A good night was had by all.

Last night was the Inaugural Aussie Hero Friend Dinner in Sydney at the Hornsby RSL.  It was a simple enough affair.  We had chosen the RSL as a venue as we needed somewhere close to accommodation and transport and, most importantly, we wanted to be able to sit and chat for as long as we could without feeling like we needed to vacate the table.  We had been too late to reserve a function room so we had to meet in the Bistro but the RSL was kind enough to set a long table for us and, without being asked, to they set the table with red and green napkins and Christmas Crackers.  That was very kind of them considering they don't take reservations on a Saturday night.  

There were 20 of us in the end.

Please allow me to introduce you to 

Lyn and Tess

Terry, Caroline and Dasha 

Donna and Gail 

Rita and Michelle - I think Michelle and her husband Chris, deserves a special mention as they came up to Sydney especially for the dinner! WOW!  That was special!

Sharon and Del 
(Two of the Gumnuts) 

Penny and Karen (daughter and mother)
(Karen stitches with us at Penrith when she is not working and she says Penny funds the fabric)

We even had a good number of brave husbands who attended.

Del's husband Don who is actually the Treasurer for AHQ and Martin, Lyn's husband 

Rita's husband, Lou, Michelle's husband, Chris, and my husband, David

Dasha's husband David and Donna's husband, Alan

And because I know I have to show photos of everyone including me :-O

here I am with my husband - you do know I hate photos don't you!

No, I did not make a speech.  At one point in the night I called everyone's attention to tell them they had "volunteered" and I was asked to stand up so I obliged, but it didn't last for long as the table was too long and the venue too noisy for me to speak to everyone at the same time so I ended up talking to each end of the table separately.  LOL.   But I had to have the obligatory photo taken apparently!  Thanks Caroline!

Here is what everyone "volunteered" for - Hee Hee. 

The Inaugural Sydney Aussie Hero Friend Dinner Challenge Block

I bet you thought you could come along to dinner tonight and just relax and enjoy yourself.  No sewing, quilting, pinning, basting, binding and so on.  Well you are right!  None of the above tonight but a challenge to be issued for when you get home.

By coming to the dinner you “volunteered” to be part of the first AHQ Challenge Block Quilt.  Afterall this group has a military bias and being “volunteered” is the norm once you sign up. 

You will find you have one piece of what a few of us have determined to be UGLY fabric.  It was donated to me in pieces – lots of it – and I am out to prove that it can be turned from an ugly duckling into a swan with the attention of some creative women.

The instructions are simple.  Please make one or more 12 ½inch (12 inch plus seam allowance) blocks using this ugly fabric plus any combination of red, white and blue fabrics.  Use as many other fabrics as you like, any pattern but please stick to masculine or gender neutral – no flowers allowed please.  This quilt will be for a man.

And one final requirement or hint –

Think Australia!

All blocks to be returned to me

PO Box 248

Cherrybrook,  NSW,  2126

NO LATER THAN

1 Feb 2013

Extra ugly fabric can be supplied.

Are you up for the challenge?  Of course you are.  Let’s take an ugly duckling and turn it into something magnificient.

Thanks for being good sports!

:-)

I bet you can't wait to see how these blocks turn out!  I can't either!

(edit - Rita has already completed one block ladies!)

And just a warning to the others who attended.  I know there are other photos floating around and feel free to share them but I reserve the right to remove any I don't like.  
After all I hate photos!  LOL

Want to see some ANZAC Pics? Click here and check out the latest issue of the Navy News.  Flip over to pages 14 and 15 and look who you can see.

or head over and check out this link to see loads of pictures of HMAS ANZAC and crew  - if you made a quilt for HMAS ANZAC there is a good name you will see some of our recipients.  Maybe you will see yours!

The other night Karen, in her Friend of the Day post gave us the following tip - 

Dental floss to pull your threads through to the back (faster than using easy thread needles)

There has been a lot of interest in it and some people wanted more information so here goes.

