Quilters think in terms of "projects", and how they can help a people less fortunate. Project Linus, Quilts for Katrina, the Australian Bushfire quilt project, etc.
When you are the son of a quilter, husband of a quilter, father of a quilter, some of the craft begins to wear off on you. When you are a soldier, and are working to help a people who are without the basic necessities for daily living, and have all these quilting influences, the next thought is, "How can I help?"
Major Art LaFlamme began a project called Iraqi Bundles of Love (IBOL). Now stationed in Iraq, he has arranged for quilters worldwide to send him bundles of quilting supplies that are being distributed to the Iraqi homemakers!
From Art's blog
"Iraqi Bundles of Love is a short-duration project, set to last about six weeks (around Sept. 7, 2009), to surge fabric and sewing materials into the area around which I live in Iraq. It is timed to coincide with both Ramadan, and the departure of my units from Iraq.
It is intended to be a simple project, requiring little effort and little expenditures from those wishing to participate. It is based upon my assessment that sewing fanatics and quilters tend to have stashes that far exceed their actual needs, and that sewing fanatics and quilters are passionate both about sewing / quilting, and about sharing with others.
The general premise is this. I am in Iraq, and I can get mail through the US Postal System. Willing contributors can send to me a flat-rate box of sewing / quilting supplies, all bundled up. I'd open the box, pull out the fully-contained bundle, and hand of off (with others) to our counterparts in the Iraqi Security Forces (Army and others) or the local police, for them to distribute. The stated intent of this operation is to put sewing and quilting supplies into the hands of two types of recipients: locals who desperately need such things, and local sewing co-ops who have received grants or loans (typically to purchase sewing machines, rent space, etc).
****************
As mentioned above, the deadline to help this effort is September 7, so that bundles arrive in time to be distributed by the end of Ramadan. They are arriving already, the US Postal Service delivers Flat Rate box after box. (They are up to 105 currently!)
It is one man (the Major) and his Tucson native battle buddy (the Captain), who tells one woman (his wife), who tells her blog readers (me), those readers take the information and run with it. It's gone viral (well, on a quilting scale anyways!). Isn't the internet an AWESOME thing?
Check-out some of these other blog entries about IBOL:
Kristin, his Wife
Sew Mama Sew
Pink Chalk Studio
A friend's blog
The Happy Zombie
I'm getting my bundle ready this weekend, what are you waiting for?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Camera Operation 101
This could be a repeat post, lol...but I'm old "now", I'm allowed. I just ran across this photo on KMVT's website and wanted to post it.
My husband would tell you that the experience we received regarding camera operation isn't anything like the "real thing". What I would tell you is that I wouldn't trade what I learned, and the fun that I had, for anything!
We received free training while I was an Administrative Assistant at a small Community Television station in northern California...and HE went on to a CBS Affiliate station here in Arizona. Not sure how that happened, and YES, I'm green with envy. We do view television a bit differently now days, "Hey, look at that green screen shot!" and, "Look, she missed her cue!"
Personally, I still like to look at the bump shots of my husband as they cue out the news, and his inclusion in the promos. *grin*
My husband would tell you that the experience we received regarding camera operation isn't anything like the "real thing". What I would tell you is that I wouldn't trade what I learned, and the fun that I had, for anything!
We received free training while I was an Administrative Assistant at a small Community Television station in northern California...and HE went on to a CBS Affiliate station here in Arizona. Not sure how that happened, and YES, I'm green with envy. We do view television a bit differently now days, "Hey, look at that green screen shot!" and, "Look, she missed her cue!"
Personally, I still like to look at the bump shots of my husband as they cue out the news, and his inclusion in the promos. *grin*
Sunday, August 09, 2009
"Tap, tap, tap...Is this thing still ON?"
Yeah, so I have NO idea what happened to the last 6 months.
Some of the things I can remember tho:
First - A MAJOR guest bath reno. We decorated around the shower curtain (which you see reflected in the medicine cabinet mirror) yeah, I'm impractical like that! It is terra cota, and I'm loving it. I promise you, it's not as pumpkin as it appears. We replaced the towel racks, toilet tissue holder and light fixture in brushed nickle. Since replacing the sink and vanity really weren't in the budget, we painted the contractor's grade cupboard using a carmel color. A little remnant left from hemming the shower curtain went on a spare towel.
