Veterans Day (observed), Quilter's Christmas Party and Charity Drive For Operation Homefront

To all of those who have served, as well as those currently serving, and to their families, Happy Veterans Day!

In the United States, Veterans Day is usually observed on November 11. However, if it occurs on a Sunday then the following Monday is designated for holiday leave.  In 2012, Veterans Day falls on a Sunday, so today, the 12th of November is considered a federal holiday.

I also hope you read my post about the Great Quilt Giveaway, by Clothworks.  This is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to win a quilt to use to raise funds or give a quilty hug for any charity.  Of course, I'm hoping to win a quilt to donate to Operation Homefront, for use in a home that is provided to a wounded warrior during a healing and transition  period for when they leave the military until they find a job and able to support their families.  When you read that post, you can see how you too can help win a quilt for Operation Homefront, Quilts of Valor, Quilts of Honor, or some other charity program that you'd like to provide a quilt to for giving a quilty hug, or to help raise funds.  And, I also hope that you'll help with my dream of winning a quilt for use in Operation Homefront's efforts to help the Wounded Warrior programs, by way of providing comfortable housing for wounded soldiers during their transition time.

I'm excited today to let you know SewCalGal is hosting a Christmas Party for Quilters on December 9th (Sunday) with sponsored prizes!  This party will take on two forms:  A virtual party and a physical party in San Diego.

Virtual Christmas Party - everyone is invited to participate.  You can mark your calendar for a special post and spend time quilting too!  Or, you could contact your local Operation Homefront and hold a similar Physical Party in your area too!  On December 9th, SewCalGal will have a special post where bloggers and non-bloggers can add a linky to share insights on what they are working on, share tips, tutorials, etc.  You may want to share tutorials & inspiration for what you are making for Christmas gifts, or a Patriotic Project Idea.  But sharing will be your way of introducing yourself to others joining this Virtual Christmas Party and your way to help make this Quitler's Christmas Party fun.  Even better if you can research and share insights on Operation Homefront in your State as this is a Nationwide program that focuses on helping Military families with special needs.  You are also welcome to use this image on your blog, but I sure hope you'll link back to this post.   They'll be door prizes just for coming to the party!

Physical Party in San Diego - space will be limited, but if you are interested in attending email me for more info.  Representatives of Operation Homefront and others affiliated with this program will also be at this party to share insights on their programs.  They'll be door prizes just for coming to the party too!

Like many Holiday Parties, both the Virtual Christmas Party and the Physical Party in San Diego will have a charity drive that will benefit various Operation Homefront related projects: 1) Collecting items to go into Baby Gift Baskets that are given to women that deliver babies while their husbands are off fighting in a war, 2) Toys for a special Christmas Party for children of soldiers off fighting, and 3) Cash Donations to help with housing needs for Wounded Soldiers and other programs that help Military Families with special needs.

To make things fun, we have many wonderful sponsors that have donated prizes that will be given out to those attending:

Virtual Christmas Party: 

There are multiple ways to win prizes:

1) Door Prizes:  Come to the Virtual Christmas Party on December 9th, join the party by way of a linky (share what you are doing that tip, tips, tutorials, anything Christmas theme, whatever - just keep it fun and clean).

2)Any donation < $10 you make to Operation Homefront you will get you an entry for a special prize drawing.  As prizes are still coming in, the complete list of prizes have not yet been identified, but will be over $100 worth of prizes.

3) For each each $10 donation to Operation Homefront you will be entered to win a prize.   These "Golden" tickets are given out for every $10 donation for a special drawing.

note:  As this is a fundraiser, SewCalGal is also asking winners to pay for shipping costs of their respective prize(s).

Physical Party in San Diego:  are are several ways to win prizes:

1) Door Prizes - just for coming 2) Buy a raffle ticket at the party for $1 each for a special prize drawing.  As prizes are still coming in, the complete list of prizes have not yet been identified, but will be over $100 worth of prizes. 3) For each $10 donation to Operation Homefront you will be entered to win a prize.
2) Buy a raffle ticket for $1 each to be entered to win prizes.
3) Bring a toy with a $10 or more value, and you will be entered to win a prize.  Over 800 toys are needed to help with an Operation Homefront Christmas Party for kids of Military Families with special circumstances.
4) Bring an item to go into a baby gift basket, with a $10 or more value and you'll be entered to win a prize.  Baskets are given to women who deliver babies while their husbands are off fighting.

note:  Toys/baby Basket items will receive a "Golden ticket" entry  for each $10 worth of items that they donate.  E.G. a $50 item will receive 5 Golden tickets.  And $1 worth of raffle tickets for each $1 value.

