Give Hope - Plush Friends

Plush Friends are a SURE way to provide security and comfort.

This makes them a perfect item to Give Hope, whether they are handmade or store bought.

One of my favorite easy-to-make plushies is George the Puppy from the sewing book Girl's World.

 You can see more about my very first litter here. :)

Doll panels are another quick & easy way to create a soft & squishy handmade friend.

Another of my favorite stuffed toy patterns is the Chunky Monkey & Friends collection at Create H.O.P.E. Designs....too cute!!! 

You get all 4 friends for ONLY $5 too!!!

And that $5 goes to support some really great work....learn more! :)

For more plushie inspiration and tutorial links, check out our March 2012 posts, since that was our focus of the month.

Plush Friends....a soft and caring way to Give Hope.

And SMILES....and HUGS!

Kristy

Pattern Review - Ruffle Twirl Skirt by Bumbleberries Boutique

Nothing says "girly" like RUFFLES & TWIRL combined!

This is a skirt to please any little girl!

It's the Ruffle Twirl Skirt by Bumbleberries Boutique.

My girls ooo'ed and ahhhh'ed over it as soon as they saw it! 

I made this skirt as part of the Skirting the Issue sew along and it will be donated along with several others to little girls in foster care.

 The pattern offers options for traditionally hemmed or rolled hem ruffles. I used the rolled hem option. Doing this in a coordinating thread color adds a little extra fun to the design I think.

 The pattern is written with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions with full color photos to guide you throughout. This would be a pattern that a confident beginner with some ruffling experience would love to create! The quality, well written pattern will provide a finished skirt any seamstress will be proud of!

You can find the pattern in the Bumbleberries Boutique here and it's ONLY $5!

There is also a coordinating halter top that is absolutely darling too!

SUMMARY

Sewing Experience Level: Beginner with experience sewing ruffles

Size Range: 2 - 6 Years

Special Techniques: Ruffling, elastic casing.

 Pattern Format: PDF
Materials Used: Cotton woven prints, elastic.

Personal Notes: The movement and appeal of this sweet skirt makes it a winner that any little girl will be delighted to wear!

Give Hope - Busy Bags

 If you have a toddler or have ever experienced a toddler you will fully understand how important a bag such as a "Busy Bag" is. :) These are the kinds of bags you pull out when you are going to be in the car for a while or going to an appointment of some kind and you need to be able to easily entertain your little ones.

Sometimes when a child comes into foster care, the transition time can be lengthy. They may have to sit at the Department's offices while necessary paperwork is completed or an available foster home is found for them. As you can imagine, this would be especially difficult with a busy and confused toddler. That's where the Busy Bags come in. These bags are designed to provide simple activities and distractions for these little ones.

The bags I've made can be created with as little as 3 Fat Quarters of fabric!

The fabric I've used here is one of the newest collections coming from Riley Blake Designs, "Pieces of Hope". Isn't that appropriate!? (more on this fabulous fabric collection to come!) :)

You can find the FREE tutorial here, as the Coloring Book & Crayon Tote.

This is again a fast and fun to make project! And could easily be made and filled for less than $5. Plus, now the toddler has something to carry with them that is ALL theirs....which is especially important when your whole world has been turned upside down. 

They can be filled with a variety of items like:

Crayons

Coloring Book

Sippy Cup

Stuffed Toy

Stickers

Individually Wrapped Snacks

Tissue/Wipes

Additionally, these could be made as simple totes for older children and teens as well just by adjusting the types of fabrics and items included. There's a really nice free tote tutorial at the Happy Zombie blog called "Poochie Bags" here you might like. 

Busy Bags. A fun and easy way to Give Hope....and EVERYONE will thank you for them! ;)

Give Hope - Hygiene Bags

Imagine for a minute you are whisked away to an unexpected place with no time at all to pack. 

Nothing. 

Not even the basic daily necessities.

