Extreme Quilter

Suz, like you I try to make at least two quilts a month for Project Linus or the troops. It is a very serious commitment and not a frivolous hobby, which is so misunderstood by friends who do not understand.

Flying_V_Goddess

I'm very interested in making a quilt top for QOV, but I'll admit I'm a little discouraged after looking at the seemingly long list of specifications and requirements.

Extreme Quilter

Yes, the list is quite daunting and challenging at first blush. I read, reread and posted questions to the director, who is as nice as can be and very prompt to reply. When I viewed the photo gallery of quilts, I could see the majority of quilts were quick and simple quilts, so I felt much more confident in participating in this worthwhile project. It is so uplifting when you send your quilt off to be a small part of a larger whole.

BarbC

Here is another way to donate.. you can send blocks or quilt tops or finished quilts... there are guidelines. They make quilts for a lot of different charities. Right now they have 2 main projects.. one creates lap quilts for injured military personnel and the other creates quilts for kid.

Here is the website:
http://heartstringsquiltproject.com/

Be sure to read the guidelines.

Barb C.

danna738

Do you live in Leesburgh? My parents are in Fruitland Park every winter. I spent a week at your lovely hospital in Leesburgh in February with my mom.

Brenda Retzlaff

Hi Dana,

Yes, we live in Leesburg from Nov. 'til early May each year. Although FL is lovely, it is just too hot & humid for us in the summer. We tried it for a few years but my poor husband was so miserable that we decided to come back to WI for the summers.

So sorry that your Mom had to spend a week in the hospital. I've been a patient there several times. If you have to go to the hospital in that area, LRMC is a good place to go. The doctors are good and I have found the staff friendly and very committed to patient care.

I am really new at quilting and joined the quilt guild at the urging of some quilting friends from our community. It is a very large group...approx 150 members. Being so new to quilting, I am kind of "lost" in the crowd and feel a little intimidated by the skillful quilts that the members seem to put out so quickly. I'm working on my skills. I hope to be able to make at least one QOV before I go back in the fall.

Thank you so much for contacting me. It's lovely to hear from someone who knows just where we live. I hope to hear from you again.

Flying_V_Goddess

It does seem pretty daunting and challenging. I think its all the extra work that's involved that makes it seem like a huge challenge. I can make a quilt top, no problem...but then you have to request a long arm quilter, make sure you meet every one of their specifications so they don't go crazy trying to get your quilt together, and all the other extra things that go into it. ...is it as overwhelming as it sounds?

Extreme Quilter

Flying, you do not have to request a longarm quilter. You have the option of submitting completed quilts to a designated destination also. I choose to do the latter for all my donated quilts. It is much simpler to work alone and saves the cost of mailing to the longarmer.

Flying_V_Goddess

I don't think it would be simplier to do the entire thing by myself. I'm not exactly the greatest at sandwiching a quilt together (those of you who have been reading my progress on my denim quilt know what I'm talking about). I'm thinking the quilt would get done A LOT faster if I requested a long arm quilter, but that has its own little things that make it seem complicated.

quiltmaker101

I am glad to see so many responses to my topic.

Yes, the list is a little demanding, but they want the receiver to know exactly who was involved and how long it took, so that the value is obvious. The process should be easier after the first one.

After seeing all the vets on the news (the controversy about vet treatment, compensation and the Walter Reed Army hospital) it breaks my heart. Especially when they show rooms full of double amputees.

I may be slow in getting my first donation done, but I know what a nice reminder it will be of my gratitude for their sacrifice for our freedom.

The vets from Viet Nam never got anything - not even thanks - so if anything, my donations to QOV will be for them through the Iraq vets.