Donated prizes will be divided between the Virtual and Physical Parties, as well as for use for Door Prizes, Raffle Tickets, Entries for those that donate money, toys, baby items, etc.  And, some will  be used in an upcoming Virtual Silent Auction.  Each category of door prizes and Raffle prizes will have a separate drawing for the pool of those that entered in that category.  Everyone is eligible to enter to win door prizes.  And you can enter to win prizes buy purchasing raffle tickets ($1 each or < $10 donations), or for the drawing for those that donate $10 or more to Operation Homefront in cash or toys, or items for gift baskets.

Winners will be randomly selected and announced on SewCalGal the week of December 10th.

Quilters that make cash donations to Operation Homefront can do so by visiting their website and submitting an online donation (click here).  Any amount is appreciated and can help to make a difference to a Military Family in need of special assistance. 

And, be sure to enter "SewCalGal" in the comments so that I can recognize your donation accordingly. Operation Homefront will provide SewCalGal with a list of donations that will be used to assign raffle tickets/Golden tickets for the drawing of prizes!

If you do not want to use the donation form on the Operation Homefront site you can also send me a check, made payable to Operation Homefront, or donate via my PayPal account and I'll gladly give 100% of your donation to Operation Homefront. Again, any amount is appreciated.

You can also include the State in the comments, if you wish your donation funds to be used in a specific state, otherwise it will be used at the National level and allocated as they feel appropriate.

If you don't want to use the online form you can send a check made payable to "Operation Homefront" to SewCalGal and your check will be given OH!

OR you can write a check to "Operation Homefront" and mail it to SewCalGal and I will hand deliver it to a representative to Operation Homefront.

OR you can issue a PayPal transaction using my mailing address and specify funds are to be used for Operation Homefront, but please note this PayPal transaction will not qualify you for a tax deduction, whereas donations direct to Operation Homefront are tax deductible as it is a 501c3 non-profit program.  I will issue a check made payable to Operation Homefront for 100% of any donations received in this manner and deliver the check to a representative of Operation Homefront.

Through December 9th, SewCalGal is also offering the opportunity for those in the business to get free PR, by way of their logo (aka badge) posted on SewCalGal through 2013, when they make a donation to Operation Homefront.  For a $100 (or more) donation they can have their logo displayed in a 300x125 badge, with link to their site, on the upper right column of this blog thru the end of 2013.  For a $50 (or more) donation they can have their logo displayed in a 125x125 badge, with link to their site, on the upper right column of this blog thru the end of 2013.  Email me for questions, as well as to submit your logo/badge artwork.  Disclaimer: These donations do not receive entries to win prizes at the Christmas Party for Quilters, but they do receive free PR for a year.

And, remember Operation Homefront is  a non-profit, so cash donations are also tax deductible.

To make a donation to Operation Homefront click here.  And, be sure to enter "SewCalGal" in the comments so that I can recognize your donation accordingly.  Note:  The donations are still being counted, so this does not yet reflect the total #.

Provided byFund-Raising-Ideas-Center.com

SewCalGal wishes to thank the following Sponsors that have generously donated prizes for the Quilter's Christmas Party:

ASF/Lightware Solutions/The Reading Light (Beam N Read), Kelly Jackson of I Have A Notion (IHAN), Martingale, American & Efird LLC, SewEZI Quilting, Lark Crafts, Cozy Quilt Designs, Craftsy, Judy Chain of Sew Fun Quilts, New Leaf Stitches, Rebecca Goldsmith of  Piece O' Cake Designs, Fabric.com, Ebony Love (Love Bug Studios) and and Lily Patch Quilts.

LIST OF SPONSORS & PRIZES

If you would like to donate a prize, please email me ASAP.
SewCalGal is also in the process of updating this list of Sponsors & Prizes. As such, I hope you'll checkback soon.  As you can see there are plenty of prizes for the virtual and physical party door prizes and raffle prizes and we may end up with enough to do a silent auction too!  For coordination purposes, the silent auction would be held separately from the Quilter's Christmas Party on the 9th.  Stay tuned!

