Thanks Joan for yet another very interesting and wide open to interpretation Hop Topic.
For me to talk about my Kindness I need to share a little of my current lifestyle.. We are retired and living in an adult community in Central Florida with a population of around 150,000. Yes that number is correct. While not all of the residents are retired the large majority are and they are very, very active. We have any physical activity you can imagine available including but not limited to golf, bowling, tennis, pickle ball, bocce ball, bicycle riding at many levels, walking, swimming, dragon boats etc. etc. We also have well over 2500 different registered clubs covering any and everything including any craft you can think of.
Many of the various groups support in one way or another a charity either locally or nationally. I belong to 4 different craft groups, quilting, embroidery, yarn work, and cricut . All of which support many groups in need including but not limited to NICU's and Cancer care.
By now you should have a picture of how and why I am able to be kind and share that kindness. It's just pretty much everywhere you look.
This community also boasts a huge US Veteran population. Two of my favorite areas to show kindness are associated with the Men and Women who are putting or have put their lives on the line for us.
I am an active member of Operation Shoebox, a group that sends goodie bags to active troops around the world. This year the group is on target to send 30,000 bags out to the troops. The bags contain hand written Thank You notes, HBA items, cookies and snacks, puzzle pages from the local papers, paracord bracelets and various other small items.
The group has several hundred members broken out into multiple sub groups each with a specific job. I belong to 2 groups and do occasional work with 2 more. My main table is Paracord Bracelet's. The photo above shows 50 bracelets, my labor contribution most weeks. I aim to make 10 each night during the week after dinner. The group is made up of cord cutters, bracelet (macrame) makers, the folks who seal the ends of the bracelets, fund raisers etc.
I also work with the misc. craft makers fund raising group. We make assorted items for sale to earn money to pay for shipping the bags around the world. It is a perfect group for me as it gives me an outlet for all my misc. crafting ideas. I am one of those crafters that never makes one of something if I can make 5. These trays and pot holders are my current contributions.
I also work with Honor Flight. That's a National Organization that takes Vets to Washington DC to see the Veterans memorials, National Cemetery and the changing of the Guard. Sorry but I'm not sure what else they do on the trips. The local chapter makes 4 trips per year with 64 vets per flight. Part of what the local chapter includes in this 24 hour event is that each Vet gets a RWB quilt at least 40 x 60. Most of the quilts are made by members of the Quilt Guild of the Villages either individually or as chapter group projects. Quilts are set out and each Vet gets to choose one from among the 80 or so that are available for each trip. These quilts were my contributions for this year.
So what I take away from all of this is that kindness is a 2 way street. Yes I give but what I get back, on so many levels is incalculable. I have made so many new friends and learned so many new things working with these groups and what positive things we are able to accomplish. I feel that I have received back so much more then I give or I could possibly have imagined.
Now on to the Bee part of this hop. I assume that most of you have seen the zip pouch made from Dollar Tree Dish Drying Mats that have been all over YouTube. A couple of months ago I saw a video (by Chelse at She Sews Seams) and made a couple for the fun of it. They came out fine and took less than half an hour.
A couple of weeks ago I saw a Drying Mat with Bees and Bee Hives at I think Hobby Lobby. The mat was much larger then the one from $tree and I thought it would be a great extra for this hop. I sat down the other night to knock one out and realized that this was a directional design going the wrong way for it to be used for the quickie pouch. Very annoying to say the least. I left it and came back to it the next morning and decided that I could cut it up and put it back together again and all would be well.
Ta Da and I still half of the mat left to do it again. The mat was really a lot bigger than my original mats from $ tree, thankfully, and did allow me to get a usable pouch made. The inside isn't as neat as an uncut mat but I'm not going to advertise that fact.
So it's time to say so long for this month. I hope you will follow along and see just how much kindness this group provides. Here is a complete list of all of all of the participants for this month.
Oh and BEE KIND and leave a sweet word or two for each of them if possible.
Monday Sept 23
Tuesday Sept 24
Wednesday Sept 25
Thursday Sept 26th
Selina you are so kind with all that you do! I guess I am one who hasn't seen the Youtube video on making those zipper pouches from a drying mat. I have made lots of zipper pouches from quilting cottons, so I wouldn't need a drying mat to make one, but I imagine the drying mat is like having the foam already attached to the fabric so the zipper pouch is structured without having to add any foam stabilizer, right? Sounds like a fun idea, but with all the fabric I have, I don't need to try that, although now I will be looking at those drying mats with different eyes, lol! Thanks for sharing your projects and your kind heart.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome that you do all that volunteer work! I'm glad you shared it and wish I had shared mine too. :) Anyway, keep up the good work--it is needed! I had not seen the zipper pouches made from drying mats. Now I must try one. Yours look sew neat! Thanks again for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAdd in your volunteer work and I will make sure to let everyone know there's an update if you would like. :-)
DeleteYou get a gold star for all your kind projects. I also have never seen the drying mat zip pouches. What a great idea. Those bracelets are interesting. My little grandie is just getting into bracelets, so I have beads all over the place here. LOL!! I always look towards your blog when I need a new fun little project to work on!
ReplyDeleteYou get two gold stars for all your kind projects! You are one busy lady! I haven't seen the drying mat zip pouches either, I will have to check that out. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOver all the years I've blog hopped with you, you have always inspired me with your donation work. It sounds like your community makes your kind heart and sewing treasures even easier to share. Your gifts for our wonderful veterans are so special. Sewing quilts and making ten paracord bracelets a night is really something...wow! Thank you, Selina, for your "Bee Kind" attitude of sharing. xo
ReplyDeleteYou are so admirable and your projects are all wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYou are such a wonderful person to give so much using your talents! Living in a community with so many options for activity must be lots of fun. It gives you plenty of opportunity to meet new people and make beautiful projects. Bless you for creating items to give to others.
ReplyDeleteYou are filled with kindness to overflowing. We are GRATEFUL to you for all you do. Isn't that the cutest 'bee" fabric. Great job!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a LOT of opportunities for kindness. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are very generous with your time and gifts! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletequiltinggail
Boy are you busy!! I can't believe how much you can do in your community. Thanks for sharing your portion of some charitable efforts. What a great thrill it must be to be part of such an active neighborhood. I like your zippered pouches. That can be your next time to make 5 or more of!!!
ReplyDeleteYour kindness knows no limits! It's impressive that you're involved in so many charitable organizations and activities. Bless you for your contributions to them all.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome community. You are very generous with your time, as well as sharing your talents! Great charities. Thanks for giving.
ReplyDelete