Not so Top Secret Project Intro

Today the boys decided it was a great day to go fishing and do some guy stuff... so I had the day ( or 5 hours) to myself. So you know being the great housewife that I am - I decided I should clean and prep food and you know - just be wonderful... That thought lasted about - oh say 30 seconds and I sat down at my sewing table! Much better choice!.

I worked on my Not so Top Secret Project almost all day. I would like to tell you a little bit about this Not So Top Secret project and maybe you will want to join me! You remember the Chaplain asking for 100 quilts for Quilts of Valor for his soldiers? Well I told my mom, and my quilt guild. My mom - well she is dangerous. She gets taken with an idea - and away she runs with it... so far she has recruited about 10 sewing ladies from her church, and has scheduled 3 sew days.

Well we need some quilts to sew, that are not too difficult as they are all at various stages in their beginning quilting careers. So I have EQ6... I should use it to come up with some relativly easy pretty patterns right? The first one I did is a Rail Fence quilt. So I got that pattern all printed out, and have made 4 kits out of my fabrics for that.

So now I need something a little more advanced - yet something that I can't screw up while teaching it, and something that maybe my guild would like to make.... and this is where you come in.. Maybe something that you would like to make and consider donating to Quilts of Valor. And if you were so inspired to let us deliver it for you - that would help meet our 100 Quilt goal...

See now - you never knew where I was headed with that did ya? So anyways - I did design something that is relatively easy, and hasn't really taken me that long so far, and I think looks rather nice. At this moment I am testing the yardage and everything has matched up so far. I think its looking rather nice!

Come back on Tuesday to the blog, and I will be ready to show you my Not so Top Secret Project, and will start posting the directions. It will not be a mystery... I love mysteries but am very very visual so its easier for me to not do that. It will not be broken down in time segments - because I am one of the slowest sew people in the world, but it will be step by step.

I hope some of you will like the pattern and choose to participate. Then if you find anything confusing or wrong with my instructions I will be one step ahead when presenting it to my Moms sew ladies and my Guild.

Have a good one!!!
Alycia

Summer has Started

Summer is always busier that the school year I think. We have Swim Team in the morning till 11:30 and then always find something that has to be done in town. Usually 2-3 days a week we stay at the pool for a while. And all that is wonderful - but then the time goes away!

Oh well. I finished this quilt for a customer. Her friends mother made these Dresden plates way back in the 30's and 40's and they finally put them on a top. She made it for a daybed, and made pillowcases too. I really liked it.

my customer came and picked it up today and was very happy. So we like that.

On another note - my not so top secret project is going along very well - I cut all the pieces, have a bunch sewn and will iron tonite. Now if it all goes well and works right I will share it soon...

Hope you all are having a good one!

Arrived!

Look what I got in the mail today!!!

It is the first Quilt of Valor for the next delivery! Okay - so it isn't quilted yet - but thats just a technicality!! I already cut a backing for it, so I am prepared. This is a Scrappy Bargello - from http://www.quiltville.com/ and it is made by Janelle from MD!

I am so excited!

This weekend I finished a string quilt.. so need to get it quilted and that will be two. We are off for a great start.

Last Friday we had some pretty wicked weather around our house. Nothing at all compared to the huge tornado that hit Windsor - but still we spent the better part of the day in the basement. This pic to the right is the Spout - I think they called it - that built up speed and touched down about 2 miles from us. I took pictures upstairs then decided the wind and the churning clouds were enough. We headed into the basement and watched it go from the small windows.... yep - I am a chicken!!

Okay - back to sewing - I have an idea, we will see how it pans out and then maybe, just maybe I will share it with you ( if I don't screw it up - which has been known to happen!! )

Have a great one!

Alycia

Soldiers examining their Quilts

I thought is was wonderful to just watch the reactions of the soldiers as they received their quilts. None of them were in a hurry to rush off, they all just enjoyed sitting there.

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Now the soldier on the far right end who has his hands folded in his lap?

