charities + orgs.

More information about charities and organizations you should know about.

oh, canada.

| Betsy

Baby, it’s cold outside!

And up here in the north where I am for the week, we’re about to get hit by some more snow! While the Southerner in me loves it, I realise that I’m lucky to be in a place with heat and insulation and to be wearing warm clothes.

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There is a charity called Blankets for Canada dedicated to making blankets that keep people toasty up in the Great White North. Here’s a bit from their website:

“Just spend at least 8 minutes a day crocheting or knitting and soon you will have an 8″ x 8″ (20cm x 20cm) square. When you sew 48 squares together you have a blanket 48″ x 64″ (120cm x 160cm). To be given FREE to organizations who care for those who have no shelter or are in need of warmth.

Strips can be made instead of squares so less sewing together is required. Just make the strip 64 inches long (that is 8 squares) and as wide as you want – 8″, 12″, 16″ or 48″. It makes for a lot less sewing together and less sewing in ends.

Making the blanket is fun to do and a good way to use up those scrap balls of yarn that are laying around the house. Squares can have many different colors in each one. This makes for a very colorful blanket too! You can use any stitch you want. It’s a great way to try a new pattern.”

Often when I’m sitting around in my house idle I forget that I could just take a few minutes and make a square here or there that will eventually add up to a blanket. That sometimes the simplest things provide more comfort than the most complex.

Lately in some circles there has been much talk about moving to Canada, what about making blankets to keep Canadians warm instead?

nice isn’t always alright.

| Betsy

One of the best things about crafts for me is that I can personalize them however I want. As I’m making something by hand, I can personalize it with whatever I choose. There’s a huge sense of liberty in this. And I’ve been taking notes from Deviant Goods’ Fuck Cancer hats and Planet Cancer’s wares.

Because all too often in this world we’re so worried about being nice and offending someone, when all you really want to do is scream and say, ‘this sucks!’ That’s what I feel like yelling everytime someone I love gets sick when all that comes out of my mouth is ‘I’m so sorry. I will be with you each step of the way.’ Suddenly I get angry and scared and just want to hug them and tell them everything will be okay.

But I want to be strong and supportive, so I just say the nice things. But cancer isn’t nice.

For Christmas, I made knitted my grandfather a hat in the hopes that if he’s feeling low, he will put it on and know that it was knitted with all my heart and wishes that he get better and stronger faster. He’s been through so much the past few months, I wanted to give him something that was something close to a hug even though I wasn’t always close by.

Someone I told about the hat asked, ‘can’t you buy one that’s storebought?’ I answered, ‘yes, but that’s missing the point. The point is that everything I make was crafted with my own two hands and on purpose and with emotion. Something storebought might be less time-consuming, but it’s not made with love and strength and hope.’

Sometimes the right way isn’t always the nice one.

there’s nothing like puppy love…

| Betsy

Do you ever just want to buy something instead of make something?

Given the recent loss of my dog, this week’s craftivist project gives you a reason to whip out your wallet, not your needles.

Melissa from Lekkner is the brain behind Crafters for Critters which collects donations of crafty things made by various crafty people, sells them, and then donates the proceeds to benefit homeless Greyhound pups. This money collected from the purchases of this go-round of crafts will be donated to Michigan Greyhound Connection.

For those of you not familiar about why Greyhounds are in need of your help, I suggest visiting the Greyhound Protection League’s website for more information.

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The great thing about this particular project is that if you don’t see anything you like during this current round of crafts, in a few months, it will all be different! I couldn’t help being astounded and overjoyed at the length of the list of contributors, because looking the sheer number of people willing to contribute, who would dare to say that there isn’t a craft resurgence?

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In case you were curious, my M.A. dissertation is now online. Thank you for all of your emailed respones to my original questions! Oh, and I passed! There is nothing that excites me more than the possibilities of craft, and its lineage to the past and future.

because my yarn stash needs to be tamed…

| Betsy

This week’s craftivist idea is a special one. In reading some literature about the project, I was especially touched because not only does it allow for people to either make blanket squares or donate supplies, but because some of the same kids benefitting from the project also contribute. It’s a project run by the Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services, Division of Volunteer Services. When I read that some of the children knit and/or crochet squares for other’s kids blankets, I knew where some of my acrylic yarn that I don’t need will be heading!

The project involves making blanket squares (or sending some of you extra yarn and crochet hooks/knitting needles or both!) for children who are leaving a residential treatment center in New York. You can donate as many squares as you would like, and the blankets are stitched together using different donations, allowing for a greater multitude of colors and patterns.

From the Center’s literature:
“The children in our programs have had lives filled with trauma, violence, poverty and other stressors. The purpose of giving a Sanctuary blanket to each child who leaves our residential programs is to help them transition from one home to the next. We hope the blanket will remind them of the good things they experienced here, and to provide comfort in their new life. We need your help to make this possible!

If you are interested in making blanket squares by yourself, starting a group with friends or co-workers, or learning more about our project, please contact Shannon Hughes, LMSW, Volunteer Coordinator for JBFCS, shughes AT jbgcs DOT org. We will send you all the information about patterns and needle sizes.

The Sanctuary Blanket Project pieces together squares made from different individuals to make a whole blanket, rich in color and texture. Each square is symbolic of the different people who have come together to help the youngster heal from his or her traumas, and to guide them into a safe and healthy future. Hopefully, the blanket will also provide some warmth along the way!

The Division of Volunteer Services and the Sanctuary Project at JBFCS have begun a project to provide all children who leave the residential treatment programs with a hand-made blanket.”

a few notes from the hills…

| Betsy

i am in the mountains right now before the frenzy that is also known as work begins.

my computer is still on its way to me.

when we reunite, not only will there be tears of joy and a new site to build, but there will also be me warring with evil spammers who post comments that are unwarranted. which means a happier me and a happier you.

yay me. yay you.

i have been doing some writing lately which will be up here (and elsewhere!) soon but also have been a busy little bee starting my craftivism projects for the holidays.

this year i’m going to make blankets and hats for preemies. i haven’t figured out where to send them directly (there are a few links on the sidebar that are currently in the running), but as i was a preemie, this is a near and dear thing to my heart.

so for the holidays this year i’m donating two baby blankets and as many hats as two skeins of cute baby yarn will provide. i’m thinking somewhere between 10-15.

you doing anything? *nudge nudge nudge*