Lovely blanket and comfort ball

The babies in hospital and children at the shelters love these soft comforting lovey blankets and balls that our ReliefShare.org volunteers make. They love the balls so much that we call them ‘Comfort Balls”.

The blankets are made of soft material – usually 12″ square. One side is polar fleece or flannel and the other minky or fuzzy microfleece – any kind of material can be used as long as it is washable and soft – we’ve even used satin on one side – babies love soft material. Around the edge are loops of knitted i-cord that are sewn securelyl so toys can be attached to the loops or the blanket can be hung on an IV pole for distraction when the medical staff need to work on the child. The babies and children love to play with the loops as well. That’s what makes the blanket fun!

The knitted ball is a huge hit with all ages, there are times the volunteers play with the balls more than the children do. The balls are knitted in 6 strips that measure 8″ long by 2″ wide. (note: yes, the strips can be crocheted as well and so can the icord) For most sport or worsted weight yarn, that means 15 stitches by 50 stitches but you have to use a ruler and adjust the number of stitches as you use other yarn to make the balls. After the strips are knitted, the ball is woven together.

The first attempt at assembling the ball is usually a challenge but if you stick with it, something clicks and then you can assemble the balls with no problem.

The pattern for the knitted ball is found on ravelry.com – just type in ‘knitted ball’ in the search on their website and it pops right up.

Use your scraps of yarn to make comfort balls for all your grandchildren, children, kids at church and local hospital and if you have some left over, we would love it if you would like to send them to us to donate out.

Assembling the balls is not for the faint at heart. If you simply want to knit the strips and send them to us for our volunteers to assemble, that would be wonderful. You can even clean out your yarn stash for a good cause, pop your donation into a box and address it to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225 and we will be happy to knit up the balls and icord for the lovey blankets.

All donations are tax deductible and any and all donations are very welcome. There are no restrictions on what you can send, we make every donation count, no matter what it is.

Any type of yarn will do and any color. Children love lots of color and texture.

The lovey blankets are very easy to assemble as well, sew on the icord – or if you don’t have icord, you can sew on medium and wide width ribbon that is 4″ long and doubled around the edge of the blanket. Sandwich the ribbon inside the two pieces of fabric that are right sides together and sew 1/4″ to 1/2″ seam, leaving a place to turn the blanket right side out. Turn the blanket right side out and sew 1/2″ from the edge all the way around to make sure the icord or ribbon stays in place securely. Ta da! You have created a darling lovey blanket for a little one.

Questions? Email us at info@ReliefShare.org we’d love to hear from you or simply post a reply under this blog post! Happy knitting and sewing.

Add fun fur and a top knot to make a hat special. It may be the only hat the sick or needy receive. Show them your love by making it special.

Do you like to make hats?

ReliefShare.org volunteers love to makes hats.  Baby hats, chemo hats, hats to keep families warm in cold weather, hats to brighten and cheer and bless, hats knitted, sewn and crocheted with love and prayers. We make them at home, on the road as we travel, at church or visiting with friends. You can make them with us for the sick and needy.  Send them to us to distribute or donate to your favorite charity locally.

When knitting hats, we use soft yarn, like Love that Yarn from Hobby Lobby, Bernat, Lion Brand or Caron Simply Soft – something gentle to the skin and easy to wash (yes, that usually means acrylic so hospitals can put it in the washer and dryer). We also use wool, alpaca and cotton for hats if they are going to individuals who are willing to hand wash them.

The men like the grey ones we do with a black stripe or two, blue shades or the camo yarn hats.  Red Heart makes Softee yarn and Red Heart kids yarn that is soft and wonderful. Some of the super saver yarns, depending on color are okay but some are rough, close your eyes and run your hands over the yarn. The touch test is the best way to tell.

Ladies like it when we put a crocheted flower on the hat and seem to prefer pink or pastel. Kids love lots of color. Babies look cute in anything pastel or colorful, but then again, babies look cute in anything

We usually use size 7 circular needles with worsted weight yarn, but you can use your favorite yarn and needles.

With circular needles or double pointed needles, cast on 80 sts (depending on how large you want the hat to be and the kind of yarn you are using you can cast on 70 or 80).  We love using a long tail cast on as it provides and nice even stretchy base to knit from.  There is nothing more disappointing in spending the time to knit a wonderful hat and find that it won’t stretch over the head (we lovingly call those kind of hats ‘cast iron cuties” and they wind up getting redone or used for doll clothing if the size is right – nothing is ever wasted).

Join in the round, placing a stitch marker on first stitch to mark beginning of round.

Knit for approximately 7 inches then begin decreasing.

Row 1. Knit 8, knit 2 together (repeat to end of row. Row should end with last 2 sts knit together).
Row 2. Knit all sts.
Row 3. Knit 7, knit 2 together (repeat to end of row. Row should end with last 2 sts knit together).
Row 4. Knit all sts.
Row 5. Knit 6, knit 2 together (repeat to end of row. Row should end with last 2 sts knit together).
Row 6. Knit all sts.
Row 7. Knit 5, knit 2 together (repeat to end of row. Row should end with last 2 sts knit together).
Row 8. Knit all sts.

Continue in this manner, switching to double pointed needle (DPN) when it gets too small for the circular needles – or use the magic loop technique if using circulars to finish, until only 8 stitches remain. Cut or break yarn leaving a long tail to thread through the remaining 8 stitches. Tighten the bottom and secure yarn by weaving it up into the inside of the bag a bit until you feel it is secure and won’t come out.

Weave in any ends ( if you choose to do stripes you will have lots of them) and ta-da! All done Sometimes we do an icord knot finish and sometimes an icord loop finish.  Details can make the hat special for the recipient.

Note: Childrens hats are the same pattern as the adult but cast on only 60 for babies or 70 for toddlers/children. Knit for 4 1/2″ for babies and 5 1/2″ for kids then decrease. Women with small heads you can knit for 6 1/2″ instead of 7, depending on how much of a self rolled brim you want the hat to have.

Feel free to knit, sew, felt, craft or crochet hats of all colors and sizes  to donate to charity.  Our address is Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, Idaho and Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225.  All donations are tax deductible and we are happy to send a thank you letter and tax paperwork to acknowledge your donation.

Reuben's lovely blanket with icord

How do you like the lovey blankets I am working on?

This is my grandson’s – he gets to test ‘new’ items, and so far, it’s a huge success.

I was making tons of taggie blankets for the hospital but the ribbon cost so much that I decided to knit icords for the edge instead. Yes, it is time consuming but can be done with yarn scraps

If  you want to help, you can sew the lovey blankets and send them finished to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, Idaho 83714 – they are 12″ square and you can use up your scraps for a good cause.

We are needing more soft fuzzy fabric like you see in the picture and minky, chenille, polar fleece, kids prints, flannel, etc to make them with.

Send your left over yarn scraps as well, they make great loops!  If you crochet tubes pretty tightly, they can be used, too.

You should see the kids with this, it’s a lot of fun! These fun comfort lovey blankets go to children in hospital, crisis centers, homeless shelters, adoption agencies, mental health organizations, indian reservations, refugee centers, women’s shelters, etc.

Thank you so much from our heart to yours!

A wonderful heartfelt thank you to the anonymous donor who is helping us meet the need of the sick and indigent by donating fabric supplies. May God bless you as you have blessed many many today!!

