great summer service project for kids!

I have a post for later tonight.  However, I saw this a few minutes ago, and I was filled with so much joy I had to pass it on.  If you've been around here at twelve crafts for a while, you may remember that a few months ago I got together a bunch of gals to make dolls for Sarah's Dolly Drive.  It was so much fun, but more importantly, we got help put smiles on the faces of a bunch of amazing children.  Sarah posted pictures of the children receiving their dolls today.  I'm not a person who cries a lot or easily, but well . . . these pictures brought tears to my eyes.  Tears of sadness for the heartache these children have endured in their short lives.  Tears of joy for the happiness that can be brought by a simple doll.  

Thank you, Sarah, for such an amazing opportunity.

If you haven't ever heard of Sarah's Dolly Drive opportunity, now is your chance to learn more about it and participate in the newest drive.  By making just one doll, you can impact the life of a child who needs to know that someone somewhere cares.

The little group of gals that gathered in February gathered again in April to start on our batch of dolls for this new drive.  (We hope to do these gatherings on a regular basis.)  Here are just a few pics from our most recent Dolly Drive sew-a-thon.  (You'll notice the plates of food in the pictures too.  We tend to use these sewing parties as excuses to eat junk food for dinner.  Yummy . . . nothing like homemade salted nut rolls, caramel corn, puppy chow and brownies for dinner.  Yep, I think that about covers the necessary food groups.)

Grab some scrap fabric, print out the pattern (found at Sarah's site) and start sewing.  This would be a GREAT summer project for all you mom's out there with kids at home for the summer.  They can cut out pieces and help stuff the dolls.  Make a difference in the life of a child and . . .

craft on!

saturday spotlight - over 400 dolls and one inspirational woman

Today's Saturday Spotlight was a tough one . . . because there are soooo many people/projects I wanted to highlight this week.  But as I was trying to decide, Sarah posted this exciting update on her blog, Dolly Donations:

"With over 400 dolls in New York, I am happy to announce that we have Officially Completed The Abundant Ground Orphanage Doll Drive!
I would like to thank each and every one of you for sharing your talent, love and compassion with the children of the Abundant Ground Orphanage in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti, through the beautiful dolls you have made."


You might remember that some friends and I gathered a few weeks ago to add some dolls to the donation total.  We sent off 18 dolls over the course of a couple of weeks (and we have about six left to finish for the next dolly drive).  Through Sarah's inspirational cause over 400 dolls were made and sent to children in Haiti.  If this is the first time you've heard of Sarah and Dolly Donations, be sure to become a follower of her blog so that you can become a part of the next dolly drive.  

Be inspired and craft on!

saturday spotlight - sixteen dames make dolls

About two weeks ago I posted about Dolly Donations (click to read Feb. 9 post) started by Sarah Hanson.  I was so inspired by Sarah that I wanted to make a few dolls to donate.  Sarah provides a free, easy peasy pattern to make donating a doll relatively simple for even the most novice sewers - like me. 

After talking with a friend of mine (Thanks Carrie!), I realized that making two dolls is good, but a group of people working together could make even more.  A week ago my goal was to gather a handful of people to cut, sew, turn, stuff and paint, so I sent out a few e-mails to invite a handful of friends to bring any supplies they have and come sew with me.  In my initial invite I welcomed people to bring a friend . . . the more the merrier.  Imagine my elation when sixteen people showed up with mountains of supplies - fabric scraps, sewing machines, felt, needles and thread, stuffing, paint and painting supplies, scissors and so much more.  Carrie, Lori K., Ruth, Lana, Maggie, Terri, Gladys, Gretch, Star, Kathy, Jackie, Madison, Amy, Lori W., Patricia and I began cutting around 6:45, and a little over two hours later we had replaced the mountain of supplies with a mountain of dolls. (Well, actually we still had mountains of supplies because people were so generous with what they brought to donate.)

So this Saturday I'm shining the spotlight on these great gals who used their Friday night, their supplies and their talent to put together dolls for children in an orphanage in Haiti.  

If you are inspired by them (and who wouldn't be), you can go to my previous post about Dolly Donations and follow the links to Sarah's blog, pattern and shipping info.  Also, we had such a good time together that we will be doing this again.  if you are in the area and interested in joining us, please let me know.  You can post a comment that you're interested or e-mail me. 

Be inspired and . . .

craft on!

**All the pictures in this post were taken by Lana of LG Imagery.  Check out her amazing work at her website by clicking on the blue words.  Also, see more of her pics of this night by visiting the twelve crafts flickr group. 

free pattern . . .

 . . . and a chance to help a child in Haiti.  Wait, now that I have you hooked with the lure of a free pattern, keep reading.  You might be inspired to make a difference in the life of a child.  (I'm so inspired that I'm using my lunch time to type this post, and I really cherish my lunch time!) 

If you've been reading along on my little blog, you may remember a post I wrote following the earthquake in Haiti.  (Click here for a refresher.)  The problems in Haiti are still beyond our comprehension, but I've heard amazing stories about how people like you and me are finding ways to help - even from afar.  An average-sized church in our area collected upwards of $30,000 for Haiti relief.  An elementary school put together 60 hygiene kits for people who need basic supplies like toothbrushes and soap.  Families from our community donated supplies for babies - blankets, cloth diapers, sleepers, etc. 

Today, I'm inspired by Sarah Hanson at Dolly Donations who has come up with an amazingly simple way to make a difference in the lives of orphans.  Check out her blog - Dolly Donations.  (Picture from her blog.)  Sarah is asking volunteers to craft very simple dolls from a super simple (and free) pattern she provides (that can basically be made entirely from scrap fabric) so that these dolls may be sent to Haitian orphans impacted by the earthquake. 

Here's our chance to help in a simple but tangible way.  If you have your grandma's sewing machine in the basement, drag it out and sew a doll.  If you are working on a project, take a break and sew a doll.  If you have never sewn anything in your life but your friend has a sewing machine, stop by her/his (hey, guys can sew too) house and sew a doll.  If you just started sewing a year ago; you are trying to make all your kids' Christmas presents before next December; and you are writing a blog about it, sew a doll.  (Hmmm . . . that last one seems vaguely familiar.)  Basically, what I'm trying to say is . . . sew a doll.

Craft on!