2014 Quilts of Valor 6/15

I hope you are all sewing away and have finished Clue 1 in the Allegiance Mystery!!

Now you can take a small break and check out these awesome quilts:

This one was made and quilted by the Columbine Quilt Guild.  I like the graphic-ness of it ;-)   yes - I am allowed to make up new words... my Momma said it's okay!!

A little while back I was invited to speak at the InterFaith Quilters of Longmont... so I gathered my wits and headed out... They had a surprise for me!!! This quilt and the next one are a little bit of their surprise!!

The "Snowball Quilt" is also from Interfaith. What an amazing group of quilters. So friendly and nice... and oh my the quilts they make!!!

This lovely was Pieced and Quilted bu Connie of Loveland. Connie is amazing. She does everything - Pieces - quilts - washes quilts - is so nice to me!

This is another one from Connie. The star blocks all around the outside are the Moda Just One Star blocks. They have all been signed by their makers.

Kathy - Connie's Faithful sidekick - Pieced this one. and Connie Quilted it.  I think it is that Dancing Nines pattern from Quiltville.com  - if it is not, there is a similar quilt there ;-)

This one is pieced by Jeanette of Greeley and Quilted by Me... I jokingly call it Black and White with Red All oVer... I used Red Thread to quilt it.

This is another Quilt pieced By Connie and Kathy - and Quilted by Connie. I think you can click on the photo and see the cool car fabrics. I love it!

Here is another By Connie and Kathy. The combined Moda Just One Star Blocks, and some of the QOV Block Drive blocks from the QOV website last year.

And Last for Today.... One of our Big Blowout Block Drive Quilts - Pieced by all of you, put into a top by Karen and quilted by Carolyn in Windsor.

Hope you enjoyed todays Quilts!  Come back tomorrow for the Second Clue in our Allegiance Mystery!!

Flag String Block

This is the block we used for the Big Blowout Block Drive. Apparently I removed the instructions ( oops) so I am reposting them here, and will also add this link to the Free Patterns Tab. Thanks for bringing it to my attention ( seriously - I need all the help I can get!)  I should mention the prize part of the block drive is over... but if you wish to make some of these - we will always take them ;)

Flag String Block:
Shown are two versions. The top one uses just one piece of blue, the second one uses strings to fill in the blue.

Step 1: Cut a 10 inch foundation block. Along the center line ( I eyeballed it) place a white string - right side up. I like to use 2 inch center strings. 

 Step 2: Add a blue strip to the top edge of the white one, pretty side down - and stitch along that edge.

Step 3: Press it up

 Steps: 4 and 5 - add more Blues - and press them up.

Step 6: Add a red strip ( the picture shows it right side up - DISREGARD -) place it ugly side up, and stitch - then Flip it up and press.

Continue in this manner alternating Red then White then red then white, until the foundation is covered.  It doesn't matter if you end with red or white.... whatever fits on there.

Then take your 9 1/2 inch square ruler. On mine there is a diagonal line - I placed that line right between the first red and white stripe, and then trimmed it.

 Here is a close up of what I did. But remember - the beauty of string blocks is nothing has to be perfect until the final trim.

 An even better close up.

For the block with one large Blue piece it is the same process, except you will only be sewing the blue side once.

The final block will be 9 1/2 inches square:

This Block Drive WAS sponsored by:  Our block drive is now over..... but these were the wonderful sponsors of it - Awesome companies!!

Vicki Welsh Hand Dyes:     http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickiwelsh?ref=si_shop

Clothworks  :    http://clothworks.com/

Superior Threads:   http://www.superiorthreads.com/

Craftsy:  http://www.craftsy.com/

KimmyQuilt – Kim Brunner: http://www.kimmyquilt.com/

Waterpik :   http://www.waterpik.com/

Quilters Dream Batting : http://quiltersdreambatting.com/

Quiltygirl.com : http://www.quiltygirl.com

Patchwork Times: http://www.patchworktimes.com

And follow along with all the posts By clicking here

QUILTYGIRL.com Winner

And - we are now at the last prize for the BIG BLOWOUT BLOCK DRIVE!!!  Thank you all for your participation!! We are really excited to get these blocks into tops - and some of them have already been working on them....

The last prize is a gift certificate from QuiltyGirl

You can read her guest post here:
http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/10/quiltygirl-sponsored-quilts-of-valor.html

And the winner is:

T Craven in OH - T - you will need to contact me and we will get that $50 gift Certificate to you for quilting on a quilt!!!

Congratulations!!

I sure hope you have enjoyed seeing the recipients of some of these quilts - They sure make my heart happy!!

Happy Veterans Day - and again.... thank you for your support!!!

PATCHWORKTIMES Winner

Patchwork Times in our Next Sponsor!!  I don't know if you read about Judy - but she is one amazing woman. I love her stories of life in Texas... and her Quilts - oh my!!!  AND!! She is an amazing author!!

You can read all about Judy here:
http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/10/patchwork-times-sponsored-quilts-of.html

Judy graciously offered this book up as a prize!!! So Judy will be sending it out to:


Drummm Rollll please.......

Sally R in MN - Sally I will contact you and connect you with Judy!!! Thank you SO much!!

I just wanted to prove that these quilts bring smiles.... seriously - this Veterans could NOT stop smiling. He was so touched by his quilt!!! Thank you ALL for making this happen!!!

Quilters Dream Batting Winners

It's me!!!! It's Me!!!  Okay -  I am just kidding!!!!

Quilters Dream Donated 5 different Battings... I was so tickled!! They are such a great company, and they have such heart!!   You can read their Guest post here:

http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/10/quilters-dream-batting-sponsored-qov.html  - I will warn you though - you may want a tissue....