Things just keep getting better and better! The postman brought 3 HUGE boxes of fabric. What a wonderful and much needed donation!

There is polar fleece, flannel, cotton, heavier material, quilting fabric, baby fabric…1/2 of it is already gone, being made into baby blankets, diaper bags, foster children tote bags, soft toys, baby layettes and the lace for infant burial gowns.

Donation boxes from JB

We just got in donations of teddies, stuffed toy dogs, baby cocoons and fabric. It was like Christmas!

The stuffed toys and cocoons were immediately donated to the hospital and the fabric is being sewn up quickly into items for the sick and needy.

Thank you to the wonderful donors and volunteers that make miracles happen for the babies and children in the hospital and crisis centers.

The hospital was so happy to get the items for the children and babies they treat in their children’s hospital. It makes a difficult time for the little ones a little more tolerable with soft blankets, cuddly toys and snuggly cocoons to provide comfort and warmth for healing.

A wonderful lady in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho has gathered together friends and encouraged them to make wonderful hand knitted baby cocoons for the hospital and crisis centers sick and needy.  It is a real treat to have bags of lovely cocoons dropped off at our Boise, Idaho Relief Share office for us to distribute to those who need them the most.

Donation out to St Luke's Childrens Hospital in Boise, Idaho

You can see the pretty cocoons in the donation box next to the super soft teddies and puppies for the children.  Lots of love, time, and prayers are in these soft cuddly baby cocoons.

If you like to knit, crochet or sew and want to help God’s tiniest and most helpless children, feel free to jump in anytime and donate finished items, supplies for our volunteers to make into what is needed and reach out to others who need your love and caring.

Urgent Needs are:

baby clothing, bedding and accessories – anything baby – pacifiers, diapers, wipes, lotion, shampoo, toys, burp cloths, bibs, blankets

toddlers clothing, toys, books, dvds, comfort teddies or soft toys, pillowcases and bedding

family needs – bedding, clothing of all sizes, undergarments, women’s personal items, toothbrushes, soap, towels, washcloths, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, basic cleaning and hygeniene items, books, food items.

Supplies to make needed items: fabric, thread, yarn, patterns, craft supplies, ribbon (for baby taggie blankets, burial layettes), smocking, tatting, knitting, crochet, embroidery, spinning tools and supplies, etc

Donations can be sent to any one of our locations:

MISSOURI
Relief Share, Box 421, Houston, MO 65483
Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225

IDAHO
Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Garden City, Idaho 83714
Relief Share, 2399 S Orchard St #201, Boise, ID 83705

Visit us on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/ReliefShare

Our email is info@ReliefShare.org – drop us a line or post a comment on our blog.

Baby in a hospital incubator

Relief Share charity efforts are focused this spring of 2012 on the most  urgent needs – and  right now they are for babies.   Here is a brief list of supplies and items needed the most, however, we accept all donations of any kind.

Supplies needed: – jumbo rick rack for the edges of the receiving blankets (lots of it – it takes 2 packages per receiving blanket),  The rick rack helps the blankets last longer on the edges as it stabilizes the fabric and adds a pretty edging.

- flannel for baby layettes, quilts and blankets

- sewing thread, serging thread, embroidery thread, tatting thread, quilting thread – yes, any kind of thread   We go through a lot of it.

- fabric – baby print, minky, chenille, flannel, knit, cotton, pastel – any kind of fabric is used, right down to the scraps.  We do whole cloth quilts, scrap quilts, patchwork quilts, baby clothing, diaper bags, etc.  Think soft and think baby colors.

- yarn – all colors, all kinds for hats, layettes, blankets, toys, etc. – ribbon for baby taggie blankets and burial layettes

- trims for baby clothing and blankets (bias, twill, rosettes, appliques, etc)

- scissors, rotary cutters, tools, knitting needles (circular needles are the best), crochet hooks, felt, craft supplies, sewing, crochet, crafting, beading, embroidery, tatting and knitting supplies.

Items needed:

- baby clothing such as onesies, layettes, sleepers, gowns, hats, booties, socks, hats

- baby accessories such as diaper bags, hygiene items (diaper rash lotion, shampoo, soap, lotion, baby powder), formula, diapers (cloth and disposable), pacifiers, bottles, nursing pillows – anything a baby needs.

- baby afghans, baby cocoons, swaddlers and baby afghans remain our number one most requested items.  Keeping little ones warm and snuggled for healing and growth is very important.

Relief Share has 3 locations to ship donations to:

Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, Missouri 65483-2225

Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Garden City, Idaho 83714

Relief Share, 2399 S Orchard St #201, Boise, ID 83705

Thank you for your supporting our cause. We love the babies and their families and it feels wonderful to help the sick and needy. Relief Share is a non profit charity registered with the IRS and charity reporting agency, GuideStar.  All donations receive a thank you letter and tax deductible letter – please put a note in the donation boxes with your address so we can send you your thank you letter.

President Carol Green
www.ReliefShare.org
info@ReliefShare.org – email us – we’d love to hear from you.

Donations out on Deb’s behalf were: pacifiers, baby headbands, diapers, onesies, undershirts, shirts, hats, sleepers, swaddlers, cocoons, baby sweaters, tights, pants, booties, socks, gowns, newborn jackets, child’s books, diaper pins, bibs, mitts, blankets, afghans, and shoes.  The sick and needy who received these items are very grateful for the help.

Donations out

Donation out:

2 crib sheets
3 afghans
3 receiving blankets
2 baby blankets
5 pr of handmade baby booties
7 hand knit hats
fabric
2 shirts
1 toy
5 embroidery hoops
4 toy bags
1 child’s game
1 child’s apron
2 boxes of baby clothing and bedding, 1 box of toys
baby cocoons and hats

donation to the hospital

St Lukes Hospital System in Eagle, Idaho was so glad to get a donation of 7 hand knitted baby cocoons today, made with loving hearts and hands by volunteers who care for the sick and needy.

Another cocoon was given out to a needy family made by the same volunteers   Thank you, VaLere!

Relief Share - love in action

Together we can make a difference in the lives of the sick and needy.  Thank you to all our Relief Share donors and volunteers who made donations this week possible.

DONATIONS OUT:

HOSPITAL – Boise, Idaho

60 pair of newborn booties

7 burial layette sets – hand crocheted preemie blankets, hats, booties &  sewn gowns

5 preemie sets – hand crocheted afghans, hat, booties

1 baby cocoon swaddler

4 hand knitted hats

1 headband for infant

1 sewn burial sacque for baby

84 cloth diapers

1 knitted ball toy

7 crocheted afghans

4 sewn newborn gowns

40 soft knit newborn hats for NICU

100 new toothbrushes

INDIVIDUAL FAMILY

material for 3 queen size quilts, 2 quilting books

INDIVIDUAL FAMILY

clothing, household items, sewing machine, fabric, thread, sewing supplies

DONATIONS IN:

Fabric, sewing supplies, yarn, baby clothing, crocheted and knitted items

If you would like to join the Relief Share family of donors and volunteers, please send donations of new or gently used items or supplies to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, Idaho 83714.  All donations will be acknowledged with a thanky ou letter/tax receipt.  We are a 501 (c) 3 non profit charity registered with the IRS.

Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org – love in action, giving relief through sharing

120 hand knitted baby booties donated to St Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, ID

Donations have been flowing in and out, in a steady rhythym, to help the sick and needy. A large donation was taken to St Alphonsus Hospital System Foundation in Boise, Idaho this week of 120 handmade knitted booties, 96 diapers, and a truckload of burial layettes, baby afghans, hats, clothing, gowns, toys and more.

A donation of children’s clothing and blankets were donated to St Vincent de Paul outreach program in Garden City, Missouri.

A donation of 3 queen size patchwork quilts were taken to the Vets for Success Program.

A donation of baby items were given to a needy family, another donation of children’s items were given to a family who had a need for them.

A donation of sewing supplies and yarn were given out to several people who had needs but were willing to make the items needed, they just needed the supplies and we were happy to provide them.

Burial layette sets, hats, cocoons, afghans, receiving blankets donated to the hospital.

Much needed sewing machines were donated to churches and organizations who are using them to help the sick and needy. Crochet hooks, knitting needles, an electric yarn winder and other supplies and equipment were donated out for the benefit of the indigent and ailing.

Some of the donated items were from the LDS Humanitarian Service Room who permanently closed their doors this past week to transition the charity efforts locally to Branches, Wards and Stakes throughout the Mormon Church in an effort to reach even more of those needing help and keeping resources local to the communities who donate them.

Relief  Share volunteers shall miss working in with amazing LDS volunteers who rise above and beyond the call of duty, many of them suffering hardships and loss of family members, but keep on donating their service and time in a Christlike manner.

It has been an honor and pleasure for Relief Share volunteers to work in the service room and we are grateful for our association with them.

96 brand new diapers in packages from LDS Humanitarian donated to St Als Hospital in Boise Idaho

Missouri tornado damage - digging out

Relief Share is working with an organization that is getting several referrals from the Red Cross for those that were affected by the recent tornado in Branson and the one in Buffalo.

The urgent need list is: diapers, wipes, toiletries, socks, bottles,pacifiers, and items which have to be purchased by those affected.

Sewing supplies (fabric, thread, quilt batting), knitting and crochet supplies are needed as well.  We will be making and donating many quilts.

Gift cards from larger department stores such as Walmart and Target are appreciated and  donations of money to info@ReliefShare.org through Paypal are helpful as are donations via check, money orders or Western Union.

Every little bit helps – please reach out and offer support to those who need you.

Helping others in the service of the Lord - Missouri tornado relief

New or used household items are also much needed – clean out your closets to a good cause and put them in a box. Ship them to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225 attn: disaster relief outreach.

Heart blanket to warm the body and the heart

An easy knitting pattern for a baby blanket featuring hearts. Garter stitch is knit between the hearts which are reverse stockinette stitch on a stockinette background.

Finished Size
30″ x 40″

Gauge
5 sts=1″

Materials
Size 6 US (4.25 mm) circular needles, 29″ or longer
7 skeins Bernat Satin
100% Acrylic
3.5 oz / 100 g
163 yd / 149 m

Instructions: CO 135 sts.
K 8 rows.
Rows 1, 3 and 5 (RS): K
Rows 2, 4 and 6: K8, (p19, k6) 4 times, p19, k8
Row 7: K8, (k9, p1, k15) 4 times, k9, p1, k17
Row 8: K8, (p8, k3, p8, k6) 4 times, p8, k3, p8, k8
Row 9: K8, (k7, p5, k13) 4 times, k7, p5, k15
Row 10: K8, (p6, k7, p6, k6) 4 times, p6, k7, p6, k8
Row 11: K8, (k5, p9, k11) 4 times, k5, p9, k13
Row 12: K8, (p5, k9, p5, k6) 4 times, p5, k9, p5, k8
Row 13: K8, (k4, p11, k10) 4 times, k4, p11, k12
Row 14: K8, (p4, k11, p4, k6) 4 times, p4, k11, p4, k8
Row 15: K8, (k3, p13, k9) 4 times, k3, p13, k11
Row 16: K8, (p3, k13, p3, k6) 4 times, p3, k13, p3, k8
Rows 17 and 19: Rep Row 15
Row 18: Rep Row 16
Row 20: K8, (p3, k6, p1, k6, p3, k6) 4 times, p3, k6, p1, k6, p3, k8
Row 21: K8, (k3, p6, k1, p6, k9) 4 times, k3, p6, k1, p6, k11
Row 22: K8, (p4, k4, p3, k4, p4, k6) 4 times, p4, k4, p3, k4, p4, k8
Row 23: K8, (k5, p2, k5, p2, k11) 4 times, k5, p2, k5, p2, k13
Row 24: Rep Row 2 Rep Rows 1-24 until desired length.
K 8 rows.
BO.

Thank you to  Ann Saglimbene for sharing her free pattern for this blanket.  Lots of babies in the hospital will now be cuddly warm.  This is also a wonderful pattern for making chemo blankets for patients.

Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208,
Boise, ID 83714

Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225

preemie knitted gown

Many times we have requests for patterns that volunteers can use to make items for the sick and needy babies we serve.   This pattern is free.  When finished, please send to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, ID 83714 or Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225.

This should fit premature baby to newborn size 7 pounds or less.

4 oz Red Heart Baby Soft Yarn Size 6 needles 2 stitch holders 3 buttons Darning needle

Abbreviations:
K Knit
P Purl
St Stitch
Rib K1, P1, repeat across
Stockinette Stitch k1 row, p1 row
K2tog Knit 2 stitches together
P2tog Purl 2 stitches together
Inc Increase
BO Bind Off
OS Other Side
YO Yarn Over
RS Right Side
WS Wrong Side

NECKBAND
(you may design neckband in many variations: 6 rows of rib; garter or eyelet stitches. I used the eyelet pattern for my neckband for this pictured pattern.)

Cast on 40 sts. Knit 2 rows.
RS- (eyelet row) K3, *yo, k2tog, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3. K 1 row.
Next row
– WS – k8, place marker, k6, place marker, k12, place maker, k6, place marker, k8.
Row 6 – k across row inc 1 st before and after markers.
Row 7 – k4, p across slipping markers, to last 4 sts, K4.
Repeat rows 6 & 7 four times, ending with row 7. There will be 4 purl ridges after the eyelet row

BUTTONHOLE
RS – k2, yo, k2tog, (buttonhole) k across continuing to inc 1 st before and after markers.(place a pin at the end of the row as this will be button placement)
Next row – repeat row 7
Continue pattern of rows 6 & 7 until 120 sts.

DIVIDE FOR SLEEVES AND BODY
(remove markers when you get to them) RS- k18, cast on 4 sts, slip next 26 sts (left sleeve) onto stitch holder, k32 sts (back) cast on 4 sts, slip next 26 sts (right sleeve) onto stitch holder, k18.
Row 1 – k4, p across to last 4 st, k4 (76 st)
Row 2 – k across.
Continue last 2 rows until 9 purl ridges from 1st buttonhole.
RS- k2, yo, k2tog, k across (place a pin at the end of the row as this will be button placement)
Repeat pattern of rows 1 & 2 until 9 purl ridges from 2nd buttonhole.
Make 3rd buttonhole as above. Continue pattern of rows 1 & 2 until 9 purl ridges from 3rd buttonhole.