He is the shy soldier I told you about earlier and it took a little bit of cajoling to get him to open his quilt up. At first I was really worried that he accidentally got a pink one, or one he didn't like. So I was concerned and was going to fix that of course. Turns out he was just shy in front of the men. Then he noticed no one was even paying attention to him and he dug in to his bag!

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Memorial Day is a great day to spend time remembering these fallen, and injured heroes. To me it is also a great day to remember past heroes - My Great Uncle who was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked, My Husbands Great Uncle who was a Tail Gunner in WWII, My Dearest friend ( who I call my Uncle) a Vietnam Vet, another dear friend from WWII - it is these greats who helped make our country what it is, and give us the freedoms that we have. For that I am extremely grateful. And I think that making a quilt or two is the least I can do to show my gratitude.

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Many of you have asked when our next Quilt of Valor delivery will be. One is Definitely scheduled for May of 09. This gives the school children the whole school year to work on quilts. But we are also thinking we may try to schedule one for Sept/Oct time for the ones the kids will have done, and for all the summer sewing group quilts to be delivered. If you are interested in helping us - I would be glad for all the help. Whether it is a finished quilt, or a quilt top that needs quilting, ( and if you have backing for the top that would be icing on the cake) we would be happy to take it, and get it to a deserving soldier.

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Have a great Memorial Day!

Alycia

Memorial Day Weekend

I am still remembering our delivery of Quilts of Valor to the soldiers.

I had a group of young men in the 5th grade who volunteered to work with the wildlife fabric. They made a quilt and called it Natures Way. Natures Way was able to go to MQX (http://www.MQXshow.com) and be displayed in the QOV booth. C was one of the young men in the group so he presented the quilt to SGT R.

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This soldier I only got to talk to for a little bit. He was a unit leader and had 18 soldiers in his unit. I know he was glad to be on US soil.

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We tried to get photo albums with each of the quilts, describing the making of the quilts, the quilting of the quilts, and who worked on them. There were also some letters from the students who helped make each quilt. I can not tell you what a hit they were. All of the soldiers and spouses were so tickled to look thru the albums.

This bottom picture is of our high school CFS teacher and the soldier. This is the second year that the CFS has been involved and what a great help they are!

~ I am not sure if I mentioned it - but when we were leaving the base Chaplain took me aside and said, Do you think you can bring 100 next time you come? Gulp - well we will try our best. Apparently these quilts are quite important?? But we all knew that quilts were important didn't we?

Have a great Memorial Day weekend! I am prepping more fabric into quilt kits for a sew day in a few weeks... for more Quilts of Valor!

What a strange day

we had yesterday... I quilted early in the morning and shut my machine down. Two minutes later the power went out. At 11:30 a tornado touched down to the west of us, in the town the my Sis in Law lives. So I tracked her down and she was okay...next up was finding my husband - he was in the town just to the west of the tornado. He was fine too. My Aunt in Law in Laramie was okay too - she had tress uprooted..but she called dh this morning and she is good... so All are accounted for.

About 4:15 I look out east of us and there are hugely dark clouds and a small funnel coming out of it. This I am somewhat used to - but the always go east and dissapate... however this one was moving north, and a little west - in my opinion. So we headed down to the basement and played there for a while. The boys were getting a bit concerned.

Then at 5pm it was sunny and the wind had died down and you couldn't tell it had been a stormy day. And the power came back on!

Now today it has been pretty but the wind is kicking up again - and the clouds are starting to darken, I hope its just thunderstorms and they will move out.

Last weekend we went fishing with some friends for a birthday party - the photo is my guys trying to be serious.... hmmm

Have a great day!

More Soldier Quilts

It was so wonderful to see the looks on the soldiers faces. They really appreciated the quilts, and the attention. The military tells us that the ratios of women to men injured in 1:10. We had at least 5 females at out ceremony. It was wonderful to have female quilts available as well. These two ladies loved the Red White and Blue.. It is amazing how the appropriate quilt found its owner.

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I thought I had a picture of the tulip quilt.. but can't seem to find it. The Girls told me they gave the tulip quilt to a females soldier and she started crying. She was so excited because Pin was her favorite color and tulips were her favorite flower. She was just so tickled and loved the designs in it.

