Challenge Quilt and the Quilters

My sister, Janet G, and I (Sue)attend a quilting retreat with friends each year in  NY. Each year someone's name is picked to create a challenge for the group to work on.  Janet's name was picked.  She is a new quilter and asked me to work on it with her.  We decided it would be a quilt made for a wounded soldier.  We made this decision because Janet's son-in-law was injured in Afghanistan and received several quilts.  He was moved by receiving the quilts.  

I found the pattern in my stash of patterns.  It was in a calendar.  The pattern is called Hearts United by Nancy Bordeaux.  We decided this would be a great pattern for making Quilts of Valor quilts.  There were 26 of us at the retreat.  We asked each person to bring some red, white and blue fabric that was patriotic.  We showed each person how to make a block and the results were 26 beautiful heart blocks.  Janet and I used all the blocks to put together 2 quilts. (The two extra quilts were used for the labels on the back of each quilt.)  Some of the sashing, border, and backing fabrics were donated by Bits and Pieces quilt shop in Pelham, NH.  Janet and I donated some of the sashing, border and backing fabrics as well.  Janet and I completed the tops and I machine quilted them.

We hope the soldiers who receive these quilts feel the comfort we have sewn into each one.

submitted by Sue O.

Cascade Idaho

Here are some pictures from the presentation in Cascade Idaho.  Can't help bu LOVE the smiles!!

HMQS - May 2013

How many of you are planning to head to HMQS is Salt Lake City this spring?

Did you know that there is a Quilting Challenge? Check this out
Quilting Challenge for Veterans

and  this:

Challenges  ( you need to scroll down to the bottom)

I have already received my fabrics and am starting to work on my Challenge Quilt!! All of these quilts will go to help Utah Coordinator Diane J to fulfill her requestsfor 218 Quilts of Valor for Summer/Fall 2013!

If you are planning on attending you are more than welcome to bring a Quilt of Valor for Diane!!

Presentations - Central Idaho Quilters

The Veterans' Day Quilt of Valor Presentation Ceremony was another highlight of our lives. We had several ladies (who are members of the Central Idaho Quilters Guild) attend for their very first time. They're hooked!! We were able to present 20 of the 25 quilts we had ready for the occasion. Thanks to Arlene Thomas for our great pictures. The event was held in Kamiah, Idaho, with approx. 100 people in attendance.

We shared laughter, tears, and pride as we said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the National Anthem and then "muddled" our way through the songs that represent each branch of the service. We presented quilts to veterans and soldiers from World War II to Afghanistan and Iraq. What a day. It was again a day of so many emotions. I love my job as coordinator. And I appreciate so much the work that all our ladies do to get these quilts finished and ready for presentation. A special thanks to Candy Throop, Pam Bruner, and the many others who helped with quilts, decorating, setting up and tearing down, and for all the delicious cookies!! So many cookies!!!

Our next presentation will be Memorial Day, 2013. Get to work ladies!!

For more pictures go to ClearwaterProgress.com, click on "order Prints Here" on the left side bar. Then click on "Recently added" on the right side bar, then click on Quilts of Valor. Thanks to Gina Jorgensen for her fine photography and for putting the group photo on the front page of the Progress. You are so appreciated.

Beautiful Quilts

We have a wonderful group in Boulder Colorado making Quilts of Valor. In 2012 they sent at least 12 Quilts overseas to Afghanistan. I so appreciate them!!!

Here are two of the Quilts that Becky and her group have just finished!

Beautiful quilts Ladies!!!