Grati-Tuesday 28 Jan 2020

I hope you all had an enjoyable Australia Day and if you were lucky enough to get a public holiday yesterday, a relaxing enjoyable day. 

Here are some great messages to get your sewing/working week started. 

.....

G’day Melissa,

Thank you so much for the quilt and laundry bag. They were put to use very quickly. I loved the pattern you used and the colours you picked are amazing.

My first impression when I saw the quilt was that of my parents. The image of them sitting on camping chairs, looking over the sunset was very reminiscent of when my family would go camping when I was a child! So, thank you, you’ve done an excellent job!

Thank you for the letter as well! You sound like an incredibly busy women juggling so many things at once but it does seem we are required to do that these days. 

I’ve worked in a few trades; Subway supervisor, Chef and warehouse logistics until I decided to join the Army.

During my early to late 20’s I did allot of volunteering with the State Emergency Services (SES) and often sent to help with natural disasters all up and down the coast of Queensland. I am the man I am today because of the people I meet and surrounded myself with in the SES. Both men and women that I met within the SES provided direction, experience and guidance at a pivotal time in my life and I couldn’t stress that enough, that is for younger people to surround themselves with the right people and even now I try to emulate that to the younger soldiers. 

I joined the Army later in life at the young age of 31 which brought its own challenges. Being a more mature person, focused on the task at hand and being thrown in amongst younger people who just want to have fun had its moments. But more often than not we all come together as a team, bringing together each other strengths and accomplished tasks not a single one of us could accomplish by ourselves.

I believe joining the Army, even at a later stage in life was an excellent choice. Both the difference in lifestyle and experiences I’ve had has made me grow as a person. 

It saddens everyone deployed to see Australia burn and it weighs heavily on everyone’s minds over here. I truly hope you haven’t been affected to badly by the fires.

Again, thank you for your quilt and laundry bag. My quilt has been getting used allot on cold nights and the laundry bag is easy to spot amongst all the other laundry bags and can’t be mistaken for someone else’s. Please see attached pictures of the quilt on my bed and see if you can spot the laundry bag you made 😊.

Thank you for your kind words. I wish you all the best for the New Year and good health for you and your family.

Kind Regards

.....

Dear Diane,

Thank you so much for the beautiful quilt and letter. The quilt is amazing and everything I hoped for. I only have a few weeks left here and then I get to go back home to my beautiful wife and daughter. They don’t know that I am coming home a week early to surprise them. I have only been married a year and I missed my anniversary this year. I guess I will have to make up to her! I have a beautiful 2 year old daughter, people say she is the spitting image of me. 

My job over here is an Aircraft life support fitter. I take care of the pilots safety equipment, life jackets and emergency radios. It’s a lot of responsibility but still a great job.  As you could probably guess I am a big Batman fan. I love reading comics in my spare time.

I know that everyone here really appreciates all the hard work you put into our quilts, everyone is very grateful.

We all look forward to coming home.

I hope you and your family have a very safe and merry Christmas.

.......

Dear Cath,

Firstly, I am so sorry about my delayed reply to your well-constructed letter, as you can imagine things have been very busy in the middle east – noting world events!

I am so so delights with the wonderful work that you have done in creating the one of a kind laundry bag for me. You have without a doubt brought a very big smile to my face – everyone in my workplace was rightly so very jealous! You created a bag that was truly 100% me, it was exactly what I wanted and more!

It was so lovely to read your letter and learn so much about you, your fur babies and your son. So a little about me.

The ADF is such a wonderful organisation and we are all brothers and sisters and being deployed over such special parts of the year really was hard made very easy by being with the Aussies! I know that the ADF has so much more to offer me, I am developing every day and learning new things. In my most recent posting, I was a Health Centre Manager managing 40+ staff in one of the busiest operationally focused centres, granted small but we provided LOTS of support to operations. I never thought for a second that I would be 31 years old managing so many people, doctors, nurses, physios etc! I am very much looking forward to getting home.