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The soldiers were also told they could wear civilian clothing if they wanted to, only a few took them up on it, but this young lady did and she was so sweet. She could be my new best friend with all the ohhin and ahhing she did over all the quilts... and I didn't have to beg her like I do my boys (grin)

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This gentlemen has a TBI and was very quiet. He was such a neat guy though. He talked with the kids and really loved his quilt as well. He decided it reminded him of the Rocky Mountains.

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I am part of the Heartstrings group (http://www.heartstringsquiltproject.com and one member made this string quilt. We thought it would be perfect for a Quilt of Valor... and we were right. This soldier LOVED the quilt. They discussed the quilting design and how the strings made a cool pattern.. it was fun to watch!

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On a personal note - SCHOOL is OUT!! Yay - yesterday was the last day of school and I helped chaperone the play day at the middle school. So needless to say I am sunburned - apparently you need more sunscreen when you are paper white! So today was organize the sewing room day, and get the craft tables all organized for the summer. And then of course a little bowling with the grandparents... the boys loved that and I keep telling them they are tired tonite but they are not listening - my telepathy must not be working!

......Tomorrow is quilting day!

Have a great day!

Alycia

Tropical Challenge

This is kind of a test - so maybe I passed. I got a new camera for mothers day and I don't really know how to download them AND get them into blogger. So I am trying. I still don't know how to resize the pictures - so hopefully blogger does it.....

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I got to go to Machine Quilters Showcase (MQS) in Overland Park Kansas and I of course took my camera - I took 362 pictures - acckkk. This one here was the tropical challenge winner and I can't find the name of who did it... so I will have to keep browsing my pictures to find it.

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MQS was great - the quilts were awesome and I did a little bit of shopping as well. I got some blue and yellow FQ's, and 5 new rulers for my Long Arm machine. I also Picked up Kimmy B's New DVD . I started to watch it some this morning - and then I had to go to church and to a birthday party. I can't wait to get back to it - it is AWESOME. She should have them up on her website soon ... http://www.kimmyquilt.com . I already learned two new things!!!

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Staff Sargeant W

This young soldier was so tickled to recieve his quilt. He was a wonderful young man. He was very social and really took a liking to the kids, then we noticed this beautiful young woman next to him - and it was his wife. They have a 9 month old little guy - boy was he a cutie! He rivals the cuteness of my kids at that age ( you know I had to say that right??!!)


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He sustained quite a few bullet injures, but the worst was to the head. So he has what they call Traumatic Brain Injury ( TBI), and is really struggling with short term memory. Prior to enlisting he told us he had gone to college to become a teacher... which of course endeared him to the two teachers!
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He told us recovery is very frustrating. He can't remember a lot of simple things. His wife has to label things for him to remember what they are. But this couple was the most gracious couple! They really wanted to take pictures with the student - N - who presented his quilt. This made a big impact on N, and his mom tells me that he came home and researched all sorts of things about Quilts of Valor. He is planning on making another one soon!








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On the Base there is a place called the War Memorial Gardens. When I went three years ago it consisted of a center informational plaque and one plaque on either side. This garden is to commomorate all fallen soldiers that were stationed at Fort Carson. It now number at 200 soldiers. It is a beautiful memorial, one I know we all wished didn't exist.

I hope you are all seeing how important your quilts, fabrics and Long Arming skills are to these soldiers. Although you couldn't be there physically - your spirit was. Thanks again!
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Have a great day!
Alycia

The next Soldier

Is from Rochester NY! He had two injuries and sustained them with in minutes of each other. When he was on patrol a sniper fired as he was walking and got him on the inside of his thigh thru his leg, and he went down. As he was rolling off the road - he go hit again in the right leg.


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He is still learning to walk well, as he has no feeling from his left Knee down. They do think the feeling will come back as he can feel sharp real well. He says he still has to watch where he is walking as sometimes his leg has a mind of its own.


