Important Calendar Note:

In October, we will not be meeting at all. So work on a project at your own pace. We would like to focus on blessing Sweet Babies with bibs and burp cloths by Thanksgiving. This will be our blessing to all the new Moms and Babies at Saint Mary's. 

The pattern is on the blog, and we have some fabric available! If you do make burp cloths and bibs with your own fabric - these are great stash busters. Both sides can be flannel, or one side can be cotton and the back flannel. Please remember to prewash all fabrics!  

Follow these prewashing instructions.

1. Set your washer to HOT wash and HOT rinse.
2. Do not add detergent.
3. Add flannel and run wash cycle until complete.
4. Set dryer to HIGH heat to dry completely.
5. Press when slightly damp.

Opportunity for all of you sewers!

From Project Linus and DenimQuilts folks:
Good afternoon ladies, Just a reminder that Makes a Blanket day is coming up for Project Linus. We have supported this organization in the past with quilts, and this year will be no different. Here is the note in their last newsletter:

Make a Blanket Day:
Just a reminder that our next Make a Blanket Day will be Saturday, October 5, 2019, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and will be held at Dayspring Baptist Church, 1001 Municipal Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63131. Directions can be found on the Church website: http://www.dayspringstl.com/directions-1/ This is a family-friendly event. Please feel free to bring your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. It is a great time to drop off completed projects, work on a current one or start a new project. We'll have lots of fleece to make into blankets, and it should be a fun morning.

The DenimQuilts quilters will once again be joining us for MABD! They have supported Project Linus for many years with their beautiful quilts. If you would like to donate old jeans, please bring them on Saturday, bagged separately from any Project Linus donation you are delivering. To learn more about DenimQuilts, see their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DenimQuilts-481057735412501/.

I would like a few people to join me. It's a fun day, and you get to see all the different blankets donated. We usually have young people available to help us tie a quilt or two. Let me know if you would like to go, and I can give you more details.

Happy Quilting,
Julie C. Treloar
DenimQuilts, Inc.
914 Gervais Drive
Manchester, Missouri 63021
314-440-7233

Collaboration with O'Featherweight Club was successful!

On September 17, The O'Fallon O'Featherweight club had its monthly meeting and adopted one of our projects! They made 34 bibs and burp cloths for Sweet Babies. It was wonderful to hear the hum of a roomful of vintage Featherweights. It was even more wonderful knowing that they were there for 'our' Sweet Babies. Completed bibs and burp cloths continue to come in! They were so thrilled with the project they have a new donation bin at O'Sew Personal Fabric store in O'Fallon! We are starting to receive a few crocheted NICU octopi from the Featherweight club too. 

We put together Angel Gowns/Bonnets kits with donated wedding gown fabric, lining, ribbon, trim, instructions, and pattern. Everything you need to make one or two gowns and matching bonnets! A few kits were taken at the Featherweight meeting and will be available at our Busy Hands meetings. 

We are planning an Angel Gown Sew Along in the future too! Plan on bringing your sewing machine and we will each make a gown and bonnet step by step together! Stay tuned for details. 

Days For Girls Team Update

A lot of news to report! Days for Girls will transition to using Transport Bags in all DfG Kits, replacing the use of Ziploc bags, by March 1, 2020. Around the world, there is an increasing awareness of the negative impact of plastic on the environment. There are two transport patterns available, both serged and sewn PUL. We will be doing demonstrations of both versions and the revised kit packing at a future meeting! 

We are pleased to announce our team is supporting three upcoming mission trips with Days for Girls component and kits!

• Haiti mission trip/September 2019 - we are helping another team, led by Shari D., fill a tall order by contributing components. We donated 470 liners, 80 panties, 300 bars of soap, and 106 drawstring bags!
• Kenya mission trip/December 2019 - Laurie N. will be purchasing the kits from the Manyatta Slums Enterprise in Kenya. We donated two sample kits. She will use our kits to raise awareness and prompt donations. If any team members would like to donate, we will get your gift to her on your behalf.
• India mission trip/March 2020- Mary C. will be partnering with the Ann Arbor, MI team on a mission trip to India. We are donating 50 standard supreme kits. India has a single-use plastic ban; we will be making and including the new transport bags!

Charity Sharity Program

So you think you know what Charity Sharity is? A group of 4 or 5 little old ladies sewing under a dim bulb in a dark basement -- night and day 24/7? That is the impression one of their clients had until she learned what they are really all about -- Green, Philanthropic, and Enabling hundreds to serve thousands all over the world! They are the ONLY organization in the country doing exactly what we are doing, (and it is not sewing) Come hear their amazing story of the last 20 years!