I cannot thank you enough for your truly wonderful gift that I will treasure for the rest of my career. You have given my a little piece of home. Your laundry bag will have many adventures moving forward, it will have many stories to tell!

Thank-you again.

Warm regards from Afghanistan, 

.....

Hi Cath,

Thank you so much for the laundry bag!! It is amazing!

I have been deployed 4 times into the MEAO over the last 12 years in the RAAF. I have spent just over 2 years in total here. I have also served in the Army as a Combat Engineer until I was medically discharged when damaged knees.

.....

Hi Sue,

Thank you so much for the package. The laundry bag is amazing, and the lollies will be well utilised. Hope you are safe and the fires are under control. My family wasn’t directly impacted however there were a few close calls.

I just want to let you all know that you all do an amazing job. Everyone is walking around showing of their blankets and the effect that it has on moral is phenomenal. It can be a bit of a grind here, and the smiles that the blankets and bags bring to everyone is amazing.

Once again thank you for your hard work and efforts, and please be reassured that we all appreciate what you all do for us, especially with all that is happening at home. We all think of the people and fire fighters that are affected by this tragedy, and to be honest it can be frustrating at times, as all we want to do is be there to help.

To you and everyone please stay safe and remember our love and thoughts are with you all.

 ......

Dear Roz,

Thank you so much for the laundry bag. It reflects my travel bug so well and is absolutely perfect!

It has certainly been an interesting time to be deployed. I’ve enjoyed visiting a range of places around the region and learning more about the Middle East. The variety of dates and baklava have definitely been a highlight! I hope you received similar enjoyment from your army career – 24 years is quite an achievement!

I am so impressed that you are able to find the time to make these laundry bags and balance work in a busy emergency department. I hope it has been a smooth transition into civvy life.

Thank you for all your support to those of us deployed and to the community in Brisbane who, I’m sure, are grateful for your exceptional nursing skills. All the best for 2020!

Kind regards,

.....

Hi Kathy,

First I'd like to say thank you very much for the effort you have put into the quilt I received. The quality and design look fantastic! I'm sure it will stay with me for many years as a display piece. Jack Russell's have always been a part of my family as well for as long as I can remember.

The quilt reached my family in Australia as there wasn't quite enough time left on my deployment for it to reach me over there. None the less my mum sent me a photo of it to enjoy until my return just a few days ago. 

This was my second time deployed but my first as the captain of my aircraft which was the highlight of my tour. 

Kind regards,

.....

Hi Clarissa

Thank you very much, I  received your LB on Christmas eve and it was a fantastic surprise, thank you very much, It is everything I hoped for.  I have been in for nearly 40 years now (time fly’s when you are enjoying yourself) , I joined as an apprentice at 16. Always loved aircraft and wanted to travel (but not pay for it myself ha ha) so the Airforce looked to fill both those criteria. 

This is my 3^rd tour (done Iraq, Afghanistan and now here.) and first LB!! So I Joined in 1980 as an Aircraft maintainer and worked on Mirages, HS748, C130 Hercules, King airs and FA18 Hornets. 

Thanks you again for your time and effort, rest assured all work is appreciated very much and helps take the edge off being so far from home and loved ones.

Yours sincerely

......

Good afternoon Joy,

I'd like to express my sincere thanks for the hero quilt and laundry bag you sent my way whilst on a recent deployment in early 2019.  I am sorry for the tardy reply - your letter got mixed up with all my personal effects when I returned home and some recent (not-so-spring) cleaning has unearthed it, to my great relief.

I do hope that you, your family, home and town were spared the worst of our horrendous fire season, I know the Nowra region was affected. Whilst I haven't been directly involved in the ADF's response to this disaster, many of my colleagues have been and there is still the possibility I will be called upon to help also.

