LOVE .....Without Boundaries

Get your sewing machines oiled and your fabric laundered.....you're gonna want in on this!!!

May I introduce to you a phenomenal organization doing some amazing work for some of the most fragile in China, Love Without Boundaries. 

 Each year, Love Without Boundaries holds a very special auction. It's called the Born In My Heart Art Auction. This year the auction is scheduled for April 12-17. 

THEY NEED YOU!!!

They need you to contribute items to be bid on by April 1st.

They need you to spread the word about the auction far and wide.

They need you to bid on the lovely items being auctioned.

WHY????

Because the $$ raised helps fund life saving and life changing surgeries for children in urgent need.

Get all the details about the auction HERE.

Get details about other ways to Get Involved here.

You can see my contribution for last year here, and you can bet I'm stitching up something special again this year! That's my way of kissing these sweet faces, holding these sweet hands and cheering on their amazing and loving caregivers....the least I can do!

I hope you will get to know more about Love Without Boundaries and find a way that you can specifically contribute to their beautiful outreach.

EVERY STITCH MATTERS!

Sewing Roots

Today is my Mama's birthday!

She is the one who first planted the sewing seed in my life. Now, like in just about every area of our lives...except our reactions to sappy, tear-jerking movies...she and I have entirely different styles and approaches to sewing. However, she is the one to first attempt to teach this willful student the basics of stitching (bless her heart!) and we are going to give credit where credit is due!!! I am so very grateful for her in many, many ways! The more and more I sew, the more and more I grow to love it and love her for taking the time to nurture my creativity along. Not to mention, she's ALWAYS there when I hit a bump and call her....no matter what time....to help me process and re-think. While she spends more of her time crocheting these days, she's still a wonderful seamstress.....like made my prom dress and the dresses for my bride's maids level of seamstress! Yea, lucky me!!! I of course take full advantage of her abilities every time she comes for a visit. ;)

Well, in honor of my sweet Mama and the gift of sewing she passed to me, I want to share! 

 I have a fat quarter of this darling Timeless Treasure print for one of you! That is, one of my lovely blog friends, a.k.a. "followers". No hoops. If you're a follower of Hopeful Threads, just leave a comment sharing who first inspired you to sew. And maybe, if you have the chance, you can just give them a call and say "Thanks!" today!

  Make sure I can reach you via your comment in case you're the winner. One entry per person. I'll pick a winner next Monday, February 20th. Thanks for being a part of Hopeful Threads!

Happy Birthday Mama!
Love you much and look forward to celebrating soon!

Random Acts of Kindess WEEK!

DID YOU KNOW??? 

This week, February 13-19, 2012 is the official Random Acts of Kindness Week.

 You can get all the details here.

And follow along on facebook here.

Be on the look out for those simple things YOU can do to encourage another this week!

I'd LOVE for you to share your creative RAK ideas here in the comments as well...INSPIRE US!

In the meantime, while you're here, please take one...

+source+

I'll kick off a bit of fun for the week tomorrow, so make sure to stop by. ;)

Delicate Fortress - Shop With Purpose

We live in a very unique time. The convenience of the internet and online shopping allows us an opportunity to not only learn more about the  products we purchase, but also to search out shops and businesses that do more than just sell a product. Today I want to introduce you to one of those.

Delicate Fortress Creations

Spend just a short time on their website and you'll see how very serious they are about their mission!

From their site:

"What we're fighting...

Human Trafficking

Extreme Poverty

Illiteracy

Child Exploitation

Modern Day Slavery

The Orphan Crisis"

W.O.W.

And the cool thing....you and I can support them and this amazing mission simply by choosing to purchase items that we might normally purchase elsewhere from Delicate Fortress instead. The list of unique, high-quality items they have to offer includes, jewelry, accessories for you and your home, clothing, handbags, stationary and bath products! Far more than I can share here, so you'll just have to jump over and take a look around!

Looking for a bigger way to contribute to the work they are doing? Make sure and read the Made with Purpose section on the website!

You can learn more on the Delicate Fortress website here.

Follow along on their blog here or become a fan on facebook here.

Take a minute today to get to know more about Delicate Fortress and the meaningful work behind their shop! I am so grateful for people who give with their lives this way!!!

Fishsticks Designs Pattern WINNERS!!!

What fun it's been to see your favorite Fishsticks Designs patterns! 

There are so many great ones aren't there?!?!

Well, now's the time to determine which THREE of you will get your two favorite patterns FREE!

The random # generator has selected...

Ananda said... 12 I'm a big fan of Bonnie's and own a lot of her patterns. But if I were to win I'd get the Mama & Baby Bag as well as the AJ Bottoms. Those are both patterns that I don't own but have been wanting for a while now

If Toys Could Talk said... 102

I would love to get the Inside Or Out Pants and the Which Way Out Jacket. They're both so cute! Thanks for the chance to win! :)

Pam said... 83

I now follow Fishsticks Designs on fb...

Congratulations!!!!

Remember you can always "sew today" with the convenient PDF patterns at Fishsticks Designs, and she also provides her patterns in printed format for those who prefer a more tangible option.

Thanks again for providing this great giveaway Fishsticks Designs!

Ten For Orphans Project

This is a newly developed organization that I just recently learned about. They aren't waiting around about making a difference though! 

 Ten For Orphans is serious about meeting the needs of orphans in some of the most desperate situations. Their efforts are supporting the work of Reece's Rainbow.

Here's the idea from their website...

How it Works

Ten For Orphans is seeking to unite people everywhere with the common goal of raising funds that will help facilitate orphans with special needs having a family of their own by removing one of the biggest roadblocks to the process–that of money.  If thousands of people make a small $10 donation, it can make a huge difference.  We hope that you will spread the word to your family, friends, co-workers and everyone you can.

Simple as that!

You can find Ten For Orphans on facebook and twitter.

Assisting Adoption...Thirty-One Gifts with a PURPOSE! + Giveaway!

I imagine most of you are probably familiar with Thirty-One products. They are certainly popular right now and with due cause....I mean they ARE super cute and practical!

 Well, today I want to offer you a way to get your favorite Thirty-One products while supporting an adopting family at the same time....no extra effort required!

Anne, the mama behind Assisting Adoption has been through the adoption process twice now! Knowing the challenges of fundraising firsthand, she decided to find a way to help. As a Thirty-One consultant, she provides the opportunity for fundraising family's to host a product show with her commission going towards their adoption fund. YES! You read that right! Isn't she great!?!!?

This is one of her darling babies, Ellie-Bug! I just love her to pieces!

So, whether you are adopting yourself and looking for a unique fundraiser or whether you like to purchase Thirty-One products and would now like for those purchases to support an adopting family, make sure to check out Assisting Adoption! You even get to choose the family your purchases support!
**BONUS!** She just so happens to be hosting a GIVEAWAY on her blog right now for this lovely bag...

...so I know you'll want to jump over and read all about it here!

You can go directly to her Thirty-One website here.

Find out which fundraising families are currently being supported, and follow all the regular updates on her facebook page here.

Another simple way to help another!