Lost My Mind.......

Ok - it's official!!  I have lost my mind but I am having so much fun!!  I have been hoping and wishing for an embroidery machine for years and I do mean years!  Well, I took the plunge and ordered one from QVC and I have until January 31 to give it a try and return it if it is not as useful as I believe it will be.  I am so full of excitement - I am like a kid on Christmas and that is no exaggeration.  I have so many ideas on quilts and binkies we can make with embroidery.  This is especially exciting for me because it is very hard for me to do hand embroidery due to severe arthritis.  This will make is so easy for us to personalize our blankets and more.

I have jumped in head first into all of the designs, information, thread and more that you need to know about.  There is so much info out there and so much of it is FREE!!  We have been planning on adding a panel to our quilts for the children to have them signed - now we can add our initials - BPSC - so cool. 
If you have any ideas or suggestions for this new adventure, send them to me at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com - I would love to hear them.  Now if anybody can give me some ideas on telling my hubby about this new toy.   Do you think he will  notice it??  ;o)
Oh - and thank so very much to Wendy Gratton for sending me free designs and information and also to Louise Gregorek for sending info on stabilizers, threads, etc.  So much to learn - so much fun!!

Hands of Hope.....

Nancy K Perry Children's Center Artwork

We received information on the Nancy K. Perry Children's Center today and when I opened the envelope it hit me that the amount of children in need so close at hand is just unbelievable!  The drawing here is from this center and they are selling a beautiful calendar to raise money.  Information on the calendar may be found on their site at http://www.nkp4kids.org along with details about this shelter.  It is a wonderful caring place for children in need.

This center and the others we are working with really need our help to assist the children they serve.  A homemade gift given to them can give them the feeling of love and caring and is there when a loved one might not be able to be.  As we narrow our focus to our state and ones close to us, we will do all that we can to help each group, but we need help.  We can be the Hands of Hope - please join us - there is much to do and 2011 will be a growing year for the South Carolina Binky Patrol!!  Email us at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com - we are waiting hear from you.

Countdown to Thanksgiving.....

Just four more days until Turkey time and I am especially thankful this year!  We have been working hard to get our chapter started and it has been a little slow going.  We now have 4 active members and two more getting involved and about 31 followers on FaceBook.  We have a good stash of fabric as well as some batting and yarns and lots of patterns and we are getting busy.  Most importantly we have found several recipient groups that we feel strongly about helping and We are so excited to get to work for them.

Lynne, Andrea, Dee Ann and Sarah

Andrea and I visited our newest group this week - the Dickerson Center for Children here in West Columbia.  I can't say enough about this center and how excited we are to be working with them.  They counsel and assist children from 0-18 who have been abused.  It was surreal going from room to room and seeing things I had only seen in movies and television - cameras and two way mirrors - all necessary to the process.  But then there were the comforting spaces where the children play and are cared for and counseled - that is where we come in.  We will be providing blankets for use in the center as well as to be given to children who are counseled there.  We are also working on journals for the teens and anything else that will make the visits of the children more comforting.  In this picture are the two wonderful ladies who coordinate the center - DeeAnn and Sarah - I can't say enough about them.  They graciously gave us their time and gave us a tour and answered our questions.  Pictured here are two quilts - one made by Andrea and one by Anita.  Just so exciting.

Also this week we received more quilts and fabric from Anita and Jill.  Just as soon as I can get organized we will post pictures of the new items.  Exciting things are happening at Binky Patrol SC - join us - you will gain so much more than you give.  Email us at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com .  We have much to be thankful for this year!!

Making Magic.......

Snowman Quilt by Andrea Shull

This is what it's all about.  This beautiful soft little quilt was made by member Andrea Shull and it is so adorable!!  This panel had been sitting in my stash for years and I could never get around to doing anything with it.  Andrea took it and put it together some other pieces of  flannel and look what she came up with.  It is nothing short of magic and if you are a child or teen in need something warm and cozy like this, handmade just for you, will make you feel special ----most especially when you are having a rough time.

As DeeAnn with the Dickerson Center told us, it is something they don't have to give back - it belongs to them and gives them a feeling of being cared for.


So if you are looking for a way to make a difference, join us.  It is so easy to help and you don't need any special talents.  We can use all sorts of help and our wish list is here on the blog.  Email us at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com and join in making the magic.....

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.....

Christmas Stockings for Pink Slipper Project

We are getting pretty excited about our Christmas projects around here!!  Andrea and I got together today and cut the stocking patterns and made them and it was such fun!  We have a beginning on the stuffings and hopefully we will get these mailed out next week.  These are for the Stocking Project at the Pink Slipper Project.  These will be given to two children in shelters.  Such a wonderful project.

Christmas Items for GTA

We have almost finished up everything for the God's Tiny Angels group for Christmas also.  This package of diaper shirts, preemie hats, socks and preemie booties will be mailed out this week.  These have been so much fun to work on and we can't thank Danette Lemaster enough for all the work she does at GTA!!  You can't imagine how wonderful it feels to take part in this - I can just imagine a little preemie wearing one of those hats.

Donation from Creative Sewing

These are the items donated by Creative Sewing.  The big package of batting is so soft and fluffy and it will help us get quite a few blankets completed.  The bolt of fabric is so adorable and soft with sweet little lambs on it.  I can't wait to see it worked up into a quilt.  Thank you so much to Peggy Ledford and Creative Sewing!

Preemie Caps

Also going out this week are a few preemie hats for those who may not want items with a holiday theme.  Hopefully these will soon be keeping a sweet little head warm.

If you want to get involved, please email us at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com or visit the web site at http://www.scbinkypatrol.com.  We can always use more hands and you don't need to have any special talents to help.

Hanging out at the Hive......

We found a new way to get the word out about our group - Creating the Hive - and if you have not found this group yourself - you need to visit!  We thank The Pink Slipper Project for telling us about the Hive  - it is an arts and crafts community.  You can set up a page there - follow others, see blogs and so much more.  It is a great place to hang out if you like any kind of needlework, sewing or any craft.  We love it because we can upload the blog and get the word to so many crafters and hopefully get more binkies for the kids and more.

We are very busy working on our two filled stockings we are preparing for Christmas along with the baby items that are ready to be sent to God's Tiny Angels.  We are also working to get some pillow cases along with a quilt over to the local Ronald McDonald House before the holidays.  We have a wish list on the right of this blog - if you want to jump in and help - we would love to have you join us.  We don't take cash donations, but we won't refuse gift cards to craft and fabric stores as well as postage.  So much to do - so little time - so much excitement!!