Salt Lake County Chapter

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

May newsletter

April 22, 2013 Blankets delivered 10520

Dear Blanketeers,

Be sure and check out our blog - slcprojectlinus.blogspot.com. On the blog you’ll find the current newsletter, updates on blanket donations, instructions for making fleece blankets (great for people who can’t attend Make a Blanket Day and want to make fleece blankets), and do’s and don’ts. *** also check the blog for pictures, we try to include few of the blankets that stand out or are completed by children *** We see so many beautiful blankets that we want to share!! You ladies are a talented group!

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be next Monday April 29th... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2. Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!! This work day is in lieu of May's work day!

Blanketeer Spotlight – Denna Wright

Not surprising if you don’t know this name. Though you don’t see her at Blanket Day, Denna is a very active and important contributor to the success of our Project Linus. She started making blankets with Kathy Marrow when the project opened in SLC. She doesn’t crochet or make blankets anymore, but she does carry our blankets all over the Wasatch front for delivery. Yes…she is the “UPS” of Project Linus.

Every month for five years, she has made the rounds of SLC in her little van to insure that our blankets arrive safely. Delivery suits her busy life style very well. Denna is a hiker and road biker as well as a life member of Wasatch Mountain Club. She completed a busy career working for the library system and still volunteers with Salt Lake County Aging Services. She helps individuals to have a fuller and richer life by spending time with them in their home. Denna is a friend to many and we are lucky enough to have her volunteer services in our Chapter. A huge thanks to Denna!

Lots of changes!!!

The past few weeks have been busy & there are some changes we need to share with you...a great announcement, Millie is the new coordinator of our chapter of Project Linus!! We are so excited to have her taking us forward and continuing our wonderful mission to provide blankets for children. Also, if you are interested in doing more...contact Millie, she needs your help!! We could use some great people to help us pick up blankets, prep materials & help with the newsletter & blog. These items can be done at your home, when you have time to volunteer! We will also discontinue the south valley work day. It makes me sad, but there hasn't been regular attendance, except for those great 4 - Kathy, Julie, Edrie & Lynn! With both Kathy & Kristin leaving, there's just no one to run things. Kristin's news is that she accepted a job offer, which will keep her very busy & unfortunately make it impossible for her to attend activities during the day. It's a good opportunity, but that means time will have to be shifted & family & work are taking priority. Kristin will still be involved as the assistant coordinator & working on her own contributions at home. For our final news...Kathy has found residence in a new state & will be relocating to Colorado! Although Kathy stepped down as coordinator a little over a year ago, she didn't go far! Kristin continued to rely on her expertise & amazing sewing skills to keep things moving for our chapter. Her move will take a few months, so she'll be by from time to time, but make sure to wish her the best as she starts packing!

So don't be sad, don't worry...we will keep going strong!!! Please continue to support our chapter of Project Linus. We have done such amazing things & make a HUGE difference in over 10,500 children's lives!

Also, we have decide to trim down our drop offs...so make sure if you have been dropping off blankets that your location is still on the list:

Mill Creek - The Wool Cabin, 2020 East 3300 South

West Jordan - The Quilt Shop (inside the Fabric Center) 9135 S Redwood Rd

Sandy - Quilts Etc, 8720 S State Street or

The Cotton Shop 9441 South 700 East

You can also call Millie to arrange a drop off, if none of those work.

We are also asked what people can do to contribute & recently found out that gift cards are a great way to keep 100% of the proceeds in our chapter. So...if you don't have time to shop for materials, just buy a gift card from your favorite fabric store to donate to our chapter & we'll go shopping!! We also need masking tape, so if you have some extra laying around, or are out & about, grab a roll, we sure could use it!

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County. Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, deliver blankets, donate funds for shipping and stamps, or donate paper, yarn or fabric, each one of you helps to grow our chapter so we may give a little bit of love and security to a child in crisis.

Hugs to you all,

Millie & Kristin

email: slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

Millie ph#801-272-4024

Kristin cell 801-386-5917

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

April Newsletter 2013

March 25, 2013 Blankets delivered: 10445

Dear Blanketeers,

Welcome to the new Blanketeers who have joined our chapter during the past month, we’re so glad to have you with us and hope you’ll love Project Linus as much as we do. Be sure and let Kristin or Millie know if you have any questions.

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be Monday april 1st (no foolin!)... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-1. Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!! **keep the date we'll meet again april 29th**

The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be tuesday april 16th at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 1:00. sorry, no food at the library.

Spring is in the air!! (or it needs to be) Please note the dates for North valley. We will meet April 1st & April 29th to accommodate schedules. There will not be a North Valley meeting in May.

Here's a note I have to share...this was from an email this morning from West Jordan Guardian ad Litem:

We LOVE your blankets and will always take them if available (plus...
we have our back to back shelter weeks coming up shortly and love to
have supplies on hand) :)

Love you guys and all you do!

Candi

So if you ever wonder the impact that your beautiful work makes, never doubt again. I love doing deliveries, because it's so wonderful & everyone is always happy to see us with Project Linus Blankets. I am always receiving feedback about how wonderful, bright, fun colors & well made our blankets are. Thank you for all you do!!

