Making Quilts Tuesday, May 16, VFW, Montgomery

We have a few tops to bundle and a LOT of cutting to do!!  I'll tell you more of the "kitting" opportunity we have coming up.  See you Tuesday, 9:30-????

This week's happenings:
On Friday, May 5th, Judge Mike H. from the Skokie Municipal District, awarded our quilts. He wrote: "It was AWESOME. It was awesome because of the participation of quilts of valor. I swear I get emotional just talking to the group about it before we even quilt them. I gave a few minutes on what QOV is all about as well as the fact that they went above and beyond in getting these quilts made as well as delivered. Thanks Ms. Schulze and I hope your mom's health is improving." And thank you from us, Beverly Schuetz Schulze for all the schlepping you do for us!

And, Sue and I were in Niles on Tuesday:
Roger wrote:  This is from this mornings presentation from Quilts of Valor Illinois by Rita Pennington and another lady with her. It was really very moving for ALL of us Vietnam Veterans and we want to thank everyone that makes these Quilts for Veterans. Just Wonderful we are all a buzz about receiving them. Going to make 4 more presentations tonight at our VVA Chapter #242 meeting and will post them also. These four were not at coffee this morning, and two tomorrow at the office where I work with two more Veterans one a Woman Desert Storm and the other a Vietnam Veteran a MP.

St. Charles Sew-in

Brought home 18 completed tops!! I have not counted how many bundles, but two bags full!! Thank you all who took home handfuls of fabrics for cutting in preparing to making kits. Drop me a line of how many you cut so I can bring more if necessary. Thank you Joe Toma for accepting the invite to visit. We loved your stories..inspires everyone confirming we are making a difference. Stop by anytime.

 ALSO:  Remember the Veteran we awarded a quilt to on Nat'l Sewing Day earlier this year. I just got a thank you note: "Dear Quilters, A warm thank you to your organization for uplifting the spirits of our veterans. Our mother, a WWII, W.A.V.E. Veteran, was viciously attacked and robbed in her home in Chicago on Dec. 7. " She writes that I nominated her for her quilt and it was actually, Barb, from the Village Quilters of Lake Bluff. "to receive a quilt during one of their sewing days in February in St. Charles, IL. Mom was truly fascinated by all the team work it took to make a quilt as all the quilters explained the steps after presenting her with own quilt to take home. Truly a labor of love! No one deserves more appreciation than our selfless veterans. It is comforting to know that amid all the bad, there are still plenty of caring people in the world like yourselves. Sincerely, The Family of Josephine R. Chicago, IL"

Thank you gentlemen for your sacrifice, bravery and service!

4 Veterans receive their QOV's: From Deb S..."Rita -
Today (4/22) I awarded 4 quilts to Veterans nominated by Jackie Pasha. All US Army. All Vietnam Vets.
LeRoy N, Eliseo (Lee ) L, Richard J, and Michael P
then I got a thank you note from the requester:

Rita, thank you very much for all of your help regarding getting the quilts for the Quilt Presentation this past Saturday at the Lake Zurich American Legion. The quilts are beautiful and I know Mike P, Rich J, Lee L, and Lee N all enjoyed receiving them !
I sent Deb a "thank you" e-mail as well.
Thanks again for all that you and the Quilts of Valor organization do for Veterans.
Jackie

Sew-in reminder notice:  Tuesday, May 2, Moose Lodge, St. Charles, 9-???  So, those who don't want to bring in your sewing machine...we will be backing tops, bundling with batting  Bring along your rulers and rotary cutters if you're not planning to sit and sew.  Bring along your calendars as we have some awarding events coming up and, you've worked on these quilts (pieced, binding, quilters) and you should be a part of awarding.  Love for you to have the opportunity to wrap some veterans this summer!
See you Tuesday,
Rita

Sew In, Montgomery VFW, Tuesday, April 18

Yes, another sew-in reminder notice is up.  We are so lucky to have the space!  This group is growing as well.  Oh, and if you have any plastic bags, Joyce will be happy to take them.  For those who don't know, Joyce uses them to crochet bed mats for the homeless.

Have a Happy Easter.

Thank you Mr. Eugene P for your service.

