Quilting bee Saturday 21st March

Jan, an exceptionally talented crafter and owner of everyone's favourite crafting venue Sew Journ, is hosting a quilting bee on Saturday 21st March in Ashburton.

Quilts make extra special gifts for people who have lost homes and family treasures as they give on so many levels. I hope as many of you as are able will head on over to the bee and help.

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On Being a Sock Knitter

Grace Cossington Smith painted her younger sister Madge knitting socks for allied soldiers in the trenches during the horrors of the first world war. Like many women of this era left at home to wait and brood for their men fighting in distant lands, this nervous energy was channeled into one of the few positive and practical outlets available - craft.

Women like Madge and Grace knitted their hands off - socks, vests, balaclavas, gloves, caps, even gentlemen's undergarments (!!), in the name of peace and the return of their loved ones.

This is one of my favourite paintings because it reminds me of the higher purpose craft serves - to give comfort where it is so desperately needed, to bring kindness and good-will to those who are suffering, to send a message of hope and love to those who might despair.

In this last week we have lived through some of the darkest days in Australia's history which could also be argued to be some of our brightest. Men, women and children have pledged their support to the victims of Victoria's bushfires in innumerable creative ways. Sock Knitters have come out of the woodwork. Beyond the copious donations of financial aid there has been one of the most spectacular and spontaneous outpourings of good will this country has ever witnessed.

Well done to all of you who sit reading this and those who have in some way contributed to the crafting effort. Handmade Help has become a testament to the generosity of crafters who carry on the grand tradition of Madge, the Sock Knitter. You are amazing!

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Sydney & Central Coast Crafters Call Out

If you're reading this and you're in Sydney or on the Central Coast and you are an avid crafter or artist, listen up.

Rach from Grandy & Baa is organising a get-together, sew-together, stitch-together, craft-together get-together day. At her big blue house.

If you're a keen bean and would like to join Rach and friends, please comment on this post. There's no set date at the moment, so make contact with Rach and get stitching baby!

Rach has also been kind enough put up some great applique patterns for use on children's clothing for the Bushfire Relief. Thread up sister!

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Sewing Bee in Brunswick

This Saturday there will be a sewing bee in Brunswick to make comfort packs for kids who have been affected by the fires. See here for details.

You can also help out in other stitchy ways, if you can't make it to Brunswick. Go here for more info.

xx

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Other people doing great stuff

Tikki sent an email last night to let us know about a few more crafty souls championing the cause...

We have opened temporary fundraising stores on three sites; Ozebaby,
Cloth Pad Shop and Yarn Collective. There are many Work At Home Parents and crafty
type peeps giving goodies to be auctioned. I'm running the ozebaby store
and we have currently nine auctions live with plenty more to come.

Anyway, some links to the sites

http://www.ozebaby.com.au/store/202
Note: I just visited ozebaby & the items are attracting super generous & competitive bidding. Wonderful work.

http://au.clothpadshop.com/about.php?T=about_store&VS=27
http://www.yarncollective.com/store.php?SS=34

Obsi, who is without a doubt, the Cloth Pad Priestess, is running the
Cloth Pad Shop and the very talented and yarny Kel is in charge of
things over at yarn collective.

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Knit 4 Charities Online Knitting Group

The very excellent people at Knit 4 Charities have been knitting like demons for all sorts of charitable causes for several years now! (Oh they must have tired hands!)

We wanted you to know that they are now concentrating their efforts on a crafty response to the Victorian Bushfires. If you are a knitter, they would LOVE you to join their online community and help them to make a difference clickety stitch by clickety stitch.

Thanks for letting us know about your great work, people.

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