You need a needle with a larger eye to thread both end of the dental floss through to make a loop and then pull the thread through the loop and put the needle in and then out of your fabric and pull through

First thread your thread your bigger needle with the dental floss by threading both ends through leaving a loop

Run the end of the thread you want to end off through the loop of dental floss

Put your needle through between the layers of your quilt close to where the thread comes out and bring the needle out half an inch or so further away

Pull the needle until the thread is drawn back into the layers of the quilt and comes out again.

You can now cut the excess off 

Hope that helps.

A couple of thank you messages have come in over the weekend.

Dear Jan-Maree,

Thank you very much for your parcel.  The quilt is excellent and fits my single bunk bed perfectly.  The chocolates and other bits and pieces in the package were also a nice surprise.  I am yet to receive the laundry bag but as the postal system is sometimes unpredictable I’m sure it will arrive shortly.  A couple of the guys were around when I opened your parcel and it is almost like Christmas whenever we get mail over here and everyone is excited to see what is in a box when you open it, even if it’s not posted to you. 

You were kind enough to take the time to do something nice for a stranger so I thought I would let you know a little bit about myself.  I  a combat engineer on my second tour to Afghanistan.  My job over here mostly involves searching for bombs or anything that could harm the patrol or convoy and dealing with it before it can hurt anyone.  Back in Australia I am posted to Adelaide and have lived down there for about a year before being sent overseas again.  Originally I am from the XXXXXX in Queensland and use to enjoy surfing and playing football before being sent all over the place with the army. 

Once again thank you for your kind gesture and please can you send my gratitude to all those that were involved in the making of my quilt.

With thanks,

And this one is my current favourite.


Aussie Quilt Hero Makers,
I am currently serving with the 7RAR TG overseas.
Two of the members of my cell have received hero quilts and washing bags.
I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to you and your team for making the quilts and bags.
Both members were very excited to receive them and showed them around with great delight.
The effort you have put in has improved morale and made at at least 2 soldiers away from their families very happy.
Thank you.
Respectfully,

I wrote back to this fellow and offered to send him a quilt and he said whilst he would love to receive a quilt and laundry bag himself it was more important to him that his troops were looked after!  Such is the caliber of many of the fine men we have over there!

I now have all their names and we will be taking care of all of them in the fullness of time.

One for Ruth.

I would really like to thanks Aussie Hero Quilts.  It is a wonderful organisation, as are the volunteers.  A special thanks to the quilter from Victoria for the quilt and laundry bag sent recently.  It is very appreciated and it lets us know that there are people back home who think about us over here.  It has started to snow near the mountains so it won't be long until that reaches us so the quilt has already come in handy with the minus temperatures.
The laundry bag I am keeping for use at home!  Thanks again and keep doing what you are doing.

I really appreciate the fact that they obviously went to some effort to get this photo - thank you!
The handsome fellow on the right is the recipient in this case but the other handsome fellow on the left has also received a quilt in the past and sent in a photo.

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

No Pictures till tomorrow.....

Hi All

Well, the new laptop is installed and I am now in the process of working out how to use it.  my photos haven't been transferred over yet but my husband will do that tonight.  Honestly I would love to be able to do all these things for myself but it is either a case of learn how to do everything or keep running AHQ and I know what i would rather do!

So, a picture-less post but I hope you can cope for one night.  :-(

Just a reminder that the Aussie Heroes Dinner in Sydney is scheduled for 

Saturday 8 December 
630 for 7pm.

at the Bistro

Hornsby RSL

4 High St

Hornsby

We thought this would be a good option for many reasons.   It is affordable.   We can be very flexible with the numbers changing them at the last minute if people find they can come.  

We can sit and after our meal as long as we want.  I
t's close to the train station for those travelling by public transport and it has lots of parking.  
We can chat to our hearts content and won't disturb anyone.

We tried to book our own function room, but left that option a little late, maybe next year !!

If you are a definite please get back to Caroline (aka Deputy Nut carolinejgunn@gmail.com) and she will add your name(s) to the list.

If you would like to come please let Caroline know - even if you have told one of us verbally could you please email her direct as it makes it easier for us to check the numbers.

