Junie Moon: charity

Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts

Monday, May 16, 2016

Bonaire Animal Shelter Ornament

Every Friday night at Blennies on the island of Bonaire, Dame Barbara van Olphen brings ornaments she's personally painted and t-shirts to sell in an effort to raise money for the animal shelter on the island. Here's the one I purchased.

The ornaments are very clever--Calabash seeds. A Calabash tree is a small evergreen tropical tree which produces large spherical fruits up to 20 inches in diameter. The hard shells are useful as bowls, cups, and other water containers when hollowed out. In this case, Barbara makes ornaments out of the seeds.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

May Day

Wow, it’s already May—what exactly is Father Time doing spinning the hands of the clock around so fast?

Along with sewing, quilting, and so on, I have also been sharing my time with volunteer efforts for a number of organizations. One of those is with Save Our Cats and Kittens, Inc. (SOCKS)—a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a healthy, free-roaming, no-kill shelter for cats and kittens awaiting adoption.

Source: SOCKS

Their funds are so low right now they are at risk of losing the ability to continue daily operations. You can find out how you can help here.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Quilt Ahoy, Mateys!

One of Silver Threads Quilt Guild’s programs is making items for children in need. We have a lot of donated fabric and batting we can use, but I opted to do my own thing.

I used Michael Miller’s free Making Waves Quilt pattern and his Ahoy Matey fabrics. This pattern was straightforward and made up in no time.

The backing is the same fabric as used for the first inner border.

Our guild also participates in the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge, so I made one to match the quilt. It was simple to make using the tutorial by Michele Bilyeu of With Heart and Hands.

The result was a fun project for me and a cute set to donate to a little boy in need.

Resources

· Burrito or Magic Pillowcase Tutorial

· 1Million Pillowcase Challenge

· Making Waves Quilt free pattern

· Michael Miller’s Ahoy Matey fabrics

· Silver Threads Quilt Guild blog

· With Heart and Hands blog

Monday, March 14, 2011

Pink Season

Now that the detritus of winter has been purged, we can enjoy the fresh innocence of springtime as represented by the color pink.

My mother-in-law and I walked around her yard this weekend admiring new growth emerging here and there. She has more than a hundred azalea plants in her backyard; each plant is covered in tiny pink buds.

A few buds could not stand the wait and opened their beautiful petals.

While it is not an azalea plant, I did knit another chemo cap in a color representative of the flowers. The color synchronization is just a fluke as I had not planned it. However, it does give me pause to think about the sense of new beginnings associated with springtime. I hope that whoever receives my azalea-colored cap be given the gift of recovery and a fresh start in life. It’s pink season.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Knitting for Lent

Much has changed in my life since moving to Florida seven months ago. Instead of sitting at home bemoaning the fact that my husband and I are living and working many states apart for now, I’m going out into my new community and embracing all it has to offer. For example, I’ve joined the knitting guild at my church.

Although you can work on whatever good-deed project you choose, there is a need for caps for those enduring chemotherapy.

The pattern I used for this cap is Race for Life 2009—Easy Cap which I found on Ravelry. My yarn was Cascade Yarns’ Cash Vero.

Lent starts this Wednesday and continues until April 23. While many people are talking about giving up chocolate or spending money or other such things during Lent, I’ve decided to knit chemo caps as my Lent offering.

Before I forget to tell you, Rachel (see previous post) placed in the top ten at the pageant. We are very proud of her.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Blessings Friday: Picture Rocks Boy Scout Troop Scarves

This year celebrates 100 years of scouting by the Boy Scouts of America; their theme this year is A Shining Light Across America. My friend Paula and I worked yesterday on a project that hopefully helps with one troop’s celebrations.

Source: Boy Scouts of America

Our friend Scott is a troop leader for Picture Rocks Boy Scout Troop 218. None of the parents sew and the boys need troop scarves. This is where Paula and I found an opportunity to be helpful.

Source: Park Vision, Saguaro National Park

Picture Rocks is a community so named because of ancient petroglyphs found in what is now part of Saguaro National Park.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Scott found a bolt of fabric depicting petroglyphs which was perfect for making the boys’ scarves. Paula and I established an assembly line process and got busy making the scarves.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

A troop patch was sewn on each finished scarf.

Here is one of the finished scarves, ironed and folded nicely. My husband is delivering the scarves to Scott today.

Paula and I hope our small efforts contribute to the boys’ pride in their troop and the general festivities surrounding the blessing of 100^th year of service by the Boy Scouts of America organization.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Blessings Friday: Starfish Quilt AAQI Auction Result

In January I created and donated a mini-art quilt to The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) to help raise funds for Alzheimer’s research. My little quilt was auctioned and sold while I was in Hawaii.

