Calgary Stampede, Here We Come!!!

As I mentioned in my last post, I just finished up my section of the latest WCOBBS blanket. This one is based on the Calgary Stampede, and is appropriately being done in red and white. Typically, the blankets our organization makes are all donated to the Foothills Regional Hospital here in Calgary for their NICU babies. This one however, is being donated to the Calgary Stampede’s Western Showcase, for their Charity Section. The charity selected by the folks at the Stampede for this year is the Rowan House Emergency Shelter for at risk women and their families. We are hoping that by entering a blanket, we will gain some recognition for our group, and possibly recruit a few new members!!!


I did my section in red garter stitch. I wanted to show potential new members that you don’t have to be an expert knitter to get involved in a group like ours. As long as you can do a basic knit stitch, we have a spot for you!!! We also add crochet borders to almost all of our blankets, so folks who crochet are always welcome too!!!

If you haven't already, please check out our blog.  If you are a knitter or do crochet and want to get involved, please let me know!!!  We are also always looking for yarn and needle donations, so if you have a stash that needs some editing, I'd be more than happy to lend a hand in finding a new home for some yarn!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Birthday Madness!!!

Happy Monday!!!

This past weekend, my little Diva turned three!!! I still cannot believe how big she is getting!!! Though I would love to post photos of a crafty birthday blowout, there are none. We decided to hold off on having a party for her until this summer. I don’t talk about it too often on here, but the Diva has some health issues, and has an upcoming surgery. Open heart surgery…#3. We’ve already had it postponed twice because of colds, so we weren’t ready to take any more chances. Though we don’t keep her in a bubble, we thought that inviting a bunch of people into our home would be asking for trouble. So, this summer we’ll be having a Backyardigan Belated Birthday/Recovery Party. The Diva was quite understanding about the whole thing. Don’t worry…she still had a few visitors, and a cake, and LOTS of presents.


Back in November, I started her “Something for Spring” sweater. I actually started it while sitting in the waiting room at the hospital during the Diva’s Cardiac Catheter. My plan was to knit it 100% while she was in the hospital, but with the delayed surgery, I didn’t want to wait. So, I put my hands into high gear and I finished it for her Birthday. We renamed it “Hannah’s Birthday Sweater”, and she wore it out to dinner on her big day. Though I finished most of it sitting in our living room, and not in the hospital, it still has special meaning to me.

Here’s the Diva and her Daddy right before we went out to dinner.

I thought it was going to be huge on her, but apparently she has gone through a recent growth spurt, because it fits great!! It’s a bit baggy, but still a perfect fit. I think it should get her through the spring and cool summer nights just fine!!

My hands didn’t stay idle for long. As soon as the sweater was seamed, I got busy making clothes of a different kind…Barbie clothes. The Diva got a few for her birthday, and they needed a few more outfits. I miss the days when you could buy the $5.00 Barbie at Osco Drug and then get 20 outfits for it at any department store!!! Now, it seems as though you have to spend $25.00 on the special themed dolls in order to get any clothes!! I bought a mermaid Barbie from one of the movies we’ve been watching, and she came with a convertible mermaid tail that changes into an outfit, a pair of flip flops, and a few jewelry pieces. She cost $25.00!! Te Diva really wanted it, so I was fine spending the money…I just wish she came with a bit more. I bought one of her friends, and all she came with was a bikini…not even a pair of flip flops!! The few outfits they had at Wal-Mart looked more “naughty” than “nice”, so I decided that I needed to make some stuff instead. It actually brought me back to my childhood…my sister used to “take orders” for personalized Barbie sweaters, and she’d knit them for me. She also sewed blankets and pillows. I had many flashbacks when the Diva and I were looking at some knitting patterns online and she was pointing and requesting special colors.

So, with that said, Barbie now has one new outfit. It isn’t perfect, but it is better than having naked dolls sitting out on the coffee table!! I have MANY more patterns, and MUCH more baby yarn to use up in my stash, so be ready for more reveals in the near future!!

