Yesterday I went to the guild meeting for November (yes, I’m a sucker for punishment) and confirmed for myself that it will well and truly be the last time I attend there. Among other things, Gorgeous Girl was the recipient of several pointedly hostile glances for saying “yummm yummm” and “ahh” while eating her food and looking at a book while the speakers were talking. Not everyone, some folk were lovely, but it just made me feel sad.
So sad in fact that I started crying when I was telling The Chocolate Cat about it later.
So there I was feeling very sorry for myself when I started chatting with one of my colleagues on facebook and I discovered that she runs a Non-Profit Organisation for children in rural schools. These are usually schools on farms where the farm workers children attend. The provide uniforms and stationery and other equipment. I asked her if there was anything she particularly needed and guess what she said…
Scarves
Last year they managed to help one school (it gets cold in parts of Africa in winter, it even snows in parts) 12 of them knitted 56 scarves. My colleague knitted 18! I figure I can knit a few scarves, any one want to help me?
They need 56 navy blue and 54 bottle green ones – the scarves then match the school uniform and can be worn at school in the classroom.
If you are interested, please let me know, and I’ll give you a mailing address . We’d like to have them in time for June next year (Southern Hemisphere winter). Here is a link to her NPO where you can learn more about what they do: Feeding Children in Africa
Here is a link to their wish-list showing individual schools and what each school needs: FCIA Wish List
So after talking with her, I felt a lot less sorry for myself. I’m going to be knitting some scarves, just as soon as I can get to a yarn store, I’d love for you to join me – we could have a scarf along. Let me know if you are interested.
Then Sarah of Nibbling Along gave me this lovely prize.
An I love your blog award. The rules of the award are as follows:
1. The winner can put the logo on their website/blog.
2. Add a link to the person who gave you the award.
3. Nominate at least five other websites/blogs.
4. Provide links to the nominated websites/blogs.
5. Leave a message at each blog/website telling them they’ve been given the award.
Wow, choosing just 5 is hard…I’m going to try and choose 5 that I haven’t mentioned before. In no particular order:
1. She has the Logic of a Puggle – This is an Australian blog, and while she lives in a different part of Australia to where I am from, her pictures often remind me of home. Btw, puggle is a real word, you’ll have to visit to see what it means.
2. Life’s a Quilt – Hedgehog is an incredible quilter, I really envy her style, who has recently taken the first steps down the slippery slope of the knitting obsessed fraternity 🙂 She also gets to travel to very cool places and I enjoy her travel pics very much.
3. Through the Loops – The most amazing knitting designs (I have quite a number sitting on my to do list waiting for the perfect yarn) and beautiful photography.
4. Javajem Knits – I don’t think there’s anything Javajem can’t do, she knits, spins, quilts, sews, and draws the most amazingly whimiscal pictures. Plus she’s just a really nice person and I feel privileged to call her my friend. And to think we’d never have met if it hadn’t been for the magic of the ‘innernets’ – Thanks Al Gore!
5. Patchywork of Mini Grey – Another Aussie blogger. I’m in love with her paper piecing at the moment. Very different from traditional paper piecing, but so effective. I’m planning on showing her website to my new quilting group at our meeting on Monday.
On the weekend F came over and we sewed the MOST adorable little summer dress out of white embroidered lawn and lace. I’m going to have to borrow a camera so I can show you. I don’t know if I can wait until Gorgeous Man gets home. Now I know how to add shirring elastic 🙂 There is one more dress and a skirt ready to be shirred up. Unfortunately it’s been too cold to wear the dress 😦
It’s November and I’m sleeping with a handmade quilt and a thick blanket on top of that still.
Anyway, Gorgeous Girl is asleep – we had a rough night due to some tummy issues so I’m going to hit my sewing machine.
Let me know if you are interested in the scarves.
Thank you so much for the nomination Ruth! It’s very kind of you! I’m looking forward to checking out some of those other blogs and learning what a Puggle is!
Sorry to hear that they were so unwelcoming of a child in your guild. That really is sad. I’m glad you were able to go home and discover more important things.
I would love to knit a scarf or two. Do they have a size that they would prefer? Also – any specifics about pattern or should we knit whatever we we fancy?
Giving you a “definite maybe” on the scarves. Navy blue I understand, but you know how I am about blue [might be different for charity]. I have no idea what color bottle green is and am fearful of making a mistake. Like a bottle of O’Doul’s?
I still don’t know how to knit. I’m so pathetic!
Glad you found a such a great way to cheer up and forget about the idiots who upset you.
Awe – thanks for the award!!
I’m glad you will not be going to that guild anymore – it is not a happy place!
Hi Ruth,
What colour scarves this time? I’m in!
Thanks – and you deserve all the awards in the world!
so happy that you have started your own group – really some people are so silly!
xx
Sad about the guild meeting. 😦
Do the scarves have to be knitted? What about crochet?
Anjea
Austin, TX
Hi Ruth
I’m so sory about what happen in your guild meeting, but some people are just noty!
Now about the scarves, since they are only for july, next year, i would like to help also. Just tel me what brand are you going to use, and the real name of the colors, so that i can do also. I by all my stuff now at crafts inc, in Somerset. So i’ll check there later to see if they have what your asking for,ok?
Kisses for your little princess 🙂
Please post us a pattern and the colours (I know you have no camera at the moment, perhaps you could ‘borrow’ a picture somewhere). I may try to get the knitter in the family to make some…
I still feel sad about my guild… so I can imagine how you feel. It’s almost disbelief that quilters can be like that. To me it feels like it goes against EVERYTHING quilting stands for!!! BUt we love you and the GG!!!!!!!!!
Is GG feeling better now?
interested in the scarves. The dress sounds lovely!
I can not knit to safe my life. If you had to donate a quilt I could help, but not with knitting scarves. Good luck with the project.
Congratulations on the award!
Millie
I can do scarves!! Can you give me some hints on size, pattern etc and I will get started. Might only end up being one but every one counts!! What a great project to get involved in.
Boo to the nasty guild people !! Glad you’re not going back. They should hear what the Harlot has to say about welcoming children, it would put them to shame.
Sign me up for a scarf!!