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He recieved his quilt and was so excited, with both the quilt and the photo album that came with it. I asked if I could take his picture, he said yes. So as I was aiming I said now smile Manly, and this is what I got.!! Does he look Manly? I got the commander to smile, but that was it. So after I took his picture I said - well gosh, what if I asked you to giggle like a girl?


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This is what the base photographer got:

Doesn't he look a little more happy there?

Hope you all have a great Mothers day and evening. We had Grandma (and Grandpa) here for breakfast and then they headed over to my husbands sisters house for dinner. It was very nice.

Quilts of Valor Delivery Day

I have to tell you - I know that I will be emotional, but I always forget that until I show up next to a soldier. And this delivery completely overwhelmed me. I so badly want to convey to you all the importance of your quilts and of your work and of your caring so I think I may post a few different times. We took down over 40 quilts and were able to deliver the majority of them. Unfortuneatly for injured people, sometimes there bodies don't cooperate with there spirits, and so some soldiers weren't able to attend our delivery. But be rest assured - there unit leader stood up fearlessly for them, and took quilts back to those who couldn't come.

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That said... I think I should start at the beginning.... Thursday nite... Two more Wonderful quilts arrived on my doorstep. One you can see at Suzannes blog http://saltcreekquilts.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/stars-and-stripes-quilt-of-valor/ , and the other one I will defineatly blog about!

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Thursday I took this picture.... of all the quilts! And decided I needed to take a load to the school, so we did and had quite an entourage following me to the classroom. The whole school I think had an idea of what was about to happen.

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Friday morning 3 High School students, the CFS teacher, 8 5th grade students, one of the 5th grade teachers and myself boarded the bus for our 2 1/2 hour drive. We discussed about what might happen, what would happen, and what to say.... but we were all excited. We arrived on base and got to take a tour of the war memorial gardens before heading into the chapel. The chapel would be our main location for the presentation of the quilts. This is where the soldiers met us. All of these soldiers came from the Warrior in Transition Unit on the base. This means the have rehabbed enough to not need to be in the hosptial, but they are not rehabbed enough to be back with there active unit, or be discharged. Many of them have been there a few months, and few have been there for a year.

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We were able to talk with the soldiers and hang out and get to know them while we ate sandwiches. Many of them told us there stories of injury, and how they got back to the states. One soldier told me - Ma'am its just way to gory, I don't want to scare anyone.....

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After this we moved into the chapel where the quilts were and the kids started taking quilts to the individual soldiers. I tried so hard to take pictures of all the quilts going out - and I know I missed quite a few. For this I do apologize, but to make you feel better - I even missed the soldier getting the quilt my 6yo son made. But I know they are all in good hands and are SO Appreciated!!

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If you will allow I would like to tell you the stories I have permission to share one soldier at a time. This soldier I will call Pomona, as that is where is was born and raised. When we were out socializing I noticed him kind of standing there, very quiet and not involved with talking to someone. So I headed over and being the shy being that I am pestered him! I asked where he was from, and he grew up South of where I grew up. He was very quiet and very shy, and was very hesitant to engage in conversation. He worked Air Traffic Control in Iraq, which is one Humongous job. I think God must have told me to talk to him cuz in my previous life ( okay even this one) I am a pilot. So we talked planes and helicopters and soon he was actually talking with out me asking questions.

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His quilt was delivered to him, and I noticed he left it in the bag and didn't have it out like so many of the other soldiers... so again I pestered him. I asked him if he thought his quilt was okay - and it wasn't too girly was it ? This was his concern earlier in the day - that he would get something too girly. He said nope - it was fine. So I tried to talk to him again, and he just wouldn't take the quilt out. Being a quilter this was driving me nuts! I wanted to know which one he got. So I finally asked him , Can I take a picture of you with the quilt? He said No, I said okay, Why? He says if I cry in front of the men I don't know if I can handle it. I smiled and pointed to 3 other Men who were crying, and then he took the quilt out. And yep - he cried, and I turned away until he got the tears brushed away. The sweet girl next to him is one of our High School students - A - and she came over and hugged him and we got this picture.