I do have one final project that I finished up this weekend, but I’ll wait to do a special post for it. I finished my section of the latest WCOBBS blanket…but I still need to snap some photos. I also started planning a baby gift for a friend in Georgia, who is having a baby boy in August. They are HUGE UGA fans, so get ready for lots of red, black and white in my projects!!! Their nursery is going to be in those colors, so my wheels have been turning all weekend, planning out a cool gift for them. Stay tuned!!!

Well, I’m off to play dolls with the Diva. Have a great week everyone!!!

Cheers!
                                                                Sharon

Looking back at 2009- Charity Blankets

2009 Charity Blankets
Originally uploaded by heffalump23-knits

Hello All!!

As promised, here are a few more of my 2009 projects. These are all blankets that I worked on for the WCOBBS. They will, or have already been, donated to the Foothills Regional Hospital NICU. This is a great organization, and worth taking a look at!!

(Please click on the link below the photo for larger photos and descriptions)

Cheers!
Sharon

Beautiful Fiber, a Blanket, & a Baby Bear

Hey Everyone!!

So, I have been “attempting” to spin with my new wheel. I’m not quite ready to show the results to everyone (I need to adjust a few things first), but I wanted to show you what I have been spinning. My friend Tamara, the one who came with me to buy my wheel, gave me this beautiful fiber. The colors are so pretty, I feel bad for using it!



When I first decided that I was going to buy a wheel, my friend Cara bought this beautiful stuff for me…



It is much tighter than the other fiber, so I am going to hold off spinning it until I get better. Right now I am just enjoying petting it!!!

In knitting news, I have just finished up my 8th WCOBBS stripe! I wasn’t planning on doing any blankets for a while, but when a fellow knitter had to bow out, I couldn’t resist. So, with that said, Pooh Bear and Friends made their way back to my house! It is actually kind of cool since I started Pooh several months ago. It is always nice to see the finished product in person!!



I was supposed to do a stripe that represented Pooh bear himself. I chose a mock honeycomb stitch. It was super easy once I got the hang of it. I think it looks really nice too. I’m quite proud of this stripe!!

I have also been working on a stuffed bear. I started it a little while ago, and took a time out with it for the blanket. Here is an “In Progress” photo.

I worked on her a bit last night and got a leg done…I think I’ll work on the other one at Knit Night tonight. I love the way the yarn is self-striping…it looks really cool!! The pattern is Baby Bear from the Susan B. Anderson book, Itty-Bitty Toys. It is actually coming out quite large…and I am so happy with it!!! Hopefully I’ll get it done soon…photos to come!!!

I hope you are all having a wonderful start to 2010, and I look forward to posting lots of knitting and spinning projects this year!!!

Cheers!
Sharon

Getting Focus Back...

Hello All-

Okay, so first, let me apologize for the fact that I am publishing yet another post that doesn't involve photos of my current knitting projects...this post is a pretty important one, so I hope that even without visuals, you continue reading...

For the last year, I have been involved with the WCOBBS. I post often about blankets we are working on, and about 6 months ago, I asked for my readers to consider bidding on auction items for a fundraiser we were hosting. Well, again, I am asking for your support.

The WCOBBS is an organization that has made a major impact on my life....though the other knitters/crocheters probably have no idea just how much. When I was pregnant with Hannah, I decided that I was going to reconnect with my past and give knitting another chance. I went to AC Moores, bought two jumbo balls (Lion Brand Pound of Love) of yarn, and cast on a yellow and white baby blanket. I made lots of mistakes, cursed a lot, but felt so wonderful that I was making something for my little one. Then, when I was 20 weeks pregnant, we found out that she was going to be born with a major heart defect. My desire to continue the blanket was gone. What if I was making this botched up blanket for a baby who would never live to see it?? I just couldn't get my focus back.