sponsor	prizes	winners
Dutton Books, a member of the Penguin Group	The Giving Quilt, by Jennifer Chiaverini	Prize #
ASF Lightware Solutions	The Reading Light has donated three Beam N Read Personal Lights.	Prize # Prize # Prize #
IHAN	A gift basket full of notions, fabrics and books estimated value over $100	Prize #
Martingale, That Patchwork Place	Many wonderful books and calendars, including: That Patchwork Place Quilt Calendar 2013 Free-Motion Quilting Made Easy: 186 Designs from 8 Simple Shapes, by Eva A. Larkin Quilts from Aunt Amy, by Mary Tendall Etherington & Connie Tesene Sew Embellished!,Artistic Little Quilts, Personalized With Easy Techniques, by Chery Lynch Quilts from Grandmother's Garden: A Fresh Look At English Paper Piecing, by Janette Huff 2013 Calendar Award-Winning Quilts  Featuring Quilts From The International Quilt Association Kim Diehl Simply Beautiful Quilts 2013 Calendar Jelly Babies: Adorable Quilts from 2 1/2" strips, from the staff at That Patchwork Place
SewEZI Quilting	Four (4) $10 gift certificates	prize# prize# prize# prize#
Lark Crafts	Two books: Pretty In Patchwork Holidays: 30+ Seasonal Patchwork Projects to Piece, Stitch and Love, by John Q. Adams. Shape Workshop for Quilters: 60 Blocks + a Dozen Quilts and Projects, by Katy Jones, Brioni Greenberg, Tacha Bruecher and John Q. Adams	Prize # Prize #
Lily Patch Quilts	Two purse patterns, in PDF format, one each for two winners.  Winners can select their favorite pattern from a large collection of designs at Lily Patch Quilts.	prize # prize #
Cozy Quilt Designs	Half Log Cabin Quilts, by Sharyn Craig Layer 'em Up, by Sharyn Craig Layer 'em Up #2: Basically Boxes, by Sharyn Craig Layer 'em Up #3: Pinwheels and Points, by Sharyn Craig The Giving Quilt: Fast Quilts for Comfort & Healing, Edited by Kathy Cueva and Susan Ziegler	Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize #
Sew Fun Quilts	Red Jelly Roll - one roll for one winner	Prize #
New Leaf Stitches	"Just Arond The Corner: Quilts with Easy Mitered Borders", by Kari M. Carr Clearly Perfect Angles for 3 winners	Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize #
Rebecca Goldsmith  Piece O' Cake	Two books: Applique' with Attitude From Piece O'Cake Designs Quilt a New Christmas with Piece O'Cake Designs, by Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins	Prize # Prize #
www.fabric.com	Two $25 gift certificates	Prize # Prize #
Ebony Love, Love Bug Studios	Two copies of her new book, The Big Little Book of Fabric Die Cutting Tips, by Ebony Love Two sets of Quiltspirations Original Card Pack	Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize #
Hoffman California International Fabrics	2013 Hoffman Challenge bundle of fabrics A Queen Of The Night fabric kit with a free quilt pattern  New Bali Crackers (10” X 10” squares – 40 squares) in Wildberry, for two different winners 12 small bundles of batiks and hand-dyes for 12 different winners! 10 fat quarter bundles of military-themed fabrics for ten different winners!	prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize# prize#
The Quilted Kitty	Two $25 Gift Certificates, one each for two different winners	Prize # Prize #
Craftsy	Three online classes at Craftsy.com of the winner's choice (one class each for three winners.	Prize # Prize # Prize #
MyMemories	Three copies of MyMemories software version 4 (brand new version), one each for three winners.	Prize # Prize # Prize #
CT Publishing	Many of Quilting books, which include: Sophisticated Stitches: Designs for Quilting, Applique', Sashiko & Embroidery, by Don Linn (2 copies)	Prize # Prize #
Island Batik	Ten (10) Batik Essential Strip Packs, 1 each for ten winners.  Here are some photos of these yummy packs:	Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize # Prize #
American & Efird LLC	6 - Robison-Anton Embroidery Thread gift packs, Retail value $60.00 to $72.00 each  8 - Intressa sewing thread gift packs, Retail value $30 to $40 each	prize # prize# prize # prize# prize# prize # prize # prize# prize # prize# prize# prize # prize # prize#

For more information on Operation Homefront:
http://www.operationhomefront.net/
Facebook:
California:  https://www.facebook.com/OHCalifornia
Carolinas: https://www.facebook.com/OHCarolinas?fref=ts
Georgia: https://www.facebook.com/GAHomefront
Florida:  https://www.facebook.com/OperationHomefrontFL
Hawaii:  https://www.facebook.com/OHHawaii
Idaho:  https://www.facebook.com/operationhomefrontID

Kansas: https://www.facebook.com/OperationHomefrontKansas
Lousiana: https://www.facebook.com/OperationHomefrontLouisiana
Oklahoma/Arkansas:  https://www.facebook.com/OperationHomefrontOKAR
Oregon:  https://www.facebook.com/OregonHomefront

Rocky Mountains: https://www.facebook.com/OHRockyMountains
Tennessee/Kentucky https://www.facebook.com/OHTNandKY
Texas:  https://www.facebook.com/OperationHomefront?fref=ts
Tri-State (New York, Ohio,    https://www.facebook.com/OHTriState
Virginia: https://www.facebook.com/OHVirginias?fref=ts
Washington: https://www.facebook.com/OperationHomefrontWA?fref=ts
Washington DC:  https://www.facebook.com/OHWDCMetro
Hearts of Valor:  https://www.facebook.com/HeartsofValor?fref=ts