Wouldn't it be super nice if someone had a handy little bag with all those necessary personal hygiene items to offer you of your very own???

A short time ago, Danny over at Mommy For Reals was collecting drawstring bags and zipper pouches for a special camp she is a part of. It was the first time I had made a zipper pouch, and they were so quick, easy and fun to make!

 

 I used the simple tutorial for a lined zipper pouch at Skip To My Lou here.

These can be made in any type or print of fabric to match age and gender, and then filled with a variety of personal hygiene products. Here are some suggestions:

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Floss

Brush/Comb

Travel sized bottles of soap, shampoo, etc.

Deodarant

Lip Balm

Hair accessories

Just think if you were going on a trip or sending your child to visit Grandma, what would you pack?

 

Danny has another great, free travel bag tutorial here for a more "boxy" version that is very nice.

Hygiene Bags.

A very simple and practical way to "Give Hope".

Back-to-School CHALLENGE!

Everyone is beginning to get in the back-to-school mode, and if you haven't yet, you will be doing all that back-to-school shopping in the coming weeks.
I want to offer you a challenge while you are.

We have been told, that at least in our county, the back-to-school season is a busier time for foster care placements. As children come back to school from summer break, needs that may need to be addressed are often more visible. When children come into foster care, they often arrive with little to nothing of their own. It isn't uncommon for these children to have no more than a plastic grocery bag of belongings....and the bag itself the only "luggage". With that in mind, let's take the opportunity to make sure there are some donated gifts on hand to help soften this transition.

While you are school shopping for your own family, consider purchasing an extra backpack, pencil box or lunch bag for a child in foster care. Why not let your child choose something they like and create a gift especially for a child their age in foster care? If your resources allow, here are some additional ideas of items that you could add:

Pencils/Pens

Erasers

Pencil Sharpeners

 Crayons/Markers

Gluesticks

Kid Scissors

Ruler

Spiral Notebooks

Age appropriate book or magazine

Journal

Stickers

Toothbrush

Hand Sanitizer

Tissue packs

Individually Wrapped Snacks

New Clothing

Socks & Underwear

If you'd like to sew drawstring bags as your donation item or to hold any of the items listed above, here are some links to some great options and FREE tutorials to do so...

Sew It All Magazine's - Wash & Go Bag

Sew Scrumptious - PE Bag

Sewing For Orphans - Large Drawstring Bag

I have used the Sew Scrumptious tutorial to make these...

 

 

Don't feel overwhelmed to "do it all". 

PICK ONE THING.

One thing you give will be one thing they need and didn't have.

If you come across pencils at a great price and can afford to, take them 20 packs of pencils.

If you can fill ONE pencil box with basic school supplies, that's great too!

When each of us does what we can, it's always enough.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." ~Theodore Roosevelt

Give Hope - "Thirty-One" products with a purpose!

Today I want to share with you about a business idea that was developed in a mother's heart and continues for the sole purpose of providing for children in need. If you've been around Hopeful Threads for long, then you probably aren't a stranger to it, but it ties in to our "Give Hope" efforts this month and I believe so strongly in what she is doing, that I want to share with you again!

Assisting Adoption was created by an adoptive mother looking for a way to support other families on the fundraising journey of adoption. Currently, she is doing this by way of selling Thrity-One products.

It's simple really, the family that is adopting, or better yet, a friend or family member that wants to support them on their journey, hosts a Thirty-One event. This can be a home show where folks gather together to discuss the products or an on-line party like I hosted here last month in support of China Little Flower.

After the order is complete, my friend then donates her commission to the adopting family or organization allowing her to give back in a way that is very meaningful to her and her family.
( I know, isn't she the BOMB!?!? )

In addition to the commission $ for the family/organization, (this is how the Hopeful Threads fundraiser funded a month's salary for one of the nannies at China Little Flower!) the host/hostess receives benefits and free products as well based on the amount of the overall party sales.

