Searching for People With Big Hearts
June 14, 2007 6:44 pm Uncategorized
I have an idea, and I need some people with big hearts to help me make it happen. I’m hoping that it’s you, whether you are a blogger or not. Some of you people dropping in from the Garden Web and other sites might be interested. You can help, too.
Last week, I was reading Phara’s blog, your mirror or mine. She posted a picture of a lovely quilt that was given to her son at cancer camp made by the hands of a volunteer. Over the years that he has gone to camps, he’s been given several quilts that comfort him in difficult times. I loved the idea of giving a quilt for such a charity, but I don’t quilt.
“Hey,” I thought. “I could crochet a granny afghan with all those bits of fancy yarns I have stuck in a drawer.”
Then, I got a package from my friend Teamouse at TeaTime Ramblings with knitted tea towels (I’ll show you the pictures later. Thank you Tea!). As I smoothed out the lovely knitted squares, a lightbulb went on in my brain. How cool would it be to give a sick child an afghan made by many different hands; ALL of them hands that cared about that child? Can you imagine the feeling of being loved that the child would have? Can you imagine the joy of giving that to a child? You don’t have to imagine. WE CAN.
I’ve contacted a cancer camp for kids that is in Fort Worth, Texas; it’s called [tag]Camp Sanguinity[/tag]. Though they have already had the summer camp for this year, we can shoot for next summer. By then, perhaps I WE can have afghans made for all of the children at the camp (140 kids in 2003, but I don’t know how many now. I’m waiting on a call-back). It takes more than one of us to make this happen. Will you help?
Here’s my idea. I’ve found a granny afghan pattern that is very simple. It requires 24 small squares and 6 large squares, but it could work with just 48 small squares. If I can get people to send me the crocheted squares, then I’ll ask folks in my community to put them together; I’m not shy. With every square you send, attach a signed “best wishes” card (you can give an e-mail address to the child if you want). Each afghan will be put together with squares and good wishes from at least thirty different people.
[UPDATE: THE FIRST AFGHAN WILL BE PIECED TOGETHER ON JULY 19TH. SEND ONE SQUARE TODAY!]
You say you don’t know how to crochet? Help me find some people who can. Tell folks on your blog about it, and send them here. If people tell me they want to help, I’ll build a new page and a button for the sidebars [or you can volunteer to make a button for me!]. I will link every blogger who helps with this project.
[UPDATE: INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFGHAN SQUARES
You don't have a blog and you can't crochet? Find someone who can crochet, and give them some yarn. And, get a blog :lol:!
Does it matter what yarn you use? No. I used fancy schmancy yarn, because that's what I had (and I thought kids might like it). You can go buy fancy yarn or use what you have. It's the love you put into it that counts.Does it matter what color? No. All of the squares will be rimmed in black, which will tie them together and make them look like a stained glass window.
How big should the squares be? The pattern calls for 6 "rounds" of crochet. Crochet 5 rounds and have the square measure
What do I do with them when I have them made? Contact me to tell me they are on the way (otherwise, I won’t remember to drive to the post office). Put a signed card with each square and put them in an envelope. If it’s a small envelope, send it to:
P.O. Box 2241
Denton, TX 76202
[UPDATE 2: Use a small card (such as comes with a gift bag) or a piece of cardboard and tie it to the center of each square. That way it won't get lost in the shuffle!]
Teamouse at Tea Time Ramblings is on the ball! She created a button, and a banner to use for this campaign. You may use them on your site to link back to the site! Thanks Sweet Tea! She also posted publicity called Love To Share? Share a Square. Afghans for Kids with Cancer Her first attempt called for Happy Hookers! But she chickened out and changed the title.
She also posted publicity called Love To Share? Share a Square. Afghans for Kids with Cancer Her first attempt called for Happy Hookers! But she chickened out and changed the title.Comedy Plus has posted to help spread the word, but I can’t link to that specific post, so I’ll just give you her url.Life in Westcliffe has added instructions to her site for adding the button to Blogger. Check out her post A Heart the size of Texas
Tumbled Words has a post titled Charity begins in your heart, then moves.
You Can’t Reason With Crazy posted a button to help spread the word.
Running On Empty posted A Quilt of Many Colors
Crocheting for A Cause was posted by my buddy Jen at J’s Thoughts And Musings.
Inside Mo’s Mind wrote Hookers Wanted! That ought to get Mo some Google traffic!
Scott, at Trials and Tribulations is spreading the word, too!
Life as I see it has posted How Square Can You Go?
Running on Empty wrote A Quilt of Many Colors.
Hamelife mentioned the contest, too.
Phara, at Your Mirror or Mine, was the inspiration for this project. She posted Share A Square.
Yellow Rose’s Garden added a post about the project.
My Brown House added a button to her site.
Teebopop added a button to her site.
Imaginif posted Hang Child Cancer on the Hook
Schmutzie’s Milkmoney or Not, Here I Come has posted with a selection of images you may prefer to use on your site. I’ll have them posted on this site as well this week. Thank you, Schmutzie!
Mixed with sugar added a button that Schmutzie made!
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HELP!
Share a Square » Blog Archive » Colors of My Dream :
Date: January 21, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
[...] Searching for People With Big Hearts [...]
Share a Square » Blog Archive » Generosity :
Date: January 21, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
[...] Searching for People With Big Hearts [...]
Share a Square » Blog Archive » I FOUND People With Big Hearts :
Date: January 21, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
[...] folks who give of themselves (not just money) at the drop of a hat. Back on June 14th, I said I was “Searching For People With Big Hearts.” I tell you what! I found [...]
Share a Square » Blog Archive » Bragging Rights :
Date: January 21, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
[...] by the outpouring of love that I have seen. In the first post for Share A Square, I said that I was Searching For People With Big Hearts. I think I found quite a few of those, didn’t [...]
This Eclectic Life » I FOUND People With Big Hearts :
Date: January 25, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
[...] folks who give of themselves (not just money) at the drop of a hat. Back on June 14th, I said I was “Searching For People With Big Hearts.” I tell you what! I found [...]
This Eclectic Life » Bragging Rights :
Date: February 2, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
[...] by the outpouring of love that I have seen. In the first post for Share A Square, I said that I was Searching For People With Big Hearts. I think I found quite a few of those, didn’t [...]
This Eclectic Life » Share A Square Anniversary :
Date: June 9, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
[...] June 14th, 2007, I first posted about a dream I wanted to fulfill. I posted searching for people with big hearts. I wanted to make 140 afghans for children with cancer and blood disorders. Those children will [...]
This Eclectic Life » I Knew That People Had Big Hearts :
Date: June 14, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
[...] That’s the part that astounds me. That’s the part that makes me break out the box of Kleenex. I knew that people had big hearts. [...]
Crafter by Night » Crafting for Charity: Shelly Tucker, Storyteller and Share A Square :
Date: June 25, 2008 @ 2:12 am
[...] June 14th, 2008, I got a crazy idea. I posted asking folks to send me 6″ granny squares with a tag showing [...]