Craftivism Day for We Are Kenya

Hi there crafty people and do-gooders!

It has been almost a year since I have had a craftivism day and I sure do miss it.  When I can do something I am passionate about to show love to someone else, I feel full, joy and purposeful.

These small acts are done with the great hope that it will make a difference in one persons life.   I love to think about the small child that will hold the bear or wear the dress that I have made and my hope is they will know that someone somewhere cares about them.

Here are a few things we have done in the past for Craftivism Day:

We got together here to make bibs for babies in China,  Christmas Stockings for tornado victims in Alabama.

We  have made Birthing Kits for mothers in Haiti and  Pillow Case Dresses for girls in Africa.

This time we will join with Crafthope to make some handmade teddy bears.  The non-profit organization We Are Kenya has opened up a new dorm for orphans in Soweto Kenya.  Soweta is the second largest slum in Kenya.  We Are Kenya believes that changing the future of the youth will change a society.  They work in Soweta, bringing food, education and shelter to the orphans and children living in vulnerable situations.   They have asked for a few things for their new dorm.  They need twin sized quilts, stuffed animals, knitted beanies and scarfs and re-usable sanitary napkins.

Photo from Crafthope

We will make stuffed bears.  If you don't sew, or don't think you are crafty and can't do this, never fear.  This is a really easy project. Besides, there is always something for everyone to do, even if it is just hanging out with friends and cheering us on.

I found this great Free pattern for a stuffed teddy.  His name is Warren the Charity Bear.  I found him on Shiny Happy World.

Photo from Shiny Happy World

We will gather in my home on October 19th at 1:00 to make as many Charity Bears as we can in one afternoon.  If you have a sewing machine, please bring it.  If you would like to join us, please let me know.  Also, feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would be interested in joining us.

Hope to see you soon!

xoxo,

Carol

Thrifting and Stockings

I love thrifting. Do you know what I mean?  It's like an adventure! You walk into the store, hoping to  find that perfect treasure.  Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't.

Before craftday I made one last stop at the The Thrift Station in Danville to try and find any fun linens to use in our stockings.  The store was pretty wiped out.  I decided to make one quick pass through the store before I left and look what I found.  

Isn't she cute?  And even better, look what I paid for her.

Here is her new home.  Now I have a place to put my morning cup of coffee.

So we had a great turnout for our Craftivism Day.  We made stockings to send off to the organization Christmas in Dixie.  This group is gathering Christmas decorations for the victims of the Tornado in Alabama.  

See this post for the details.

Everything was in order.  

Fabric table.

Trim table.

Yummy snacks from the farmers market.

Deliciously refreshing water.

Pretty flowers.

And a sample stocking.

Now all we needed were the people.  The wonderful helpers who came to give of their time and creativity to share love with others on the other side of the US.

Everyone worked hard.  We made 25 stockings!  

Ta..Da..

Thanks everyone!

xoxo,

Carol

Flower DIY

Another DIY

(I think I got enough photos this time.)

Today's DIY is for making fabric flowerettes.  They are easy and don't take much time.  You can make them while watching Project Runway or whatever your favorite TV show is.  That is what I do.  I don't like to just sit in front of the tele without something to do.

I made these for our stockings we made on Craft Day.

First you need a length of fabric.  I usually use the width of whatever fabric I am using.  So if the fabric is 45" wide, that is how long your piece will be.   You do not have to use this much.  You probably won't or you flower will get very large.  But it will work to make it larger,  you will just need to sew it up as you go.

Cut or rip about a 1" strip of fabric.  I like to rip my fabric because I like the edges all frayed, but it can have a clean edge as well.

Second, fold the end up to make a triangle.

Then grab the bottom of the triangle and start rolling the fabric.  This starts the center of the flower.

Once you get the center started, fold the long end of the strip.  See the picture below.

After you fold the strip down, keep rolling the center.

Keep folding and rolling, holding on to the small center part.  This acts as a sort of stem.

As the flower starts to get bigger, the pedals will start to form.  The flower will get flatter.

With a needle and thread, sew the underneath part of the flower securing all the layers.

 (ok, maybe I should have had one more picture here of me sewing the back so let me know if you have any questions. I'll be glad to get back to you)

Anyway, you will see these little guys show up in a later post on top of a stocking waiting to be shipped to Alabama.

xoxo,

Carol

Today I will choose joy

I am the kind of person who always has too much to do, overcommits and wants to spend important time with people I love.  That's what my day looked like today.  My schedule today:

7:00 Wake up

8:00 Breakfast at Sideboards with Tom

9:00 head home

10:00 Get hair colored

12:00 head to Thrift store to see if I can find any last minute linens for Craft Day tomorrow 

1:00 Drop Bailey and her friends to Sideboards for lunch. Go back home to get Cali for lunch. (I had the wrong car today for lots and lots of girls.)

