It’s finally here! Today is the kickoff for the Quilts of Valor Blog Hop, with some of my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors! I want to thank everyone for their participation – I know we are all swamped with projects, and it means a lot that you decided to support my favorite quilting cause. Huge thanks also go out to Island Batik for supporting this project with so much glorious fabric.
My Grandpa Bill was the most influential veteran in my life. He never discussed his time overseas, even when I pestered him. I imagined all of the romantic stuff I had seen in movies. His World War II Navy experience must have been very different. The only thing he ever told me was he spent the whole time “puking over the side of the ship.” I never considered it, but my grandpa grew up on the water. No way was he seasick. His experience definitely shaped the rest of his life, and not in a happy way. I wish I had discovered QOV before he died.
So many of us have veterans of the armed services in our families. It’s part of being an American. This week, as we celebrate Independence Day, I will be taking some time each day to consider all of our Armed Service members. Their willingness to serve is the reason I can be a happy American Quilter.
Without further ado, please go visit our bloggers who are sharing their projects today!
Participants
July 1
Becca Fenstermaker — Pretty Piney
Denise Looney — For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard — Quilting Gail
I’ve also set up a Rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate the hop. You can get your mitts on your very own Stack of Freedom fabrics! I set up a ton of different ways to earn entry points, too!
a Rafflecopter giveawayHere is the full list of participants. You can always visit their websites for superb eye candy. Last month we all tried new techniques, and they were all so amazing.
Participants
July 1
Becca Fenstermaker — Pretty Piney
Denise Looney — For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard — Quilting Gail
July 2
Pamela Boatright — Pamela Quilts
Anne Wiens — Sweetgrass Designs
July 3
Bea Lee —Bea Quilter
Carla Henton — Creatin’ In the Sticks
July 4
Emily Leachman — The Darling Dogwood
Joan Kawano — MooseStash Quilting
Jen Strauser – Dizzy Quilter
July 5
Steph Jacobson — Steph Jacobsen Designs
Leah Malasky — Quilted Delights
Anja Clyke — Anja Quilts
Maryellen McAuliffe — Mary Mack Made Mine
This is such an awesome group to support. I look forward to reading the posts on the tour!
Graphic Gems and many other upcoming fabric lines are beautiful!
cork@pa.rr.com
Sunny side up or steam engine. ..
Serving your country is not only a calling but service before others. I think everyone has someone in their family who served. Every generation in my family has, including my 1st born. He recently retired from the USCG. Learning at his retirement of the 4 times he almost died risking his life to SAVE others. We should all remember military is just not for war. One does not join to die.
Such a great project. It helps us in so many ways to help others…. Thank you.
My favorite new line coming up is very hard to choose but since you’re making me… Kaleidoscope.
My favorite nee batik line is Garden Party.
I have a couple of QOVs that I finished from mystery quilters. I cherish them, esp. this time of year.
I love Soul Song!
Sunny Side Up is my favorite, but it was hard to pick just one. They are all beautiful.
I like Steam Engine. Love the color combination.
Sunny Side Up would make great bags, though I can see Enchanted Forest on the bed of a young girl down the street.
Thanks so much for hosting this blog hop. The Freedom collection is awesome and it’s so fun to see the beautiful quilts. Island Batik is so generous and it’s great to see all the support for Quilts of Valor.
So proud of you for getting this organized and making it happen, Jen. Well done!!!
Sunny Side Up is my favorite of the new ones.
Garden Party looks wonderful.
I don’t know how I’m going to choose just one favorite Island Batik ! I love the new Freedom line, and Graphic Gems is my favorite color combination—purple, aqua, grey in various shades and fun tone-on-tone prints like spirals and petals!
reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com
Oh wow, beautiful fabric choices. I really like the Quiet Shades line. I would love to make a quilt with those colors!!
Thank you for hosting this hop! Sorry I missed participating but I am so grateful to all who did. Many families member served – my great uncle, my father, my father-in-law – and like your grandfather spoke little of it.
Enchanted Forest Batiks are gorgeous!
All lovely fabrics in the new lines, makes my mouth water. I love the brightness of Kaleidoscope especially. I’m also working on a Quilt of Valor this summer–a group of 8 of us are going to present QOVs in November to lady veterans in our quilt guild that have served in the past.
Thanks for organizing. It was fun to create a quilt.
My dear friend Walter was in HMS in WW2, and for his 91st birthday, when he was in hospital, I made a ” Mariner’s Compass ” wall hanging and the staff hung it on the wall in his room. When he died a few weeks later, the family asked if I wanted it back. I replied, please keep it or leave it with another family member. A card came later in the mail with the news, it was sent to the ” Felixstowe Museum” where navy memorabilia are kept on display.This was the highest honour I could ever have.To receive a Quilt of Valour is something so special, and both the quilter and the receiver would value the gift with love.
The Batiks are fabulous, and to have them in a QOV is a wonderful way to show them to full advantage.
Thank you for supporting and promoting QOV. My nephew is in the Navy. 🇺🇸
Garden party is my favorite. Gardens without mosquitoes Are awesome.
Kaleidoscope definitely has gotten my attention.
Amazing listing of designs!!! My SIL is in the Army Reserves now. I cant wait to show him all the lovely designs from the hop I have found.
So excited for this blog hop! Thanks so much for organizing! All the collections are beautiful! My favorite is probably Petal Pushers.
QOV is active in Canada too. Our guild is currently asking members to donate red and white blocks to make a QOV that will be donated though our Legion.
I absolutely LOVE this new line!! Red/white/blue is my favorite color combinations.
I love that you’re doing this project with QOV! I love the texture of the Island Batiks Basics.
Love your batiks!