CONTINUE FOR BODY
Use circular needle.
RS – knit across until last 4 st, (button band) Bind off those 4 st. of button band. Place a marker so that this will be the center by the buttonhole band.
Continue to knit unit desired length. Any where from ll” to 16” from armhole may be good.
K 1 row. P 1 row.
Make the eyelet row of *YO, K2tog * repeat pattern from * K 1 row. P 1 row. Bind off all stitches.

SLEEVES
Using regular straight needles. Pick up stitches from stitch holder. Join yarn. Stockinette stitch (k1 row, p1 row) for 20 rows.
Rib (k1, p1 across) for 6 rows. BO. Sew seam.
Sew buttons onto button band to correspond where buttonholes are from the buttonhole band.
Make a crochet chain approximately 30” to 32” for the drawstring.
Weave through the eyelet stitches at the bottom for a drawstring closure.

Designed and Created by Lois Walters July, 2004 original website listing http://lwalters1-ivil.tripod.com/kimono.html  Thank you to Lois for making this pattern free

Love in action - working together to help others.

This winter has been cold but filled with hearts made warm and cozy with lots of love in action from ReliefShare.org volunteers and donors from all over the country.  A huge thank you going out to all those who have been shopping, knitting, sewing, serging, tatting, crocheting, crafting and de-cluttering for the benefit of the sick and needy we are helping.

Recent donations received include:
- hand knitted and crocheted hats
- prayer shawls
- afghans – all sizes
- baby blankets and snuggler cocoons
- baby sweaters and clothing
- infant demise layette sets
- crocheted, knitted and sewn booties
- children’s clothing and diapers
- hygiene supplies for needy families
- food items
- household goods – kitchen items, bedding, towels, electronics, etc
- beautiful quilts
- knitted and woven soft toys, stuffed animals and balls
- videos, books and toys

Donations have been give out to hospitals, homeless shelters, crisis centers, individuals, pediatric clinics, and other organizations that help the sick and needy.

Honorable mentions for donations and service include:

Janet W – WV
Melody G – CT
Michele H – UT
Kimiko S – VA
Jennifer S – ID
Dan W – MO
Christine R – SD
Herbert P – TX
Mary S – NC
SharpShoppersClub – MO
USCybertek – MO
Light Speed Interactive – ID
LDS Humanitarian – ID
Brian J – AZ
K W – ME
John S – AR
Barbara L – CT
Ethel V – OR
Charlotte B -CA
Cynthia S – WV
Ozark Glass – MO
JC Auto – MO
Marla P – KY
Grace D – PA
Terry W – KS
Diane H – AR

May God bless each and every one of you who answer his call to help.  If you would like to help there are many things you can do.

- Spread the work and share our link of www.ReliefShare.org on your facebook page,  twitter feed, or website.

- Go shopping and have a blast at the sales, then put your purchases for the sick and needy in a box and send it to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, ID 83714 or Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225.

- Clean out your closets for a good cause, de-clutter your home, teach your children and grandchildren about caring for others at Family Home Evening, family gatherings or one on one times – reach out to others by using your talents God has given you.

- Share your ideas to make the world a better place with others and ACT upon what you know to be right.

Start right were you are, right where you stand with what you have available and bless the lives of those around you.

We love your donations and are happy to get them to where they are needed the most, but you can also donate and help locally to strengthen your community.

Bloom where you are planted and spread God’s message of love and hope in your own special way.  It may be a smile, a hug or a warm blanket.

In the words of a wonderful Christian leader of men, Spencer W Kimball - “Just Do It!”

With love and gratitude,
Carol Green
President
Relief Share

info@ReliefShare.org

Your left over scrap yarn makes wonderful afghans for sick and needy patients in the hospital. Our volunteers love to work with your yarn.

It really makes a big difference to the volunteers when they come to work meetings to have nice supplies for them to work with. The saddest thing I see is folks standing around because there are limited supplies to work with and only so many machines to work on. That’s when I grab a handful of knitting needles or crochet hooks and start encouraging folks to do hand work while they wait their turn on the sergers.

We were out in the garage inventory tonight getting ready for tomorrow’s work meeting and folks even tracked me down out there to get help for a little 4 month old baby.  I had toys and formula bottles to give but no clothing for her as she takes 3 to 6 mo size and will be in 6 to 9 soon – she is a big baby   I am going to have to see what I can do to get some clothes made for her tomorrow in between working on baby burial layette sets, quilts, blankets, afghans, etc.  We only work at the work rooms from 10 to 2 so there is a lot of work crammed into the day.  I may just have to see what I can get sold on ebay to get her some clothes. She is okay for a few weeks and that will allow me time to sell something and find some sales.

I love this work, I love helping others and it’s fun to have the challenges of finding the need, organizing the work, working with the volunteers and seeing the fruits of our labors bless the sweet babies and their families.  I am so grateful to volunteers for their donations of supplies.

We are washing a bunch of used toys to go to the hospital tomorrow in cocoons.  The babies get a warm cocoon and a toy, too – mostly teddy bears and dollies

I get asked all the time what the most urgent needs are.  The simple answer is:

FABRIC – flannel, flannelette, soft, minky, chenille, velour, cotton, cotton blends, PUL, muslin, broadcloth, kids print, decorator fabric, felt, sherpa, polar fleece, micro fleece, corderoy, quilters cotton, any kind of fabric.

YARN – wool, cotton, acrylic, blends, all weights and colors, eyelash, fancy, solid colors, variegated – we use everything

SEWING SUPPLIES – serger and sewing thread, scissors, pins, needles, machines – serger and sewing machines, books, patterns, sewing tools, sewing birds

KNITTING & CROCHET SUPPLIES: knitting needles (we use circulars the most), crochet hooks, stitch markers, spinning wheels, yarn winders, swifts, felting supplies and tools,

SMOCKING SUPPLIES – pleaters, thread, patterns, pleater needles, batiste, etc

TATTING SUPPLIES – shuttles, needles, winders, thread, patterns.

BATTING – oh yes, please.  We are always running out of batting.  Queen size is best and we also need baby quilt batting and twin size, too.

Donations are tax deductible and can be sent to:

Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, Idaho 83714

Please be sure to include your address so we can send you your thank you letter and tax receipt.  If you want to help us save money on postage, include your email address and we can email you the letter We are also happy to mail you your letter if you would like a hard copy on file.

Thanks for being part of our Relief Share family.  You are an important family member to help this old world be a better place!

Hugs

President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org

Sewing for charity is a rewarding activity - both for the volunteers and the ones who receive the needed items.

Tomorrow is a big day. I was a bit worried about it but now everything is going to be just fine.

I have two big work meetings tomorrow and one of them needed more sewing machines than are available.  It is frustrating to me to see ladies waiting in line for a chance to help sew what is needed but not enough machines to go around.  The Lord knows what we need, who has it and who is willing to help his sick and needy children and take action.

Just in the nick of time, two sewing machines were delivered and will be taken to the morning work meeting so there will be enough machines.  I am so relieved and VERY happy. When I let the other volunteers know that two more machines arrived, they were so excited and now instead of not getting any sleep trying to figure out how to cycle the volunteers around on the machines better, I am happily looking forward to seeing the huge auditorium filled with hustle and bustle making all kinds of marvelous things tomorrow at the LDS Stake Humanitarian work meeting.

