Hi all. Just wanted to give a heads up for the new QWL challenge coming up Jan1,2013 thru March 31,2013. As most of you know about QWL I hope you will be able to answer any questions for the newbie.
Our blocks are 12.5 inches in size. You can use any pattern and color of fabrics, but please please use cotton fabric. No Christmas or holiday fabrics please.
The chalenge is between the states. Who can send the most. These blocks help a great deal.
We are coming up on 3000 quilts sent to the troops. They love being thought of and remembered. Just keep it in mind please. Thanks, Maggie aka MedeMo

yes, yes! YES!!! Waving hand wildly!!!! Whohoooo!

This will give me a deadline to finish the quilt I have started.

Still a newbie, what is QWL? Do the blocks need to be the same pattern? Who puts them together?

Where is Wiley... We can represent several states this go-around!

QWL is Quilts With Love it started when Maggie's son was in the military overseas and told his mother how cold it got at night in the desert. She then put out a call for quilt blocks she could make into a quilt for him. She received so many that she decided to send them to some more military personnel. And QWL was born and it has been many years ago. Every year she has a challenge to see how many blocks can be sent in. Maggie and her crew make the blocks into quilts and send them overseas. It is a 401(c)3 organization (registered charitable organization).

She also accepts donations of money (for batting, postage, etc.), material, completed quilts, and completed tops. I think Maggie has a web site.

Hi, I know I made some hourglass blocks to put into a top. Now, what did I do with them? I'll look for them and get it finished.

I know Sue and I will help out. We had a great time making the quilts before and now we have more practice and they will be better!!!LOL
ETA: there is a website, but right now I can't remember the exact name. Try Quilts with Love.com

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I'm here, just might join in.

She usually gets lots and lots of blocks from these challenges. If anyone wants to make quite a few blocks, it would be a help to go ahead and sew them together for a top. I can't remember the size she says works best for the troops but I'm sure someone will give that info. Of course, a completed quilt would be fantastic too.

Thank you ladies for helping to answer the questions. We no longer have a web site as the lady that was running it for us quit. And I do not know how to do a website so we had to let it go. As for the sizes-- the blocks are to be 12.5 inches in the unfinished size. The quilt tops are to be 56 x 84. The top size needs to be just that as our backings and quilting works with this size. It is also a good size for the troops. Any larger and they are too big and smaller do not cover they. For some this is all they have besides their sleeping bags and maybe a poncho. After all this time you would think they could furnish them better supplies, but they don't.
We started QWL right here on this message board Sept.25th 2003 and have been going every since. Some of the ladies on this board have been with me since the start and we welcome newbies any time. We will soon be sending our 3000th quilt over to them.
If you send blocks great. If you can send a whole top even better. A top will count as 24 blocks in the challenge, as that is what we use to do a top. 4 across and 6 down with shashing and borders to make the size we need.
Jess, you and Wiley always send in great tops. You two work well together and are appreciated in all you have done. So good to hear Kay-lin,pattyj and Sue are ready to go again. Nancy and Meme have you listed to help again. Great ladies. Pvillelou hope you can join us again.
Many thanks ladies for stepping up again and offering your help. The troops are loving the quilts and support. Several have heard of this project now and are asking if they are going to be getting a quilt. We do our best to answer all requests when we can. If you have a friend or family member serving over seas in Afgh@nist@n or still in Ir@qi just send me the address and we will do our best. Please do not wait until it is time for them to come home as we do not have time to get them a quilt. And these quilts are for them to use not just to keep as a keepsake. We do all the mailing from here so we know they are getting to the soldiers. We mail them priority mail and direct to them. As already mentioned funds to mail is a great help but we never ask anything from the service members receiving them. Only ask caring,loving people and the family members wanting to help. We have had some that received quilts to donate because they want to see this project continue as they know the feeling and joy of receiving a homemade quilt themselves. But the quilts are free to all we send to overseas. We do not send to those here and other places because it would just be too much to ask of such a small group so this is why we only send to those overseas in Afgh. and Ir for now. Altho we have sent some of the jeans quilts to several Vets home because of the weight in mailing them over. So even our Veterans are benifiting from this project.
The ladies have been so very loving and generous with their time,sewing and funds that it has made a huge success of this project. Looking forward to the start of the new challenge and a big success from all states. Many thanks, Maggie
PS. We are still a 501C charitable organization and registared if you need to check up on us.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MedeMo,

Maggie, do you or some who have made quilt tops have any pictures of what have been made? I would love to see some of the patters and/or blocks that are going into these wonderful quilts.

