Aussie Hero Quilts 101 Pt 4

Welcome to Aussie Heroes 101 Part 4.  There are a few topics tonight - Special Requests, The Volunteer List, Quilts in Waiting and  WWQs.


Special Requests.  

This is what we call it when a serving member or their family find us and request a quilt or a laundry bag.  We love these requests as it means that we usually have some sort of personal contact with the recipient and/or their family.  That is something that usually doesn't happen when we send our quilts off with the care packages that go through the April and Christmas mailing.

The Volunteer List

In order to meet the demands of the Special Requests I have a list of volunteers who are happy to put a quilt together at short notice.   There are currently 14 ladies on this list.  When I receive a request I forward the info, minus identifying details, to the 14 ladies on the Volunteer List.  Whoever feels they can fit the request in with their own commitments gets back to me with an offer to complete the requested quilt.  


I work on a six week plan.  I allow two, maximum three weeks to get the quilt completed and in the mail and then another two or three weeks for the quilt to actually travel to its destination via snail mail.  


Generally, when I put out a call for a volunteer I get more takers than I need and I usually operate on a first "in best dressed rule".  Having said that though, if I know someone is really keen and has missed out on a couple of opportunities then they might get first option the third time.  Also, if I know of a quilt that is well under way which I think might be suitable for the request I might email the quilter and ask if they are interested in completing it in time to fill the request.

I can always use more volunteers so if this idea appeals to you please leave me a comment or send me an email.  You don't need to put your hand up each time a request comes through - only whenever it fits in with your commitments.

Quilts in Waiting
Maybe I need a better name for this one but as yet I haven't come up with one.  If you have completed a quilt, or even have it at flimsy or quilt top stage, it would be great if you could email me a picture so that I can file it away in the Quilts in Waiting File.


Here is a quilt top that Kylie is working on and has let me know about.  

And here is the gorgeous May BOM quilt that Pip made and which I mentioned last night.

These are both in my Quilts in Waiting File and may go off in response to a special request or they may wait until the Christmas mailing.

If you have a top or a completed quilt how about letting me know.  

And finally we come to some very special quilts, ones that we hope we will never need to use but which will serve a very important purpose if needed.

Wounded Warrior Quilts (WWQs)

We have been asked to provide three quilts that can be held in the hospital in Kandahar to be given to any wounded soldiers who transit through there on their way to hospital in Germany.  Unfortunately our first three quilts arrived in Kandahar one hour after our last three soldiers were flown to Germany.  At least we know that three quilts are in situ now should they be needed.


These are the three quilts that are currently on standby in Kandahar.  

This one by Liz

This one by Wendy 

Finally this one a quilt top by Claire - this photo was sent to us by one of the chaplains. 

Preferably they should be Australian in flavour as they will accompany the soldier to Germany and a bit of familiar Aussie-ness would hopefully be comforting to them.  


They need to be sent in plastic bags that can be vacuum sealed as the Chaplain said the dust gets into everything and we don't want the quilts dusty and dirty before they are even handed to their recipient.  


I also try to keep three quilts ready in Australia so that they can replace any that are used as soon as we get word of their need.  The quilts will be sent direct to the Chaplain who passes them on to the hospital for storage.  


These two, the first by Liz

 and the second by Linda, are currently in my WWQ in Waiting File.

If you want to go ahead and make one please let me know.  I know of a couple of WWQs that are either completed (please send photos) or are under construction and once I get photos of them I file them in the WWQ in Waiting file until needed. I have had a number of people offer to make WWQs but have not had word that many of them have been completed.  If you have one underway, can you please let me know.  We will not be restricted to posting these quilts only during the April and November mailing dates obviously.


And here is another option - if you don't have time to sew a while WWQ or quilt top but still want to be part of making such a special quilt - here is an easier option.
 Send me an 8 inch block (7 1/2" with seam allowance makes it ") in Aussie fabric or red white and blue and I will combine them into WWQs.
Here are six completed by Teresa from America which I received just yesterday.   Does anyone else feel like making some?  Just let me know!

I think that is enough to digest for now - class dismissed!

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

2 in Egypt!

One of our Friends had a lovely surprise today.  Caroline received a lovely email this morning from a female soldier currently serving in Egypt.  She has received one of Caroline's quilts and she also mentioned that one other of the contingent of twenty five over there has received one as well.  Apparently they are the envy of everyone (don't worry - I am making inquiries to see if we can send more!)

If we do get the go ahead to send more this is one of the quilts that might go - this lovely was made by Sue S and it is now in the holding pattern that is the Quilts in Waiting File.  As soon as I get another request for a quilt I will tell Sue where to fire it off to.    I love these patterns with the triangles - I love the lines you get!  

It would be great if you finish a quilt if you could send me a picture to put in the Quilts in Waiting File too.  Why store them till Christmas if we can send them off earlier?

