that you ladies are doing. --My father served in the 93rd evac hospital in Saigon (1964-1965). He is an anesthetist (RN) and spent day after day in the operating room helping patch up the injured men. He's never received any kind of honor or award for his service. This would be the perfect recognition. --Yvonne was an Army surgical nurse stationed in harm's way in each deployment. Severely wounded In January 2010 by a mortar that blew up outside her tent, she has been struggling to recover from nerve damage, TBI, and PTSD. She deserves a Quilt of Valor more than anyone I know. Please consider her as a recipient.  --My husband was severely injured while serving in Vietnam. He still has his Purple Heart, tattered as it is, hanging from his rear view mirror. When he saw the news about your quilts, he commented, "I would love to have one." This is the first thing he has asked for in 43 years.  --Spent 8 months in Afghanistan last year working as aircrew. Will be deploying again in a few months during the winter. Having a quilt from you would be an honor. If it's not I understand. My roommate had a quilt that had been given to him through QOVF and has had me interested ever since.  --I was wounded on Nov.5, 1969. After several weeks of surgery in Vietnam and Japan, I recuperated enough to be shipped back to the U.S.A. I arrived at St. Albans Naval Hospital in New York on a freezing winter day. We were transferred to an unheated school bus dressed only in our hospital pajamas and a thin robe. I could have used one of your quilts to ease my shivering as we rode for an hour before arriving at he hospital. Tears came to my eyes when I heard about Quilts of Valor on the nightly news.  Thank you so much for showing our troops someone cares. Thank you for all you have done and thank you in advance for helping us honor these men and women who have given so much for us. Susan Gordon, Executive Director      Contact Information Sincerely,  Susan Gordon Executive Director Quilts of Valor Foundation susan.gordon@qovf.org Thank you for putting service above self.  Your efforts make a difference.

Recap of 10-18-13 Meeting

What a great Quilts of Valor meeting!  We have now stuffed our basket with kits – ready for our volunteers to take home and sew.  And we have more kits waiting in the wings – we were just s-o-o-o very productive this meeting!

Loretta assembling kits - Irene hand sewing - basket stuffed!

Sharon cutting for kits

lots of extra kits ...

And we now have 9; no, make that 10; no, make that 11 quilts ready [well, they were rolling in fast and it was hard to keep track!] – all bound and with labels, ready to go to the VA Hospital with the next delivery … and more to come back in soon.

Here’s some photos:

Debbie's Flags

Debbie and her Strippie

Kathy and the Group's Many Trips Around the World

Diana and her Flags

And we had a fun demo from Debbie of a new technique and how to use those scraps!  I can see you nodding your heads – those scraps just tend to multiply (maybe while we’re sleeping??). 

Debbie showed us how to use Scrap Happy fusible grids for 2-inch scraps:

Sew on the grid lines provided:

Cut them in half and add a larger block:

And Voila!  You have easy already-sashed blocks to sew together. 

This is a Joan Ford technique and there are many variations of the grids and patterns (patterns sold separately or in her books).  Try it … we loved it!

We also had a very special sneak preview of a quilt that is going cruising, but that will have its own blog post in the near future … stay tuned!

Our Next Meeting Will Be:    Friday, Nov 15th

Meeting Reminder - Friday, Oct 18th

We will be meeting Friday, Oct 18^th,

From 10:00 – 2:00

At Crafty Threads Quilt Shop!

Click on this link to learn more!

Navy Day?

When do you celebrate Navy Day?

On October 13^th or on October 27^th?

Why is there any question, you ask?

Well, historically, the day was celebrated on October 27^th because that was the birthday of President Theodore Roosevelt, a huge supporter of the modern Navy. 

But, it was discovered in the 1970s that the "birthday" of the Continental Navy was actually on October 13, 1775, and so CNO Admiral Elmo Zumwalt worked with the Navy League to define THAT date as the new date of Navy Day.  However, Navy Day in the United States is still largely recognized as October 27. 

Traditions are hard to break.  But, no matter - Having two ginormous birthday cakes can never be a bad thing ...

Happy Birthday, US Navy and Naval Reserve!!

Anchors Aweigh

Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry;

We'll never change our course,

So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.

Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh.

Sail on to victory and sink their bones to

Davy Jones, hooray!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.

Farewell to foreign shores,

we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.

Through our last night on shore,

drink to the foam,Until we meet once more.

Here's wishing you a happy voyage home

Blue of the mighty deep Gold of

God’s great son

Let these colors be till all of time

Done, done, done, done.

On the seven seas we learn Navy’s stern call:

Faith, courage, service true,

With honor, over honor, over all.

October Meeting Notice

 October Meeting Date - Friday, October 18^th

This meeting of our Quilts of Valor group will have a focus on making block KITS! 

We have been very fortunate that a lot of volunteers have been signing out our take-home block kits and we need to replenish our supply of kits and fabric squares for future kits.

We are expecting some quilted quilts to come back in, so there will also be some hand sewing available.  No matter if you like to sew, cut, press or assemble, we will have a spot ready for YOU.

Bring whatever tools you want to work with - sewing machine, rotary cutter, ruler, hand sewing needles and thread, etc.,  and we will put you to work on your favorite project.

We will be meeting at the Crafty Threads Quilt Shop on Racetrack Rd on Friday, October 18^th from 10:00 – 2:00.

The photo at the top of this post and this photo are some of the quilts that went to the Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii – read more about it at this post if you missed it!

 All are invited to join our Group and

be a part of this wonderful project.

No sewing skills required –

Bring your machine if you like to sew.

Another Very Special Delivery

A member of the CT Quilters QOV Group, Donna, was able to take one of our quilts to CMSgt Mike M., who saw duty as a radioman in WWII (Europe) and Korea before retiring from the Air Force.

Here, Mike is shown with his daughter Jan, as he proudly displays the label on his Quilt of Valor.  We are honored to be able to give you this tangible emblem of our gratitude for your service, Mike, and we thank you!