Milestones...........and more.........

What a milestone week it was!  I am sorry I am a couple of days late with this posting, however, I hope you understand why after reading it!

Each and every person who has sent blocks to me for this block drive are, in my eyes, a hero!  We ARE making a difference here as will be evident when we start presenting these quilts!  I am going to do my best to photograph every quilt that is presented.  I stand amazed at the generosity of quilters.  What a force we can become when we join together for a purpose!

As I said before, I read each and every card or letter that accompanies the beautiful blocks in each package. I laugh, cry, and really have a sense of pride in what we are doing together here with this block drive. However,  I would like to share with you one particular letter that really tugged at my heart strings?

The letter reads:

Dear Kevin,
I think it is nice of you to commit all of your time to quilts of valor.  I made 5 blocks for your project.  These are the first quilt blocks I have ever made.  All my grandpa's have fought in the war and one is almost dead.
Abby
10 years old

Abby, it is my great honor and privilege to be able to serve in this capacity.  I admire you and your willingness to learn how to make some quilt blocks in order to be able to say "Thank you!" to a veteran. Your letter brought me great emotion and made me think back to when I was 10 years old and was learning to sew with my grandma and great aunts.  What wonderful memories were brought back to me!  Thank you for your kind letter and photos and for inspiring the many people who will see this!  And I hope you continue to keep on sewing and quilting Abby!

Yet another milestone for me to know something we all are doing here was able to help a young one make her first quilt blocks!

We are truly doing great things here people!  We have passed the 2000 block milestone...........

2,348 blocks received to date!

That's 78 quilts for Quilts of Valor!!!!!!!!

This weeks group of AWESOME PEOPLE include:

Linda in Arizona

Nancy in South Carolina

Donna in Virginia

Debbie with (Sit-n-Stitch Group) in New York

Bonnie in Ohio

Tonie in Minnesota

Bill in Texas

Eunice in Ohio

Christy in Kansas

Nina of Quilts, Life and Balance

Mary Jean in New York

Cindy in Ohio

Sophie in Ohio

Jeanne in Ohio

Paula in Ohio

Rend Lake Piece Makers in Illinois

Sue in Iowa

Amy in Iowa

Ellen in Iowa

Perez in Texas

L in Pennsylvania

Diane in Arizona

Mary Rose in Iowa

Martha CMSqt, Ret. in Michigan

Melody in Illinois

Ranch Wife of Lovin' Life At The End Of The Dirt Road

Nelva in Iowa
Jan in New Hampshire
Ora in Kentucky
Anne in Pennsylvania
Jan in Washington
Teresa in Florida
J in California
Jean in Florida
Tama in Kansas
Deb in New York
Ellen in New York
Delisa in North Carolina
Jeanette in Virginia
Debbie in South Dakota
Cindy in Missouri
Nancy in Florida
Pamela in Connecticut
Lela in California
Julianne in California
Karen in Minnesota
Abby in Ohio
Holly in New York

And if you live in the St. Paul area of Minnesota and sent me SEVERAL blocks, could you please contact me via e-mail in the corner of my blog?  Your name and address were damaged and not legible on your package? (All blocks were fine!)  I want to make sure I have the correct address in case you should win something???

Remember..........AWESOME People are those who have sent in blocks thus far and are eligible for the prizes in the prize drawings.  The more blocks you send in, the more chances you have to win!

THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!

I would also like to thank the following readers for the very thoughtful gifts included with their blocks!

Christy in Kansas sent the color catchers.

Nina of Quilts, Life, and Balance sent "The Practical Guide to Patchwork" book.

J in California sent the beautiful backing fabric.

Tama in Kansas sent a bazillion feet of binding and thread!

Delisa in North Carolina sent in a donation for batting and backings.

THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

I simply can't thank you all enough!  All of these items are SO VERY appreciated!

If I may interrupt this block drive just for one moment of your time?  I would like to share with you all a milestone in my life that has happened this past week.  I have been teasing you all with some photos here and there of a project I have been working on for just under a year.  Perhaps you remember a few of these photos?

I was asked in the Spring of last year by my good friend Ann of Attic Threads to collaborate with her on a quilt she would enter in the Machine Quilter's Showcase in Wichita, Kansas.  She was very open to anything I wanted to create, she just wanted to be able to do some crazy, insane, amazeballs quilting on it.  She provided me with a box of fabric that included several black on black tonal fabrics, and 1 Moda Marble Citrus jelly roll.  So, without further adieu, I am very pleased to share, and present to you..................

"RADAR"

1st Place, Tools of the Trade Category at MQS.

April 2, 2014

Ann is simply a beyond amazing quilter!

I cannot put into words how visually stunning her quilting is in person!

Please visit Ann's blog to read more about her miniature quilt she entered at MQS.

I am so honored, and happy you asked me to join you in this journey Ann!

You have been such an inspiration to me!

THANK YOU!

I was so blessed to be able to share this amazing moment in my life with my wonderful parents!

Thanks to my friend Alycia of Alycia Quilts for helping me with watermarking these photos!

What would I do without you!

You're never too old to learn something new! LOL

Thanks for indulging me for just a moment!

I will be sharing some of the process and inspiration for "Radar" in future posts along with my trip to Wichita.  I met some WONDERFUL people along the way, not to mention a FANTABULOUS quilt shop!  I will also be sharing more about the prize packages and our wonderful sponsors for the prizes!

Linking up at Linky Tuesday with Connie at Freemotion by the River.

Thanks for everything you do!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter