craft hope

All of your comments and willingness to join the Craft Hope cause makes my day.  I feel so blessed to have all of you along for this wonderful ride.  This morning I received a comment from a woman who lives in Norway.  She writes “I work in a kindergarten in Norway and as our children have roots in many different countries in the world, I thought it would be great if we too, as a kindergarten, did something for children less fortunate.”

What a blessing.  I hope you all know the difference you are making not only in children around the world, but children whose lives you touch daily.  I have received numerous comments from mamas that have included their own children in the process of making dolls for other children.  What a gift you are giving them.  Passing on your values, your compassion, your love.

If you are anything like me, you need to look at several patterns before you find just the right one.  And just in case two doll patterns weren’t enough to help get you started on your doll making, One Crafty Place has come up with a plethora of patterns just for you.  I hope this helps as there are some super cute dolls for every skill type.

Please let me know if you blog about this project.  I’d love to read it and share it with others.  By your words and actions you are helping to make a difference in this world.  One doll at a time.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Blessings friends.

You take my breath away.  You really do.  Those of you who have signed up to make a doll, or several dolls, for the Casa Bernabe Orphanage in Nicaragua are doing such a wonderful thing.  I have been overwhelmed with the response and are more grateful and appreciative than you can imagine.  Eren has promised to take lots of wonderful pictures for us so you can see where your sweet dolls end up.  Also, Eren has found someone who has graciously agreed to pick up the extra baggage charges to get the dolls to Nicaragua.  What a gift!

Speaking of dolls, these sweet angels were the recipients of Craft Hope’s first project.  We made pillowcase dresses to send to the Pan de Vida Shelter in Mexico.  Look closely, all of the girls are wearing their dresses!

Some of the dresses were made into shirts, depending on the need.  Such sweet, sweet children.

A huge thank you to those of you who joined Craft Hope on it’s maiden voyage and made dresses for these children.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Also, it’s still not too late to join our second project, making dolls and sending them to Nicaragua.  You have until June 13th!  If you are interested in participating, simply leave a comment and I’ll send you a follow-up email with specific information as well as the shipping address.

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

I cannot begin to tell you how much the girls loved their dresses from Project 1.  I’ve got several pictures to share with you and hope to have them up very, very soon.  The pictures alone speak a thousand words.  Thanks to all of you who participated in Craft Hope’s first project.  You made a huge difference in the lives of little ones.

Now onto Project 2.  I’ve got a few projects in the works and as summer approaches, so do travels to the orphanages around the world.  Fasten your seat belts, this is going to be one awesome ride!

{project 2}

Many of you know Eren from Vintage Chica.  If you don’t, pop on over and say hello.  She’s one heck of a gal, a native Texan I might add, and writes a pretty rockin’ blog as well.  Eren is our resident (in the blogosphere) missionary and has traveled to Nicaragua for the past several years to work at an orphanage.  She is going again this summer and has called upon the wonderful peeps that have joined the Craft Hope cause to craft up a little love to go with her.

Before I tell you what we are doing, let me give you a little background on the children we will be helping.  Eren travels with the ORPHANetwork and will be heading to a little community on the outskirts on Managua, Nicaragua.  The orphanage is called Casa Bernabe and they house children from the ages of 4 to 18, boys and girls.  They are currently working to not only feed and clothe the kids, they are starting to really focus on their psychological and emotional health as well.  When the children arrive at the orphanage, they literally have nothing and we would love to give them something that is “theirs.”

Craft Hope is working with Eren and the ORPHANetwork to provide handmade, soft-bodied dolls for the children.  Many of the children come from abusive situations and the dolls will allow the children to develop the mothering and nurturing instincts that most little girls have.

Here is what we are needing…   Of course, the dolls must be handmade.  We will need girl, as well as boy dolls.  We ask that the dolls have brown hair and brown eyes, since we would like them to resemble the children they are going to.  You may use any pattern you like.  We have found a couple of patterns if you don’t already have one, the Black Apple doll pattern and also this one.  There is a short-cut button to the pattern in the sidebar.

If you have never tried sewing a doll, it’s okay!  Just give it a shot.  We aren’t looking for perfection, we are looking for the love that goes into making the item.  This is also a good project to get your children involved.  You can even put a little heart inside the doll.  Be creative, it’s your creation that will be loved no matter what.

The deadline to get the dolls to Craft Hope is June 13th.  

Please let me know if you are interested in participating by simply leaving a comment.

Eren has spoken with a woman at the orphanage and let her know that we are making dolls for them.  She was in tears and raised her hands in praise.

Thank you all so much for all you do.  You are making a difference in this world.  One child at a time.

Give hope.