Hopeful Threads

Guest Post – Kristy from Hopeful Threads

Happy Monday everyone! We are in Monterey, California today. Mr. SBD (Sew BitterSweet Designs) and I are enjoying a couple days just the two of us, while Anne gets some much needed one on one time with her Nana and Baba (grandpa).

I have the wonderful Kristy from Hopeful Threads here to tell you all about the March Project she is working on!

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Hi all! Kristy here from Hopeful Threads, and I’m delighted to get to share with you about our March Project!

OH YEAH!!!
It’s time to kick off another fabulous sewing project designed especially with the purpose of giving back to a group of the most giving people I know of!
This month we will be sewing for the people in our community that serve others regularly. More specifically, those that prepare and provide meals. This is one of those months that I’d like to encourage you to look within your own communities for an opportunity to give back. Is there a local church or community group that regularly provides meals for those in need? Does your community have a meal delivery service? A Food Pantry? Take a moment to consider who is feeding those in need around you.
Perhaps your town/city has a Meals On Wheels program to help provide meals to Senior Citizens in their homes? Visit the Meals On Wheels Association of America here to see.
Or maybe Mobile Meals is active in your community? Simply web search “Mobile Meals” + the name of your city to find out.
We are going to be sewing to serve those that serve this month!
What are we sewing?
Aprons
Oven Mitts
Hot Pads
Any type of kitchen accessory that can be handmade!
Don’t have anywhere local to donate? Then you can of course send your items to me. I would be happy to include yours in my box! I will be donating my items locally, to The Love Kitchen.
This incredible kitchen began in 1986.
It was, and continues to be a labor of love of two beautiful sisters, Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner. You can read more about this warm and generous women here. They are actually famous now! 🙂
Currently, this amazing outreach is serving more than 2,000 meals a week in our community. Their volunteer-run kitchen is overflowing with people giving their time, energy and resources to help those around them. I want to encourage them in their work! I want to remind them how very important what they are doing is! I want them to be dressed in beautiful aprons, wearing and using beautiful handmade accessories while they are busy cooking up their love-filled dishes!
Will you join me???
I’ve created a Pinterest album full of all kinds of kitchen-y goodness! Links to free tutorials and patterns to help inspire and guide us as we sew. Find it here, Kitchen Wearables & Accessories.As you sew, I invite you to share what you’ve made and where you will be donating it in our March Project album here. 
I have all kinds of fun planned for the month and can’t wait to share it with you!
If you have any questions or wish to mail your completed items to me, just email me.
Love to have you grab our “Order Up!” badge from the Hopeful Threads blog and add it to your blog or website to help spread the word! Looking forward to sewing with you this month as we serve those who serve.
I have a giveaway open for anyone interested in sewing along the prize is supplies to get you started. Today is the last day to enter as the winner announced 3/19.
Ready….Set…..
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Hopeful Threads October Sewing

Hi Everyone, happy Thursday!

As you all know I have been an avid supporter of Kristy over at Hopeful Threads for some time now and whenever I can, I sew for her monthly projects.

This month the project is to sew items for diaper bags that are provided by Sew For Kids.

Oct. Button (250)I decided to contribute receiving blankets. Anne and I went to JoAnns yesterday to pick out some yummy and cuddly flannel prints, Anne loves any time she gets to play with fabric!

I added 2 more fabrics from my stash and created these 4 lovely blankets. I hope they bring some new babies comfort and warmth.

What I love about sewing with Hopeful Threads is that it almost always lifts me out of whatever mood I am in. It reminds me of how, even when things feel bleak and awful, that I am so very fortunate because I CAN sew for someone else. Thank you Kristy for all that you do.

Are you sewing this month for Hopeful Threads?

Remember September Winners

Hi everyone! Happy Sunday! Today I have Kristy here again to tell you who won the prizes from the Remember September Project. I have to tell you though, the true winners will be the troops who will be blown away by all of your kindness and generosity! Thank you to everyone who picked up needle, thread and fabric and sewed for this month!
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Thank you all so very much for sewing along this month in support of our deployed service men and women. It has been an honor and inspiration to be a part of this project and I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if our final counts end up doubling our original goal of sending 100 handmade gifts to our troops as our album has 183 items in it! That is wonderful! Melissa and I share our gratitude for each and every item sewn!

 

Now for the lucky prize winners randomly selected from all of the entries in our album...
Entry #50 yankeequilter you win, From The Intrepid Thread - A Fat Quarter Stash Builder Bundle
Entry #111 magpiemcq you win, From Sew BitterSweet DesignsZakka Style project book
Entry #18 Sherill G you win, From Fat Quarter Shop - $35 Gift Certificate
Entry #69 A Home, Made you win, From Sew BitterSweet DesignsDeploy That Fabric project book
Entry #93 sweetboatrchick you win, From Contemporary Cloth - Alexander Henry Fat Quarter Bundle
Entry #141 shimmyblisster you win, From Contemporary Cloth - Daisy Janie Shades of Grey Fat Quarter Bundle
Entry #53 Jill D 123 you win, From Contemporary Cloth - Simpatico Fat Quarter Bundle
Entry #162 jadzia512 you win, From Contemporary Cloth - Daisy Janie Geo Grand Charm pack & 1/2 yard each of Hip Squares, Caravan

Sis Boom Fabrics

Entry # 133 Sue W. you win, From Sis Boom - A FABULOUS & HEFTY Fabric Bundle 

Congratulations and Enjoy!!! I know you will! :)

Thank you to all the amazing sponsors that provided these incredible gifts!