September 11 at 2:30 p.m.

Aberdeen Heights - 575 Couch Ave., Kirkwood, MO 63122

All are welcome! Walk-ins included!

RSVPs appreciated gcgreentree@sbcglobal.net

They are not recruiting, requesting donations or asking for cash - just simple awareness of the wonderful things that are being done in this world!

Several of us Busy Hands are going! If you would like to carpool with us, please email us. 

Would you like to join us for lunch beforehand at Taj Palace in Chesterfield? It is an India cuisine buffet and costs $9.85 cash (a little more if you pay by card.) If you are interested, let Tina know. 

Hello Knitters & Crocheters!

Anyone feel like kitting and crocheting preemie and infant hats again? We are partnering with a special lady who is taking and shipping our creations to Native American reservations in the Pacific Northwest. They are looking for sizes from premature to 0-6 months. Patterns and colours are your choices, but please use soft yarns. They are grateful for any hats you wish to make ...it all adds up to help those in need! She will be going there for Thanksgiving but will ship them up if we have some done soon. We already have 22 ready for her. You may drop your creations off at Tina's house, anytime. Let's make the first deadline Nov. 1. 

I found a new cutie patootie free pattern for NICU Octopi. The pattern is by Serendipity as Always. Please visit this Octopi pattern. She suggests Lily Sugar and Cream yarn and a crochet hook size E. 

NOTE: Marjie tested this pattern and found the tentacles were not curling as much as in the photo. Please modify the tentacle pattern as follows: Ch 35, 2 sc in the third ch from the hook, (3 sc in next ch, 2 sc in next 2 ch) across all chains. 

What are NICU octopi, you may ask? Inside neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) incubators premature babies have an unlikely companion -- colourful, crocheted octopi. These cuddly toys are used as a form of therapy to help comfort and calm premature babies. What's comforting about these octopi are their soft tentacles, which hospital staff say remind babies of the umbilical cord and their mother's womb. They found that babies cuddling an octopus are less likely to pull out their monitors and tubes.

Thanks for all you do!
Colette

Location Change Postponed

I received an email this afternoon from church that has changed our relocation plans.Our church is starting a MAJOR remodeling project on July 1st and things have changed with the availability of the room.  As we all know with construction projects, the details sometimes don't get worked out until the last minute.  So the room we were going to use is needed for the nursery room for the time being.  I don't think we want to try and work around all that stuff!

So......I have decided to just wait until after the remodeling is complete (next year) and then try and get us a room that can be permanent instead of having to move around, which they offered to try and do.

I'm sorry for all the confusion. I'm glad we didn't pack up anymore than we did today! We will continue to meet at my house from 9:30 ish to 11:30ish every Thursday morning.

The evening meeting will still change to the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7-9pm. This change will allow some new folks to participate that could not come on Tuesday evenings. 

Again, I'm sorry for the confusion but it will work out someday. In the mean time, we will just have to be careful carrying stuff up and down the stairs. 

If you have any questions, please email or call me.

God Bless,

Tina

Changes Coming to Busy Hands 4 All

As you know, I've explored a possible move our crafting space from our basement to our church.  There is a room that is available. I think will work for us. I would like to use July as our trial month.  

Beginning Thursday, July 11th we will meet at Waypoint Church,  4075 Old Hwy 94 S, St Charles, MO 63304.  Our room will be C-102 which is in the Chapel Wing.   I've reserved the room from 9:00 a.m. until noon (adding setup and clean up time).  

The website is www.Waypointchurch.com. They have a link to directions.  I have attached photos showing where to park and the entry door location.  I will also have signs posted. 

The 3rd Tuesday night meeting will now be the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 6:30-9:00 p.m.  This will allow me time to set up on Wednesday night and then be ready for Thursday morning without any additional set up time.  If the desire is there, I could also add the first Wednesday of the month for an evening group. 

If you have any questions, please call or email me.  I hope this will continue to work for everyone.  I appreciate your patience as we give this a try and work out the bugs!

Thanks to you all for your help to serve the community and bring glory to our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

God bless,

Tina

Sad News
Many of you know Marjie and have sewn side by side with her on our Busy Hands projects. It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of her dad, Bernie Tenney. Please keep Marjie and her family close in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time. We pray that Marjie feels God's care and love, as well as the support of us all.

Please see this link for the funeral arrangements. If you would like to receive Marjie's contact information please email busyhands4all@gmail.com.

Well, it is Garage Sale Season! 

