General Business plus...

This is a bit of a general business post.  I hope you will bear with me.  It isn't the most exciting of posts but it makes life easier to get the message out there and I will sweeten it with a couple of thank you messages.

There are now well over a hundred ladies sewing for Aussie Heroes.   We are structured to enable to people to contribute in whatever way they are comfortable but that means that everyone is doing things a little differently.  That is absolutely fine and it works well but now that there are so many of you it is hard for me to remember who likes to do what so I need your help.

Laundry Bags

From now on if you take on a request can you please tell me if you are not sending a laundry bag with a quilt.  That will save me from having to double check with each request that I hand out.  If you can't send a laundry bag that is no problem as I can allocate it to someone else but i need to know.  I would hate to have someone requesting a laundry bag with their quilt only to find that none arrives.  Often they would be too polite to point out the omission.  So, just please let me know if you are making a quilt only - and if you are happy to do both if you can let me know.  That would be great!

Send an update please

We have a huge number of requests underway at the moment and you know that we allow around 4 weeks for completion unless otherwise stated.  If possible, to save me emailing each of you individually to check where you are up to, can you please send me a quick update tomorrow or over the weekend.  I have found in the past that sometimes people are struggling to complete a quilt or laundry bag as something has happened in their life and they have not wanted to let us down so they have struggled on.  There is no need to do that.  I can always work something out if that situation arises as long as you let me know.

Labels

Hillary made a very generous offer to send labels to anyone who sent her a stamped self- address envelope and to make it easier for you to find her information it has now been added the Quilt Specifics Page and also the Intro to Aussie Heroes Page.

Quilts of the Week 

It is going to be another good week of quilts and laundry bags heading off again.  Here is the same reminder I issue every Thursday - if you have sent a quilt or a laundry bag of this week then please send me a pictures.  The following ladies have sent me pictures of quilts and laundry bags that have hit the mail this week.

Lorraine, Louise, Rae, Cat, Kaye, Hillary, Liz, Melissa, Michelle, Miranda, Nancy, Paula, Stephanie, Sue S

If you are NOT on that list and have sent off a quilt or laundry bag can you please send me an email, preferably with a photo, and preferably sooner rather than later.  And if you have already emailed me and sent a picture and you are not on the list - please remind me.

If for some reason you can't send a picture through this week then that is okay - just send it when you can but please don't forget.  Anyone who needs help taking photos in Canberra please let me know.

A thank you message

This one is for me...

My name is XXXXX and I am onboard HMAS Anzac in the MEAO at the moment. I was fortunate enough to receive one of your handmade laundry bags recently. I would like to say thank you not only for the excellent bag (which certainly puts my very old one to shame!), but also for taking the time out of your day to provide these items for ship's away. Our Chaplain has told us that you used to be in the Navy, so I'm sure you know only too well how something new and from the outside world can make your day and break the monotony of sea life! The bags are certainly a hit onboard.  

And then in the mail I received this today and it quite made my day!

Dear Jan-Maree,
We wanted to thank you so much for your wonderful care and generosity provided by the Aussie Hero Quilts that you sent.  The craftsmanship and obvious care taken in making these are amazing .  To know that we have the love and support of you and your fellow quilters brings a smile to our faces.  It is starting to get quite cool here in the evenings so the quilts are definitely being put to use.  The designs and materials are a real morale boost here too.   Thank you so much for thinking of us.  Please know we are thinking of you all at home too.

This came from two young ladies and a fellow.  We have heard from all of them separately but one of these young ladies has emailed me a few times and it is obvious that she really does appreciate and understand what we are trying to do.  The card might have been addressed to me but the thanks, as it says in the text to know that they have the love and support of all of us really matters to them.  What more could we ask for!

Now, every post needs a few pictures and not just one I think and I don't have anything new for tonight so I thought I might show some from the past. 

How about a few of our past BOM (block of the month quilts)

starting way back in February with the classic nine patch.

 February

March

 April

May

June

July

August

September 

The last three have not been completely finished yet and therefore are yet to be sent off but all the others have gone off to new owners.  I think these are the special quilts as so many of our sewers have a hand in them.  Well done everyone.

I am really looking forward to seeing what quilts come out of this month's and next month's BOMs.

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

Down Under Quilts

I received a lovely surprise in the mail today and I just have to acknowledge it.  I am not sure about the etiquette of discussing monetary donations to Aussie Heroes on the blog, but because this comes from a Group or an Organisation and not an individual, I think it is okay to mention it.  I want to say a big thank you to the Waverley Patchworkers Inc. from Victoria.  

They have sent us a donation which was raised at their last meeting to help with the costs of Aussie Heroes.  Of course I will be writing to them personally to thank them for their donation but I wanted to share it with all of you here as well.  

They also said "the work you are doing is tremendous so keep up the good work."  
Thank you so much to all of the Waverley Patchworkers Inc.  We appreciate the support for those that sew for Aussie Heroes but it is also lovely for the serving members to know that there is such support for us, and therefore for them!

Searching for Something?

