Happy Holidays to All

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Here we are a few days before Christmas.  This is always such a great time of year.  I finally got my Christmas longarming done and have started on QOVs.  As I was quilting my first one in awhile, it felt so good to know I would be sending one off soon to a warrior.

Mom Belmont and I never get to do our shopping until a couple days before Christmas, so tomorrow is our “Big Day” – we shop until we drop.

It’s hard to express in words how much Quilts of Valor means to me and how all of you have supported what we have done.  One thing I have learned – QOVers are a special breed.  A quilter often gives quilts to family and friends but:

*a QOVer gives with a heart bigger than Texas,
*a QOVer gives all during the year,
*a QOVer never gives in and completes their QOV,
*a QOVer is always thinking about the next QOV,
*a QOVer has a special gift with many talents, often a talent to tell our story,
*a QOVer is a friend, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, mother or dad,
*a QOVer loves fabric and sewing machines.

Of any of you can add on to my QOV list, go for it!

The picture, I think, shows that we are all your everyday Americans.  Tomas is 8 years old – he already is a QOVer and he does have an ARMY outfit on – I train them young!

I want to thank all of you for giving me the gift of being a part of the Quilt of Valor Foundation.  Have a very Merry Christmas!

God Bless,
Gail

Marine Heals with Operation Mend

Article and Video from the Marine Parent Newsletter:
(from Deb Granger)

Marine Corporal and Wounded Warrior, Aaron Mankin, possesses a wealth of strength and perseverance. His approach to the challenges he faces is truly an inspiration for all who witness it.

This remarkable story includes an important and powerful message; a message Aaron would like to share with any American willing to listen.

In his words, “This is something people need to see. People need to see wounded veterans. People need to be reminded of why they get to wake up in a warm bed every day.”

Learn more about Operation Mend and Aaron Mankin’s story. Watch the video below today; it’s impossible not to be moved and genuinely humbled.

http://www.marineparents.com/announcements/column-our-marines-2009-12-16.asp

Quilting Rhythms

I was recently asked what kind of music would be appropriate to play at a Quilts of Valor sewing day.  Since I have 35 different “artists” and two musicals on my iPod, I decided to conduct a very unscientific survey of a few quilting friends.  Here’s what they listen to when creating quilts:

Sue (AZ):  HGTV or football.  (She and I both want David Bromstad to “Color Splash” our sewing studios).

June (CA):  Classical music on NPR or Pandora stations on her computer:  Billy Joel, jazz, Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Allison Krauss, Norah Jones, Mary Chapin Carpenter, classic rock, and rockabilly revival.

Gail (CA):  Loves to put on her headphones and lose herself in the music of Reba, Carrie, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Clay Aikin, Josh Grobin, and Christian musicians.  This time of year she’s into the Christmas carols and songs, and loves the new Andrea Bocelli CD.

Catherine S (VA):  When quilting alone, she prefers Nat King Cole, James Taylor, Ray Charles, Doris Day, and other similar artists.

Terri (WI):  Pieces to Norah Jones, Sting, classic rock, or a book on tape.  Quilts to “anything that has a definite beat” like Coldplay, Peter Gabriel, Raining Jane, Willie Porter, or musicals.

Karen (WI):  Pieces with the TV on as white noise and occasionally turns to one of the cable music stations.  Quilts while listening to NPR, absorbing lots of trivia and her “chapter a day” book.

Laura (WI):  All musical genres (except classical) including hip hop, country, pop, rhythm & blues, alternative, oldies, one hit wonders from the ’70’s, early Motown, Kansas, Supertramp, U2, Yes, and Ricky Tims’ “Christmas in a Small Town.”

Kris (WI):  Pieces to podcasts.  If she’s in the mood for music, she alternates between classical, jazz, disco, world, new age, and opera.  She says music choices depend upon whether she wants a calming mood or a jumpy mood.

My iPod “favorites” make Dick crazy because I enjoy mixing my music.  My eclectic mix ranges from early Beatles through the alphabet to the Yardbirds; rock to folk to mellow.  I did laugh when the mellow spoken intro to Matt Wahl’s newest CD was followed by an old version of “Mustang Sally.”  Maybe some tweaking is in order?

The conclusion drawn from my unscientific survey?  Quilters’ tastes in music are as diverse as their quilts.  Maybe the answer to the initial question is “none” or keep the music low and let the conversation flow.

Tell us what you listen to when you create!

Tink

Iraq Soldiers’ Parents Team-up With Quilts of Valor to Support Military Members

From Deb Granger:  This article appeared in our local newspaper to advertise our Open House for Quilts of Valor this coming Saturday:

HUDSONVILLE – When her two Marine sons headed overseas to serve in Iraq, Deb

Deb and Duane sew a quilt they will donate to Quilts of Valor

Granger wanted to envelope them in comfort.  An experienced seamstress, she made a quilt and sent it to her son Andy, who was deployed in Iraq.  He cherished it, and she realized other soldiers would benefit from the reminder of home, motherly love and support.  Andy Granger said the quilt from his mother made him feel motivated, and he believes other soldiers feel similarly about their quilts.

Deb and Duane Granger will open their house for the holidays to raise money for Quilts of Valor. Participants will learn about the effort and sign a quilt that will be donated.

“I think they feel happy, loved, and most of all supported,” he said. “It may not seem like much but every care package, every card or quilt in this case, affects the recipient in a positive way and makes the day or week that much easier to pass along.”

