Quilt of Valor Presentation #3

The special label

At the end of September, I was honored to wrap a QOV around the shoulders of Butch. When I asked Butch if I could nominate him for a quilt, he immediately replied that there were other more deserving veterans. I told him that I would like to honor him. Then I asked if he would like to see the quilt that I had stitched for him.

Quilt pattern: Indigo Way 2023 Bonnie Hunter mystery

He replied, "You made me a quilt?" His eyes were wide and his normal loud voice was so soft. I showed him the quilt. He touched it like he was thinking... for me? He looked at me and said "YES!" So we completed the nomination form. Later, I arranged to pick up the label that the area QOV group provides for each presented quilt.

Butch served in the navy during the Vietnam war. He said he was based in California; but, most of his deployment was spent aboard one of three ships.

Butch wrapped in his quilt

He wanted to have the presentation in the presence of his coffee buddies so that was what we did. There were a couple wives in attendance too! I love the smile on his face because it is an actual smile. He wanted a photo with his buddies so of course that happened!

The "Boys" and me

Seeing him so tickled will stay with me a long time. He does so much for others and asks for nothing. Having this ceremony just for him did honor him. He was amazed to learn that the lifetime number of veterans comforted at the end of August was 421,941. The rest of the boys also were surprised at the number of quilts awarded! Documenting this presentation was goal number eleven on my October list.

Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.

Quilt of Valor Presentation #2

Dick's grandsons, son-in-law and friend enjoying the treats

Last Saturday, I was honored to award my friend, Dick with his Quilt of Valor. At 90, Dick will tell you that his short term memory is suspect. His long term memory is great. When I talked about his service, he started telling us about his family and their service tours. 

The jest of the conversation was that every one of his family members were flown somewhere; but, not him and he was in the Air Force! He said when he received his orders to go to Japan, he thought it would be via plane. Nope! He was transported by sea in a ship! He chuckled! We laughed!

The youngest grandson finishing the "wrap"

A friend from his previous neighborhood, his daughter, son-in-law, two grandsons, a couple from the complex where he now lives with his wife were physically present. His daughter who lives in Virginia along with his granddaughter were present via FaceTime. His wife, Gail, had put together a spread of pastries, fruit with coffee and tea.

Dick, me and Gail sharing a moment

His grandsons showed the quilt back as I talked and at the appropriate time, they shared the front. Then they wrapped their granddad in it. Lots of photos and videos were taken. He stayed wrapped up in his quilt for about half an hour. When we asked him if he was getting too warm, he said he was just right!

Dick decided he wanted to look at his 
quilt on the wall for awhile

This is a Stars Like Spaghetti pattern that Alycia at Quilty Girl offered in a sew along. The link to the post about its finish is here. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning! 

Quilt of Valor label

Special thanks goes to Lori Coffin, Vancouver area contact and Cindy Hoover, Washington State Coordinator who helped me receive the quilt label to attach to his quilt. Documenting this presentation was goal number 10 on my August list.

Surprise bouquet

Monday afternoon, my husband answered the door to a delivery person with a bouquet of flowers for me! Gail had sent the flowers to thank me for the presentation. Honestly, I had received a notification for the flower delivery and because I hadn't ordered any, I thought it was a spam text! What a surprise! I let Gail know that her gesture was appreciated; but totally unnecessary!

Linking to Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts and Oh Scrap and Sew & Tell!

Stars like Spaghetti Is Complete (Quilt of Valor post 4)

Trimmed top

Goal number one on my November list was to trim, bind, label and place a sleeve on the Quilt of Valor (QOV)  that I started in August. Marie of Marie's Custom Quilting, finished quilting it in October; but, it was weeks before I attempted standing long enough to trim it. I chose a star pattern that contained gentle loops and a subtle variegated thread in blues. The quilting provides just the right amount of texture.

Last week, I trimmed it. I'm glad that I had practiced standing with baking the previous week. Still I had to take breaks because my newest knee wasn't up to the task. In the end, I persevered. After a couple restarts, I was even able to machine stitch one side of the binding to the quilt.

Last Friday, my intention was to start clue number one on the new Bonnie Hunter mystery, The Old Village. A pool session followed by a PT session made sitting for the remainder of the day impossible. 

View of the quilting pattern

Fortunately, this project was ready for hand stitching so I stitched the binding. I haven't hand stitched a binding in a long time. I watched football games while I stitched. Next I added the sleeve. Finally it was time for the label. This will be going to a veteran. In Oregon, the QOV coordinator embroiders a special label with the recipient's information. I will also place my label so the quilt pattern as well as other pertinent information will be available.

Label

Alycia (AKA Quiltygirl.com) offered the pattern during a free mystery quilt along last winter. If you want to stitch this top, you can purchase the pattern on her Etsy shop. Proceeds of the pattern support her QOV group. I enjoyed making it. I stitched it in August long after the mystery finished; but, LOVED using scraps from my stash to make the top. I did purchase the backing and binding fabric.