I’m tickled to announce my small offering earned $80 for the AAQI.

If you would like to make and donate a mini-quilt to help the Alzheimer’s cause, you can find all the information you need here. Donated quilts are auctioned the first 10 days of each month.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Blessings Friday: Starfish Quilt for Alzheimer’s

Take each day one starfish at a time—that’s the sentiment I wanted to convey on a little quilt I made for donating to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). I learned about this project from Michele of With Hearts and Hands.

Source: Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

Quilt contributions are sold via online auction as a fund-raiser for research for Alzheimer’s, a progressive and fatal brain disease. Auctions are held the first 10 days of each month.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

The beach is my place of sanctuary; it’s where I find solace and peace. I’m hoping my tiny quilt will bring invoke similar feelings for others.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

You’re probably sick of seeing my beach watercolor painted long ago as I’ve used it for any number of craft projects. It served again as visual inspiration for my quilt. I followed no one’s rules or guidelines for making this small quilt—it all came from my heart and imagination.

To emulate the ocean’s foam as it kisses the shoreline, I used a nylon-type trim and added a tan-and-white cotton trim.

The flip-flops were replaced with starfish made by taking a photo of one and printing it in varying sizes on fabric. They were appliquéd onto the “sand” and embroidered in varying ways to imbue texture; a small stone bead was added in the center of each starfish.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

I added a sleeve on the back to facilitate hanging. For my photos, I used a miniature quilt hanger found at Bella Quiltworks.

The quilts have to be no larger than 9x11 inches; mine is 8.75x10.75 inches. My quilt has been officially registered (#4754); I’ll let you know when it’s up for auction.

This quilt is a gift from my heart, a hopeful blessing, for the more than 5.3 million Americans and countless others in the world who suffer from Alzheimer’s.

Resources

Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative auction site
Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative web site
Basics of Alzheimer’s Disease brochure
Bella Quiltworks
Liberated Quilters blog
With Heart and Hands blog

Friday, December 18, 2009

Blessings Friday: Recycling Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are filling up our mailbox, but what do we do with the cards after the holidays? The subject has been discussed on many blogs and just the other day Finnyknits offered a couple of new ideas. Today I thought I’d continue the virtual conversation.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens magazine, December 2009

Last night I remembered this magazine article I’d recently read, so I dug it out and scanned it into my computer to share with you. It’s a lovely charitable idea to consider.

Yesterday I used tutorials found at Chica and Jo’s blog to make a note pad and a matchbook-style note pad out of two recycled cards. My little test projects went well and were very fast to make.

Here’s another view so you can see the end of the cat note pad where it’s edged with padding compound to make pages that you can tear off. I wanted to keep the sentiment in the matchbook-style pad so I was careful how I cut the card. This one will go in my knitting bag for making notations about what row I’m on at any given time.

A couple of years ago I posted a tutorial about making small origami gift boxes out of old cards, perfect for tiny gifts like candies or jewelry.

Resources

Craft Christmas ornaments with Junk Mail Gems
Create a recycled Christmas card banner
Crochet card edges to make new cards at FaveCrafts
Finnyknits makes a yearly post sharing creative card recycling projects: 2009, 2008, 2007
Make origami greeting card boxes with me (a PDF link is listed in my Tutorials in the sidebar)
Many project ideas may be found at Chica and Jo’s blog
Recycled Card Program at St. Jude’s Ranch
Use the cards in rubber stamping projects at About.com

The blessings of receiving cards at any holiday or special occasion are double-fold—we can also use the cards later to continue the love.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Blessings Friday: The Next Queen of Heaven and One Yard Wonders

Want a free book? Concord Free Press is offering a free copy of The Next Queen of Heaven by Gregory Maguire (Wicked). The only thing the publisher asks in return is that you make a voluntary donation to a charity or someone in need.

Source: Concord Free Press

I happily endorse charitable activities, but getting a free book is a really lovely thank-you for doing so. Copies are limited so hurry while you can to the Concord Free Press web site and sign up.

By the way, it wasn’t my shining brilliance that made this great discovery; it was my daughter Lindsay who ordered a book for me. My copy arrived yesterday and I’m looking forward to reading it.

My contributor copy of One Yard Wonders still hasn’t arrived. Not being able to stand the wait another second, I bought a copy.

The minute I had the book in my eager hands, I flipped to the contributors’ names in the back to view my own entry. So vain, I know, but ever so fun. If you look at the photo, you’ll also see my buddy FinnyKnits in the left-hand column.

The table of contents told me where to find the section holding my projects. I’m in Chapter 2: Dwell Redux (FYI, starts on page 41). Yes, indeed, all four of my projects are there in a four-page spread. Four pages, people! My husband and I danced around the kitchen in pure glee. We’re mushy like that.

