Worth blogging about!

You know at that speech/presentation Cheryl and I went to on Tuesday, they referred to "angels" in their lives.  Well, I need to brag about all the angels working on this mission that I have met. I am truly surrounded.  Today was WANDA and DIXIE DAY!  Wanda takes time out of her busy day (follow her blog to prove it) and comes and puts the donated fabrics together so they look good in a quilt!  We had received quite a bit of fabric (8 bags full) that needed sorting, folding, etc.  Well, she put together approximately 20 (5 each) groupings for the kits that Dixie volunteers to cut up!!!  PLUS Wanda took some smaller pieces to cut into the 2 1/2" squares/1/2 sq triangles/strips that we use a lot of!!  YUP, more ANGELS!!!

Thank you, thank you!!!

September QOV Sew-in Reminder Notice!!

Tuesday, September 4th--that's right, day after Labor Day this month.  We meet at Prairie Shop Quilt, Batavia, IL (for our newbies)--shop opens at 10 AM and we can stay until 3, 4(ish) or come and stay a few hours.  Again, we will have choices:  paper piecing, stripping (2 1/2 and 1 1/2" strips), and there are a couple more kits that need finishing.  I have a few tops for binding as well.  If you want to paper piece, you will need to have a small cutting mat, rotary cutter, ruler and a pressing tool (might be easier that when you come in to sit together, btw).  We also bring a dish to pass.

We get a booth at the Prairie Star Quilters Guild's Show this year.  Please sign up to help.  This is our chance to raise money and spread the word of what we do.   More hands means less work!  The dates are:  Friday and Saturday, October 12-13, 9 AM - 6 PM.  Location is DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Rd., Wheaton.   http://www.dupagecountyfair.org/Fairground_Maps.php

See ya Tuesday, Rita

Semper Fi Family Platoon

Last night Cheryl and I had the honor of visiting with the Semper Fi Family Platoon in Addison, IL.  This is a group of parents and wives of Marines who are  deployed or will be in the near future. I've added their website to places where our quilts will be going. The conversations that went on  between these very supportive members brought the war closer to me.  Thank you Kathy for inviting us.  They heard of Quilts of Valor when one of their own received a quilt at a Welcoming home ceremony, so they wanted to hear more.  We might have found a new QOV sewing place in the near future!

I was asked to bring along quilts to show.  Well, I threw in a "few" quilts!  In walked some Marines whom I later found out had up to 4 deployments!  Well, the speech turned into a presentation--unbelievable that I had enough quilts.  I'll post pictures when I get them.  This is what it's all about isn't it!

Rita

ok, you ask what you will need..

I haven't had this much excitement for our sew-in since...can't remember.  You ask what you will need for paperpiecing.... bring along a small cutting board, a rotary cutter and ruler.   With paperpiecing, I "press" with a small wooden piece.  It can be a clothespin, or if you have the special "tool" for fingerpressing, bring that along.  So, it's sew, press and trim.  See ya next week.

Rita

Paperpiecing

OK, it's confirmed.  One of the options you will have at the next sew-in will be paperpiecing.  I'm excited for those who mentioned last month that you would like to learn.  That is how I started quilting, so I hope you will like it.  I think it's a love/hate thing.   I actually enjoy it.  More later

Rita

OK, I'm back!

Well, really haven't gone anywhere, but been very busy with an engagement party we held here this past weekend for our daughter who is getting married next year.

So, I have fabrics to sort, fold to get ready to make into kits. If you have some time and would like to help in the cutting, and the making into kits, let me know.   Have several tops here that need quilting, so if you have some time to take a few, that would be great.  We have to remember now, that NO LAST NAMES ON THE LABELS!  Our next scheduled QOV sew-in is Wednesday, September 4th, so, just a little time to prepare for that.

I will also need to have names of helpers for working the booth at the Prairie Star Quilt Show Friday and Saturday, October 12-13, 9 AM - 6 PM.  This biannual show is held at the DuPage Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Rd., Wheaton.

With the temperatures cooling down a bit, hope you are getting the best of what's left of summer.
Rita

Presented 23 Quilts of Valor

Last night we presented 23 QOV's to Veterans from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, and Iraq and Afghanistan.  Welcomeyouhome.com had a fundraiser in Joliet with the evening starting out with the Color Guard presenting the flag, with bagpipes playing patriotic music.  They showed a video of past welcoming home veterans.  If you ever get a chance to attend one of these, it is an awesome experience.   You can sign up for their emails on their website for future veterans coming home.    Rita

Another great sew-in

Well, for me, it was great to be back...missed you guys!  I should remember to use the camera I take so I could post pictures of our show-and-tell session.  If you find you can make it to Saturday's presentation, give me a call.  Everyone needs to experience a presentation!

So, maybe see you at the evening sew-in on September 20th!
Rita

Sharing a Thank You Note

Not that I feel I need to tell you how much these quilts mean to our veterans, but I'd like to share a thank you note we received: 
Rita,

What can our family say, other than an attempt of a most humbled thankfulness of such generosity and thoughtfulness of the quilts given to us at RWW in Chicago. Thinking about it still moves me very much...even more so: solidifying our families' resolve to answer our Country's call again, if we are needed. Mr. Joe Filer, I believe made our family's quilt. Could you make sure he gets this message? Thank you so much for what you do. I really do believe the work LOLQOV does is immeasurable. God bless you all and God bless these United States of America.

Tuesday, August 7th QOV Sew-in Reminder

This is your sew-in reminder for August 7th.  I am bringing along a few different patterns to work on, so we need sewing machines!  Bring along your rotary cutter, small mat, and  ruler.  Also, if you would, check your calendar to see if you are available for the evening of August 11th for a presentation.  I should have more information by Tuesday.

Thank you, thank you for all you do.  The donations are so much appreciated as well.  We are blessed with some generous donations.  As I stated in a previous blog, we do need to keep away from pinks and floral  quilts.  I have a handful of female quilts that just don't move.  Can't say enough about how generous you are with your time both at the sew-ins and so many take things to finish at home.   If you start a kit at the sew-in,  it's wise to keep it even if you need to bring it back to the next sew-in.  Our machines are so different and that makes it so for our 1/4" seam allowances. Speaking of which, all our kits are made for 1/4" seam allowances.  To take a kit and sew 1/2" seam allowance---that changes the required size---can't have that.   We also could use some help cutting and making up the kits.  See you on Tuesday!  Rita