Penny's Postcard Posse Greetings for the Troops

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Dear Friend -

Penny's Postcard Posse began last year Rounding up fabric postcards to send to the troops in Iraq for the 4th of July.

After all, the 4th of July in Iraq is just another day unless it becomes something different by virtue of quilters' intervention!

That Posse Rounded up more than 239 tiny postcard greetings for the soldiers in Iraq. These fabric cards were sent through Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, and pictures of them are posted on this site.

Thanksgiving Turkey postcards for the Troops was just as successful with 284 postcards collected.

For Christmas, one class of children at Kempton Elementary school, all of the children at Casa De Oro Elementary School (both in Spring Valley, California) made fabric postcards to send to the troops. And families at Maryland Avenue Elementary School (in La Mesa, California) made cards at their Family Craft Night in December. Including fabric postcards from our quilters, I stopped counting at 639 postcards, and am certain that we sent more than 800 postcard greetings to the troops abroad.

Several Canadian quilters requested that postcards be sent to their troops who are stationed in Afghanistan. So, for Valentine's Day 2007, quilters sent in 217 postcards that were forwarded to Donna in our quilting community who lives in Alberta, Canada.

The Spring Postcard Posse Rounded up 242 postcards that were sent to wounded soldiers in the hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.

We at How-to-Quilt have been honored to sponsor these Posse Roundups, and look forward to continuing Penny's Postcard Posse Roundup again in 2007. By way of planning ahead, here are the dates and deadlines for the 2007 Postcard Posse Roundups:

The guidelines are: any size, any shape, any color, any design. For each holiday, we will provide a packet of FREE quilt block patterns you can download and use. Or create your own design. "Welcome Home," "Thank You" and other general designs are also appreciated.

Most of the cards have been about 4" by 6." But, as you look at the pictures of other cards, you can tell, the range is wide:

Here are some Patterns to get you started - quick and basic. They are free, and feel free to share them with your friends. This is a pdf file, and should be easy to download, if you have a recent version of Adobe Reader. If not, get one here: Get Adobe Reader here.

Free Pattern for the US Flag Fabric Postcard

Free Valentine's Day Fabric Postcard Patterns

Click on the link below to download the three FREE Spring quilt block patterns. Create a full size quilt block or a tiny fabric postcard for a soldier. Or, maybe do both!

Bird of Paradise - Butterfly - Lily of the Field Quilt Blocks

Free Spring Quilt Block Patterns

Round 'em up and send 'em in to us here:

How to Quilt
7723 Tylers Place Blvd. #327
West Chester, OH 45069

We'll do the rest - make sure they get to the base to be delivered to the troops, and post the pictures.

If you would like to pass this information along, please feel free to download a flyer that has all of the details of the Postcard Posse Project including the dates for 2007.

Also - if you are a teacher or first time quilter, here are instructions for sewing a simple fabric postcard.

Looking for Something Other than a Fabric Postcard?

Quilter Ava suggests: When I was younger and involved with the Navy community here in Florida, some of us got together and purchased bras in the largest cup sizes we could find. We generally found a mark-down bin and paid as little as possible for them.

We stitched fabric onto the cups so we could stuff them with fiberfill, stitched the opening closed, and used permanent marker to write messages on them. Some were embelleshed with cutesy trim, and doused liberally with scent, some even were marked with lip prints (a kiss across the miles!) and were sent to sailors on shipboard to be used as comfort pillows from home.

Our guys thought they were a hoot, and were the envy of all who weren't on the list. Great way to get penpals, and I have heard of many romances and at least one wedding created from these relationships.

As Sheryl Crow says, "making love out of nothing at all" but it was fun, we missed our guys, and they got a real charge out of opening their care package from the States with this goofy gift inside.

If you are interested in sending along your decorated bras - I'll be happy to send them along with our fabric postcards.

And Quilter Betty suggests joining the Hugs Project, originally started in Edmond OK. We make neck coolers/warmers out of cotton fabrics, hand-make knitted wool gloves and hats, and send care packages to the individuals over in Iraq and Afghanisten. We call the area "the sandbox." The website is: www.thehugsproject.com and any quilters willing to help can find other Huggers all across the US and several other countries.

Thanks for participating and Happy Quilting!