We Sydney-siders and visitors are not the only ones who are thinking of staging a get together.

Nancy in WA has a bunch of ladies who are also interested in meeting up.  At this stage possible dates are 12th or the 13th of December, somewhere in the Midland Area.  So far the thoughts are for a 9-930am start for morning tea, maybe into lunch.

If you are interested please contact Nancy.

 Her email address is harvnan2@yahoo.com.au

How about some thank you messages seeing as I can't show you pictures - first for Julie Ann

My quilt and laundry bag has arrived. I'm sorry I haven't E-mailed you earlier, been a little busy. They both look great and I'll endeavour to take some photo's and send to you and the lady who made them.
Thank you very much and your ladies do a great job.

Hi Wendy, Jan... and Nan Scott!
I just received my laundry bag in the mail, with the assorted goodies.
Thanks very much - it's awesome.
Cheers,

For Rae (quilt) and Deb (Laundry Bag)

 I absolutely love both items. I have been going flat out, and it was one of my job list items today to write a thank you to you. Finally a little breathing space.
Was shocked to see it had my name on it, very touched as well. 
Can you please pass on my thanks. It is truly one of the nicest gifts I can recall receiving....ever...it really is that special. 

One for the Fabric Happiness Fairies..

I spoke to XXXX last night and he said he received his quilt.  It looks fantastic, and he was so thankful for the special gift.  You all do such a fantastic job and it is greatly appreciated.  This makes their time over there a little bit more comfortable.

 Thanking you,

Do you remember Diane's bright beautiful double sided quilt?
You can refresh your memory but checking it out here if you like.

Dear Dianne I received your quilt today, it's beautiful. 
I can appreciate the work you put into it even though it is not one of my strong points. The patience that would be required is mind blowing, personally, I would be lucky get out a small napkin. I love the colours too, while the landscape is beautiful over here it is exactly what you see in pictures.. 
My job is logistics in country, it is constant day in day out routine keeping up with requests from our dependencies. Never a boring day had so far and the challenges are ongoing. Having come from the top end I am freezing, I expect to look like a Michelin man shortly when the coats and pants come out. 
It is a great honour to serve the country and the thoughtful gifts the many women/men sent are appreciated. As a soldier and a mother I can't tell you how fortunate I feel being born in Australia, grateful everyday. 
Thank you again 

Cheers 

For something a little different, Cat recently made a couple of gorgeous Stack and Slash Star Quilts and an interesting modern quilt.  If you want to know what I am talking about you will need to go to her blog, but you should go anyway as she has been kind enough to write tutorials for both of them and they are worth checking out - here and here

Thanks so much Cat.


Seeing I can't show you any pictures I thought I would paint some pictures for you - some pictures of the appreciation for what we do that comes across in the requests I receive.

. Some people here in my work place told me about the quilts and laundry bags they have received from you, and I am very interested. They quilts are just lovely and would come in handy as it is really starting to get quite cold here, and I still have 4 months left on my tour.
Anything you could send over would be lovely, as well as a nice reminder of my time here.


May I please request one of you spectacular Aussie Hero Quilts.  My boss and a couple of workmates received them and they are awesome. 

And sometimes, not even a request but a thank you without asking for anything.  This in response to one of Michelle's gorgeous quilts.

Hi Jan-Maree,
I work with XXXXXXXXX and just saw the fabulous quilt and laundry bag that he received and would like to compliment you and your team on such a wonderful gesture.  XXXXX raves about the quality and workmanship on the quilt and laundry bag.
He doesn't usually brag much about anything, however, XXXXX is extremely proud and humbled by the wonderful gift that you sent him.
Anyway, I just wanted to pass on some feedback to you that you have made XXXXX's deployment that little bit easier knowing that there are people thinking of the guys and girls over here.
Kindest regards and thanks again,

Photos tomorrow night I hope.

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

Lots of messages...

Just a little more on laundry bags.

Thanks so much for all the support re last night's post.  Your emails are a great encouragement!  

