Jojoebi

I started thinking that it would be nice to send the survivors of the Tohoku Disaster small gifts and letters of encouragement. Next month will mark one year since the disaster and I would like to let them know that they haven not been forgotten and so i came up with this little project…I am think about 100 houses in all. I would like to collect 100 handmade little houses with letters to send to Joni [a friend in the disaster area] so she can share them with the people in her community BUT I need your help.

Jojoebi provides a pattern for the little house softies in PDF format–a simple design that novices need not fear. If you’re more proficient, imagine the details and embellishments you could add. Go to the blog post to learn more about this project and download the pattern file. The deadline for contributing a house is February 21.

Chris

I do hope that I manage to do them all ! I shall be making a wall hanging with them and then donating the wall hanging to ST LUKES CHARITY.

Brava! Go to Chris’ blog.

My daughter, Sally King, is running her first marathon…The marathon will take place February 12th, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida and is an amazing way to bring awareness to Breast Cancer. 100% of the donations will go towards breast cancer research at the Mayo Clinic in association with The Donna Foundation!

I just designed a 3″needlepoint round, Pink Ribbon with a Winged Shoe, for this event. For each canvas sold, I will donate 100% to Sally’s fund raising page. Contact Retail Needlepoint Shops to purchase the canvas.

Whether you are able to donate or this post just brings more awareness to the cause, please pass it along and be a part of the FINISH OF BREAST CANCER! Thank you all for your support!

There were stockings of all sizes (over 100 were sent down), bags of ornaments for each stocking recipient and extra ornaments set out on the tables for those who didn’t want a stocking. The ladies set all the kits and patterns and books out at the far end of the table and let everyone choose what they would like to work on during the pre-holiday season.

Lyn shared with me that there were 20 families who were helped that day, for a combined total of over 50 people. More than 50 stockings were taken and several people opted not to take a stocking at all, taking only an ornament or a couple of kits. There seemed to be a sense of wanting to make sure there was enough left for everyone else who might come after them.

Read the whole story.

And Shari adds,

I am still accepting donations for Phase 2 to be held in February. Please let your readers know if they have anything additional they would like to donate in the way of general stash items, it would be very much appreciated if they could get them to me by the end of this month and no later than January 6th, 2012.  We need time to sort the fabrics by type and color, make fabric bundles and put together some basic sewing kits, etc. from the items that have been received.

Maureen

Over the past few months many of the women on the…group have made hearts for Betty Pillsbury to show her our support because of the effects hurricane Irene had on her family and home. The idea was Cheryl Anderson’s of Wisconsin and she organized it all and gathered the hearts for shipping. Betty received them the other day and I can now show you the one I made for her. You can see all of the other hearts on the CQI list.

What a lovely thing to do. Go to Maureen’s post.

Christie

I have two main life experiences.  Teaching kindergarten for 6 years is the first.  Being part of an amazing online crafting and sewing community is the other.  I have a dream of bringing those 2 experiences together,  using my resources from both.

In the photo above, the building outlined in yellow is the school involved, and the building outlined in blue is the venue that a generous, community-minded couple have offered to share. So far, the raffle has raised only US$95. Please read Christie’s post and consider giving in some way.

Ed. note: Christie neither requested nor compensated this post. I just think her idea rocks.

Doreen

There is a relationship between knitting and needlepoint and many of us do both.  We believe giving back is important.  To that end, Wiltshire Willy, by artist Leslie Trewyn, kicks off our Needlepoint and Knitting drive. By the end of this year The Art Needlepoint Company would like to provide 10 knitting baskets to Heifer International. Help us reach our goal! A % of every order from today through 12/31/11 will go to Heifer – Let’s make a difference.

Go to the post to get all the details.

Christie

a community outreach program that will provide opportunities for youth (and adults) to have a safe place to come, hang out, learn some crafting/sewing skills, fellowship, and more or less have a sanctuary where they can go to be involved in activities that will help keep them from drugs, gangs, and every other horrible thing kids have to face in a town that is on the decline.

She asks,

If you would consider donating any fabric, patterns, publications, sewing supplies, or gift certificates, end products, no matter how big or small that I might pull them together to create raffle prizes, I would be so very and sincerely appreciative. The raffle will be held online via The Fabric Shopper .  All contributors will recognized on the blog for their help.

Get the details from Christie’s blog post.

Virginia Spiegel is at it again! This woman is simply unstoppable. Her “Fiberart For a Cause” has already raised more than $215,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS). In February, Virginia is hoping to raise $7,000 for the ACS in just ten hours over two days through “Foto/Fiber.” I’m donating some of my artwork. I hope you’ll mark your calendar for Feb. 15 and 16, 2012, and consider making a donation to this worthy cause.

Go to Susan’s post for the details.

I created the piece from a self-portrait that I did in 2006 in an effort to stop feeling shame about my mastectomy scars. I did not have cancer, but had all the signs of getting it, close family history and personal battles with breast problems. Sometimes my scars peek through my tank tops and I used to be so self conscious of it. Now I don’t ever notice them.

I have many friends and family members who are breast cancer survivors, and one personal friend who–like Rebecca–must consider a preemptive mastectomy. Efforts like Bex’s bring the challenges of survival out of the shadows and honor them. While any alteration to our bodies is difficult to cope with, to say the least, I think the battle scars of survivors should be honored as badges of courage. Thank you so much, Bex, for sharing this deeply personal experience with others.

See more views of the embroidery at Bex’s flickr photostream.

Lyanna

I work with foster kids. I love it – they are always so happy and make me appreciate the things I have in life. Anyway this year for the holidays the agency I work with would really like to give each child a handmade stocking – a nice one that they can keep and reuse for years to come that we would then fill with all sorts of goodies.

This is where you come in. I am hosting a drive where you can donate a stocking. Our goal is to get at least 50 stockings. Don’t know how to make a stocking? No worries, I have you covered! From now until the end of November, there will be a free stocking tutorial posted every Tuesday. Some of your favorite bloggers have gathered together and agreed to contribute a unique stocking pattern, so be sure to check back on Tuesdays to see what it is!

And what’s a charity drive without some awesome sponsors and prizes? There are a lot of great prizes lined up (hint: lots of fabric!) and even a $50 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop!

Go to the blog post for details about how to join in.