Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Project 15: "Warm and Toasty"

Hello crafters!  I know that it has been awhile since we've posted...BUT, it is time to start our next project for the year.



The weather is going to get cooler (hard to believe it today!) and old man winter will be here before you know it.  Hats and scarves are in order!!!!  I know, I know...again?  YES!  Some of you have already begun making them, in anticipation of another project of warmth and goodness.

This time they will be going to an organization near and dear to my heart!  Cottage Housing, in Sacramento.  Their Mission:  "We create healing communities where homeless people help themselves and each other to move from the streets to self-sustainability." They have a "solution focused, participant driven and strength based" program that helps formerly homeless families put their lives back together.

 They have two communities in which to make this happen:

Quinn Cottages, which has 60 units in Midtown Sacramento that provides up to 24 months of transitional housing and support services to those committed to making a difference in their own lives. (usually 1 person per cottage), and Serna Village, which is a long-term supportive housing program that accommodates 83 families, with an extensive youth development program for nearly 200 kids who now have a place to call "home."

I LOVE Cottage Housing and volunteer regularly at Serna Village with the kids...love them!

SO...let's get to crafting!  As before, hats and scarves can be knit, crochet, sewn, NO-sew fleece, etc.  All sizes, styles and colors!! Mens, womens, and kids styles are all needed.  HAVE FUN!  There are plenty of styles and ideas floating around and I know that YOU have many of your own.



DEADLINE:  November 10th

Please email, message or post on our Facebook page when you are finished and I will make arrangements to collect them! 

~~Robyne~~

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Project 14: Come "fly" with me!

Hello crafters!!!
I am positive that you all are anxiously awaiting our latest project and I cannot be more excited to FINALLY share it with you!!!  I could try to drag it out and build the anticipation but I won't.  It has already take so long to get this one going that I will just tell you.....

ready???

BOOM!!!      POW!!!!           POP!!!!       SNAP!!!


SUPER HERO CAPES!!!!

I came across this wonderful idea while pinning my heart out on pinterest (yes, I am COMPLETELY addicted, but what true crafter isn't?) and when I saw them, I KNEW that THIS was my next project!!  I was thrilled! But who knew that finding a donation receiver would be the hardest part.  This was truly the most difficult part of this journey. Many unreturned phone calls or places that just did not feel that this project was something they could connect with.  Well, all things are answered in due time right?  This trying path led me to a wonderful organization who can, not only, use these items but will most likely be the recipients for future projects as well.  Want to know who?

Children's Crisis Center!!

Children's Crisis Center has a short but extremely powerful mission: " to provide child abuse prevention, intervention and shelter services to the abused, neglected and high risk children in Stanislaus County."  (Children's Crisis Center, Mission statement)

Did you know??

  • There are over 3 million cases of child abuse reported in the United States each year.
  • Children in America ages birth to 4 years old are at the greatest risk of suffering severe injury or death due to abuse or neglect.
  • California's foster youth population is the largest in all 50 states. There are approximately 82,000 foster children in California which is 20% of all foster children nationwide.
  • Abuse can happen in any family, regardless of age, race, income, religious affiliations, or educational background.
  • Intervention programs offering help can positively impact a family at risk and are important in preventing child abuse.
  • The Crisis Center served over 4,200 families, comprising more than 7,200 children last year alone.
  • Approximately 135 children receive respite shelter services daily through the five shelters at the Crisis Center.
  • 80% of the children who utilized services at the Crisis Center are under five years old.
  • The Crisis Center provides nurturing, homelike environments, offering proper nutrition, security, encouragement and growth opportunities that develop trust, promote higher self-esteem, and foster positive behaviors and attitudes for children who receive services.
-(Facts Sheet, childrenscrisiscenter.com)

It was extremely difficult to list only a FEW of the facts regarding abuse, prevention, statistics and the work that Children's Crisis Center does.  I strongly encourage you to check out their webpage.

www.Childrenscrisiscenter.com 

It is chalked FULL of information on child abuse and prevention and even if you are not part of Stanislaus county, I am sure they could point you to help in a different county should you or someone you know, require their assistance.

How does this connect with our project? Well, as a child I remember things like playing with toys, engaging with friends, make believe! Oh the fun we would have! Can you remember?  Maybe things were wonderful and perfect, maybe things were not so "rose colored".  For these families, life is tough.  Things may be happening that are out of their control.  Maybe they wish someone would come and "save the day". Superman could fly in and take them away.  Captain America could protect them from less happy things. The list is endless to a child with an imagination.  Imaginative play can be educational and therapeutic.  In fact, here just a few articles that discuss the benefits of dramatic/imaginative play.

http://stayathomeeducator.com/the-benefits-of-dramatic-play-in-early-childhood-education/

http://www.ebay.com/gds/7-Reasons-Why-Pretend-Play-Is-Good-for-Children-/10000000177633904/g.html  (on a complete side note, who knew that ebay had informative articles??)