BLANKETEER SPOTLIGHT

We love getting phone calls asking us to pick up blankets, but Jean Peterson prefers to deliver them directly to Kristin. We were so excited to receive that call a couple of weeks ago & Jean has the back of her SUV full of quilts. They are bright, fun prints, and have been pieced & tied.

Her dedication is wonderful & we are always excited to receive the next batch. Jean even rallied her young women at church last year to help in her love of blanket making. If you look real close, you can see that some of Jean's works of art are embroidered. She will stitch the squares & then set them into quilts. Each quilt is hand tied and just perfect. Thank you Jean for your quilting talents. We always enjoy your beautiful blankets & know that a child in need is comforted by your works of love.

Reminder...North Valley ladies you will meet in the West Wing of the Church on Monday, April 1st from 10am-1pm & again Monday, April 29th from 10am-2pm. There will NOT be a meeting in May.

Thank you for all you do! Every little part, makes a world of difference!

Happy Easter,Happy spring! Happy, Happy Everything!

Hugs to all, Kristin & Millie

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

March Newsletter 2013

February 25, 2013 Blankets delivered: 10268

dEAR BLANKETEERS,

As we come to the end of February, I have my fingers crossed that the groundhog is right & we are almost done with winter! I am so done with winter & ready for some warmer temperatures & sunshine. Although, I do love the winter season to be snuggled up in a Project Linus blanket crocheting away. I hope all of you are doing well & able to get out & spend some time with us at upcoming blanket days. As always, thank you to each of you who make this project possible. There is now way we could accomplish what we do without each & every one of you!

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be Monday march 4th ... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2. Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

south valley blanket day is cancelled for march...we hope to see you on April 16th!

Women Warriors

Our Chapter has found a new way to show our appreciation to those who give military service to our country. We now try to contribute 10 baby blankets a month to the Veteran’s Hospital Women’s Center, specifically for the new babies of military women. These women come from many surrounding states for their prenatal care and they – the nurses and each other – give a group baby shower for them every quarter. We are pleased that our blankets will be part of this wonderful way to give back to our Military!

BLANKETEER SPOTLIGHT!!

blanketeers 2008

This month our spotlight is focused on the original founders of our Salt Lake County Project Linus! Their names: Kathy Morrow, Carol Holmes, Ellen Silverblatt, Shirley Geary, and Roma Knuth. Kathy had originally served as Project Linus coordinator in Cheyenne. When she moved to Utah, she discovered there was no Linus chapter to join. So, she organized the ladies, contacted headquarters, and they went to work forming a new chapter. Their mission: “To connect children in need of love and comfort to those talented and generous people who give their love by handmade blankets.”

blanketeers 2013

our founder Kathy, thanks for all you still do!!

These "first" ladies shared ideas about where to deliver blankets, how to make them, and they even taught each other to crochet. Their first delivery was made in January 2007. Since then, over 10,000 blankets have been delivered to the children of our community. As they have done for the past 6 years, this north valley core group continues to meet the first Monday of every month at Our Saviours Lutheran Church. Over the years they have invited dozens of women to join them.

It is remarkable to remember the early beginnings of the chapter and realize how many children have received a Project Linus blanket. Thanks to all of those original founders and all of the friends that they have included to build the chapter!

From our beginnings to now, we have grown in fellowship & fulfilled the mission of Project Linus with our kindness. I'm so glad to be part of such an amazing group!

We receive inquiries on how people can help our project, but they don't have time or opportunity to make blankets. I recently found out that donating gift cards is a HUGE help to chapters! The gift cards can be used 100% to purchase supplies for our chapter. So, if you ever hear about someone wanting to help, but not knowing how a gift card from Walmart, Joann's, Hancocks Fabrics, Fabric Center, The Cotton Shop, Floyd & Lizzies, Quilts, Etc, Hobby Lobby or the Wool Cabin would all be fantastic! Thank you for your continuing generosity...encourage others to join in!!

Have a fantastic March!! may we see signs of spring & sunshine!

Hugs to you all!

Kristin & Millie

slcprojectlinus@gmail.com
Kristin cell 801-386-5917

Monday, January 28, 2013

February newsletter

January 28, 2013 Blankets delivered: 10178

Dear Blanketeers,

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be Monday february 4th... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. From 10-2. Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be tuesday february 12th at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 2:00. sorry, no food at the library. please note due to conflicts at the library we are meeting the 2nd tuesday feb & march 12th& back to the 3rd tuesday in april 16th

BLANKETEER SPOTLIGHT

Blanketeer – Barbara Brae has a special motivation for making blankets – BABIES! Barbara has a special love for babies, and makes a blanket for all the women she knows as their babies arrive. She didn’t pick up the crochet hook until her daughter, Melissa, taught her how. Since then she has been making extraordinary receiving blankets that are serious works of art and love. Each blanket takes her about five hours to crochet. Before she begins to crochet, she washes the flannel twice. She is adamant that the finished product should be clean, and very soft. High thread count is a must, so that it will be durable enough to hold up for hard use and many washings. Her blankets require 45”x 45”of fabric as well as a careful match of colors so that every blanket has a dominant design on one side and a subtle print on the other. The edging is started with a machine wing-needle using carefully matched thread. The amazing part is the delicate and artistic edges she crochets. Her goals for them: “to be beautiful, but also utilitarian” and “to give even a moment of comfort to a child – and a parent.”

