Veronica's Christmas Present

This is Veronica's present from her daughter.  Do I need to say anymore?

This is only 1/4 of it, it's pretty big, it will cover a queen size bed.  We don't know who made it or when.  She found it at an antique store and paid $15.00 for it.  What a find.  It does have a couple of little stains on it, so we'll use Sew Clean on it and spray it with Sew Fresh to freshen it up, but it is truly wonderful.  Veronica was so happy.

 Here is a close up of one of the blocks

and another

and another.  

Aren't these fabrics great????????/

It is all hand quilted.  This is a close up.

Wow, this is just amazing!

Happy Labor Day

I don't know about you guys, but I'm laboring today.

I'm trying to save the girls at the office.  I'm an Alligator Wrestler.  

I know some of you are on your boat for the last "summer weekend", so be careful and come back to see what I've got for you tomorrow.

Happy December 1! Let the Christmas Madness Begin!

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer. Each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

 

May We Never Forget the Price of Freedom

 

While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms.

                                                           ~ Randy Neugebauer

On the 11th Hour, of the 11th Day, of the 11th Month, in towns and cities all across the world; men and women from all walks of life will take a moment out of their lives, to stop, reflect on, and remember all those that fought and died in the name of our freedom…

 

Happy Veteran's Day and Thank You

to Servicemembers Past and Present

You did WHAT with the Applique Pressing Sheet!?!: BBQ in Style!

Jaggie here! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! I am so stuffed from all the food I ate yesterday! We spent the morning at Veronica and Kevin's ranch with their daughter and grandson, then went to the grandparent's ranch and celebrated in true Texas form with fajitas! We ate until we all felt like an old lazy ranch dog lounging in the shade of the porch on a hot Texas day ... oh, wait! That's exactly what we did!

Well, before we all reached that point, Veronica and Michelle spent the morning organizing the "Creative Room" at the office and then Veronica's personal sewing room. Going through and organizing fabrics and notions is always motivating for them to get projects and samples finished and of course inspires new things for us to share with our Bear Thread Designs friends!

Michelle is a master organizer, but I think she learned at an early age that if she volunteers to help her mom organize the "craft chaos", then she gets to raid the stash! That's exactly what she did yesterday, working on three different projects, two of which she completed. So as part of our "You did WHAT with the Applique Pressing Sheet!?! series, here is my favorite ...

She made the lil guy an apron so he could help with the 4th of July BBQ. He was more interested putting rocks into the empty planters, but maybe next time!

The pattern is from one of the Bear Thread Designs, Inc. applique books called, "A Season to Applique", and it features quick and easy patterns for a variety of holiday and sasonal projects!

Did you do any projects over the holiday? What did you do? We'd love to hear about them!

If you "like" our Facebook page and post a photo of your 4th of July project, you'll be entered into a drawing for this book. If someone comes to our page and posts that you sent them, you will get a second shot at the drawing! (They must link to your name so we can contact you if you win.) You The contest will end July 31, 2012 so hurry and visit our page today! The winner will get it in time to start on some fun fall projects!

Well, I'll be exploring all the newly discovered fabrics and notions in our Creative Room, and will have more patriotic and other projects for you in the coming days! Come back and visit for a free pattern or two!

Charity Spotlight: Quilts of Valor Foundation Patriotism Year-Round

Today as we prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, Veronica asked if I could share a post with you written by her daughter, Michelle, an Army wife. Michelle and her family have faced the many challenges associated with being one of today's military families and writes her own blog about their adventures. Michelle was more than happy to share her post with us, so I hope you enjoy!

~~~~~

Quilts to Honor and Comfort

Today was my first day off after completing my first week at my new job, but mom called last night and said she needed help at the Bear Thread Designs Booth booth at the Woodlands Area Quilt Quild's Quilt Show, in Woodlands, Texas, so off I went. Boy, was I glad I did when I get there.

This year's theme was "Celebrate America!" and more than half the quilts on display were red, white and blue. Here are just a few!!

Amazing, right!?! It was so beautiful, and I kept leaving our booth to go look at them. So much attention to detail went into them!

Also, featured was the Quilts of Valor Foundation. QOVF is a non-profit organization that makes, collects and distributes quilts to America's servicemembers touched by war.

Did you know, 390 quilts are needed each month to meet the requests of their standing destinations in Afghanistan, Germany and the United States? That's  4,680 quilts a year!

A Quilt of Valor is a generous lap-sized quilt (minimum of 55 X 65) made by a quilt-topper (the piecer) of quality fabrics and beautifully quilted by a longarmer.   After it has been bound, washed, labeled and wrapped in a presentation case, it is ready to be awarded. 

Quilts are awarded at many different levels: they may go to military hospitals where Chaplains award them to service members; there may be presentations of QOV’s to entire service units returning from combat  deployments; they may be awarded at VA’s or presented individually. But no matter how a Quilt of Valor is given, the impact it delivers is unequivocal.

This organization depends on donations and volunteers to reach its goal of saying "thank you" to these heroes.

Isn't that booth amazing. From what I understand, these quilts will eventually go to injured service members on their way back to the United States.

More information? Here is the brochure they hand out to explain their mission:

Are you wondering how you can participate? Every little bit helps ...



~~~~~

The Bear Thread Designs Family would like to say thanks so much to all of our service members and their families for all their sacrifices.



Happy Father's Day to All the Dads in the Quilt-iverse

One of my favorite quotes about fathers, or step-fathers, is by actor Sidney Poitier. He said ...

"I decided in my life that I would do nothing that

did not reflect positively on my father's life."

It is a reminder that in everything we do, we are not alone. What are some of the lessons you learned from your dad or step-dad that helped you become the person you are today?

The Bear Thread Designs, Inc. family would like to wish you a

Happy Father's Day!

May your day be filled with many memory making events.