Deb Granger and her husband, Duane, have put 30 quilts into the hands of military members touched by war by way of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Saturday, they will open their home, teeming with Christmas decorations, to spread awareness and raise money for the effort.

It’s become a full-time project for Deb Granger. Two years ago, the couple launched a home-based business, Freedom Star United, to create patriotic quilts, pillows and banners. Today, their primary focus is working with Quilts of Valor, an organization founded in Delaware in 2006.  Nationwide, about 30,000 large quilts, mainly in red, white and blue patterns, have been donated through Quilts of Valor.  Deb said it’s a tangible way to show appreciation. “Giving a quilt to one of the troops is very healing, comforting,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to see how they react when they are given the quilt.”

Duane lends his hand for cutting, designing and trimming. Women at the church they attend, Wellspring Community Church, sew quilt top blocks. “They are so deserving,” Duane said. “It’s a real neat thing to give them these and show them people really do care.”  Deb is also booth manager for Quilts of Valor for the huge annual Houston International Quilt Festival held in late fall.

The Grangers’ sons, Andy, 25 and Tim, 21, are both Marines. Andy is a military police K-9 handler stationed at Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, CA. He has been deployed to Iraq twice. Tim, an aviation mechanic, is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. He also served in Iraq. The couple has personally handed 13 quilts to military members, mostly Purple Heart recipients. “It’s very hard to put into words. To see the expression on their face, to know that this is helping them with the healing process is very rewarding,” Deb said.

Catherine Roberts, Quilts of Valor executive director and founder, said she began the effort as a way to stay sane after her son, Nathaniel, was deployed to Iraq. The quilts spread more than just warmth, she said. “There is nothing like putting something around you that has been made with love and prayer,” she said. “Just by putting it around you, you absorb those well wishes from the maker.”

Santa Comes to Valley Springs

Today (Saturday) was our annual Christmas Parade in Valley Springs and we entered the Quilts of Valor Across America Trailer and, of course, my truck.   I washed the truck and got her all prettied-up.  Dad Belmont cleaned up the trailer.  Mom Belmont made fabric flags for the doors and hood and we put red, white and blue ribbons on her–she was really pretty.

Dad drove the truck, Bert and Debbie walked in front of the truck and carried the QOV Banner.  They wouldn’t let me walk with my leg so I rode in the bed with Bert’s 3-year-old great-granddaughter, who is cuter than a button; Tomas, her 6-year-old great-grandson who was dressed in an Army outfit my Godson, Sgt. Gonzales, sent him; Mom sat in a chair; and we had Debbie’s golden Lab.  Everyone had QOVs on their laps.  We threw candy to the crowd and they loved it!

But, the Best Thing:  Santa Claus came up to Bert before the Parade and said, thank you for what you are doing.  You gave my Son a QOV and my other Son is being deployed.  Then he said Merry Christmas and walked away.  Bert could hardly tell me through her tears.  You see why I give my life to QOV?  Some have always thought I was crazy and I guess, in a way, you have to be to devote so much time but what we do affects more than just the recipient.

There were a total of 34 entries in the Parade.  When we got to the Judges’ stand, they read what we did and little Tomas, in his Army outfit, saluted the reviewing stand.  People had tears in their eyes.  The icing on the cake — we won the Judges’ Choice Trophy and little Tomas and Savanna got ribbons.

After the Parade, we sold pies and jams and did OK.  We didn’t quilt today, but we put Quilts of Valor out there for all to see.  Who would have thought Santa Claus would be a QOV supporter.

Gail

Never Underestimate the Power of Word of Mouth

Greetings from Milwaukee where there are snow flurries drifting from the gray sky this Thursday afternoon.

I’m “sew” excited to introduce everyone to Kari Bender and her shop, Quilting Workshop in Wausau, Wisconsin.  A customer asked Kari if her shop was a drop off for Quilts of Valor.  Kari looked us up online and decided Quilts of Valor was something she wanted to be a part of!

Kari has a delightful quilt shop (I looked at online photos), and through the wall is her Needle Workshop store — for those of us who love all things created through the eye of a needle!  The shops are located in a remodeled historic building at 312 South First Avenue in Wausau, Wisconsin.  (I’m thinking a trip “up north” is in my future!)

Don’t be shy about asking quilt shops if they know about Quilts of Valor.  When we visit a shop for the first time I ask that question while Dick grabs bolts of patriotic fabrics off the shelves (he’s a one man economic stimulus plan).  I always have QOV information to leave with shops, or anyone else I meet.  I’ve had calls from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota because someone picked up my QOV information.  If they do know of us ask if they would be interested in becoming a drop off site.  If you’re not comfortable providing the information, pass their contact info to one of us and we’ll do it.

Share your enthusiasm and passion for Quilts of Valor!  Do pass along information to QOV about quilt shops that support our mission and we’ll write about them, too.  I think it would be fun to create a list of quilt shops that support QOV and post it on the website since so many of us look for quilt shops to visit when we travel.   Do the same if you’re involved in QOV sewing days or events at your local shops.  We can post the info on the Events Calendar and then write about it afterward.  We want to share our passion for our QOV mission and support local quilt shops at the same time — sounds like a winner all the way around!

Off to the Magic Sewing Cave!

Piece,

Tink