Happy Mail 3 April

Hi All,

I am writing this on Tuesday night and I am not sure how much time I am going to get to edit it tomorrow.  Firstly there is a sewing day at my home tomorrow and secondly there is the problem I have with my laptop at the moment.  Since this morning my word documents and photos have been unable to be accessed as required to load them to the blog or just to save new ones!  Grrrr.  I hope my friendly computer guy will be able to come and help me during the day but that is yet to be confirmed.  

Anyway, the bottom line is that I can't show you the cool BOMs that I received from Liz J nor the two cool quilts from Katrina.  I also wanted to show you three more cool BOMs that I received from Janine, but which had slipped by me and I only found them yesterday!

Not happy Jan-Maree!

Thankfully though I had already received and uploaded these ones.  

Dorothy's red, white and blue selection!

And I received a laundry bag from Millie

What I can share with you though are some thank you messages.  

Dear Julie Ann,

On behalf of myself and the Rotary Wing Group Team thanks for the Laundry bags that you sent us. They are awesome and we appreciate the effort that you've put in and the personal touch that you added to each one. They couldn't have come at a better time especially for myself as after 3 deployments to East Timor over the years and a few weeks in Afghanistan I was in desperate need of a new one ;).

I haven't received the other AHQ box yet that you mentioned in your letter but I'm sure it will be a great little surprise and I look forward to receiving it.

From all the guys here we really do appreciate all the support we get from people like yourself back home, and the gifts you send really do raise morale and make the deployments more enjoyable so thanks again.

Kindest Regards

Hi Liz,
I just wanted to say that I just got the Broncos laundry bag a week ago and I reckon it is awesome. My family don't like it because they are all NSW supporters (their problem, not mine).Please thank your friend Janie Pearson for the work. Regards.

Hello Stephanie D,

My Name is Chris and I have just received a laundry bag you made for me! Thank you very much for the laundry bag it will be well used! It is wonderful to receive things like this from home and to hear that those back there are thinking about us.

Regards

Hi Stephanie D,

Just quick message to take say thank you very much for the laundry bag. 

It is awesome and will get a lot of use.

Once again thank you

Thank you Julie-Ann S and Aussie Hero Quilts for taking the time and effort to make and send me a laundry bag and quilt, I am currently using the quilt on my bed, I cannot thank you enough for the contribution you have made to my deployment. I only received the parcels earlier this month after changing location as I was working in a different part of Afghanistan for the first 3 months of my deployment, sorry for the late reply as I have been busy with work but once again I am so grateful for the service you provide to our troops.

For Rita M

I have received the Quilt.

It is amazing and i have used it everyday. I reminds me of home so so much. 

I have also left a photo on the Aussie Quilt facebook page with a thank you note as well.

It is very much appreciated, and we are lucky to have caring people like yourself still around.

So I thank you so so much. 

The next couple are on facebook

Got my quilt and laundry bag today!! Love them! Thanks so much to Leone and Joan! Xox

My husband received his quilt and bag today and he was amazed by the lovely gift you sent him! I'm waiting for him to send me a photo! Thank you thank you thank you! Xxx

This one is for Nancy on facebook

I would like to say a massive thank you to the Quilter that made my quilt and laundry bag. Both are being put to great use! Thanks again, 

This refers to one of Rita M's quilts

Jan-Maree and Team, I would like to say thank you for my Aussie Hero Quilt I received on HMAS TOOWOOMBA recently. As one of the Pilots on the ship I was stoked to receive a quilt with aeroplanes and helicopters all over it! It was really nice to see that people back home are thinking of us whilst on our operational deployment. Keep up the great work. Kind Regards,

One for Carolyn M

Hello, 

Yes my quilt arrived and my laundry bag, thankyou so much I'm very grateful! 

Things are going well up here, time is going reasonably quick, I'll be home before I know it... hopefully! haha Thanks again for the quilt, I really appreciate it. 

For Rita M

Got my quilt in Dubai and wacked it straight onto my rack. Loving it! Had to take it off a couple times as the ventilation onboard was abit bad up here so it was getting quite warm with it on,..never fear it's close by if need be! Thanks again so much, it's so much better than I expected :) And I believe I'll have it for years to come.

Yours SIncerely,

For Pauline D

Thankyou to Jan-Maree and all the folks who make quilts for the troops they are well received. Mine is better than I could have hoped for.

Sincerely, 

For Melissa

                My laundry bag has arrived and it looks amazing thank you very much for all your effort and thank you for thinking of us all while we are up here.  Its great to know that there are people thinking of you out there while on these operations.  Again thank you very much. Regards,

For Elizabeth

Thank you for the blanket and washing bag it received they are very lovely. It makes the trip better when you receive a gift from a stranger and know that people care. thank you

Hopefully I will be back tomorrow night with some photos and the like.......if I can get my computer fixed!  

