getting re-stash stuff out there

Just to let you all know a few more stories about getting your donations connected with the right recipients.

Thanks to some volunteer transport (thanks Kirstie) a load of stuff is making its way up to Kinglake next week for a patchworking group starting at the Kinglake Community Centre. It is great to be able to help out this new group.

If you have any fat quarters or backing or binding fabric sufficient for a whole quilt do please send it in to us. Make sure it is clearly labelled KINGLAKE PATCHWORKING GROUP - as we're having quite a job keeping the donations for re-stash a crafter sorted and stored in a way that makes getting them out easy. Your help in labeling would really be appreciated.

In other news we've been contacted by Sarah, who is coordinating some knitting groups in Kinglake and Toolangi looking for extra supplies for her group. In particular Sarah has found it really hard to get a hold of whole jumper quantities of yarn since most donated yarn has been of the oddment or recycled kind. The focus of the group is garment knitting so sourcing larger lots of new yarn is now a mission! They are especially interested in colours suitable for men's garments and any good patterns for men's garments too.

There's also a call from Sarah for machine washable 8 ply pure wool in teddy 'skin' colours (browns, greys, black, cream, beige etc) for the trauma teddy learn to knit group - single balls are OK for this one - and 3.75mm knitting needles.

We've been able to help out with a bit, but not enough, so if you have any of these things we'd love to get them! Again, please make sure they are clearly labelled - SARAH'S KNITTING GROUP so we can make sure they get tot he right place as quickly and easily as possible.

It is great to see some of the goods that have been donated reaching the right people and we look forward to forging more partnerships with people in affected communities.

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Handmade Help at Stitches and Craft Show

For everyone who is planning to head on down to the Stitches and Craft show at the Melbourne show grounds this coming week, there will be a drop off point for re-stash a crafter and handmade items donations. It will be in the main exhibition hall so it will be easy to find and save a few people the trouble of either posting or delivering items to the other drop off points.

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Dress Up Drive

The fires on February 7 have brought out the best of people. It has been amazing to see so much support and community spirit. When so many people are doing so much, it can be hard to think about what you can do that might make a difference. After donating blood, money and other items, I was left wondering what else “I” could do.

My two little girls love dressing up and have the luxury of a full basket of costumes to let their imagination go wild. I’m sure the children impacted by the bushfires would benefit from replenishing their stocks of dress ups. Whether it be in their homes, health and childcare centres or kindergartens, I feel that this is something practical, short and long term, that I can do. You can too.

We are looking for handmade donations to rebuild the dress up wardrobes of the homes and buildings affected by the bushfires. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Some costume ideas include capes (superheroes, wizards), dresses & skirts, Dino, dragon and animal tails, fairy wings, hats, etc.

Dressing up encourages kids to develop their imagination, escape reality, practice life skills, or feel a bit sparkly and special. Let’s help these kids be kids and ensure they are still dreaming their dreams.

Please direct your donations to Meet me at Mikes and we will co-ordinate distribution.

I will be loading up a tutorial on how to make a felt crown on my blog, and will be adding others soon.

Please email me if you have other ideas to share or know of a sure fire dress up hit that we can include in our contribution!!

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First Hand Stories: The Truth of Wombat Girl

You've probably read/heard about the woman whose life was saved by diving into a wombat hole while the flames roared around her. Well the media have been getting it wrong, so she's set up her own website to tell her story.

Neesha and her three legged dog Murph, her neighbour Karen and Karen's son, Jakob all lost their homes on that terrible day. You can make direct contributions to her on this site too.

There's also a link too where you can help Neesha rebuild her home and her life directly too. Go visit her!

AND there's a link on there where you can see Neesha interviewed and she shows the wombat hole where they bunkered down.

Anyway, let's let her tell her own story. Visit her here.

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Tick Tock It's Toy O'Clock:: CSU - Wagga

Peri from Charles Sturt University in Wagga emailed us to let us in on her highly-commendable, super-ace plan.

Here's to prove that from little things big things grow (and we have the perfect toon for that if you're in the mood for some music).

Peri told us - and we're sure a lot of us can agree - that while uni students don't have a lot of cash, they do have a bit of spare time they can donate. So she organised a craft day for Friday 27 February to make as many made-with-love toys and bags as possible in one day. These are to be sent to the kids as 'distraction' bags.

And here's where it gets even better. Her uni got wind of her grand idea and has contributed by donating other items such as colouring pencils, books & skipping ropes that can now be put in the bags too! Genius.