There are TWO Winners for the Quilters Dream Battings - one winner will receive 2 batts and the other 3 batts..... All of the drawings are random so......


The winner of the TWO batts is Janine in Greensboro NC - Janine - I have your email so will be contacting you!!!


The winner of the THREE batts is Jane M in AppleValley WI - Jane I do not have your email - so contact me!!! So I can ship these to you!!!

Congratulations Quilters!!!!

This is a flashback picture.... this is the very first soldier at Fort Carson that we ever presented a Quilt of Valor to.  It was the hook - the Soldier who inspired us to continue making quilts, and who hooked the kids!!!

Two of the kids in this picture have continued to make Quilts of Valor all through the years..... and they all came back to help the new kids.... *sigh*

Waterpik Oral Care System Winner

Wow!!! Thanks to Waterpik for the sponsorship - and for offering an Oral Care System. I tell you - THIS - is an impressive system!!

Check out how cool this system is:
http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/10/109-quilts-of-valor-show-sponsored-by.html

I did get one of these for my son - he had braces, and I really thought it would help. Imagine how happy I was when both the orthodontist AND the Dentist told me his teeth looked good.... I am thinking I will get one next!

So the winner of this system is:

Drum roll please.......

Raluca in MD !!! Congrats Raluca - I will be emailing you and getting your shipping address!!

And Happy Veterans day. I hope you have been watching all the other Veterans with their quilts. This guy! Wow - what a decorated Veteran. His stories were impressive.

I have Three more drawings left to post - so keep coming back today - they will be done soon ;-)

KimmyQuilt Winner in the Big Blowout Block Drive

Kimmy Quilt  Sponsored our next prize.... I tell you - you will LOVE this prize.

This prize is Kimmys Twirly Whirly Feathers Workbook and DVD !!

You can read all about Kimmy here:
http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/09/quilt-of-valor-show-sponsored-by_25.html

And the winner is:

Julie S in KS!!!   Congrats Julie - email me your address and we will get this out to you ASAP!!

Congratulations!!



Gotta love the smiles here - These quilts really make our Veterans Smile.... They are so shocked to know that there are people who are thinking of them... and that we not only say Thank you - we SHOW that Thanks with a beautiful quilt.

CLOTHWORKS Strip Rolls Winners!!

Clothworks  Donated three yummy strip rolls to our Big Blowout Block Drive....

You can read all about Clothworks here:
http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/09/quilts-of-valor-show-sponsored-by.html

And now for the winners of a strip roll:



Judy R of Spokane WA - Judy sent in multiple packages... but Judy.... you never included an email .... so email me so I can mail you a strip roll!!

Sally T of VA - Sally - email me your address ;)

and

Charlotte W of Oklahoma....

Congrats Quilters - I know you will LOVE your strip rolls - I have fondly gazed at them for a few weeks now. They are ready to come to you ;-)

It is really important to me to let you know how much these Quilts of Valor are loved. I am so tickled when the Veterans allow us to take pictures, and I am so tickled to be able to show them to you.... I hope you are not overwhelmed...

Sometimes they may look a little overwhelmed, but the cool thing is - each quilt has a journal attached to it, so when the Veteran gets the quilt home, they can read all about how it was made, and how it came to be theirs.

WATERPIK Rainfall+ Showerhead winner

You know I was a little jealous that someone was going to win this shower head, and that I didn't have one.... But Bless Waterpik's heart!!! When they sent me the prize for one of you.... they sent me one to try too.

AWESOME!!!  

And umm,  it actually caused my kids to NOT argue with me when I said they had to take a shower ..... that alone makes it totally worth it!! It has earned RAVE reviews in our house. There is even a pause or trickle function.... it keeps the water warm while you are shaving ( the men used this!) and doesn't waste water!

You can read all about this showerhead at this post:
http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/08/quilts-of-valor-show-sponsored-by.html

So are you ready for the winner of this showerhead?     

Drum Roll Please..............................

The winner is

Linda R in PA - !!!! Linda is a part of the King Quilters - so Linda - I will be emailing you to get your mailing address - and it will be on its way to you!!!

Thank you to http://www.waterpik.com/  for being a sponsor in our Block Drive!!  Thank you all for your support and helping us honor our Veterans!!

SUPERIOR THREADS WInners!!!!

Superior Threads Donated 2 $25 gift certificates to their store.... UMMMM ummm - you winners are going to have a hard time choosing which threads you love!!!

You can read all about their blog post here:

http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2013/09/quilt-of-valor-show-sponsored-by.html

I was at Houston and walked by the Superior Booth - so thought I would stop in and introduce myself - because seriously - Dr.Bob should know exactly who I am right?  Just because he never met me face to face, and just because he was so generous in supporting our Quilts of Valor... he should know me right?

OH. MY! Gosh!!! - He did.... I was shocked to say the least - I said " I just wanted to Introduce myself, I am Alycia"  and he said - " How is the Block drive going?"  JUST/ LIKE THAT people!!!

I met his wife to - wow - they are seriously nice people!!  

Look - Here we are - Just to prove it ;-)

And Now..... Drumroll please.........

The Winners of a $25 gift Certificate to Superior Threads are::::::::::

Judy V in CO    

and

Cathy B in MD

Ladies- I have both of your emails - so I will be emailing you a gift certificate to use at Superior Threads!!!

CONGRATULATIONS

Without all you wonderful help - we couldn't honor our Veterans like this:   These Veterans were just so amazed that we would offer these Beautiful Quilts. I promise - there were not many dry eyes this day ;-)