:-(

Till next time...........keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Happy Mail 6 March

There has been lots of lovely mail arriving this week.   I am really enjoying the last of the February BOM blocks as they arrive.  I think these are going to make some awesome quilts.  

First up these blocks from Janine

Liz J

Dorothy

Lynn has been sewing in overdrive again and sent in these six quilt tops.

Gail made this quilt top from blocks that Kylie sent down and it has now gone off to Angela in QLD for quilting!

Last but not least a lovely thank you for Rita M

Thank you for the lovely quilt and laundry bag. I have just opened the parcel as I have just returned from being in country for the past two months. You have done a marvelous job, I'm speechless. I was speaking with Jan Marie before I left to go in country and mentioned how great a job all you guys do. I'm the postie over here and I get to see first hand the looks on the troops faces when they receive their quilts and laundry bags. I can honestly say that you all have a positive effect on us over here and we do appreciate everything you are all doing. 

Just received a few more goodies in the mail but they will have to wait till tomorrow night as I have to rush out and buy some fusible webbing to put more patches on laundry bags!

Till next time...............keep spreading the word and happy stitching.

Happy Mail 30 January

Hi All,

This will be a fairly short post tonight as I just arrived back home, still have to unpack and get ready for my other son to start school tomorrow.  

First up the date for the next Penrith Sewing Day  is Sunday 17^th February.  All you need to bring is your sewing machine and bits and pieces.  All other materials and what nots will be provided by  me.  It is wise to BYO lunch and a drink as I don't think there are many options for buying anything.  It would be great if you could let me know if you are planning to come so that i can make sure there is enough for everyone to do.

We will be at Penrith Patchwork from 10 am till 2pm - email me if you have any questions.

We only have one photo for happy mail today - I suspect you were all busy making Australia Day Laundry Bags!  LOL  These blocks and a whole bunch more - a total of 80 blocks were send in by Dorothy!  Enough for two quilts!  Well done!!!

We do have some other happy mail though - how about some thank you messages. 

To Dear Liz, and AHQ;

I just received your beautifully hand crafted quilt in the mail!! I am writing to you to thank you for this beautiful gesture! The detail and patterns are gorgeous, and I already treasure it as a beautiful reminder of home, and of the kind hearted and generous people that support us over here. 

I have just reached the half way mark of my trip last week. There is a group of us over here from our Regiment in Adelaide; and we are all starting to count down to our return home!! The weather here is quite the opposite, as you said - particularly the heat and also the rain. Winter has been kind (so far) only getting down to -5*C. Today was quite a warm 10*C as well! Certainly no floods or fires! 

Thankyou once again for your beautiful quilt. I really do treasure it, as do other recipients over here. Something hand made so lovingly from home by people such as your self is a wonderful gift and one that puts a smile on all of our faces!!

 

The following relates to a quilt that Paul and Paula quilted with Aircraft!  Of course I sent it to a RAAFie!

Hi Jan-Maree,

I received the quilt and absolutely love it. What a great idea to stitch in the silhouettes of aircraft. I spent a cold xmas with my guys in Afghanistan huddled around a 44 gallon drum waiting for aircraft to come and go but enjoyed the experience. Soon most of us will have returned from leave and have to knuckle down to ride out the remaining weeks to ensure everything is shipshape for the new guys coming in. Take care and thank you very much and all the rest of your team that do this just out of good will. It does make a difference.

Hi Stephanie,

You kindly made me a personalised laundry bag with my initials and a horse print on the outside.   My friend wrote to the Aussie Heroes Quilt organisation when I raved on about his blanket. It was a lovely surprise to receive a personalised bag and blanket. I think they are a wonderful idea as they are not only useful while deployee, they are a wonderful memento of my time spent here. I get much enjoyment from seeing all the boys carrying their very colourful laundry bags around. 

I have a horse, hence my friend's suggestion as a theme for my bag. I haven't yet thought of a use for it when I get home, but I'm sure it will come in handy storing or protecting some of my horse gear without getting it too dirty or damaged. 

I am at the end of my trip and I am very much looking forward to going home. I have immensely enjoyed this deployment and have met some incredible people, but there is no place like home. 

Thank you very much for dedicating your time and energy to making my bag. It is a wonderful idea and I greatly appreciate the thought and effort that generous people like yourself donate to bring us something special while we are away. The thought is not lost on me and merely revitalizes my love of Australia. 

