Quilting and Life in General: June 2020

Monday, June 29, 2020

Quilts of Valor - Covid-19 style

I was doing so-o well at surviving and maybe even thriving in the self - isolation ... but then, Phase 2 got busier! Not really better, just busier. And the time seems to be going faster!

I looked around my sewing room at the beginning of Phase 2 and actually thought, "I should just stay home awhile and get this mess cleaned up!!" The irony hit me a split second later!!

While Phase 2 was new (and still working) we set up the appointments with our Veterans to be presented with their Quilt of Valor. We held them outside, with limited attendance, we wore masks and were gone in 10-15 minutes.

In 2 weeks, I presented 16 quilts! One or two presentations a day. Three of our Veterans were from out of town. They were nice enough to come back to Brookings to receive their quilts. We met at the Capella; the pocket park on 101 downtown; (loud!) and a family member's house. But have no fear - there was plenty of driving up into the hills involved. One house was especially remote. A friend that was along said, "If we hear banjos, we're out of here!" But all addresses were found and Veterans given a quilt in the end.

This was our 'group block project' last year. I got the idea out of StashLab's String Method Book. Since we are basically making Half Square Triangles; so any Log Cabin setting works! Our first finished quilt from that design - and they loved it!

It was fun to work directly with each Veteran. I felt I got to know them and will remember them easier. It was more personal, less crowded and we had better photo opportunities with family members. I took pictures with my ipad and emailed them to the Veteran each evening.

I was very careful during that time, no matter where I was. I wore my face mask everywhere - I was determined not to be the downfall of anyone! A friend even teased me about social distancing in my car! Yes, I was driving (3 blocks) from one place to another, and I kept on my mask! Wouldn't you??

Remember, I was working with a population that is at risk, yet most of them did NOT wear a mask. I heard many times when I offered a mask to anyone needing one, "We have them, we just don't wear them." Really???

I couldn't always talk them into wearing one. But I kept mine on, even during photos. One family asked if we could step back 20 feet and take off our masks so they could see who was presenting! And at the last presentation I had a new problem. My mask keep slipping off my ear, usually when my hands were full. Did I sleep on my ear wrong??? Good thing it's only a 10 minute ceremony. I fully expected the Veteran to offer some duct tape!!

I still have to complete the QOV paperwork and there are 2 or 3 more presentations to be arranged when family is all here. But, the rush is officially over!! I admit, our print shop owner and I are both thrilled to be done with it. I was at the copy shop every day!

I made the certificates with a blank line to write in the date and place of the presentation. (FYI, Nobody likes their own writing!) and the signature line was for the presenter. So those holding their own presentation, filled it in and signed the certificate too. In total, 32 will be presented. Thank you for service.

We are the Home of The Free because of The Brave!

Thanks to a good friend who posted this on Instagram - makes me laugh while still wearing a mask!

Did you guys know the FDA just approved a medical device that reduces your chance of getting COVID-19 by 5X? Its trade name is called Wearamaskidiot. 😷👍⁣

⁣
Side effects include mild inconvenience, possible victim complex, fear of people thinking you are a sheep (people compared to sheep in being docile, foolish, or easily led), being ostracized by your anti-vax pandemic bros,

and the power to stop your own asymptomatic transmission

as this country stubbornly dives right on into that second wave. 😷👍⁣
⁣
Check with your doctor, or really anyone, to see if

Wearamaskidiot is right for you. 😷👍

#justwearthedamnmask⁣

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Quilt of Valor Labels - Brookings Style

Our labels are silk-screened. DO NOT IRON! They finger press very easily.

The first thing I do is to trim the white edges to 1/2”.

Second - finger press a 1/4” inch along the blue edge; pin the folded edge to itself.

You can sew your binding onto the front side of the quilt, as usual. You are ready to add the label.

But if you have finished binding the quilt, you can simply fold back all the label sides and hand appliqué it to the quilt corner.

Line up the label on the back of the quilt with a bottom corner. Pin closely into place (3x the amount of pins in the picture!!) Keep the pin heads on the outside edge as shown.

Turn the quilt over. You can see the seam line you sewed the binding on with. You want to start securing the label by sewing between the seam line and the edge. Begin and back stitch just above the first pin, Sew to 1/2” from the corner removing the pins as you go, knot.

Be careful not to sew through the corner, it will catch the folded binding, that’s no good, trust me!

Start again 1/2” from the corner and sew between stitching and the edge to the last pin.

You’ve added another layer of fabric to the quilt sandwich, so it helps to clamp the binding in place.

You can now sew the binding by hand or machine as if the label is simply part of the quilt. After the binding is sewn past the label, you can hand sew the blue edge of the label to the quilt. Keep it as taut as you can.

When the Veteran for the quilt has been announced (usually a month before the presentation) we finish the label.

