Where to find a shawl

I just wanted to check in with a quick post because I have not written much lately.  We are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of Spring.  My side work slows dramatically when the warm weather arrives so I will have a lot more time for adding to our stock of supplies.  It may seem odd to be crocheting a warm winter cap on a hot day but the more I make when I have time, the more people I can help.

Have you ever seen the show "Secret Millionaire"?  It airs here on Sunday nights.  This past week the show took place on Skid Row.  They covered the story of a man that brings clothing and hygiene kits to the streets where the items are needed.  The millionaire of this show was so surprised to see that the people that came to take the items that were being offered were only taking one item.  He expected the first couple of people to scoop up everything and leave nothing for the others.  I found it especially touching.  We take the things that we have for granted until they are no longer there.  Something as simple as a new pair of shoes can be life changing for someone in need.  During this particular episode there were also at a shelter that had a lot of similarities to the Susan B. Anthony Project.  I highly recommend this show.  Just be sure to have a tissue handy

If anyone is in need of prayer shawls I have some at my home.  There are also currently two available at the church.  I just ask that if you take one of the shawls from the church that you let me know so that I can record it. and replace it.  I keep a record of donations that come in and go out.

I wanted to share a photo a photographer sent me of a newborn hat I made.  Spring is in the air!

One Snowy January!

All of this snow here in Connecticut has made it a great month to crochet or knit.  It has also made it a month of a lot of need for many.  We have broken the record for the most snow in the month of January and more is in the forecast.

Mounds of January Snow

The scarfs, mittens and hats that were placed on the Christmas tree this year were beautiful.  The colors were gorgeous.  It was easy to see that a tremendous amount of time went into creating them.  These items were all donated to the Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington.  I contacted them to see what their need was this year.  Normally they receive more donations of those sort of items then they did this year.  With the bitter cold and snow that we have had they were in demand.   The day I dropped them off was one of the brutally cold days we have had.  Cathy at the front desk said that they were almost out of them so the timing was good.  Thank you to those that donated these items!

I have made up a lap throw with some basic worsted weight yarn that was donated.  A photo of it is below.  As you can see, this was done with a very basic stitch.  It worked up quickly.  If I had a group of them I would get them to a hospice or other place of need.  Since I only have the one I will wait for now.  If you know anyone confined to a wheelchair or any way in need of a throw please contact me so I can get one out to them

When Life Gives you Lemons What do you Make?

When things don't go as planned stop and ask yourself if the the bumps along the way have been a good thing or bad thing.  Surprisingly, the answer is often that it is a good thing.  How many people at the age of 40 find themselves in the position that they had expected themselves to be at that age when they were predicting their futures at high school graduation?  I am guessing very few.  But is that a bad thing?

The best laid plans for a night alone with your spouse can come crashing down when a child falls ill.  Plans to get to work on time and have a productive day can end with a dead car battery.  Your plans to squeeze in one last errand may fall victim to a traffic jam.  These are just the small things.  Sometimes pregnancies are a unplanned surprise. What happens if your plans to run in the New York Marathon are ended because your legs are amputated?  Do you just give up or do you look into the possibility of artificial legs and wheel chair races.  There are many ways to approach a challenge.  Will you end up stronger after the challenge?

It is all about fate.  They say what does not kill you will make you stronger.  Some up these challenges will send us on a path so very different then what we planned but in the end we are sometimes better because of it. 

There are people that are reading this blog that are facing challenges of their own.  Please feel free to share your inspirational story by responding below.  Perhaps someone will find strength in reading your story.

Early January Update

I hope everyone had a great New Year's!  Here is a little update as to what has been happening with the ministry....

Colynn Hodge has made up more prayer shawls.  Deb Hodge has kindly donated some beautiful gifts bags that are ideal to give the shawls away with.  I am busy making up some chemo hats.  This cold weather must be brutal on the chemo patients.  When I sit on my sofa in my living room I can feel the cold air pouring in through the window behind me.  I can't imagine how uncomfortable I would be if I had suddenly lost my hair.  Burr!

Idealy, I would like to get some lap throws made up.  I have a decent amount of yarn available to make them with.  I was going to crochet them with a basic single crochet and double crochet stitch combination.  The skeins of leftover worsted weight yarn that I have for this is ideal.  As always, I do not have as much time to complete these things as I would like but I am fitting in a few minutes here and there.  If anyone is interested in knitting or crocheting a throw I can give you the yarn that you need to make it up.

Tomorrow is my big day.  I get to go to the doctor to see if I can start walking without crutches.  I am so excited!  After a month of having to rely on help from my family I am ready to start walking again.  I miss my independence.  It really puts a new perspective on things.  As long as I am cleared to walk tomorrow I will be all set to run the errands of picking up supplies and delivering donations.  I am ready to get some things done.

....
Thanks to everyone that contributed to the ministry in 2010.  Anyone that crafted up the items, donated supplies or funds and those that helped spread the word about the ministry all contributed to our success.  Thank you to every one of you!  We are looking forward to growing though out 2011.  We want to reach out and help as many people as we can.  This is going to be a great year!

Post Christmas Update

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Just before Christmas I received a wonderful gift from a friend of mine.  She sent me yarn and 3 pattern books.  The books are all filled with beautiful patterns that I can use for shawls, hats, blankets and more.  I am so excited about trying them out.  Since this storm is rolling in this should be a great time to work on something new.  We are supposed to be getting 10" - 20" of snow and gusting winds. 

