Weekly Dispatches 3 May

She thought she had managed to sneak in a birthday without me noticing!!!  But no such luck, today, while I sat in my doctor's waiting room, waiting my turn to have a flu needle, I had time to scroll through some of the many blogs I rarely get time to read these days!  And so she is busted!

Happy Birthday Sue N  from all of your Aussie Hero Friends and especially from the probably hundreds of Heroes who have received your laundry bags!

The tally so far-

19  quilts this week and 36 laundry bags.

412 quilts and 905 laundry bags for 2013

1429 quilts and 2279 laundry bags in total.


Now before I forget - there will be a special post tomorrow 

night to announce first, second and third place in our ANZAC 

Day Laundry Bag Challenge.

Just  a quick one.  For the BOM for this month we have asked for the blocks to be predominantly red, white and blue.  If you have trouble as you don't have a feature fabric in those colours for the centre then feel free to use a plain white square.  If you are feeling confident with applique you can add a star or a heart, or even a small roo.  If you don't feel happy about applique, leave it blank and maybe someone else will applique something or they can just be left blank as a place for the eye to rest in the quilt.

One final announcement before the Weekly Dispatches proceed.  The next two sewing days will be as follows

at my home on Monday the 13th of May 10am till 3pm (ish)

and at Penrith Patchwork on Sunday the 19th of May 10am to 2pm.

Bring your sewing machine, your lunch and I will provide your lunch.

I probably don't mention this enough but Jeff, the owner of Penrith Patchwork, is a great supporter, donating a sewing room each month free of charge and whole bolts of material from time to time as well.  How awesome is that!

If you are interested in coming to one or both days can you please let me know so that I know how much preparation to do.

And now on with the show!

Anne sent this quilt off.  Love those autumnal colours.  What a great way to use up scraps.  And a great way to get a lot of different feels.  Make it in lots of blues with a few water creatures mixed in and you have an underwater quilt. Make it from lots of greens and some slivers of golden sunshine and you have a forrest quilt or maybe a tropical rainforest quilt.  Make it out of just two colours and it could be a footy fan's favourite accessory!  Love it!

Bev's awesome QLD laundry bag has gone off to a soon to be happy Banana Bender.

Carolyn brought this to show me at the Penrith Sewing Day and she assures me that the pins were removed after quilting and prior to posting!  LOL

September BOM Quilt.   These were all the leftover blocks, some from Kylie, and Maria and Sue N for starters.  All so different and appearing mis-matched and I was stumped and could not see them together but Gail took them away and worked her magic and then brought this gorgeous jewelled quilt back to me.

Claire's husband was kind enough to let her use this fabric that she had been saving to make a quilt for him.  He rather likes the quilt now so I suspect she will be making a similar one soon.

Debra where did you get this fabric!!!  I love it!

What an awesome quilt for a RAAFie chappie!

Evelyn has been busy with two cool quilts.

Gail started this quilt with a few of the Disappearing 9 Patch blocks from our BOMs.  

Jacqui, again, where did YOU find this fabric. Love that panel!!! 

Julie

  

KarenBet, is sending off her third quilt and I am not sure if I told you before but Karen found out about us when her own husband, currently deployed, was offered a quilt, so she has joined us to repay the favour.

Judith

This is a really great week to emphasise the value of those panels or scenery prints.  I just know the fellow who gets this quilt from Leanne M will love this.

Another quilt by Leanne and another cool panel.  Seriously I am really having panel envy!

Last weekend Leanne emailed me and said she had cut out another Eagles quilt - did I have anyone on the list who wanted one or should she use the strips for something else?  I suggested that she go ahead and sew it up as it would not be long before we had another Eagles request (well after all they are a great team from a great State!!!!!  No bias here!).  Sure as eggs, overnight on Saturday I received a very special request with a significant need for urgency.  A quick email to Leanne on Sunday morning and the quilt was pieced and quilted and in the mail by Wednesday!  Way to go Leanne!

Margaret

Millie

Su

Another busy week behind and no doubt another busy one ahead. 
Don't forget tomorrow's special post.

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

Thanks on Thursday

Hi all.  