Thankfully, my story has a happier ending than that of many. Hannah was born with the defect, but has been doing great! When she was born, she received several blankets in the hospital. One was a beautiful quilt in the NICU, and the other was a striped crocheted blanket in the PICU after her first open heart surgery. The nurses explained to us that there were groups who made these blankets and donated them to the hospital. It was at this point that I decided that I needed to pick up my needles again...my focus was back.

Upon moving to Calgary, and being introduced to Ravelry by a childhood friend, I found the WCOBBS. This was the motivation that I needed. Not only did I finish that botched up yellow and white blanket, but I continued working on other projects too. Then, in March 2009, I worked on my first OBB...Peter Rabbit. The joy that working on that blanket brought to me is priceless. Since then, I have worked on 7 different blankets, and every one of them hold a special place in my heart.

Each time I write a little note in the journal that accompanies each blanket, I think about the little person who will be receiving it, as well as the crafters who donated their skills to my Hannah. I guess I always thought of each row I knit as a little thank you to those individuals who I will never have the honor of meeting.

Shortly after I joined the WCOBBS, I learned of a little girl who had recieved one of the WCOBBS blankets. There were two things about this girl that stuck out in my mind, one, I thought it was so amazing that the group was able to know who recieved one of their blankets, and two, the little one had a heart condition, just like Hannah. Over the last year, the family of this little one blessed our organization by sending updates on how she was doing. There were ups and downs, but each of us prayed and kept the faith that this little one would have a happy ending.

Sadly, a few weeks ago, we were notified that this little angel earned her wings. She lost her battle with her CHD shortly before her first birthday. I still break down just thinking about the loss that her parents must feel...and how easily it could be me in their shoes.

After sitting back and taking the whole situation in, I decided that something must be done to honor this special little life. In my opinion, there is a reason why the WCOBBS was brought into this family's life. So, I suggested that we collect funds to donate in her name to a charity that provides help to families like hers. Because our crafters represent all of Western Canada, it was suggested that the organization that we chose would do the same. It is for this reason that the Ronald McDonald House in Edmonton, Alberta was chosen. All children from Western Canada go to Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton for their heart surgeries, so the Ronald McDonald House is a place that offers a service to these families.

So, for the month of January, all donations made on the WCOBBS Donation site will be going to the Ronald McDonald House in this little angel's name. I ask that you consider making a donation...of any amount. If you prefer to donate to a more local organization to where you live, please do so...and keep this little angel in your thoughts when you do.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope that 2010 is a wonderful year for all of you!! Happy New Year!!

God Bless,

Sharon

Crazy Quilt

Happy Saturday!!!

I wanted to introduce you all to my 7th WCOBBS blanket!!! This one I have named Crazy Quilt. We wanted to sneak one more blanket into the Christmas delivery, so it was decided to do a Fast-track blanket. So, for this one, all of the knitters have one week to finish their section instead of two weeks. I got the needles on Thursday night, cast on when I got home from coffee with my knitting buddies, and I finished last night...24 hours...not bad. I stuck with a basic garter stitch pattern for the sake of getting it done quickly. This blanket doesn't have a stitch or color theme, so I am curious to see how she turns out!!!

You'll also notice that I changed my blog layout...again. I needed something more wintry, and I fell in love with the coziness of this layout! There's nothing better than curling up with a mug of hot chocolate or coffee and knitting the day away!! At the top, you will find some links that I have added...I still have some more work to do, so bear with me!!

Well, I'm off to work on Liv's Legwarmers a bit more. This project is so BORING!!! Round and round...round and round...it feels like they're never going to end!!!

Have a great weekend!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Christmas Knitting...and Other Stuff

**

I want to warn you before you read this post that it contains Christmas gifts in it...if your name is Olivia, please STOP READING!!! So far, you're the only one I've started knitting for!!!

**

So, I wanted to start off with some non-Christmas knitting, just in case my niece Olivia happens upon this post...I don't think she knows about my knitting blog, so I should be in the clear.

A little while back, I mentioned that I had started a new OBB...well, here it is. The blanket is called, “Ilanaaq”, which is the Inuktitut word for “friend”. It is also the name of the logo for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The whole thing will be done in the logo colors and in garter stitch. It is already with the third knitter...pretty cool, huh??