I was delighted last night to see that this comment was left by one of the fellows who knows better than any of us the value of the laundry bags!

From the mouth of a Soldier, the quilt was AMAZING but, the laundry bag was just as fantastic, it meant that I could identify my laundry immediately and stopped the confusion, it was also a talking point among others. This is how I was able to tell other Soldiers' what I had received, the quilt remained in my living quarter, but the laundry bag everyone saw, so to the person who said they don't want to make laundry bags, please don't stop, these are what everyone sees and gets to enjoy even if they have not been lucky enough to receive a quilt. 
Thank you Aussie Hero Quilts (and laundry bags) for what you do. 

Thanks so much for commenting!  
( must have had a little something in my eye when I read it!)

In response to last night's post Pauline made the following comment - 
not only is a good way to get rid of that 'what was I thinking' fabric, but I've also discovered that if I use the wrong side of some cream tone-on-tone floral fabric, I can line laundry bags with it and the floral is very muted and only noticeable if you look really closely. I *knew* there was a reason I bought so much of it so long ago! 

Not everyone has to make laundry bags.  I want people to sew for Aussie Heroes because they enjoy it.  If laundry bags are outside your means or your comfort zone that is fine.   My comments re laundry bags are meant to inform those who have not, until now, realized how much they are appreciated and those that think that the quilts are our main priority.  

If you, for whatever reason, do not want to make laundry bags, that is fine but it is my job to make sure that everyone knows that the laundry bags were the reason I started the whole program and are just as important today as they were in the start.

The quilts are the luxury, the laundry bags are the necessity.

I also received this message from one the lovely ladies who has been with Aussie Heroes since almost its beginning, Marg, and I thought her perspective was worth sharing too.

most would consider quilts more valuable .. so an insight into what is most practical is great.

obviously many have never been in a mass defence force camp in the middle of nowhere with limited facilities; I haven't but have been in the mustering camp where the easiest and most practical is always the best.. like you value your enamel pannikin much more than the wedgewood dinner set at home!

Hilary made some great points too...

Re the laundry bag post. I can understand you wanting to get the message through to people that the laundry bags are not poor cousins to the quilts – although if your audience is mainly quilters, that does seem counter intuitive, so it does require a bit of explanation about WHY they are so important to the recipients.

I didn’t really ‘get’ the laundry bag thing to start with – I made one and wasn’t too thrilled at the work involved of having to make two (a liner and an outer), and it all seemed a lot of work for nothing that really impressed me when I was done. So I just did quilts. Then after following the blog and reading the feedback I started to understand how useful and valued the laundry bags are, so had another go, but was still concerned about the idea of ‘wasting’ 2 metres of perfectly good patchwork fabric (and yes, I have said exactly those words!) because that would leave me short of a quilt back.

Patchwork fabric isn’t cheap.   I felt a more sturdy fabric would be better. I haven’t seen a standard issue one, but I imagine it is made of something sturdy like drill – my husband said his in Vietnam was canvas. So I started going to St Vinnies and snapping up curtains/doona covers/assorted lengths of fabric etc, when I saw something suitable. On average, I can make a laundry bag for fifty cents to $1.00 each using this recycled fabric – and the cash goes to a good cause too! There is absolutely nowhere I can get 2 metres of patchwork fabric for that price – or even a fat quarter!

This works for me, and now I actually enjoy doing the bags – and the hunt for good fabric to use in them – and coming up with creative ways to put the names on!

I guess the lesson is that if quilters are drawn to participate in the project, then of course they will value a quilt more than a big cotton sack – the art is in teaching them that the recipients – the servicemen and women we are doing this for – really value the bags and, as one correspondent pointed out, they are actually a very good advertising vehicle for AHQ among the troops who are deployed – most don’t get to see each others beds (one assumes!), but the laundry bags are on display for all to see.

Hmmm, maybe I should get Hilary to do some guest posts - she put that very well.
Thanks Hilary.

This is the response I received today when I told a fellow his quilt and laundry bag are on their way.  I just had to share it with you.