We label the quilt by hand with a Pigma Pen. (Found at Wright’s Custom Framing and Art). I use 05 or 08 size. Any smaller point catches on the fabric. Do NOT write with a Sharpie, it will bleed.

I also practice my label on paper so I can determine where to start and stop before putting pen to fabric. I also check my spelling.

Although the quilt is soft, if it's on a hard surface when you add the information to it, it works well.

With a light touch, we usually write the Veteran’s full name but just the first names of the quilters. In the bottom triangle in the corner we add the year when the quilt is presented.

Thanks for supporting Quilt of Valor!

We're implementing Phase 2!!! HooRay!

So what does Phase 2 mean?

Things still won’t be “business as usual,” but people will be able to enjoy more freedoms as a variety of establishments welcome people back for the summer.

Under Phase 2 guidelines, gatherings of up to 50 people can take place indoors, up from 25 people from Phase 1; outdoor gatherings can have up to 100 people. This applies to pools, backyard weddings and recreational sports.

Bars and restaurants will be able to stay open until midnight, past the previous curfew which was set at 10 p.m.

Larger venues will be able to have up to 250 people, depending on the size of the building; potentially opening up larger restaurants, and venues such as movie theaters and gyms.

Theaters and places of worship will still have to set their COVID-19 occupancy limits based on the size of the building.

Pools and spas will be able to reopen as long as they provide sufficient space for people to stay apart, and people who are part of the same group can swim together.

Recreational non-contact sports like tennis and pickleball will return to outdoor courts, and youth sports will have guidance regarding equipment sharing.

Indoor activities like bowling, arcades and mini golf will also receive specific guidance for reopening.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

It may not be much - but it seems like the whole world is available!! Like we are finally released from being grounded!! :) Yes, I did have a mis-spent childhood!!

This week I had TWO outings!! A friend and I went down to Crescent City to Wild Rivers Health Food store, and Walmart! We wore masks in the car; masks and social distancing when shopping and got caught up on our news! It was fun and exhausting!!

Then yesterday a friend had to go to Medford for a hospital meeting with a family member's doctors. I volunteered to drive ... and surprise, she let me! Again we wore masks in the car, traffic was light, thank goodness, and we got there in plenty of time. Especially since the Head Dr was late to the meeting. Whereas, she was cleared to enter the hospital, I was not. So I went shopping at Trader Joe's! Heaven! The line-up space was marked with blue tape and cute sayings were written on the tape! SO TJ!!

My DSIL and DD had been trying to keep us supplied with DH's low acid coffee. Their lines were 30 -45 minutes. DSIL said it was exciting as you neared, remined him of lines at Disney!! After shopping for us and mailing it from Portland, good thing we're cute! Well, I picked up at least 6 weeks of supplies there, and they are off the hook!

What's on your TJ shopping list? Our list includes the Low Acid coffee; the Triple Ginger Thin Cookies; MultiGrain "Os"; Just the Clusters Granola, Pita Sea Salt Chips, and their greeting cards!! There are favorites of frozen foods - especially the Vegetable Birds Nests, but that's for eating in the same city!! I don't try to get that home in the summer months!

After a stop at Albertsons - Lindsay Olives!; Staples - ink for printer and Arbys for late lunch ... we picked up dinner - Noho's Hawaiian chicken teriyaki take out for dinner back home! Delicious!! We headed back home. Back into the cool! It was 80s in the valley and though I know that's a mild summer temp; we were mighty glad to be back where the ocean breezes keeps it around 60s!!

I have been working on both the last of the Plus/X blocks and actually putting together the Road to Oklahoma top! I like to put together quilt blocks the Two-sies; Four-sies method. Easier for me than to put together rows, too many junctions each time?? I'm happy to report I'm on Eight-sies!! And it's looking good!

My preferred method is to pin the units evenings in front of the TV. But not when watching Bosch! Have to pay attention for that show!

When I looked down at my huge pin cushion but it was almost empty!! I had a lot of catching up to do - how much? Well, 2nd picture is of the pin cushion after caught up!! Then - Rinse, Repeat!!

I usually lay out blocks on our king-size bed, I even stand on a kitchen chair, take a picture to get the whole quilt! Below are the Rd to OK 4-sies. Checking to be sure I don't get too much red together. Hmmm, I did very little switching ... I don't think it matters much with this pattern! Score!!! I'm sewing 8-sies today, The top should be done this weekend!!

You can see my tags pinned to the blocks to keep their order and orientation while sewing. I don't unpin those until the top is finished! And yes, I still can get them mixed up! Sometimes I rip out, most times I re-order the blocks, putting the mistakes in the least noticeable positions!! Hey! It's folk art!

Here are the last of the Plus/X blocks. I have enough to be picky on the top and have blocks on the back!! My favorite starting point. I'm deliberately piecing Rd to OK together first. Get the hang of it and then 'top' the Plus/X quilt.