March Madness...

Let's just say March Madness today has a lot more to do with weather than basketball. Looking at the weather maps today Virginia Beach, VA is more like Orlando, FL if you compare us to Lancaster, PA. Here we are again on the doorstep to Spring and Mother Nature says "Wait just a minute, I'm not quite done with Winter...so here Northeast...have a blizzard." Well thanks a lot Mom.

Since our last little talk Elaine and I have made some QOV Award Presentations, made our annual trek to the Mancuso Mid-Atlantic Quilt Fest, again setting up a Quilts of Valor Booth, promoting our passion, raffling off a reconditioned Singer Featherweight, a Calendar Quilt, raising some money for our group, Not Forgotten QOV and a new sister group, Grateful Threads of Elizabeth City, NC. Like our sister group in Corning, NY, Southern Tier QOV, we will never be able to thank those Quilts of Valor volunteers enough for their support to the Foundation and our service members and veterans. Elaine and I are so grateful for their never ending support. We would be amiss if we didn't mention those that so unselfishly support Not Forgotten QOV.

• The Longarm Network/Virginia Longarm
• A Different Touch Sewing Company
• Mancuso Show Mangement
• Events Management Group
• Combat Veteran's Motorcycle Association (Virginia 27-1)
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW 4809) Norfolk, VA
• Superior Thread
• Y-Not Pizza - Kempsville
• Members from the The Tidewater Quilters Guild
• Olah's Restoration & Service

The Singer was completely restored by Olah's Retorations & Service in Moyock, NC. Their work is, in our opinion, unparalleled. You can follow them on Facebook. Give them a shout if you need some work or service on an older machine. In this case older means there is no computer involved. Like our latest Featherweight. Now we are on the hunt for next years raffle Featherweight.

Our Raffle Singer was a 1951 Featherweight "Fire" and the winning ticket was drawn by Dave Mancuso. Our winner was Mary G. from Norfolk, VA.

Dave also drew the winner of the Raffle Quilt, a Calendar Quilt donated to Not Forgotten QOV by Debra Harding one of the many who contribute to the success of Not Forgotten from the Tidewater Quilters Guild.. The winner, Linda N., was still at the show and quickly made her way to the booth to claim this beautiful quilt. Congrats to both. 

We've been having a good time, weather and all. So here is a medley of a QOV Award at Mancuso, our booth and some of the latest to come off of the longarm. 

Carol W. Retired Navy getting a little "Quilty Hug."

Elaine ready for the days events at Mid-Atlantic. Below spreading the word about QOVF and the many volunteers, nationwide, that make it what it is. 

Here is a T-Shirt wall hanging that Elaine crafted. You guessed it...a Dark Shadows fan. 

It has been, so far, a slow start for me and 2017. That includes, golf, motorcycle rides and longarming. But here are a few of the latest to come off the Innova. 

So as Spring nears, Mother Nature has the last word about Winter, Elaine gets ready for March's Sew Days and Events Management Group's Spring Market preparations get underway, I'll change needles and load another quilt.  

Quilt till you wilt...we do.