The Lollipop Forest I Spy Quilt has come home and is celebrating the release of the book it was written for: Craft Hope: Handmade Crafts for a Cause by Jade Sims.
Jade is the founder of Craft Hope, a website dedicated to making a difference in the world by matching crafters with charities that need the handmade items they create. Sewists, knitters, crafters, and quilters have answered the call in amazing abundance. Generously creating and giving to each new call to create that’s made on the Craft Hope website.
Jade assembled a very impressive group of contributors for the book including Kaari Meng (French General), Jhoanna Monte (One Red Robin), Malka Dubrawsky (Stitch in Dye), Rebeka Lambert (Artsy Crafty Babe), Manda McGrory (Tree Fall Design), Amanda Soule (Soule Mama), Blair Stocker (Wise Craft) and many, many, many more talented designers!
Each project in the book is paired with a charity. The charity’s mission is profiled along with details about the type of handmade items that they are most in need of. My quilt was paired with Project Night Night which donates more than 25,000 canvas tote bags each year to homeless children. Each bag includes a blanket, an age-appropriate book, and a stuffed animal.
The side copy of the book contains Hope Notes, quotes from individuals sharing what crafting for charity means to them.
“My friend, who is 94 years old, knitted approximately 100 small hats. She loves to make them as it passes her time in the retirement home. She knows that it takes her one hour to make one hat. I buy the yarn for her and she makes the hats. Barbara, United States”
I also found useful a section at the beginning of the book entitled Crafting Hope with Care. It covers important reminders about making sure that what you make is both appropriate and useful to a charity before sending the item. It also encourages involvement with organizations in your local community.
I’m excited to see Jade’s book come to life. I hope it shines an even brighter spotlight on the giving going on at Craft Hope. Here’s your to do list:
- Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book (I’ll leave comments open until Friday, October 1). Tell me about something you’ve made for charity. Winner announced, thank you!
- Visit the Craft Hope website and find a project that fits your maker gifts like a glove.
- Download the Lollipop Forest I Spy Quilt pattern. Make one for a child in your life and another to give. Enjoy!
If this is a dup I’m sorry – my connection is a bit wonky.
This is a beautiful book and I’d love to be entered in the giveaway.
I’ve been making hats and baby blankets {crochet/knit} for various charities.
Thanks!
Robin
cokelush at gmail
Knit washcloths or sewn pillowcases are something that would fit me.
Thanks!
cokelush at gmail
I’m heading over to d/l the quilt pattern right now. I have a bunch of scraps that I could start it with. Thanks!
cokelush at gmail
Wow. What a great movement! I’ve not done any crafting for charity–yet. I have contacted ConKerr Cancer for a local hospital accepting pillow cases for pediatric cancer patients and I’m so excited to start sewing (and recruiting some friends to sew too) and brightening up these little ones’ hospital stays!
I made and donated some felted bags to Craft Hope and made some walker bags for the Senior Center.
This was such a giving and exciting time when I could donate some of my objects and have them sell and the money donated. All the people’s items were so great!!! I would love to win this book..there are many patterns in there of items I wanted to make.
I’ve knit countless hats for charity along with hats for the Ronald McDonald House. For the animals, I’ve made kennel rugs so they have somewhere soft to sleep at night. I’ve also made scarves for the Red Scarf Project. Now that I’m learning to sew, I sew blankets for Project Linus and lapgans for the senior center.
Years ago I was part of Kitsap Quilters and we would make small baby quilts for hospitals. I would love to once again do sewing and crafts for charities, appropriate items that are truly needed and used.
My 4H class did pillow cases for a charity given them to Haiti…not sure of the charity’s name.
These projects look fantastic. Would love to get a copy of the book.
Beautiful quilt!!!
For charity i havent done no craftwork yet, but i have given many hours of free yoga classes to women in jail. Although i wouldnt call it charity but service!:)
Congratulations for your blog, is wonderful!
Oh I love this book and pattern. How wonderful. I have made flannel blankets to give away – 2yds of fabric sewn in a rectangle then add a decorative stitch around the edge. And I crochet shawls for Prayer shawls. I make baby quilts for HIV/AIDS babies around the world…too.