1:45 Stop by Brittny's house to drop off her phone that she left at my house the day before, invite her to lunch with me and Cali

2:00 Lunch with Cali, Brittny and Chloe

3:00 Back home so Cali can get ready for dance

3:40 Take Cali to dance

4:00 Pick up extra sewing machine at Julie's house

4:30 Grab Coffee (I'm gonna need it to get everything ready for tomorrow)

5:00 Pick up Cali from dance head home

In between the above schedule, I squeezed in some work emails and paperwork, started my first stocking sample, took pictures for a future blog and now (7:34 PM - now 9:01 PM because my internet is having issues) writing this post. PHEW!  Almost done.  I just have to take Cali's friend home at 10:00 PM and finish setting out items for tomorrow.  

As I look at this schedule, I think wow, no wonder I am tired.  

But, I must say, today was a great day.  

I feel good in my soul.  

Tom and I snuck out early this morning and had coffee.  We like to do this.  It is our date time.  I am so grateful that I love spending time with my husband.

I know I complain about all the driving I do, but I really love the time I get to spend with my two youngest (plus friends).  Not much longer and they will be driving themselves and this precious alone time will be gone.  I love impromptu lunches and any time I can spend with Brittny and Chloe.

I am preparing, organizing, creating, and planning for tomorrow.  Some wonderful people will gather in my home to spend their time creating for others who are in need.  

I love this.  

I love having people in my home, 

I love creating for others, 

I love doing things that matter.

Today is a good day.

xoxo,

Carol

That's some serious baggage!

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days.  I had a fun filled weekend with my kids and hubby. 

Pretty relaxing actually.  

I did go to the Alameda Antique Faire and got some great stuff for our craft day coming up this Saturday.

How was your weekend?

I went on a road trip for a weekend a while back and this is how many different bags I had.  

This is so ridiculous!

How many bags does a girl need?  Now Really.

Did I say all this was for only a weekend?

I do love bags.  

And each one has it's own purpose.

Suitcase for Clothes. (I need to find a great vintage suitcase.)

Duffle bag for bathroom items. (This is just unacceptable for a bathroom bag.)

Knitting bag.

Insulated lunch bag.

Computer bag.

Camera bag.

Basket for trunk to hold miscellaneous items.

I made myself an Amy Butler bag to hold my knitting things.  

I loved this bag so much...

I had to make some for a few friends. 

I'm starting to get requests for them now.  I wish I had time to make them for everyone.

A girl can never have too many bags. 

xoxo,

Carol

Craft Day...Please join us!

We are partnering againwith Craft Hope and  Christmas in Dixie  ( here is their Facebook page ).  Our hope is to love on others by doing something we love.  Please join us!

This time we are looking ahead a few months to Christmas.  Yes!  Christmas in September.  
It's time, right?

We will be making handmade stockings for the Tornado Survivors. Over 12,000 families lost everything in the Alabama 2011 Tornados.  There are many many organizations helping these families put their lives back together.  This Christmas, however, they will have to start over with their Christmas decorations.  I would be so sad to loose my decorations, they have great sentimental value to me.

Sometimes things like this seem so little, but to the person receiving them they make a big difference.  They will know that someone all the way across the country cares for them.

We will be meeting again at my house.

On September 10, 2011

from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm (or whenever)

Feel free to bring any fabric, trims, vintage doilies, or even vintage sheets.  See the Craft Hope web site for some really cute stocking ideas.   But feel free to come with your own ideas and inspiration as well.  If you have a sewing machine, that would be great too.  If you don't know how to sew, never fear.  There will be plenty to do for non-sewers.

Let me know if you can make it.  We would love to see you here.

xoxo,

Carol

P.S.  Will it be legal to play Christmas music while we are working away?

Sewing Room Update

I've added a few items to the walls in my sewing room since I last posted about this project.  This is one of my favorite places to be in my house, but I haven't spent a whole lot of time here lately.  With summer here and the beautiful whether we have been having, I just want to be outside. 

I am starting to get antsy for fall, though and with that I always want to get back to sewing and crafting.

I added some embroidery hoops with fabric. This just makes me happy!

I also found this vintage box spring at an antique store on my last trip to my happy place.

I decided to use it for my inpsiration board.

What is your favorite spot in your house?

xoxo,

Carol