A huge thank you to our Relief Share guardian angel – I know the angels in heaven are doing high fives over her love and support for God’s most helpless children.  The morning work meeting is only once a month and now we have machines that the ladies can take home during the month to keep working.

The afternoon work meeting is going to be pretty thrilling, too.  When I went to the service room on Tuesday we had a serious shortage of fabric and yarn and NO batting for quilts.  One of the directors on the Relief Share board and myself worked hard last night to get a van load full of fabric and yarn ready for other LDS Humanitarian volunteers to pick up this morning and take over to the service room ready for tomorrow.  It cleaned out pretty much everything I had, even all the reserves, but its going to be awesome tomorrow to see the room bustling with activity and lots of warm hats, scarves, mittens, quilts, knitted balls, clothing and bedding being made. We also have volunteers with cars and trucks ready to do donation runs as the boxes fill up with finished goods.   The boxes that are shipped to Relief Share are distributed immediately to the most urgent needs.

I have to say that I am exhausted. It’s been full steam ahead since I hit the ground running when I arrived in Boise, ID less than a week ago after being in Misssouri for 4 1/2 months, and I am hoping for a wee break on Sunday as I sit in church quietly knitting and listening to more direction from God from the pulpit. I love getting my batteries recharged.  The little baby hat I knitted in church is already on a baby’s head being used LOL.

Charity work is marvelous and I am so grateful for all the wonderful donors and volunteers that make this world a better place.

One of the reasons why Relief Share is so effective is we work with other charities and the synergism is amazing – so many more sick and needy receive the help they need. One of our very favorite organizations we love to work with is LDS Humanitarian Services.  If you have activities in your area going on at the LDS Church, get involved.  It’s amazing what hearts bound in the same charitable service can do  – miracles happen.

If you want to help –

- donate to ReliefShare.org by sending a paypal donation to info@ReliefShare.org
– send a box of gently used or new items for babies, children and adults to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr, C208, Boise, Idaho 83714 OR 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225
- send a box of supplies for our volunteers to make what is needed.  Fabric, yarn, sewing, serging, quilting, knitting, crochet, tatting, embroidery and other supplies are needed.

All donations are acknowledged with a thank you letter and tax deductible receipt.

President Carol Green,
ReliefShare.org charity

2012 is going to be a banner year. Relief Share volunteers have rolled up their sleeves, opened their wallets, filled their schedules with charity work and the results of dedicated love for the babies is showing up in a plethora of donations to where it counts the most!

Donation out to Texas County Food Pantry and Crisis Center, January 12, 2012 delivered in person by Relief Share Vice President

1 receiving blanket
3 pair mens pajamas
4 baby bibs
7 baby sleepers
4 coats
4 pants
1 roll masking tape
4 tops
2 baby onesies
1 pr mittens
1 dress
2 pr socks
1 dog bed and pillow

Donation to Newborns in Need, Springfield Chapter (run by a very lovely lady, President Judy McDuffie) Mailed Jan 10, 2012
4 baby afghans
8 baby bibs
5 shirts
10 crocheted children’s soft balls
16 knitted woven children’s soft balls
3 knitted hats
6 crocheted hats
2 pr pants
1 baby sleeper
1 pr baby shoes
1 toddler blue jean jacket
12 preemie hats
1 toy
7 baby onesies
1 baby jacket

Donation to local Church for needy in area.
2 large shelves full of warm adult sweaters – many large garbage size bags full. Thank you to Susan and Phil for delivering those items to where they are needed the most.

Donations to individuals needing items the first two weeks in January 2012:
Baby cocoon for little girl
Baby clothing and accessories for little baby boy
Warm hats to needy family
Sewing supplies for grandmother to make items for grandchildren
Sewing supplies to make items for chemo patients
Toys for needy family

Snuggly, cuddly receiving blankets for baby.

Today was a wonderful day here at Relief  Share.  We were very busy in the morning getting a donation ready to go to the hospital made from the gorgeous flannel that arrived in a donation box from our Relief Share guardian angel (who wishes to remain anonymous, but is very much loved by everyone).

The flannel is darling – little dalmations romping over soft fuzzy flannel in pink and yellow, cute ducks that make you smile when you look at it. Other flannel from our inventory room was also used – in fact, we just used up ALL the flannel on hand so the hospital will have enough receiving blankets this chilly winter for the precious babies.  Firemen puppies, cute green dinosaurs, pink check, white and orange polka dot, pastel plaids, cute kids prints – all cut out to 36 x 45 with rounded corners and carefully serged.

We love using the wooly nylon to make the flannel receiving blankets look more store bought and professional when we have it. So much love sewn into the baby blankets….

A large box came in to the office of baby clothing and accessories and it’s already been delivered to the crisis center, along with another box that came in from a wonderful reborner, Kimiko Stallard, who sends boxes of books, childrens clothing and accessories regularly.  She also donates part of her ebay auctions to Relief Share and we appreciate her.

This afternoon we took the donation to the hospital and they were so pleased with everything in it. Thank you to all who help us help the sick and needy

If you are trying to keep your New Years resolution of losing weight, we have some suggestions that might help

1.  One day a week fast for one meal (or two) and donate the money you would have spent on those meals to charity.   Give it to your church, your local food pantry or send it to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr, C208, Boise, ID 83714.  If you would have eaten something you already have in your home in your food storage – take the cans or boxes you don’t eat to your local food pantry, or donate them to a family you know could use them.

2.  We all know exercise helps us lose weight.  Get off the computer, stop watching the TV and dig out your sewing machine, knitting machine or serger and make some baby blankets or receiving blankets – perhaps a quilt or two to give away.  It will stimulate your heart and mind at the same time and bless the lives of the sick and needy.  If you prefer to hand knit or crochet – I bet there are some chemo patients that would love a hat to keep their heads warm or a prayer shawl or afghan to keep them snuggled and warm during the long hours of laying there getting chemotherapy for cancer.

3.  Gaining weight, for some of us, comes from comfort eating, do something else instead! Bad day – chocolate, upset – ice cream, family party and feeling good – Grandma’s famous peach pie, special occasion – root bear floats and birthday cake…well, you get the idea. Good or bad, we tend to reach for food to complete the situation.  Space abhors a vacuum.  Instead of reaching for food eating food, try doing something nice for someone else.  It’s hard to fork more pie in your mouth if your hands are busy sewing quilts for the crisis center and you can’t reach for the jelly beans at home on the counter if you are giving your neighbor in his wheelchair a walk in the sunshine for a much needed outing. Attend a local charity work meeting, volunteer time at the local library, or keep your hands and mind busy doing another productive service for someone – like weeding their garden when they can’t.

4.  There are good weight loss products to help boost your efforts (and there are many bad ones).  We recommend a supplement that compliments your efforts, not one that shocks your body into unhealthy weight loss.  After a great deal of research, we found that America’s number one health weight loss supplement is HCG drops.  Not all drops are good for you, though, depending on what the manufacturer has put in the bottle.  The most productive, safe, and cost effective can be found at www.herbalhealthco.com – you must stick to the diet suggested, but if you do, it works well.  HCGslim can help you get the body you want, healthy, strong and trim.  The company also donates to Relief Share – we are grateful for that.

