Cleft Surgery Trip - NEEDS BIBS!

Hi Friends!

If you follow on facebook, you may have already seen that Love Without Boundaries is preparing for another Cleft Surgery Trip and are in need of many, many bibs to take along! I know last year, many of us sent bibs for this special trip and so I wanted you to have the opportunity to do so again. The bibs were so very well received and put to good use! Such a special thing to see them in action!

Read the full post with all the details and contact information HERE.

I shipped off this bundle of 40 bibs yesterday. Most were made using "bits of binkeez" that are trimmings from some very special blankets, donated to me by Binkeez for Comfort. Thank you so much for helping us to GIVE MORE! 

I love seeing how things like this come together.....fabric "bits" from Binkeez, sewn by me of Hopeful Threads, heading to China with Love Without Boundaries. Exciting and inspiring! :) What a blessing to be a part!

If you'd like to sew some to send too, there are a BUNCH of FREE bib patterns on my "Baby Sewing" pin board that you can FIND HERE. 

If you aren't yet familiar with either of these incredible organizations...

Love Without Boundaries

Binkeez for Comfort

...I highly recommend checking them out! They are both GIVING BACK in some amazing ways!!!

Have a beautiful day!

September 2013 - Monthly Project Announcement

OH MY!!!!

I love what I am privileged to do through Hopeful Threads each month! I get excited about each Monthly Project, but this month, I'm especially PUMPED!!!!! I have been working like crazy behind the scenes to make this an exciting, fun and impact-full month of sewing and am thrilled to finally be able to share all the details with YOU!

For September, we will be having a Create H.O.P.E. Designs Sew Along!!!!

For those not familiar with Create H.O.P.E. Designs, let me proudly introduce you! CHD is the materialized dream of my friend (and 1 of the amazing designers behind Izzy & Ivy Designs!!!) Shasta. She had the incredible idea to bring those within the creative community together in a way that uses something we all share and love, SEWING/QUILTING, to give back to children in need. As soon as I heard the first mention of it, I began stalking her posts awaiting further announcements! I even helped come up with the name! 

My doodles while trying to think of name possibilities.

The CHD pattern collection includes a variety of different patterns from purses, soft toys and quilts to clothing, decorations and MORE! Each PDF pattern is sold for ONLY $5 and the monies raised go to support the work of organizations like China Little Flower, an incredible organization providing care for some of the most fragile of China's orphans. So thankful for their beautiful work!

Create H.O.P.E. Designs has continued to gradually grow and add new designers and we are all hoping that it will just get BIGGER & BIGGER & BIGGER, allowing the impact of those purchased patterns to grow at the same time!

That's where you come in! :)

If you are a pattern designer, I hope you will take a moment to learn more about CHD and find out how you can be a part!!! You can email Shasta directly if you have questions or interest.  

If you are a seamstress or quilter, I hope you will regularly check out the CHD patterns, purchase and use them, and share about them with your friends! If you have a favorite pattern designer, maybe you might even consider messaging them and sharing how you'd love to see one of their patterns in the Create H.O.P.E. Designs collection!

So, in participation with the Monthly Project at Hopeful Threads for September, I invite you to sew along using any of the Create H.O.P.E. Designs patterns! You can get a jump start on Christmas gifts, sew your Little One a new outfit, make one of the stuffed toys for the FLUFF Project :) or even donate your creation to a special fundraiser like Hidden Treasures. Whatever you choose to do, I hope that as you are sewing this month, you will be encouraged and inspired knowing that your purchase and donations are making a difference in the lives of children in need. Thank you in advance!

But the fun just keeps getting SWEETER!!!!

These FAB FOLKS are sponsoring our September Sew Along!

And when I say "sponsoring" I kind of mean SPOILING!!!! ;)

As you sew, be sure and snap a pic of your finished project to share in our September Project Album here. Because.....we have an AMAZING list of prizes to be given away at the end of the month from some INCREDIBLE folks in the creative community who are sponsoring our sew along, and winners will be selected from the photos shared in our album!

CHECK THIS OUT!!!!

Aivilo Charlotte Designs - Winner's choice of 3 PDF patterns!

Cute Quilt Patterns - Posy Patch Quilt Kit (includes pattern & fabrics to make this gorgeous quilt!) 

Fishsticks Designs - Winner's choice of 4 PDF patterns!

Hopeful Threads - A+ Portfolio Kit (includes pattern & fabrics to make this fun project!)

Lilybird Studio - Winner's choice of 3 PDF patterns!

The Mean Princess - MASTER Pattern Bundle! (includes each PDF pattern currently available in her collection!)

My Funny Buddy - 5 PDF Pattern Bundle, winner's choice of designs!