Next up...Hannah's Miffy. Hannah and I were browsing through patterns on Ravelry, and we stumbled upon one for a Miffy doll. She really liked it, and asked me to make her one. So, off to Michaels we went to buy some white and blue yarn. I am not 100% happy with how it is going so far. The increases say to be M1, but I think if I had kfb, I'd be in better shape. The M1s are leaving little holes, and I'm not thrilled about them. I'm not going to frog what I have done, but I will make a note on the pattern for the next time I make this one...since I am sure that Hannah will request another. I also plan to make the dress with snaps, so I can make several different colored ones.

So, this is Miffy's head. I am in the process of doing the decreases and then I have to split out the ears.

**

Okay Olivia, if you've read this far...STOP NOW!!!!

**

So, now for some Christmas knitting updates. I asked my sister-in-law, Eva, if the kids had any requests, and she informed me that leg warmers are popular back home. Okay, I can handle round after round of stockinette...but then she threw me a curve ball when I asked what color Oliva is currently fond of (it has always been purple in the past, so that's what I was expecting to hear). Nope...not purple...ORANGE!!! Yikes!!! I am not a huge fan of orange, and it isn't a real easy color to find...unless of course you count the scratchy stuff at Michaels which is perfect for little pumpkins...not so much for leg warmers.

Well, I lucked out and found some multi-colored yarn that had orange in it...and purple. So far, I am liking the striping effect, and I think the colors will appeal to an 11 (almost 12 year old) girl.

Sorry that the photo is sideways...I have no clue why this happened!!!

I still have a LONG way to go, since this is only the first one, but I figure that I'll work on them for a bit and then move on to something else...then come back to them. I am also thinking about getting another pair of dpns for this project...the ones I have are not liking the yarn. I think I need something a bit sharper at the ends.

Here is my first finished Christmas gift. Olivia collects American Girl dolls, so I thought I'd make her some clothes for them. I started off with a basic cape. I still need to find a clasp for the front, since I don't care for the I-cord look as much.

Here it is...modeled by my Kirsten doll.

It is just basic stockinette with simple increases...then you pick up stitches around the neck for the hood.

My only real mod to this pattern is that I didn't do a 3-needle bind-off on the hood. Instead I seamed it up. I really don't mind seaming, so I was happy when the directions said you could do either!!!

Not bad...if I do say so myself!!!

So, that's what I have been up to. I have lots more AG clothes to make, a scarf/hat set for one of my nephews, and who knows what else. I'll keep you posted as I move through my "To Do" list!!

Cheers!

Sharon

Ugh!

Typically I post when I have some new project to show off...this time you're stuck with me venting about how my Knitting Mo-Jo...Mo-Went! I have started several projects since my baby knits extravaganza, but none of them were working out. I made a hat for Hannah...and it was too small...I tried another one and it was too big...man, I am starting to feel like Goldilocks! I even tried knitting with Alice, my Alpaca yarn (named by my buddy Cara), and even that wasn't talking to me.

I did manage to start another OBB...this one is Olympics themed...photos to come. I honestly haven't taken any of it yet. I finished it in only a few days, but it has taken me 2 weeks to get up the umph to mail it out. That and I have been killing myself trying to find the perfect notebook to mail along with it. Argh! I need out of this rut and fast!!!!

So, I'm off to look for another pattern to try...hopefully to also finish! I bought some orange and green yarn at Michael's yesterday...maybe some pumpkin hats?? We'll see...

Thanks for sticking with me through the dry spells!!!

Cheers!
Sharon

I Told You There Would Be More

Happy Friday!!!

So, as promised in my last post, I have a few more projects to talk about...

First up...Just Beachy. Though not my favorite blanket to work on (I love everyone else's sections, I'm just not super pleased with mine), it is special to me, since it was my 5th blanket with the WCOBBS!!! I originally was supposed to use a puffed rib pattern, but it just wasn't working, so I went with my old standby...the Moss Stitch. This time I jazzed it up a bit and did a Double Moss Stitch!!! I know, I know, I'm a rebel!!!

