Recent Distribution of our Finished Projects

We are happy to announce our group has made and given away the following items in Sept. and Dec. -

Homeless: Hats 60, Scarves 32, Gloves 23 pr

Babies: Blankets 18, Hats 26, Jackets 13

VA facility: Lap covers 9

We are happy to have been able to do this.

July 2024 Finished Charity Projects

During July, I managed to at least do a few charity crafting items -
Rolling along...

2 scarves for the homeless

1 baby jacket

One of our at-home workers emailed to say she has a bunch of things as soon as it's cool enough for her to bring them to the clubhouse - she's very productive and has the following items finished (since April)...

9 blankets (some babies, some VA lap covers)

3 baby jackets

9 scarves

10 preemie hats

5 pair fingerless gloves

13 hats for homeless

Can't wait to see them, take pix... will be another month at least and she will have added more to that stash...

June 2024 Finished Charity Project, Me & Louise

Ok - during the month of June, I made and finished these 4 charity crafting items:

2 hats for the homeless

2 pink baby jackets

And Louise, in spite of her troubled and sore hands, made and dropped off:

3 pairs fingerless gloves

1 nice long scarf

1 purple baby jacket

One photo is of my items and one is of Louise's. I'm hoping to remember to post each month's projects along the way now that I'm back to crocheting after my 5 weeks out of commission during Jan/Feb because of my hospital/rehab stays due to my 3 falls.

I am so happy to be doing this again even though I am not as productive as I used to be -

Rolling along.

May 2024 My Finished Charity Projects

Ok - during the month of May, I made and finished these 4 charity crafting items: 

3 hats for the homeless (adult sm, adult med, adult lg) 

1 nice long wrap around scarf

    I'm hoping to remember to post each month's projects along the way now that I'm back to crocheting after my 5 weeks out of commission during Jan/Feb because of my hospital/rehab stays due to my 3 falls. 

I am so happy to be doing this again even though I am not as productive as I used to be - Rolling along.

April 2024 Made by Me

 
I didn't re-start crocheting, after my medical issues earlier this year, until the first Friday in April, but I'm happy to have been able to re-start my Friday mornings at the mobile home park clubhouse plus working at home. 

These are the things I finished this month:

Lavender Corner-to-Corner scarf

Pink Baby Jacket

Black/Yellow hat for homeless plus fingerless gloves to match

Ribbed scarf in color blocks of various shades of green

I'm looking forward to what I can do in the month of May...  

2023: Total Items Distributed for Charity Last year

Once a year, I count the previous year's items that we finished and actually distributed. Last year, 2023, we were happy to donate crocheted items, in total, as follows:

Homeless: Hats 65, Scarves 38, Gloves 45 pair

Baby's Bounty: Blankets  9, Hats 57, Jackets 39

That's a total of 253 items donated for the year 2023.

And from when we began in April 2009, we report an overall total of 8459 overall!

It warms our hearts to warm these people who receive our finished items.

Most of our ladies are working from home these days but we are still rolling along...

Charity Crafting Items Documented, Packed, and Photos

I finally found the time to sort and document and pack the items we have finished so far this year. Usually, these days, we do not distribute these until October, except for the VA lapghans which can be any time.

These are from 2 gals who work from home. One has lots of time to crochet and the other, bless her heart, is having more and more troubles with crocheting.

The first photo is what Louise, my long-time gal for over 15 years, brought me earlier this year. She has now pretty much stopped crocheting for charity and tries to do some things for her family and loved ones but she has trigger finger issues and arthritis issues. We are so happy to at least received these from her:            

Louise 1 baby blanket, 5 prs gloves

The second photo are the things the gal with lots of time turned in, 2 weeks ago, Rosemary. We were pleased when she began contributing to the group.            

Rosemary  9 baby blankets, 2 VA lapghans, 3 scarves, 1 baby jacket, baby hats 6, homeless hats 2, gloves 2pr

I should also mention that in March we were happily able to have Louise and her hubby George take 18 lap covers to a VA facility.

            Distribution to VA: 18 lap covers 3/27/24

At the moment, I now have 2 fat bags of baby blankets in the closet for later distribution, and some smaller bags with sorted items.

Most of our ladies are working from home these days but we are still rolling along...

Another Distribution of Our Handmade Items

Yesterday, Baby's Bounty picked up several big white 13-gallon bags of crocheted baby blankets, hats and jackets for mothers/babies in need.

We were happy to be able to pass along the following:

Baby Hats 57

Baby Blankets 9

Baby Jackets 39

This organization supplies mothers/babies in need with diapers and many other things that are donated from local companies/businesses but they tell us that their mothers always love the handmade items especially.

Latest Distribution of our Handmade Items for the Local Homeless

On Sunday, the 12th, we were happy to drop off 4-1/2 big white 13-gallon bags filled with crocheted hats, scarves, and gloves to our contact. Diane and her friend will now take them to the priest(s) before Thanksgiving. It is already cold out there on the streets at night.