I absolutely love the quilt; it graced my bunk on deployment and has done so back home in Australia on cool winter evenings.  I had to laugh at your husbands description of the quilt, 'Insanity', but I love the patchwork of it.  As you may recall, it included a red cross, rod of Esclepius and some surfing scenes.  I work as a GP with the RAAF and on weekends you'll find me surfing with my wife when the swell is up - thank you for combining two things I am so passionate about.

If you are able, please continue to support such a great cause in Hero Quilts.  I was humbled to receive your thoughtful gift at a challenging but also incedibly rewarding time of my ADF career.

Kind regards,

.....

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

Jan-Maree xx 

Aussie Hero Quilts Request List 27 Jan 2020

Hi All

Please read the info about the priority requests. Every one of these personnel are in Iraq and I know that a quilt or a laundry bag will really boost their morale when they really need it.

Priority Requests – there are only 45 requests on the list but one third of them, up to and including no 16, need to be in the mail by no later than the end of February. That is so much better that last week’s list of 36 but I will still feel better when we get them done.  I know that many of them look daunting with so many crests requested, and also wanting text on them but in many cases I already have kits made up with the crests and personal details embroidered and if they are not made up I can arrange it.

Please consider helping out with these before they become urgent.

The post by date for priority requests is 28 Feb.

The post by date for ALL OTHER items on this list is 2 March please.

Badges, crests, silhouettes…..

Don’t be intimidated by the requests that want the above, I can probably send the badges and crests to you and can also send you silhouettes that you can print out and applique as is, or enlarge for extra impact.

  

If you don’t understand what people are asking for or where to get some of the bits and pieces, then please ask me but the following might also be helpful.

PLEASE note the date and let me know if you have any problems getting your quilt/LB away on time. In fact, if you are going to be late posting it please let me know BEFORE you post it.  Also, if this time frame is too tight for you, there are options, just email me to discuss.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE copy the ENTIRE line if you wish to nominate for a quilt or laundry bag. 

For example….

Marvel Theme. Ironman     M       LB      1

This is really important to make sure that neither you nor I copy the wrong number which could lead to me giving you the wrong details for specific request.  If you find it hard to copy and paste, please copy the line out as follows…  

Decoding The Columns

The first column is the theme or preferences requested.

The second column indicates the gender of the recipient.

The third column is as follows.

B=both quilt and laundry bag (feel free to nominate to JUST do the laundry bag if you wish)

Q= just a quilt

LB = just a laundry bag

F= female

M= male

The last column with the number is a simple registration number for me to use… it is only relevant for this week only and will change if the request is still on the list next week. Once you have received the recipient’s details you will need to use those to refer to the recipient from then on if need be.

If there is more than one request on this list that you would be happy to do, I suggest that you send me a list of requests and tell me how many you want to be allocated…. i.e. one of the following please….  There are always a few requests that everyone wants to do (and I can never pick them) so if the first one you ask for is taken then I can allocate another from your list if I have a list.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Cheers

