Sew-In Reminder for June

Next Tuesday, June 5, is our next QOV sew-in. The sailors are joining us. If you are able to come by and pick up some of the 75 quilts from my home, PLEASE give me a call. You know how filled my car is on a normal sew-in! Also, if you're able to quilt a top or two---don't need until November, so hope the time frame is good for you. See you on Tuesday and oh, don't forget the food! Rita

Memorial Day Weekend

Just wanted to remind everyone to raise our flag this weekend.

75 Quilts to Deliver

Hope you are all into this great weather and onto a great summer! Can't believe how busy one can get. But a thought came to me....The sailors are coming to the next sew in to pick up 75 quilts! You've seen how packed my car gets just getting to and from a sew-in. I know we have over a week, but, excuse my panic here. So, if you're able to stop by and pick up some of these quilts for the pick-up, please let me know. Rita

Armed Forces Day in Winnebago

Vicki, wanted me to share this: Saturday, May 19, 2012 was Armed Forces Day. In Winnebago, IL it is also time for our 9th annual Support the Troops rally. It was an awesome night, warm, a nice breeze and people came out to support our 99 active duty troops from the Winnebago High School. The flag was risen by a young man entering the Marine Corp and his recruiter. The flag that was raised once flew over the hospital in Balad, Iraq and was sent by my daughter, Maj. Katherine Robbel just for this purpose. The flag flies once a year. During the raising of flag the national anthem was sung and the President of the Village welcomed everyone. Our speaker was a Winnebago Grad who has served in the Army and now in the Air force. Our moderator kept things moving along and he is a former Marine who comes to help us each year. He is a friend of Winnebago. The Civil Air Patrol showed the crowd the proper way to fold the flag and the meaning of the 13 folds was read. This is a very moving part of the ceremony. You probably think that the 13 folds are for the 13 originals colonies and that is not the case. The 51 flags were then prepared for retirement. If you have any never seen a flag retirement you are really missing something. Once the flags are placed in the fire, there is a silence that falls over the crowded until the flames die down. Shortly after that I had the pleasure and privilege of presenting two Quilts of Valor Quilts. The first one went to Sgt. James K., he is our moderator and he is also a Marine that served in Iraq and has since returned to civilian life. The second quilt went to Maj. John S. who served as a US Army Apache Pilot from 1997 to 2006. Deployed with the Army to Albania in 1999, and to Iraq in 2003 and again from 2005 to 2006. He is now in the Air Force National Guard stationed at Truax Field in Madison, WI flying F16s. I have been in the Air Force since 2008. All in all it was a wonderful program and the presentation of the quilts went well. Avis Lind helped me with the presentation.

Sharing a Thank you note

I'd like to share this thank you note that is circulating the QOV people: Deanna, My name is Anthony S. I'm a Sereant Firt Class with 3-509th parachute Infantry Regiment out of Ft. Richardson Alaska. I was serving in Afghanistan when I was shot twice on the 30 april last month. Once on the left leg and once in the right flank which also fractured my hip. I recieved you quilt at Lanstul Germany. I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for that gift. It was a long painful week, and it was nice to know aside from family there are still people out there that care about the military. Afghanistan is bad right now,and anytime I come to the states,the war doesn't even get one minute on the news. I'm a platoon Sergeant and have some of the bravest men I ever have had the privelage of serving with. I have two tours in Iraq and this was my first tour in Afghanistan. So again thank you for your support for the military. Please tell Jaime W. she has my heart felt thanks. I ended up getting my purple heart pinned on by president Obama on the 2nd of may which was a honor,but I enjoyed your quilt more. Thank you for the sacrifice your father and the rest of your family that have served have done for this country. Have a great week. Anthony

June Sew-in...June 5th

Heads up on our upcoming sew-in...The sailors are coming! Heard from Pam, our POC from Great Lakes, saying she's bringing some sailors AND maybe the Captain! We need to put him behind a sewing machine! We talked about ordering in next month, should we save that for July and do what we've been doing...maybe just a little more for our guests? Rita

We made it in the local newspaper

If the below webpage won't work, go to Beacon News and then Troop Talk. http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/12534286-423/troop-talk-quilting-group-makes-blankets-for-returning-service-members.html

Thanks to......

Chris, from Quiltfabric.com!! Just got home from picking up a really, really nice donation of patriotic backings--Xtra Wide!! We've been working with patriotic fabrics lately and ohhh, how I have been fighting with using the RWB's for backing..."we need them for our tops" I keep thinking. Well, we can now make a few patriotic tops sing with these backings! Make that 3 Save-the-Dates! Thanks, Cheryl, for reminding me of the Batavia Quilt Show. Yes, we are in that show and the dates for that are July 20 - 22nd. and last but not least...thank you Beloit/Rockford for what you do as well. I also picked up some finished quilts and some tops needing quilting! whew, what a day! Rita

