I live with my retired husband, a Vietnam veteran, in Portland, Oregon. I’ve been sewing most of my life and piecing quilt tops since 1990.
I went to work in 1990 after taking care of family for 22 years. Montavilla Sewing Center hired me as a sewing teacher and I retired as a store manager in 2011. A friend asked me to coordinate a QOV group in Gresham, Oregon. and that was the beginning of my involvement in QOV in Oct. 2012. I wanted to make a quilts for veterans to show our appreciation for their service. Montavilla Sewing Centers has 3 locations where we meet, Beaverton, Portland, and Gresham. Our groups had our first quilt presentation on Veteran’s Day 2012 and we presented 15 quilts and it was very emotional and moving for the veterans(one of which was my husband) and the families and QOV members. We have several presentations in the works.
My job with the QOV staff is to get the word out about Quilts of Valor, to tell them about the website and to invite them to our group sew-ins. Also to teach people who want to learn to quilt and to help with presentations. It is a very worthy cause and I am glad I am part of QOV.