Saturday, March 22, 2014

NOT overwhelmed......OVERJOYED!!!........

The largeness of quilters hearts......

WOW!

Thank you all for understanding I can't blog about the beautiful blocks I have received, when they are sitting at the post office while I am flying a gazillion miles away on a jet plane for work!  WELCOME to my newest blog followers!  I try to blog about my quilt adventures at least once a week.

All of these packages were waiting for me to open them when I returned from flying this week!

I am simply speechless at the kindness you all are bestowing upon veterans of the U.S. of A.!  I have read every note, card, and letter you have sent.  I have laughed, cried, and have felt SO good about what we are doing here for Quilts of Valor.  It truly is ALL about the veterans in our joint endeavor!  Simply by taking some time out of your personal sewing time, and devoting it to making some blocks, together we are making some BEAUTIFUL quilts!  Just wait and see!

Generosity is abundant in the following AWESOME people I have received blocks from:

Carol in New Hampshire
Diane in Tennessee
Radz in Massachusetts
Marsha in Pennsylvania
Pam in Alabama
Jan in Georgia
Barbara in NY
Sharon in Connecticut
Tanya in Missouri
Valerie in California
Janet in Michigan
Miriam in Texas
Debbie in Texas
Harriett of The Brick Sidewalk
Victoria in New Hampshire
Dotti in Connecticut
Roberta in Ohio
Jane in Illinois
Donna in Connecticut
Deborah in North Carolina
Ann in Alaska
Wendy in Maine
Laura in Arkansas
Veronica in Missouri
Nancy in Missouri
Marcie in Missouri
Katie in Pennsylvania
Dale in Pennsylvania
Sheila in North Carolina
Patricia in Maryland
Trina in Washington
Katie in Wisconsin
Margaret in Ohio
Donna in Michigan
Diane in New York
Inella in Idaho
Marilyn in Illinois
Vicki in Wisconsin
Shirley in Tennessee
C.J. in Michigan
Karon in Oregon
Polly in Texas
Dee in California
Mary Lou in Illinois
Pam of Sewing Wilde
Marti in Texas
Vera in Missouri
Karen in Michigan
Barb in Ohio
Judy in Arizona
Shirley in California
Lois in Kansas
Bonnie in Mississippi
Kathleen in New York
Tama in Kansas
Gwen in Massachusetts
Linda of Roscoe's Ma
Sabina in North Carolina

And the following quilters generously donated blocks
to be included in future QOVs, but, cannot be included in this prize drawing:
Denise in Canada
Marsha in Alabama
Helen in Virginia

THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!

(NOTICE:  Once again, if you are from Utah and you sent me 5 blocks, but, your name has not been published on the blog, please contact me with your information?  I have 5 blocks from someone in the Salt Lake City area that did not send any return info?)

824 BLOCKS RECEIVED THUS FAR!!!!!!
Keep'em a comin'!!!!
Let's see how many veterans we can cover!?!?!?!?!


I have said it before, and I will say it again I am sure......I am NOT overwhelmed by the amount of blocks coming in, but, I am OVERJOYED!

MANY thanks to ALL who have helped spread the word about this block drive via social media, blogs, and word of mouth!

Look at what we are making here folks!!!!!

 My friend and partner in crime, Bev, pieced these blocks together.  She then quilted our FIRST quilt
from this block drive!

The quilting couldn't be more perfect!  Great motion throughout!
The pantograph is called "Seaweed" by Lorien Quilting.
THANK YOU BEV!!!!!



Judy in Arizona sent her blocks in this beautifully pieced top!
Her color placement is wonderful!  Thank you Judy!
Gracie Lu HAD to pose with the quilt top!

I have been asked many times about pre-washing fabrics.  All QOVs MUST be washed before being presented to the recipient, so it doesn't really matter to me if the fabrics in the blocks have been washed or not.  MANY color catchers will be used when washing these quilts for those of you who are concerned. LOL  I have also received several e-mails referring to piecing tops and sending them in.  This is my answer:  If you feel so inclined, and have the time to piece together the quilt top, go right ahead!  My only request is that you keep the integrity of the original "Pathway of Valor" pattern if at all possible?  30 blocks will enter you 6 times into the prize drawings!  

Speaking of prize drawings.........
Look what just got added courtesy of Kim of Pokeytown Kim!!!!!
There will now be a 3rd place prize!
The 3rd place winner will receive a copy of one of my most favorite quilting books!
Bonnie Hunter's String Fling!
WOW!  What a WONDERFUL BOOK and what a wonderful prize!
I know you don't want me saying it Kim, but, THANK YOU!

To review a list of the 1st and 2nd place prizes, please look here.
And many thanks again to our fabulous 1st and 2nd place prize donors, Vicki Welsh and Susan in Washington who blogs at The Farm Quilter.

