Quilt of Valor Show and Tell

Wendy,one of the wonderful volunteer quilters from Virginia, finished a Quilt of Valor recently and was kind enough to share it with us!

Isn't this beautiful? She just found out her quilt is going to Afghanistan where the requester said that the hospital is using wool blankets. Won't this bright and cheery beauty bring a smile to someone's face?

Thanks for sharing with us Wendy! I hope seeing this beautiful quilt makes you feel like heading to your sewing machine and making a quilt for our nation's service members. I know I do!

February Sew-in Date

I'm excited to announce the next sewing day for February. We will be meeting at the West Springfield Government Center on February 23rd from 9-1. I've got my fingers crossed for good weather!

Here are the details:

• We are meeting at the West Springfield Government Center's Community Room again. The address is  6140 Rolling Road Springfield, VA.
• I will bring with me an ironing board, an iron, and cutting supplies. I am more than willing to share, but if someone would like to bring any of their own supplies that would be wonderful!
• Please bring your sewing machine and your current Quilt of Valor project. If you don't have one in the works please still plan to join us! There is always something to do! If you don't want to commit to an entire quilt right now, come and make quilt blocks. See this previous post about the Quilts of Valor 10th Anniversary block drive. This would be a wonderful project to work on! 
• I ask that if you want to sew with us please RSVP to me by either leaving a comment on this blog post or by emailing me at melanie.burnett@qovf.org.

Unfortunately, we are not allowed to have food or drink in the room except bottled water. Never fear if you get hungry there are restaurants close by where you can go for a lunch or coffee break.

I hope you will join us later this month! Never doubt that the need for quilts is high! The latest report I received from the destination coordinator of Quilts of Valor said that we had a big shortage last month. Let's do our part to fix that!

Please consider joining us and making a quilt for our nation's finest! We are a small group (so far), but we're fun!

Take care everyone and keep on quilting!

January Sew-in Update

Unfortunately, we had some bad weather the night before our meeting, so we didn't have as many people attend as usual. However, we did have a new quilter come out. None other than Becky, the Sarcastic Quilter herself! If you haven't had the pleasure of reading her blog yet, do yourself a favor and check it out! She is so talented and is always working on such beautiful projects!

It was just the two of us this month, but that didn't stop us from making good progress on our projects and chatting up a storm! As a matter of fact, I talked so much I forgot to take pictures of the actual event. Since no one likes to read a post without a picture here's one of the beautiful Quilt of Valor Becky made. This is going to make someone so happy!

If you would like to know more about the process of making this quilt see Becky's blog post here.

Thanks so much for coming out on such a nasty day to quilt with me Becky! You brought two of the best things a person can bring to a Quilt of Valor sewing day: a completed, beautiful quilt and clean up help! Her two handsome teenage boys put the tables and chairs away while we packed up our machines...such gentlemen!

Please consider joining us in February for our next meeting! It promises to be a good time and it always feels good to make a Quilt of Valor!

Until next time, take care and Keep on quilting!

January Sew-in, still happening

In case anyone was checking the blog, I wanted to make sure you knew that even though it's snowing, the sew-in is still scheduled for tomorrow. I just checked the local weather channel and the winter weather advisory has been lifted for our area. If you still feel like coming out and sewing, I will be at the West Springfield Government Center from 9-1 tomorrow.

Stop by anytime, you don't have to be there right at 9 if the roads aren't safe that early. What better way to spend a cold day!

Keep quilting,

Melanie

Quilts of Valor Presentation for Michael Quigley

I had the distinct pleasure of presenting this beautiful Quilt of Valor to Michael Quigley of the US Navy shortly before Christmas. I met Michael at his lovely home one evening after work, and it was such a wonderful experience! It was truly an honor to present this beauty to such a deserving member of our nation's military. Michael served two tours in Iraq and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. After I presented him with the quilt, Michael showed me around his beautiful home which was completely decked out for the holiday! I just had to take a picture of him with the quilt in front of his gorgeous, eight-feet tall Christmas tree!

I hope this will inspire others to make Quilts of Valor for our nation's heroes! It is such a wonderful feeling to meet the people who bravely serve our nation, thank them for their service and sacrifice, and then hand them their quilt. It is a small token of appreciation for all they have given up for us, but they are always so grateful!

January Sew-in Date

I'm so excited to announce the date of our next Quilts of Valor Sew-in. Come out to sew with us on January 26th from 9am-1pm at the West Springfield Government Center.

Here are the details:

• We are meeting at the West Springfield Government Center's Community Room again. The address is  6140 Rolling Road Springfield, VA.
• I will bring with me an ironing board, an iron, and cutting supplies. I am more than willing to share, but if someone would like to bring any of their own supplies that would be wonderful!
• Please bring your sewing machine and your current Quilt of Valor project. If you don't have one in the works please still plan to join us! There is always something to do! If you don't want to commit to an entire quilt right now, come and make quilt blocks. 
• I ask that if you want to sew with us please RSVP to me by either leaving a comment on this blog post or by emailing me at melanie.burnett@qovf.org.

Unfortunately, we are not allowed to have food or drink in the room except bottled water. Never fear if you get hungry there are restaurants close by where you can go for a lunch or coffee break. 


As an added incentive I will have door prizes that everyone who attends will be eligible to win. (Fabric, Fabric, Fabric)

I hope you will join us later this month! Never doubt that the need for quilts is high! The latest report I received from the destination coordinator of Quilts of Valor said that we had a big shortage last month. Let's do our part to fix that!

Please consider joining us and making a quilt for our nation's finest! We are a small group (so far), but we're fun!

Take care everyone and keep on quilting!

First Annual New Year's Day QOV Sit & Sew

The Destination Coordinator for Quilts of Valor Foundation has a brilliant idea for New Year's Day that I thought I would share.

For the past three years she has taken the time in December to cut out a Quilt of Valor top that she sits down and completes on New Year's Day. This year she is inviting everyone to join her!

Here's how it works:

1. Pick a pattern that meets the minimum requirement for a Quilt of Valor. Make sure it is one you feel you can complete in one day. Select and cut your fabric in December.

2. On January 1st, sit down and sew your top together. Post your progress that day on Yahoo Chat, Facebook, the QOV blog, your own blog etc...

3. When you are finished, request a longarmer, or if you have one have it quilted by a volunteer longarmer in your area.

4. After your quilt is finished (bound, washed, labeled, presentation case made) request a destination. Put NYD S&S in the comments field of the destination form. You will receive information on where to send your quilt and you will be entered into a drawing for prizes (to be announced).

5. A winner will be selected for every 13 NYD S&S quilts made completed by March 13, 2013 for which a destination is selected.

6. Please remember that our overseas contacts request red, white and blue, non-gender specific quilts, so please keep that in mind when selecting patterns and fabrics.

7. Also, spread the word! Invite your friends, family, and guild members to participate!

I hope a lot of people will join us kicking off the New Year by making aQuilt of Valor to honor our nation's heroes!

If you have any questions or if you are going to join in please leave a comment on this post!

Have an amazing day!