Each section of this blanket represents some part of the beach...the green is for seaweed, the dark blue is for the ocean, the lighter blue is for the sky, my white section is for the clouds, and there will be two brown sections added...one to represent driftwood and one for the sand.

I have also started on Hannah's sweater. I changed what pattern I was using several times, and I finally settled on a basic cardigan pattern from Lion Brand. So far I am 3/4 of the way done the back, and it is going right along. It is a basic stockinette sweater with seed stitch borders...nothing fancy, but perfect for Hannah. She should get a lot of wear out of this!! The yarn I am using is Bernat Chunky in the Summerset colorway. I love it!!! I'll be sure to post some in progress photos as I get further along.

Other than that, I am planning on making some winter items for the Inn from the Cold shelter in Calgary. I have some leftover yarn from other projects that will make nice hats and mittens for those who need them. I've never made mittens before, and I have limited hat experience, so this will be a learning experience for me!!

One final project that is being worked on is...me!!! Last weekend I FINALLY went to the eye doctor and got myself a new pair of glasses. It's not that my vision is bad, but I have an astigmatism in each eye, and glasses do help to correct them. Along with glasses, I am getting my hair chopped tonight. I would say cut instead of chopped, but when you are getting 12+ inches taken off, chopped seems to be a more appropriate term. I plan on donating my hair to Locks of Love for the second time, and though I am nervous about getting a new look, I am happy to help others...and I need a change!!! I'll be sure to post Before and After photos as soon as I can!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Love,

Sharon

Projects...Projects Everywhere!!!

So, despite the fact that I have been a huge slacker about posting, I have been getting some knitting done.

But, before I show you some of my finished objects...here is my knitter in training!!! She LOVES playing with yarn (who doesn't?) and she likes taking her sunglasses and clicking the ends together so they sound like knitting needles. The other day she even ran around the house saying that " 'Y' must be Mommy's favorite letter, because 'yarn' starts with 'Y'!" She also tries to "help" me knit by yelling "knit, purl" whenever I am working on something. It is so cute!!!

So, here is one of my latest projects. It is the
Concentric Squares Baby Blanket pattern by Fiber Fiend/Margit Sage. I renamed it the "Willoughby" since the green reminded me of Vermont, and I made it for some college friends back in Vermont. I hope their little boy (due in October) likes it!!! It is wicked soft and quite large. I made it with 4.5 skeins of Lion Brand Jiffy Solid in Grass Green.

The pattern is UBER-Easy!!! The squares are all made with alternating stockinette and garter stitches. The best part is that it works up so quickly that you don't have time to get bored with the pattern!! This took me about a week and a half to finish, and I wasn't working on it 100% of the time.

Oh, I also brought "The Floridian" back from hibernation. I plan on working on it in between other projects. You can keep tabs on my progress in the sidebar. I'm mid-way through the white section now, and I'll add three more stripes after that. Essentially, I am doing a basic rice stitch in each of the three colors, and I go until I run out of yarn. Pretty simple!!!

I also have some other finished objects that still cannot be revealed just yet. As for new projects, I am currently working on a WCOBBS blanket, Just Beachy. I should have photos of that by the time I post next. I also just bought yarn for Hannah. She wants a sweater, and since I have been doing so much knitting for others, I figured it was time to start something for her. I haven't cast on for that yet, but as soon as Just Beachy is mailed to the next knitter, I'll jump right on it. I'm also on the hunt for some cool Christmas presents, so that should keep me busy for a while!!!

Well, I'm off to lay down. I pulled a muscle in my back last night, and I have a hard time sitting for long periods of time in the Dining Room chairs.

Have a great week!!!

To All My Adoring Fans...Haha!!!

I haven't forgotten about you...I promise!!!! Sorry I haven't written much lately. First, my computer crashed and I didn't have it for two weeks...then my in-laws were in town...so, needless to say, I haven't had much blogging time. I have kept up with my knitting, don't worry!!!

