Charity Craft Volunteer Network Needs You!

Ann Randall of the Stitching Studio just dropped a note to let everyone know that Austin has a new resource for charity crafting:

I wanted to let you know about our new non-profit, Charity Craft Volunteer Network, is now up and running with a brand new website. Allyson Lipkin designed the logo for us and we are really happy with the progress this year. We supply handcrafted items to local hospitals, treatment centers, transitional family housing, hospices, breast cancer patients, even the local Humane Society and we want to invite everyone to join us in producing these gifts for those in need in the Austin area. Most of our projects are for sick children and the elderly but we have a bit of everything for lots of different crafters. Please visit the website to get the full picture and scope
of what we do.

We need you to help fulfill the vast commitments we have in the local area. We provide the materials, projects, workspace and equipment – you provide the time and talent and heart to get them done. A lot of people would like to use their skills in sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and scrap booking but don't know what to make or where to donate it or can't afford the materials it takes to produce these items. We've been established informally in this area
for years and have projects and recipients waiting. Please consider donating your time for this very worthy effort.

We're also brand new – we got our tax exempt 501(c)(3) status in January of this year and we could desperately use donations of cash and materials. A few of our volunteers provide the majority of our materials, equipment and workspace and the burden is getting heavy on
them. We are applying for funding from various sources but that takes a lot of time and effort to see results so we are asking for individual donations to help get us through. If you have a stash of craft materials – fabric, yarn, etc. - that you've been meaning to clean out, please consider donating it. It's tax deductible and it will get used for non-profit purposes. We especially need cotton wovens with juvenile prints.


Drop them a note through the site, or send me an email if you'd like to be put in touch.

Witch Fire Project updates for 2008

It's about time we started setting some goals around here. Personal, ahem and for the Witch Fire Project. What with the holidays and everything, I've been a little lagging both in the shop and on this here blog, so while I am not a resolutions person, I am still going to tie a little string around my finger and promise to step things up this year. New projects which have been on the back burner will be shoved front and center.

First off the shop needs a little refresh. I will be posting new items in the next week. As I post them up I will be entering the gracious donor into the raffle and kicking that back into gear.

Next it's off to the writing cave, where I will be working on a short book about crafters and how crafting currently and historically is used to benefit communities in need. A lot of those ideas will be bounced of the lovely readers here and on Marimello, so keep your eyes peeled and let me know what you think.

I was perusing other similar projects over the break and was happy to see that San Diego Wild Fire Blankets has been doing really well. To date they've done 73 blankets and this year they're launching a whole new Web site to reach their goal of 1588. They've so far reached everyone in my home town, Poway.

Seeing the efforts of other projects always makes me happy, so this year I'd like to team up with some other similar efforts and see if we can't start a disaster awareness/preparation awareness type effort for crafters and the people who support them by buying handmade. If you're interested comment or email me marimellodesign [at] gmail

2008 looks like it's going to be a good year. The Witch Fire Project made news of it's own this morning when Naik Fur's Pom Poms were featured as an Etsy pick in the newsletter. If you didn't get it, that's ok. Go check them out right here.


So happy January! Keep spreading the good word.

Knit a Square, Any Square

Here's a good weekend project for you knitters from lys Yarning for You. I'm going to do it. Heck I'll probably watch so much football this weekend, I'll have a whole afghan done.

Hello Knitters,

Please help us in our newest charity project:
Re-Covering San Diego!

Hundreds of fiber artists are helping to make blankets for the San Diego 2007 Wildfire victims. Would you like to join in the effort?

We have complementary yarn for this project thanks to our vendors. Yarn has been donated by Plymouth yarns, Berroco yarns, and The Skacel Company.

Here are the details along with a pattern…

1. If you want to participate come by the shop, sign up and receive your complementary yarn.

2. One ball of complementary yarn will yield TWO squares.

3. Knit or crochet a 9" by 9" square using any machine washable yarn. It can be made in any stitch pattern or yarn as long as the square is 9" by 9".

