One last (dumb) question - I have a lot of masculine flannel (animal print etc) .. is that too thick to make these?

I think that would be to heavy and would wear out faster, Yolanda. It's to loose a weave usually, the flannel.

My son is my hero and will soon retire, hopefully. 21 and a half years so far, but he was still going hard at it when I visited last month. He's been in the line of fire to many times since he joined in '88.

IF y'all want to make them and send them to me, just pm and I'll mail them to a unit. I'll give my address in private messages. Thanks for all that you do for our troops.

Thanks. I will stick to cotton. I am going to send to my friends sons (Kilo Company) or my boyfriends sons unit.

And thanks to your hero (and his mom!) for his years of service :-)

Yolanda, if you need help with them for any unit, just let me know. I do thousands.

I have a question are these crystals the ones they put in potted plants in the soil to hold water?? Looked in walmart today could not find them Thanks

I have a question are these crystals the ones they put in potted plants in the soil to hold water?? Looked in walmart today could not find them Thanks

sorry hit send twice

I would LOVE some help. Thousands? Wow - that is amazing!! Shall I send you fabric or supplies?

Hi Fran, yes, they are the same. I get mine from Lowes when I'm running short on the big orders we get. It's called Soil Moist and it's in the outdoor garden center. Not that I buy that much........ :lol: :lol:

One more question regarding the fabric; I have a lot of left over denim from rag quilts I used to make for dialyses patients. Would demin also be too heavy?

Tell me how many you are making or want me to make. I've got some fabric here. I know how it is when you work AND try to do things like this. I've done them a long time and I have helpers that will turn them for me. ;)

Yes, it would. But the denim makes wonderful cot covers to go under or over their sleeping bags. No need for batting either, just stitch big blocks and back it with your manly flannel. Those kids love them. Can't tell you how many I've made and sent, never got one of them returned either. :lol: :lol:

FYI for the kisses:

Old 45's (records) are exactly 7 inches! I use these to make circles all the time for different projects.

Please remember the cloth and thread must be 100% cotton. Any other blends could cause extensive burns if the fabric catches on fire because the other contents in the fabric melt.

Hugs! Elizabeth

Knew I should have kept my old 45s. Younger sisters got them when I left home.

I just finished about 60 of these and mailed them off to my son for his unit in Iraq. Doesn't take much time at all.

Thank You!! I'll take it to my quilting group.

thank you, so we can thank them by providing them with something that might make there job a bit easier
it is the least we can do for them

You and your helpers the best! I would like to make 40 for Kilo Company and for the other I am not sure yet as I don't know where these Rangers are except in Afgahanastian - maybe 10-15 that I can fit into a priority mail box along with some other goodiles?

wow! sounds like a lot. good work mom!

Do you think the kiss would work in a motorcycle helmet?

Yes, it does. I have Moms that ride motorcycles and they have both the kisses and the neck coolers.

I belong to a Goldwing group and I will have to make some of these.

I recently ordered crystals from Watersorb.com. I paid around $19 with shipping (fast shipping) and it was a lot cheaper for me this way than the garden shops around here. Not affiliated with the company just trying to help others find a better deal on the crystals.

Regarding Cool Ties and Helmet liners-
Will try again to get this right.
Our guild works with operationcarepackages.org and Debbie Smothers for several years. She sends packages every month and last year sent over 11,000 goody stuffed Christmas Stockings to the troops.

During the year we send the cool ties, helmet liners and knitted hats.

Have talked to troops that received them. They were thrilled. They use the helmet liners and ties to keep cool 24/7 if they have water supply. But it is a good thing to print instructions. Not everyone has seen them before and do not know what to do.

Sorry, glitch in pc and I think it send before I was finished.
The more things that can help the troops the better and the more organizations doing it spreads the work and the love that is being sent to the soldiers.
I use the Watersorb. In the long run it seems to be cheaper as you do not have to use as much as the crystal at Walmart. They send your order very quickly. We do so much that I buy 10 lbs at a time and it lasts for a year. But then again we make hundreds of cool ties and helmet liners.



BTY- I am seeing a retiring quilter today who is giving fabric for the Chilly Willies and Kiss and quilts for the soldiers. I have quilters lined up to do the quilts Wounded Warriers and the VA.
Last night I picked up donatied Christmas fabric to make stockings .
I am trying to find info on some type of quilt that is being made for the soldiers to use a type of lean-to with a vehicle as one side. Does anyone know about this and or has a pattern?

Directions for ties and helmet liners are on the www.watersorb.com website.

Hi Mimisharon,
Live in Greenville, N.C.. Would you email the pattern directions and diagrams to [email protected] I would like to make some and see if I can get others to make them too.
westies

Directions are listed on page one of this thread

thank you so much for your time posting this :)

i wonder will these be good for dirt bike riders ??

Hi again Question Do you wash fabric first? When ironing can you use starch (makes cutting circles easier to cut and sew)? Do you wash again after sewing to get starch out before adding crystals? Hope this doesn't sound stupid but does the starch penetrate the crystals if using starch? Thank you Oh and what color fabric is best light of dark?
Fran624

Thanks for the useful information.

Hi, the initial instructions are on page one. Yes, wash your fabric and I would not use starch when ironing. Use steam or water spray bottle. If there are wrinkles I am sure that it will be fine.
100% cotton. Check out page one. Thanks

I found this site very helpful in making the hug and kiss http://www.martinworks.com/hero/hugs-pf.html made one of each yesterday. I used the miracle grow crystals from walmart. Had to increase to 1 tsp for kiss and 3 tsp for hug. Waiting for the kids to come home from Grandmas to be my testers and see how well they work. Thanks for the great idea. I plan to make some for my kids ball team and for my nephew in the military and his buddies of course.

thanks so much!

Does anyone have any pictures of these?

thanks so much for the info

Just the thing I have been looking for. THANKS !!

Hello everyone. I wanted to share a story with you.
I was so excited to be able to make coolers for Mimisharon.
♥ I have sent some to her. It was a great feeling to pack them, knowing they are going to help the troops.
When I was buying fabric to make them I was at the cutting counter and the manager and helper were asking me what I was going to do with this beige fabric. So I told her about this project and where the coolers were going. The lady behind me gave me a $10 bill. I almost fell over. I explained to her that it wasn’t necessary and she insisted telling me she has had family in the service. I thanked her and told her she was a blessing to this project of giving.
♥ Just wanted to share that this act of kindness brought joy.

thanks

how sweet that is so nice of that lady

made her feel good and also helped you out

quilters and friends are so great

Thanks for the tie directions, I just made some for each of my neighbors as its so hot here in Fla they can use them while doing there yard work.