Here is one. Maggie

And another

And even another one

Here is another one

Oh, thank you for those beautiful pictures. Each receipient looks so pleased to have received one.

Maggie, I did not know that one of our very own board members started the QWL project. That is awesome & I hope someone will come along who knows how to do websites & it can get back on the web.

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Some more

I hope these will help. Some are fantastic and some are comfy. But all are appreciated. Sent some with the troop that received them. Thought you would like seening the quilt as well as the receiver. Maggie

Love to see their happy smiling faces. Gets my motor running. smooch!!! happy happy!

I've got to get myself in gear and send you more quilt tops. With winter coming, I have more time for quilt projects and this one is wonderful.
I'll be sure to jump on the block Challenge this January as well.
You know what they say, "Out of sight, out of mind." I'm glad you posted again.
quiltbea

Someone asked for pictures, you'll be sorry!!!! Just kidding. Went thru my photo folder so here goes.
These first ones will be tops I put together from donated blocks. This one when I had used most of the matching ones, so more random... Chris

Another of random blocks... Chris

Vertical lines... chris

Actually, once I posted this, I think this was a hand pieced UFO I bought at another sale and put it together. MY favorite pattern, log cabin... Chris

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Different layout... Chris

Columns... Chris

more donated blocks... Chris

There is pics in my webshots album. The link is at the bottom.
Maggie i may just be able to send you a top depending on how the hip progresses. I have been making blocks for Jim a new one, he says it's getting thin and the "dog" would be upset without her blankie LOL. good excuse. I should have extra blocks since my BIL brought me a bunch of FQ's. I am making 8in blocks so I won't send them till there in a top. Wish my hip good luck and that something else doesn't break. LOL.

Patty FL

PS had to let webshots go it is now in their own album in photobucket.

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Another log cabin... Chris

Another 9 patch... chris

And another... Chris

Now for some tops I've donated. This one was cotton bandannas I found at a sale for 25 cents each. Just loved this top... Chris

This was one of the Nascar ones I did... Chris

This one was cowboy prints... chris

This was dear squares... Chris

another Nascar... Chris

A transformers top... Chris

This is a UFO I bought at an estate sale, finished it and donated the top... Chris

Lumpy, great star quilts and the butterfly one too... chris

The quilts don't have to be fancy. You can make them from simple square or 9-patch blocks. I made a couple from 4-patch stackers which are very easy since they are made with just 4 squares per block.

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This was made from scraps.

Quiltbea, I've always loved your four-patch. It's amazing that all those different blocks came from the same fabric.

I've made some easy quilt tops for Quilts with Love. The pattern for these double pinwheels makes two quilts at the same time, with the red and blue colors reversed.

I also sent QWL two western themed quilt tops from easy patterns. The first one is a Warm Wishes pattern; the second one is Squares Within Squares 2 from QuiltersCache.com.

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I wanted to mention that QWL has a group and message board on Yahoo with photos. I have participated in the past but then slacked off. Thanks for posting Maggie. I will definitedly get my machine going this year.
Joan

Thanks Cris, the butterfly one was so fun and I wanted to keep it but the troops need it more than I do.
Maggie I am making a bunch of blocks at 8 inches so i don't know how many tops I can send. I can't do the quilting for a while because of the hip and having to pin it to the leader. The Dr said it would take about 6 months for my hip to heal. I am however getting around a little more without my walker. If the physical therapy doesn't kill me first LOL.

Count me in I'm almost finished moving and found several swaps I can put together for tops at least. By January I hopefully will be settled and sewing again!

Great show Chris!!! I recognize some blocks in there...Tornado Helen used to make Log Cabins and she gave me a batch of patriotic 9 patch to sew. I love your different settings!

Ditto on the unfinished tops that I have started in the past..... still waiting to be put together and mailed out.....so glad to get another opportunity.

Many thanks Chris and Lumpy and also QuiltBea for sharing those pictures. I remember many of them. But since we now have 3013 quilts mailed out, I am beginning to get muttled with a few now. LOL!!
Good to hear several are ready for another challenge. I have had several asking if we were going to have one and when. Well, time has arrived. Glad so many are getting ready and into helping again. The troops are loving them. And asking for more when we can get them made and sent. We never seem to run out of troops that are wanting and appreciate the quilts.
Thanks ladies!! Hugs, Maggie