Good luck! We would love to hear how your New Years resolutions are coming. Please feel free to respond to this post and share!

They were very appreciative.

Thank you letter from Shriners

Precious child of God.

You know, it is always a wonderful experience to take donations to where they are needed.   We love to go to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis as there is a good feeling at the hospital and it feels marvelous to know that the children there get the help they need at no cost to them.

This time we thought that perhaps the hospital would be inundated with donations because of Christmas.  Surprise, surprise – not so.  When we took our donation, the bags were immediately gone through as personnel searched for warm clothing and blankets for children in ‘same day’ surgery needed them.  Families who had very little needed warm blankets to take their children home in the cold weather.  It really made us appreciate the need for our donations and glad we were there to help.

Here is what we took this week – personally delivered by the President – who loves to be knee deep in all the charity work with the volunteers!

SHRINERS CHILDRENS HOSPITAL – ST LOUIS donation
Baby quilts – 5
Baby blankets – 7
Full size Quilts – 2
Games and toys – 2
Children’s pants – 7
Baby bibs – 2
Baby washcloths – new in packages 52
Socks – 1
Little girls hairbands/bows – 15
totebags/diaper bags – 2
receiving blankets – 2
fleece throw blankets – 2
soft stuffed animals – new with tags  – 26
children’s shirts – 2
baby lotion – 3
doll pillows – 3
hand knitted hat – 1
baby powder – 1
body wash – 1
shampoo – 1
musical pull toy – 1

We strongly encourage folks to donate to Shriners.  You can find their address by typing it in google. Simply put what you want to donate to them in a box and ship it.  Items should be NEW.  Their most urgents needs are for quilts – all sizes – and blankets or afghans.

Thank you to everyone who sent donations and made this gift to the sick and needy children possible.  If you would like to help with donations to Shriners and other hospital and centers, please send your donations of new or gently used clean items to:

Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 64583-2225

OR

Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208
Boise, ID 83714

All donations are acknowledged with a thank you letter/tax receipt mailed out to donors, so please include your name and address in the boxes you are shipping

Lots of love and hard work going out in this donation

When you want to talk to God, pray. When you want God to talk to you, read your scriptures….well, most of the time. Actually God can come in loud and clear just when you need him through friends and good neighbors from all over the world.

Today, God reached out and blessed us at Relief Share in a very good very welcome way. Funds are a bit tight (that is the polite way of saying non-existant) and we were getting pretty frantic about how to get donations out to where they were needed the most.

We always try to use volunteers, or ourselves at the Relief Share offices, to personally deliver the beautiful items our donors and volunteers have been working on and sent for the sick and needy. Most of the time, we are pretty effective at doing just that, however, this wonderful *cough,cough* economy has put a damper on donations this Christmas season. Folks hearts are in the right place but their money tree has had salt poured on the roots and many family’s money trees just not might make it much longer.

Relief Share is mainly funded by public donations, our Ebay auctions, flea market booth, personal donations from the Founders, and picking up quarters in the Wal Mart parking lot if we happen to see them lying there (no kidding).

Today as we realized that the winter cold is getting colder and the Relief Share bank account wasn’t matching the need to get the warm clothing, bedding and essentials to where they were needed, an angel dropped a text message in on our cell phone and asked if we had checked our account recently.

Our hearts were full of gratitude as we saw she had put a sizable amount in our paypal account so we could start shipping the waiting donations immediately. What a marvelous blessing she is to the babies and families we serve. What a wonderful boost of Christmas cheer she has given us to enable us to do what God has called us to do.

God loves everyone and encourages, through a still small voice, our action to help the sick and needy, our love in action is very much needed. There was one more donation that came through later that day from another sweet angel with enough to ship more packages to where they need to go.

Donation going out

Thank you so much for ALL of your help. It takes donors, volunteers, nurses, doctors, crisis center managers, and very precious sweet angels who continue to support this work in a myriad of ways to make miracles happen.

So, what are we sending out?

Here is a small sampling! We would post more, but are busy packing boxes and putting finishing touches on items to go!

Donation 1: (hospital donation for the obstetrical unit):
preemie baby blankets with crocheted edgings – 7 blue, 4 light pink, 1 camo pink, 2 green, 1 blue print, 21 bottles, 1 baby book, 4 baby afghans, 20 baby hats (preemie to newborn sizing), 9 baby booties, baby cocoons, hygiene items, and baby clothing

Donation 2: (County Crisis center):
Large amount of – Shoes, craft supplies for residents, toys, blankets, baby powder, pants, shirts, sweaters.

Donation 3: (Pregnancy Crisis Center)
Boxes of blankets, hats, booties/shoes, receiving blankets, pillows, socks, heart and scratch mitt sets, onesies/tshirts,  baby vest for NICU, baby cocoons.

May God bless you this wonderful Christmas season and may he allow miracles to happen in your life.

Merry Christmas to you from Relief Share!
Relief Share – love in action
6078 Lundy Rd,
Houston, MO 65483-2225

info@ReliefShare.org

God calls us to help his children. Will you?

Waiting for others to do something about the world’s pain and suffering…. something we don’t have time for at Relief Share, as our time is spent knitting, crocheting, sewing, serging, and making items to be donated out. When that is done we must take the donations to where they need to go.  Think we are done? Nope.  That’s when we have to ‘fill the pipeline’ and get needed supplies to do it all over again.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Supplies or donations?  The answer – both.  With no supplies, there aren’t any donations and with donations not being given out, there would be no need for donations.  What creates the need at all?  The sick and needy.  What if all the sick and needy were taken care of and our efforts weren’t needed?  The Bible tells us that the poor and afflicted will always be with us.  What that means for us is we need to pick up our feet and work harder, longer, more productively and faster.

Sounds like a lot of effort? You betcha.  But…it is worth it and it is fun and rewarding.

Do you want to help?  It’s really easy – pick one:

- send donations of supplies or finished items to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225 OR Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, Idaho 83714 – there are volunteers at both locations immediately putting your donations to good use and getting them to where they are needed most urgently.

- rev up your sewing machine, knitting machine, knitting needles, crochet hooks or crafting skills and create the items that are needed.  There are lots of free patterns on our blog. If you don’t  see what you are looking for, email us at info@ReliefShare.org and we will send you a pattern. What is needed?

Here is a list of the most urgently needed items.  You can either make them, ‘find’ them in your closets or a friend’s closet while de-cluttering, or buy them and donate by popping them into a box and mailing it or bringing  it by one of our locations.

1.  Baby bedding – quilts, receiving blankets (if you are making them 36″ x 45″ is marvelous, 45″ x 60″ is wonderful and any size is great), crib sheets, cocoons, anything to keep baby snuggly and warm

2. Baby clothing – onesies, shirt, outfits, sleepers, gowns, socks, booties, shoes, hats, etc

3. Baby accessories – diaper bags, tote bags, toys, nursing pillows and covers, hygiene items (shampoo, wash, diaper cream, conditioner, etc), diapers – cloth and disposable, pacifiers, boppies, bumbos, baby baths, high chairs, cribs, playpens, exersaucers, carriers, wraps, mobiles, toys, books, CDs and DVDs – anything baby.