Hello Janelle

Have received your box of Laundry Bags, they are great, some nice colours and patterns. I will pass them along to my counterparts in another location for them to hand out. You all do a wonderful job with your patchwork and quilting and rest assured that your efforts are very much appreciated. They bring just that little piece of Australia into some harsh environments that some of us are enduring.

Once again Thank You for your work

Jan-Maree, Thank you very much for the quilt and laundry bag they're beautiful, I really appreciate all the hard work that went into making it - so thank you very much. 
Can't wait to take it home and show my family. Thanks again

A very special post is coming up tomorrow night.  Tess from SA suggested that I do some "historical" posts - i.e. go over some of the things that brought Aussie Heroes to where we are now.  I thought that was a great idea but as I know the story so well and as I can always use a little bit of help I asked Janine C from QLD if she would be interested in doing it for me.  Luckily she said yes.  So, at the end of every month now we will have a post that goes over what we were doing this time last year. 

I hope you will enjoy it.

Till next time..............keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

oh and I just have to tell you - I have been signing off with the above messages since almost the very first post - and I only just found out last night that Deputy Nut, a.k.a. Caroline, had never ever noticed!  Good to see she is paying attention!  LOL

Boxing Day

Hi Everyone.  I hope you all survived the battles of the wrapping paper and the rigors of the turkey, ham and seafood followed by the pudding or, in our case, homemade pavlova.

I received a couple more photos to start the post off - first a quilt that Caroline and I made together.

And then a quilt made from donated fabrcis and stitched by Chris's group.  The cute laundry bag was stitched by Cheryl.

A thank you or two for Nancy - first from a wife ...

Yes his quilt has recently arrived. Just in time for Christmas!

It was very fitting that it came from WA too as it is his home state.

He was very touched that there are all you lovely ladies out there sewing quilts for our men and women overseas.

I have attached a photo of the quilt that my husband sent me this morning.

Thank you to all the busy sewers and yourself and of course the lovely lady from Kalgoorlie who made his quilt. 

My husband, myself and our four children are grateful to have so many people out there thinking kind thoughts towards our soldiers.

Many thanks 

Thankyou so much for the quilt, it's so very much appreciated. I'm very grateful for the time and effort you have put into it and the laundry bag. I hope you have a safe and happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year

And a few more happy messages...

Hi Pam (that is Pam from VIC)

I received your package in the mail yesterday, which was a great surprise, thank you very much. 

I would like to report that after 24 hours there is still some Tim Tams left, but that's just not the case. Luckily they all weren't consumed by me though, my roommates also say thanks. Tim Tams never last long around here.

Loved the gifts, the quilt especially, it’s pretty awesome and there’s a few jealous individuals within the detachment. You’ve done an excellent job, can’t imagine how much effort and time goes into something like that, it’s definitely made a otherwise very boring / dull room a lot more homely and colourful. Best gift ever and it is ever much appreciated. At first I thought the laundry bag (hope it is) was a Santa’s stocking, given the Xmas colours, so I have tried to sell that to the girls here in the hope that they will attempt to fill it with gifts and lollies……I will keep you posted on how that turns out.

Almost 30% through my deployment this time around, the XXXXX being my return to Australia date. It’s going well, helped by a great group on the detachment (35 people), we all get along really well and add a lot of fun to what can only be described as ground hog day. We get one day off a fortnight to chill, do washing, cleans rooms etc, but every other day is normally 12-14 working day.  

Its starting to cool down especially at night (0-5) but the days are still in the high teens. Sometimes it snows during winter in XXXXX, so there’s that too look forward to. Snow but nowhere to go skiing, how frustrating is that, this place is nothing like Denver.

Thank you again for the care package and thoughts.

Good Day Angela,

                                     I received your amazing laundry bag a month ago. Your bag has been incredibly useful and avoided messy piles of clothes in overcrowded living spaces. Your support means a lot to the boys and myself. Keep up the good work!
Many thanks,


 I have received my quilt. I absolutely love it and have taken a photo. I will send the photo very soon, we are extremely busy at this moment... but it will come... I love mine so much and I feel a connection to Fran and Bev as they enclosed a photo of them with the quilt. XXXXX also got a quilt and he did not even order one... He is in country at the moment and says he is very grateful as it is freezing there.  From all of the soldiers over here, we are eternally grateful of the effort and work that you and your fellow quilters do for us, it is comforting to know that so many people care and are selfless in giving to provide us with the quilts. I for one know the hours, cost and care that goes into making just one quilt, let alone thousands. 
 MERRY XMAS to you all 

Dear Lorraine, 
I am writing this email to thank you for the quilt I have just received. I greatly appreciate the quilt and all the work and time you put into making it for me. It was a great gift just before Xmas and at a perfect time seeing it's dropping temps over here and getting cold at night. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and great New Year enjoy the holiday's back at home.
Thank You

Hi Stephanie,

 Thanks heaps for the quilt and laundry bag! Getting parcels over here

 is a highly anticipated event. Love the colours, looking forward to a

 better season next year - after such a good start this year.

