Make A Difference

December 2013 - The Power of 1

As is the tradition of Hopeful Threads, there will not be a "specific" Monthly Project for December. This is an extra busy time of year that is full of family and plans for the New Year, I think it's a perfectly appropriate time for us to have a little R&R....

Rest & Reflection. 

That said.....

There will still be PLENTY of opportunities throughout the month to help others. 

Pause. Take a moment in the whirlwind that life can become and look for them. 

Share. Give. Encourage. Love. Support. 

Look for 1 way....whether each day or simply once this month, to lift someone else up.

Throughout the month I will be sharing different ways I have learned of individuals doing their part to make a difference in the lives of others. There is such a powerful impact that occurs when a single person passionately pursues their opportunity to love and give.....an impact definitely in the lives of those they are caring for, but perhaps even greater in their own lives. 

I hope you will share your encouraging stories throughout the month as well!

1.

One Small Thing.

Focus on 1 thing and watch it GROW!

November Project Finale!

Today is the LAST "official" DAY of our November Project!

There are near 100 donations accounted for in our album right now!!!!!

I anticipate delivery of our donations the second week of December to allow for plenty of time to finish up and get those donations mailed. If you need the mailing address, you can send to me here, 

 Kristy Smith

c/o Echelon Florist

1260 Rocky Hill Road

Knoxville, TN 37919

Email Me if you have any questions at all! Be sure to add a photo of your donation to our November Project Album HERE so we can have a good count of what to expect, and so you can be entered to win one of those fabulous prize packs we are giving away to 2 of our awesome participants! :) 

Thank you all for sewing along and for being a part of the Giving Back efforts of Hopeful Threads!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Wishing you and your families a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving weekend.

November Project - Gratitude Giveaway!

Gratitude Giveaways are my FAVORITE!!!! 

While I know you don't participate to get stuff, I am so very grateful for the way you all pour your hearts and generosity into our sewing projects each and every month. These little treats are my way of tangibly saying "Thanks!" for all you do for others. 

My friend Sondra at Contemporary Cloth has teamed up with me to create this awesome package of goodies! She has contributed that GORGEOUS bundle of organic fabric from the Safari Sweet collection. The prints are absolutely precious!!! And did I say Organic??? Because it is silky soft!

I've added a current, Winter 2013 copy of Quilter's World magazine, a template cutting set and a Sandy Gervais pattern, making this a gift with all kinds of potential!

Melissa at Sew BitterSweet Designs has created a giveaway bundle all her own to be given away to one of our participants too! Includes pattern, template & charm pack!

I will be randomly selecting 2 winners from the participant photos in our November Project Album HERE on Sunday, December 1, 2013. US Shipping included. (1 bundle from me, 1 bundle from Melissa) If you have been sewing along and would like to have a chance at one of these giveaway bundles, be sure and get your photo in the album! 

Contemporary Cloth Inc. is having a HUGE SALE right now too, so be sure and pop over to see what you might just "need" at a great price! ;) 

And THANK YOU!!!! Thank you for being a part of Hopeful Threads and joining your efforts with mine each month to make a difference by giving back! 

Book Review - Sew Baby / Argyle Quilt

 While at Quilt Market, I came across the Fox Chapel Publishing booth. They had a couple of books I thought would be great for FLUFF Project sewing that I grabbed for my sewing library. I was also given this copy of Sew Baby to use for our Monthly Project sewing and share with you about. 

I decided to make the Argyle Quilt from the book for donation to our November 2013 Project. 

While I am a very experienced seamstress, I am a complete beginner when it comes to quilting. As in, I've made ONE quilt. :) The instructions and step-by-step photographs the book provided really did make this an easy project, and I had it complete from start to finish in only a few hours. Very pleased!

I chose a Riley Blake pre-cut stacker I had tucked away in my stash for a very long time, which made the whole project that much faster. This is exactly why I most often buy fabric without a specific project in mind and why I love keeping a certain amount on hand.....when the right fabric and pattern meet, it can make for such a fun project! 

 I also had this perfectly coordinating Riley Blake ribbon that made for a very adorable finish! I hope this sweet quilt fits perfectly the little one that receives it. I decided not to add an applique as the pattern included, but there are instructions included for that step in the book as well. 

 I backed it with a cozy flannel that had been donated as "bits of Binkeez" from Binkeez for Comfort and finished with a coordinating package of bias tape. 

This book is packed with all kinds of other wonderful baby sewing projects too! There are soft toys, bibs, burp cloths, hats and of course, the darling little slippers you see on the cover. The slippers alone include 3 different variations, 1 of which is a penguin which might just have to end up in my Lil' Man's stocking next month! ;) TOO CUTE!!! 

As a reminder....I know it's a holiday week and all, but it's also the FINAL WEEK of our November Project! Would love to have you join in and help us love on the babies of the NICU. I am getting so excited about making the special delivery of all of our beautiful handmade blankets & quilts! 

FLUFF DROP! Delivery of stuffed friends for the FLUFF Project

My crew & I were so excited to get to deliver this box of 55 stuffed friends to the Department of Children's Services yesterday! 

A very BIG Thank You to all those that contributed to this overflowing box of fluff! These friends will be on hand to be given to children as they come into foster care or as gifts to those currently in care. 

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. MATTERS!!!

To learn more about the FLUFF Project, what it's all about and how you can participate, read more HERE.