4.  Items for families – food, clothing, hygiene items, books, learning items for homeschooling families or those augmenting public school learning such as workbooks for preschool and grade school, art supplies, pens, pencils, coloring markers, paints, etc.  Pots pans, dish cloths, and basic household items as we help the homeless and those in crisis centers.  We love to accept donations of prayer shawls and hats for chemo patients.

5.  Items for displaced animals – we help animal shelters, individuals that foster displaced animals and can use dog and cat food, veterinary supplies, equine supplies, small animal supplies – cages, flea and tick collars and liquids, milk replacement, dog and cat beds, scratching posts, collars, leashes, and more.  Those old blankets make really nice animal pads as well.

5.  You fill in this blank. Do you have it and don’t need it? Do you want to de-clutter your house and help someone else?  We take anything you want to send and give it to where it is needed the most.  Please send items that are clean and in good condition.  (I really didn’t want to say that but after having to get the office fumigated because of bugs sent in a large donation of really nasty condition, I have to).  Here is your mini lecture – the people who need your help are God’s children.  Only send items that you would give to the Christ child, himself. Nuff said.

6. If you want to help with fundraising (this said while lifting our eyes to heaven pleading for help),

- please consider donating part of your ebay auctions to Relief Share.org – we are listed with Mission Fish on Ebay and run charity auctions through GrandmothersAttic.net (for FREE – the time and expense for the ebay auctions is from our family owned business and many items you see offered on ebay are donated from our family store – we put our money where our mouth is) – just choose us from the drop down list on ebay when you list auctions.

- Consider making a donation through Paypal to info@ReliefShare.org – just click on the donate button on this page.

- Drop us a check, money order or cash (accepted but not recommended in the mail) to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65484-2225.  We have been at this address for over 20 years doing charity work and will always be here (barring unforeseen catastrophes that have not been penciled in on our calender so not likely to happen!  We will be old and grey and in a wheelchair still here working hard for many years to come.)

- Donate stocks or bonds  We have a wonderful stockbroker we work with who will be more than happy to process your donation.

- Donate  inventory or goods – many times you can write off the full value for tax benefits.  Have a car sitting around, an airplane, a house, closing a business?  Talk with your tax people or book keeper – you may find out it is cheaper to donate the items you have than sell what you have and don’t need or want.  We have had donated entire inventories of craft and general merchandise stores as the work of trying to tell the left over inventory from a store closure brought a lot less in value that simply donating the inventory and claiming the full value than just pennies on the dollar.  We have warehouses and garages to store the inventory as our volunteers quickly process the items to get them to where they are needed the most.

How do we get ‘it’ all done? Folks have asked us that before.  It’s easy.  We network with other charities and organizations to leverage volunteers and supplies so we are able to respond quickly and effectively to disasters, crisis, and pleas for help from the sick and needy.  There is no corner on charity and no need to get credit for what we do.  Networking is good for everyone – you included. Network with us to bless God’s children.

Jesus shows us how to be kind & loving. It is up to us to follow him and put our love for others into action.

Relief Share Founder, Carol Green, commented:  “We don’t care who gets credit, as long as the need is taken care of.  If we all work together, everyone is helped. The only one that really needs to get credit is God. Give ALL praise and glory to God, our Father,  as He is the real source of all blessings.”

Having said all this – we want to you consider donating to your own community first.  What? Yep, that’s right.  Yes, we desperately want what you have to donate to us to share with the sick and needy, but if you donate locally first and strengthen the community you life in – this creates a better world for everyone.  Strong caring supportive communities make a better world.  So, please consider first what you can do locally, and then, please help us.  We need you.  The sick and the indigent need you.  Please do something and do it today.

Hugs to you for reading all of this, and bigger hugs when you act on it. Thank you so much to all of you who have made miracles happen for those who are in need.  Together we are making a wonderful difference in the world.

So now you have items gathered and want to send them, but need to know where they should go.  Consider this information and prayerfully consider where you want your donation to go:

Carol C Green and her husband, Richard, are the Founders of  Relief Share.org and  NewbornsInNeed.org

A comment on Newborns in Need (NIN) from Carol Green:  ” My husband and I are the founders of NIN.  It is our first ‘baby’ that we helped untold numbers of babies through and our friend, Connie Edwards, took over the reigns when my genetic blood disease  got the better of me for a couple of years.  She is running NIN as a large successful charity started from the first baby item cut out at my kitchen table.  Last year she handled over 6 million dollars in donations.

True to the dream we envisioned when we started Newborns in Need – no one is paid in all of our 50 chapters across the nation and none of the board of directors are paid – it is a work of the heart, not of the wallet. Knowing Connie, there are probably more chapters than that now.

Please check out the NIN website and find a chapter nearest you.  They need your help. Now that I am back on my feet and running ReliefShare.org – I expanded my charity mission to include more than just the babies we all adore and promote both ReliefShare.org and NewbornsInNeed.org – find the locations nearest you and help today!”

Knitting a cocoon on the USM Bond machine

http://tracykm.blogspot.com/2011/02/baby-cocoon.html

Here is a wonderful tutorial on the net for making a baby cocoon on your knitting machine with an updated feature – you can seam the cocoon as you go!

Have fun and enjoy and be sure to tell them we sent you.   It’s nice to know when you are appreciated for the hard work in putting up a blog post and the gal that put up that tutorial is very much appreciated.

Danny Wright at his piano.

Healing through music – a true gift from God to all of us through Danny Wright who is an international concert pianist. He has sold over 6 million albums since his debut in 1986, he is also my favorite pianist! I just have to share

Danny Wright Releases 35th Album SOUL 2 SOUL and

Launches The Danny Wright Foundation of Music.

Danny Wright’s all-original contemporary piano music interprets healing stories in the purest of ways. The best-selling pianist’s new Danny Wright Foundation of Music will provide music to critically-ill children and seniors, while also supporting musical education in Nevada’s schools.

Las Vegas, NV (October 4, 2011) — International concert pianist Danny Wright’s impressive thirty-fifth recording Soul 2 Soul (released on White Lyte Music, September 26, 2011), sets the bar high for creative and all-original music for contemporary solo piano. Wright’s lifelong training and seemingly innate ability to create moving, magical, and unprecedented aural pieces of art, are represented in this new album. A native Texan, now based in Las Vegas, Wright’s command of musical textures and tones on the wholly-instrumental Soul 2 Soul crosses contemporary, new age and Christian genres.

“This is one of my most heartfelt albums,” Wright said, “My wonderful fans have been asking for a simple solo piano album for years, and the time was just right for these songs to pour out of my soul, inspired by the beautiful people I’ve met through my music.”

On Soul 2 Soul, nearly twenty-five years of music-making has culminated in classic, inspirational and memorable melodies that flow effortlessly through the air. As producer of Soul 2 Soul, Wright – along with co-producer Cheri White – commissioned recording and engineering services from Hyman Stansky at Harbor House Studios in Keller, Texas. A year in the making, Soul 2 Soul is Wright’s first all-original album in twelve years. Wright’s previous release was Walking in Faith (distributed by Inner Knot) a collection of faith-based songs for solo piano recorded in memory of his parents, contributing to his total album sales of over six million copies worldwide.