Thank you Barbara for sharing your time and talents with Project Linus. We know you are a busy woman, as is a full time Executive Assistant at Centershift Software, as well as a mother of two daughters and grandmother of five boys and girls.

A note from Millie... delivered 30 blankets to Fisher House in January. They are so excited about our blankets! Kay, social worker, told me that one couple got a curious George blanket and then added to the card that Curious George has sent it for their little one. They put a Curious.George book with it also. Another person used the blanket on the kids bed like a canopy or tent. It is working out so well!

We want to extend a HUGE thank you to Melissa Thayer, for being our assistant coordinator this past year. We have so appreciated her time & talents and getting to know her little boy Landon. We hope she will join us on occasion at a blanket day, but understand that life with a toddler is super busy! Thank you Melissa for all that you have done to make our chapter run smoothly. We will miss you dearly!

Hugs to you all,

Kristin & Millie

email: slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

Kristin cell 801-386-5917

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Kol Ami day of service

We recently received some beautiful fleece blankets made by Kol Ami. We so appreciate your donation & love the picture showing everyone working away! Thank you...

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865571124/Congregation-Kol-Ami-holds-day-of-service-in-honor-of-Martin-Luther-King-Jr.html

Thursday, January 3, 2013

January 2013 newsletter

Jan 1, 2013 Blankets delivered: 10011

Dear Blanketeers,

Welcome to the new Blanketeers who have joined our chapter during the past month, we’re so glad to have you with us and hope you’ll love Project Linus as much as we do. We have received some beautiful blankets this month as a results of friends & families coming together for Christmas service projects. Such a great tradition & we appreciate each & every one.

I have exciting news!! We have delivered more than 10,000 blankets since the chapter was started!! I love this milestone & such an amazing accomplishment! I'm so happy & excited! Thank you to each & every one of you who helped make this possible. We are a very dedicated group & collectively we make a HUGE impact! As our chapter enters its 7th year, we are very excited to keep moving forward to making a difference in the lives of children, who could use a little extra comfort in a trying time.

“Make a Blanket Day” for the north VALLEY WILL be monday, jan 7 ... come join us at Our Saviour’s Lutheran church 3900 S. 2500 E. in holladay, From 10-2. Bring your lunch – we have a wonderful time!!

The next South Valley “Make a Blanket Day” will be tuesday, jan 15 at the South Jordan Library from 10:15 – 2:00. this monthly meeting may shift to every other month or quarterly. if you have any input, please email us at: slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

In an effort to keep our blankets local, we need to let you all know that we are shifting our military project to benefit Fisher House. Fisher House provides a place to stay for injured military personnel seeking treatment at the local VA sometimes their familes are with them. The blankets we make (not required to be military prints) are given to them to take back to their children or grandchildren as a gift of support during this time of healing. their emblem motto is: "Helping Military Families". Millie took a few blankets when she went to visit the facility & we received a thank you card: "Thank you and the members of your chapter for the wonderful, wonderful blankets that you made for the Fisher House. Our Guests and volunteers alike still comment on them. The veteran and military family guests really appreciate being remembered." Signed by "Friends of the Fisher House" A note is enclosed with each blanket that it is a gift for their children.

We know TAPS has been near & dear to many of you, but it wasn't until last year that it became evident that the blankets were not all being given to children & the time, effort and financial support required to ship the blankets was overwhelming. We are excited that we can have an ongoing place to blankets to be delivered & not just a big push or crazy accumulation of blankets. This will also save our chapter the costs of shipping blankets out of state & keep them all local. If you have any additional ideas for donating to our military children, please let us know & we'll see what other options are available.

Pat & Myrna

Blanketeer spotlight! Myrna Paxton and Pat McGraw – two friends, sometimes mistaken for sisters, who share a passion for Linus Blankets. In the past year they have made more than 200 blankets for our chapter. Their work is exceptional! They are always careful to shop for the finest large pieces of fleece, and they use the softest of yarns. They find the beautiful patterns by searching and ordering on line, or shopping carefully in the local fabric shops. They crochet every day! But, that’s not all these friends do. Their grand children get a lot of attention and they always treat themselves to “sister time.” They go to lunch, walk in the park, and bowl regularly. Their enthusiasm for life and service is an inspiration. Thank you Myrna and Pat!

Just a note – we talk a lot about making fleece blankets but we dearly love crocheted and knitted blankets as well as quilts. So where ever your talents lie we would love to receive your gifts of love.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Project Linus in Salt Lake County. Whether you make blankets, sew labels on, package blankets, donate funds for shipping and stamps, or donate paper, yarn or fabric, each one of you helps to grow our chapter so we may give a little bit of love and security to a child in crisis.

Wishing you all the best in 2013! We hope to see you soon!

Kristin, Millie & Melissa

slcprojectlinus@gmail.com

801-386-5917