FINAL DAY of Hidden Treasures Auction!

Today is the FINAL DAY of the current Hidden Treasures auction....the FINAL AUCTION of the 2013 year! 

Can I ask you to please take a minute to visit the auction and consider bidding on one of the incredible donations? There are loads of gift cards, handmade gifts, candies, jewelry, toys and MORE!!!! All items will be shipped in time for Christmas, so this is a great way to get a gift and GIVE one at the same time!!! Just click on the Hidden Treasures logo image above and you'll be there!

I have one of my Super Dolls in the auction again who is currently well below the regular retail price they sell for! Wouldn't he be perfect for a little "super" fella in your life???

For Good or For Bad....the Power of 1

I didn't know anything about this story when my daughter asked to go see the movie. She gave me a briefing as we headed to the theater this past weekend and it sounded like something we would definitely enjoy. It was.
The movie is The Book Thief.

Movie Poster

I don't want to give anything specific away, because it is very worthwhile seeing, but it did provide a perfect image of the powerful impact 1 person can have....for good or for bad.

Being set in Germany during World War II, you can image the dire circumstances surrounding the characters. The main character being Liesel, a young girl that faces more loss and heartbreak.....more reasons to loose all hope than can hardly be imagined. More opportunities, as a child, to be courageous than many face in a lifetime.

I had never really considered the devastating impact of Hitler's corrupt leadership on everyday life for his own people. The negative reach of his inhumanity was consuming of victims expanding far and wide that weren't even his direct targets. Obviously those that were his targets receiving the greatest measure of his relentless and unjust punishments. One of which finds refuge with Liesel and her family, offering her an opportunity to learn and to love and to embody all that is humanity.

Oh it's a beautiful story!!! A sad, difficult story, but one full of genuine hope.

Obviously you know how the War ends, so it's not a spoiler to share that HUMANITY WINS! The Good...while broken, scarred and forever changed, rises up. Overcomes. Blooms from the ashes. It's not a glorious image of victory, but a bold and true life, changed yet again...stronger. More beautiful and relate-able. One that says simply with it's presence
"I will not give in. I will give more."
And so leaves me wanting to know more of this young girl and the woman she grew to become.

Here's the trailer if you'd like to watch.

The movie is based on the novel by the same title written by Australian author, Markus Zusak. We will definitely be adding it to our library very soon.

I'll leave you with one of the most thoughtful quotes from the narrator of the book, who is a most interesting character all his own....
"I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty and I wonder how the same thing can be both..."

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!

source

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!