There are at least 6 subdivision garage sales around me this weekend and most of them are full of baby items. If you like to go on a treasure hunt, please remember the needs of Sweet Babies at St. Mary's hospital. They need practical (and like new) sleepers, onesies, blankets, changing pads, burp cloths and bibs.  BOY or gender neutral is in the highest demand.  Sizes Newborn to about 18 months.  Any larger size clothing is given to siblings in need and can be used but is not their focus.  Every season is needed.  They have separate rooms to store items for winter. Please keep them in mind when you are finding the deals.  We can deliver any items you pick up, so bring them on over!

Marjie and I are making a delivery to Sweet Babies this morning of all the items we have made for them. My car is full!

Thank you for all your support in helping new mothers and babies get a good start.

God Bless,

Tina

Our Accomplishments and it is is only April!

I'm sitting here running over all of the projects we have accomplished already this year, which is amazing, and thinking about where we go next.

For example -

• Siteman Cancer in St. Peters is set with port pillows and eye masks for a while. I'll check with them next month.
• Progress West is set with blankets and comfort pillows and I'll deliver the 80+ lbs of Rice Heating packs as soon as I can get Bill to go with me and carry them.
• Sweet Babies has two more boxes almost ready for delivery. Marjie is making beautiful blankets from Linda's minky donations.  The moms are going to feel so special!
• Many have made bibs that are so cute and embellished.  100's of tags were made April 16 night for the bags.
• Days 4 Girls is being watched over by Laura and Aliena.  We will be helping supply Sharon with 60 kits in May.
• Teeny Tears blankets are being made by Janet to equal out our inventory of small and large. 

It seems as soon as the fabric is used, more appears.  Thank you, Cheryl! We now have 100's of yards of home décor fabric. So, it would be great to start cutting this fabric up for totes, school chair bags, and walker/wheelchair bags. Charity Sharity has an immediate need for tote bags and will start collecting chair bags for the coming school year.  The walker/wheelchair bags will easily find a home I'm sure.  

We will continue working on Sweet Babies delivery.  Everyone can help with this by shopping garage sales for gently used clothing and receiving blankets, bibs, small baby blankets  (especially Boy items).  They will take any season, just make sure they are not stained up.  No toys. Board books are needed also.  Sweet  Babies needs practical items for babies newborn to 1 year.  They will take larger size clothing which is given to siblings of the newborns who may be in need. We can deliver it to you or I can give you the information. 

I am in the process of getting in touch with a group in Ellisville, MO called Helping Hearts Grow, that collects fabric shopping bags, backpacks, cosmetic bags, hotel soaps, shampoos, etc for distribution to the homeless here. If you have these items, you can start collecting them and hold for more information.

Summer is a busy time for everyone but if you would like to have a project to work on at home, please let me know. I can supply fabric and patterns for cutting or cutting and sewing at your own pace. 

We plan on continuing to meet, but will probably have to cancel occasionally so just watch your email for updates.  If you find a need that we can help fill, please let me know the details. 

Thank you all for your time and talent.  Know that the little things we do through our Lords urging are a blessing to those who receive them.  

In God's service,

Tina 

Below is a message of thanks.

I thought you would all like to hear how what we do is a blessing.  Some of the chair bags we made went to the kids mentioned in this email. 

Thank you all again for your help, prayers and support. 

Tina

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: Janice Palesch 

To: Gary Splater 

Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 8:08:34 AM CDT

Subject: Froebel and Walbridge Schools

Dearest Carole and Sewists,

I want to tell you how tremendously grateful Froebel School was yesterday to receive the extra-small chair bags and the totes for their teachers.  The littlest kids (pre-K and Kindergartners) in that school now have chair bags, just like the rest of the classes received from your magical and prolific sewists.  As a result, they no longer feel less worthy and less valued than the other kids in the school.  Their books, pencils, and papers won't have to be strewn all over the floor any more.  Disorder in belongings can sometimes engender disorder in behavior and in the classroom, which at times prevents students from learning.  In a very real sense, you and your sewists have helped create an orderly environment in which the students have a better chance of learning, as well as a better chance of discovering the benefit of order, something that many of them do not learn at home.  After delivering the things you and your sewists make, I often wonder how many people's lives will be changed in a multitude of ways, simply because of your generosity and your caring spirit.  The smallest item, given with love, can affect a life in profound and lasting ways.  Therefore, all of you should take pride in the work you do for so many.  The work of your hands might actually be helping to shape lives and destinies.  I know that it has changed lives and given a sense of hope to many, especially for immigrants and refugees, who have utterly nothing.  They suddenly realize that they are welcome in the land they have chosen to be their new home, just as my mother and grandparents did in 1927.  (I send to you a very special "thank you" for allowing me to serve those immigrant communities with your dedicated work.  I wish that such groups had been in existence at the time my mother and grandparents emigrated from Germany.  Their lives would have been made so much easier, and their struggles could have been alleviated.)  

