Save the date, Saturday February 1, for a first time LIVE blog event, with lots of ways for you to participate whether you are local to Western NC or live elsewhere.  From My Carolina Home is hosting a Quilts of Valor Sew-In at Beginnings Quilt Shop in Hendersonville, NC, an all day event to make blocks and tops for Quilts of Valor.  We’ll have refreshments, and hourly door prizes!  Plus Beginnings will open early at 9 am, and have a special sale that day too.  You have to come in to see!!

For locals, and those within driving distance, giving the project just one hour of your time will qualify you to win one of the fabulous door prizes!  Or, you can sew at home and bring your blocks to the event to be entered in the hourly drawings for some fabulous prizes at the event that will thrill you!  The first 15 people in the door at 9 am and ready to work will receive a Hobbs Wool Batting 18-inch square sample, large enough for a table topper.  The first 15 people after 1 pm will also receive one!!  Door prizes will include a queen size Quilter’s Dream batting from Quilter’s Dream, Quilt Modern Curves and Bold Stripes and Ombre Quilts 6 Colorful Projects books from C&T Publishing, Aurifil Threads, a Wool Press Mat, Ultimate Presser Foot Set, and a Sew Bright sewing machine light kit from MadamSew, along with a special gift pouch of goodies, coffee mug and more from me.  Yes, you must be present to win.

Bring your sewing machine, or use one of ours
We’ll have irons and cutting tables set up for you
Use our scraps, help cut fabric, iron patches, and help assemble too!!
Stay an hour or stay all day!!

If there is no chapter near you, and you want to help out with this event, just make a star block in red, white and blue using any pattern 12-1/2-inches square, and send them in. Please make the background white or cream.  To be counted and entered into a special drawing for mailed in entries, I must receive the blocks in time for the sew day, no later than January 29th.  This means you need to mail by January 24th, three weeks from today.  One entry per 12-1/2-inch block received, so make several!!  Please measure the final block before sending to ensure it is the correct size.  You can use my Nine Patch Star, an Ohio Star, Friendship Star, Four Patch Star, Variable Star or any star block you like.  The scrappier the better!
Mail to: Carole Carter, PO Box 524, Mountain Home, NC 28758.

To participate in your area, find the nearest chapter to you at the Quilts of Valor Who’s In My Area map.  Just use the right side menu, click on ‘local groups’, fill in your state and hit search.  You’ll get a list of chapters in your state, along with contact information (scroll down the page) so you can participate in the national sew day, join the organization if you like, help out with local needs for longarmers, and more.  Your local area would love to have your help.

You do not need to register to be a part of the local From My Carolina Home QOV Sew In, or Facebook event, just come to Beginnings on Feb 1 between 9 am and 3 pm.  But, if you’d like to be in the national drawing for the sewing machine, use the links for registration if you plan to attend or be a part of this event sewing at home, participating in your own community, or at my event.
If you are a member – Cick HERE for Member Registration
Not yet a member, Click HERE for Non-Member Registration

At 3:00 pm CST on Feb 1, the National QOV Foundation will draw for the GRAND Giveaway of a Janome 3160QOV Sewing Machine!! The drawing will be conducted randomly based upon your registration with the national website for the event.  Notification will be made via e-mail.

Oh and there is more!!  I’ll be posting updates to our Facebook group, Friends of From My Carolina Home, and will be looking for your posts of your local group sewing for QOV.  Someone will win a prize for posting their sharing!!  Make blocks for your local QOV group, or you can mail them to me for use here.  You can follow my blog on Facebook too – From My Carolina Home on Facebook.

Please share this with your quilt guilds, sewing groups, and friends!!  Gather friends for a carpool and come help us out, or deliver blocks and enjoy the day.  Download a pdf press release to put into your January newsletters – Live Blog Event for QOV

Know a veteran who would accept a Quilt of Valor award?  Nominate them at Request a QOV, through the national website.  Your request will be routed to the chapter serving the county where the veteran lives.

I hope to see you at Beginnings Quilt Shop in Hendersonville, NC on Saturday, February 1, 2020 from 9 am to 3 pm!!!
Can you participate with this QOV Sewing project?

If you missed this, take a look at Wrapped Up in Christmas (affiliate link) a holiday romance by Janice Lynn and published by Hallmark.  There is a forward in the book dedicated to Quilts of Valor, a free QOV pattern, and a recipe too.  If it sells well, Hallmark may be making it into a movie for the 2020 holiday season.  Hallmark is interested in helping us to spread the word about Quilts of Valor, so please take a look.

Sharing Whoop Whoop, Alycia Quilts Linky,