Sharing our Passion

Hi all!

I’ve no clue how it got to be the 7^th of November already….

Halloween weekend Dick & I had the opportunity to showcase Quilts of Valor at the 2009 Antiques, Quilts & Fiber Arts Show & Sale in historic Cedarburg, WI.  We were there as guests of the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts.  Thanks to the efforts of two other Upper Midwest Area Coordinators and the Oconomowoc Quilt Guild, we had 23 quilts to display.

We used a sign up sheet as a way to get referrals for people who should receive a QOV.  We also allowed people to select the quilt they wanted for themselves or those they referred.  By the end of the show 11 quilts had destinations and we had six additional names.

It’s always fun to share our passion for these quilted hugs of gratitude.  On Veteran’s Day we will be displaying QOV at the Wisconsin Athletic Club where I go for Cougar Training.  I expect that we’ll gather more names and give away a few quilts.  On Saturday, November 14^th we’ll be joining the Oconomowoc Quilt Guild for their QOV sewing day and pot luck.

Piece,

Tink

PS – email me if you’d like a copy of our sign-up/referral sheet.

Top beneath QOV banner is work-in-progress by Cooney Clover’s 4-H in Oconomowoc, WI

Super sized Ohio Star going to a Houston Marine

Sampler quilt was selected for a female Marine

Ladies signing blocks for future quilts

Korean War Veteran with the QOV he selected

QOV Presentation to Northwind Quilters

Good morning from cloudy Valley Springs!  Last night I had the opportunity to speak to a group of quilters from Fairfield and Vacaville.  They had a potluck and you know quilters can cook!

I spoke of Quilts of Valor.  My POC was sick, which was sad because she had worked so hard for QOV.  She had delivered 8 tops with backings and bindings which was great.  Plus, I found a longarmer to help us out.

At the end of the meeting, one of the members asked if she could speak.  I had met Barbara in April when I spoke to a group of northern California quilters and she told me about her daughter, a recently retired Navy CPT Medic who was suffering from PTSD.  I told her then that we needed to send her a QOV.  Barbara said she would have to talk to her husband.  Well, I asked on of my toppers to make a Navy QOV and to make a long story short, I mailed her the QOV a couple of weeks ago.  I didn’t know her daughter had been involved with the battle of Fallujah.

Last night Barbara said the timing of receiving the QOV couldn’t have been more perfect.  Her daughter keeps looking at it and it has brought up her spirits.  She said, Gail I can never thank you enough.  It is not just receiving the quilt that helps them, but every time they look at it.

I am sorry it took me so long to get the QOV to her daughter but there was a reason it was to get there when it did.

Each QOV takes on a life of its own.  And everyone heals in a way only the recipient truly knows.  We all know in our hearts that this is our gift of love, honor and respect for what they have suffered.

Please keep quilting and recruiting, ladies.  We need many more to help us reach our goals.

God Bless,
Gail

Our Little Town Honors a Fallen Warrior

Honoring A Fallen Warrior

Today, November 3, 2009, our little rural town of Valley Springs honored one of our fallen warriors.  People with flags and signs and even QOVs lined the streets to pay tribute to a young man who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Before the procession arrived, I was able to present a QOV to a Vietnam veteran with a purple heart who was disabled from his sacrifices.  Tonight, I will give a QOV to a returning Afghanistan veteran – Busy Day today!

One thing I have learned about Quilts of Valor -

Supporters with a QOV

nothing is ever normal in your life.  While we were standing on the street corners waiting for the procession, a lady drove up to see what all the flags were about.  She asked one of the bystanders who told her we were honoring a fallen warrior.  The lady said she had two sons in the Marines, one coming home any day and the other had received a purple heart in 2003.  The bystander said, “you need to meet Gail”, and they came across the street to stand with us – I promised to send her two QOVs for her Marine sons.  She was evidently new to our little town and cried when she found out what we do for our soldiers.  She asked if she could help but didn’t know how to quilt.  I told her she could help us get the word out there and that we can always use donations for shipping and fabric.