Seamingly Smitten - TWO 3 PDF Pattern Bundles!
Petite Kids Boutique - 2 PDF Pattern Bundle!

Izzy & Ivy Designs - GRAND PRIZE BUNDLE! Garden Party Skirts Pattern Book, Monster Mash Pattern Book, Brooklyn's Boho Beachwear Pattern Book +AND+ $100 Gift Card to Fat Quarter Shop!!!!!

I can hardly sit still I'm so excited!!!!!!! 

Please, take a minute to say a BIG "Thank You" to these sponsors! This Sew Along is going to be even more fun because of them!

 It's time to start those machines, get to stitching and MAKE A DIFFERENCE this month! 

Let's go!

Assunta Store - Another Business with the purpose to CARE!

If you read about the foundations currently being supported by Create H.O.P.E. Designs yesterday, then you have heard of China Little Flower/Little Flower Projects. Assunta Store is a business operated by the caregivers of China Little Flower and all sales support their work. Here's more from their "About Us" page...

 

"About Us

We are Americans living in China; we have been here working with abandoned babies and disabled orphans for the past 15 years.  We never planned to set up a store, yet over the years we have seen a great demand for the items that we use in our projects.  We have had many requests to supply snaps, presses, sewing notions, diapers etc at a reasonable cost; Assunta Store is our answer.  We sell items that we use ourselves, so we are confident of the quality and understand how they work. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about our products. 

All sales from this store support China Little Flower.   China Little Flower is a non-profit organization caring for disabled and dying orphaned children in China.   Little Flower cares for orphans in a number of projects:

The Hospice is a special place to provide comfort, love, and care to orphans who are dying.

Special Care for Infants: We provide intensive care to babies who are abandoned with complex medical needs. We focus on caring for babies born prematurely, those with club feet, and babies with birth defects or illness requiring skilled nursing care.

Group Homes allow disabled school age orphans to live in a supportive family environment while attending school and aquiring life skills that will allow them an independent future.

Long Term Care: In this program we care for older disabled orphans with severe mental and physical impairment. These are children who have no hope of ever being adopted or living independently as adults. 

You can learn more about Little Flower's orphan care projects by visiting the Little Flower Projects website.  Updates are often posted to Little Flower Projects's blog and Facebook page.

China Little Flower is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt non-profit organization registered in the state of Nebraska."

I have purchased from Serena, the mama behind it all, for years. Aside from providing high-quality, excellently priced products, she also provides top-notch customer service and expedited shipping. Some of the products Assunta Store offers includes KAM Snaps, size labels, decorative appliques and sew in labels, elastics, threads, cloth diapering products and fabrics. Many of these are products I would be buying anyway, so the fact that I'm able to support these precious babies with my purchases, even better!

Please take a moment to check out Assunta Store and remember them for your sewing needs. I keep a badge in my sidebar to make it easy to find any time! :)

You can also support them with your tax deductible donations. More info here.

January 2012 - Monthly Project Announcement

Welcome 2012! 

This is Jeannie, the founder of Annabelle's Wish along with one of her daughters, adopted from China.

For our first project of the year we will be sewing a special request for Annabelle's Wish. Annabelle's Wish works with a variety of orphanages and foster homes in China serving nearly 2000 children. We've been asked to sew solid colored bloomers to go with some dresses that will be sent to China for the summer months. We need at least 10 each of the following sizes:

3 Months - kmccalope from SouthernlySweet will be sewing 10!

6 Months - Garilyn from It's Time to Sew will be sewing 10!

9 Months - Sarah from Fabric Seeds will be sewing 5! Sunni from Love Affair With My Brother will be sewing 5!

12 Months - Jodi will be sewing 5! I'm sewing 5!

18 Months - Melissa will be sewing 10!

2T - Pam from Threading My Way will be sewing 10!

3T - I'm sewing 10!

4T - Kelly will be sewing 5! Lana from Elfqueenof5 will be sewing 5!
Bonnie at Fishsticks Designs in sewing 1 in each size!

I will be working with the Simple 30 Min. Shorts from Create H.O.P.E. Designs.

This is such a quick and easy pattern to sew and adding a little elastic to the legs will make them the perfect bloomers. I'll share the details of adding the elastic for those who would like to give it a try.

The newest Create H.O.P.E. Designs pattern, the Ruffled Diaper Cover would also work perfectly.

 Both of these patterns are sold to benefit the outreach of Create H.O.P.E. Designs whose purpose is to provide care for orphans and their communities worldwide, so this is a unique opportunity to help orphans on both ends of the sewing project!

So whose up to helping me reach this goal this month?

If you are, please comment below or email me with the size(s) and number you'd like to contribute so I'll know which sizes I'll need to focus on. 

Thanks in advance!!! :)

Special Announcement! Create H.O.P.E. Designs!