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These soldiers - men and women alike are TOUGH! More so than I think I could ever be, and they are so considerate of others that they don't talk about themselves much, so this was quite an experience to have to talk about themselves.

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I have many many more pics and stories - so check back often!! I want you all to know how much your quilts are appreciated and loved and cried over!!

Its Beth Day!!

These Two quilts are from Beth in AZ - They are so cool! The first is a bargello quilt - I think it was made from Bonnies pattern on Quiltville.com . I am testing my memory as I am sure she told me that - but if I am wrong - please forgive me. The other one is a cool 4patch quilt. I am sure I know the name - and it will come to me at 2 in the morning, so I promise not to bother you then. Aren't these awesome!
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It is the night before our delivery - and I am trying to make sure I have not forgotten anything. I have taken two loads of quilts in to school, so we can walk them right out to the bus, and my hubby is going to help me load the rest in my trunk tonite.
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In Total there are 48 quilts, Three are ones that I made for them just to have on hand - so all the rest will be delivered!! I even have a picture of them all bagged up in my front room, but it is still in my camera - which is in my bag for tomorrow. I am afraid I will forget something - so I already packed!
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My kids are almost done with school, and I think they have summer fever. No one wants to finish homework, no one wants to go to bed before it is dark, No one really wants to go to school. I think I understand... but I am tired of pushing them. (Stinkers)
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Hope you all have a good evening!
Alycia

Its Janice Day

Today ( after a little stress with DHL) 3 wonderful quilts arrived from Texas!! I love Texas! Janice made and quilted these beauties and that brings our delivery number up to 44... won't the chaplain be surprised.



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I have one last quilt that Mrs W. is binding, I have bagged up everything that is washed - I have a few more to wash, and then we will be ready for delivery Friday.


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This weekend was very productive for me quilt wise. I bound two QOV's and (drumroll please) the Batman/Spiderman quilt I made and gave to my now 7yr old is bound. Apparently he didn't care because he slept with it anyways!
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I also worked on some more string blocks. My mom's church is doing VBS and for there community service project they decided to do a Quilt of Valor as well. Now seeing as I don't have any Red White and Blue fabrics - I dug and dug and dug ( are you rolling over laughing yet) and pulled out 12 different 1/4 yards to use for there quilts and some muslin. My dear friend V~ has so generously sent me some fabrics that I am very able to share and do these projects - I LOVE it - I think this is the concept of Pay it Forward!!!


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We thought we would have the kids draw pictures into a few quilts ( probably 4). So she has some ladies that live by her that will sew the fabrics into blocks and when the kids are done we will put the into a quilt!
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Well that is all I know for now... I made myself a list of things and I guess I had better get to it. One of those is getting the string blocks I made into another top. Binding on a gift quilt, and paying bills - yuck! I have till Thursday to get this done!

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Have a quilty Day - Happy Cinco De Mayo!!

PS - I have tried to add all the quilts that are being delivered to my webshots album too - so http://community.webshots.com/user/jakeandmecom is where they are

Heartstrings Quilt of Valor

This quilt was sent to me from Sue at HeartStrings Headquarters(http://heartstringsquiltproject.blogspot.com) ... I am not sure if they were group blocks or a finished top but it is perfect for a Quilt of Valor. Now if you look close the White that is used in the border.... I HAVE!!! So I mixed it with another white that had flags on it for the backing and it looks perfect!!

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While bonding with my couch a two weeks ago I watched Dawn Ramirez's Pajama Quilter and I really like the wonky feathers. So I drew them on paper and thought I was ready to take them to a quilt. So that is what I quilted on this. I don't know if they look just like Dawns - but I have to tell you - I like how it turned out. I used Quilters Dream Dream Puff batting and I think it is very snuggly! If you click on the pictures they should get bigger if you want to see more detail.

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Which would be perfect for a day like today - the wind is blowing about 35 mph and gusting to 60 - its just nuts and I don't like it anymore.... We had snow and rain yesterday - but the wind has blown any good moisture away.

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So I guess I had better get back to quilting and do something useful (grin)