Rev. Denise Clapsaddle has given me a gift of an ergonomic crochet hook with multiple tip sizes.  I already tried that out and love the way it feels.  Perhaps as I sit down today and try the new patterns I will see how it helps when I have a long crocheting session.

I now have 2 shawls here if anyone knows of a need.  I have also gotten word that other members of the church have some in their homes.  Please e-mail me if you need one.  leclaire91402@yahoo.com

There is something new on my wish list.  While you are out the shopping the after Christmas clearance sales please keep an eye out for basic gift bags.  We need them to present shawls and other items in.  Previously I have purchased solid color ones at Target an Big Lots.  It is nice to present the items in a pretty bag.  I staple one of our cards to the bags before I distribute the items.

The Michael's Arts and Crafts ad this week shows that there is Lion Brand Homespun yarn on sale.  It is $2.49.  That is the cheapest I have ever seen it.  It is however limited to some specific colors.  There is supposed to a special label on them.  I imagine the supply of them at this price is pretty limited so anyone looking to pick some up should get there as soon as they are able to.  There are also a lot of other yarns on sale.  Several of them would be ideal for chemo hats.  I have not checked the other ads yet to see what they have.  I do not plan on venturing out too far in this snow while I am on crutches.

My goal for this week is to find out if any of the local animal shelters in the area are accepting donations of blankets.  I have a lot of mismatched  worsted weight acrylic yarn left over from previous projects.  I do not think that the animals will mind if the colors do not coordinate.  Once I find out what the need it I will let everyone know.

Reflecting on What We Have Instead of What We Don't During the Holidays

Regardless of your religious beliefs there is something very powerful about this time of year.  The happy become happier.  The lonely become lonelier.  The sad become sadder.  We think back to Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's of the past.  We think of the people that are no longer here to celebrate this time with us.  We think of the struggles of our past that we have overcome.  Our lives change year after year.  Children grow into adults, our relationships change, our financial security changes, and our goals change.  This is a wonderful time of year to reflect back and look forward.

This year I am experiencing Christmas on crutches.  It would be easy enough to complain about how challenging that is.  I can sit on the sofa and whine about how my foot hurts and how hard it is to complete my Christmas tasks.  Instead of doing that I have decided to look at the fact that I have my foot.  In fact, I am lucky enough to have all my limbs.  There are men and woman in the military that have lost their limbs this year so that I may sit on my sofa and not fear that my house will be bombed.  Sure I have pain, but my pain is bearable.  That is a lot better then others.

Pretty soon I will have to refill the oil tank that we use to heat our home.  It is going to be so expensive.  I am not looking forward to the bill.  Then again, at least I have a home that I can heat.  There are families in Haiti that are still living in tents.  They would be happy to have a solid home to live in whether or not the heat was running.  There are people in our own country that do not have a home.    Looking at it that way, please give me the bill.  I am happy to have it.

Yesterday when I picked my son up from school he started a fight with his sister before we even walked out the door.  I could get mad.  I could scream out, "I am so sick of this.  I need a break".  The other option is to look at them, correct the behavior and cherish the moment.  After all, I have two children.  They are healthy.  I get to see them every day.  Suddenly their fight is not so annoying anymore.  What would I do if I did not get to see them every day?  Could I bare it?  Could I handle it if one of them was diagnosed with a terminal illness?  What if I was never was able to have children at all?

My husband, Michael, has had to help me out since my surgery.  I hate the way he cleans.  Can he not see the fingerprints on the cabinet?  How many times do I have to tell him how to fold a towel or where I keep the extra tape?  I get so mad when he beats on my vacuum.........Wait......"STOP!", I must tell myself.  At least he is doing something to help.  He could do nothing.  I could be married to a man that beats me.  The next time he asks me where he could find a pen instead of screaming, "In the desk drawer where they always are!", I can say with a smile, "In the desk drawer.  Would you like me to get that for you?"

At this time of year we reflect.  We take in all the good and the bad and try to decide what to do with all of it.  Some of us make New Year's resolutions.  This year, when you look back, think about all that you have.  Not what you don't have.  Think of what you are able to do to improve the life of someone that has less.  Perhaps you can contribute time or funds to this ministry.   Maybe you will volunteer your time at a local charity or fund raising event.  Set a New Year's resolution that means something.  Make a resolution that will steer you in the direction of doing for others.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!

New Yarn Picked up at Michael's Arts and Crafts

This evening we headed down to Michael's Arts and Crafts.  Lion Brand Homespun Yarn was on sale.  There was an additional coupon for 15% off you entire order including sales items.  In the end the yarn was $3.39 a skein.  That is an excellent price.  For shawls that require only 3 skeins the total cost for $10.17.  This goes to show that with some thrift shopping a small donation can make a large difference.

I am looking forward to making more items over the next few weeks.  I will be making shawls.  I am also aiming to make more hats for chemo patients.  I am inspired to do this by all the people recently diagnosed with cancer.  My desire is to make them up in some gender neutral colors for the most versatility.

Thank you Rev. Denise Clapsaddle for running an errand for the ministry this week!

Have a wonderful week everyone!