Going on...

Welcome to 2015. Good bye 2014 and as they say we are going on...

Even the Longarm Room caught a little of the spirit.

As we left one year and moved into the next we haven't forgotten those that mean so much and are so much of our waking moments. The longarm has been busy, finishing 2014 strong and starting 2015 strong.

Some of the Quilts of Valor that found there way to the longarm and have since headed off for labeling and binding. With a steady flow of requests they will find a home within a short time. 

But as well as QOV's we were pretty busy with other quilts. Our granddaughter designed a T-Shirt quilt and Grammy and Gramps were more than happy to oblige. Elaine pieced together T's from our grandson and the Lacrosse T is one of our grand daughters. She wanted it made to give to her Mom for Christmas. The panel below the Lacrosse T (blank in the first photo) had the 'onesie' that our grandson, Zane, wore home from the hospital...shown in the second photo being held up by a very proud Grammy. It was going to be cut up for one of the panels...there was no way Elaine was going to cut that onesie. She appliqued it onto the panel. 

We have been informed that there was a very emotional Mommy on Christmas Morning. Let's just say Selena, Grammy and Gramps did good. 

Another baby quilt also found its way to the longarm room. A good friend of ours has been busy. This is the third one I've done for her and there is more on the way. She's finding her full time job is interfering with her quilting. You have to hate when that happens. 

This one we just finished. The blocks were found at an Estate Sale. All hand sewn. Elaine did the design and finished the piecing and I got to do the longarming. It will undoubtedly find its way to a bed. 

Along the way we made several awards. 

Mickey...WWII United States Navy

Marti...Vietnam

Rob...Currently serving in the United State Army. To say Rob is rather a tall individual would be one of those understatement things. This award was done at one of the dedicated Military Displays that are so prominent in our area. It was a nippy 32 degrees. He was happy to be wrapped in his QOV for more reasons than one. 

I got in a couple other quilts as well this was a fun one to work on. 

Elaine had her first 2015 Not Forgotten QOV Sew Days. Among the many in attendance we had some notables. 

Left to right: Michelle and A.J., holding the iron...don't let that fool you, he's a longarmer. They made a three hour drive, one way, to join Elaine and the others for the first sew day of 2015. We will see them again at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Fest in February. Always a pleasure. Joyce is a new quilter and standing proudly with her first ever block. To the far right is Debbie. English she is. Her husband, a career military man from the UK is currently assigned here as a Liaison Officer. His last assignment was in Germany. Debbie is a UK QOV Volunteer and while in Germany quilted with a group at Landstuhl. We met Joyce when she stopped by the QOV Booth at the Pembroke Mall Christmas Event and Debbie and her husband stopped by the Booth we had set up at the annual Christmas Craft Fair at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. What a pleasure it is to have met them both and how thrilled we are that they now volunteer for Not Forgotten QOV. 

Welcome 2015. We accept your challenges. As Elaine starts her seventh year with QOV and I start my fourth we are grateful to have the health, time and the company of the many volunteers we have had the pleasure of meeting and quilting with. From those meetings we have developed friendships that make each and everyday a pleasure. And to those who serve this great nation...you will never be forgotten. 

Now I'm not a wine drinker...but know several that partake it the juice from the fruit of the vine. Apparently this is a good item to have. 

Quilt till you wilt...we do. 

Confusion is abounding!!!

Recently I read an entry on Facebook indicating a $10 fee was being charged under the new Membership Requirements of the Quilts of Valor® Foundation and that monies collected did not have to go to National and all could be kept at the local level. Not based on what I have read. So, as usual I expressed my opinion based on what I have heard and what I have read. If there are any inaccuracies I take full responsibility and will make any retractions required.

My response:
"Hopefully this will get straightened out but the confusion is running rampant. If you choose to join as an individual it is $20 annually. A Group is $30 plus $5 for each individual that chooses to join said group, annually. Two person groups with a lot of volunteers will become the norm. Groups are the only 'members' that can raise funds under the registered trademarks of Quilts of Valor, QOV and Quilt of Valor. The logo is not registered. 

ALL, every last penny, raised by Groups WILL be submitted to the National Treasurer for accounting purposes. The Group Leader will be responsible and accountable for this. Once it has been reported the designated Group via the listed Group Leader will have access to those funds, ALL, 100% of the monies raised by submitting receipts for "approved" purchases relating to QOVF activities as long as the receipt is the original and dated within the last year will be honored and the funds returned to the Group. Receipts dated more than a year old at time of submission will not be honored. There is an exception for other 501's which I don't understand and cannot explain.

There is no need for an individual to pay the $20 fee.

The Longarm Coordinators, Jim and Joan (info on www.qovf.org) have set up two "National Groups." A Longarm Group and a Toppers Group. Anyone that does not have a Group in their area to join can join the appropriate National Group. No one, absolutely no one has to give up their volunteer status with the Quilts of Valor. You can continue to sew and contribute to this most meaningful Mission as you have in the past, a volunteer.

It must be understood that under this membership model that will become active January 1, 2015 only "members" will be eligible for any and all benefits that may become available to QOVF. Volunteers will be excluded from them and certain sections of the web site. And only "members" will be able to request the services of a QOVF Longarmer and as stated ONLY Member Groups will be eligible for fund raising activities and reimbursement. This does not negate anyone's ability to hang on to your receipts and document your expenses for tax purposes. Consult the appropriate source for tax information.