You never know when you are going to need QOVs.  I did have 2 in my truck but they were already spoken for.  So, ladies, please keep quilting.  There are so many warriors that need our QOVs.

Gail

QOV Halloween Bunco in Valley Springs

Happy Belated Halloween!  Last night we had our Halloween Bunco Fundraiser for Quilts of Valor.  We had over 72 players and over half dressed up in costumes.  We let the crowd pick the costume winners.  As you can see from the winners, we had everything from Mae West to Tired and Sick.  There were awesome Witches–you couldn’t even tell who they were.  We couldn’t go without Uncle Same, and of course, I was a wounded warrior.  We all had a ball and the best thing – they came to support Quilts of Valor.

We don’t know our figures yet, but everyone was in a giving spirit.  My neighbor and I grew a pumpkin and then had people guess the weight for a dollar.  They didn’t know they would win the pumpkin.  It weighed 87 pounds – boy was I glad I didn’t have to carry it again!

It’s amazing how creative you can get to raise a dollar for shipping and fabric.  It took over 20 volunteers to put this event on but everyone had a great time and it was a good fundraiser for our Quilts of Valor.

Everyone keep piecing and quilting your QOVs!  Hope you all had a safe Halloween.
God Bless,
Gail

Oh No! Snake Eyes

Our Wounded Warrior

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Costume Winners with their 9 pound candy bars

The Belmonts

A Couple of our Witches

 

Al Lind’s QOV hangs at the Pentagon

I received an email this morning from Deputy Secretary of Defense, Nancy Boyda.  In it she sent pictures of Al’s QOV that is hanging in her office. (Al is our 91 year old, WWII, POW, QOV poster boy.)   Here is what she says.

It's on the wall!!  Looks great.  Al, my Staff Director had it hanging
when I got to work yesterday.  I keep showing it off and everyone
comments how beautiful it is.  And it really is. It's got
great energy, great presence.  And when I tell them about QOV and about
Al Lind, they love it even more.

Here is a picture of it.

Al Lind's Pentagon QOV

June Moore quilted it.

This is our third QOV at the Pentagon.

Way to go Al & Helen!!

I will try and get Al demonstrating his block here on the block. But in the meantime, you can see him on youtube here.

Catherine

Wednesday and back in the saddle here in the PNW

Well, it’s a cold Pacific Northwest afternoon.  I am back in the saddle after a very successful Houston QOVF booth presence.  Where do I start?  Well, I think I’ll wait to expound once it warms up as my fingers are almost frozen.  You may have noticed that our regular website is gone.  I think we were hacked.  At first I got upset but then reflected that we are in good company…Pentagon, White House, Google, etc.

I view this as a chance to take a step back, take a deep breath and breathe.  We are redoing our website so actually the timing was perfect.  What you may also have noticed is that we will have 2 contests.  One for designing our upcoming QOV Fabric line and the second is to name our “baby”…ie, Gammill patriotic quilting machine.

I will be announcing exciting changes at the national level.  We are growing, expanding and learning as we go along.

One last thing is I have been going through the footage that we shot as we travelled across country delivering QOVs to Camp Lejeune.  I will get the interviews and interesting clips edited so you all can enjoy watching and hearing what your fellow QOVers have to say nationwide.

One really last thing…really.  Yesterday, our Cover’em Production film crew was filming at my local quilt guild here in Bellingham.  We crammed so much film equipment in that church room that the poor ladies hardly had space to breathe much less sew.  As I watched the film, I  noticed with so much joy, the hands and fingers and sewing machines that make comfort for so many.  I loved seeing “old hands”.  They looked so graceful and so full of wisdom.  I remember seeing my grandmother’s hands when I was a girl and I aspired to have knotted and gnarled hands like hers.  You know what?  I can see them now in my own hands and it gives me so much pleasure!

Still at war; still quilting; and now getting ready to move again!

Catherine