The inspiration for Soul 2 Soul is vast, drawing from various fans’ and listeners’ stories—whether joyous or painful—and from a range of different Internet sources, concert meetings, and personal friendships. In response to their emotional stories, Wright created compositions to honor their memory or to celebrate their life, either overcoming physical obstacles or comforting those in times of need. Keep in mind, Wright creates these musical landscapes with nothing more than a Steinway piano. All vocals and additional instrumentation are set aside to allow the piano’s “voice” to tell the stories.

The sweet melody of “Adriannes Heart,” most certainly evokes Valentine’s Day imagery with love, faith, and hope for better days to come. The galaxy-titled “To the Moon and Stars and Back” is not necessarily space music, except for the fact Wright’s playing resonates beyond borders, cultures, and, perhaps, planets; this track solidifies Wright’s international (and extraterrestrial) appeal. “Friends are Friends Forever” is a celebration of friendship with a sweeping melody that carries the listener off into another world. “Sweet Jewels” is a tantalizing track with a softly-played melody; but Wright knows how to tickle the high keys in such a manner as to evoke the sparkling characteristics of gemstones tumbling out of a bag. The tragic result of a son’s motorcycle accident and his eventual awakening from a coma is the subject of “Have Faith.” “Where There’s A Will There’s A Way” is titled after the name of an inspiring baby (Will) born prematurely with developmental disabilities and autism effects. “At Peace” is a tribute to co-producer and album cover artist, Cheri White, whose husband passed away in his sleep. The events, though seemingly somber, offer catharsis and healing through Wright’s uplifting musical spirit throughout the album. Other tracks include “Tara’s Theme,” “I Found You,” “Carole’s Odyssey,” and “White Lyte,” all expertly ordered and arranged to offer the type of healing and loving experience that has endeared Wright to his fans worldwide. Surely, listeners will find companionship in these spiritual interpretations of challenging events.

White’s contribution to the cover album artwork illustrates the therapeutic side of painting with a flowing stream in the middle of higher, autumn-colored bluffs and hillsides. In a way, the music flows beautifully in the middle of the natural environment, as well as between individuals. The water imagery serves as a creative flow of musical ingenuity that showcases Wright’s way of giving back to the people that inspired the new work.

As a Steinway and PianoDisc artist, Wright celebrates the sounds of piano, while steering close to fellow contemporaries Tom Barabas, George Winston, Dave Grusin, David Foster, Billy Joel, and Barbra Streisand. In fact, Streisand’s passion for music and Wright’s emotive piano compositions have inspired fans to draw parallels between their music. Recently, Wright was delighted when one of his fans told him “You play the piano like Barbra Streisand sings.”

In addition to recording Soul 2 Soul over the past year or so, Wright also co-founded the Danny Wright Foundation of Music, which produced a star-studded benefit event at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV on September 18, 2011. The foundation’s mission statement is “Healing the Planet one Heart at a time.” Essentially, the foundation will provide instruments and instructors to sick children in hospitals throughout Nevada and by supporting music programs in schools. Moreover, ten-percent of all proceeds from Soul 2 Soul and other albums will be donated to the Danny Wright Foundation of Music when purchased at the foundation’s website. (www.dw-foundation.org)

Soul 2 Soul is available for purchase via iTunes and Amazon, and at fine music stores everywhere via distribution by Inner Knot and E1 Entertainment. White Lyte Music is also reissuing four of Wright’s best-selling albums including An Intimate Christmas, Real Romance, Keys From My Heart, and Walking in Faith; all albums will be available both digitally and at brick-and-mortar retail stores.

Links:

Official Artist Website: http://www.dannywright.com

CD Review: http://michaeldiamondmusic.com/2011/10/08/soul-2-soul-by-danny-wright/#more-1152

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Danny-Wright/e/B000AP9O84/ref=ntt_mus_dp_pel

Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1622935260&ref=ts

Danny Wright Foundation of Music: www.dw-foundation.org

VNR: http://Wrightwright.com/dw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125&Itemid=174

About Danny Wright
Danny Wright is an international concert pianist who has sold over 6 million albums since his debut in 1986. Wright’s talent stems from musical training from age 4, studying with some of the best piano instructors in the world. He has been named twice by Billboard Magazine as a Top 10 artist in his genre, with three of his albums in Billboard’s Top 10 New Age Albums for three consecutive years. He is currently represented by White Lyte Music LLC in Las Vegas, NV, and is founder of the Danny Wright Foundation of Music.

About The Danny Wright Foundation of Music
The Danny Wright Foundation was formed to help people through the power of music. The Mission Statement is: “Healing the planet one heart at a time. Dedicated to the enrichment of the lives of All People with the understanding and appreciation in the healing power of music. Helping people the “Wright Way.”

Patches fused in place on jeans getting mended

Your favorite pair of blue jeans (or your son or daughter’s) doesn’t have to be thrown out because of a tear or hole.  Here is a fast, quick and easy way to mend your jeans.

I had a pair of jeans that needed patching and after searching the net for quite some time, I was frustrated with the lack of instructions to fix the holes and tears in my blue jeans.  I did find an expensive repair place that you could send your jeans away to for fixing (no thanks, I can buy a new pair cheaper) and I found some tutorials that left the jeans looking pretty sad and homemade with the patching – also the jeans would be pretty stiff with all the sewing they wanted you to do.

This is a pretty easy no sew fix, and you don’t have to use the stiff patches you buy at Wal Mart to fuse on the knees of your jeans.  You can make your own patches that are softer and a closer color to the jeans as I wanted an almost invisible fix.  I didn’t want it to look like they were home made patched.

The picture shows the patches ironed on to the inside of the jeans – they are soft and flexible as they are made from flannel and the fusible web is also soft and flexible, comfortable to wear.

For those of you who are searching the net and need to fix your jeans so they look nice, here is what you need to fix it:

1.  an iron – I used a small Clover mini iron for convenience, but any iron will do

2.  a pair of scissors

3.  a matching color piece of fabric – I used blue flannel because it is soft

4.  an ironing board or other surface that is heat resistant.

5.  Steam a seam (double stick fusible web) or any other fusible product like Heat N Bond, etc.  I used Steam a seam because it can be fused to the fabric, then fused to the jeans.  Some of the other products must be fused to both the patching fabric and jeans at the same time, making the repair process a little bit harder.

Here we go

- Wash and dry your jeans and don’t use any fabric softener.  Turn the jeans inside out.

- Cut a patch out larger than the hole or tear, and fuse the Steam A Seam to it by removing the paper from the web on one side and placing on the patch.

- Hold the iron long enough for the fusible web to adhere to the patch (I used the cotton setting on my iron).

- Trim the patch so the edges are rounded – the patch will last longer and not pull away from the jeans at the corners.

- Pull away the cover paper on the Steam A Seam and place the patch over the hole or tear. Fuse the patch to the inside of the jeans over the hole or tear by pressing the iron on the patch until the web fuses all layers together.

-Turn the jeans inside out and run the iron over the jean material to make sure the patch is fused.

- Let the patch cool and wash the jeans on the cold setting on your washer and tumble try.

mended jeans - it just looks like distressing now.

Enjoy using the jeans for a lot longer.  If you like this tutorial, please respond to the blog with a comment, and feel free to add any hints or tips you would like to share on this subject   As you can see, the tear simply looks like it was done on

Soft comfortable mend, now looks like chic distressing.

purpose, like the more expensive jeans you buy now with the distressing.