Happy Mail, Wednesday 5th December 2012

Howdy doody everyone.....OMG only 20 more days till Christmas, and only 26 more days of 2012....here's to a safe and sound year to everyone in 2013.

I'm stealing #1 spot again, even though my BOM's are over and done with for this year (I'll be back next year though, hopefully with a couple of whole quilt tutorials) I've still got some to share from November, that I got in this last week.

Did you all see Kylies' Wonky 9 Patch BOM?  Isn't it great?  She's definately thrown out a challenge for me for the New Year now!

Back to November blocks though....I got a lovely bunch of blocks from Dorothy C from Belmore in NSW.  The BOM's have been an encouragement to her, and whilst she apologises for being a sewist and not a quilter...we'll forgive her hey?  Ooops, did I say forgive?  I meant to say convert her! lol  Thanks Dorothy.

Next up is a huge assortment of blocks from Sue B from Oaklands Park in SA.  Thanks heaps Sue. I've had fun going through these ones, as I have some of the fabrics she's used lol.

Once again, a HUGE thank you to all who have sent blocks to me in the last couple of months....now to make them all into flimsies if not completed quilts.

Hugs and stay safe everyone

Take it away Jan-Maree.

Thanks Naomi!
Dorothy sent in these cool laundry bags. 

Look closely - the one on the left is paratroopers and aircraft  - email me if you know someone this would be appropriate for.

Wendy H from VIC sent not only these cool laundry bags 

but also a whole box of goodies to go along with them,

including a gorgeous wombat ornament!  Actually there were two ornaments in the box but I didn't find the other one before I took the photo.  They are all packed up now and on their way to Tarin Kot with all the other goodies!

Wendy is also keen to get together with any other sewers in the Ballarat District who might like to get in touch  - email me if you are interested and I will pass on Wendy's number.
K Wilkinson from NSW also sent me a quilt op, backing and batting.  

And here is some of my favourite Happy Mail.  
Thank you messages and a photo.

Good evening Ruth,

 A short courtesy note to thank you for your very thoughtful gift. I must say I was quite taken back when I received this package today and moved by this very kind gesture.

The quilt will be something that I will keep well beyond my tour of duty here in Afghanistan. It is comforting to know that Australia is behind our deployed service personnel and the difficult task that we face here. I can honestly say that we are making a difference and we will succeed in our mission.

I wish you a very special festive season and new year.

With respect and warm regards

Caroline
Today I received my second package in 2 1/2 months and it was filled with your brilliant quilt, laundry bag and nibblies.
The quilt and bag are fantastic.  I am so glad that no-one asked me how I would have liked it decorated because I could not have dreamed of something soooo creative.  Well done.  
I shall take a photo and gloat to all I know .
I have cc'd XXXXX who passed on my details to your organisation - thanks XXXXX.  And, I have cc'd XXXXXX who is extremely jealous who will be writing to your organisation separately requesting a quilt as spectacular as mine.
Thankyou again. Regards

Hi ladies,

XXXXX received his quilt and laundry bag today and absolutely loves it! Thank you so much, your work is amazing. So very touching knowing that a quilt and a laundry bag can put a massive smile on someone's face. Keep up the awesome work!!! Very appreciated and thanks once again.

This message for one of Nancy's quilts

Thank you very much for the Quilt with the taxis and base ball players on it.
I have put it up on my wall in XXXXXXX. It has lightened up my room greatly. 
(I have no windows and four grey walls)
I wish you and those making the quilts a Merry Xmas.
Please keep it up, as it does make a difference.
Thanks and Merry Xmas

The wife of one of Nancy's recipients sent in this photo sent to her by her hubby.  She said "he tells me it's 'surprisingly' warm underneath, so his pretty impressed with his new quilt,

 Thank you again."

You are most welcome!

Hi Aunty Wendy,
My name is XXXXX, I'm currently serving in Afghanistan and have
recently received a quilt made by yourself and your Mum. I just wanted
to pass on my thanks to the both of you. It's very warming to know that
there are so many people out there who we don't know, yet will still
take the time of their day to not only think of those who are currently
serving, but to put so much time and effort into producing such
beautiful quilts and providing a little piece of home for us overseas.

The quilt is something I hold in great regard, not only because of the
obvious time and effort that has gone into making it, but more so for
the reminder that it isn't only our family and friends who support us
and worry for us whilst we are deployed, but that there are many people,
who although strangers, are still just as concerned for our welfare and
are so readily willing to support us however they can.

So once again, thank you for the quilt, I will keep it with great pride
and please pass on my warmest thanks your Mum also.

Kindest Regards,


Jan-Maree
My husband and our friends have all started to receive there quilts and laundry bags and love them. I can't put into words how much I appreciate what you have done for them and for all the guys and girls that are away.
Thank you x x x 

This fellow has not even received his quilt yet and wrote a lovely email!

