New Patriotic Quilt

 I successfully completed my BIG "secret sewing project" a few days ago. So, being in-between BIG projects, I decided to sew up a patriotic quilt I cut out 6 months ago.

Standing Strong is a pattern designed by Shabby Fabrics for use as a Quilt of Valor pattern. Find it on the Shabby Fabrics website here: Standing Strong Pattern

Here is my completed top. The instructions are clear for all the cutting--each fabric is cut in a variety of sizes. It only took two days to construct the top, since all the cutting had been done months ago. But, you have to be very careful to follow the layout diagram as you assemble each long column. Keeping the fabrics labeled correctly is essential: Blue #1, # 2, Red #1, #2 , Cream #1, #2, etc.: I used up lots of fat quarters and parts of fat quarters so mine is pretty scrappy: 

The two borders are great pieces from the line Olde Glory by Sandy Gervais for MODA fabrics. They have been in storage for quite a while. I love the outer border--it is the Pledge of Allegiance:

I have selected the back and batting, made the binding and will add it to the "Quilt Labels Needed" list. Eventually, I'll quilt and finish it.

Another fun thing I get to do is meet by ZOOM with 9-12 friends in the UK and Spain. We had been meeting weekly for an hour beginning early this year, but we are all getting busier now so we are on an every-other-week schedule at the moment. And we are taking August off. 

Say hi to the ladies, hosted by my wonderfully talented friend, Barbara Chainey:

When we talk about the weather, as we are likely to do each time, I have my phone handy so I can convert Celsius to Fahrenheit. Somehow, when they complain about it being 32 I don't get it until I realize that's 90 to me. I love their accents and the fun words we don't use, like "car park" and "fortnight". We share what we're doing quilt-wise and life-wise. Today I saw a Western Sun quilt in the quilting phase, that was the class I taught for them in February. It is lovely and fun to see them getting made.

It can be a small world.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Quilts of Valor Award Ceremony

 Last year I made two quilts of valor for special Marines I know. One is my husband, Major Charles "Will" Wilkins, USMC Retired, and one is a long-time friend of his, Major David Aday, USMC Retired.

I had hoped to have the quilts awarded to these men at the 2020 Veterans Day celebration but that event was canceled due to COVID. 

Quilts of Valor are awarded to the recipients, not just given to them, as they are not charity quilts but are a gift meant to wrap the veteran in a warm hug. As the Quilt of Valor website says: 

"A Quilt of Valor unequivocally says thank you for your service,  sacrifice., and valor in serving our nation."

Last month I learned the program for July for my guild was to be about Quilts of Valor. I asked the person doing the program if we could award the two Veterans their quilts as part of the program--without making this known in advance. She was happy to have this addition to her program and I was thrilled to finally have an official way to award the quilts. Time was passing quickly and if this hadn't happened I was just going to have to give the men their quilts privately. 

April Goss giving her presentation to the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville

I contacted David's wife and arranged for her to get him to the meeting as well as giving me dates and information I needed about his 25 years of service. When he started asking questions, she told him it was a secret, he was going to a quilt guild meeting at my request and it was a secret so NO more questions. 

My husband knew something was up when he was also told his appearance at the meeting was required.

April read the story of two ordinary men who have lived extraordinary lives. Both came from  humble beginnings and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps right out of high school in the mid-1960's. They quickly found themselves in Vietnam after boot camp. Each served several tours of combat duty there. After returning to the States, they re-enlisted. They were both selected for a program that would send them to college for four years while remaining on active duty. It was at Auburn University in the early 1970's they first met each other. Upon earning their undergraduate degrees, they were commissioned 2nd Lieutenants and served many more years as commissioned officers. Eventually they both retired and had successful civilian careers. 

Perhaps their most important accomplishment is they are both still married to their first wives. David and Sharon recently celebrated 52 years of marriage and Will and I celebrated 45 years in April. Both have raised good and decent sons and now enjoy life with wonderful grandchildren.

Will's Quilt, first on display for all to see:

Will being wrapped in his quilt as the award commendation was read to him:

David's Quilt:

David being awarded his quilt:

Lest we forget, families of military veterans also serve, whether through multiple moves or time away from their spouse or parent.  Here are April Goss along with David and Sharon Aday:

And my husband and I with April:

April has established an organization called the Liberty Piecemakers of Huntsville. The purpose is to make and award Quilts of Valor to local veterans. Several sew-ins are planned in the coming months to get quilts made so this can become a reality. April is a veteran herself, the daughter, wife and mother of veterans. She will do a great job with this wonderful effort. You can tell from her smile, she was excited to have these first two awards accomplished. 

I have written about these quilts before. For pattern information see this blog post: First Quilt of Valor

For more information on the Quilts of Valor Foundation, see their official website: Quilts of Valor. If you are local to Huntsville, AL consider joining April in her project to award as many local veterans as possible. Her organization would love to have your help. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

RED, WHITE AND BLUE QUILTS

 Happy 4th of July! This date is meaningful to me because 46 years ago I met my future husband. Six weeks later we had our first date and he asked me to marry him. Three weeks later, we were engaged. Best decision ever, for both of us.

But today is mostly known as Independence Day here in the US. Many of us fly US Flags outside our homes, there are parades, and cookouts, baseball and fireworks. A really big celebration day here.

I thought I would show you some of the Red, White and Blue quilts I have made over the years:

Patriotic Pineapples

A variation of Sail On I call Broad Stripes and Bright Stars

A small variation of Sail On

Cobblestones

Circle Stars

Flip and Sew Throw

Kwik Star 

While this isn't the color palette I am most known for, I have made more red, white and blue quilts than I thought. And here's the first, made in 1989, when I was a baby quilter. I think the pattern came out of a magazine, with the script as a page pull-out so you could trace and color it. If that is correct, there are probably lots of these around:

Happy Independence Day! 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

MY JOURNEY: QUILT # 14

  Another quilt from the Special Exhibit My Joyful Journey, part of the Virtual Quilt Festival, December 3-5, 2020.

QUILT # 14: Red, White and Blue Circle Stars, 57" x 73", machine pieced, longarm quilted, Quilted by Lisa Marshall. 2008

The Story: This old block, Carpenter's Wheel, looks fresh and contemporary in bright primary colors. The custom designed quilting really sets it off as does the pieced border. A more traditional design that started me back to my roots.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Red, White and Blue--All Set

I decided. It was tough. There were several ideas for a red, white and blue quilt for another Quilt of Valor calling my name. A Trip Around the World. A Coins quilt. Something easy but interesting. What to do, too many choices???

My next Quilt of Valor is a variation of a pattern a friend sent me:

The pattern is Sail On, by Eileen Fowler. It was published in EASY QUILTS SPRING 2019:

Mine has just gotten started:

I thought if I changed the construction, I would have fewer seams. And that is true. The downside?  I now have partial seams to deal with. So the trade-off may not have been worth it. But once I started, I was committed. "In for a penny, in for a pound". 

The quilting will delineate the star blocks--essentially putting the "seams" back in visually. I hope to have it ready to quilt before April is over. But maybe not... There are a lot of flying geese in that border.

This weekend was "hang a quilt on your house" weekend so I did:

Gift of Love from the Sunday Sew and Sews

It's a good day to read on the porch swing

Antique Rose Star--one of my most favorite quilts

I hope you are handling the stress of "isewlation" and "QuiltersQuarantine" pretty well. There is so much available online to educate and amuse us. Take care and learn something new. Some classes are free, some are offering special deals. If you are not a member of The Quilt Show, NOW is the time--$19.95 for a 6 month membership gives you access to 13 YEARS of shows. And so much more. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara