fabricpostcards

2007-10-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Iraq -

We received the following thanks from the soldier in Iraq who received a box of our Halloween fabric postcards:

Chetan received the Halloween Postcards on Monday and his note is below:

Thank you....the post cards have and will continue to put smiles on our faces.

We received the package on 22 Oct--mail travels fast--I passed it on to our First Sergeant, SMSgt Dennis Wellman; he is cc'd on this e-mail.

He passed it on to the remaining First Sergeants here, we are trying to reach out to the maximum number possible.

Also, can you send us the link, it will be easier for us pass on that way.

Again, thanks and we look forward to the Christmas ones.

v/r Chetan

2007-10-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Penny’s Postcard Posse Rounds ‘em up Again. . .

Marine Jets Take off on Friday to deliver 639 Miniature Quilts to Our Troops in Iraq for Halloween

Since Halloween is the most celebrated holiday in the US, quilters have once again dropped everything to create tiny quilts for soldiers abroad.

These pocked-size Halloween greetings, made from bits and pieces of fabric, will take off on Friday headed for Marine Squadrons from Miramar that are part of the 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed in Western Iraq to let them know that people here in the States are thinking about them and praying for their safe return.

The postcards were delivered to Miramar on Friday, October 19 to Sargeant Major Louis M. Espinal (pictured above - on the left). Ed Rush, on the right, is a friend of Penny's who arranged for the delivery.

“Halloween is such a fun occasion that soldiers wouldn’t normally celebrate, we thought it would be a wonderful surprise that would bring smiles to soldiers’ faces and fond memories of Trick or Treating.”

The Marines are excited to be recipients of The Postcard Posse's miniature quilts; probably just as excited as the hundreds of quilters are who made them.

This Roundup included quilters as well as children from a second grade class at an elementary school in El Cajon, members of the College Lutheran Church, the La Mesa Rotary Club, and the staff at North Island Federal Credit Union.

In addition to the fabric postcards that were delivered to Miramar, cards were sent directly to Iraq to soldiers from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Cleveland, Ohio.

The next Roundup is scheduled for Thanksgiving, with deadlines fast approaching i order to get the cards winging their way across the globe for arrival before Thanksgiving day. In addition, quilters will be making cards for Christmas. In fact, fabric postcards have already been arriving for both of those holidays.

While I was at Miramar, I found out that soldiers from San Diego will once again begin deploying after the first of the year. It seems to me that there is no reason to wait until they are already over there. How about if we have our first 2008 Penny's Postcard Roundup start in January so individual soldiers can carry a pocket-size quilt with them as they travel across the globe to serve our country!

More later -Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

2007-09-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

Penny's Postcard Posse Begins Rounding up Tiny Fabric Postcards for Halloween

Tiny fabric quilts are starting to pour into the West Coast How-to-Quilt Headquarters. To date 255 fabric postcards have been received and will be going to soldiers in Iraq at the end of September.

The theme is Halloween. We thought that this fun and widely celebrated holiday would be a good time to just "pop" in to send our Thanks and Greetings to the troops serving in our military.

Photographs continue to be posted at www.Fabric-Postcards.com for this Roundup as well as all Roundups in the past.

Check it out to see what's been sent, and get your creative juices flowing to send a card or two of your own.

No special skill is required, just a few scraps of fabric and your imagination will put a smile on the face of a guy or gal who is far away from home wondering whether anyone is thinking of them.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com

www.TheQuiltingCoach.com

2007-07-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

2163 Fabric Postcards Rounded up in Penny's Postcard Posse

The 4th of July Postcard Roundup was a rousing success with a final count of 2163.

This Roundup attracted elementary and middle school children as well as Girl Scout troops, a YMCA after school program, and individual quilters.

Several quilters sent in more than 100 each, and one quilter sent in 986!

Pictures are posted at: http://www.fabric-postcards.com/july0407pics.shtml

On a more local front, my home town of La Mesa and the surrounding area - San Diego - ran a story on the local TV news on the 4th of July. You can watch it here:

Local Woman Touches Lives Of Troops Through Quilts - Video - KGTV San Diego

And, my local Assemblyman, Joel Anderson, recognized the work of our quilting community on the Friday before the 4th with a Resolution from the State Assembly.

Thank you to everyone who sent in postcards. To think that we reached 2163 soldiers with a piece of their homeland that they will have forever is just amazing!

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com

P.S. We're gearing up for the Halloween Roundup. I've been asked to speak at a local middle school about quilting, and I will be taking some fabric postcards for them to decorate. If you have an opportunity like that or can create one - go for it!

2007-06-20T20:47:00.001-07:00

Penny's Postcard Posse - 2nd Annual Roundup for the 4th of July

With the 4th of July just around the corner, Penny's Postcard Posse's mailbox is teeming with activity.

More than 1000 fabric postcards were made by quilters around the country and will be off to Iraq within days.

For this Penny's Postcard Posse Roundup, several school children contributed postcards in addition to quilting groups and individual quilters and their friends and families.

This is just one of the fabulous postcards, and serves as an example of the thought, effort and love that quilters are putting in to making these tiny quilts for the soldiers abroad.

By Friday, June 22, a big box of fabric postcards will be winging its way to Iraq to be distributed to individual soldiers who are far away from home, and missing their loved ones.

This is the sixth Postcard Posse Roundup during the last year. In addition to the 4th of July 2006, fabric postcards were Rounded up for Thanksgiving and Christmas 2006, and Valentine's Day and Spring 2007.

More than 1781 postcards were Rounded up by the earlier Posses. The 2nd Annual Penny's Postcard Posse could round up as many as 1200 fabric postcards to send to soldiers for their celebration of the 4th of July.

We are hoping that soldiers will sign on to the blog and post their comments about the cards when they receive them.

In the meantime, check out the pictures as they go up on the website and post your comments on the blog:

http://www.fabric-postcards.com/july0407pics.shtml

With more than 1200, it could take a few days to get them all posted, so visit that page often.

For all the scoop on the project, visit:

http://fabric-postcards.com/

Discover how you can get involved in The Posse and show your support for the individual soldiers who are thousands of miles away from home defending our freedom.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Specializing in Information for Beginning Quilters

www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
Where Quilters Connect

2007-05-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

YMCA Kids Join Penny's Postcard Posse's 2nd Annual Roundup of Miniature Quilts for Our Troops in Iraq for the 4th of July

As a welcome relief from annual tests, children in the YMCA childcare program Green Elementary School in San Diego, California will turn their creativity to postcard-size fabric to express their appreciation to soldiers who are currently serving in Iraq.

These children will join hundreds of quilters across the

United States

who are creating miniature quilts to be sent to the troops for the 4^th of July.

“Quilters have a history of sending quilts to soldiers,” observed Penny Halgren, creator of Penny’s Postcard Posse and leading expert on teaching beginning quilters how to quilt.

“Generally, though, quilts go to wounded soldiers and the families of fallen soldiers. We want to do something special for the soldiers who are out there still fighting the fight for freedom. Full size quilts didn’t seem too practical, so we decided to make tiny quilts that the soldiers can carry with them.”

Children, too, have a history of creating fabric postcards for soldiers. In December 2006, more than 800 postcards from students in La Mesa and Spring Valley elementary schools were collected for the troops from Mountain Home, Idaho who were stationed in

Iraq

.

Penny’s Postcard Posse is celebrating its Second Annual 4^th of July Roundup, following five successful Round ups that have gathered more than 1721 miniature quilts for the troops.

Soldiers from Camp Pendleton (California), Mountain Home (Idaho), and Alberta (

Canada

), have received postcards from the previous Roundups. In addition, wounded soldiers being treated at Landstuhl, Germany received greetings in the Spring. The recipient base will be announced later this month.

To join Penny’s Postcard Posse’s next Roundup, visit www.Fabric-Postcards.com

2007-05-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

Penny’s Postcard Posse Kicks Off its 2^nd Annual Roundup for the 4^th of July

Remembering what the 4^th of July is all about, quilters are once again dropping everything to create tiny quilts for soldiers abroad. These pocked-size greetings, made from bits and pieces of fabric, will be sent to Marines in the remote parts of Iraq to let them know that people here in the States are thinking about them and praying for their safe return.

“Quilters have a history of sending quilts to soldiers,” observed Penny Halgren, initiator of Penny’s Postcard Posse and leading expert on teaching beginning quilters how to quilt.

“Generally, though, quilts go to wounded soldiers and the families of fallen soldiers. We want to do something special for the soldiers who are out there still fighting the fight for freedom. Full size quilts didn’t seem too practical, so we decided to make tiny quilts that the soldiers could carry with them.”

Quilters began this project on Memorial Day 2006, and collect more than 230 fabric postcards by the middle of June, one quilt representing each year since the Declaration of Independence.

“Quilters are amazing,” Halgren continued, “and quite responsive. I suspected that many would enjoy participating in this project, since it was something that anybody could do, and a tiny fabric postcard could be completed in less than 2 hours. It’s impressive to know that in one short year, Penny’s Postcard Posse has rounded up more than 1721 postcards that have been delivered to soldiers in the Middle East.”

Soldiers from Camp Pendleton (California), Mountain Home (Idaho), and Alberta (Canada), have received postcards from the previous Roundups. The recipient base will be announced later this month.

For more information, email Sherry at sherry@how-to-quilt.com; to participate Penny’s Postcard Posse’s next Roundup, visit www.Fabric-Postcards.com

2007-01-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

Penny's Postcard Posse is Riding Again - This Time for Valentine's Day

Last week a letter included in my stack of mail was an envelope with a picture of a solider on it. It said, simply -
"In Iraq They Don't Send Valentines."

With so many quilters sending postcards for the 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas, I thought it would be fun to gather fabric postcards for Valentine's Day.

Since it's coming right up, and it takes about 2 weeks to get the cards to the troops overseas, the deadline for this Postcard Posse is January 31.

All of the details are here:

http://www.fabric-postcards.com/troops.shtml

Check it out and Join the Posse!

Happy Quilting!

Penny
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

2006-12-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Nancy in Mountain Home, Idaho:

"Family Support took the first box of fabric postcards to the cookie drive.. and they were really impressed.

I cannot say THANK YOU enough for all the sentiments, time and beautiful work everyone did..... The troops will value them from people all across the nation telling them they care and thanking them... This means alot right now to our troops. I am glad that you and I could be the rope tieing everything together and especially you!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

I need some thank you's for January and then We will have a major deployment in January so in a few months we will need a lot of thanks you as well as the ones strangling back inbetween. let me know if you have any other ideas?? I just know that we love these to give to our troops.

Three Big Boxes and Three Big Envelopes Later.....

In all, we have sent almost 700 of these tiny greetings to soldiers for the holidays, thanks to all of you.

This will be an ongoing project for us at www.How-to-Quilt.com and www.Fabric-Postcards.com.

The details might change, but the theme is the same - - let's let our troops know how much we appreciate them when they are abroad and when they arrive home.

Nancy indicated that Thank You cards are needed as soldiers return to their US base. Whenever the spirit moves you, make some cards, and send them along to us here at How to Quilt, PO Box 2112, La Mesa, CA 91943. We'll continue to post pictures of your creations and forward the fabric postcards to the Air Force Base in Mountain Home, Idaho.

If you have a school group or church group and would like a donation of fabric, please contact us, and we'll see you get the materials you need to make cards!

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Milesa

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

2006-12-07T22:55:00.000-08:00

School Children Create Fabric Postcards for the Troops

Hundreds of elementary school children and many of their parents pulled together to honor the troops serving us abroad.

As a part of Penny's Postcard Posse, children in four schools expressed their creativity and appreciation to the soldiers who are abroad protecting their freedom.

One school used this as a project for Family Night, giving parents and children an opportunity so talk about the soldiers who are stationed far away from home and will not be home for the holidays.

After putting the finishing touches on her card, a 4 year old asked her mom where her card was going. When the mom told her, the little girl asked if she could send it directly to her brother who is stationed in Iraq. She proudly, yet sadly, tucked the postcard in her pocket so she could mail it to him. Just a little reminder of how individuals are affected by having their loved ones serving us to protect our freedom.

In addition to the kids, quilters from all around the country sent in cards. Several made more than one. Many needlessly apologized, saying that their cards weren't perfect, and said that it was the first quilt-type thing they had ever made.

All of the cards are wonderful, and I know that the soldiers will love and appreciate each and every one of them.

The dozens and dozens of cookies that will accompany these precious cards are getting ready to board a plane, and will be welcomed as the troops are reminded of home and the people here whose freedom they are protecting.

Pictures of the fabric postcards can be found at:

http://fabric-postcards.com/christmaspostcardpics.shtml

With the last minute roundup of hundreds of cards, we've gotten a little behind in posting the pictures, so we'll post them as we get them formatted. Keep watching!

It seems fitting that our day of collection is Pearl Harbor Day, giving us an opportunity to thank soldiers on active duty at the same time honoring soldiers stationed at Pearl Harbor during a time when the world was at war.

Thanks to everybody who participated. Feel free to post comments about the project, and pass the word on to your friends - quilters or not. Penny's Postcard Posse Roundup will round 'em up for Valentines' Day - so get your thinking caps on :-)

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

2006-12-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

Penny's Holiday Postcard Posse

The first shipment of 263 fabric postcards left San Diego today on its way to Mountain Home, Idaho.

There these little treasures will join up with dozens of handmade cookies, packed on a plane and head to parts East for our troops abroad.

It's amazing to see the cards and read the greetings that quilters and their friends have written to the soldiers.

The Rancho Murieta Quilters got together and made a bunch. Bonnie, from Quillows by Bonnie (http://www.quillowsbybonnie.com/) rounded up a hundred of her family and friends and sent cards with greetings. (They are shown in the row on the right in the picture above.)

Husbands have joined in, kids have scribbled their greetings, and maybe even a dog or cat has included their fur with a greeting.

We've seen all sizes and shapes - well, many anyway! From tall, skinny Santas to fat Christmas ornaments, and everything in between. Very colorful, they are.

And the messages on the back. All with words of support, wishes for the holidays and prayers for their safe return home.

Our friends at the base in Idaho continue to be most grateful for all of these little treasures and send their best wishes to all of the quilters who participated.

Our deadline for postcards to be included with the 1000 dozen cookies that are being sent is December 7. But, there continues to be appreciation for fabric postcards for soldiers who are returning to the base, and for families in Idaho who are missing their husbands and fathers.

Send your fabric postcards along at any time, with any theme. "Thank you" cards and "Welcome Home" cards are especially welcome!

More later - I'm back to taking pictures so I can post them at Holiday Postcard Posse Central -

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

2006-11-28T22:19:00.000-08:00

Greetings, Quilters!

The Christmas Postcard Posse is in full swing! The cards are rolling in, and the deadline is fast approaching.

The variety of postcards is fantastic - we've got fun snowmen, trees, ornaments, and evan Santa on motorcycles.

The kids and families in our schools are gearing up for some fun. I've delivered more than 25 yards of fabric to 4 different schools, and more to come.

To date, two classrooms and two whole schools will be contributing fabric postcards for this Roundup.

Good thing, since our goal is to get 1000 cards to send to troops from Idaho. These cards will be packaged with a dozen cookies. I'm glad I'm workin' on postcards and not cookies. Somehow, fabric seems more manageable!

Anyway, to see what has been contributed so far, check out Fabric-Postcards.com Holiday Pics

Also, on the home page of Fabric-Postcards.com, scroll down to the bottom and click on the picture of the house postcard to get instructions for some simple postcards that kids can design with crayons or markers.

Remember, the deadline to get them to me is December 7! They'll be on their way overseas on December 10 - to arrive in time for the Holidays.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

2006-11-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

Greetings Quilters-

Just a quick message. Last night in the wee hours, I finished putting some fabric postcard designs together for the Christmas/Holiday Postcard Posse.

And an simple page with the basic information about this Roundup.

Since you have participated before, I figured you didn't need a whole lot of details, 'just the facts, ma'am.'

So, the basic facts and link to the patterns are here:

http://fabric-postcards.com/christmas.shtml

We'll be posting pictures soon - some postcards have already arrived.

This Roundup is for 1000 postcards to be included with cookies that are being baked by a team in Idaho.

We can do it!

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

2006-11-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

The Latest from Nancy:

Penny,

I contacted the Lady that is in charge at Family Support on base and brought the cards to her this morning!!

She loved them.. she couldn't say enough nice things about them.. Could you PLEASE pass this on to the group as I am at work and cannot find the proper link right now... Anyways... she promised she will get them out before Thanksgiving... we have several events coming up with the families of deployed and they are going to give some of the cards to them to send to their airman the rest will be sent out in different methods and some will give them to airman that are on base through the holidays... they are going to put them in food baskets for families that need the extra help... They definitely will be used and appreciated...

My friend also asked if you might be willling to do them for christmas... I said yes.. so the sooner the better and the more the better... Also... a request is maybe some Just Welcome Home ones and some Thank you ones.. no holiday. What is being done the airman that come home and are single they have gift baskets they give to them and she would like to include some postcards in these baskets. I am still so overwhelmed at the outpour and outreach of everyone with the terrific cards..

I am sorry the last base did not appreciate them but we sure do ( our gain!!!)... and if you want we will continue to accept any and all postcards and themes you want to use....

If you want to use my address in the future you may, this will save you in postage of fed Exing them... and I will take each batch I get to Family Support or any group that will benefit from them... The Christmas ones will go with our cookies... to deployed airman and the singles that stay in the dorms during the holidays... and canot get home... and some will go straight to Family SUpport Center to disperse... I will continue to look for other contacts to get more out in other ways...

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM of MY HEART!!

EVERYONE THAT PARTICIAPTED ROCKS.. I cired again as we were looking at them.. and the lady at Family Support intends to show our commnader.

Thank you again from each of our airman that recieves one of these terrific postcards...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Nancy

I'm glad we found an appreciative home for our fabulous fabric postcards!

I will be getting information about the Holiday Posse up within the next few days. I have alaready received a package of Snowmen. Our deadline for the next round is December 7.

Thanks again and Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

2006-11-14T05:54:00.000-08:00

Turkeys Arrive in Idaho!

Turkey Postcards, that is.

The box of postcards arrived at the base in Idaho on Friday, and Quilter Nancy sends this message to all of us:

Penny,

I received the beautiful postcards..

I sat and looked at each of them and cried.. realizing how much love went into each on of these... They are awesome... Now tomorrow I am taking them to the base and see how I can get them to airman... I picked a few and already sent them to friends overseas.. and I will go to family support tomorrow...

THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.. my hubby was overwhelmed by these lovely pieces of love, also......

THANK YOU!!

Nanc

Thanks, Nancy, for letting us know how important these cards are to the men and women abroad.

The messages on the back of the cards are inspiring and full of encouragement. The letters that several of you sent with your cards were equally inspiring to me.

Many quilters' husbands decided to participate and sew postcards. Many said they had been in the service and wanted to continue to support the folks serving now.

Several quilters commented that it was their first attempt at a paper pieced quilt. And others said it was their first attempt at any kind of quilt.

I know that the troops will love each and every one of the cards, and appreciate the thoughts and love behind them.

And now for the Year End Holidays

Whichever holiday you celebrate at the end of the year - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just New Year, start stitchin' fabric postcards. Nancy and her local "support" troops (the families still on base) are baking 1000 dozen cookies to send overseas, and would like to have 1000 fabric postcards to send with them - one for every dozen.

That sounds overwhelming, but we can do this! There are 2 entire schools of children here in "my" school district who are planning to participate. With 300 children in each school, we're almost there.

More details and patterns will be forthcoming. In the meantime, stitch away and send your completed cards to me at: P.O. Box 2112, La Mesa, CA 91943. We'll get pictures posted and track progress toward the goal of 1000 cards.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

2006-11-11T18:01:00.000-08:00

The Posse Has Done it Again!

It'll be a Happy Thanksgiving in Iraq and parts East thanks to a herd of willing quilters all over the world.

This Roundup caught quilters from the England, Scotland and the Netherlands as well as quilters from across the US.

The range of designs included everything from patchwork to turkey appliques and whatever comes between.

We got squares, small rectangles, big rectangles and medium sized rectangles. And colors galore. You can see that some quilters picked Fall colors, while others chose patriotic, Spring, or just plain bright, festive colors.

Thanks to our friends at FedEx, the box arrived in Mountain Home, Idaho, and will be on their way to the troops abroad shortly.

And thanks to all of the quilters who participated in this Turkey for the Troops Roundup. We know that the troops will enjoy every postcard.

You can see all of them here:

http://fabric-postcards.com/turkeypostcards.shtml

There are two pages of pictures, so be sure to click on the link taking you to the second page.

It's not too late to send yours along. All of the information is here:

http://fabric-postcards.com/thanksgiving.shtml

As they arrive, new pictures will be posted. Be sure to visit again.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

2006-10-19T23:25:00.000-07:00

Turkeys for the Troops

We get mail. Especially when there is something fun and exciting going on, like making fabric postcards to send to the guys and gals stationed abroad.

Last week, Quilter Bonnie sent me the following email:

A Simple Thank You

"No," he responded.

"Heading out I asked?"
"No. I'm escorting a soldier home."

"Going to pick him up?"
"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to his family."

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, "Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do."

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United State s Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

signed: Stuart Margel -- Washington, D.C

Red Fridays

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that ... every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can we do to make things better for you?" is ..."We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out
and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!

If you haven't already gotten the details about our fantastic fabric quilt postcard "Turkey for the Troops," project, check it out here:

http://fabric-postcards.com/

Quilters from all over the world, and with all different skill levels are sending in quilts. Feel free to make up your own pattern, or just take a couple of pieces of fabric, zig zag around the outside, draw a picture, sign it and send it in. Our troops overseas will appreciate your thoughts and kind words.

It's free to participate. If you fill in the order form, with no credit card number, you can get updates on the project and tips about paper piecing.

If you have questions, send them to us at: turkeys@fabric-postcards.com We're here to help you on the project, and get as many sent off to troops abroad as we possibly can. Our goal is to gather more than 400 fabric postcards.

Happy Quilting!

2006-10-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings, Quilters -

The Turkey for the Troops fabric postcards are beginning to fly in!

Here is just one of many fabulous cards we have received here in beautiful La Mesa, CA.

The project is to gather 400 fabric postcards to send to our troops abroad. This seems like a huge goal, yet when quilters gathered for a similar project for the 4th of July, more than 225 were shipped to Iraq.

Beginning with that group of quilters, we expect the group to expand, so we can easily reach 400 in no time at all, and far exceed that number by the deadline on November 7. This deadline will give us plenty of time to get them wrapped and shipped to our troops in time for them to celebrate Thanksgiving with a little turkey - or some other small piece from home.

Pictures of all of the fabric postcards are posted at:

http://fabric-postcards.com/turkeypostcards.shtml

Take a look at those and also at the postcards sent abroad in July:

http://fabric-postcards.com/memorialdaypostcards.shtml

to see some great ideas for your fabric postcard for our troops.

Come join Penny's Postcard Posse at:

http://fabric-postcards.com/

We're giving away a packet of FREE patterns for you to use, or create your own original design. All of the details are on the site.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.fabric-postcards.com

2006-10-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

Turkeys for the Troops

We get mail. Especially when there is something fun and exciting going on, like making fabric postcards to send to the guys and gals stationed abroad.

Last week, Quilter Bonnie sent me the following email:

A Simple Thank You

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

"No," he responded.

"Heading out I asked?"
"No. I'm escorting a soldier home."

"Going to pick him up?"
"No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq. I'm taking him home to his family."

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, "Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do."

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United State s Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

signed: Stuart Margel -- Washington, D.C

WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!!

If you haven't already gotten the details about our fantastic fabric quilt postcard "Turkey for the Troops," project, check it out here:

http://fabric-postcards.com/

Quilters from all over the world, and with all different skill levels are sending in quilts. Feel free to make up your own pattern, or just take a couple of pieces of fabric, zig zag around the outside, draw a picture, sign it and send it in. Our troops overseas will appreciate your thoughts and kind words.

It's free to participate. If you fill in the order form, with no credit card number, you can get updates on the project and tips about paper piecing.

If you have questions, send them to us at: turkeys@fabric-postcards.com We're here to help you on the project, and get as many sent off to troops abroad as we possibly can.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

Penny is a quilter of more than 24 years who seeks to interest new quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create beautiful quilts.

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

2006-10-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

Wow! The Turkey for the Troops fabric postcards are starting to fly in. It’s been just about a week, and we already have a bunch. Want to see them? Here they are:

http://fabric-postcards.com/turkeypostcards.shtml

You might want to bookmark that page, and keep checking it until yours shows up! If it’s on its way to us, it’ll be posted soon. We are cranking them up there within 24 hours of their flying in the door.

If you haven’t started yet – why wait? This is a great project, and easy to do. You can see that everything is possible and welcome. We’ve got flags, turkey in the straw, and original designs from appliqué to quilted print fabric.

Sizes range from 3” by 5” to 4” by 6” so far. Remember last time, we got them up to about 9” by 12.”

And I am pleased to report that a gal in the UK is sending hers along, too. Yes, their guys and gals are over there fighting alongside of our troops, and everybody loves Turkey!

Check out the idea and get the free download of patterns. By way of explanation, there is a free packet of patterns. You do need to enter your name and email address – no credit card info. That way, you will hear the news firsthand.

http://fabric-postcards.com/

If you want the step-by-step guide, it does cost a little.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

2006-10-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

Penny's Postcard Posse is at it Again!

We're rounding up postcards to send to the troops abroad for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day is great if you are surrounded by your family and friends. But what if you are far away, fighting unpredictible enemies in a foreign land?

Even surrounded by your military friends, I would imagine that Thanksgiving just doesn’t have the same meaning.

And what about the “thanks?” There you are sitting among a bunch of military folk, sharing turkey (maybe) and stories of Thanksgivings at home, hearing words of appreciation from each other – about protecting someone’s backside from attack.

Because the last fabric postcard drive was so successful, I decided that gathering postcards for Thanksgiving would be a fabulous follow-up.

We all know that everyone loves a quilt and appreciates the love and warm thoughts stitched into the design. Full size quilts for the troops seemed pretty impractical, although I would imagine as the Fall turns into Winter abroad, some full size quilts might be much appreciated.

In any case, I decided that sending our thanks to the troops in pocket-size packets of love would once again be a fun thing to do.

This time, I started a little earlier on the project, so you would have more than just 3 weeks to get your postcards made and shipped to us. Imagine that, it’s the first week in October, and Thanksgiving is 8 weeks away. Given that it takes two weeks to deliver the post cards overseas, that means that you have 6 weeks from today to make a fabric postcard or two or three, and send them along to us here at www.How-to-Quilt.com / www.Fabric-Postcards.com.

And this time, I’ve put together more than just one pattern. The theme is turkeys. And they are traditional patchwork – paper pieced – and this packet of patterns is free.

All of the information is available at: www.Fabric-Postcards.com

It's FREE to participate, and you can use whatever design you would like - doesn't need to be turkeys.

Join in the fun and keep up with the progress. The goal is to get 400 fabric postcards to send overseas by November 7.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

www.Fabric-Postcards.com - Quilt Greetings Across the Miles

www.How-to-Quilt.com - Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

2006-09-15T22:32:00.000-07:00

Get ready, Quilters!

An awesome quilter wrote in last week and asked about the Fabric Postcards for the Troops project.

Now that I have wrapped up the DVD project, and quilters can get a step-by-step DVD showing a quilt project from start to finish in an easy-to-follow format, it's time to focus once again on our troops in Iraq.

Even though it seems months away, Thanksgiving will be upon us before we know it. And what a grand time to send thanks to our troops.

I have scoured my quilt block books for block patterns that are easy to make and have turkey in the name, and have come up with four of them. I am in the process of putting the patterns together in fabric postcard size, and will be writing step-by-step instructions for one of them.

These patterns can be paper pieced (foundation pieced) or patchwork pieced. The step-by-step instructions will be for paper piecing, so our beginning quilters can get a taste of paper piecing as a technique. (just don't eat this turkey - it probably won't taste very good anyway!)

Look for the patterns and announcement of the project the last week in September. This will give everyone 4-6 weeks to complete their fabric postcards, and send them along so we can forward them to the troops abroad.

All the goodies will be found at:

http://www.fabric-postcards.com/

Check back the week of September 25 (whoa! That's my mom's birthday - I won't reveal her age, though!)

Happy Quilting!

www.How-to-Quilt
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

©2006, Penny Halgren
Penny is a quilter of more than 24 years who seeks to interest new quilters and provide them with the resources necessary to create beautiful quilts.

This article courtesy of http://www.Fabric-Postcards.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

2006-08-02T00:08:00.000-07:00

Fabric Postcards for the Troops - Penny's Postcard Posse

Greetings, Quilters!

The race is on. With a June 15 deadline and Magical Motivators, quilters all over the country are rushing to send their fabric postcards in to How-to-Quilt.com.

The project is to collect tiny quilts, more commonly known as fabric postcards, and send them to the troops overseas.

Penny's Postcard Posse began the project last Sunday, May 29, and already the postcards are rolling in.

Quilters in discussion groups are participating, quilters in quilt guilds are in on the deal, and individual quilters who have never done anything like this before are sending these tiny greetings in.

They are truly inspirational, and pictures are being added each day as the fabric postcards arrive.

There's still time to get the details and send yours in. It's really easy to participate.

Create your own design. There is a pattern available for an American flag paper pieced tiny quilt. We have been told that flags won't be acceptable for sending abroad, especially to Iraq. That being the case, any postcards that can't be sent to Iraq may go to a different site abroad, or may go to a hospital to be given to soldiers wounded in the war. Feel free to create a home scene, favorite park, tree, even a photo transfer of your family onto the fabric. Anything that will remind a soldier that we are with them and praying for their safe return.

Make it almost any size. We are trying to keep them small, so the soldiers can carry them in their pockets. Postcard size is a general guide - 3" by 5," 4" by 6" and anything in between. We'll take them all!

Use whatever materials you would like. Cotton is good, polyesters are fine. You can use batting, if you would like. Some quilters use interfacing, making it easier to write a greeting on the back. You may not want to get carried away with buttons and things that will dangle from it.

Yes, make a back and write a greeting! Include whatever information you would like. Some quilters have included their name and address. Who knows, you may get a letter from a soldier. How cool would that be?

You may send one directly to a soldier, if you have a contact and would like to do that. If you would like a picture of your postcard posted on our site, send the photo along to us at: info@how-to-quilt.com. Your picture can be any size. We will size it to fit our site, and post a large one as a link to boot!

Join in the fun! We will continue to post pictures, collect cards and keep you updated.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
www.How-to-Quilt.com
Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com
Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts

www.Fabric-Postcards.com
Quilt Greetings Around the World