New Quilt Specifications and more

Hi all.  I hope you have all had a lovely weekend where ever you are and that includes all of you lovely people "over there" and you wonderful wives, husbands and partners keeping the home fires burning!

Gasp!  Only four more sleeps till I pack the car and head to Canberra.  Hope I don't forget anything!  

Let's cover those toes!

Over the last few weeks I have been doing a bit of research with regards to the sizes of our quilts.  I wanted to make sure that the size was right.  What we are aiming for is a quilt that is wide enough to sit on top of a single bed and long enough to go from under the pillow to the foot of the bed.  I also want it to be versatile enough that a big burly fellow can wrap it around his shoulders whilst sitting around a camp fire - a shorter wider quilt will not do this job hence our longer skinnier versions.  

What I have accidentally discovered is that some of the quilts sent over are shorter than the prescribed size, and though they may have been beautifully constructed, are not really practical for more than a lap quilt and that is just not as versatile as we need.

So, I decided to use tonight's post to reinforce the specifications for our quilts.  I have also re-written the quilt specifications page listed above to reflect the changes.  If anyone finds anywhere that the sizes of the quilts are mentioned where I need to make further changes please let me know.

New Specifications

From now on when you start a new quilt could you please make your quilts 42" wide (or width of normal patchwork fabric) and from 70-75" long.  Please use only cotton batting for versatility and breathability and bindings can be machine or hand sewn.

Each quilt must have an Aussie Hero label on it - you can print these using printable paper or you can hand write them using a pigma pen or similar.

The wording for the label is as follows:

This is an

AUSSIE HERO QUILT

 made for an

Aussie Hero

Serving  Overseas

with gratitude for your service.

2012

aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com.au

friendsofAHQ@gmail.com

I have included the new email address but use up any you already have with the old one - I will be!  Also feel free to add a line at the end that says who the quilt was made by of course.

Of course it goes without saying that if you have a quilt underway and can't lengthen it, don't worry.  Just plan for it for your next one.

Lately a number of people have commented on how hard it has been to get their quilt into the box.  I can only assume this has something to do with the choice of batting.  Just for information I use the thinnest cheapest cotton batting for ALL my quilts and find it great to quilt with but also have no problem getting the quilts into the boxes.  Maybe a thinner batting will help.


Don't for get your July BOMs.  

The month is nearly over and we have received some lovely ones.  If there are any more out there can you please let me know.

Another couple of thank you messages!

Caroline sent of this great quilt  and today she received a thank you email.

I just wanted to say that your quilt and laundry bag arrived today. Thanks so much, they really are great, and I love the touch with the ANFs (Australian National Flags).

You have done a fantastic job with them and its is nice to have something truly special from someone back home who appreciates our efforts. Please pass on my thanks to all the other ladies who are helping to make Aussie Hero Quilts for personnel serving overseas.

Best wishes, and many, many thanks,

Erika sent a quilt and Marg sent a laundry bag to this lovely lady and here is her response




I want to say, Erika and Marg, Thank you so much for the quilt and laundry bag you made for me they are brilliantly made and will be a wonderful keepsake for ever as a reminder of my Service for our country and that we had the support from the people that mean the most to us, the Australian public, the quilt has pride and place in my room and the laundry bag will be used very much during the time I have left here. I will get a couple of photos later to send to show off your wonderful work.
We all are glad to hear of all the wonderful people like yourself who are thinking of us over here.
Thank you very much for your thoughts and wishes (oh and I cannot forget to mention the yummy extras added into the package and the lip balm is always good in this terrible heat we are in at the moment)

:-)

We are in the Press again
The Penrith Press.

Good for Aussie Heroes but .....Hmmmm I am having to get used to having my photo taken - Honestly!  The things I do for Aussie Heroes!  
This is probably the only thing I don't like!

And don't forget our next sewing day!

Please come and join

the Lovely Warrant Officer's wife, Jennie,  and I

to sew for Aussie Heroes in Canberra?

On Saturday the 4^th of August we are looking for your skills and your time to help us create more quilts and laundry bags. All materials will be provided and instructions available where needed. All you need to bring is your sewing machine, a neutral thread and a smile.  

