Midlands Baby, Kids & Family Espo 2014

We have been invited to participate!  We hope to see you there!!

Whew - Time is Flying.....

Mary Englebreit

As we work on winding up 2012, I can't believe how fast this year has flown by!  So many things going on and we are just trying to keep up.  We are trying hard to get everything we have available out to those whose needs are the greatest.  No easy feat!

Hurricane Sandy has thrown some extra challenges at us but we are pulling together to provide blankets and more to New York and New Jersey.  Our Quilter Anita has headed up this project and as always she is busy making it happen.  We have found a couple of ways to get our blankets to those who are in need in those areas.  If you know of other needs for the victims of this disaster, please don't hesitate to let us know.

Christmas will be here in the blink of an eye and Anita has out done herself this year on the challenge to get as many preemie blankets out to the NICU's in SC and in the Charlotte area.  If all goes well, we should exceed our goals and have some to spare.  This is one of our favorite projects and so close to our hearts.  Can't wait to start sending them out to the NICU's!!

We have been very fortunate this year to receive so many wonderful donations of materials, blankets and quilts, as well as hats and booties and even a few sweaters.  If you have been a part of this, please know that we appreciate you more than you will ever know.  If you are looking for a project, just email us and we will get you started.  Don't forget we can provide receipts, community service forms and documentation and we can help your scouts earn badges - not to mention the joy of providing something for a child in need. 

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, we are so very thankful for each and every one of you who make the Binky Patrol South Carolina possible.  We wish you much joy and happiness during this Holiday Season!!

We are ready for Fall and Winter!!!

Karen Johnson Designs Donation

We were so fortunate to receive a fabulous fabric donation last week from Karen Johnson Designs here in Columbia!  This is just one picture of the wonderful colorful awesome fabrics donated by Karen.  She is a local sewing instructor and these beautiful pieces were from a fabric shop she used to own.  When I look at these I see blankets, applique, bibs, clothing, pillow cases and more!  This donation has given us just the boost we needed to start preparing for the winter ahead.  Karen - I can't thank you enough.  This colorful array of fabrics not only supplies us but it inspires us to create in every way possible.  Please watch our Flickr photo stream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/binkypatrolsc/ and follow these donations as they "become" as in the Velveteen Rabbit - they will become favorite loved items by children all over our state and more!  Let us know if you want to get involved - email us at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com or visit our web site at www.bpsc.co.

It's National Craft Month.......

March is National Craft Month and we are hoping that many will think about crafting for a cause!  If you make something, consider making a second something and donate it.  There are tons of free charity/donation patterns online for just about every craft you can imagine and all they ask in order to use the patterns, is that you make one to donate.  Most charities will also provide a receipt for taxes so that you can deduct the cost of materials. 

This brings us back to the Binky Patrol SC and there are so many ways you can help - you don't need to be able to sew, knit or crochet.  We can always use simple items such as thread, batting, fabric, yarn, and more.  Our complete wish list is on our web site at http://www.scbinkypatrol.com as well as on this blog.  If you do craft, let us know if you need a pattern - we have patterns for sewing, knitting, crocheting, our Baby Binky Bunny and more. 

Think about creating something to donate - even if it is not for the Binky Patrol - choose a charity or cause you feel good about.   One of our sponsors, Creative Sewing Machine Center, has come up with a wonderful idea - "Make One ~ Donate One".  Believe me, you won't be sorry you did and don't be surprised if you get hooked - it is contagious!!

Learn from the Young........