Hello Jan-Maree,
I feel very humbled that someone has ordered one of the Aussie Hero Quilts for me, I have a unique job here that allows me to work very closely with everyone in my location and there are some very good people here.
I'm excited about getting the quilt, as my wife had a baby boy 5 weeks before I deployed and I will be able to share it with him and explain its meaning in the future.
Thank you for your e-mail, I appreciate you getting in touch with me and I very much look forward to receiving the Quilt.
Cheers,

Hi JM

Look at the difference a couple of months makes! Here you can see laundry bags sent from Julie-Ann, You, Rita, Lyn S, Deborah and someone I can't identify. Isn't it a big improvement. I was off work with the flu today, and I was feeling so crappy til I walked in and saw this extravaganza of colour :)

Hope you have a wonderful day today

I suspect that the female photographer actually laid all the bags out neatly before she took the photo don't you?

Some of you will have already seen this in the HMAS ANZAC newsletter but for the rest of you I asked the Chaplain if he could send me a jpg copy that i could share and i don't think i have put it on the blog yet.  If it is duplicated I apologize.

The last word for tonight goes to the mother of one of our Fallen Warriors. She has received her quilt and texted the chaplain to say " she has just received the beautiful quilt ...and she said she knew her family will cherish the quilt" and asked the chaplain to pass the message on to us.  I hope you don't mind me not naming the soldier.  I just didn't think it was necessary and I felt I should preserve the mother's privacy.

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

Happy Mail Wednesday

Howdy Dudey everyone,

Tech Guru, aka Naomi here, revealing the BOM's I've received this last week, but first, let me just say, a little birdie has said there's over another 50 coming my way, which, with those already received, will bring the tally up to well in excess of 200 blocks....wooooo hooooo, well done everyone....Kylies' block from last month is still winning the challenge, but I don't mind admitting defeat when you consider ALL the blocks are going to end up being received from some very special people in the form of Aussie Hero Quilts.  There is still time to get some of this months block in the post to me:

Aussie Hero Quilts
Attn Naomi Vela
1 Obst St
Berri SA 5343

They are really easy to make, and going by the amounts I'm receiving, you're all enjoying making them.

So, onto sharing piccies of the ones that have come in so far this week....a couple of new senders, you know who you are, have done a wonderful job on their blocks and I'm blown away that there are so many fabrics out there that I don't have in my 'stash' lol

 These were from Carolynne (NSW), thanks heaps hun, love the Aussie fabric, and the croc on the diving board in his budgie smugglers is just sooooo funny lol

 Maddie (WA) sent these lovely colourful blocks in, omg they are great, such 'unusual' fabrics, and when asked, she had to dash my hopes of it being recent purchases, doh!  Thanks Maddie...who is one of our 'newbie' BOM'ists.

Maria (also WA) sent in these great pooch blocks, which will be great for one of the dog loving Aussie Heroes don't you think?  Thanks Maria.

 Next up was a small bundle of blocks from Sue (Vic, ha, bet you thought I was going to say WA again, didn't you?  Tricked ya!) sent millions, ok, the parcel felt heavy enough to have contained that many.....all up, Sue sent me 60 blocks, plus some fabric that I'll be able to use as borders on BOM's I make myself.  Thanks so much Sue.

Lastly for this week, were these blocks that really pop don't they?  These were sent by Wendy (Vic).  Thank you so much for these and will make a great quilt.

I'd best go now, before Jan-Maree boots me in the behind for hogging the post.  To all the friends of AHQ, I wish you a pleasant week.  I'll be back next week with more blocks....some from USA and more from other Aussie friends of AHQ.

To all our "HEROES" stay safe, and we thoroughly enjoy our sewing, whether it be quilts, laundry bags, or both....to show our appreciation for the job you're doing to keep us safe.

Hugs Naomi

*+*+*+*+*

Hi, Jan-Maree here, at last it is my turn!  Can you imagine how much Naomi must talk in person!  Just kidding!  One day I might actually meet her and I think we will have a ball!

For those that are not on Facebook this post appeared last night from one of our grateful recipients.  This relates to a quilt that Nancy sent - 

I received my Aussie Hero Quilt in the mail yesterday. I really appreciate such a significant quilt that I will have for the rest of my life. I would also like to take this opportunity thank you for your support and for the time and effort that is put into the quilts. I wish I had taken a pic of the guys opening their parcels. It brought smiles and morale to everyone that received one, not to mention a warmer nice sleep.

Yep!  Kind of makes those cuts from rotary cutter blades all worth while doesn't it!  And here is another message that is sure to be encouraging.  When I started making laundry bags with my quilt group for the Lovely Warrant Officer and his team his wife told us that the laundry was sent off to Afghani laundries.  Since then I had heard that some of the areas had different conditions but, quite frankly I haven't had time to check them all out, so it is great that, once again, someone in the know has answered Jennifer's question for me and for all of us!