The Centre is located on Gymkhana Drive in Duntroon.  You don't need ID to get on the base so everyone is welcome.  Tea and coffee provided.  BYO lunch and snacks.  

Please note - they are a nut free centre as a 3 year playschool runs there during the week and a couple of the children are highly allergic.

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

Kangaroos, Southern Cross, Aussie Flag......

Two more soldiers have been wounded in Afghanistan - you can read about it here but it got me thinking about our supply of Wounded Warrior Quilts.  I currently have three here and hopefully another one on its way back from the quilter any day now.  It won't take long however for those to be used up if more guys are injured.  Bear in mind that this is the fighting season as far as I know.  I was speaking to an experienced soldier, recently returned, and he said to me - 

"If I were to be injured and wake up in Germany with one of your Aussie Hero Quilts on me with a kangaroo or the southern cross or the flag or some other Aussie emblem on it that would mean so much!

This same man again said to me that he just doesn't think I realize how much what we do means to them.

The requests seem to have gone quiet for the moment which is fine as it gives us a chance to catch up a bit, but if you are keen to start another quilt, or if you have one that has an Australian feel to it, could you please let me know - preferably send me a photo of it so that I can file it in my WWQs in Waiting file.    I don't ever want to be caught short.  

I don't ever want another injured soldier to leave Afghanistan for Germany without one of our quilts.

Also, if you want to make one and you live near a Spotlight check them out and see if they still have some of their Aussie Flag Panels.  One of those and a few strips is all it takes to make a WWQ -that and lots of love when you are stitching it!

Quilts of the Week

If you send me a quilt or a laundry bag photo and haven't seen it on the blog 

please jog my memory - I am nearing the BIG 50 - it ain't what it used to be LOL!

some times I hold them over till they have been received so as not to spoil the surprise - 

some times I just get too busy and forget to include them.

Please send me a memory jogger.

Along those lines tomorrow night you will be seeing Liz's latest quilt and laundry bag, Kaye's quilts, Marg's laundry bags,  Leonie's laundry bag, Carolynne's quilt and laundry bag and Susan's quilt.  

Anyone else who has sent me a pic of a quilt or a laundry bag that has been sent off this week please remind me!

I felt a bit of a fraud today.  At the end of this post I showed you a quilt that Liz from WA made for the Blackhawk Helicopter pilot.  Last week I handed it to his brother, one of the soldiers I have met who have recently returned from Afghanistan.  Today these arrived on my doorstep.  They were address to Jan-Maree and quilters.  How lovely! 

I know you can't smell them or put them on your table but we can all share the sentiment - especially Liz who made the quilt - but I think you all deserve bouquets!

Pressing Matters!

Last week in Penrith, Pam and I had our photos taken for the Penrith Press and today a reported called me to interview me and get the details.  Here is hoping the resulting article will generate some interest in Penrith and we will book out our 

next sewing day on the 12th of August.

Time for an update on the April BOM quilts.  Here is the last  one all bound and ready to go.  I hope someone likes it.  I love it.  It is so graphic and bright.  I showed it to one of my quilt group members and she loved it and thought it makes a great young person's quilt.  She even suggested that the quilt group should make some of these blocks for a charity quilt.  She wasn't there when I showed this quilt to the rest of the group and told them what she said - guess what the response was  - DEAD SILENCE!  Oh well.  You can't expect everyone to like the same things - funny thing is that if I don't like a fabric you can just about guess most of the girls in the group do!  Wouldn't it be boring if we all like the same thing?

Check out these lovely string blocks from Marilyn.  Cool huh!  That reminds me, if anyone is sending or making any more please let me know as I intend to sort them into quilts next week.

Last reminder...

Coffee at Beasley's Nursery and Tea House 10am on Saturday 14th of July.   The address is 195 Heidelberg Warrandyte Road, Warrandyte, VICTORIA.   

Anyone care to join me? Email me if you want to know how to know which one is me.  Here is a hint - I am a red head - no temper though, just ask my sons!

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