Thank you Roger McGill for representing us at awarding Mr. Eugene P his Quilt of Valor. Sounds like it was very special! You wrote: "... it was a very nice ceremony that we had and presented to Gene, ..... They were very happy and so was the WW II Veteran and he was excited - even though he has dementia.

His niece and her son a Chicago Policeman, and her sister in law who also lives in this facility were there, and all the people that are on his wing of the floor up in the second floor that were there."

Sew In notes

Another super busy day...and a whole lot done!!  Here is our show ' tell from yesterday! Love the variety, right! AND you're doing wonders with our orphan blocks!! Note:  we had guests.  Thank you gentlemen for your generous donation.   So, unpacked and now packed for set up today at the show. Drop by the booth, make a block or two!

Tuesday, April 4, Sew in at Moose, St. Charles

Reminder notice. Tuesday, April 4, at the Moose (Rt 64), St. Charles. 9:30 - 2. This will be the day before set up at the Rosemont for the International Quilt Show. SO, we have bundles to get ready! We need your help sewing backings and cutting and bundling the tops readying them for quilting. Please press your tops before handing them in. I want to give you an idea of upcoming events.
To start off with we have over 80 requests from Foundation that we are working on (more coming in). Then, we have:

Vietnam Wall (Oswego) 7/1/17 est -12
A Soldiers Journey Home (Tony) May -40
RWW June est -50
Arlington Hts, Moore Asst Living (5/31) est -25
RWW (August) est -50
**Not to mention Veterans Day requests. Know that I only say yes if we have them or I know we will have them.
Let me know if you would like to be a part of the awarding of these quilts, btw. Always can use your help and love to let you share in the experience.
So, sewing machines, rotary cutter, scissors, a measuring tape and if you can schlep an ironing board/iron, thank you. I think the backing people and batting people could use their own stations.
Also, come with ideas/requests of patterns you would like to try or repeat from the past. We must start consider a "cutting day"..that IS if you want to get kits. Everyone on board cause that's all part of the quilting process, ok! Consider taking the challenge and taking some of the orphan blocks. Some of you are really creating some nice tops!!
A big thank you for what you are doing for our Veterans.
Rita

Thank you Les P for your service

  After one weather postponement and the winter holidays, the award occurred on Sunday, 3/12/2017.  My friend Beth accompanied me to this event.  Others present included his wife, his son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren.  The individual who nominated him (a friend who currently lives in California) called after the quilt was awarded since texts and photos sent almost in real time informed family and friends across the country of the occurrence.  

Les served in the Army infantry in Europe during WWII (1944-1946) and was very appreciative of being honored with a Quilt of Valor.

Deb

 

Awarding Quilts last night

Last night, accompanied by Sue N, we awarded some quilts.  Joshua G, Army/Marines, Afghanistan received his quilt.  Thank you Joshua for your service.  We then attended a Flags of Freedom fundraiser in Princeton.  They were raising funds for the HUGE flags that fly along I80 in Princeton.  We awarded quilts to Veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam.  Thank you gentlemen for your service!  Here are a few pictures.

Montgomery Sew In, Tuesday, March 21

Tuesday is the next QOV Sew-in. Lots to be done...cutting and bundling batting #1.  A couple tops needing borders.  PLEASE help!!

Sew in(S) reminder notices!! Rolling Meadows tomorrow and St. Charles, Tuesday

Doubling up here!  Tomorrow, March 4, is the debut of a QOV sew-in in Rolling Meadows, IL: First Saturdays, 1900 Hicks Rd. We will be sewing from 9:30 till 3.  I know lots of people asking for weekend sew ins.   Here's your chance.  I wish I could be there, but Granddaughter's birthday party...maybe I'll drop in next month.

And as I'm reminding.... we meet again at the Moose in St. Charles, Tuesday, March 7! Look forward to seeing every one AGAIN!!!!
Rita

Timothy N

On February 14, Deb S awarded Timothy N his Quilt of Valor.  Thank you so much for your service, sir.

Not only am I having major difficulties with this computer, as soon as I find my camera, I will be able to post pictures!  Again, we had a very nice show n tell at our sew in Tuesday.