Jan-Maree

DON'T FORGET I CAN SEND YOU BADGES AND CRESTS TO PIECE IN OR APPLIQUE AND CAN GET TEXT EMBROIDERED. http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com/2019/07/information-post-for-those-that-sew-for.html			1
Rising sun and chaplains crest	M	LB	1A
Armoured Corps Badge,  Rising Sun badge and the Afghan Flag as well as some of the defining Afghan scenery like the mountains that surround Kabul as a background.	M	LB	1B
I would like a desert theme with camels,  Australian flag  the RAAF crest bottom left of the quilt, the Airforce crest (which Jan-Maree can send you) and initials please	M	LB	1C
reds, Cats, Craft hobby themes (sewing, knitting, etc in memory of my Mum) My mum was a school teacher and she was very creative. She sewed  our clothes when I was young.  she  knitted me jumpers. She made pottery buttons. I would have to take her to the material shops and she would buy rolls and rolls of material. She would buy material according to themes – colours or subjects (some of my favourites were material with buttons and sewing themes on them).	M	LB	1D
Aussie flag, regt logo, company logo, nickname (Happy with any colours but fav colours are grey and blue )  Jan-Maree can send you the logos to include	M	LB	1E
German Shepherd, ROTO 16 and my initials please	M	LB	1F
world travel; When the chance arises I love to travel to different countries and experience different cultures. Some of my favourites being the Islands of Hawaii, the anceint city's of Debrovnic, Rome and Prague and Egypt. - This ties in with my love of history. My favourite colours are blue and red. Alot of scope for creativity look forward to seeing your creation.	M	LB	1G
Air Force Blue and Black.RAAF roundel, TG Taji Logo, RAAF crest, TAJI X and my surname (Jan-Maree can get the RAAF cest embroidered with the name and TAJI X underneath it)	M	LB	1H
Brisbane Broncos (Maroon, yellow and white)	M	LB	1I
Regt Logo    SOTG Iraq logo            Australian Flag      Company logo    Punisher skull  Predominant background Black Jan-Maree can send you all the logos and the punisher embroidered for inclusion.	M	LB	1J
First  REGT BADGE ON THE TOP LEFT, Second REGT BADGE TOP RIGHT, AND A LARGE ALGIZ RUNE (easy to applique) IN THE MIDDLE, THE RUNE CAN BE IN WHITE OR RED. REST OF THE BAG CAN BE BLACK	M	LB	1K
Black - One side Regimental badge, SOTG Badge, Text "ROTXII 2019-2020" and Map of Iraq (Jan-Maree can send you the regiment badge and SOTG badge plus the outline of Iraq to include)  On the other side "DIRTY DAVO and Rick and Morty	M	LB	1L
BLUE, SNOWBOARDING, PLANTS	F	LB	1M
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS	M	LB	1N
Colours green and red. Task Group TAJI logo, Australian flag, Skippy Badge, 5 RAR Unit patch, Southern cross in the centre, " TGT-X 19/20 - with surname".  (text has been embroidered into a patch to be stitched in)	M	Q	2
The Australian flag and Iraqi flag in the middle of the quilt on a desert tan colour please with TG TAJI X underneath. Please also include a Skippy badge, rising sun. (JM can send you both badges and the central part of the Iraqi flag to piece in)	M	Q	3
Australian Flag, Skippy badge, Cross axes (assault pioneers- these are simple to applique ask JM), "surname" in writing.	M	Q	4
Blue and Red colours, my surname at the top, then the Royal Australian Artillery badge in the Centre  with the Rising Sun at the bottom.  Jan-Maree can send yOu both badges to piece in	M	Q	5
Nisson Patrol theme (easy to applique) Camping, fishing, 4WD	M	Q	6
Black, Green, Brown and  Red (1st Armoured Colours) with a 1st Armoured Regiment badge, Rising Sun, "TGT-X' and silhouette of the map of Iraq. (JM can send you the badges to incorporate)	M	Q	7
Red and Royal Blue theme, Rising Sun Badge, Royal Australian Engineer badge (JM can send you the badges to piece in)	M	Q	8
Tan, Black, silver/white and green, Skippy Badge, 'TG TAJI X' in writing (JM can send you the Skippy badge)	M	Q	9
Shades of royal blue, scarlett red. RAAOC badge, Rising Sun, silhouette of a soldier   TGT-X Nov 19 – Jun 20 (JM can send you a kit with all badges and personal details embroidered for you, plus the silhouette of a soldier too applique)	F	Q	10