I paced myself and packed those big stuffed bags into the trunk of the car yesterday and today it was an easy drop off. The priest(s) hand them out directly to the homeless. Sorry to say I forgot to take photos this time.

This time we donated:

Hats                74

Scarves           38

Gloves            45 pr

We really love passing these along to them. Thanks for the items made for this drop by Louise, Evie, Malinda, Rosemary and Randi...

Rolling along...

Great Stuff from Work at Home Charity Crafters This Year!

We received some great items from our work at home gals this year, including 4 more lap covers for the VA, bringing our total, so far, to 11.

A while back, we received some needed things for the homeless from one of our team: 5 scarves, 7 hats, for the homeless...

This gal makes the warmest hats ever and she is the only one of us who makes great long pocket scarves. We are always glad for her contributions!

The other gal dropped off the 4 lap covers for the VA, plus 8 hats, 3 scarves, and 4 glovs for the homeless, and 11 baby hats and 4 baby jackets for Baby's Bounty.

These came in while my camera still needed fresh batteries, so no pix this time.

Almost time to pack some more 13 gallon bags for the closet for later distribution.

Rolling along...

Charity Crafter Items Documented and Packed

I finally found the time to sort and document and pack the items we have finished so far this year. Usually, these days, we do not distribute these until October, except for the VA lapghans which can be any time.

Anyhow, here are some photos but they are not my best - I was in a hurry, it's hot in this back bedroom, and I wanted it finished and out of my way...LOL.

This is what I now have finished and stashed in the closet...

Homeless:

Hats                               39

Scarves                          29

Fingerless Gloves          28 pr

Babies

Hats                               44

Jackets                           20

Blankies                           3

VA     Lapcovers                        7

Some of our ladies are working from home these days but we are still rolling along...

Distribution Yesterday of Our Handmade Baby Items

Yesterday, we happily distributed a lot of our handmade baby items to Baby's Bounty, an organization that is amazing in our area. 

We've been donating to them ever since September of 2014, and over the years we have made and donated over 800 items to them, not including yesterday's donation.

Yesterday, we donated:

Baby Hats                   9

Baby Blankets             2

Baby Jackets               37

We are always so happy to do this particular distribution because this group loves handmade items. 

Update on Our Charity Crafting Stash

It was time to pack and document and stash our latest batch of finished projects.

Homeless: 

tossed a bag into the closet for mid-October; will add along the way. This bag contains:
Scarves            7
Hats                 14
Gloves             15

Babies: 

we already have 3 full bags in the closet. I just finished packing this current bag and tossed it in. We plan to take these to Baby's Bounty in the Fall. So far, we have
Jackets             53
Hats                 28
Blankets          8

The pix here are what went into the latest bag...
Rolling along...

What We Sent to the Local VA This Month!

Here's a pair of pix of the 5 Lap Covers (Lapghans) that our Charity Crafting group made and Louise and her hubby took to the VA for their folks in wheelchairs, this week.

I meant to take full photos of the Lapghans opened up, each one, but life got in the way.

We really like doing these because they are always so grateful and it gives us warm fuzzy feelings.

Rolling along...

Some Recent Charity Crafting Projects Finished

Thought I'd share this pic of some recent things we've finished in our charity crafting group. There are lots of cool hats, cute baby sweaters, and lap covers for the VA facility. We always have fun making doing these projects with the donated yarn we receive. The items in this particular group were made mostly by myself and Louise...

Quick Little Coasters - an Easy "Thank You"

It's been a really long time since I've used this old favorite coaster pattern. Found it online back in 2013 and I have made tons of these since then. Even sold a few on my Etsy store back in the day. They are called "10 Minute Coasters" and guess what? They really ARE!

Anyhow, today was my last of 16 straight weekday visits for radiation for the left breast and that's a significant length of time with the same team, day after day after day. I wanted a way to thank them and made 14 of these yesterday in various colors.

I had planned to use a "star" coaster pattern but waited too long to start them, so yesterday I whipped them all out that afternoon. I gave half of them to the front office team and my radiologist and his nurse, and the other half to the actual technicians and back room team who aimed that monster zapping machine at me each time.

They are a really great bunch, compassionate, friendly, sympathetic but very skilled and efficient. Made me happy to do something, even if such a small gesture, to thank them.

I had forgotten how fun and easy these are to make...

July 4th Treat Bags This Year

Most of you know that for over a decade I've made holiday treat bags and give them out inside our senior mobile home park. Years ago, I made 15 or more at a time. Time has taken its toll and some of my recipients have either passed on or moved on. This year I made 10.  But hey, I'm 81 now and this lower number is a lot more manageable and still no pressure.

