This Time Last Year ... May 2012

MAY 2012 reported a rough total of 200 quilts for the year and Facebook followers went over 150.  I've now caught up with myself as this was when I began reading the blog - Janine C.

EGYPT: May 2012 saw the first quilts off to Egypt, and the first thank yous from that area.

To Nadene, Thank you very much for the quilt. it got here the other day and it is beautiful. Please pass on my thanks to everyone involved.  It is a great pleasure to receive such a thoughtful gift from home. This was the first care package that I have received that was addressed to me personally by name after three deployments. Different from the ones that I have received from the RSL addressed to "a member that is serving" and now holds a lot of sentimental value.

REVISITING LAUNDRY BAGS: We started making laundry bags because we heard that our defence force members were issued with plain  white, blue or green laundry bags and the only way to tell one from another was by hand written initials usually in black marker pen.  Apparently bags, and their contents, go missing all the time as people pick up the wrong bag in error.  The plan was to make them individual, colourful and easy to identify.

May 2012 - Laundry Bags

The sturdier the fabric and the stitching the longer these bags will last.  Also, and most important, all fabrics - particularly those pesky reds - need to be pre-washed so that our defence force personal are not wearing PINK uniforms!

Laundry Bags by Cathy H

BOM: Blocks for April and May arrived and were arranged, and re-arranged on the 'wall'.
           

BOMs to become quilt tops

Pauline sent in these pinwheel block - for Jan-Maree to play with.
Red backing and binding were planned.

BELVEDERE RECEIVED HIS QUILT: 'I got your package on Tuesday!  It was so awesome!  The quilts and laundry bags are amazing!  The whole company loved Belvedere's one!  I'll be sure to send you a big thank you and a photo with Belvedere and his quilt and bag.

A turtle size quilt and laundry bag

PS. He loved his turtle food!  and I can't express how much I loved the Tim Tams!  Thank you so much for all your hard work.  It is greatly appreciated.  I will keep my quilt forever and it will remind me of my trip and how there are those back home that do really care.'

WWQ:  Work on Wounded Warrior Quilts, to hold in readiness, produced some beautiful quilts and it's inspiring to look at them again.

WWQ by Linda

WWQ by Liz

WWQ by Liz

SPECIAL QUILTS:   A lovely chocolate-y masculine quilt by Nadene from WA was the 16th AH Quilt (out of a hoped for 25) to go to Egypt.  The pattern is a fabulous way to stretch your stash of expensive Aussie fabrics. The Aussie fabric squares are 5 1/2" and the sashing strips are 2 1/2" making the resulting squares  36". The borders are about 3".  Of course you could vary the sizes with each quilt depending on what fabrics you have to work with.  Great job Nadene!!!  - from Jan-Maree

A SPECIAL QUILT: Marg made this quilt, and a matching laundry bag, especially for a fellow who would find them particularly meaningful and we heard from the Chaplain that  "he is absolutely stoked with his quilt. Thank you for making his day."    Here is a photo of the recipient and the Chaplain with the quilt.

(Note from Jan-Maree - the above recipient contacted me months later, after he had returned home, to tell me that as the months were cooling the quilt now covered his daughter's bed and he had told her the story of Aussie Heroes.) 

Ma'am,   I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the AMAZING quilt (above) you have constructed for me on behalf of 'HERO QUILTS". If your mission was to bring a ray of sunshine into what is a very baron, desolate place, your mission has been a resounding success. 

The "covert" mention of my daughter and the mention of my beloved country was a very nice touch. Thanks so much for that. The focal point of the flag is again very fitting. I am not 100% sure if you ladies realise the impact these type of things (quilts) have on the soldiers that are over here. This piece of manchester will be in my family for many, many years to come. Not only will it keep my daughter warm on cold winter nights but I have no doubt whatsoever that it will one day keep my grandchildren in the same manner.

On behalf of my family to yours, may you always be free from harm and the joys of the universe be blessed upon you.  May 2012 be the best year ever.

Please pass on my best wishes to Ms Ball and all the ladies in her "Army". You all are true "Aussie Heroes"

The "covert mention of his daughter and country" refers to where Christine quilted them into the quilt.  Seriously is this not proof that we have some absolutely special people serving on our behalf overseas!  With gentlemen of this calibre over there no wonder we have such a good reputation around the world for our Defence Forces.  I am just SO GLAD that we are able to give a little back to them and their families.

Well done Christine! - Jan-Maree

PACKING A QUILT: When Sue mentioned she rolled her quilts diagonally to fit them in her boxes Jan-Maree asked her to send her a picture or two and here they are. Have a go and see how it works.