I used 13yards of fabric for the project. To date, I have used 13 yards from my stash. This year, I seem to have purchased as I have used. Using as I've purchased is better than purchasing more than I have used; but, this tact doesn't get me closer to actually pairing down my stash! 

I figure it took me 22 hours to get this project to the finish. I spent $248 in materials and the quilting.  I do have a number of projects waiting to be quilted. Perhaps next year, I'll make a bigger effort to finish some of these. I don't count fabric used until the project is totally finished.

Finished front

This is the view from the front! If you want to read the previous posts, check out the links: Beginning post one, in progress post 2 and it's a top post 3. 

Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts.

Transparency Quilting(post 5)/Another Detour/Quilt of Valor (post 2)

Ditch quiting

Goal number one on my August list was to begin quilting Transparency. I sure thought that I'd begin the month with this project; but, there were other to-dos on the list that snuck in ahead of it! Let's see how far I get before the month ends!

Block for comfort quilt

I did have another detour. Friday, I received an e-mail regarding the husband of a guild member. He was diagnosed with cancer and a comfort quilt was in the making. . .would I contribute a block? Of course! Colors were chosen based on their Scottish heritage AND fabrics were to be sourced sustainably. . .which means no purchasing! All of these fabrics were scraps from previous projects so no yardage was used!

I used the templates to piece the block which came as an attachment with the e-mail. There was a paper piecing  and an appliqué option. The block finishes at 12 inches.

Adding the blue log cabins

Honestly, making progress on the Quilt of Valor was easier than I expected. I'd work on a step and then I'd move on to the next step because I wanted to see how my fabrics were going to look stitched into the next set of blocks!! 

Blue star

I finished the blue log cabins and moved on to stitching the blue stars. There were only four to stitch so these stitched quickly!

Blue stars added

As soon as I had two finished, I had to see what the stars added to the other blocks. I liked how these looked with the log cabins!

More red log cabins

It was down to a few more red log cabin blocks. I cut my fabrics and began stitching. Before long, all the blocks were stitched and added to the design wall.

Red star

Then I needed to stitch the red stars which were only two so those stitched even faster than the blue stars! I added those to the design wall and enjoyed the view.

All block complete

Next month, I'll stitch these into a top! This pattern is available for purchase on Alycia's Esty store. All the fabrics are from my stash. Mostly, I used scraps which was even better! Linking to Carol at To Do Tuesday and Alycia at Finished or Not Friday.

Quilt of Valor--#3--post one

Fabrics cut for the red log cabins

Goal number four on my August list, was to begin piecing the quilt for the book, "The Women" by Kristen Hannah. I decided that I would make a quilt of valor for my project. I had a patriotic jelly roll in the stash. I had a pattern that I wanted to try. I carefully set the jelly roll aside. Unfortunately, I have no clue as to where I put it so it was on to another plan.

Note: I've been slowly cleaning the studio space and the jelly roll has yet to surface!:

Clue one in place on the design wall

This is Alycia's Spaghetti Like Stars mystery pattern that she shared as a quilt along last winter. You can find Alycia at Alycia Quilts. Her pattern is no longer available.

I began with cutting strips that were in my stash to make the blocks for clue number
one. I didn't try to group the fabrics. Instead, I opted to cut the most pieces from a strip that I could!

Blue log cabin block fabrics cut

Once I had the pieces cut, I arranged them so I could chain sew the pieces together. I've been working a lot of hours this past week so my stitching time has been limited. If I had a few minutes, I'd stitch a seam or two. Over the course of the week, I finished clue 1!

I arranged the blocks on the design wall. I liked what I saw. I'm always impressed with how a variety of scraps make such interesting quilts!

Instead of piecing clue number two next, I started cutting the fabrics for clue number three. I decided that I'd rather piece more log cabins than work on the star blocks.

While I haven't cut quite all the pieces that are needed for this step, I've cut enough to stitch a few blocks together to see how the blue blocks relate to the red blocks! I took advantage of a making a part of a Zoom sew day with my Mavens group on Monday to select leftover strips from Indigo Way that work for this project.

First sections ready to stitch

My friend, Rosanne, gave me some of her patriotic fabrics. I need to prewash it which may happen tomorrow. In the meantime, if I have a few minutes, I will stitch a few seams of the blue blocks. 

I plan to use some of Rosanne's gifted star prints in the star blocks. Rosanne also gifted me a panel so I've the start of at least two more Quilt of Valor projects! I do plan to make them and gift them. For now, I'm going to concentrate of finishing Indigo Way and finishing this top!

Linking to Carol at To Do Tuesday and Alycia at Finished or Not Friday.