I made sure EVERYTHING in those bags was either red, white OR blue, or red, white AND blue! I delivered them in scattered fashion this week because of everyone's lifestyles and schedules but I delivered the final two this morning.

I always give out bags of silly, sappy stuff which my friends put up with.

The bags always contain at least ONE hand-made by me item. It might be anything - a coaster, dishcloth, bookmark, hot pad, potholder, hanging dish towel, whatever works for me at that time.

This time, I made red/white/blue small beverage cozies and plopped a wee bottle of apple juice inside. I also made red/white/blue coasters. So I made 10 cozies and 10 coasters during the past week.

In one plastic glass I put a small cup of red/white/blue candy corn and candy gummi rings and candy gummi bears, plus a pink/white/blue icing Lil Debbie Unicorn cake. In the other plastic glass, I plopped 3 little cups: red cherries, white cheddar cheese chunks, and blue-berries.

They go to our Office staff, our current, active charity crafting group, our former newsletter delivery team folks, and a neighbor/friend or two or three.

Hope everyone has a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Rolling along...

Halloween Treat Bags This Year

Most of you know that for almost a decade I've made holiday treat bags and give them out inside our senior mobile home park. Years ago, I made 15 or more at a time. Time has taken its toll and some of my recipients have either passed on or moved on. I'm down to 8 but hey, I'm 81 now and that is a lot more manageable and still no pressure.

For many months now, I have not done these because of various pandemic issues in our community and in the world. I got antsy - I missed it - I had to do it again.

So, yesterday and today I gave out 8 bags of silly, sappy stuff which my friends put up with.

The bags always contain at least ONE hand-made by me item. It might be anything - a coaster, dishcloth, bookmark, hot pad, potholder, hanging dish towel, whatever works for me at that time.

This year, I made these really cute Candy Corn Coasters. I adapted them from a pattern for a stuffed candy corn thingie. I just made one "side" instead of two and when I got to the top with white, I just kept coming all around in a single crochet to give it stability and make it lie flat. I was really surprised at how they turned out.

In the bag I also tossed miniature candies, cheeses, printed puzzles (mazes, word searches), and because I forgot to pick up the candy-corn-pumpkin-candies, I painted jack-o-lantern faces with a sharpie on Cuties. Had fun.

They go mostly to our Office staff, our current, active charity crafting group, and our former newsletter delivery team folks.

Hope everyone has a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Rolling along...

Next Up, Louise's C19-Lockdown Projects

Yesterday I posted the projects I finished during our Charity Crafters' Covid19 lockdown (link for that here). Today, here's a photo of what our long-time member, Louise, finished along the way. It includes 9 pairs of our fingerless gloves for the homeless, 1 scarf for them, 1 lapghan for the VA, 2 baby blankets and 4 baby jackets for local needy moms/babies.

We stick to simpler patterns for the most part because a lot of people in need do not have access to hand-washing fancy/delicate things, and some, like the VA, wash the lap covers in industrial washers which are tough on items, and some young needy mothers need things that are easy to put on and take off.

Tomorrow I'll do the scarves that came in during the C19 lockdown. After that, I will take all this stuff in the 3 days of pix and pack and document and shove big white 13-gallon bags into my double wide closet in the back bedroom until we distribute to one of the 3 places we give things (VA facility, two priests who hand out directly to homeless, and a group that distributes to mothers in need).

Rolling along...

Charity Crafters Meeting Once Again!

Such a happy Friday morning! Our first "meet" since this pandemic started. Well, actually, Louise and I haven't shared a Friday morning since our last one back on 2/21/20. Then she left on a cruise, and then the cruise was messed up as they tried to dodge the pandemic bullet, and I'm so happy she did, but it was a long time before we could do this again. Let's see - she was here 2/21, then our Park closed our Clubhouse on 3/16.

It re-opened a week ago but I didn't know it so yesterday was our first re-meet - she brought me all the things she worked on, and I let her know what I had finished, and we caught up and were VERY glad to be doing it again. Along the way, our two main "invisible" members were working as well - the one who is on dialysis is still making loom-knitted hats and the one near our Clubhouse is bringing crocheted scarves every week or 10 days - she's brought almost 4 dozen since the pandemic hit.

So, at the moment, to begin to catch us up on this blog, the photo here is what I finished between 2/21 and yesterday: 6 hats and 5 lapghans for the VA...

I'll be sharing Louise's stash in a day or so after I count and take pix of hers. She did a lot more than I did - wait until you see. And then I'll do the scarves another day.

Later this week I'll be packing as much as I can for the closet stash before our hot weather hits the back part of the house again. This week we are blessed with under-triple digits. For June in Vegas, that is a treat -

I also need to update everyone on my Christmas Tote activities - although I'm thinking of just calling it my "gift stash" because I've already removed 2 or 3 things for sudden impulse giving.

Rolling along...