Tonight was our last Paint with Purpose event until the fall. Being that summer is so busy with vacations for so many people, me included, all of the Hearts of Hope chapters take the summer off to enjoy time with family and recharging our batteries. That doesn't mean we won't be getting together for some small activities and ornament making at Sterling House, so be on the lookout for a "Call for Volunteers" once I come back from my vacation to Newfoundland with my family that lives in Canada.
Being the last event of the season, you can expect that this would be the one that I got a bit cocky and thought I would remember everything and wouldn't need to use my Packing Checklist to insure that I had everything I needed for the event. Big Mistake! As we were setting up, I realized I had left the hearts at Sterling House. Luckily, they are 5 minutes away and open until 6 pm. As I raced back to Sterling House, I had texted Pattie ( Newtown's chapter president who always comes to our events) with my dilemma and she just happen to have blank hearts in her car. Of course she did, lol! Pattie is always there to rescue me. Oh, and I also forgot my good camera at home. Well, no time to go all the way to Shelton to get that, so all these photos were taken with my cell phone. Thank goodness it is capable of decent photos. After those two blunders, vow that I will never rely on my blonde brain again and the teacher in me will always stick to the lesson plan and use the check list. Thankfully the remainder of the event went off without a hitch!
Now back to tonight's events. Tonight we painted for the men and women who make the beautiful, heartfelt quilts for the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Tonight, we are painting to thank those selfless quilters for their hard work in helping to honor our Veterans.
Quilts of Valor is a nonprofit organization that is made up of men and women who create amazingly beautiful quilts. The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The Connecticut delegation of Quilts of Valor has come to our event to not only paint with us, but to award a quilt to a Korean War Veteran from Stratford.
All set up and awaiting our guest.
As you can see, Connie is back up for a visit. It feels like she never left!
Our amazing young volunteers, Lily and Lucy, continue to come to every event and help us set up. I am truly going to miss them this summer.
Part of Connecticut Quilts of Valor, including quilters Claire and Chuck, and Jane Dougherty, Co-coordinator for Connecticut Quilts of Valor
Our Korean War Veteran who will be receiving his quilt this evening. Frank and his lovely wife, Jane, have been married for 58 years.
In the upper right hand corner you will see Cindy Guendert, the Co-coordinator for Connecticut Quilts of Valor.
Pattie and Patti
It was so great to see Jodi again! We have missed her. She is one of our amazingly talented artists.
Linda and her daughter Evelyn
It is wonderful to see the Bunko group again.
Lily decided to try her hand at a coloring book heart this month.
Patti's hearts always leave me speechless.
Destiny, Future President in Training, working on her heart.
Connie, Pam, and Luz are busily painting.
The Brelsford's
Here is a short video of Jane introducing the quilts.
Jane is showing off Chuck's latest quilt.
Jane has a long arm machine which sews the two parts of a quilt together. She has created a pattern for her machine to follow when joining the two parts together that is printed in cursive and reads, "Your service...Our freedom". On the back of this quilt you can see the words in reverse. It is absolutely amazing the amount of love and thought and care that goes into each quilt, just like the hearts and messages that each one of you creates for us. So much love and caring and thought...we are so humbled!
Chuck walks around showing our painters the back of the quilt.
Jane continues to give more background into Quilts of Valor.
Bill O'Brien has known Frank since Bill was his paperboy.
Frank gets his orders!
Here is Jane giving Frank his orders about using his Quilt of Valor.
(photo by Quilts of Valor)
After receiving his quilt and his orders, Frank was ready to receive hugs from the people at our event!
We gave Frank a Heart of Hope too. While I was about to hug him, I must have accidentally taken a photo of the quilt and the organza bag in his hand.
The Veteran and his Quilters
(photo by Quilts of Valor)
Gwen