MORE MARVELOUS MAY 2012 QUILTS:

By Gail

Donated blocks put together by Irene

Made by Liz

Made by Liz

Quilt top by Andrea, quilted by Carol

Quilt and laundry bag by Sue P

by Gumnut Quilters with donated blocks

one of many made by Turramurra Quilters

It can be called a bunk, a rack or a cot - this is where the quilts end up

Thanks Janine.  That was a great trip down memory lane for me too!  JMxx

Last thing tonight, here is the list of those that have posted things off this week according to my records as of 1:30pm today.

Angela

Bev and Geoff

Christine C WA

Claire

Debbie M

Janine

Jill M

Joan

Judith R

Judy D

Kaye

Kaylee

Kim Kirsten

Krista

Laurel

Leanne Mc

Lynne McK

Millie

Pilgrim Patchworkers

Pam Y

Pauline C

Stephanie D

Sue N

Sue F

Susan P

If you are not on this list and think you should be please let me know.  I will be out most of tomorrow so any photos or confirmation of posting received after tonight will be included in next week's post.

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

Happy Mail 29 May

Hi all, welcome to the Happy Mail for this week.  Lots of lovely goodies to show you tonight.  

This first message was shared on facebook overnight and I just have to repeat it here so that all the non-FB Aussie Hero Friends can enjoy it too.

Good afternoon ladies,

I just wanted to send out a very big thank you to all you wonderful ladies for doing a 

fabulous job! I believe my wonderful wife contacted you without my knowledge, and 

organised to have a quilt made up for me. I'm in the Air Force and work in Airfield 

Engineering which means I'm in the Construction/Engineering side of the work going on 

over here in the Middle East. I deployed over here in March, and won't get to see my 

family again until October, when I finally return home. This is my 7th deployment 

overseas, and I can't believe I haven't heard of the fantastic work you ladies are doing 

until now! What a surprise I got when a mystery box arrived the other day addressed to 

me. What I found when I opened it was the most amazing hand made quilt I have ever 

seen! A special thank you to Grace from Kalgoorlie-Boulder in WA who included a 

wonderful postcard that accompanied the quilt and laundry bag. The quilt was made with 

a bit of consultation between my wife and Grace to ensure it was 'personal' and reflected 

all the things Australian that I love! On behalf of all the Australian servicemen an 

servicewomen I just want to let you all know what a wonderful job you are doing and how 

very proud of all of you we are. Thank you. Its these little things that certainly make our 

deployments that much more special. 

Doesn't that smile just make your day!  Made mine!

and now for the rest of the happy mail.  

We have a whole galaxy of stars. Too hard to split them up but we have a blue girl's quilt underway, a blue fellow's quilt underway and then we have some BOM blocks.  I will however tell you who made them all....

DeeEmEss

Liz J (I promise to take a better photo next time Liz)

Liz

Monika

Angela

Christine G

Janine C

Jenny B

M Harris - (I can't use M's first name as I already have another M.... H so that would be confusing)

Rhonda

Lynn sent me four quilt tops but I can only show you two as the other two would be a dead giveaway.  I already have plans for both of these....this for a female

And this for a bloke

 M Harris sent in this three great quilt tops.  Awesome!

Judith delivered these laundry bags for some 17 Construction fellows and 

a few other extras as well.

Start digging out those scraps ready for the next BOM block.  My scrap bin is overflowing so I am planning to trying to empty it out a bit with next months BOM block.  Get ready for some fun!!!

We had the sewing day here today and wow did those ladies work.  Rita C, Kiwi Karen and Evelyn came and so many project were knocked over it is awesome.  I need to rush to the Post Office now (parcels on their way Liz B and Lynn) so I will show you some photos tomorrow ....hope I remember.

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

Grati-Tuesday

Happy Birthday Louise

Hope you have had a good one!


Greetings all. Just a quick reminder for those that are in Sydney - there is a Sewing Day at my home tomorrow from ten till 2 ish and another sewing day next week, Tuesday 4th of June, same time.  If you wish to come along and don't have the address just email me.  BYO lunch and sewing machine.  I will provide the materials.

Today I had a rare treat today.  I was able to give one of my quilts to someone in person.   After sending so many off as we all do, and never being there to see the box being opened, today was a treat indeed.

:-D

The following relates to a lovely quilt that I sent of which was made by Kim, one of our wonderful volunteer quilters.