Do you know what this is?

This is a new roll of batting which is what goes inside the quilts between the top of the quilt and the back of the quilt to give it some warmth.  This roll will provide enough batting for at least 30 quilts. I say at least because we use every scrap.  You always need to cut a piece of batting bigger than the top of the quilt (trust me you do) and the extra is cut off once the quilt is quilted.  These extra bits are saved where possible and stitched together to make a piece big enough to use. This roll arrived yesterday and I was only able to purchase it because of the generosity of those who have made donations - 
so many thanks guy!

And do you know what this is?  

I know the photo is not very good but this is what Terry helped me with yesterday.  I had cut out a bunch of laundry bag outers and Terry came over and helped me cut out the linings and iron patches on them.  We didn't count them up til we had finished for the day - 56!  They are not all done yet  - some of them still need their cord channels cut and some need their patches made and ironed on but I will have them all done by the next Penrith Sewing Day so we can sew them - well some of them.

If you are coming to the sewing day can I suggest you bring along 4-5 written postcards, notes, whatever you like, to insert into the laundry bags that you make.  I will be bringing all the laundry bags home to send off as required.  Some of them have already been allocated, some are intended for certain areas in Afghanistan and some are so that I have some spares when I get a request and I don' have time to sew one.  If you have a note or similar to include in the bags that you sew then your recipient will know you made it for them.

Just a reminder again - here are the details.

Penrith Patchwork

97b Henry Street, Penrith.

Sunday 17 March 

10am to 2pm

BYO sewing machine and tools, lunch and snacks and coffee mug.

We will be sewing laundry bags and I will provide all the fabrics.

I didn't have time to photograph and upload the pictures of all the happy mail we received yesterday so you get to see it tonight.  First up is this lovely quilt top from my Mother's Group friend, Louise.  Mother's Group seems such a long time ago now that we both have 16 year olds.  Louise and I have a good deal going.  I send her up fabric or kits and she sends it back to me as quilt tops and laundry bags.  That is just fabulous because I can send her kits for special requests that I just don't have time to sew myself, but for which I have the fabric, and Louise can sew them without having to go out and spend money on fabric.  Win Win!  And she gets to put her own spin on things too which is always fun to see.  

And Louise makes a laundry bag to go with the quilt top more often than not 

and this time even included some of her gorgeous homemade photography gift cards made using her own photos.  Hmmmm, maybe I should get Louise to take some photos of some of the quilts for me!

This set is about to go in the mail to Liz B who has just offered to quilt it for me!  Another WIN WIN!!!  Thanks ladies!

Judith dropped in yesterday with a great bunch of laundry bags.  She is a regular visitor - I get a phone call "Are you home?" and half an hour later Judith is on my door step with several laundry bags or a quilt top or two.

Jill M sent in this fabulous February BOMs.  These have already been included into kits.

And Terry brought these two February BOM blocks with her

and this special Aussie themed laundry bag that I will include with a Wounded Warrior Quilt next time I need to send one off.  Would you believe that kangaroo is part of a bandanna!

Talking about mail - if you have posted a quilt or a laundry bag off and are not on this list below please let me know or, if you haven't already, send me a photo.

Angela
Beth
Christine C (WA)
Debra
Jan
Jeann
Jenny and Gale
Jenny B
Joy
Julie Ann
Julie
Liz
Maddy
Marg
Nancy
Sue N

Now for a different kind of happy mail - this a more or less a thank you for all of us.  This fellow received one of our BOM quilts from last year.   One of my favourites as it is so bright and cheery.  The blocks were sent in by lots of you - here is a photo so that you can pick your blocks out.  The blocks were put together by Judith (who brought all the laundry bags) and then the quilt was quilted  and bound by Paul and Paula.  This was one of my favourite BOM quilts.

Well, this is the gift that we received in return.

We recently arrived at XXXXXX where I was greeted with a parcel from AHQ. I and a few other people that got their quilts are very happy and grateful for the efforts the quilters and laundry bag creators have gone to to make these amazing gifts for us. This was the first port we really received any mail, with only a few parcels coming in prior to that. 

