Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Veterans Day

Today is the day to remember and honor those who haved served in our Armed Forces. Please - Thank a Vet Today.

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I can not think of a better way to Honor a Veteran than to make a Quilt - not just any quilt - a Quilt of Valor....
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Many, Many of you already participate in Quilts of Valor ( QOVF.org). but for those of you who don't - let me give you a little background.
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Quilts of Valor is an awesome organization of Quilters making quilts for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. They also go to Vietnam Vets, and WWII Vets. These quilts represent Honor, Courage, and are a Hug from a grateful nation. These quilts provide a tangible, physical proof that a soldier is loved.
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I have seen first hand how much these quilts mean to our soldiers. I have heard the stories, seen the amazement, and watched the smile come as a soldier realizes that somebody besides Mom and Dad care about me.
http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2009/10/far-reaching-effects.html

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I have heard feedback from the Chaplains, the Lieutenants, and the Majors that work with these soldiers - that the Quilts DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE in their healing process. I have seen the awe on soldiers faces at the beauty of a quilt.

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Today there are so many wounded ( I used to have the exact number but lost it along the way), and approximately 25,000 quilts have been handed out. I can tell you, this does not cover the many soldiers who NEED a quilt.


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Just think - if every quilter in America made 1 Quilt of Valor how many more soldiers would feel the love a quilt can give.


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I know many of you have been organizing, cleaning or just looking thru your quilting supplies. Many have found tops, quilts that need to be bound, blocks that could be assembled - well here is your opportunity to get them into the hands of a soldier....
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Here is how Quilts of Valor works:
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You - the quilt topper - provides a top (Minimum size 50 x 60, Maximum 72 x 90) and backing that is 6 inches bigger than the top. When it is ready you can request a Long Arm quilter thru QOV ( this is free). (The website is under maintenence right now - but I have all the emails addy you will need.... I can help. grin)

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You mail the top and back to the LA'er - they add the batting and the quilting. Based on the agreement between you and your quilter - either they will finish the binding then ask for a destination - or they will send it back to you for binding.
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Regardless when the quilt is finished you make a pillowcase


http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/field_trips_in_fiber/2007/05/pillowcases.html


then go to QOVF.org and request a destination. ( again I have the emails if the site is not quite ready)


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This last school year my 5th grade quilters had been challenged to bring 100 Quilts of Valor to the Chaplain on post. We asked how many wounded soldiers there were and were first told 400, then 700. Combined with the quilts we made and with the help if many many many wonderful quilters, and Long armers we had a quilt for each and every wounded soldier in the Warriors in Transition unit. NO SOLDIER WAS FORGOTTEN.


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The unit leaders and Chaplains are wanting this to happen again. I have not been given a number yet - but many wonderful quilters have been helping us prepare for the next delivery. The 5th grade class of this year have been sewing regularly.


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Wouldn't it be cool to cover each wounded soldier in America? I know that I am not the only one out there with a QOV project. Mine is Colorado, but there is Rita in IL, Marsha in MN, Julia in NE, Barb in Southern Cal, Gail in Northern Cal, June in WA - there are soldiers everywhere - so please - today - won't you consider making one Quilt of Valor this year?
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If you have question, feel free to email me. If you want to hook up with some of the groups I can probably help you out. If you want to know how you can get involved in lots of ways - let me know.
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Please do be patient with me though(grin)
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Enjoy your day... off to quilt!


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posted by Alycia @ 7:06 AM 4 comments

Monday, November 09, 2009

Quilts and More!



This beautiful Quilt of Valor comes from Margo S in Peyton CO. It is so lovely. The picture probably doesn't do it justice. Margo - Thank you SO much!! I have heard that more wounded are being moved in, so we will be ready when they are. Thank you all so much for making this possible!

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I have been remiss is showing you our pumpkin carving success! Even though we were in a blizzard - Wrangler Man was able to bring home some pumpkins. This is quite significant due to the fact that the pumpkins that we grew were under 4 foot of snow!
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Little Bit had a great time cleaning out the pumpkins - he was not afraid of the goo at all. But Middle Bit did not like the feel of it, so I got him some of my plastic gloves. Little Bit thought he should use them too then.
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If you notice Middle pipsqueak is more concerned with trying to keep his gloves clean. Amazing - since he loves to squish mud, and playdoh and cookie dough....
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Anyways here is one of our pumpkins shining in the night.






And just to prove that I don't play favorites - here is a picture of Big Bit and his dad. Their costumes were to be each other. I am
not sure who won.
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Wrangler Man was awful excited to get more support for his Wyoming Cowboys though.

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posted by Alycia @ 10:04 PM 2 comments

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Quilts from Dianne

We spent this weekend at a swim meet. All 3 boys did a lot of swimming, and eating to keep up with it. I was a timer for 2 of the sessions, and an official for the other session. I am still in training so I only had to do minor stuff. But you stand THE WHOLE TIME.... this is hard on your back!! The boys did very good though, and were happy!
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The Quilts of Valor in this post came from Dianne in Geneseo IL. She is part of a guild there that is extremely prolific! Pat ( another member of their group) came out to visit her daughter and grandchildren, I got to meet up with her for a wonderful quilt delivery!!

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Dianne - thank you for these quilts! They are just wonderful!