Dear Jan-Maree

Your wonderful package arrived yesterday, I was so pleased to have received a beautiful quilt, and laundry bag that has my initials on it, fantastic!! I also appreciate the coffee and lollies, thank you kindly.  It's quite hard here at the moment, for many reasons, and it was such a treat to have received this fabulous maritime inspired quilt and laundry bag, thank you to you and Kim for making this a special day for me.  Kim did an excellent job, and I love the design.  I also enjoyed reading your letter.

My warmest regards to you and and Kim and I will always cherish these gifts, receiving them whilst on deployment,  for many years to come.

Kind regards

Dear Joan,

I would like to thank you so very much for the Laundry Bags that you have sent to us. It has been such a morale booster for myself and my team. It is so lovely to be able to receive gifts of such kindness whilst we are away from our families. It gives us a little taste of home and something to definitely brighten up our living space and day. 

We will be here for some time still, however, on behalf on the current FSU and the oncoming, we thank you for all your efforts. Even a world apart, it means the world to us. 

I have attached a picture of our Unit, we are safe, well and in high spirits. 

Again, thank you so much for your kindness, generosity and support.

Kind Regards

One of the last from HMAS Toowoomba.

Dear Jan, 

I am sorry for my late response in thanking yourself, Lynn and Stephanie very much for the quilt that I received. I love it and the washing bag. I found the Pavlova on it, it's awesome. 

I think what you are doing is a wonderful thing and it has definitely brought smiles to the faces of everyone that has received one. We even had a photo taken of everyone with their quilts.

I am writing to personally thank the members of the Kalgoorlie -Bouder Branch of Aussie Hero Quilts organisation and if possible pass on my thanks to whoever created my beautiful "Navy/Sea" themed quilt that I have enjoyed on my bunk for the last few months.

I am a Navy boy and pretty far from my beloved sea and to have a lovely "Seatime" quilt to snuggle under every night is very comforting.  All I need now is a rolling ocean and a background hum of the engines and I would be in heaven!  Oh and would some lapping waves be too much to ask for?

This place does not have many creature comforts and not only being far from the sea, we are also far from home and the support you have given me and so many of my fellow "green Shipmates" (Army) is truly appreciated.  I am getting close to the end of my deployment and it has certainly been challenging on so many levels but I will look back on my time here and know it has been very rewarding and the little things, such as your generous gift, have added to the whole experience.

It is a special honour and a privilege for me personally to deploy overseas "on the ground", especially for someone from the Navy.  it is reassuring to know that like to many other Australian Servicemen, we have helped Afghanistan to become a safer place, and also to have aided in the maintenance of security for Australia.  However, it is particularly encouraging to know that the work we are doing is recognized by fellow Australians like yourself.

All the best for the rest of 2013, and again, Thank you and your organisation for their generous gifts and words of support.  

Dear Sue N,

Thank you for the delightful hand-sewn laundry bag you have sent to us here in Afghanistan.  I was lucky enough to receive one of them and the beach-side scene depicted in it evicted lovely memories of holidays with my wife at the beaches of the Mornington Peninsular.  Such thoughtful gifts as yours help to remind us that our families and friends, and the thoughts of all those back home, are with us on our mission here.  Thank you again for your gift and please accept my best wishes for you and your family.

Dear Rita M,

Thank you so much for your handiwork and kind letter.  The quilt turned out fantastic!  it also arrived just in time as the weather here has been getting warmer and the woollen doona that kept me warm over winter is now a little extreme!

I read with interest your story behind the quilt.  it seems my nickname preceeds me!   

Hee hee, I can't share the rest for fear of identifying this fellow but suffice to say that I was given a significant amount of inside information about him which, of course, I passed on to Rita, and she, having a sense of humour not unlike my own (some might call it wicked :-D), put it to good use!  Hee Hee!!!

Anyway, thanks again for the quilt and all that you, and the other AHQ ladies do.  There are more than a few quilts and laundry bags around the lines and smiles to match!  All the best health to you, your husband and family.

Hello Rita C,

i have just opened the package you so kindly sent me.   I am lost for words, really, and that is not like me.  To think you made this for e, someone you don't know or have not met brings tears to my eyes.  I am so grateful and will cherish the quilt always.  Yes, it does bring a smile to my face and have already laid it out on my bunk.  I feel very proud to serve our country for he beautiful people who live within it.  It is an honour to receive this gift and I thank you with all my heart.

There was so much more to this letter.  it is a particularly heartfelt letter and I am so glad that Rita shared it with me.  I would love to include more of it, as I would love to do with many of the letters we receive but sometimes they are just too personal.  Lets just say, it continues to be evident, that even if we do not always hear back from those who receive our quilts or our laundry bags, we know we are making a difference every day.

Well, there is a sewing day tomorrow and so I need to get to work to prepare.

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