Thank you so much, I look forward to receiving them and will email you when they arrive. It is very humbling to know that there are people back home that are willing to take time out to support the soldiers deployed overseas and I wish I was able to articulate how much that support is appreciated.

The following three messages came through Facebook and are for quilts that Nancy sent off.

hey.. I am currently overseas serving and would like to send back a big thank you for the quilt i received today in the mail. i am aware of 5 others that got one each today as well and we all really appreciate them. Once again thank you...

I received my Aussie quilt in the mail today and I absolutely LOVE it! Thank you so much to the people who put so much time and effort into making and sending it. ♥ Sara xx

hi, i am currently overseas at the moment and just received a lovely quilt in the mail from you guys, i am very grateful for your time and efforts, its beautiful. i will be sure to have it on my bed in the upcoming cold nights :) thank you again!

STOP PRESS!  JUST IN!  

Another exciting message re a quilt that Fran T sent off which is now home in Oz!

I’m a quilter & my boss has been telling me of her daughter who has just returned from active service overseas and received an Aussie Hero Quilt. She loved it to pieces & it takes pride of place on her coffee table!

 I think that this is a brilliant cause & I would love to join. I am going to start sorting through my stash & collecting more fabric now & I will let you know when I have my first quilt ready to go. I’m thinking that my mum might like to join me by making the laundry bags. 

Now that just makes my day.

And this thank you message made Melissa's day -

Just a quick email to thank you for the laundry bag. It is little things such as this that make life here easier in Afghanistan. Its is quite humbling to think that everyday people take time out of their day to make and send things to us.

:-)

A Sydney Aussie Heroes Dinner

Caroline (Deputy Nut) and I are thinking that a nice way to round off the first year of Aussie Heroes would be to go out to dinner with anyone in the Sydney area - some time in late November, early December.  It will be somewhere in the Hills District in Sydney (i.e. not in the city).  It won't be anything formal or fancy - just a booking at a nice restaurant though we may work out a price that will cover the meal so that everyone knows how much to bring (we will fine somewhere BYO if possible).  
Anyone interested in attending  please let me know.  
And please note - this is open to those who sew as well as anyone else who reads the blog.  If you support Aussie Heroes we would love you to come too.

Suggestions Please
Melissa had a great idea and she wrote to me with the following - 

Could I throw in a suggestion for the blog???????? - would love to know a little more about people who do the sewing etc. Could you do a sewer of the week on one of the blogs???? Ask for a short paragraph on the person to be emailed and a photo. I would love to know if there is anyone around here that is helping you out or close by.

I think this is a great idea.  I did threaten her with being the first contributor and she actually sent me a "Blurb" which you will see on our Inaugural Aussie Hero Friend of the Day Post this Thursday.    I am still working out a format or maybe a list of questions and then you can standby and watch your email inbox for an email from me requesting you be the Friend of the Day ............ unless there are any more volunteers!
Anyone?

In the mean time what questions should I ask?   
Suggestions?  This is what I have come up with so far.

Who are you and where do you live – if not in a house in suburbia please share some more info – farm etc. 

What is your occupation

How far to the local shops and how far to the nearest quilt shop

How long have you been sewing for AHQ

How did you find out about us?

Do you have any connection to the services

What are some of the things you have sewn for AHQ

Why do you sew for AHQ

I just have to say - I think Aussie Heroes is developing into such a lovely supportive group!  I find your emails and kind words extremely encouraging and it makes my job so pleasant and easy to do.  You all know that I spend a lot of time on it but who ever minds spending time with friends!   I really do hope in the future to get around a bit and visit a few of you so that we can meet personally but in the mean time we will have to make do with emails and occasionally, phone calls.

Gasp!  No photos!

How about a little AHQ quality control?  This is Snickers.  Now this quilt was sitting on the floor by my sewing machine table while I re-threaded the machine prior to stitching the binding on.
I guess she thought she should check it out to make sure it was up to standard!

She is indeed a quilter's dog!  Why lie on your purpose made burgundy dog bed (see it in the background) when there is a spare quilt lying around!

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