Destination Report

Just received the most recent destination report from the Destination Coordinator for QOVF:

Weekly destinations

Quantity needed EVERY week      95

Quantity assigned 9/23-9/29         51

Shortage                                                44

 

Monthly destinations

Quantity needed each month    125

Quantity assigned this month      48

Shortage                                               77  

Welcome Home Indiana National Guard

We've been reading about the 713th Engineer Company who left Valparaiso for Afghanistan nearly a year ago and have returned home...well, 89 of them.  That's the same company that our very own hero, Christopher Peterson,  (North Aurora, IL) was from.  As you recall he was killed in January in a roadside bombing.  They lost 6 members--considered to be the mostly deadly deployment in the history of the National Guard.

The Regional Coordinator from Indiana has been putting out requests for RWB quilts for their welcoming home ceremony.  As she is a fairly new RC, she started with  no quilts on hand...I think she's up to less than 10.. I met up with her this past month and gave her 5 tops (she has 5 ladies who have Statlers!)

It is a little easier to recruit quilters when we tell them we give quilts to our "local" heroes.   You know where would Illinois be without our other states!  Illinois isn't fighting this war alone.  I'm hoping we'll be able to help our neighbor by crunch time... December.

Rita

October 2nd---QOV sew-in Reminder

We will again be meeting at Prairie Shop Quilts, Batavia, 10 AM - ??  Know that if you can't make it at 10---come when you can.  I hear some shy away cause we tend to get a bit crowded.  Well, some stay for a couple hours and we tend to have more room as the day goes on.

NOTE:   if you're coming and just want to cut, bring a rotary cutter and your rulers.  Do know that there are only a few stations for cutting and pressing.  We need your machines!  For the pattern I'm bringing we all will need a small mat with at least a 6 1/2" ruler...and some pins.  The pattern is called Rail Fence Pinwheel.

We bring a dish to pass...everyone should do this.  Maybe we'll plan our meal for next month as we might be having company from Great Lakes.

If you can help me at the booth at the Prairie Star Quilt Guild next month---see details on the right of this blog---please let me know.  Maybe come for a few hours to give me a break!  The dates are:  Friday and Saturday, October 12-13, 9 AM - 6 PM.  Location is DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Rd., Wheaton.  They have given us a booth---come out and show support.   It IS a really nice quilt show!!   I've got tops---I just need help in getting them quilted.   We'll be meeting together to make more tops at our monthly sew-ins (first Tuesdays of the month), October 30 and November 10th  (see details on the side)

Rita

NOT BAD

Just a handful of us and we got quite a bit done in my opinion.  Came home with 6 finished tops (only one needing writing on a label).  We worked on some disappearing nine-patch blocks that have been sitting around here for quite some time.  Good to see them made up in a couple quilt tops!   Nice meeting Sue and Janet...and of course thanks to the help of Dorothy and Pat as well!

Now we prepare for the next sew-in!  Oh, and heads up---I think we're getting company in November...will know for sure later, of course.

Rita

Sew-In Tonight

Due to requests for an evening sew-in, as there are working people in our midst, we have scheduled tonight for a night of sewing for the troops!  I'll probably be there by 5:30.  There is a new-to-us pattern I like to try with our 2 1/2" strips ---can't remember the name right now.  So, see you tonight?

Rita

TWO Upcoming Sewing Retreats

 I am announcing two upcoming events.  Quiltfabric.com has been a huge supporter to Land of Lincoln Quilts of Valor.  Last month they moved from their Willowbrook address to a new MUCH larger location.  If you haven't been there yet to check it out, come on out on Tuesday, October 30 for a Quilt of Valor sew-in.  We will have kits available and if you are not able to stay, pick up a kit and return it to the shop.  Chris has agreed to accept tops for Quilts of Valor.   You may also want to donate fabric (oh, do our troops LOVE Red/white and blue quilts!), again, drop off good quality fabric and we will make up more kits.  

The next "retreat" has become an annual event with the show of support from Winfield, IL.   Again, they provide a huge hall, lots of space to sew.   This is our third year and each year we get more and more volunteers.  We need you!

I get a destination report from the Quilt of Valor Foundation like this:  
Weekly destinations
Quantity needed EVERY week 90

Quantity assigned       76

Shortage 14

Monthly destinations

Quantity needed each month 125

Quantity assigned this month 19

Shortage 106

Your help is needed.  Let's show the Illinois patriotism!!  I have tops that need quilting.  Will you help us get these finished and to our troops.  These quilts ARE making a difference.  It's a quilter's way of Service to our country by giving a small thank you for what they sacrifice for us.

Put these dates on your calendar and let's see how we can make a difference!!

Tuesday, October 30, 10 AM - ? (shop is open until 5 PM), Quiltfabric.com, Rt 83 and Ogden in St. James Crossing (818 Ogden, Westmont).  They have moved to a much bigger store.

Saturday, November 10, 9 AM - 5 PM, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, OS233 Church St., Winfield.

Rita

Sunday Presentation

Yesterday, Sue had a presentation to two Marines (Mark and Joe).  Here are some pictures and a few words from Sue.  Thank you, Sue!

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It went just fine.   It was a nice little ceremony, complete with fire, police, and motorcycle escort.  Even Joe Walsh showed up to give a congressional thanks and certificate. 

I have attached pictures that I captioned.  Feel free to delete the captions.

Mark is the one who returned while Joe will be redeploying back to Afghanistan next month.

 

Thanks for the opportunity to be there.

Susie

Checking in

Been working on a new-to-us pattern for the September 20th evening sew-in, the one I showed you at the Tuesday Sew-in, Rail Fence Pinwheel.  I made up a block and have gathered the strips and 1/2 square triangles.  Going to be tricky, but we can do it!  With the way it's raining today, maybe I'll make up a few more.. or put backings on the tops I brought home the other day.  Never a dull moment!

Rita

Considering our change of plans...

it was a very successful sew in yesterday!  I came home with 24 pieced tops and 7 completely bound (a couple just needing a label)!  Not all of these are made at the sew-in...some are finished projects from last month's sew in as I know if you don't get it done,  you take it home to finish.  Some just make a few on their own from scraps.   I again, offer you access to my HQ16 if you're interested in helping us get some of these tops quilted, btw.

We'll probably take up the paper piecing project next month but I'm happy to say we are ready.  We have two "jelly rolled" tops ready for blocking and inserting our flying geese!  For those who took home scraps to cut and didn't get the different sizes we need:  cut a 3 1/2" strip and make those into 3 1/2" squares and the rest 2 1/2" strips.  Thank you, that will be a HUGE help.

Remember we have an evening QOV sew-in scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 5 PM - 8.

Rita