First, I was fortunate enough to start a WCOBB blanket!!! This one is called Pooh and Friends, and I started it off with a Piglet inspired stripe. The pattern was meant to resemble Piglet's striped tummy...and it was called Ham's Tweed...does it get any better than that?? I love irony!!!

Next, I have been working on some baby gifts. I have several friends who are expecting this fall (all with boys...more irony!!!)...the only problem is that at least one of them "may" read this blog, so I don't dare post any photos. So, here's a hint on what I have been up to...lots of blue yarn...that's it, your only hint!!! I put a project in my Ravelry project list, but you'll have to wait and see if it is a decoy or not!!!

Other than that, I haven't done much. The auction was a success (thank you to all who checked it out!!!), and we have a bunch of blankets in circulation right now...check out the WCOBBS blog for some photos!!!!

Cheers!!!
Sharon

Like What You See???

Cross-stitched Christmas Ornament

(Great for homes with children...this ornament won't break!!)

Hand-knit scarf in beautiful colors that will match any coat!!

There are several other colors and styles to choose from!!

Adorable hand knit baby hat

240 yards of hand dyed yarn just waiting to be made into something amazing!!

Beautiful Toddler skirt...ideal for that summer BBQ!!!

These are just a selection of the items that have not been bid on! It won't be long before someone is going to snatch them all up, so if you like what you see...BID NOW!!!!! We still have concert tickets, glassware, jewelery, and other fiber related items that are looking for a good home!!!
http://wcobbs.auctionsalacarte.com/babyblankets

Lots of Items To Bid On!!!!

By now you are probably getting sick of me talking about the on-line auction we are having for my blanket charity (Western Canadian Oddball Baby Blanket Society)...so, you have one of two options...1) go to http://wcobbs.auctionsalacarte.com/babyblankets and start bidding, or 2) don't read either of my blogs until next week. The choice is yours...HAHA!!!!

For those of you who are considering bidding, now is the time to do it!!! There are still more than 20 items that have not been bid on yet, and many of them do not have a reserve! Handspun yarn for whatever price you name?? Handmade goodies for a fraction of what they are worth??? YUP!!! If you were wondering, I made the mosaic mirror, and though I would love my friend Jen who bid on it to get it, I would love to see it go for more than $5.00...the current bid.

When you bid, you have two options...you can either bid a firm offer, or you can set a proxy bid. A proxy bid is great if you don't want to be glued to your computer watching the bids. You list the highest price you are willing to pay for the item, and it will up the other bidders by one dollar until your highest bid is met. So, by doing this, you may get the item for less than what your bid is (if no one wants to keep bidding against you). You can also donate a set amount if you are not interested in bidding on any of the listed items.

We have tried to make the auction as user friendly as possible...no additional shipping charges are being added (except on one glass item that is fragile), most items have no reserve, and there are several payment options...we are even willing to be personal shoppers! If you bid on one of the two yarn store gift certificates, one of the officers of the WCOBBS and the shop owner will purchase your yarn or fiber related items for you and then ship you the goodies!!! It doesn't get any easier!!!

If you have any questions, please let me know, or you can email the WCOBBS at wcobbsociety@shaw.ca

Thanks again for your support!!!

A Chance to Help...

Hey Everyone!

So, as most of you are aware, for the past six months or so, I have been very involved with a charity here in Calgary, called the Western Canadian Oddball Blanket Society (WCOBBS). We knit blankets for the NICU at the Foothills Regional Hospital here in Calgary, as well as the Alberta Children's Hospital (also in Calgary...this is where Hannah goes for her Cardiology appointments and her RSV shots). Our group is currently made up of 40+ women throughout Alberta and BC. Many of us are involved because we are mothers or grandmothers of children who, for one reason or another, had extended hospital stays, and were helped in some way by the generosity of others during that time. For me, I decided to seek out this type of group after Hannah received quilts and blankets while she was at Maine Med for her two operations. I am very blessed to have found the WCOBBS...it has not only given me an opportunity to give back to others, but it has also helped me to meet some wonderful women!!! I have gotten so involved that I am now the group's Vice President!!

