Drop Dead Deadline for Bibs & Blankets!

This Sunday is May 31st - the deadline I had posted for the bibs, blankets, etc. for donation to the Barium Springs Home for Children. I don't have the words to express my appreciation to all of you that have already donated items!

I realize that the deadline may have crept up on some of you but don't panic!

The ABSOLUTE-NO-LATER-THAN-DEADLINE is June 22nd!

I will be packing up and moving a few days after that! That gives everyone that still wants to participate about three weeks and a couple of days to make your bibs, blankets, etc. and get them in to me! Thank you so much!

Since I have a some new followers let me just give you a brief explanation of what is going on in case you might want to help!

My girls and I have been temporarily living in N.C. with my father since Christmas. We moved here from Virginia and are actually on our way back to my home state of Hawaii in just a couple of weeks. While living here I wanted to give something back to this community. Since I love to sew I decided to do a collection drive of homemade bibs, blankets, etc. for The Barium Springs Home for Children which is located a short drive from where I live. My goal was to donate 1000 (yes, I said a thousand!) bibs and blankets.

Without friends nearby I knew I was either going to have to do this on my own or enlist some help. I did a "shout-out" on my blog, Craftster, and Facebook asking fellow lover-of-crafts to help out. To my surprise people volunteered! A few friends and even more strangers! I have truly been blessed and touched by the contributions and support that I have received from people that I don't even know!

Now, do I think that I will reach my goal of 1000 bibs and blankets? No. I admit, I was beating myself up about it recently - that I didn't work hard enough to get the word out; that I made an unrealistic goal, etc. But you know what? I may not have 1000 bibs and blankets to give but I have so much more thanks to everyone's help! And the help continues to come. I received an email today saying some bibs are on the way!

So if you'd like to help you still have time! You can leave a comment on my blog or send me an email at SHARKritzler(at)AOL(dot)com. I can then send you my mailing address.

If you'd like to see some of the beautiful things people have already sent in check out the pictures on the right side of my blog. I also have links to tutorials for bibs and blankets but please don't feel these are the only things I am accepting! While it started off as a handmade drive I have had many people donate other items that the home has on their needs list. As long as the items are in clean and working condition the home will take it.

Thank you again for your help! It warms my heart and will do even more for the kids and families that will receive it!

Bibs, Blankets, Etc. Update!

This past Saturday I participated in a yard sale with the Central Foothill Mommies. It was a great way for me to meet some other moms, sell quite a bit of stuff and of course take advantage of a few good deals! :)

Two of the moms from the club surprised me with donations to the Barium Springs Home for Children. Helene gave me a stack of flannel receiving blankets....

From Helene - Conover, N.C.

....and Tammy passed along bibs, blankets and TONS of clothes!

From Tammy - Stony Point, N.C.

Thank you ladies!

The CFM had asked their members to donate items to sell at the yard sale to profit the club. All items that were left over after the sale were graciously given to me to take to Barium Springs. There were two large boxes of stuff! I sorted through it and here is what was given:

From the Central Foothills Mommies - N.C.

I was able to fit everything into one big box.

If you would still like to donate items you still have time! While this project started off as a "handmade bib & blanket drive" I will obviously take donations whether they be handmade or not. I actually called Barium Springs this afternoon to make sure that they would take a lot of the already donated items and they said "yes." Clothing, toys, household items, etc - as long as the items are in good, clean condition then they will take them!

The deadline is coming up: June 1st! Just a few more weeks to go! If you'd like to participate just leave me a comment here with your email address and I will send you my mailing address. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Bibs & Blankets Update & New Deadline

First off let me apologize for not updating until now.

The most important thing everyone needs to know is the deadline change. The new deadline is June 1st (versus July 1st). We recently found out that we will be leaving N.C. about a month earlier than expected. Lots of scrambling on my end to get everything in order before we leave! Even with the deadline change I hope all of you that have volunteered to help can still help!

As far as where I am in this whole process: in addition to sewing other things I promise that I have still been working on the bibs! My personal goal is to make 100 bibs and a few blankets. I've got about 50 in progress - think of it as an assembly line of sorts. Some are bibs waiting to be snapped; others are waiting to be sewn; some fabric waiting to be cut, etc. I'm trying my best to avoid buying any fabric and using what I already have! While I've been meaning to try out different bib patterns I have still continued to use the free one offered at Chickpea Sewing Studio. So simple yet so cute!



I haven't made any blankets yet but did you know that You Can Make This is now offering a free tutorial for three different styles of receiving blankets? Here's the link to take you to the free download! (Edited to add: if you'd like this free download you have to sign up for a free account. I encourage you to do it! YCMT is one of my most favorite places to buy patterns and to simply be inspired! Don't worry - they will not spam your mailbox!)

If you've already completed your bibs or blankets please feel free to send them my way. Leave me a comment with your email address and I will happily give you my mailing address. Thank you so much for participating and helping out!

PS - Did you happen to stumble on my site and you have no clue what I'm talking about? Please see my older post regarding this project here. Hope you can help!