I have included a picture of myself with my quilt which was taken shortly after we hosted a cocktail party (not even a beer for us) on our first night in port.  

Today (01 Mar 13) I got a parcel from Claire, which contained my new laundry bag. It is very colourful so it will be hard to miss and it will save me from digging through all the plain white laundry bags everyone is using. It arrived via the helicopter pictured in the attached photo "vert rep". ("Vert Rep" stands for Vertical Replenishment) This is part of our replenishment at sea where we get fuel, spare parts, food and the occasional bag or two of mail, usually from American or British supply ships that go in and out of ports so the warships can continue to chase pirates and prevent drug smuggling. It is exciting to see a parcel with your name on it after one of these replenishments. 

I have also included a couple photos from one of our previous port visit in XXXX. Being able to appreciate the view is about the only thing that gets me through 8hrs of standing on the front of the ship with rifle and bullet proof vest (about 16kg extra weight) every fourth day while we're not at sea. 

Here is your parcel among those bundles on the deck Claire!

Sunset

I think you would have to say that we are doing pretty well with correspondence from HMAS TOOWOOMBA.  Did you know they are on Rotation 30?  Rotation 30 means that there have been 29 ships come and do the gulf deployment weather it is up in the old Persian gulf or now named the Arabian gulf or now the gulf of Aden and Arabian sea. HMAS TOOWOOMBA is the 30th rotation of Royal Australian Naval vessels to do the Job,

One last message.  I hate asking for donations but I often get asked how people can help if they can't sew.  There is a whole list of useful contributions at the top of the blog called "How To Help". If you are interested in helping out at the moment what I really need now is 3kg pre-paid satchels.  I post quilt kits to sewers and quilts to quilters for quilting.  3kg pre-paid satchels would be a big help.  If you are able to help please just post to PO Box 248, Cherrybrook,  NSW,  2126.  Many thanks!

So, enough from me for today because I am heading out the door to the post office.  This is today's lot!  

If anyone wanted to include a sherpa with their pre-paid satchel I wouldn't say no!  

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

Happy Mail Wednesday

Guess what tomorrow is!  The big reveal of the blocks for the 

The Inaugural Aussie Hero Friend Dinner Challenge Block.  

Woo Hoo! But that is tomorrow night!  

For tonight we have some happy mail to share or all sorts of varieties.

Julie Ann sent me this lovely quilt which has been made specifically as a Wounded Warrior 

Quilt, accompanied by its own laundry bag.  Just a reminder that all Wounded Warrior quilts are 

now held in Sydney to expedite their passage to Operation Slipper whenever they are needed. 

And something that I don't think I have told you up to now is that with every WWQ these days I 

am sending along an laundry bag that is as Australian as possible as the wounded are 

transported without the chance to pack anything so I am sure a laundry bag won't go astray, 

even if it is just used to carry the quilt.

I am assuming these are the last of the January BOM blocks.  So far there is a lovely nautical quilt with a quilter, there is another nautical top and a tool themed top being put together by a friend of mine and at least enough blocks left for two more quilts.

 Janine C (QLD) sent these ones in - love the hot air balloons.

Liz J sent these in - lovely and fresh with an aviation twist.

 Louise sent me these three quilt tops 
Love the wombat.  I think he is a very under appreciated little fellow so it is nice to see him pop up!

 

Judith gave me these next two quilt tops.  Can't you just imagine a farm boy loving this quilt?

Cows in the squares and sheep shearing in the border.  Perfect!

And this is so simple but very striking!

As well as the Challenge Block I put a call out to anyone who was interested to make some crazy patch blocks for a fellow who said he wanted an 80's inspired quilt.  I am hoping to be able to show you the end result next week.  I have finally received the required number of blocks and am planning on putting it together  as soon as I finish the current quilt top i am working on.  In the mean time I sent the fellow an email just to give him a brief update and told him that his quilt is a work in progress and it would take a little longer than some of the others but it would be coming soon-ish.

I thought you would like to see his response.  Especially those of you that contributed blocks.  

You have gone to so much effort for me - I cant thank you enough! I am SO excited to see this quilt!! 
Thanks HEAPS!!! 