Kelly at O'Sewpersonal Fabric Shop continues to cut kits for her block drive being held in conjunction
with mine.  She has received her first 30 blocks, and is receiving more each day.  Again, if you are in the metro St. Louis area, don't miss an opportunity to win a $100 gift certificate to her shop by submitting 5 blocks to her.  You are allowed to enter both her drive and mine, but, remember, you have to submit 5 blocks to her AND 5 DIFFERENT blocks to me by June 1st.

I have to share with you some items I have been receiving along with the blocks:


Jane of Jane's Fabric and Quilts sent in this LOVELY backing fabric!
This is going to make a WONDERFUL backing for one of our block drive quilts!
THANK YOU JANE!

Thank you to Gina in Missouri for the Doily for Miss Bev!  Just in time for her Easter Bonnet!
Thank you to Shirl in Pennsylvania for the Teas and the star fabric (pic coming soon of fabric!)
And, thank you to Vicki in Wisconsin for this beautiful dishcloth!  How did you know my kitchen is gold?? LOL

I would also like to thank Marcie in Missouri for my AWESOME Kevin the Quilter purse, I mean
shopping bag, I mean pin cushion!  I LOVE IT!

And, one last shout out to one of the most talented long arm quilters I have ever met!
My friend Ann of Attic Threads recently received 1st Place at the "Fanfare of Quilts" Quilt Show in St. Louis.  She won best hand guided long arm quilt, and let me tell you, it IS fabulous!
And so are you Ann!

I have never been so happy to be a part of something philanthropic, such as this QOV Block Drive!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you ALL for your kindness!
Keep them cards and letters comin' in!
Thanks for all of the encouragement!
Kevin the Quilter




24 comments:

  1. I am SO pleased you have had such a generous response to your worthy cause.

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  2. YOU are awesome Kev! Wow, that's a lot of blocks. And I'm sure it's only the beginning. :) The finished one is gorgeous!! Glad you made it back home safely.

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  3. Wow, what a wonderful response so far and you've still got a while yet before the drive closes. How cool!

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  4. Love the quilitng so far. Do you need more backing fabric? I over ordered a dark blue flannel backing fabric (108" wide). I could send it if it would help. I am so glad you got my blocks! Donna from CT.

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    1. Donna.....if you are not going to use it, and would like to donate a backing, it would be very much appreciated!

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  5. The quilts are looking awesome! I can't wait to add mine to the pile.

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  6. Your very welcome Kevin! Love that Gracie Lu got in on the photo shoot :) SO excited that you have received so many blocks! What an awesome display of the generosity of quilter's hearts!!

    The first finished quilt looks AMAZING!

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  7. It's so wonderful, the response you've had so far to your block drive! May you have many more happy packages in the future!

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  8. Yay! You are kicking some butt Kevin! This is Awesome! I have some blocks coming your way also very soon!!

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  9. Awesome! So amazing what we can do when someone like you spearheads it!!!

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  10. Maybe you could rig up a sewing machine in the galley. Get some kind of a thinga-ma-jig adaptor at Radio Shack that will fit into the plugs where you keep the coffee pots warm. Then drug all the passengers' beverages for an hour or two of airborne sewing time. Just kidding. Sorta.

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  11. WOW, what a great response, as I knew it would be! I love the first finished quilt. Bev did a fabulous job on the quilting too. Many more blocks are winging their way to you soon.

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  12. What an awesome response! And you've only just begun! two and half months, still - This is going to be so neat to see how far it stretches. :D

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  13. What an awesome project, and I'm happy to be a part of it. My prediction is that you are going to receive enough blocks to make 100 quilts. Your Quilt Guild is about to be blown away by your efforts.

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  14. Kevin, I am so excited at the incredibly generous quilters who are trying to bury you in quilt blocks! The response is so incredible - quilters are so over-the-top fabulous at sharing their time and talents!!! Need to get off the longarm and whip out a few blocks to send to you!!!

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  15. Congrats Kevin on all the wonderful blocks!!!

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  16. Didn't mean to be impatient in my last post, but I was curious! I had no idea you were gone somewhere for your "real job". :) But you do have a lot of our curiosity piqued and will continue to be until this is over, so I'll keep checking back for updates. I'm happy for you and it is fun to do this, isn't it? I'm enjoying it vicariously since I live overseas.

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  17. Hi Kevin! It is awesome to see all the blocks you have received. I am fairly new to long arming but I can do a mean panto :). Shoot me an e-mail if you would like me to quilt a few of these for you! I love QOV.

    sew4given AT aol DOT com

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  18. Wow! That's a lot of blocks to turn into lots of wonderful quilts for QOV.

    It was a pleasure to meet you at the quilt show, too. I loved the quilting your friend Ann did - it was so pretty in all the neutral spaces!

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  19. Thank you so very much for listing everybody so that I can know that my blocks were received by you! You're gonna be a QOV prizewinner in Heaven, good job!

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  20. Oh so many blocks, so much love! Thanks to you and Bev!

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