 The weather here has turned sub-zero over night so an extra quilt is

 spot on. And the laundry bag is being put to good use as well. We all

 appreciate knowing that there are people at home willing to support us

 in a foreign hostile land. Especially over Christmas where we really

 miss home the most.

 I would tell you my location and bit about my job but my security

 officer might have a heart attack...

Kind regards, please keep up the good work!

The quilt and LB's arrived today... the quilt is Amazing.  I got all excited when I seen all the boxes for me, I feel bad for everyone else in the mail slot, it was packed full of things for me from family and quilters.

 Siobhan has done a wicked job.  Makes me miss the end of winter diving off Sydney though,  thats when all the interesting baby fish/sharks start heading out to deeper waters. At least I'll catch the end of the summer diving season, still plenty going on then.

 The laundry bags have slowly been distributed. Everyone is so happy with all the laundry bags. There is going to be a scissors/paper/rock off for the para bag and the aussie animals one.  The shark/ fish bags were a hit.  We're currently writing up some thank you's for Pauline, Sue and yourself for sending them (and trying to get a photo, but keep our faces hidden at the same time so you could possibly use it for the webpage).

 Thank you so much.

A small amount of Happy Mail for today - and it is a good number of block of the month blocks from Dorothy.  I really do love the wonky lines in these blocks.  It works so well where there is a good contrast between the lights and darks.

Not bad for a week when everyone has been busy with Christmas.  See you on Friday with Quilts of the Week - and Yes,  I already know of some that have made it into the mail and more to go.

Till next time.......keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Happy Mail Wednesday

Another busy day here with loads of phone calls but it was great to talk to all of you.  We really are a special on-line community and I feel very privileged to be getting to know so many of you!   It is sometimes easier or quicker for me to speak to you direct rather than to email so don't forget to send your phone number if you are comfortable with that.

Now down to business.  A few people have asked me if there are any specific guidelines regarding the extras you can include in the boxes you are sending to HMAS ANZAC.  Here is a list that the lovely Chaplain has shared with me.

Basically send anything (food wise) that won't melt.  People seem to like biscuits (like pizza shapes), bags of lollies (like snakes, mixed lollies, mentoes, fruit tingles, life savers, chewy gum), small tin food (some like salmon, tuna), some types of cheeses in tins or fully wrapped and in cardboard (like cheddar triangles), cup-a-soup, - assorted nuts with or without fruit are very popular, potato chips in tins - (like pringles).  Non-food = magazines, puzzle books, mini-puzzles, socks (people are always loosing a sock in the wash).

If you are sending batches of laundry bags I have finally got the chaplain to admit that he is enjoying the coffee sachets and minties.  That is his compensation for having to keep track of all the laundry bags and their senders and pass the details on to each sailor.

You might be interested to know that the ship already knows when its next mail is coming - in about three or four weeks time!  Good grief! I would hate to wait for my mail that long!  I have been promised pictures of sailors opening boxes of quilts and I can't wait to see that!

PINK or BLUE

I happen to have a very healthy supply of female quilts and laundry bags at the moment so if you are about to start something, and do not have it allocated to someone specific, you might like to veer away from the pinks and pretty and look at some gender neutrals or manly stuff.

A quick comment on laundry bags.  

Please don't think that laundry bags are the poor cousin of the quilts.  That is actually how we got started and I only called the blog AUSSIE HERO QUILTS (and LAUNDRY BAGS) and not Aussie Hero Laundry Bags coz I knew that more people google quilts than laundry bags!  

I mean, really, how many of you thought about laundry bags before this!

Liz's (of kangaroo quilt fame) lovely ex-army hubby, Mr B, really feels very strongly about how important the laundry bags are.  They are far from a luxury.  He says the domestic arrangements are so necessary for morale in his opinion.  After a busy, tiring and often loooooong day, getting sorted with laundry, shower, feed and a good night's sleep is crucial.  They are the fundamentals of life.   Get them right and a lot of other things fall into place.

Additionally, Liz had a phone call recently from a Mum whose son had just received one of Liz's quilts and a cool fishing themed laundry bag.  As Liz said it seems her recipient was more pleased with his laundry bag than his quilt.  Well, of course says Mr B.  Being able to find your laundry quickly and easily makes life so much easier.