A little confusion as to what defines projects (plural) ensued last week when I received a letter and check in payment for my project (as in singular) contribution. The actual printed book in my eager hands has me with four, not one. Finally I realized my four offerings are categorized as one “Bathroom Makeover” project. The mystery is finally solved.

Out of respect for the then-pending publication, I kept quiet about the fabric the authors mailed to me to recreate my contributions for the photographer. Now the book is out, I feel free to share that detail. It’s Heather Ross’ Mendocino line featuring mermaids. Is that not the most perfect choice they could have made for me? I was and still am ecstatic.

So, a book that helps charity and a book in which I have a contributor’s role are truly great blessings for which to be thankful this week.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends. I’m going back to work writing my very own book.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

My NaNoWriMo Word Count: 14,637 words thus far!

While I am enthusiastically embracing November’s NaNoWriMo project and my fingers are flying across my keyboard hour after hour, other things also demand my attention.

Yesterday I fulfilled a promise I’d made to make little eye masks for babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

I thought I’d share this project with you in case you’d like to help, too. The heartbreaking but inspiring story may be found at My Baby’s Bling blog where you can find the easy tutorial and pattern for making the masks.

My masks are made in honor of Ireland Rose Brady whose presence in the world was far too brief.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Blessings Friday: Gifts of the Heart

We always expect the best when we embark on our travels and are never disappointed. The trip we just completed is no exception. I’ve shared just a small bit about our vacation with you; today I’ll share a couple of blessings we encountered.

It seemed our journey was blessed right from the start when we arrived at the Tucson airport for our American Airlines flight. We were on a very special plane Oct. 2—a WishFlight sponsored by the Something mAAgic Foundation to help fulfill the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions who want to travel to Orlando, Florida, to visit the local theme parks. For a week, the children and their families have fun—away from the hospitals and stress their medical issues require.

Source: Something mAAgic Foundation

On our flight was an adorable little boy named Michael. Hundreds of travelers and a large contingent of WishFlight volunteers gathered at our gate to welcome Michael and his family. He arrived to resounding cheers, grinning hugely as he waved happily at everyone as he made his way to the gate while cameras flashed like lightning bugs. We didn’t take any photos out of respect for the child and his family.

When we reached our seats, we discovered small plastic planes of candy and a brochure explaining the event in which we were participating.

Along with the volunteers dressed in gaily-colored t-shirts, Spiderman was there to give Michael a high-five. Spiderman candy was included in our plane treat boxes. It was such an awesome experience; my husband and I had tears in our eyes to see this brave little boy and his happy face.

The magic didn’t end with our extraordinary flight. During the cruise, my friend Peggy presented me with this gorgeous wood dolphin plaque she made. I’m so grateful for this wonderful gift with which Peggy graced me and ever so impressed by her skills. There’s nothing better than a gift made from someone’s heart and hands.

Our whole journey was packed with goodness—all our ventures are, but this one seemed especially touching to us. We are truly blessed.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Charitable Donations

Fall cleaning is underway at my house. Purging is part and parcel of my seasonal cleaning efforts. But what to do with all this stuff I decide must go?

Garage sales make me absolutely bonkers. I mark things down so much each item really ought to be gift-wrapped. But still I’ll get a request to lower my prices. For example, a brand-new-in-the-box $50 electric ice cream maker (we got two for gifts one time) was marked as $3 and someone insisted I sell it for $1. My response: “Well, how about $4?” See, that’s what I do, add in their offer to my original price—it flabbergasts people and they aren’t sure what to think. Obviously, I don’t deal at all well with garage sales.

Anyway, forget the garage sale. I can do something worthy with our stuff by making charitable donations. I made arrangements and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America came by on Friday, so that pile is now gone. A different charitable organization is selected each time the purging mood descends upon me.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Now I’m purging my fabric and yarn stash. Yes, sacrilege, I know, but my enthusiasm for crafting has exceeded the bounds of realism. Thus the stuff has to go. There are charities that can use such things.

The joys of seasonal cleaning are all encompassing, aren’t they?

Resources

Here are but a few charities that welcome fabrics and yarns:

Care Wear
Charity Craft Volunteer Network
CUREchief
Project Linus
Tips and Tricks for Donating Your Fabric article

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Helping Other Women

I discovered a way to help the breast cancer cause each and every day simply with a click of my mouse. It doesn’t cost me anything but a few seconds of my time to do a good deed.

The Breast Cancer Site sponsors free mammograms for women in need through charitable partners. Every time we click (once a day per person), we help fund this service. Here's the web site.

Source: The Breast Cancer Site

Get your mammogram—it could save your life!