QOV Newsletter

http://www.qovf.org/Pdf_Files/2010/nov.10.newsletter.pdf

Check it out. It's a nice read and in there they ask for ideas on what we do on a local level. You know I've been thinking about writing in what we do and how it all started and how we've progressed! I truly believe it's just: great people who work wonderfully together. And to tie that in with Thanksgiving.......I am so thankful for everyone who has stepped up.

These last couple months have been "trying" for lack of a better word. Our usual request for the January RWW Program was compounded with a request from Rockford for 170 quilts for 3 returning troops to be welcomed home in January as well. Can we do it? That's 250 quilts! Well, you know what......we're VERY close and I think we can. Been doing a lot of binding and I'm thinking December will have its fill as well and we'll have a ceremony to go to in January and be very proud!

It's been mentioned to me, "are we just giving quilts to everyone now?". Well, I'll quote from the QOV Newsletter: ARE YOU AWARE: Armed service members undergo tremendous stress to leave family, friends, career and country when they are deployed, stress that is beyond civilian capacity to comprehend.
Remember, we give quilts to our heroes who not only have been "injured" physically, but mentally as well.

Rita

To our Machine quilters

I have approached some of you and don't want to miss anyone. Most of you are in business and if you would like to have your name/business in the form of a website or email addy posted on this blog, let me know. Your work is awesome and you've been so good to us (thank you)...I'd be happy to refer tops your way. You'll be listed under: Some of Our favorite QOV helpers!

Rita

QOV's can be viewed at the Winnebago Public Library

These are the quilts that are currently on display at the Winnebago Public Library in Winnebago, IL . I was asked by the library board to put them up for Veterans' Day and then they decided they should remain in place until this Saturday. I was honored to do so and please to show off our quilts and get details out about Quilts of Valor.
And now back to my quilting,

Vixanna "Vicki" Robbel

American Valor fabric coming in March

If you go to the QOVF blog (on the side under blogs to follow), and then under: Preview of American Valor Fabrics, check out the new fabrics coming soon. Hope we can get some of that, huh!

Rita

Veterans Day

I was trying to come up with something to say in honor of Veterans Day. I received this yesterday and am passing it on:

Bravo to that teacher

A lesson that should be taught in all schools and colleges: Back in September, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School, did something not to be forgotten.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.

'Ms.. Cothren, where are our desks?' She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period,third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) War Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk.

The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall... By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.. Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks.

These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

By the way, this is a true story.

LEST WE FORGET - Wear a Poppy to show your respect on Remembrance (Veterans) Day

Donald H Weston MMM CD

Ready for binding

Some of you asked if I had quilts ready for binding. I will have 8 or 9 ready tomorrow morning. I must keep a couple for myself cause I, too, like watching TV in the evening with a quilt over my lap and some handsewing---tis the season afterall.

Rita

Thank YOU

Going to take this time to thank you for your fabric donations. Sometimes I don't get a phone number of email address when you drop off fabric at the shop, so thank you! This past week I've picked up fabric at Willowbrook, McHenry and am headed out today for another pickup of quilts. Illinois supports our troops!!!**and we've had help from Wisconsin as well--thank you!

Behind the scenes---we have a new block for future kits. Working on the Churndash and we'll have bricks soon. Anyone find a good price on those plastic bags, let us know. I know most of you are returning the bags for refills---that really helps.

Rita

PS AND thank you for the pillowcases!! Anita, Donna, Arlene and Marilyn (I'll thank you in advance). Keep healing, Marilyn.

20 +

I came home with 20 quilt tops(need quilting), 2 quilted tops (needing bindings and labels) and a couple partial tops. Here are some of the tops made today.

I know I counted how many ladies were there today and I know it was the most we've EVER had! AND the food-----------the best ever!!

If everything comes in that's out there (kits/tops being quilted), we will definitely reach our goal. We have eager people looking for binding jobs, so as soon as the quilts come in I'll post.

Thank you.
Rita