***My Niece, Janet CANCER!!*** A must read

Many of you remember my niece Janet's year long struggle with cancer. Many have asked from time to time how's she's doing. PLEASE read, I want to share this marvelous story with you. Many of you kept her in your prayers, some sent cards when I asked. So many people pulling for her, I know it all helped her be where she is today.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/fashion/Cancer_survivor_dreams_of_modeling_career_in_New_York.html

Tough Times Ahead

Hi Everyone,

It was brought to my attention over the weekend that there is a chance that sometimes my random shooting off of ideas could be construed by you all as the bar never being high enough, goals never being met. This gave me great pause. It is part of being me that I am never living in the now. In fact, most times, I am living 5-10 years from now :) Not very zen. I am always thinking of what's coming around the corner, what needs might arise...things like that.

Along these lines, I want to make sure you all know how much I do appreciate all of you, no matter what you do in this group. And I want to tell you all that I understand that this whole economic mess is not just a Wall Street thing. We are all going to get pinched -- many of us are already probably feeling pinched. So all the more reason to verbalize as often as possible that I so appreciate everything you all do. I know that shipping costs can be a drag. I know that yarn and fabric costs are increasingly a drag.

If our numbers become more modest in the months to come, if our goals become a little bit smaller, so be it. I never want any of you to feel pressured here, and if I do make you feel that way, just tell me to shove it! I won't be offended, I promise. And what I hope more than anything is that even if our crafting has to slow down, we can all still share ideas and talk about the good old days when a drive to the craft store wasn't cost prohibitive...I mean, just the drive, not all of the shopping :)

I adore you all, I appreciate you all, and know that it's true even when I post some loony idea about knitting a poncho cuz the moon looks cold :)

12 for Warm Up Winchester

It's been a long while since I posted. It was a tough summer for me, but now it's fall and I am back to some charity crafting. High on my list of priorities has been making some more items for Warm Up Winchester. If I have counted correctly, I have 12 more items that I am sending along.

2 scarves
6 hats, all sized for toddlers (I really need to start experimenting with making larger hats)
2 baby hats and 2 sets of booties


I'm still on my never-ending quest to use up stash, which is why some of the items are such similar colors. I will probably make a few more items before I send everything out in mid-October.

Just an idea for next year

So, as fate would have it, I've watched two incredible documentaries about America's schools this week. The first was on PBS and the second, which I just watched, was on HBO -- a documentary about Central High School, Little Rock.

These documentaries, although completely different, both brought the same point home. Our teachers and our kids are not getting the help we need. They are, however, getting all of the pressure in the world to succeed and be perfect.

I am wondering if, in 2009, we might be able to do a strong initiative for schools. The idea I have would be to make small, brightly colored bags and fill them with things like pencils, pens, erasers..maybe some homemade stuff. I know it's been tough to do projects like this because of the "stuffing" but it's worth a shot. I know that a lot of kids go to school without any school supplies. I know that teachers often have to pay for their classroom supplies. If we could make a dent in those kinds of problems, it might at the very least raise morale. We could also make contact with the groups that send stuff to Iraq for those school kids...wherever you are I'm sure this project would be relevant.

What do you think?

Red Scarf Project

Heading to post office with 3 red scarfs for The Red Scarf Project. One is knitted, the other 2 are crocheted.

I particularly like the one pictured in the lower left...neat texture. Will post more involved pics on my blog later.

October Contest information

I'd like to let folks know about the October contest I will be hosting. The contest is called One For One.

During the month of October, post one item made for charity and tag it with the contest tag. This one item will be your entry into the contest. Entrants may ONLY post one entry to the contest! (You can make as many items as you like during October. But you may only enter one into the contest.)

On November 1st, a name will be drawn at random from the entries and that person will receive a prize: a gift certificate to JoAnn.com.

This contest seeks to do two things. The first is to remind us all that each item we make for charity can make one person's life better. A single hat can warm a homeless person all winter. A single blanket can make a person (or animal!) feel loved. A piece of jewelry can make a person feel beautiful and confident. Any item can be auctioned to raise money for a charity to feed, clothe, or house someone.

One item is important. One item can improve the quality of life for a person. So that's what we're asking you to do: make one item.