Peri and her mum have kindly donated a lot of their own stash, and very generously Addicted to Fabric in Canberra is donating more fabric and stuffing for the toys.

So Peri's idea of creating a couple of toys has grown into a big day of sewing, stitching, stuffing.

If you live in Wagga, go to CSU or perhaps you'd just like to join in, check out the poster above for details.

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Calling all quilters!

Anna, a member of the Waverley Patchworkers let us know about a call out to all quilters from the Guild President:

Many of us are wanting to help, and for the moment, money is what the victims of the bushfire are needing. But as time goes on, we feel that it would be helpful to provide as many people as possible with a quilt, symbol of love, comfort, caring, warmth, and compassion. If you have a quilt that you don't need anymore, one that you have just finished for no particular reason, one that just needs binding maybe,(and you can bind it quickly) and you are happy to donate it, please get it to one of the quilt shops listed below.

Do you have some fabric at home that you could make up into a quick quilt? Perhaps you have wadding that you might like to donate. Waverley has quite a bit of fabric, but we are short of wadding. ...

With all the quilt groups in Victoria, and beyond, surely we can provide at least one quilt for every family who lost their home.

These are shops where you can drop off quilts:-

Somerset Patchwork 491 High St Rd Mt Waverley

Lilly Patches 159 Boronia Rd Boronia

Chandlers Cottage 17 Keys Rd Beaumaris

Foothills Fabric 1567 Burwood H'way Tecoma

Needles & Pins 102 Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte

Sandlyn House Mooroolbark (From here they are going direct to the Alexandra quilt group and will be given to families who are camped in tents and are feeling the cold at night!)

For more information please contact WaverleyPatchworkers:

info(at)waverleypatchworkers(dot)com(dot)au.

And if you would like to see some of the beautiful quilts that have already headed off to provide some much need comfort & warmth, then pop over here.

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Payment Reciepts and Non-Payments.

Trust - we need quite a bit of it here.
We trust that those of you that offer an item for sale WILL forward the money onto either the RED CROSS or WILDLIFE VIC.
We trust that those that purchase an item WILL pay for it.
We trust that those that have offered donations of clothes, toys and other goods WILL follow through.

In our attempt to make this as transparent a process as possible we NEED you receipt number that you will receive from the red cross/wildlife vic on payment and the amount you donated. If we do not hear from you we will be chasing up those details. Please email them to Cindy (links in the side bar) within 14 days.

We just want to make this a place for hope and good stuff, we hope you do too.

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Geelong, Surf Coast and Bellerine Peninsula Drop Off Point for Handmade Donations

Lovely Natalie has offered up her services as a drop-off point for any handmade donations you would like passed onto those affected by the fires. Her telephone number is 03 5278 1562. Please ring her to co-ordinate your donation. Thanks Natalie.

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Solemn Request

Sadly, thoughts are turning to funerals, and here's where a lot of us can help. Rotary are looking for donations of black/dark suits, dark coloured dresses, shoes, and I guess things that would be appropriate for children to wear to a funeral.

We're waiting for Rotary to call back with details of where to send donations to. As soon as we've heard back, we'll update and let you know.

But for now, if you could please go through your wardrobe and see if there's something that you could donate that would be ace. I'm quite sure that wraps, pashminas etc would be gratefully accepted too, given the unpredictable weather.

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Donation Tally - Funds Raised So Far!

We are having some people sending in donations already. Awesome! Keep them coming!
Once you have sold your item, follow these 3 easy steps!

1. LET US KNOW WHO YOU HAVE DONATED TO
2. TELL US HOW MUCH IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS
3. GIVE US YOUR DONATION NUMBER

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The Tally of Donations So Far:

• Ollierose Giraffe Rattle - Red Cross - 650142 - $23.00
• Becky Bean Tote - Red Cross - 676259 - $50
• Becky Bean Handbag - Red Cross - 675115 - $65
• Edward and Lily Tree Decoration - Red Cross - 679346 - $15
• Edward and Lily Cat - Red Cross - 680210 - $58
• Mia Henry Cowboy Rug - Wildlife Vic - VPCR3B7F3C9C - $25
• Sparkly Green Knickers etsy shop - Red Cross - 591999 - $120
• Citrus Daisy Bib - NZ Red Cross (who are passing it on to Vic) - d-nzrc-web-4225-1234342980. - $13.50
• Willow and Moo Skirt - Red Cross - 692964 - $45
• The Princess and the Monkey bag - Red Cross - 695473 - $58
• Grandy and Baa Shirt - Red Cross - 695829 - $50
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 699500 - $12
• Lark Lambie - Red Cross - 729048 - $55
• Police Softie - Victoria Wildlife - VRFR3BD29367 - $45
• Hippo Library Bag - Red Cross - 789694 - $22
• Lark Lambie - Red Cross - 799068 - $55
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 824168 - $12
• Hazy Jane Elephant - Red Cross - 834409 - $45
• Pippi Joe Fabric - Red Cross - 834889 - $150
• Edward and Lily Cat - Red Cross - VXGR3C0505D - $58
• Monkey Bibs - Red Cross - 844709 - $15
• Hoppo Bumpo Shower Cap - Red Cross - 850116 - $26
• Kitty Robot Buttons - Wildlife Vic - 34S921557Y4641120 - $30.32
• Gretchen Mist Print - Red Cross - 2009021510420903C31P37372H84410D177696 - $25
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 863485- $12
• Becky Bean Sewing Pattern - Wildlife Victoria - 35J774370L6252736 - $6
• Curly Pops Shop - red Cross - 865401 - $110
• Becky Bean Sewing Pattern - Wildlife Victoria - 9SG84434AL034873Y - $12
• Ruby2 Brooch - Red Cross - 2009021619015001C31P37743D178282 - $25
• Puka Puka Mobile - Red Cross - 50169561394 - $90
• SierraMoon Apron - Red Cross - 880833 - $22
• Emergency Services Bib - Red Cross 881384- $6
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 886403- $12
• Sock Monkey - Wildlife Vic - VTJR3BC7E374 - $65
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 891846 - $12
• Melly + Me Auctions - Red Cross - 879989 - $1800
• Kitty Boo Boo Apron - Red Cross - 892841 - $19
• Joy Patch Quilt Kit - Red Cross - 892668 - $135
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 892221 - $12
• Love Doll Softie - Red Cross - 892207 - $36
• Twilight Candle - Red Cross - 893156 - $35
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 893380 - $12
• Becky Bean Sewing Pattern - Wildlife Victoria - 9YA935354R7252912 - $6
• Sparkly Green Knickers etsy shop - Red Cross - 893682 - $140
• Lara's Knitting and Bags - Red Cross - 893698 - $70
• Hand Printed Cnavas Tote - Red Cross - 894253 - $22
• Hoppo Bumpo Gadget Wallet - Red Cross - 894567 - $50
• Jetta's Nest shirt- Wildlife Victoria - 8WN12297BX275272S - $20
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 896620 - $12
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 896645- $12
• Mini Lala Hairclip - Red Cross - 896630 - $12
• Miss Muggins Primative Mouse - Red Cross - 900892 - $36
• Pillow Doll - Red Cross - 902 533 - $30
• Ice cream Girl - Red Cross - 903141 - $80
• Resin Necklace - Red Cross - 2009022123263901C31P37743D180684 - $40
• Froggy - Wildlife Vic - VRCR3BEE0231 - $35
• Tea Cosy - Red Cross - 119588280100000015 - $20
• Chenille Quilt - Red Cross - 906516 - $53
• Children's Play Cape - Red Cross - 907095 - $45
• One Red Robin Doll - Red Cross - 913376 - $345
• Sophie Isobel Shop - Red Cross - 913488 - $200
• Trash 'Raffle' - Red Cross - $2041
• Hoppo Bumpo Shower cap - Red Cross - 915382 - $17
• Sheep's Clothing Clips - Red Cross - 915387 - $20
• Watercolour - Wildlife Vic -39V530336A1964934 - $48
• Lauren Williams Jewellery - Red Cross - 917093 - $35
• Hop Skip Jump Dolls - Red Cross - 917338 - $220
• Coin Purse - Wildlife Vic - $30
• Le Sohpie Prints - wildlife Vic - 87E134099D1884642 - $40
• Sonja Altmann - Wildlife Vic - $200
• Percival Road - Red Cross - 923672 - $22
• Girls Pinnie - Red Cross and Widlife Vic - $60
• Zig Zag Nappy cover - Red Cross - 926398 - $13
• Light and Shade Art - Red Cross - $86
• Rourke and Henry - Red Cross - 931733 - $12
• Bell girl - Red Cross - 932322 - $42
• The State of Things - Red Cross - $92 and Vic Wildlife - $92
• Tote Bag - Wildlife Vic - VRFR3CA4CO59 - $44.40
• Out of the Box Pillow - Red Cross - 904964 - $35
• Silly Gilly Auctions - Red Cross - 934382 -$1 149

Total - $8828.22

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