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!

Quilts of The Week 2 November

707 Quilts 885 Laundry Bags to date!

Amy heads up our parade tonight with two laundry bags - check out the purple one!  

LOVE that fabric

 Anne created this fun laundry bag.

Check this out!  Marg is back in fine form!  If you can't read the writing on the little pieces the words on the left say "5 Gallons ENEMA Hot and Soapy" and the patch on the right says "Trust me I am a Nurse!"

And she got in the Christmas Spirit with a stocking!

 Chris sent off the next two quilts.

Liz B created these two dramatically different quilts and sent them off this week.

 Deborah sent off a bunch of laundry bags this week.

These,

 these,

and these!

Gayle sent off her first AHQ - love those colours!

 Naomi sent off this quilt, made by the lovely ladies from the Berri Uniting Church,

and also created the next two laundry bags

and this striking quilt.

 Julie Ann has made some cute laundry bags this week. 

Someone is going to have fun with the soccer one.

Certainly one of a kind!  No lost laundry with this one!

 Karen B sent another batch off this week as well.

 Nancy was able to find a purple lover a quilt.

 Robyn created this cool blue and brown quilt.

Deb sent off this awesome Aussie LB - the other side is blue with the initials on it.

Judi is another new Aussie Hero Friend.  She has been quilting AH quilts for Deb (above) and has decided to make some of her own.  She sent one of these lovely laundry bags off this week and there is now a gorgeous feminine quilt in the Quilts in Waiting File to go with the other laundry bag when the time comes.

Paula and Paul are new to AHQ as well and they has jumped in with both feet.  Paula has made a bunch of quilts and the two of them have also volunteered to quilt for us as well.

You will read more about them next week - too many things to post about with BOMS and the like this week.

 Pauline made this great quilt and she has called it 

"Six White Boomers"

Love it!

Terry not only came to help me on Tuesday but also made this laundry bags - 

love the BMX ones!

Heather H sent in this great quilt top which Carol quilted and it has gone to a Magpies fan!

Wendy and Nan are back again this week with three more laundry bags.

 This is Ruby's first quilt and she has since made one more.

Kitty made these two gorgeous quilts - and I love the photo settings too!

Stephanie sent off this ensemble.  

I thought these letters must have been embroidered which, I might add is exactly what Stephanie wanted me to think, (LOL) but they are printed!  Very pretty either way.

And to round off a good post nothing beats a photo of one of our heroes with their new quilt 

and this one is from HMAS ANZAC!

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

Quilts of the Week 26 October

685 Quilts 837 Laundry Bags to date!

100+ laundry bags this week!

Not all of them in the pictures as I don't have pics yet or can't spoil the surprise.

A little update.

For those of you sending goodies to our lovely ship-board friends they were hoping receive mail this week but it didn't happen.  Next chance for mail will be some time late November.  Can you imagine! 

Sydney Aussie Heroes Dinner

At this stage we are looking at the weekend of the 8th or 9th for the dinner - venue to be decided depending on the numbers.  If you want to join us please email Caroline (aka Deputy Nut) on Caroline  on carolinejgunn@gmail.com

:-)

I make it a rule to try and make sure that as many chaplains as possible receive quilts whilst they are deployed.  Mind you, they are such selfless people that it is often very hard to do that.  Here is a note from the wife of one that I had some success with.

Hi,

As you can see from the photo below my husband is a chaplain who received an AHQ whilst he was deployed.  It was certainly an improvement from the Disney princess Doona he was using! Just thought you might like to know what happened to his, seeing as he is back in our queen sized bed.   :-)   It gets an awful lot of positive comments whenever people come over!  

 Thanx heaps ladies, it means a lot to the wives and children to know that others appreciate not only the sacrifice that our servicemen make but also the sacrifice we make going without our husband/daddy for months at a time.

This quilt top was the work of Sue from Mt Gambier and it was quilted and completed here in HQ AHQ.  

I love it when we hear from those who have received and find that our quilts are well loved after they come back as well.  

I just have to say....Disney Princess Doona cover?  Really?  