What a great idea for a book. I look forward to seeing it and figuring out what to make.
I love your blog and your sensibility in writing about what’s truly important. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of the Craft Hope book. Love your I Spy quilt too!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love a copy of the book!
I need to find some cute scraps for a quilt like that!
Our group knits prayer shawls for people who are ill or just going through a hard time. Wouldn’t a prayer quilt be a wonderful thing. The Lollipop Forest I Spy Quilt is perfect for this project.
Looks like tons of fabulous projects
I have made children’s quilts for St Jude Children’s Hospital. My nephew was treated at that hospital and it’s special place. I have also made a Wee Care gown and hope to make more.
I think the book is wonderful!!
What a great idea! I had already decided to make some lap quilts for nursing homes, but this has even more possibilities! THanks for sharing!
I have so much fabric in my stash and I love to sew for charity. Our local quilt guild donates Comfort Quilts to those in need. I want to widen my horizons and find more organizations and patterns for charitable sewing. I am hoping to win this book, it looks like it will be a fabulous resource!
Such a worthy cause and such lovely project patterns…
i love making quilts to give to kids in need. i support “margaret’s hope chest” a wonderful charity based in michigan. carin, the founder, has turned a tragic event (the murder of her grandmother) into an inspirational, creative charity that gives quilts to children & adults in need.
I was blessed to be able to make 2 purses for our women’s ministry retreat raffle. The proceeds go to help moms who normally can’t afford to attend, with a scholarship .
I love the quilt you designed for Craft Hope. I noticed it the day you put it up on the site. We readers appreciate you keeping us informed and encouraged.
Love the disigns!
Quilting for charity feels so good. My little quilt group has been whipping up some adorable children’s pillowcases for ConKerr Cancer. My big guild also makes cuddle quilts, Santa socks and sacks, Habitat for Humanity quilts, Quilts of Valor, and backpacks for kids in foster care.
Wow, I had never heard of Craft Hope before. Thanks so much for raising it to my attention! I’ll definitely have to find a way to participate in the future.
Fab , doable pattern for our youth group at church. Will pass this along and produce, produce, produce with a purpose for a cause. Merci!
My local quilt guild chose two charities in our county to donate quilts to–a homeless shelter and a charity similar to Project Night Night that gives a bag with a quilt or blanket and a toy to children removed from meth homes. I have made children’s quilts for them and love the free pattern. Jade’s book is wonderful and I hope it inspires many more crafters to look into their own communities for ways to bring a bit of joy into someone’s life.
I knit, crochet, and make quilts for charity and I am the one who is blessed by it all!
This is the first time I commented on a blog. WAY fun!
what a delightful book and projects too!
This looks like a wonderful book – creative and giving too! Thank you for the giveaway!
I enjoy making pillowcases for charity. I have a huge stash of fabric and love searching for pieces to put together for someone to enjoy sleeping on. I read about Craft Hope on another blog and would love the book. Thanks for the give-away.
Wow! I love the idea of this book!
I have a list of things I want to make to donate! But, for starters, I made a couple house blocks for Victoria at bumblebeansinc…and I’m in process of making a quilt (Hip to be square) for an auction at the end of October for Girls’ Council. They are building a home for girls and will have it staffed 24hrs/day. This will be the first of this type of home in our local area and I’m quite excited to have a small part in it! Looking forward to getting more involved with this kind of stuff!
Soooo pretty. I could handle this one.
Warm blessings,
Spencer
I’ve never made something for charity, but my favorite projects are gifts, because they’re so appreciated.
[...] chose Becky as the winner of the Craft Hope book giveaway. She left a lovely [...]
I just love oranges in quilts. I know many who think it’s a yucky yucky color, but to me, orange is the best in a quilt! I am currently designing a quilt of oranges, greens, and yellows. more of a spring quilt than a fall, but i love it just the same.
~niki in az
Is there a website that makes it easy to follow blogs and podcasts? I don’t have an iPod, does that matter?.