beige and white. Australian and Iraq flag, Taji X logo, Futurama.  a Waratah flower and my name written in White and a DJI MavicPro2 drone.  JM can give you a pic of the drone and futurama printed on fabric as well as the panel for the Iraq flag and the logo required. You just have to build a beige and white quilt around them.	F	Q	11
Australian flag, Iraqi flag,  “TGT-X” “IRAQ” “2019-2020” and “personal details” (JM can send you a kit with all badges and personal details embroidered for you)	F	Q	12
Light Blue, AUS flag, TAJI logo, 5 RAR Tiger, Rising Sun. "TGT-X Iraq, 2019-2020, name and rank" in writing - (I have kit with all badges and personal details embroidered for you)	F	Q	13
Green and Gold coloured theme, Red Templar Christian Cross with white background (simple to applique) and Crossed Rifles on the centre of the Cross (centre of quilt),  and skippy badge, Rising Sun badge and Aust flag	M	Q	14
Red and white colour theme with a black and yellow trim. “GUNNERS” across the top in gold lettering. “UBIQUE” across the bottom in gold lettering. A large old school cannon logo in the centre.  Personal details written under the cannon	M	Q	15
Black, Green and Gold. Central to the design in a pyramid-style layout have the Rising Sun (top), RASIGS logo (bottom right) and Task Group Taji logo (bottom left). Across the top have title of 'TAJI X' and REEVES across the bottom between crossed lighting bolts in the bottom left and right corner.	M	Q	16
Rugby - NZ All Blacks, Silver Fern		Q	17
Army theme, Rising Sun, lots of pictures, (Jan-Maree can send you pictures on fabric and the Rising Sun) I don’t mind if it is too busy and if you can put in a NRL Newcastle Knights logo on it,	M	Q	18
Can I please request a vairity of Staffy and German Sheppard dogs and puppies	M	Q	19
I am  a passionate artilleryman; our Regimental colours are bright red horizontally over royal blue (or alternatively the artillery 'zig zag pattern is bright red zig-zags over navy blue background). Would love the artillery badge please. JM can provide the badge	M	Q	20
Regimental colours are bright red horizontally over royal blue (or alternatively the artillery 'zig zag pattern is bright red zig-zags over navy blue background). Please include the artillery badge.  JM can provide the badge	M	Q	21
Huge fan of Australian Cricket Team. anything to remember my time in Afghanistan. For example, mountainous regions/scenery surrounding Kabul.	M	Q	22
The Artillery Regimental colours are bright red horizontally over royal blue (or alternatively the artillery 'zig zag pattern is bright  red zig-zags over navy blue background). The Regimental badge. The  Intellgience Corps colour is a light green plus the badge  It would be fantistic if the quilt could reference both corps, as well as traditional features of Afghanistan such as the snow covered mountains. (JM can provide both badges)	M	Q	23
Intellgience Corps colour is a light green,  our badge. Corps motto 'Forewarned, Forearmed' and the word Acorn would be great. Cheers!! (JM can provide the badge and could have the text embroidered on cream, white or black for you)	M	Q	24
I'd love something to remind me of my delpoyment to the Middle East Region (including camels or desert etc), The RAAF Roundel, The Australian Flag, maybe a RAAF Aircraft if possible. I'd also like "OP ACCORDION OCT 19 - APR 20" incorporated somewhere if possible. Thank you very much for the work you do. JM can have the text embroidered and sent to you to piece in.	M	B	25
Can I please have a ocean and or sunset themed, with some red and purple poppies, RAAF roundel/crest and 'Op Accordion Oct 19 - Apr 20' if possible. Thank you very much for all your hard work. :)	F	Q	26
Border of poppies,  ' Op Accordion Oct 19 - Apr 20', Cowboys football club, Ford cars, Marvel movies, Deadpool.  I thank you muchly for taking the time to do this for our deployed troops.	M	Q	27
I would love a quilt of traditional Persian colours and design ; Preferably red and blue base colours, traditional geometric/symbolic patterns and gold stiching at the edges.	M	Q	28