I am soooooo very excited to share this news with you!!!!
Create H.O.P.E. Designs now has their first patterns available for purchase
to support China Little Flower!!!

We have been following this project closely, just waiting for the opportunity to share with you!

We also had the unexpected privilege of providing a special PDF tutorial to support this project,
the A+ Art Portfolio!

This creation came to be out of necessity and to be able to share it with Create H.O.P.E. Designs is a real blessing to me!
If you follow Hopeful Threads on facebook, you probably saw me working with this fabric last month. It was a special project for my delightfully artistic daughter's birthday. I had the exact picture of what I wanted to make her to store all of her painting/art supplies, but couldn't find a pattern/tutorial to make it. So....I made one myself!
It has laminate fabric on the inside so her wet brushes won't soil her portfolio.

 With plenty of additional storage pockets and carrying handles so she can take it with her wherever she finds her inspiration!

This easy-to-follow, step-by-step tutorial is packed with colorful pictures to guide you through the entire process. And I am of course here if you have any questions! Just email!
It's ONLY $5 and all the proceeds go to support the amazing work of China Little Flower!

Home sewers are more than welcome to sell products made using the A+ Art Portfolio tutorial as well....if you do, it'd be really great if you could offer a portion of the proceeds back to China Little Flower to show your continued support and gratitude!

So take a minute to hop over to Create H.O.P.E. Designs and check out the first round of patterns available for purchase!

You'll be glad you did!

Each purchase is making a difference in the life of a precious child in need!

The Sweetest Reminders...

This morning I was overwhelmingly blessed to open my inbox to these precious images...

She couldn't decide which she liked best! :)

hmmmm.....which one?

2 doll babies!

Takin' her doll for a ride!

Sweet matching "piggies"!

She did finally narrow it down. :) I'm in love!

This little fella was headed to meet his forever family. He was a little apprehensive about leaving his nanny, so his new friend helped to comfort him a bit.

Oh my goodness! I just want to stroke that beautiful head of hair! :)

This sweet nanny's face just says "love" to me and delights my heart!

I think this may have been my most favorite picture of all.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! I seriously want to squeeze him!

Babydolls, burpclothes and bibs....the simplest things that brought smiles and love to these sweeties and their caregivers. These gifts were delivered to these precious children by our friend Jeannie of Annabelle's Wish. We are so grateful for the connection she provides us to these amazing children!

The sweetest reminders of why I sew!

Don't forget...

The Art Auction ends tomorrow!

Make sure and check out all the goodies they have to offer to help the children of China.

Love Without Boundaries Art Auction OPENS TODAY!!!

Remember this set...

Read the details here

Well, TODAY the auction opens for bids! And there are LOADS of amazingly creative entries!

Here's a message from one of the fundraiser organizers...

8th Annual "Born in My Heart" Art Auction

The excitement is building and we have some incredible art and handcrafted items in the auction this year!  With every penny going to fund critical medical care for Chinese orphans your generous contribution will give these children the opportunity to grow and thrive, and perhaps even find a family of their very own. So please spread the word and join us for this year’s auction on eBay through a link on LWB’s website homepage: www.lovewithoutboundaries.com or directly at our regular eBay store location:  http://stores.ebay.com/Love-Without-Boundaries-Store/Born-in-My-Heart-2011-Art-Auction.html  items will be added throughout the day (Thursday, April 14) starting at 12:00 noon Pacific Time, and the auction will end Tuesday, April 19, with items closing throughout the day.
Once again we have many beautiful original oil and watercolor paintings, giclees and prints, stunning quilts, amazing photography, a handcrafted flute, embroidery, jewelry, handmade children’s clothing, handmade dolls and more!

A couple very special items you won’t want to miss are an autographed book and cd of “Cinderella” from Steven Curtis Chapman and tickets for 6 to see the Yankees vs. the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium!

You can also play a part in saving lives by posting about the auction!  If you have a personal or family website or blog, or if you could post to your smaller adoption Yahoo groups, Facebook or Twitter we would be so grateful if you would mention this event, as so many children are counting on us for surgery. Help spread the news that lives can be saved!

Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who donated items to the auction.  THANK YOU for helping us to make this year’s auction our best ever!

Love Without Boundaries
Art Auction Committee
www.lovewithoutboundaries.com

http://stores.ebay.com/Love-Without-Boundaries-Store

Sneak peek at some of the goodies going up for bid!

 

 You'll want to check it out! There are always some really wonderful things to bid on and know that you are making a difference in someone's life at the same time. I always like to shop for the holidays early and tuck my treasures away....this is a perfect opportunity for that! Not to mention, Mother's Day is just around the corner, and there are LOTS of goodies mama is sure to love!

You don't want to miss it!

Please spread the word too!