4. Please return your squares in roughly 2 weeks to Yarning for You, 1001 West San Marcos Blvd., Suite 180, San Marcos CA, 92078.

5. Volunteers are needed to assemble the squares into blankets. Want to help? Just let us know!

PATTERN:
An easy 9" x 9" square knitted with donated yarn (one ball makes two squares).
· Size 11 needles
· CO 30 sts
· Knit for 9" in stockinette, seed, garter or the stitch pattern of your choice.
· BO. Weave in all ends.

Call us if you have any questions at 760-744-5648.

Thank You, Sandy & Debra

New News: the raffle has been won

Michelle, the lovely designer of this jewelry on Etsy, will be reciving a bundle of goodness including:

A transfer from Sublime Stitching
A Dink from Shannon Gerard
Some lovely buttons from Girl on the Rocks
And a couple of loverly cotton mits from yours truly
And, and, and you know what? I'm not going to tell you what else. You'll just have to play along to find out what else I have over here.

And so because it would just be boring to discuss the other reasons why this week has been a good one (go hawks!) let's just make this good CRAFTING news day.

First of all Supernaturale posted an interview I did with Jess and Casey from Ravelry.
Secondly, Felt Club is this Sunday, November 18. I will be there and I know Girl on the Rocks will be there swilling cozied beer with me, so come check us out. It's going to be splendid: artist, crafters, designers and indie businesses, classes, AND Maker Square.

What the hell is Maker Square, you ask? Well if you're too lazy to click the link, it's a mini Maker Faire. You may want to read my assessment of last Maker Faire in San Mateo last Spring here, or you can just come find out. It's a five buck donation and well worth it.
Check out their site for all the details and where to park. (I swear parking will be better than this the Summer XL event.)

Raffle Update

Well, it's been a while since I did the raffle, but I'll be doing one tomorrow as promised. This time, it's a grab bag of coolness. A peek in the shop will give you a hint, but I haven't made my final selections yet.

Everyone who donated or purchased thus far, will be entered.

In other news, the Wild Animal Park received a donation of $75 this week to help re-green the areas that were burned by the fire. Here's a bit about the fund:

Wild Animal Park Greening Fund: Situated in the San Pasqual Valley, the Wild Animal Park is no stranger to the threat of fires. Over the past years, we have actively worked to minimize these threats through our Greening Campaign. This campaign has enabled us to create hundreds of acres of nutrient-dense, eco-irrigated land that functioned as a safety blanket for our animals during the recent fires. Although we have converted much of the Wild Animal Park’s dry, arid, and fire-prone animal habitats into environmentally sustainable landscapes, the 1,800-acres Park needs further help. Your contribution today to our Greening Campaign will allow us to continue our greening efforts in our animal habitats at the Wild Animal Park.

New Items in the Witch Fire Shop

Well my lovelies, it has been a long and fairly tiring week. Here's a smattering of what I have posted in the shop so far from my friends and family who were directly affected by the fires:

A loverly Habu scarf was donated by my mother who knitted it while evacuated.
Another scarf, crocheted for the shop by Yolanda from LA Church of Craft. Her family is down Lakeside way.
Earrings come from Michelle on Etsy, who grew up for a time next door to me in Westwood. She took that picture of a lemon down there and her pictures are particularly harrowing.
And finally super cute coasters from another woman I might have grown up with, Melissa from Haworth Handmade.

Go check it out! I'm going to put my dogs up and what else I can do for San Diego this weekend.

eWomen Network helps out Fire Victims

Hey I'm back from the wreckage and back to my handy dandy internet connection. More importantly I am back in a place that has power. Yay! I'll be back later today with pictures and stories galore.

This email was in the emailbox this morning I think it is important to pass it on to you all:

Over a million people, including eWomenNetwork members, have been displaced by the fires ravaging the Southern California area. What we don’t see on the news is that the fires have taken not only homes, but also schools and small businesses, like the ones we seek to support. And to a very large extent, senior citizens have been particularly impacted, given the high population of retirees in the ravaged areas.