Oh, and I should say, Mr B loves to give me a hard time when I call - he, being ex-Army is spoiled for choice when I call as I am both ex-NAVY and ex-RAAF and it is almost too much for him to know which side to pick on first!  LOL.  Hi Mr B!  :-P

Guess it is that time of the week again - Happy Mail time!

Can you believe how many BOMs we received for the month of September?  Well over 400 and can you also believe that I received another 100 plus this week!  
BZ or Bravo Zulu Aussie Hero Friends!

Translation - that is BZ is navy speak for well done!

Sue N from Vic sent me 120 of them this week!  No way could I put all of them on the design wall so I just chose a representative bunch to show you.

Some great masculine colours there and 120 blocks, trimmed to 7 1/2 inches and arranged 6 across and ten down is enough blocks for two quilts!  Thanks Sue.

Marg from WA sent in these blocks.  She was staying with her daughter and raided her stash.  But because her daughter did not have a 12 inch ruler this was as far as she could go.  Nevermind - great colours!

And finally Dorothy send in another 38 blocks - from memory she has already sent in 80!

BZ!   Well done to all of you this month.  Now remember, all the October BOMs are to be posted to Naomi's home this month - let''s see if we can send her even more than we received in September!

Now this is a slightly off-topic subject but I couldn't help myself.  The only travelling I am likely to be doing in the near future is to take my son to boarding school and going to collect him again at the end of the term.  A seven hour drive with 16 year old who sits in the back of the car (I have an MPV with a seat removed) where he can stretch his 6ft frame out.  He puts in the head phones and barely says a word for the whole trip!  Makes for a thrilling trip!  

:-)

You lot, however seem to be travelling all over the place.  So far I have heard of a trip to Antarctica, a 12 week trip to the States, a three week trip to the States taking in PENNSYLVANIA!!!!!!!! (you have to be a quilter to appreciate that) and a cruise from Singapore to Freemantle.  And my hubby has just come back from Oktoberfest in Munich FOR WORK!!!!   Jealous much?  Well I am.  So go on, do your worst - share where you are headed for hols over the summer break and watch me turn green!  Oh and did I add that I am turning 50 this year!  You would think I could have organised something better than a trip to Boarding School and back for my 50th.  LOL  Just goes to show I can organize AHQ but not my travel plans!

Till next time......................keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Happy Mail Wednesday 12 Sept

Time for Happy Mail Wednesday again - I don't know about you but the weeks seem to be flying past.  Only two and a bit weeks of September to go.  One of our September HMAS ANZAC quilts has made it into the mail so far.  Is everyone else on track?  Karen D, Jill, Bern J and Naomi - let me know if you are having any problem making the deadline please.  Excuse the reminder on the post but it is quicker than separate emails.

Lots of gorgeous September Hourglass BOM blocks have started to come in.  Check them out.

Ruth B

Rae 

Stephanie

Julie Ann

Janine - see the note below about the circumstances of Janine's sewing and then come back and marvel at these!

Andrea

Dorothy sent me 80!!!!  but I have only put half a dozen up as I ran out of time to put them all up.
Way to go Dorothy.

The last few blocks for the Diddams' quilts are coming in.  If anyone thinks theirs are still in the mail can you please let me know.  Everything I have received up until now has been posted on the blog.  

Pauline

And the last of last month's BOM seem to have made it in too -once again if you think there are more in the mail can you please let me know. This batch, which also includes a block for the Diddams' quilts, came from Janine, who sewed these even with a broken arm!  Get well soon Janine.

We already have one lot being made up and this lot below, with the ones above just make up another lovely quilt.

Heather H from country NSW, a member of a group called the Cackle Club made this simple but effective quilt top.  (don't you love it)

200 9" squares cut by Sue N - and being used on the 16th at the Penrith Sewing Day

to  make 100 BOM blocks and maybe even a quilt top if we get that far.

This quilt was made by my friend, Louise.

She also made this quilt top 

and this one

and this one.  Plus sent me all the backings and bindings.

Louise out did herself, considering not all that long ago she was biding her time in Intensive Care!  These are her fabulous laundry bags.

And last but not least - Leonie's cute girly quilt top - her second ever quilt top I believe.

A close up so that you can see the cute Ladybugs.

Leonie also took the time to put some of the July Shoo Fly blocks together for me and all that is needed now is some border fabric.

I think you will agree that there are lots of goodies in the mail this week.

Till next time.................keep spreading the word and happy stitching!