You are going to find that regardless of your personal status someone will be there to assist you with your quilt. It will get completed and it will get awarded. It has been going on for over a decade...it is about the Mission and the recipient…always has been always will be.

The IRS requirements have always been met and the shared expenses and other bills have always been paid. Let's hope that continues as well. Personally I find this membership excursion to be a distraction from what is important, the recipient and the volunteer. But that is just my opinion...I know there are others. That's all it is, my opinion. I will continue and until the situation changes will be a part of a two person group, doing everything I can, for as long as I can be productive to support the Mission, the recipients and those that got us here...the QOVF Volunteer. For those that wear that badge of honor I thank you, as a Marine, a combat veteran, a Vietnam Veteran and a longarmer that is graced with some very excellent company. And as a QOV recipient...I don't have the words."

Respectfully, Les Page

Quilt till you wilt...we do.

Then on to New Jersey...

The following week end had us on the road north once again. This time to visit four who are really near and dear, what's his name and his lovely wife Liz and our two grand children Selena and Zane. It was tough duty but our Marine Corps son, who will retire June 1, 2015 with over 24 years of service and Liz were headed to Atlantic City for his last Marine Corps Ball as an active duty Marine. I can't count how many Balls he has been the MC for but I can assure you he is going to be missed.

So Elaine says to our grand daughter Selena, 15..."What are we gonna do with two four year olds?" Of course I'm looking around for the other four year old besides my grandson. Well it shocked me as well!

So it's off to the Slot Car track.

Here we are...Selena is monitoring our sportsmanship. Yeah right...Zane's screaming "I'm winning Gramps better catch up!"

He's still screaming something about "You've been lapped." 

After awhile we had some others join us on the track. The testosterone was hot and heavy.

Then it was off to Build A Bear. Zane decided on Leonardo. Turns out he is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fan as well as a Marvel Super Hero fan and a Slot Car aficionado. 
Here were are working on Leonardo's Birth Certificate. I lost count how many Build A Bear characters Selena has...we weren't in the store for five minutes when she's wanting to know if she can have one as well. Of course I put my foot down and said she had to share...it was Zane's turn. That was before we hit Hot Topic. I should have known. I think I was set up.

This Birth Certificate thing was quite an ordeal...We had to call in Grammy to get it finished.

This was pretty typical...two guys walking the stores looking for the women.
"Where do you think they are Gramps?"
"Zane if I knew I would most certainly share it with you an Leonardo."

But as long as the days were and as far away from home as we were our new travelling accessory was there to comfort and keep us warm and safe as the day came to an end. I slept like a baby. Well I'm only four, remember. 

Quilt till you wilt...we do...

New York, New York!!!

We want to start by saying that as a group of volunteers sewing for Quilts of Valor, being the epitome of unselfishness, kindness, friendship and exemplifying what Quilts of Valor is and has grown into over the last decade because of volunteers like this. Southern Tier Quilts of Valor exemplifies what it means to Serve Your Nation...Quilt.

It is a one day "Marathon" and in that one day the final tally accomplished by the 70 'volunteers' was nothing less than spectacular. Fifty-seven completed tops, put with backs and binding and packaged to be sent to longarmers. Twenty-two tops pieced needing only borders to bring them to acceptable dimensions which will then be packaged with backs and binding and sent to longarmers.

One day, twelve hours, 70 people. Supported of course with a little pizza, pasta, a doughnut here, a cookie there, several gallons of coffee and maybe a little chocolate.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...here's a couple of thousand words...or more!!!


QOV Volunteers...Wall to Wall...literally.

Door Prizes...you betcha

Raffles...absolutely

Snacks...well it's a sew day isn't it. Both lunch and dinner were catered...of course. Not to mention chocolate throughout the day.

Did I mention quilters?

Backs and bindings ready to be paired up with tops. The piecer could pick the back as soon as the top was done. 

Elaine even got in on the action.

Not to mention going to the Corning Museum. Well I mean really we were in Corning, New York.

A special presentation from STQOV to Marriane Elliott for her work with STQOV and the Foundation. It was not a QOV...but be assured it touched her heart. She was awarded her QOV in Tennessee.

There were two Awards of Quilts of Valor. Elaine and I had the honor of presenting Michael's

His Mom (the piecer) and his Grandfather were present. I also had the distinct honor of longarming his quilt.

And yes, yours truly was awarded a Quilt of Valor. It was presented by Marianne and Bill Elliott. With all of the volunteers taking a few minutes away from their sewing to share it with me as Elaine stood by my side as she has through it all for the last 47+ years. You couldn't script a better place, with better people, on a better day to be thanked. I'm not unlike any other recipient. To be thanked in a way that so deeply touches us for doing what we all cherish so much, defending the freedoms of this great Nation. We humbly accept with our deepest of gratitude, gracious for the recognition for what we consider to be our scared duty and just doing our jobs. I wish the piecer, Sharon Ledbetter could have been present...but I'm saving up a big 'quilty hug' to be delivered at a later date.

I did mention quilt tops didn't I?

What a day...what a group...what a pleasure and honor to be included. STQOV ROCKS!!!

Quilt till you wilt...we do...
And so does Southern Tier Quilts of Valor.