We know we can make a difference, and we’re calling on you to help. Please make a donation today of any amount you feel comfortable with. We will be working with our Orange County and San Diego eWomenNetwork chapters to identify the best and most impactful use of Foundation funds and calling upon the resources of our extended network, to help those in need.

Our Intention:

At your encouragement, we are pursuing a strategy to complement the efforts of the government and large relief organizations by serving women and children we know can benefit from additional assistance. We will particularly focus on opportunities to make a big impact through supporting small, local nonprofit organizations that may be most devastated by the loss of their facilities or their clients’ homes. We will also look for ways to bring safety and comfort to those senior women who may be particularly adrift due to the loss of their places of residence.

We further commit to “femtoring®” and tracking the progress of these organizations and individuals. As they experience a new and powerful network filled with the resources, ideas, information and tools, they will create a new beginning which will yield long-term results. We will apprise you regularly by publishing these success stories through the Foundation web site, email updates and the 2008 International Conference. As with all the Foundation dollars we collect, you will see first-hand how your contributions are actually being used to create a better life for those displaced and impacted by the fires in Southern California!

We request your support and generosity:

Together we can make an important and positive impact on this tragic situation. Your participation and donation are essential to rebuilding the lives of many. We kindly and respectfully ask for you to open your hearts and, yes, your purse, as well, to help us help others so desperate for our assistance. Remember, giving is at its best when you can help someone who can never pay you back. Let’s join together to make a profound difference.

Let us take this time to thank you in advance for what we know will be an overwhelming response to this request. There’s one thing we know for sure about eWomenNetwork members and supporters, we aren’t just “go-getters”—we’re “go-givers” as well!

Please know that no donation is too small. We’ve long learned that doing little things usually leads to BIG RESULTS!

To donate, please visit their site.

Wild Animal Park Update

I KNOW you've been checking the Wild Animal Park site daily. Remember? I used to work there. And before that I went through all the summer programs. I love that place. I am happy just thinking about it now.
I know. Sappy. But just look at that cutie on the left.

Ok on to the update:

Of the over 3,500 animals that reside at the Park, two animals (a clapper rail and a kiang) were lost due to complications from the fire. More than 600 acres of Wild Animal Park property were burned. These were open buffer zone areas and not exhibit or public access space.

The California condors and other endangered bird species, as well as other animals that had been relocated to the Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center’s fire-safe area, have been returned to their home habitats.

The animals remain safe, secure, and have weathered the firestorm well. The Wild Animal Park did lose one of the empty condor breeding facilities to the fire as well as a storage facility containing Festival of Lights event materials. Winds have damaged trees throughout the Park, but again the animals and exhibits have weathered the storm. A core group of employees is on hand to care for the wildlife. Other employees and some contractors are currently assisting with clean up and restoration efforts. As an energy conservation measure, the Wild Animal Park has voluntarily removed itself from the SDG&E power grid and is operating on generators.

YAY!
You can send in a donation directly here.

Fire Aid San Diego: another way to help

Here's something to do tomorrow! They're open late so you know you have no excuse if you are in San Diego, or San Di-Fuego, as I have taken to calling it. (I know. Terrible joke. It's been a rough week.)


On friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. st UTC, Fire Aid San Diego will be taking donations.
Where?
Amilyn Pharmaceuticals
9625 Towne Centre Drive
What?
Crisis Relief Supplies!
Bedding: cots, air mattresses, sheets, blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, Camping gear, tents, flashlights, batteries Face masks, gloves, sanitary wipes
Warm Clothing: Clean clothes: Jackets, hats, sweatshirts, blankets (good condition only)
Household goods!
Personal items: contact lens solutions, reading glasses, deodorant
Hygenic items: baby wipes, diapers, depends, sanitary napkins, tooth brushes, tooth paste
Family items: baby formula, canned goods, vitamins, baby wipes, sunscreen
Food: canned vegetables, canned fruit
Children: toys, games, stuffed animals, balls
Other: pet food
Gift Cards and Certificates!
Calling cards
Restaurant and fast food outlets
Grocery stores
Discount household goods (Target, Walmart, etc.)
Home improvement stores
Time!
Register to volunteer your time and skills over the next few weeks.