I had the extreme pleasure of meeting a wonderful young lady last weekend along with her equally super Mom!  They came all the way across town to deliver two handmade blankets they made.  I can't express my excitement when I saw their creations and realized the honest love that went into these two blankets.  The daughter - Taylor Rae - is only 15 years old.  An age when many young girls are very self absorbed and only thinking of texting and clothes and such, she took the time to make the most beautiful baby blanket.  She didn't choose the simplest of patterns - she picked one that is more complex and turned out such a sweet, soft beautiful blanket that any little one would love!  This was a community service project for school and she gets an A++ in my book.  ;o)  Her Mom took on the challenge as well and made a twin size gorgeous ripple - our first bed sized binky.  This will be so welcomed by the ladies at SisterCare and we are so proud to send it.  In a time when it is so easy to just write a check, these two ladies put in the effort and not just a simple effort but a time consuming full fledged commitment to make these wonderful blankets filled with love.  I cannot thank them enough.  What is more exciting, Kim, the Mom, tells me that they will be making more and that Taylor Rae, a very busy high school student, has caught the bug and has all sorts of plans to make her own creations.  Pictures of their donations are below.

Taylor Rae's Blanket

Kim's Blanket

If you know of a young person who might be interested in doing the same, please contact us.  We can even help with supplies and we can provide receipts and any other information needed for class credits.  This is such a wonderful way to teach our kids from an early ago on, that giving is so rewarding and should be an integral part of all our lives.  From those whom much is given, much is expected....it doesn't take much to give love and caring to others and there are a multitude of ways to do so.  Join in - you will be so glad you did.  A joke my boys used to tell goes - "Where do you find a helping hand ---- at the end of your arm"  Be the difference you want to see.  Email us at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com and find out how easy it is to help.

Binkies and Dollies and Baby Bunnies and So Much More....

As always we are staying busy at the BPSC!!  We have been working on year end reports and getting things lined up for 2011!  Today we were able to get permission from the owner of MMM Crafts - Larissa Holland - to use one of her patterns for our shelter and hospital projects.  This is very exciting - the pattern is for her Baby Binky Bunny - what could be more perfect!  These little babies have their own binky and they can be made safe for children under three.  They also have room for our embroidery designs on the back of the diaper.  ;o)  We hope to get these babies out to some of our shelters as well as the Ronald McDonald Children's Room at our local Palmetto Richland Hospital.  As soon as we get our first one created we will post a picture - here he is from Larissa's blog - what a cutie!!  We can make these with open or closed eyes and they are all soft and squishable and most lovable!

We have also taken on a new project for the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital.   This is something that has been close to my heart for quite a while and I am so happy to have found a hospital that accepts outside donations.  We will be working on blank cloth dolls - these are used for children at the MUSC Children's Hospital to illustrate procedures they will be having done.  They actually get IV's, casts, bandages - what a wonderful way to explain necessary medical procedures to a child....  We will also be sending blankets along to the children's hospital for parents as well as the children.

We also received wonderful news this weekend!  Peggy Ledford with Creative Sewing Machine Center contacted us to be a part of their 10th Anniversary Celebration in March!  They have been very kind to us donating fabric and batting as well as taking time to answer tons of questions and offer demonstrations for the embroidery techniques.  I can't say enough about this wonderful shop - my most favorite dreamland.  ;o)  If you have never been, it is worth traveling to see it!!  Watch for the binky Andrea is creating with the bolt of beautiful fabric Peggy gave us!

Stay tuned as we grow, and jump in any time if you would like to get involved.  Just email us at binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com or visit our web site at www.scbinkypatrol.com.

Leaving Fall Behind Reluctantly......

As hard as it is, we must move on from Fall to Holiday and Winter preparations.  I so love Fall I would stay stuck here forever.  Our weather here in the south has just been wonderful - cool crisp nights and bright sunny days with no humidity and temps in the 70's and 80's - I Love it!!  But as we know it won't be long until frost is nipping at our toes and there will be a need for binkies and more!  Please don't hesitate to get involved - it doesn't require a lot of time or money to give so much.  But surprisingly you will find that what you receive in return is so much more!!  Email us if you would like to join us - you may be surprised how simple it is to help!

binkypatrolsc@sc.rr.com   Email

FaceBook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Binky-Patrol-South-Carolina/353948326581?v=app_2373072738#!/pages/Binky-Patrol-South-Carolina/353948326581?v=wall