That is how I earned this PILE of drawstring "Cinch Sacs" and totes to be filled with goodies for children in foster care this month!!!

That's right....these didn't cost me a PENNY!!!! 

The fundraiser earned enough "hostess credit" to pay for these in full! PLUS, earn me a few 1/2 price and designated free items for gifts for my family! Not bad huh!?!?! And remember, this is IN ADDITION to the $$ raised for one of my favorite organizations!

"Thirty-One" products are really incredible too! Very well made and functional, everything I have received has exceeded my expectations! It delights me to be able to give such quality items to the children in foster care in our community! I know it will provide at least a glimmer of HOPE to them on a very difficult day and that pleases my heart.

If you are adopting or support an organization that provides for children in need, orphans or adopting families and would like more information about hosting your own party as a fundraiser, be sure to check out her website....she's GREAT at her job and will do whatever she can to help your event be a success!

  If you are a person that enjoys "Thirty-One" products, perhaps you'll consider shopping from any one of her current fundraisers whenever it is time for you to place an order. You don't have to know the family to support what they are doing....and what a blessing this surprise gift would be!
A simple and inexpensive way to "Give Hope". My girls and I are having so much fun getting these stuffed with goodies to deliver! More on that throughout the week with lots more simple ideas for how you can help too.  Bless & Be Blessed, Kristy

Give Hope - Foster Care & the Children

This is kind of a heavy topic for me. 

I want to be real, but I also want to remain hopeful.....so bear with me. I'm going to attempt to take a more factual approach, but not without the reality of some of the emotions surrounding the situation.

According to the most current statistics, there are well over 400,00 children in the US Foster Care System. Children come into foster care for a variety of complex reasons, with the most common being some form of neglect or abuse. Many come from situations surrounded by alcohol and drug addiction. But regardless of the circumstances that bring a child into state custody, and regardless of their age, they are often experiencing an overwhelming flood of emotions that can include confusion, instability, fear, blame, regret, depression and anger. 

Imagine for a moment a toddler removed from the only environment he/she has ever known.

Imagine a school aged child who went to school as usual that day, but was picked up by a caseworker.

Imagine a teen that was trying to get away from it all and is possibly even pregnant herself. 

These are very difficult things to think about.

I'm sure you are like me in the fact that you want to believe the children you encounter in your daily lives or even pass in the aisles at the grocery store are all being raised in loving homes where all their basic needs are provided for.  Sadly, this is not always true. Even in our own "back yards". 

In most cases, the primary goal for children in foster care is reunification with their birth family or extended family if a safe environment can be established. This means that these children are most often not currently available for adoption and can live months and sadly, sometimes years in limbo awaiting the decisions of others.

Certainly a situation where a child needs every measure of HOPE possible.

One group within the foster system that offers support specifically to the child is CASA. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, and basically is what it states, an advocate assigned to the child by the court. CASA volunteers provide a voice for the child in a system where they can otherwise easily get lost. CASA volunteers are there to help protect a child's rights. CASA is an extremely valuable resource for a child in foster care. CASA volunteers can provide a safe, reliable, caring adult for a child that could really use some stability and unconditional love. 

Learn more about National CASA here.

For the next 2 weeks I am going to provide a variety of suggestions for how you and your family can Give Hope to children in foster care. Many of the suggestions will be items you can of course sew yourself, while others will be for items you may already have on hand or regularly purchase that you can simply pick up an extra to share.

 

My hope is that many of you will seek out your local DCS (Department of Children's Services), DHS (Department of Human Services), CASA programs or even call your local Juvenile Court to find out where you can deliver your donations for children in foster care within your own communities. How wonderful it would be for you to make a connection this month that would allow for ongoing support of these precious children! (and save the $$$ of shipping!!!) :) :) :)

Otherwise, I will gladly accept any donations you'd like to send our way and we will include them with what we will be delivering to our local DCS office at the end of the month.

Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.

Thank you for caring.

Thank you for making a difference. 

Kristy