Don't know about you but that put a smile on my face.  Pat yourselves on the back you crazy patchers!

What follows are a few of the requests I have received of late.  I do not normally post these, I usually have enough to post, but when I can I like to share as much as I can of what goes on behind the scenes.  So for a Happy Mail extra tonight enjoy the read...

Just a quick email to say a massive thank you, most of my guys on the list I gave you have either received their laundry bags or quilts. 

I've got both of mine now (quilt by Peggy and Laundry bag by Angela) and they are fantastic!!!

Am I able to add one more person? He saw my quilt and was jealous haha, just doesn't have your email so I was just going to put his name forward. 

What the above person didn't know is that the person to whom she was refering as not having my email managed to find it and had already sent me the following email.

I would like to request a hero quilt, I have served for 25 years and this is my third deployment there is 4 months left on my deployment.
Thank you for organising this for the soldiers, sailors and airmen that are have been deployed. Too often the Australian public forget, ignore or resent the sacrifices we make to ensure our society is safe. We have all chosen this life and to forego the normal luxuries of society to serve our country.  The skill and dedication that is required to make a hero quilt shows the member that they are thought of and honoured for their duty.
Thank you again for your efforts and those of the public who make the quilts. 

G'Day Jan-Maree, I am currently serving with XXXXX in AFG.  Whilst in XXXXX's office, I happened to comment on the quilt that is hanging with pride of place for everyone to see and he mentioned your name and all that you do for deployed servicemen and women.  So on that note, I would like to request and would be honoured to receive a quilt made by your merry band of ladies. 
I thank you in advance and in anticipation 
Regards  

This fellow wrote to tell me of his group of RAAFies in TK and to ask if they could please be included in the list for a quilt.  I wrote back and explained what I required and also slipped in that I am ex-RAAF myself.

Here is part of his response.

Firstly, from one proud RAAFie to another, XXX(the name of their group) very much value and are grateful for your efforts.   Its the efforts of ventures like yours that make us feel less further away from home and for that we are most appreciative.

We are here till the middle of the year so there is plenty of time so anytime you can fit us in between now and June would be great. Looking forward to hearing from you, 
Kind Regards, 

And this fellow is one of my "laundry bag distributors".  If you have sent off laundry bags in the last few months chances are one of your boxes have had his name on it.  This email was to let me know that he is heading home soon and we need to stop sending to him for obvious reasons.  This is part of what he said.

I have really enjoyed our short association with Aussie Hero Quilters and yourself and find it difficult to express the gratitude we feel towards you and your teams efforts and considerations towards us. I have been thinking of something to say to express my thoughts and thanks. The best I can do is a saying that means something to me, 'it is not who I am inside, but, what I do that defines me'. For me this means, you and your quilters have taken action that counts, your team has defined themselves to us; as people with good hearts, can be relied upon in tough times, and are Australians. For that, thank you. Please stay well, stay safe and thank you again.

Hi Jan-Maree,
I have heard about Aussie Hero quilts and I would love to get one if I could. One of the guys I work with received one the other week and it is amazing.  I know a few other people who have them and they all love them.  Could you also tell me about making the quilts. I do a lot of sewing but have never made a quilt before and I was thinking that when I get home it be nice to return the favour and make a quilt that I could send over to someone.

And finally, a thank you message for Tess which was sent to me to pass on.
The subject line of this email read 
Thank you from the bottom of my heart

G'day Tess, I just received your blanket in the post. I had to write you an email to thank you so much for your dedication, time and effort to make this for me.  Its amazing to think that there are kind hearted people out there like yourself that take the time to make something so lovely for other people. 
Your package has really made my day.. wait no my whole week.  My mother in law was very handy on the sewing machine and I know she would have appreciated the quality of your work.

 I enjoy my job and I get satisfaction knowing I am doing my part for the mission and my country.
Your generosity is very well received and a few of my colleagues have also received blankets from your talented team in Australia.  They have become a very sought after item, so please know that every quilt or laundry bag is putting smiles on the faces of the people who get them.

Kindest Regards and warm wishes to you and your family.  

Well that is it for tonight

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