The second purpose of the contest is this: there are a lot of members who have never posted, who have never shared with us the things they do. It's never been required, or demanded, that you share publically what you do. But we'd like to encourage all our members to become active members and to post just one thing. Make one item, take a picture, tell us about it. It can be anything, and go to any charitable organisation you like. One item.

So in October, make an item for charity and enter the contest and remember that it isn't about what you make, how much you make, or where you give the items to. What matters most is that you do something. One thing can make a real difference.

The rules:

One item finished during the month of October 2008 and posted with the appropriate contest tag.
One item/entry per person.
Any item that is made for charity, big or small. One preemie hat or one bed-sized quilt or anything in-between.
Any charity.

If you have any questions, please ask!

Blankets

Here are 9 blankets that I crocheted since the start of this year for Project Linus- Jacksonville. It's my goal to finish one blanket a month although I doubt it very much if I will be able to do any during the Holidays. Sizes range from 36" x 36" to 40" x 40".

(sorry, I posted the 1st blanket twice)

Listy goodness

Hey folks,

Thanks to the brilliant leftygirl, the topic came up of how to keep track of drives going on, and what also came to my mind is how to keep track of contests.

In our livejournal community I have added some current drives to the profile area. In our blogspot community, I have replaced the "monthly recap" square along the right-hand side with a current drives blog.

Please check out these two locations and let me know if they are prominent enough.

I would then like a volunteer to keep track of these so that I can post everything (or take down drives) in a timely fashion to both blogs. Any takers?

thanks :)

FYI

I have created a Ravelry group for Operation Bag of Home, and as a reminder, we also have a group there for this community!

I also want to put the call out that these little bags can be filled with more homemade stuff than maybe we were thinking. Little jewelry charms might be nice, or soaps (ehem hem, for those fairies out there), or any other ideas I'm not thinking of.

No pressure at all, of course, but if you are interested in participating in that group, there are many ways to do so :)

Hugs to you all on this dreary Monday!

Operation Bag of home

Hi everyone,

Some of you may recall mentions about another charity I am working on with a friend of mine. The project is called Operation Bag of Home, and the idea is that we hand-make bags, fill them with little toiletries and/or fun stuff, and then ship the bags to troops overseas.

We are changing our approach a little bag and have come up with a few "themed" bags with exact lists of what would go into each bag. I am going to be making prototypes of each type of bag shortly...bags are basically like making 2 squares and sewing them together :) We are also going to be working on bags intended specifically for female troops...we were thinking of including some small hair doo-dads in there. If anyone is into sewing but hasn't really felt like there's a charitable need for quick projects I think it would be neat to include some homemade pony tail or bun holders in these bags.

Here is the list of themed bags we are working on:

General Sanitary Package - MALE
1 bottle 1 - 2oz hand sanitizer
travel size toothpaste & toothbrush
travel size kleenex pack
travel size q-tips
1 tube chapstick

General Sanitary Package - FEMALE
1 bottle - 2oz hand sanitizer
travel size deodorant
1 small package hair ties and/or bobby pins
travel size toothpast & toothbrush
1 tube flavored chapstick
travel size comb

Extreme Weather - HOT
2 tubes chapstick
travel size sunblock
8 - 10 flavor drink mix pouches (20oz bottle size)
1 bottle 1 - 2oz hand sanitizer

THEME - Thanksgiving
letters and cards (not for bags, but to send with box)
small bag individually wrapped candies (no chocolate March through September)
2 pouches tuna fish
1 small box goldfish crackers
8 - 10 flavor drink mix pouches (20oz bottle size)
1 bottle 1 - 2oz hand sanitizer

Silly/Fun Bag
small bag individually wrapped candies (no chocolate March through September)
1 small canister silly string
2 small sized slim jims
1 SMALL water squirt guns


Visit us over at http://community.livejournal.com/operationboh if you are interested!

warming omaha squares

warming omaha squares
Originally uploaded by craftyone77

that's 13 squares for Warming Omaha .... getting closer to the time I have to start putting these together into blankets, which is exciting! any of you that still want to send me squares, if you send them by October 1 you still have a chance to win a $50 gift card to Amazon!!!