If ever you want to go back and find something on the blog, be it a quilt you have made or a laundry bag or even the above information on the labels there is a box at the top of the page on the left hand side of the blog like the one on the left.  Just type in what you are looking for and you should be given a choice of posts to look at.  For example if you are searching for a quilt or laundry bag that you have made search on your name and you will find a selection of posts will come up.  Now I haven't attached labels to all my posts from the very start of AHQ because I didn't know I could or should so not everything from the early days will come up.  I have been doing labels for ages though so lots will come up.  Hope that helps!

LOOKING FOR 

SOMETHING? SEARCH 

HERE.

Down Under Quilts

Down Under Quilts hit the stores last week but I just received my copies yesterday so I thought I would share it with you seeing as well have lots of followers who are not quilters.  You won't be able to read the text from these pictures but I think if you want to do that you should have to buy the magazine.  We need stay on the good side of the magazines if we want them to tell our story.  

How exciting that we made it onto the front cover!

We scored four pages inside.  I wrote the information and chose the photos for this article months ago but these flag quilts by Marg from WA are still a great representation of our Aussie Hero style.

Just a funny detail - the first photo shows the quilts on the side of Marg's house, not as is stated in the magazine, around the mess tent in Afghanistan.  I am not sure where that came from but I certainly didn't write it.

The last page shares some of the feedback received from the troops and I am so glad that made it in as it shows why we do what we do! 

Now a couple of other Aussie Hero Friends have also made it into the magazine on their own.  First we have Liz (of the kangaroos on quilts fame).  Liz submitted two blocks to the Travelling Friendship Quilt and here is  the quilt in the magazine on its travels.

Liz's blocks are on the left hand side as you are looking at it  - the first one is the reddy brown background with the grass three on it.  The second one is just three blocks below that showing the gumnuts.  The inspiration for this particular motif came from a fountain in the centre of  Liz's home town. 

  Finally there is one more Aussie Hero Friend who is featured.  The very clever Lyn C from Queensland has a quilt featured in the magazine.  Well done Lyn.

So now you should all rush out and buy the magazine so that you can read all about Aussie Heroes and the other bits and pieces in the mag.

OR
if you don't to buy the magazine you can send me an email and try and be one of the first three people to contact me with your name and address as I have three copies to give away.  
The only requirement is that you have to have sent off at least one quilt for Aussie Heroes.


Don't forget, if you have posted off a quilt or a laundry bag this week please make sure you send me a photo and a confirmatory email if you want to be included in this week's Mega Quilts of the Week!!!

So far the following ladies have made the list:

 Deb B, Deborah, Gail, Me, Jacqui, Jennifer, Joanne, Julie Ann, Liz, Marg, Marie, Melissa, Nancy, Stephanie, Tarissa,

If you are not on the list above and think you should be please email me as soon as you can.

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

New Label

Hi all.

Hope you have had a lovely weekend.  My thoughts keep drifting to some of the servicemen I know who had made it home this weekend and others who I know are heading home in the near future.  Of course that means that they have been replaced by new members whose families are just beginning to adjust to them being away.  It makes me so glad that we are doing something positive.  Don't underestimate the value of what we do to the families back here.

Knowing that someone else is sending a message of support and a gift of love, as what else is a quilt but a hug made from stitches and love, means a lot to those back home.  It means that they are not the only ones who value their loved one's contribution!

Seeing as we are now sending quilts to members in Egypt as well as in Afghanistan and also Dubai (they also come under Operation Slipper) I have decided it is time to officially change the label text to the following:

This is an

AUSSIE HERO QUILT

 made for an

Aussie Hero

serving OVERSEAS

with gratitude for your service.

2013

aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com.au

friendsofAHQ@gmail.com

I thought it was also worth reminding you to add a little note with your quilt or even a letter.  Tell them a little about yourself.  Include your address and/or your email address.  And please share if you receive any thank you mail - it is good for everyone to know that messages are coming back.

Now check out this gorgeous quilt by Liz, as if you couldn't tell with her trade mark kangaroos.  I have to say Liz that I am getting a lot of comments about those red roos!  They really look fabulous!  Liz had also done a laundry bag but I am not showing it here as I don't want to give away who the quilt is for in case the impending recipient sees it.  I don't want to spoil the surprise!

Love these stars and don't they just glow against the black background!

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

Labels!!

It has been a busy weekend here.  All sorts of things to do - grocery shopping, kids here there and everywhere, all the usual activities of life but I still managed a bit of sewing.   My goal today was to get enough labels sewn to use in the 13 quilts that are here waiting to be quilted. 

 Tomorrow I hope to get all thirteen sewn on all the backings but I have Tuesday up my sleeve if don't quite get there.

On Wednesday a few of the Gumnuts are coming over and we will get as many of the eleven quilts layered as we can.  I just need to make sure that I have all the labels on the backs and all the backs pieced where necessary.

On Friday Caz has volunteered to come over and help me quilt some.  I am really looking forward to that!  Can't wait to meet her and also can't wait to see how many we get done!

Now this one, Maisy, is giving me the look - Mum, isn't it time for bed, I am so tired!

I think I will take the hint - lots to do tomorrow.

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