2 Save the Dates

LOLQOV has two commitments this year: September 1st is the date set for the annual Winfield sew-in. More details to follow. We are having a booth in the Prairie Star Quilt Guild's Show this year: October 12th and 13. So, if you can let me know if you will be able to help, I would appreciate it immensely!! See ya at the sew-in tonight: 5:30 - 8:00 PM! Oh, and I received a fabric donation last night. Was given permission to "take what you want/need" and if you know if anyone who could use the rest, go ahead. I've sorted and there is some nice pinks and florals. Quilters have a bunch of causes and I know some of you could use this....email me and let me know. First come or call...... Rita

Evening Sew-in Reminder, Wednesday, May 16

If you haven't been able to make it to our Tuesday sew-ins and want to support our troops, we have occasional evening sew-ins on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. With the summer upon us and with our many commitments, we will be meeting every other month. Be sure to check here for scheduling. So, yes, we are meeting this coming Wednesday from 5:30 - 8 PM. Rita

May 19 Armed Services Day

I would like to invite you all to come to Winnebago for our 9th annual Support The Troops Rally. It is will last about 1 hour. We will have patriot music,Flag raising, a USAF F-16 pilot will be our speaker and the Civil Air Patrol will retire flags. If you have never seen a flag retirement (flag burning) this is your chance. It is done under the rule of the USAF and the young men and women are all high school age. You WILL BE impressed. Come join us at between 5:30 and 6 and SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. Winnebago is proud to have over 100 active duty troops and we want to recognize and support each of them. Bring chairs if you need them. It will take place on the main street (Benton) which is one over from the main street that runs through town in front of the Town Hall. Share this with anyone you think might be interested. And now back to my quilting, Vixanna "Vicki" Robbel

Honorable Mention!

As many of you know, we entered the HMQS 2012 Quilting Treasures Quilts of Valor Challenge. Just spoke with them and we won "Honorable Mention". I'll take that! The quilt pattern was designed and quilted by Caron Carlson. So, thank you, Caron, and good job!

WWII Vet recipient

I need to share this thank you with you. I'm having trouble uploading the picture and will keep trying. Hi Rita, Dad was thrilled to have the quilt and know the meaning behind it. He underwent brain surgery in February of 2011. Part of his skull was removed because of a brain bleed. Since then he has to wear a helmet to protect his brain. He has a USMC emblem on each side of his helmet. People stop us all the time when we are pushing him in his wheelchair and they say to him “thank you for serving”. It makes my heart so happy for him, and it makes me so proud of my father, but he’s so modest his reply is always the same. “Oh, that’s okay.” We are losing WWII veterans so quickly. How sad. I always make it a point to thank anyone I see in uniform. If it wasn’t for those brave young men and women, where would this country be today? I will send a few pictures of my dad and his new Quilt of Valor, along with my donation. Thank you and everyone at the Quilt of Valor Foundation and God Bless America !!! Barb Fleming

Another VERY productive Sew-in!!

Just unpacked the car: 17 tops (ready for backings and to the longarmer, 5 finished quilts, and 12 quilts needing bindings! Not bad! We had a guest today. Nancy Kirby, who writes the column, "Troop Talk" for the Beacon News, was at the sew-in today interviewing us. Thank you, Nancy. I was glad of the turn out even with the change in date. We'll be back to our "first Tuesday of the month" in June. Our next evening sew-in is Wednesday, 5-8 PM Rita

Remark from a longarmer

I've got a request from one of our longarmers regarding our quilt tops. Our kits are made so we have enough squares to meet the minimum size of 55 x 65. The main reason we don't have borders is due to the idea of coming up with yet another coordinating fabric to go along with the donated fabrics we get. It was suggested/requested that after the top is assembled and BECAUSE we don't have a border to hold up all the seams, to sew a row of stitching 1/4" along the edges of the top or shorten your stitch length as the seams tend to come apart when it is put up on the frame. It isn't the longarmers job to redo seams. So, if we could remember to do that, it would be most appreciated. Thank you and see you at the sew-in. Rita

Sew-In Reminder: May 8

This is your sew-in reminder for this month. As you heard, they're coming home. The war is still on and we have lots of requests per month that are not covered. There are several quilted tops here waiting for binding and labels--gets them out of the "in working progress" pile into the "All Done and ready for our heroes" pile! I hope your schedules allow for the change in date and we see you on Tuesday. We need sewing machines! oh, and of course the dish to pass. It's our "picnic" month and I'll bring the hot dogs. Thank you, Rita

Videos worth watching

http://www.netaonline.org/5minutes.htm#QUILTS It's a nice QOV video by Marianne Fons and sure wish we could get the whole program locally. Here is another: http://www.king5.com/on-tv/evening-magazine/PTSD-Horse-149679645.html Also, I know a few of you are involved in making stockings for the troops. Could you email me? I've been asked for a contact for this mission. See you all next Tuesday! Rita

REMINDER: NO sew in today

I hope you remember that there is no sew in today. The shop is having a booking-signing day. We will meet next Tuesday, May 8. I'm bringing the hot dogs! Rita