All the laundries are different. But pretty much across the board our clothes don't get washed and dried in the bags. Rather, the bags keep our clothes from getting lost, pinched or mixed up. Where I am, we put our laundry bags on the machines while they wash our clothes. We don't have time to sit by the washing machines and watch the laundry so we rely on each other (we're all working different shifts) to move clothes to the dryer when they are done in the wash. And again when they are done in the dryer, you or some kind soul roles/folds them up and leaves them in your laundry bag ready for pick up at the end of the day. If we didn't have bags, we'd have uniforms, boxers, bras and who knows what else from one end of the laundry to the other. In some places there is a wash service where the washing is dropped off, the bags are super useful in helping us identify which bag to pick up. We LOVE laundry bags! 

I reckon that comment was written by a female because no man would have mentioned bras!  LOL  Correct me if I am wrong!

And finally my Kandahar Liaison Officer sent this thank you message to Julie whose laundry bags were gratefully received.


Hi Julie Ann,

Apologies for the late response, but thank you thank you for the latest lot of laundry bags. The Aussie flag bags went like hot cakes; across the board, the boys here love the Aussie icons. The lovely floral number went to one of the new female arrivals.  The laundry here is still full of horrible plastic bags and white netted things, so if you happen to have some time free and another couple of sneaky laundry bags creep through your sewing machine, we Kandaharians would be very grateful!

I wish there was a way of capturing the excitement that the quilts and laundry bags bring, I keep passing thanks to Jan-Maree, but it doesn't quite cut it. 99% of the quilts end up on the beds, but some end up coming home and serving special purposes. One of my closest friends here, took his quilt home when he returned on leave last week to give to his other half while she goes through IVF. He wanted her to feel comforted and close to him as she went through the procedures while he was deployed. Special quilts they are! We appreciate everything you wonderful ladies are doing, thank you!


I can really relate to that gorgeous man giving his quilt to his lovely lady while she goes through IVF.   Been there done that to get our little boys (who are now 6ft 16 year olds!) and I did a fair bit of it while my husband traveled the world for work but he was never away more than a couple of weeks and never was he is a warzone.  So glad to know that one of our quilts is giving comfort at such a time and the very best of wishes to the special couple!

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

Happy Mail Wednesday 17th October

Hi again,

It's just me, Naomi (aka Tech Guru) hosting a session of Show 'n' Tell on the wonderful blocks of the month I've been receiving.  The first three pics I got all on the same day...did I feel spoilt or what....3 parcels in the one day, and it wasn't fabric that I'd sneakily purchased online, hee hee!

First up, there's this great bunch of blocks from Gail (thanks hun)...hopefully it's clear enough for you to see the Mallard Duck fabric she used.

Next, I got some lovely blocks from someone with the initials Karen B from Peak Hill, NSW...thanks so much, it looks like you had some fun making them, am I right????

Lastly, on that same day, I got a humungous AHQ love package from Dasha....enough of the BOM's to make a whole quilt top, and some, okay, you caught me, a lot of great fabric to use how I see fit for AHQ.  First I'll show you the fantastic blocks...don't they look stunning set out this way?

That's not actually all of them, like I said, there's enough to make a whole quilt top.  
Thank you sew much Dasha!

And last but not least, the fabric that Dasha sent with the BOM's...some yummy Aussie Flag fabric....I think I'll use that around labels on the quilts, or maybe in a few quilt blocks, or both....it's one of my favourite Aussie Fabrics (you been spying on me?!? lol) 
Then there's the black and white fabric at the bottom that will make a few great laundry bags and the fabric on the top right has all sorts of 'old style' newspaper articles among the splashes of colour, so I'm thinking this one will be a great brick or strip style quilt.  
Once again, thank you Dasha!

Hi, it is Jan-Maree here!  I am loving seeing these cool blocks arrive!  Can't wait to see the quilts that result.  I have seen a few sneak peaks of the quilts that have resulted from last months mammoth number of BOM blocks!  I can't wait to show you!

And now for our favourite kind of happy mail.   This fellow not only sent me an email to pass on to Kareb B, his quilter, but he also posted on facebook!  Now that is what I call saying thank you!

Hi

I received my quilt today 16 Oct 12, thank you so much to Karen B from NSW who sent on 5 Oct, as you can see I have it on my bed and also the Laundry bag, which I will put on my wall as it is too nice to be used as a laundry bag.

You are doing a wonderful job supporting the troops and providing that bit of home support that is well and truly appreciated.

Best Regards  

He is so welcome!  And it doesn't stop there - I posed the following question on Facebook today -  

Does anyone actually write their name etc on the blank patches that we put on the laundry bags? Do they realize that is what the patches are for?  
Interested to know what the feedback is. 

And guess who replied...

Yes, we do write our names on the laundry bags, I am lucky Karen B put my initials on mine, Thanks Karen.

Just love it when I find out that what we are doing is working!
:-)

And if you are a Facebook follower I posted this on the page today but just in case you miss it I am adding it here as well.

If you'd like to stay up to date with all posts on Aussie Heroes apparently you need to change your settings but it is simple. Please follow these instructions.

1. You need to go to your computer (you can't do it on your mobile)
2. On the right hand side on the page right next to the "like" button there is a drop down box.
3. Click on that drop down box and click on the "add to interest list"

It is that simple.

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