Now, the BOM!  

What does everyone think of it?  Do you like it?  Are the instructions in the tutorial step by step enough for you all?  Let me know if there are any problems or if you need any help.  I am hoping to make some more this weekend.  I have a bunch cut out - mostly red as that just happened to be the scraps I was cutting at the time but any colours are good.

And just before I go - a sneak peak at a project that I have been working on today - this will test you to see if you have been paying attention.  The lettering doesn't stand out enough yet but once I have stitched around it it will be better.  It is almost camouflaged isn't it?

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

A message from Afghanistan and more

I hope everyone had a nice day yesterday.  For me there is something special about ANZAC Day and I usually spend most of it sniffling through the TV broadcasts and the radio programs.  I love listening to the diggers, old and young, talk about their experiences - not the loss and destruction, but the mateships and determination to strive against the hardship.  So inspiring.

my quilt group decided to go ahead with our regular fortnightly meeting yesterday as it would be possible for two of our girls who have had to go back to full time work to join in with us for a change.  Before I went however i sent a special message to the service men and women who, over the last few months, have made contact with me.   I went back through all the messages and emails that you have all sent me and picked out the bits that explain why you wanted to get involved and why you think Aussie Heroes is a good idea.  I figured if you enjoy hearing their messages of thanks then they would enjoy reading your messages of support as well.  I was a bit nervous that the message might be a bit......soppy..... perhaps not the right word but you know what I mean but my hubby said to send it so I did.

Well, it was well received.  This response came from an army Corporal:

Thank you for sharing this with me and I am hopeful that you don't mind me passing these words on.

This morning I stood here on foreign ground to remember all those who have fallen for our country, those who have been injured and those who have and are still serving in all parts of the world.

I must say today being away from home and my children not only made the true reason of ANZAC day ring true in my ears, it made tears as it does every year run down my face.

So to hear these words of support to us serving members is wonderful and touching.

God Bless you all. 

and then I received this reply from a Warrant Officer:

Well we are about half way through or ANZAC day here and to be honest it is one of the most remarkable ANZAC days I have ever had. To be paying tribute to the fallen in the country that they have paid the ultimate sacrifice is a feeling that is very hard to describe. The mixed emotions of pride and sadness come over you at different times but to be amongst mates whom you have shared the battlefield with is very satisfying.   I hope you have had a great day yourself and you and your loved ones are well.

The kind words you have sent from your "Army" of workers has been passed on to the boys and they are very grateful. To know that people, from all generations, are supporting us in our task is not only encouraging but also very humbling. We really do thank you and your crew from the bottom of our hearts.

As I watch the celebrations from back home, and from around the world for that matter, it is pleasing to see that the young people are going to carry this tradition well into the future and beyond.  To see them in places such as Gallipoli, France and Turkey and of course Australia really is fantastic. You would have to be an extremely hard person if those pictures didn't bring a tear to the eye and a swelling to the heart. The ANZAC's are in very good hands.

On behalf of the SOTG I wish to thank you and your AMAZING staff again for EVERYTHING they are doing for the men over here. I fear that these words in an email can never really express the gratitude we wish to express to you all. Please pass on our thanks and best wishes to all your ladies and may they be safe and always free from harm.

Just makes you want to sew a little bit more doesn't it.

We have a few months now to sew before we can start sending off quilts to the Middle East again and hopefully as word spreads of our efforts we will get some more requests.  I know a few people are going to start sewing and there are already a few quilts underway or completed like this lovely one by Liz from WA. Don't you just love her quilting!

This photo is now in a special file I have called Quilts in Waiting.  What that means is that when I get a special request from someone I will refer to the quilts in waiting and if I think there is a quilt suitable to fill that request then I can send an email straight to its maker with details of who to send it to.  if anyone else out there has quilts underway it would be great if you could also send me a photo so that I can place it in the Quilts in Waiting file.  My feeling is that it is great to keep a flow of quilts, even if it must be a trickle at times, heading over there so that the name Aussie Heroes keeps spreading and so that more people learn of they support they have.


I have had a suggestion that I call you all Aussie Hero Angels instead of Aussie Hero Sewers (I really don't like the word "sewists").  What does everyone think?  I think you are all angels!

And while we are on the subject of sewing more quilts - one smart girl in Tassie managed to take advantage of recent specials in Spotlight and scored a whole bunch of Australian Flag Panels for very little outlay.  She has offered to make them available to other Aussie Hero Angels (?) so more fabulous flag quilts can be sewn.  I think these panels are great for all the AHQs but even more so for WWQs if you are planning to make one.

Her name is Kathy and she is happy for you to contact her via her email (stitches_63@hotmail.com) if you would like to have a panel or two - thanks heaps Kathy!