Personal Achievement Update

Here is the tally as of 9/14/08 at 2 p.m. PDT:

ascelinne - 130

Robyn - 101

doclegs - 83

Sandy - 73

zortified - 73

soapfaerie - 59

megaminokonton - 43

knittyingforever - 27

typo_13 - 12

spitgirl - 7

sen_ici_rei - 6

Priscilla - 5

Great work! The contest runs until  December 15, so there is still time. Only tagged posts will be counted!

10 items for Ninja Challenge

Hi Folks,

Alright, I got no protests or picket signs, so I am very pleased to announce the "10 items for Ninja" challenge.

As a lot of you know, our own ninjasezzy has been really amazing this year making preemie items for her local NICU, where her own son was born and cared for ten years ago.

On December 15, Ninja's son will get to visit this NICU, and at that time, we'd love to have a stock pile of items that Ninja can donate as well. I think the hospital would appreciate it, but we would also get to consider it an early Christmas present for this delightful community member of ours.

The goal is for us each, as individuals, to try to make ten items and send them either to Ninja or to your local preemie unit. No special counting...hats = 1, pair of mittens = 1, pair of socks = 1, etc.

When you post your ten items, which can be ten hats, ten pairs of socks, whatever, please tag your post with 10 items for Ninja challenge, just so we can keep track of how many folks are able to reach this goal.

If you have any questions just ask!

Let me know what you think

Hey everybody,

I have GREAT news!

With the afhgan that Ninja just posted, we have finished our 50 afghans for Afghans for Angels! Wooo Wooooo!!!!

Now, here is a new goal, tied to the Regional Summer contest. Tell me if you think this sounds reasonable. I'll give folks till tomorrow night to protest :)

So, as per Ninja, her husband is going to be working in the NICU where Ninja's son was born and taken care of. She was going to take her son there on December 15, 2008 to show him where it all began, 10 years ago.

So here's my idea.

What if all of us try to send 10 preemie items to ninja (or to our own local NICUs) by December 15? No total goal, just a personal goal, and the items can be sets or whatever. Since Ninja has done so much in this community on behalf of her beloved son, I think we can all play too.

Maybe you just post when you have your 10 items ready to send?

Let me know what you think of this idea.

Thanks :)

Reward for Team Dust Devils

Hey everyone,

Team Dust Devils, winners of the Summer Contest, have chosen their charity. The team would like to make preemie items, if not for ninja's cause then for a hospital local to you.

Team Dust Devils, let us know a deadline and a goal that you think would be fair, and congratulations again!

Regional Summer Contest Final Update!!

First. I want to thank everyone for their AMAZING work this summer! Second, I want to post the TOTAL number of items counted for this contest ....

787!!!

and now on to the tally ....

Team Godzilla - 153

Team Ohio - 181

Team New England/Chowdaheads - 204

Team Dust Devils - 249

Congratulations and thank you goes out to each and everyone of you for making this such successful summer!!!

I promise that an update will be coming soon for the Personal Achievement Contest, but I can only do so much tallying at one time :)

Just a little perspective

Heya folks,

A few people have posted items with an addendum that they are disappointed they weren't able to do more.

Please please please bear in mind that the tally as a whole, the contests -- that's really all just to make this fun. And I hope it works. But there should NEVER be a sense of disappointment, whether you are posting one square or 15 afghans.

One of the most amazing things ever in my life has been the evolution of this group, and that is not an overstatement. Where I have encountered apathy so often when talking of charitable work, you all have outdone my charitable crafting monthly. You are all warm people, enthusiastic, and entirely giving of your time and resources. This is why Jezebelsf came up with the personal achievement contest, really...because it is not going unnoticed that you are all giving more than most people might give in several years.

Also, please put this year in perspective compared to last year. Last year we hit around 3,000 items right around the holidays. This year, we are almost at 2,400 items on September 1.

So please, from the bottom of my heart, never post with a feeling of inadequacy, disappointment, or any other bad feeling. Every single item you are making and donating is a gift from the heart and a gift from your hands. There should never be any loss of that fact for any picture, any post, any member.

Happy September, everyone. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of the Regional Summer contest. You all rock!

ETA: We now have done 49 afghans for Afghans for Angels. Just one more and that goal of 50 is done!!!!!!!!