And once again, thank you all for sewing along!

NEW PROJECT POSTS TOMORROW!!!

 

 

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Remember September – Another Perspective

For those of you following the Remember September Project, I said that I would provide you with different perspectives from my friends across the military.  Last week I brought my best friend Lisa to you, and today I have my friend Krista here for you. I first met Krista in the 3×6 Bee. We were in the same sampler hive in the second quarter. We were both military wives with hubby’s deployed. Like Lisa, Krista’s husband is also in the US Air Force. At the beginning of June I got a message from her asking if I wanted to meet up and do the Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop with her and I said yes! I brought my friend Dawn and Anne with me and she brought her 2 year old son and a friend with her. We became almost instant friends and she has become one of my go to Battle Buddies for this deployment.

You may be curious as to what a “Battle Buddy” is…here is the wikipedia definition: “A Battle Buddy is a partner assigned to a fellow soldier in the United States Armed Forces.  Each Battle Buddy is expected to assist his or her partner both in and out of combat. Most participating soldiers have reported satisfaction and have agreed that the Army should implement the system fully, although there have been cons reported as well. A Battle Buddy is not only intended for company, but also for the reduction of suicide; since each watches his partner’s actions, a Battle Buddy can save their fellow soldier’s life by noticing negative thoughts and feelings and intervening to provide help.[1][2]Now wives aren’t assigned their Battle Buddies, we find them as we go and we support each other as best as we possibly can!

Krista and her husband Chris have 3 adorable boys.

1. You have been a military spouse for over 7 years now, and while this is your husband’s first deployment, it is not your first separation. What has that been like for you and your family?

Well for sure, I thought I was ready for this deployment. Nope. I totally got high-fives in the face with reality. Its the things like fighting (which every married couple does in a month period) that you can’t really fight or express your feelings because it’s all via email. Emotions can be read into things. (not that I would ever do that) 😉

I would say the biggest thing though, is the guilt. The guilt that my boys, Connor (5), Logan (2.5) and Jacob (1), may not remember their daddy. Or that they forget he lives here too. The other side too, is the guilt I have for doing things like going to the pool or visiting family that my hubby can’t do.

Now on the exact other side, I don’t have to plan meals!! Chicken nuggets and French fries are a fabulous meal for my bunch of boys! I have a bunch more time for sewing too! So well it’s tough, there are PLENTY of benefits!

2. What does this project mean to you?  The fact that soldiers are given homemade gifts from people from all over.

This project means a whole bunch to me. This project is helping care for my husband and troops, in a way that we can’t. I’d love to go give him a hug and kiss with presents in my hand. This project is doing just that. Giving them a hug.

My hubby has airmen in his squadron that have never gotten a package while deployed. That just breaks my heart, that there’s some 18-24 year old boy without a present or surprise in his whole deployment.

3. What do you think people need to know about military families and what they go through?

I think that people need to know that we may complain about the military and all it’s glory, but deep down we love it. We love the American flag more than most. We love our husbands/wives.  We love our families. We chose this life and a huge chunk of us wouldn’t change it for the world.

As military spouses we are constantly asked things that can be hard to deal with, how would you answer those questions?

Yes, we ALWAYS miss our husbands/wives when they are gone.
No, we aren’t trying to be rude when we say we don’t know when they will be home. We HONESTLY don’t know.
Yes your spouse may be gone on a trip for a conference. Unless he’s getting shot at and in 110+ temps, it’s not the same. We worry EVERY minute if they will come home safe/soon.

5. What do you think it would mean to your husband to receive a handmade gift from a complete stranger while he is deployed?

I know my husband will be sincerely touched that other people have taken the time to make him something special. He will be eternally grateful for the thought.

Thank you so much Krista for sharing with us today and thank you for the sacrifices that you, your children and your husband are making for our country. I will leave everyone with a picture of Krista’s front door, a reminder that military families always have someone in their hearts.

 

Remember September – Daisy Janie Giveaway

Today, Kristy and I have another wonderful giveaway for you!

The warm and creative Jan behind Daisy Janie sent fabric in support of this month's project, including a lovely GEO GRAND Charm Pack for us to give away to one of you!

 

Like all Daisy Janie collections, the Geo Grand is a gorgeous blend of unique colors and designs printed on 100% GOTS Certified Organic Cotton Fabric.

If you'd like to add this beautiful stack to your collection, simply follow the prompts below to enter.

Good Luck to all!!!

Giveaway open to all. Winner to be announced and emailed 9/28/12 and expected to respond within 48 hours to claim prize or alternate winner will be selected. 

Thank you so much Daisy Janie for your support of our sewing outreach!

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