ASIS&T III Auction Items (4 scarves)

These are the items that I donated to the ASIS&T III Auction - which raises money to give scholarships to information scientists and researchers from developing countries to either join the society or to come to the annual conference (this last is given to the winner(s) of a paper contest). There are four scarves, made by me, and a crocheted messenger bag that I got in a swap - and love, but didn't really need. I'm glad I donated it - people were fighting over who got the last bid!

So that's four more things for me - plus I have another four baby hats (I think), not pictured. I believe this gets me up to 17 total items this year. Yay!

25 Things for Charity Contest

The contest will begin on November 1st and run through November 30th, 2007.

All members of 25 Things for Charity are eligible to enter the contest. Details on how you can become a part of our group are here.

Each member will get one entry for posting their completed charity projects during this time frame. So, you don't need to post multiple posts with items. Only one post will count. I'll pick a winner by putting all names in a hat and drawing one slip of paper.

The post must include the following:
1. a picture of the item or items;
2. the name of the charity where the item will be donated;
3. a link to the charity or address of the charity for sending donations;
4. a link to your blog or your e-mail address.

No exceptions. Your post must have all four of the above items.

Bonus Entry:
Each member gets only one entry per contest period. However, there is a way to earn an extra entry. Anyone sending something to the following charities or causes will earn a bonus entry. Again, only one extra bonus entry can be earned during the contest period.

Rad Bad Beanies Project
Afghans for Afghans
Warm The World

Why these charities? The first two are personal favorites. The last because I think it offers non-knitters and crocheters an opportunity to get a bonus.

Oh, yea - the PRIZE! A $15 gift certificate to either Amazon or Ebay (paid through pay pal and may require a credit card or banking information to activate the card). The winner gets to choose. The gift certificate will be send via e-mail.

The winner will be announced sometime during the first week of December. I'll post the winner's name here and also send you an email or comment on your blog to let you know that you have won.

Post all questions in the comments.

San Diego Fires and Square Request

I am not sure if I can place this request here ... and if anyone disapproves, please feel free to remove.

I am a survivor of the recent Witch Creek fire in San Diego. At the same time this fire rage through the central / inland north county San Diego, the Harris fire in the lower East county of San Diego started.

The fires swept through the county and thousands of people were evacuated and hundreds lost their homes. I started a group on Raverly requesting donations for families in San Diego with the request of acrylic 8" squares that will be pieced together and given to those that are rebuilding their life.

I am asking the fiber community to help me in my efforts. I'm NOT asking for $$ just a few squares that you might have made so I can stitch them up and bring them to families that had homes days ago and now are in the process of rebuilding.

A blanket might not be a house, but its the spirit of community. These will be for the relief of those families displaced and will go to them throughout the relief effort. If this is something you would to send a square to, please contact me for the address.

Note from Cindy: Please visit Georgeann's blog to get her address - Click here.

New Member

A big welcome to Ronda!

#1-5: Baby Woolen Hats

Five baby woolen hats with flaps, my own pattern, in different sizes for Afghans for Afghans. The multicolored one still needs its ties. They're made of KnitPicks Wool of the Andes; I still have a lot of yarn and will be make more.

Two Year Blogiversary

Well, the date of this blog's two year anniversary came and went (it was October 6). No biggie. Happy Two Year Blogiversary to everyone!

We currently have 135 participants in this charity blog. I haven't counted the numbers of items we have sent out to charity. I am sure the number is in the thousands.

Keep up the good work everyone.

To celebrate this two year mark, I am putting together a little contest. This just popped into my head so I have to work out all of the details. I know it will be open to all 25 Things for Charity members. If you are not currently a member you better hurry up and jump aboard.

I'll post more information soon.

Two New Members

Welcome to Sue and Brooke.

Still Makin' Hats

It's that time of year again! I made this set on straight needles and next I'm trying the loom for the booties even though they are sooo easy on needles. These will go to a local hospital.

From Stitches to Shipping: Practical Thoughts on Katrina Kit Mission

It's me again, trying to put a plan together. The more I thought about how this Katrina Kit outreach would work, practically, is to request that those who make the bags also fill them with the necessities. Why? Because they need to be ready to ship on a moment's notice, not later after I've rallied financial support, organized my shopping trips, gathered the supplies and filled them accordingly. I'm not rich enough in the monetary sense to fill all the bags I envision coming in! So, for example, you decide to make a bag for a girl age 7-9. You would buy the hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, new underwear and toy to go inside it. (I shopped at the Dollar Tree.) OR if you were making a bag for a teenage guy, you'd buy the deodorant, toothbrush, nail clippers, washcloth, etc., appropriate for him. This really would be the ideal way to do it. It would cut way down on the turnaround time. All I'd have to do is pull the full bags out of airtight containers in the basement and head to FedEx. I'm sure I could rally financial support to cover shipping costs. Inside each bag we also sent a note of encouragement, something as simple as "I've been praying for you as I made this. Brighter days are coming." You'd personalize your message and tuck it in. Filling the bag you make is a meaningful thing. Children love to get in on the action, picking out Dora or Spiderman underwear and a small toy. Great way to keep your kids and grandkis thinking beyond themselves and their little world. Who is interested? Please leave a comment below.