So this is where the capes come in.  Let's be the ones to help inspire some creative play.  I would love to see us rekindle our inner child and make some creative, inspiring capes.  Listed below are a few sites to help get that imagination going.  There are patterns and ideas for a few sew and no sew capes with super hero themes.  Traditional and non-traditional, the sky is the limit!

Websites to help with capes:
http://www.vanillajoy.com/free-super-hero-cape-logo-patterns.html  - This website has patterns for logos if you want to make the more traditional capes.  I encourage you to also use your creativity and make your own super hero logos!

http://thesoutherninstitute.com/2011/03/diy-superhero-cape-tutorial.html/  -  This one is a no sew version using t-shirts.  You can sew if you want to, but you don't have to with this one.

http://www.jollymom.com/no-sew-superhero-capes-free-template/   -  This one can also be a no sew, but has ideas if you are looking to venture from the traditional superhero ideas.


The deadline for this project is June 1st!!! 

Let's get started!!  

 BOOM!!! 


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

I am humbled...Part 2

Where did January go?  I apologize for not updating  you sooner, but seriously...January flew by!  Ok, here are the results YOU wanted to hear! 

Drum roll please........

YOU generously and lovingly created 186 scarves for homeless teens (some of which we shared with needy families at Twin Lakes Food Bank), 37 hats (some were shared with children in Mexico) and 20 blankets for our veterans.  Well done, well done!

 
 
Just a few pictures of the beautiful and colorful hats and scarves!  You can view more pictures on our Facebook Page.
 
Again, I am truly humbled by your continued support and generosity.  You are making a difference...one life at a time!
 
Stay tuned, as Erika is working on our next project...should be a fun one!
 
Blessings,
 
~~ Robyne ~~
 


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

I am humbled...

"Ask, and you shall receive"...and boy did we!  When we decided to take on not one, but two projects for the end of 2013, I began to think that maybe, just maybe I had asked a bit too much of you.  But again, your generosity has amazed me!

For Project 12: "Thank You for Serving", we asked you to make lap blankets for our veterans.  A total of 20 beautiful red, white and blue quilted, colorful fleece, and crocheted afghans were lovingly hand made by you, our loyal crafting community. They were delivered to our veterans hospital and appreciated by everyone I came in contact with that day . It was quite a humbling experience, to say the least.

 
Here's my post to our Facebook page: 
 
What a humbling day it has been...as I was to deliver the blankets for our veterans at Mather VA Hospital, I had been instructed on where to make the delivery. It was behind the hospital in a portable building. I was to find the lot close to where I was to drop them off. BUT, there was no parking, so I had to park across a small street in another lot and walk a little bit.

Feeling a little b
it perturbed, I unloaded my car with the four bags of blankets and started my short walk across the lot, street and then the original lot that I was trying to park in.

I was stopped by two different sets of people, asking me if I was donating blankets for our veterans...um, YES! The first couple I met was a man (who was a veteran) and a woman who both thanked me for what I was doing. **GULP** "You are welcome", came out of my mouth, and "thank YOU", quietly followed. The next people were just as curious, asking, "Are you donating those blankets for our wounded?". I explained that they were to be used at the hospital, by handing them out to patients on the "comfort cart". Well, next thing I knew the lady told me that she had 6 quilted blankets and wanted to know if I knew of a group that would send them to our active soldiers...of course I do! I gave her my card and she said that she would be in contact with me.

WOW! Had I not had to walk a few extra feet, I would have NEVER come across these people, who were so kind and appreciative...um, I think I'll count my blessings now, after I eat a large piece of HUMBLE PIE!
 
...to be continued in the next post!
 
~~ Robyne ~~
 
 


Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Warm hats, warm hearts

OH MY GOODNESS!!!  Your generosity has blown me away!  I mean, seriously, the amount of care and love you have put into the latest two projects is overwhelming.  Tears of happiness welled up in my eyes as I collected and counted all of the items that YOU lovingly created for others.

We were able to send knit hats to kids that are growing up in the former dumps in one of the poorest parts of Tijuana, Mexico.  Every year, the group, Circulo de Amigos make the trip down there to deliver gift bags, toys & clothes and provide a Christmas meal to these families.  Most of the time, this is the only way these children received anything at Christmas.  What a blessing this has been for both them and Craft 4 Change.

 
Thank you so much for stepping up and sharing our hats with these children.  The rest of them went to WIND, our local homeless youth center and shelter, but more on that in my next post. 
 
A special thank you to Karen and her daughter, Emma who donated stuffed animals and baby clothes.  Many kids were blessed by your generosity. 
 
 
~~Robyne~~