Sew-in Reminder - March 6

Where: Prairie Shop Quilt Store, 1911 W Wilson, Batavia
Time: 10 AM - ???


We're ready for another sew-in. We have company coming! Pam, Great Lakes contact who came by a couple months ago to pick up quilts and she is bringing along the Captain's wife!

We need to discuss the Sewing Expo March 22 - 24th. The booth (s) could use some help ..mostly on Friday and Saturday. I'll need to know for sure who is coming so I can submit the names for the badges. What I know so far is we are going to be located next to the Juki dealer---the company who is supplying the sewing machines for the walk-in-sew-in-area. Vicki suggested working on the Jelly Roll quilt, so if you're available on March 9th for the cut-in, that would be great as we have a lot of 2 1/2" strips to cut. A lot of energy is being put into the Sewing Expo so maybe we won't have to put many or as many hours working a booth this summer at the Farmers Market.

So, we bring our sewing machines, rotary cutters, rulers, scissors and a dish to pass!
***Also, if you are able to quilt a top or two---don't need them back until May so we can have time to label and bind and have ready for the RWW scheduled in July, let me know.
See you on Tuesday.
Rita

Quilted arrived safely!

Just got word that the 27 quilts we sent to Germany arrived. This is a Military Police company and they are in Afghanistan and have been there since April 2011. This deployment has been very tough. There have been several deaths and even more injuries which means some of these soldiers have watched their friends die or be taken out of the country for medical treatment. These soldiers do not get the "welcome home" they deserve. For some of the soldiers this will have been their first deployment and for others 2nd, 3rd, even 4th. I'm expecting pictures.
Rita

FYI - No March evening sew-in

Just a heads up: There will not be an evening sew-in next month. Because of the upcoming Sewing Expo the regularly scheduled evening sew-in is the night before set up day. Come out to the sewing expo and sit and sew with us there! We could also use some volunteers to man the booth as well. Do let me know if you will be able to help us in the booth so I can get you a badge.
Rita

Distribution Count

I keep getting asked how many quilts have you (LOLQOV) done. Well, I went back on my records and starting with 2011, I'm going to try and keep up on posting our figures. So, for 2011 I show we presented 420 quilts. 2012, we presented 91 in January and so far in, February, 16. You'll find any changes on the right hand side of this blog.
Good job!

Thank you

So, we had our 2nd evening sew-in. That was the first sew-in I missed but heard all went well.

Thank you to Quilt Merchant for the generous fabric donation. Thank you to all the binders--the quilts are coming back all done nicely.

In regard to the Sewing Expo next month. The dates are March 22nd to the 24th. I need to turn in the names of all those planning to volunteer cause they are making up badges. On the sign up sheet I got first names on some, so, if you would, please email me your name and day you will be there and what time you will be available. The hours of the show: Thursday and Friday 10 AM - 6 PM; Saturday, 10 AM - 5:30 PM. These badges will get you in the show. There will be signature blocks for donations and a sew-in area where one can come in and make up a block or two (while they're resting their feet) and handouts and the opportunity to recruit more piecers, quilters.

So, next sew-in is March 6 and we have a cut-in scheduled for March 9th.
Again, thanks for all that you do.
Rita

Presentation 2/9/12

Today, February 9,2012 Tina Hardt and myself and my husband Raymond went to visit PFC Robert Ditzler. He is a WWII Vet. His daughter had submitted a request through the QOV website for a quilt for her father. Mr. Ditzler is a very sweet man and has many memories of when he grew up in Davis, IL and being in North Africa and in Europe. He shared some those with us. We told him and his wife about Quilts of Valor and then presented him with his quilt. He was so pleased. He has had two heart by passes and he said that this will keep his legs warm. He is disabled because of severe flat feet and still was willing to serve his country when his country needed him. Our deepest thanks to him for being not only a hero to his family but a hero for all of us. Oh, and lest I forget Mr. Ditzler is 89 years old and is as sharp as they come. Quick wit and just a great conversationalist. He also has all of the letters that he sent home to his parents when he was overseas. What a treasure for his family to have a chance to relive history thought his letters.
Vixanna "Vicki" Robbel

Sew-in Reminder -Wed night, Feb 15

The 2nd evening sew-in is here already!
Place: Prairie Shop Quilts,
Time: 5:30 - 8 PM

Will be working on the 9-patches so we can get enough for a quilt (or two).

Need to remind everyone to check their 1/4" seam. Being that we're putting these blocks together from possibly 14 different machines, we need to be extra careful on having the same 1/4" seam so that they will all go together. So, come and have fun!
Rita

From Beloit/Rockford area

Rita
We had a very productive day on the First of February. It was a beautiful day and we had a great turn out. I think we had at least 11 people and I came home with 15 quilts to be quilted. We were missing about about 5 regulars. Alberta out did herself this time. She went on a spree at home to get quilts done and I think 7 of these quilts are hers. Very grateful for all those who work so hard to get quilts ready for quilting. We meet again on March 7 and hope that all of our regulars are back.
Vixanna "Vicki" Robbel

And now we have 18!

Awesome turnout today at the sew-in...I think we had 24 people come in! Quick count: 8 completed quilts, 8 tops needing backing and quilting.. AND ALL the quilted tops went out for binding!! THANK YOU! Wish I could make quilters out of ya!

Brought home another 16-patch, which brings us to 18--thank you, Nancy!

As Caron was telling you, we had a presentation last night at the City of Batavia Council meeting. Here are some pictures.
Rita

16 PATCHES-----our first 6

WOW, just unpacking from yesterday's guild meeting and we have our first 6 16-patch blocks!! THANK YOU!!

If you recall I put out a 2012 challenge...From your scraps take or make a 2 1/2" square, this can be patriotic or not, and put 16 of them together (4 x 4). We will offset them with a snowball block and with 35 of these we'll have a QOV top! Let's see how many tops we can make with this challenge this year!

Also came home with a lot of quilted tops -- haven't counted them all yet.
Rita

Sew-in Reminder - Feb 7

Tuesday, Feb 7
10 AM - ??
Prairie Shop Quilts, 1911 W Wilson St., Batavia
We meet again next Tuesday for our monthly sew-in. I might be a bit late but we'll have kits again for the shadowbox pattern and steps to Valor.

Bring your calendars as I'm looking for help working the booth at the Sewing Expo (March 22-24). We'll be obtaining donations with the signature block and I have kits made up for blocks for the walk-in-sew-in they will have set up in the booth. So, let me know if you'll be able to help.

We sent 27 quilts to the 527th MP CO out of Hohenfels and Ansbach, Germany; haven't got the exact count from the RWW Program this weekend, and 16 quilts to Decatur, IL to returning troop for this Sunday's ceremony. The need is tremendous. One quilt at a time, right! Our next commitment to Great Lakes is 65 for the April 20th weekend. Rock Falls is requesting approximately 10 a week as well.

Have almost 40 pieced tops waiting to be quilted. Of course that'll mean a whole lot of binding!
Rita
PS...OHHH, forgot to mention. Vicki, from Rockford/Beloit, is coming tomorrow. Anyone having scraps for Alberta, call me and drop them off if you'd like.