Good news, and lots of it.   

Paulette and Phillis both came through with finding the material that I needed to finish off Kevin Creel's quilt.  It will be arriving soon to my home through the mail.  Thank you ladies!

I am happy to say, I had an email from Kevin this morning in my inbox!  We have his current addy here in the USofA to send his quilt out to him when I get it finished.  

Capt. Dan's quilt and the baby bee quilt for his son, Thomas, will be mailed soon.  I am trying to wait patiently for one more card to come through the mail for the baby to be included in the box.   

Natascha has nicely posted on the FIFQB's website the photos of Capt. Dan's quilt and Baby Bee's quilt.  

Thank you everyone for participating in creating these memories for our heroes.

The next one that I'm working on (I have plenty of surplus squares to make it with) is for a contact of mine - Tripp Helms.  I met his mom, Caryn,  on the chat room.  

Hang in there everyone,  I know many of you are anxious to get busy making squares,  I'll catch up with you soon!

 Today I mailed out Capt. Dan's, Baby Bee's, and Kevin Creel's quilts.  One box to Kansas, and one box to Texas. Pat yourselves on the back.  Nice job ladies!

  Because Lynn said that her son and family will be visiting her this week,  I sent it to her home addy.  She hopefully will take some photos of Dan and Thomas with their quilts.   That would be a first.  

  Hopefully Kevin will come on here and post his comments too!

Deni,

I got it!! 

It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen, and Tara and I are both so appreciative.  It was a walk down memory lane to show her and Jacob the different squares and explain their meaning.  Thank you for your hard work and for the obvious love you put into this.  I promise to take some pictures soon and get them posted on here!

If anyone is in contact with Natascha, please give her a big hug from me and let her know she's in my happy thoughts and prayers.

If you ever visit south Texas, I owe you dinner!  :)

Kevin

 Oh, Kevin,

  you don't know how happy that makes me to know that the quilt is finally in your hands!  Pictures will be most welcomed!  Thank you for posting!

Yesterday Capt. Dan opened up his box with his quilt and his son's baby quilt enclosed.   Both care packages successfully delivered.   I could kiss those postal carriers!

Kevin......so glad you enjoyed the quilt.    Hope you weren't wondering about the crocheted one toooo much.   I wanted to participate in this.......but don't quilt....so put together a square of colors.    I believe as Natascha does and all the fellow quilters.......reaching out and giving a  WARM HUG   .   I still crochet for others (smaller blankets) for that exact reason.....the HUG!!!!  

I did not have the pleasure in participating in your postcard drive.......but now send many out to other units.   I make it a point that if we travel or hubby does......we always pick up postcards......that small bit of home that can easily be sent out to our troops.    Again........THANK YOU for your time and service.

Love peace and many blessings to you and your wife...........Anne Marie

  Good morning you support junkies!

Check out the pictures that Natascha has posted on:   

  freedomisntfreequiltingbee.blogspot.com/.   

This is the first time we've had photos to share of the recipient and their quilt!

Now that all the happy dances have been played out,  we have work to do.   There are already 3 quilts in the thinking stage,  one for a deployed Soldier, whose Mom I met in the Chat Room last year, and the other 2 will be Memorial Quilts for 2 parents that we know and love from the Forum and Chat Room who recently lost their sons.  

The 2 Memorial Quilts need your help, so please sign up to make a 8.5" x 8.5" quilt square.   

For more information,  please email or pm me.  

Thank you!

Thank you!

 Good morning, 

   Now that I have my cards completed and mailed out to Heidi for her Summertime Card Swap,  I am getting focused again on getting these 3 quilts listed above in the process of getting pieced together.  

Thanks Natascha and Phillis for sending me your squares.  Both are precious.

I have quilt squares coming in from Kerri, Jenifer, Anne Marie, Donna, Lynne, Natascha, Steff, Joyce, Vicki, Lynnette, and Heidi.  

I have some in our stash that I will be using from Laura, Colleen, Donna, Lynne, myself, Anne Marie (R,W,B crocheted),  and Heidi. 

Are there any others who would like to join us?  

Hello Deni and fellow Bees....

Just to let you know my recent squares are in the mail to you today.    I made some new Red,White, Blue ones......your decision if you want to discard the older ones......I like the way these came out better.   Hopefully you'll have the envelope on Monday.........

Have a great weekend......happy quilting, card making, writing and packaging!!!!

Love peace and blessings........Anne Marie

 A little bit of any update.   We are currently working on 4 quilts!  I am waiting for the other busy bees to finish their squares and get them mailed out to me.  

I am happy to say, that our 4th quilt recipient that was nominated last year by Amy M.  has been found back in the USofA and will be receiving his quilt sometime hopefully in the next few months.  After a couple of months of searching, I was able to track him down through another Marine's blog. 

Will get back with more news later after that news happens.

 Update -  yesterday I began work on the first of five quilts that are in the works.   There are 2 for a Soldier and a Marine, and then 3 Memorial Quilts.   I will keep you posted as they are finished.   If you're not on our email list and want to be,  let me know. 

Hi Ladies

just had to share. I was visiting with my mom today, and we went to a little "antique" shop in town. Well, they have several rooms of stuff, and my mom told me that they had one room just full of fabric. You know I couldn't pass that up! So we went today, and I was in sensory overload! Table after table piled high (6-7 parcels tall) of pre measured  fabric bundles. Oh i was in heaven! It was insanity-but controlled. I spent about 30 minutes going trhough it, and only saw about 1/2 of it.  I pulled out a few bundles that I thought would be useful for our quilts, and went to pay for them, and they were all 50% off the marked price!! So, back I went to get a few more. She said it all came from a woman that had owned a craft store a few years ago and and held on to the fabric. She was ready to get rid of it, and they had about 1/2 of what she saved. I only saw what they had out on the table, apparently there were boxes under the table full to the brim, plus what she had in her spare room-which is stuffed full. I will be going back, when I have loads of time, and going through the boxes and the table with a more critical eye. I told them what I was doing with the fabric and they were instantly intrigued. The owner of the antique store wants to see pics of our qults, so i will take the ones Natascha printed out for us and let her see what has been produced. I got a bag-grocery bag size-full of bundles for $15. Best buy i have had in a long time! Can't wait to go back!

Just had to share!

Heidi

btw-the final quilt that we are still sending you the squares for-I am about 1/2 done with it. I have the pieces made, and I am just getting them put together.  Should be in the mail early next week.

my mom loves to cross stitch emboriery (sp) but her normal pillowcases are becoming too big of a project. If you still need squares she said she could do a couple. please contact me if you still need folks to design squares.

 thanks

First off, Heidi,  I wish I lived in your town to go with you to that "antique" store with that room piled high with all that fabric .  Oh what a quilter's or sewer's dream come true!  Have fun shopping and finding some good stuff for the lap quilts we make.  I can't wait to see some of your finds. 

Diggerdeb -  more craftspeople are always welcome to join us.  Your Mom can contribute as many embroidered squares as she wants.  I need them at the smallest 8.5 x 8.5.   Email me and I'll get you added to our list who receives updates from me with pictures.  

Natascha also is updating her blog  where she posts the pictures of the finished quilts.   http://freedomisntfreequiltingbee.blogspot.com/

Just a question??

Squares are to be 12.5  x  12.5 if they don't have a border.

If they had a border would the art work in the middle meed to fir into 8.5 x 8.5 then the border?

thanks  jackie

Another question?? 

How about informantion on the square?