While there are a lot of fun quilty insights that I want to share, today my heart is very focused on Remembrance.
Many countries fought for freedom in the First World War. Some remember with a celebration known as Armistice Day, others call it Remembrance Day, or Poppy Day, or ANZAC Day or Veterans Day. Typically these celebrations happen in early November, most on the 11th of November.
During the First World War, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. In many parts of the world, people still observe a two-minute silence at 11am on the 11th of November.
Many have had the opportunity to participate in the Poppy exhibit at the Tower of London, where there are hundred of thousands of handmade ceramic poppies, one for every British Commonwealth soldier who died in the First World War, on exhibit.
Earlier this year, there was a call out to crafty volunteers to help make ceramic poppies which are now on display. These beautiful handmade poppies will eventually sold to raise funds for charitable organizations related to the armed forces. SewCalGal is researching to find out how one might be able to donate and acquire such a poppie and help with such fundraising. I will update this post, once I know how.
You may be familiar with a Youtube video with Terry Kelly, singing "A Pittance of
Time" in a market. I found it inspirational and wanted to share:
On another note, I do want to let you know about a couple of fun blog hops going on this week where you'll also find some giveaways:
I Have A Notion is hosting a fun blog hop for machine embroidery enthusiasts which showcases designs digitized by Patsy Thompson. And, every stop in this blog hop will not only share inspirational projects, but also host a giveaway where you could win a design set of your choice from Patsy Thompson Designs. The first stop in this hop is at IHAN where you'll also find the schedule and links to other participating blogs.
Sew Wrong Sew Right is also hosting a blog hop this week celebrate the release of a new book "Free-Motion Quilting for Beginners: And those who think they can't".
6 comments:
I have an English friend who would appreciate this poppy and will be fun to make.
I have seen photos of this display and it is amazing. I would love to see it in person. It is hard to imagine the significance of so many poppies.
The display at the Tower is even more moving when seen in the flesh. My husband saw it just after it was installed and again a few days ago when all the poppies had been planted. This morning the last poppy of all was planted by a 13 years-old lad.
I think that all the poppies have been sold. Several friends have bought one in memory of relatives killed during WW1 and they will get them in the weeks to come.
I wonder what will be done to commemorate the end of the conflict in WW1 - this has been such a poignant and fitting reminder of the numbers of British and Commonwealth dead.
I was brought up in the UK and I wouldn't dream of making my own poppy. The poppies we wear represent a DONATION to the old soldiers' charity. We wear poppies to remember those who died not only in the poppy-clad fields of Flanders in the First World War, but also in Afghanistan and all fields of conflict in between.
As I understand it, making the poppies is a form of occupational therapy for those veterans too traumatised to hold a normal job. Please don't make your own, but respect the integrity of the veterans, support their efforts, and BUY your poppy.
We have the poppy fund raiser here, lots of places to donate. The traveling Vietnam Wall was here a few months ago and we bought poppies when we visited it.
We have several veterans' groups locally and they are still selling the poppies. We buy them and keep them in our car; right now we have 6 tied around the rearview mirror.
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