The Shop is Up

The shop is up on Etsy, finally. I will be posting a bunch more items as soon as I take pictures. You can see the items I have already put up over there on the side, but rest assured, there will be more by the time you read this. Remember, the raffle is tomorrow, so get involved! See below for Tutumonkey's beautiful donation!

Wow that was QUICK!

First sale wheeeee! I don't know what is best about tonight; setting this all up and meeting all you rad kids, or watching my hot, not so crafty boyfriend making buttons on the floor of our apartment!
The Muy Calente washrag is sold, so I will just need to put something else up quick...

How about this?

Kids are a mess. Well, not your kids, but you know what we mean. Sometimes it's tempting to throw a tarp over the whole house.

But when you're out on the town, draping little ones in a plastic bag just isn't going to get you a whole lot of smiles. And it certainly won't get you anywhere near the Bullocks Wilshire Tearoom. Thus the need for the newly launched Babimello line.

Cotton, Machine washable and vividly girly this bib is the precursor to your chic child's pinafore.

Talkin' the Talk: Walkin' the Walk

Here's something to buy everyone! For tonight and tonight only I will continue to host it in my Etsy shop. (Frankly I am still figuring out how to swing this whole thing financially.) Rest assured that all the dollars will go to the Wild Animal Park fund wherever I end up selling it. Today they lost part of their condor facility (or CRES, which also saving Pandas). And if you know about California, you know these birds are SUPER rare. I used to work at the Park when I was younger and I think it's a great cause. If you have a better idea of how to help San Diego and the SoCal Region, you are welcome to contact me and let me know what you would like to do.

On to the goods:


Spill too much tequila salsa this weekend? Did that paper towel just make it worse AND kill a tree? Down with paper towels and up up with washrags!

Get clean and green with this colorful fiesta washrag. Guaranteed to beat any paper towel or generic washcloth at their own game. In the kitchen or in the bathroom this soft cotton piece is sure to delight.

OK so here's how it's going to work. Go to the Etsy shop and pay that way. Let me know that it is for the benefit via convo and I will send you real proof that the donation went through. Sure I could wait until I gather a real significant amount, but I'd rather put proof in the pudding if you know what I mean.

Remember, any one who participates will be entered in the drawing of the week. This week the drawing is for a SUPER cute Good Witch Halloween costume. How appropriate, huh? The house is threatened by the WITCH fire. I love it.

TuTu Monkey comes to the rescue!

We have our first donation! I am loving this tutu and wishing this came in a bigger size and that I hadn't already started crafting my Hamburger costume! Oh well...
TuTu Monkey has donated this tutu and the cute topper (but not the cutest girl in the world so don't get greedy). And I'll raffle it off just in time for Halloween! There are three ways to enter the raffle; send in a donation, tell me about a donation you have made (not that I don't trust you, but gimme proof), or buy something once I get the shop set up. Look for updates here.
Raffle will be closed on Friday the 26th.

Fires Fires All Around

As of this morning, 1000 homes had burned near where my parents live. I used to live there too and this is terribly sad news. Disasters of this type are so emotionally crippling, but through this blog I am hoping to band together the DIY and Crafty communities and send help to those who need it.

Please contact me if you would like to donate some items that will be sold on this site. They don't have to be super valuable. I will donate all proceeds to various charities (check here for updates). Both buyers and seller can enter a raffle for a sampler that I will put together from donated items. If you still want to be eligible for the drawing, send me a great story of how you contributed to fire relief efforts in SoCal and I will post them here.

This set up is so spur of the moment but I felt I had to do something. I will be posting items here as the day goes on. I promise I will update the charities that will be receiving the proceeds, but for now, check on the side bar for links to a few that I have already stumbled upon.

Think about it, this could be a great way to help to a lot of people who need it, but it will also be a great way to promote your business/blog/whatever.