So, why I am I telling you about this?? Well, we are holding an online auction starting Monday and ending on Friday. The purpose of the auction is to raise the funds necessary for us to become a Canadian Charitable Organization. By doing this, we will not only be recognized by the country for our efforts, but we will also be able to accept donations from outside sources. Right now, each knitter uses donated needles, supplies their own yarn and pays to ship the blanket to the next knitter. We would love to be able to have a collection of needles that belong to the group, as well as yarn for those who cannot afford it, and we would love to be able to help with shipping costs. The knitter who begins each blanket also supplies a journal that goes to each knitter for us to write notes to the child who will be getting the blanket. Though these items do not cost much on their own, it does add up when we are doing several blankets at once. Each blanket is also cleaned, bagged, etc before going to the hospital...again, not expensive, but it all adds up!!

The link for the auction is http://wcobbs.auctionsalacarte.com/babyblankets Feel free to take a look at the items we have up for bid. Much of it is knitting related, but there are some cool soaps, a beautiful handmade bowl, some jewelry, and a cool mirror that was made by yours truly!! You can look at the items now, but the bidding won't start until Monday. There are also a few bugs being worked out this weekend on the auction site, so if you see anything that looks odd (mostly text that needs to be changed), don't be alarmed. If you do like anything that you see, please know that we will be shipping items to the US (shipping is free to the US for most items...I think only one item has special shipping instructions because it is so fragile), and you can bid with a credit card or PayPal. Finally, if you don't see anything that you'd like to bid on, but you want to help out, we will be accepting donations. That link is currently not working, but will be on Monday.

Thanks for your support. Please do not feel obligated to buy anything...I just wanted to let you all know what I've been up to!! You can also follow our blog at http://wcobbs.blogspot.com I currently maintain the blog, so if you have any ideas on how it can be improved, let me know!!!

Please feel free to pass this info on to anyone you think might be interested...

Thanks and have a great weekend!!!!

Love,

Sharon

Calling all Crafters!!!!

(I will be posting this entry on both of my blogs, so my apologies to those who read them both)

As many of you may already know, I "work" with a group of amazing ladies (and one of their sons) to create baby blankets for the Western Canadian Oddball Blanket Society. Things are taking off for the group right now...we have 38+ members in Alberta and BC, we are gearing up for an online auction (more info on that to come), and we are starting the process to become an incorporated society. I am so proud of everyone who participates, and I have met some AMAZING people because of this group.

Anyways, we are partnering up with Heritage Park, to create some blankets made of donated squares. The squares must be 12-inch, and can be either knit or crocheted. They can be in any pattern, needle size, etc...we just ask that they are made of a machine washable and dryable yarn. This is a perfect project to help clean out your acrylic yarn stashes!!!!

If you are interested in making one, two or ten squares (wishful thinking, I know!), please let me know. If you don't already have my address, I will email it to you and you can send the squares to me. Also, if you don't have time to make squares, but would like to donate some leftover yarn, I'd be happy to take it off your hands!!! Again, just email me for my address. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Most of our blankets go to the Foothills Regional Hospital NICU here in Calgary...we are hoping to use these patchwork blankets for those local children who have to travel to another hospital to receive treatment...for example, Hannah will need to travel to Edmonton for her final heart operation, as the Alberta Children's Hospital here in Calgary does not do pediatric cardiology procedures.

Finally, we are having an online auction to raise funds for our incorporation. I must say that some of the items that are up for bid are...well, AMAZING!!!!

Here is the item that I made and donated...

The best part of the auction is that it will all be done online, so you don't have to live locally to participate!!! Mark your calendars for June 15-19, and I'll post more details as they become available.

Thanks for all of your support!!!

Now get crafting!!!!!

Have a great weekend and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!

Love,

Sharon