Froebel School will give the totes you made for their teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day.  I want you to know that the school's Activities Director was extremely grateful that you could fill her request for those bags.  The teachers there have nothing in which to carry their teacher's manuals, other books, and papers back and forth between home and school.  Those teachers are going to be very surprised to receive your beautiful tote bags.  That St. Louis school receives so very little, and the teachers do not have the resources they need in order to educate the children properly or even to execute their own duties effectively.  They regularly pay for school supplies and other classroom needs out of their own money.  Their own money can be stretched only so far, and the last thing on their mind is buying anything for themselves, like a tote bag.  The tote bags which you made will at least allow them to carry their work, their students' work, and their books in a manageable receptacle.  You will be making their job easier, and I know that they will appreciate it when they receive those bags.

As terribly poor as Froebel School is, Walbridge School is even worse.  It is hard to paint a picture of that school or that neighborhood because it is so economically depressed.  The school is an old but stately building in far North St. Louis City, situated amid an area that somewhat resembles a war zone.  It is much like the area in which Froebel exists, but it is in even deeper poverty, surrounded by boarded-up buildings, homes without windows, doors, and sometimes without roofs and walls. (And, yes, people are actually living in those buildings.)  I saw no grocery stores anywhere, only one check-cashing store after another, empty lots with high grass and dirty brush, and blocks and blocks of vacant, completely uninhabitable buildings.  The area looks as if it has been "picked clean" of anything of value. Even a street sign off of North Kingshighway had been stolen.  The neighborhood is very dangerous, and I will admit to a lot of trepidation as I drove through it - and I especially when I  had to get out of my car to seek directions because street signs I needed to guide me to the school had been stolen.  You can imagine the extent of need in that school, in that entire area.  You made 250 chair bags for Walbridge, enough for all of the children in that school.  The Principal was utterly ecstatic to receive them and the calculators, which you also provided.  I want you to know that the tote bags, the wool scarves, and the pencil bags, which you are also making for that school, are going to provide much-needed items for a deeply, deeply distressed school and for lives at a level of poverty that is almost impossible to imagine.  I honestly cannot conceptualize the lives of the children - or any others - who live there.  Nor can I comprehend how the school staff can accomplish much of anything there.   They have so little to work with.  THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for the things you have already made and the things that you are still making for that school.  I do believe that what you do for others in this life carries blessings, not only to the receivers, but also to the givers.  All of you deserve showers of blessings just for what you have provided to Froebel and Walbridge Schools, alone.

May you all enjoy the most wonderful week for your generosity and loving kindness.  I am tremendously proud and honored to be affiliated with angels of mercy like you.

Janice

Amazing

Amazing!

It is such a blessing receiving an email that an item we have made has been a blessing to someone. To God be the glory!

Dear Ms. Travers and Busy Hands 4 All team,

Thank you so much for your donation. We were already able to share a basketball patterned blanket with a toddler on our unit who isn’t feeling well. I’m sure the softness of the blanket and the care taken to make it will help him feel better. 

Thanks again,

Heather and the Progress West Women, Infants and Pediatrics team J

Welcome Spring 2019!

After a crazy cold and snowy winter, I'm sure ready for Spring!

2019 has proved to be a busy, productive, blessed year already.  God continues to supply all of our needs through donations by members, strangers and the generosity of  Charity Sharity.  It is amazing the amount of material and polyfill that has been transformed into usable items in a short 3 months already.  And yet my back bedroom is still overflowing with more to be transformed!

We were honored to be able to share our work with a wonderful group of 6th grade girls from Waypoint Church in February.  Colette spoke to them about the wonderful work that Days for Girls does to empower girls all over the world by supplying them with a much needed hygenie kit that we make.  Then the girls rotated between stations to help stuff port pillows, make no tie fleece blankets, braid dog toys, make hats for Teeney Tears and even learn to operate a sewing machine.  They were a great help in finishing a lot of projects up. 

Some of the highlights since the last update include:

Tina, Colette and Laura were invited to give a presentation on Days for Girls and Busy Hands to the Altrusa International of Mexico, MO.  It was a great adventure with a bonus of some great bargains on fabric at several guilt shops.

Sharing Hearts were delivered to DePaul Hospital and St. Anthony's for use in the NICU.  DePaul hospital is also using them to comfort families at the loss of their baby.   We now have a choice of two different cards to furnish with the Sharing Hearts.

2018 ended with us being able to donate 100 walker and wheelchair bags with matching cup holders to Medicaid nursing homes in North County St. Louis.  They were a surprise Christmas gift for the residents.