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I always read Judy L's blog and read all about her home made bread - and we get jealous!! I have tried all sorts of bread recipes and had not such good luck, as I can not eat wheat. I have also decided that I don't care for Garfava flour. So I got a new cookbook about cooking in the crockpot and they said you could make gluten free bread in the crockpot. I tried it and Look.... it worked! It was a mix from the glutenfree pantry. But it was a great mix and it worked!! We ate the whole loaf in approximately 3 minutes!
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It was moist and yummy and not like the past bricks that I have made.


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posted by Alycia @ 9:22 PM 3 comments

Thursday, November 05, 2009

More Quilts of Valor from Meredith

All four of these quilts were made by Meredith in California, but she shared the quilting blessing around! The first two were quilted by Dorothy H.
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That piano key border on the first quilt really struck my fancy - perfect border to the quilt!




The next two were also made by Meredith and quilted by Sandy V. Beautiful!!


Thanks so much ladies. These are just wonderful.
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And today was a great day for us. 2 of my 3 kiddos did not have school, so we got to mess around a bit. We quilted some, cleaned rooms some, raced a little bit, and then... I found myself with a free evening. I usually take my kids to swim practice. The oldest swims till 9pm, and he didn't need me to drive tonite.
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With the time on my hands - I got to play with some of my fabrics. New ones! They were a gift from some very sweet friends, and I cut them up!!! It was awesome - and when I finally take pictures you are going to laugh at the colors....

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posted by Alycia @ 8:55 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Made by Nancy - Quilted by Ros

Oh just look at these lovely lovely string quilts!!! These were pieced by Nancy - and I forgot to write down where Nancy was from. I love String quilts - And I really like these with the white center string. Very Nice! Ros from Colorado quilted them. I tell ya this gal has been a busy quilter these last few months!! I sure appreciate the work the two of you ladies did. Ros can be found here:
http://ros-the-quilter.blogspot.com/

On my Heartstrings Quilt group - Http://www.heartstringsquiltproject.com You can find all sorts of amazing pictures of string quilts and even instructions how to make them. The challenge for this month is Orange Centered blocks. I am thinking I may try to use a fallish orange and fall colors to see what I can come up with... that is if I get my sewing mojo back. I have been sewing a little here, and a little there... but not as much as I need to be sewing. I am thinking that Sunday after church I may hibernate with my machine and ignore the rest of the world.... so far my calendar is empty for Sunday afternoon......
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If you were me, and you were going to ignore 4 starving men - what kind of Crockpot meal would you start in the morning so they could fend for themselves?? I have already made chili this week....

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posted by Alycia @ 4:19 PM 2 comments

Monday, November 02, 2009

November???

May I ask where the days have gone? The time change always messes me up! Now it is light in the morning when Wrangler Man does the chores, but dark in the evening for me.... is that fair? Well, I guess I could do them earlier...... ( but seriously - who asked me about this??)

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This first quilt on the left was made by Marilyn in Ft Collins. Just up the road from me.... She and I met at the Rocky Mtn Quilt Show in Loveland and she made this Quilt of Valor for us! Its beautiful. Thanks Marilyn!!
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The next two Quilts of Valor on the right were made by Meredith in California and then quilted by Ros in Colorado. She is over in the Real Cold Country. These quilts are awesome! Meredith must be a prolific quilter - because some more showed up from her!! ( So stay tuned) Thanks Ladies!!

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You know what is really cool? All of the quilts look GOOD in my house. I love laying them over the furniture and pretending. Maybe someday when I play decorator I will know exactly what colors to use for a quilt in this room!

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We belong to a small 4-H club in town. It has a lot of really young 4-H'ers in it. I love it. The kids are fun, the parents are pretty easy going. We have just finished our first year and are starting our second. Most times we try to find a community service project. This year we adopted 4 soldiers and packed up some care packages for them. It was quite fun. Every kid wrote a letter to the soldier, and we all shopped for some fun stuff and goodies.
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These kids are excellent packers. I didn't have to rearrange anything in the boxes before we shipped them... the kids did an awesome job.

Hope you all have a great evening.

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posted by Alycia @ 8:44 PM 3 comments

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Pillowcases, Emergency Suppies, and More Snow!





Pillowcases arrived in a huge packed box that was very very heavy to carry.... The Pride City Quilt Guild in Pueblo has been very very busy!!! Please note - this is not my backyard - mine is significantly whiter and muddier.... but I am willing to trade!!


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In another box was a great stash of fabrics from Nancy in MA... plus a little box of emergency supplies. How did she know it would arrive just in time for the Blizzard of Oct 09? Wrangler Man wanted to know what he had to do to break into some of those emergency supplies.... I handed him a rotary cutter and a ruler!



In yet another wonderful box - some pillowcases from Susan in Loveland. I wonder if she got snowed in as well. I heard that the first part of the storm was worse in the West.

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And Friday was another snow day. The blizzard left some pretty big drifts all around. I think that we could have made it to school if we had to. Since we got a call Thursday nite cancelling school we didn't even try. Instead we made snow forts and watched the snow melt. I mean MELT - it really did. The 4 ft drifts are about 18 inches now. On - what we call our lawn- the drifts are still pretty high, but I think that is because it catches everything.





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Hope you all have a good weekend planned. Probably by the time Blogger lets me add my pictures the weekend will be over - but I will keep trying! ( whoo hoo only 8 hours later...)

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posted by Alycia @ 8:26 AM 3 comments