The second thing I've remembered: Hexagons!
I use mass transit to get to work. My employer thankfully subsidizes our bus passes by 50%, making it quite affordable. Parking in a City lot is $8/day which seems like a good chunk of money. I can't imagine some cities that charge $20 or more/day...ouch!
Riding the bus gives me 20 minutes in the bus each way, and I generally have 30 minutes to spare after eating lunch. I've been toting English Paper Piecing with me, a fantastic handwork project. Below is a pic of my work so far, it's destined for a wallhanging for my cubicle at work. I think it would look best with one more row of 3 diamonds., it's a design-in-progress.
I need suggestions for the borders, I can't decide if I should applique the hexagons onto a border or have the outer row of white be used as part of the seam allowance. What do you think? AND..what color borders? All the fabrics used have a small print, including the white. They are Aunt Grace-like. (I think I made the pics clickable-IF I remembered how, lol.)
Thirdly, my daughter #3 is now in Iraq, a reservist in the Army. Her first request was for "girly sheets". Here is a tease...cuz my soldier reads my blog! Sorry Peach, ya gotta wait for the box, you should get it in a week, it's going out in Monday's mail. Her sisters are having fun gathering items to send, dd#2 has already managed to get a box to her. Dd#1 has a box ready to ship too!
Her box is jam-packed, it'll probably SPRING open! I couldn't even send everything I intended. Guess she'll just have to wait for the next shipment. YES Peach, I won't forget the banana bread, lol.
I invite you to read her blog: www.400daysinIraq.wordpress.com and her battle buddy Erin's: www.erininIraq.wordpress.com . It will give you a good idea of a soldier's view of things.
That's all I can think of from the Sonoran Desert. The monsoons were a bust, they're pretty much over. They're promising an extra wet winter, I'll be waiting!
Some of the things I can remember tho:
First - A MAJOR guest bath reno. We decorated around the shower curtain (which you see reflected in the medicine cabinet mirror) yeah, I'm impractical like that! It is terra cota, and I'm loving it. I promise you, it's not as pumpkin as it appears. We replaced the towel racks, toilet tissue holder and light fixture in brushed nickle. Since replacing the sink and vanity really weren't in the budget, we painted the contractor's grade cupboard using a carmel color. A little remnant left from hemming the shower curtain went on a spare towel.
The second thing I've remembered: Hexagons!I use mass transit to get to work. My employer thankfully subsidizes our bus passes by 50%, making it quite affordable. Parking in a City lot is $8/day which seems like a good chunk of money. I can't imagine some cities that charge $20 or more/day...ouch!
Riding the bus gives me 20 minutes in the bus each way, and I generally have 30 minutes to spare after eating lunch. I've been toting English Paper Piecing with me, a fantastic handwork project. Below is a pic of my work so far, it's destined for a wallhanging for my cubicle at work. I think it would look best with one more row of 3 diamonds., it's a design-in-progress.
I need suggestions for the borders, I can't decide if I should applique the hexagons onto a border or have the outer row of white be used as part of the seam allowance. What do you think? AND..what color borders? All the fabrics used have a small print, including the white. They are Aunt Grace-like. (I think I made the pics clickable-IF I remembered how, lol.)
Thirdly, my daughter #3 is now in Iraq, a reservist in the Army. Her first request was for "girly sheets". Here is a tease...cuz my soldier reads my blog! Sorry Peach, ya gotta wait for the box, you should get it in a week, it's going out in Monday's mail. Her sisters are having fun gathering items to send, dd#2 has already managed to get a box to her. Dd#1 has a box ready to ship too!
Her box is jam-packed, it'll probably SPRING open! I couldn't even send everything I intended. Guess she'll just have to wait for the next shipment. YES Peach, I won't forget the banana bread, lol.I invite you to read her blog: www.400daysinIraq.wordpress.com and her battle buddy Erin's: www.erininIraq.wordpress.com . It will give you a good idea of a soldier's view of things.
That's all I can think of from the Sonoran Desert. The monsoons were a bust, they're pretty much over. They're promising an extra wet winter, I'll be waiting!
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