Need Advice from Knitters about Katrina Kits

Cindy has asked me to work out the details of the idea I posted a few days ago about making Katrina Kits. (This was the original name I gavethe toiletry-filled bags after the hurricane, and I'm going to keep it until something better comes along.)

Problem is, before I can give details, I need some advice from those of you who knit. The only kind of bags we did 2 years ago were sewn with fabric. But since this blog appears to have a whole lot of skilled knitters, I'm open to the idea of expanding the project to include knitted bags. The bags have to be comfortable (not itchy wool), secure (so a toothbrush wouldn't slip through), washable, and have a drawstring.

Knowing next to nothing about materials for a knitted bag, I need your help. Can you experienced knitters recommend some? The idea is to make a unique bag for each person who survives a natural disaster. Even if you make all blue ones, each one should be distinguishable from the others in the shipment (maybe a red stripe or buttons or a pocket or whatever.) This is what personalizes the bags. Chances are there wouldn't be pens or Sharpies around a tornado site for people to write their names on stuff. This way they could tell at a glance whose bag is whose if they were in a place like the Astrodome, sharing space with thousands. My hope is that their handmade, unique bag would be a ray of hope for them and make them feel special.

Please suggest yarn and stitches (if need be) and anything else that be needed to make such a bag. Yarn that's easily accessible, inexpensive, durable, and a pleasure to work with.

Thanks, everyone. I tried knitting once and proved to be a Knitiot.

Holiday Hats

For the first time in what seems like forever, I'm finally able to contribute something to 25 Things for Charity. I believe these are numbers 18-21. These preemie hats will go to the Emmazing Grace Foundation and distributed to one of the NICUs that we donate to.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

It's been a long time since I posted around here, but boy have my hooks been busy! I just sent five squares and a stuffed bunny for a comfortghan being collected for a little girl with lyme disease. I've also made two large squares for a comfortghan being sent to a woman who is living away from home for the first time and feeling homesick. I tried to post a pic, but Blogger's just not letting me. I'll try to edit with one in the future.

I'm also going to be sending some scarves for MN flood survivors in the "Trick or Treat Challenge" listed on Crochetville. I have at least one sitting around the house that I can send, and I'll be knitting up another one. I'm working on persuading my sister to crochet one, since I just taught her how! ^_^

playful puppy quilt square

This is design 38 from the "Lovable Pets" book by Kooler Design, stitched on white evenweave using DMC fibers for Borduurquilts, a Dutch charity that makes quilts upon request for ill people . This little puppy is going to Reuben, who hopes to someday become a vet. The translation from the Dutch text is, "Do you want to play with me?"

A Question for You All

After Hurricane Katrina hit, my friend Isabelle in France and I in America rallied help from people around the globe to sew. Women from 8 countries and 3 continents sent us drawstring bags that I filled with toiletries. We called them Katrina Kits. Total number made and sent to Texas? 259.

Now I am posing the question to those who not only sew, but also knit: Would you be willing to make a drawstring bag, 18x18", that I will keep here in the event of the next natural disaster on American soil? A little at a time, while they sit, I gather toiletries from the dollar store and stash them in a old dresser in the basement. When the next flood or hurricane hits, I will rally my friends at church and online to send money for more toiletries (or give me the stuff outright), bag up the stuff, and send them to a contact person close to the disaster. My motto for the bags: No two alike. Why? Because so many emergency relief items are identical and feel impersonal at a time of deep personal loss. My heart is to send a bag to Mary or Sue or Angie or Bob or Fred who can tell theirs apart from someone else's. It might well be the only thing they can call their own in such a crisis.

Great way to use up a stash of fabric or yarn. You can make them as simple or as fancy as you want, provided they have a good, strong cord to keep them closed and their toiletries secure. You can "smile at the future" as Proverbs 31 says, knowing that there will always, unfortunately, be another natural disaster. Kids love to make these, too. Seams or stitches are simple. They love to pick out a 1/2 yard of cute fabric and coordinating drawstring.

Whatcha think? Who'd like to try this? I'll happily post pictures of your finished bags when I receive them. You would have to trust that I would fill these bags when the next crisis comes AND when/if I can locate a sister church or center that will distribute them on location. For a visual of the Katrina Kits, go back in the archives here to Nov 10, 2005. I live in Maryland, and lived a while in Kansas. I've lived through floods and tornadoes, and saw Hurricane Isabel destroy friends' homes on the Chesapeake Bay. There's no time like the present to prepare for the unexpected forces of nature.