May I please have a susnet theme with the RAAF roundel included,  some red poppies/other flowers and also  ' Op Accordion Oct 19 - Apr 20.Thanks for all your great work you do for us!! (JM can have the text embroidered for you)	F	Q	29
Aussie flag, Afghan flag, RAAF ensign, poppies, cadusa, Red Cross, and if possible - to have written on quilt "Operation Highroad, HKIA, Nov 2019- Apr 20".	F	Q	30
a camel & desert theme. Australian National Flag, and the RAAF CREST .  'Al Minhad Air Base' , 'OP ACCORDION Oct 2019 - Apr 2020'.  Thank you for all the work you do for ADF personnel, you people are truly amazing and your efforts are greatly appreciated.	M	B	30
black and white  - Collingwood supporter; Red and Purple Poppies, ANZAC theme, and the following flags to represent our Aussie team and coalition partners I will be working with - Australia, Britain, NZ, Italy, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates & USA. (Jan-Maree can have the flags embroidered and sent to you) I've seen your work and it is amazing. Deployed staff appreciate your handmade products and a photo of the team who make this quilt would be awesome! Thanking you in advance.	F	Q	31
Light Horse from WWI. JM can send you some silhouttes to work from for applique	M	Q	32
Navy Blue, Red and white, the Australian Flag and RAAF Ensign or RAAF Roundel. If the design could include silhouettes or pictures of some RAAF Aircraft (C-17, C-130J and KC-30) that would be amazing. I am a Carlton Supporter and NQ Cowboys Supporter, so any incorporation of these clubs would be amazing also. Having seen the work done by Aussie Hero Quilts, I have no doubt whatever design is achieved will be brilliant. Thankyou!	M	Q	33
I would like a quilt to reming me of my deployment to the midle east region, with a desert theme. Could you please include OP ACCORDIAN OCT19-APR20. If possible please include the Aussie flag and UAE national flag (easy to piece) and the RAAF Bomb Disposal logo (Jan-Maree can send you the logo to piece in). Thankyou.	M	B	34
Could I please order a patchwork quilt with plants (such as succulents) and shades of green around the outside of the quilt and dessert themed patches in the middle with a G-EAOU aircraft, the AUS flag, RAAF ensign, Unit, my name and deployment dates (EAOU-6, Mikahla Hall, Oct 19 - Apr 20). Thank you so much!	F	Q	35
Could I please get a dinosaur themed quilt with the Australian Flag and UAE Flag (easy to piece)  OP Accordion Oct 19 - Apr 20, EAOU-6. (I can have the text embroidered) Parasaurolophus and Baryonyx are my favourite dinosaurs but not necessary to be on there. No preference for colours. Thank you!	F	Q	36
May I please request to have an ocean and sunset/desert themed quilt, with the RAAF roundel or crest and my personal details and deployment details on it. Thank you for your amazing support.	M	B	37
Anything aztec, horses, country themed please!	F	Q	38
I am a passionate Brisbane Broncos fanatic, I would like anything maroon, white and gold. Incorporated with a Belgian Malinois Dog if that is possible.	M	Q	39
Anything fishing related with possibly a Military Working Dog involved.	M	B	40
wedgetail silhouette,  my daughters initials MG and some thing small about Christmas	M	Q	41
Aeroplanes/Hawaiian shirt type pattern, "Battlecat"	M	B	42
Siamese cats, New York City, and Middle Eastern/Turkish mosaics	F	Q	43
Beach/palm tree theme or two dragons	F	Q	44
A C17 taking off with the dessert in the background. Underneath can I please get my nickname  EAOU 6  OCT 19-MAR 20. Thank you so much!	F	B	45

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending the day on HMAS Canberra for Australia Day. Whilst there I was able to see this quilt again. I made it back in 2014 (ish) and it was great to see it again, well used, much loved though a little faded. It has taken on the patina of a well used quilt, soft and cronkly but so cozy.  I was delighted to see all my applique was standing the test of time too. Six years on it is still on the ship's rack wherever its owner goes. 

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

Jan-Maree xx