Only a Chaplain would get away with that!

On with the show!

Starting tonight's parade of quilts and laundry bags we have a special quilt!  So special that I have to caution you that there is a story behind this one.  A really good story, but I won't be able to share it for a couple of months.  I can't even share who made it as it might give a sniff of the story away and I can't risk that!  You will just have to wait.  

And don't anyone bother asking for another quilt like this - it is a one off for a very special reason that is not likely to be duplicated in a hurry.  

Hilary is sending this one off this week with the following laundry bag.  She deserves special mention, as does Ruth from VIC as they have combined to create two lovely Quilts from some of our September BOM blocks which will be used for Fall Warrior Quilts.  Ruth pieced the blocks into quilt tops and then Hilary quilted them.  Photos to come at the appropriate time. 

Caroline has been busy finishing off and posting two quilts and laundry bags.   These are going to the same destination but I am wondering if you can guess where they are going - we have given you a hint!

Ruth made this lovely ensemble that is heading off today ...

and check out the great labels she prints out to go on her box!

Donna has been sewing like crazy to get these four quilts and laundry bags off.

Love the half square triangles Donna - what size squares did you start with? 

I bet I am not the only one who wants to know.

Julie Ann has excelled this week, making and sending laundry bags

and more laundry bags

and one more laundry bag 

and last but not least a quilt.

Joy is a new Friend to the fold and she has sent off her first batch of laundry bags

Don't you think this one is just "ducky"?

Karen B sent off this one - it was just perfect for someone who requested an Aussie Countryfied quilt for a friend if it were possible.

Kaye had this one sitting in the QUilts in Waiting file and it was just perfect for a fellow plus there is a great laundry bag but the  details  on it make it too identifiable and I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Lynda and the Pilgrim Patchworkers have been busily stitching for the last part of this year and turned out 10 quilts and 13 laundry bags.  
All of them have headed off to the Post Office this week.

Love the wattle on this one- that is a new idea!

Two quilts out of the Quilts in Waiting File, this time made by Michelle, headed  off this week..

This one another of her lovely quilts featuring the Dorothy MacKellar Poem "My Country".

Annie is another AHQ newbie, introduced to us by Kitty.  She has turned out 10 great laundry bags - some with Aussie icons on them!    Way to go Annie!'

Pauline is one of our fabulous laundry bag making ladies and I think these ones are going to go down a treat!

Peggy put this lovely quilt together from blocks made during a sewing day I attended at the Duntroon Community Centre.  Fabulous quilt ladies!+

 Rae made this gorgeous plaid quilt.  Don't all the plaids make it look cozy.

 Wendy and Nan have been quietly beavering away.  First up a quilt by Nan.  Once simple kangaroo is all it needs to say "Australia"!

Then we have a whole gallery of their laundry bags.

 This one is going to be fought over I am sure!

 

Kirsty made this gorgeous pink and yellow dose of sunshine - 

it is certainly going to cheer someone's room!

Terry is also a newbie to Aussie Heroes and bless her cotton socks she is going to come and help me join batting next week and I could not be more appreciative. We will get so much more done with the two of us working.  And it will be a lot more fun!

Deborah has also caught the laundry bag bug.  I think her grand total for posting this week will be 36 laundry bags and if I am wrong that will be 36 spread over two weeks - either way that is 36 guys and girls finding their laundry more easily and no doubt doing it with a smile on their dial coz someone took the time to make them a bag!

Way to go Deborah!

And I know there are only 15 photos there - sometimes the photos don't make to me in time to publish - you will see them next week!

Deborah says - 

If I am asked why laundry bags My plagiarism of a classic poem expresses my response.

For Want of a Laundry Bag

For want of laundry bag a sock was lost.

For want of a sock some time was lost.

For want of some time some rest was lost.
For want of some rest a temper was lost.
For want of good temper a relationship was lost.
For want of a relationship the message was lost.
For want of the message the area was lost.

For want of the area the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the peace was lost.

All for the want of a laundry bag.

Deborah C

(If you want to see the original 14th Century poem look here)

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