Fostering Love

Last fall, my sister and her husband decided to become foster parents. After a long application process, I am happy to tell you they've been approved! This is so exciting—for them, and our whole family. More kids to have fun with, more kids to make things for, and more kids to love.

They have agreed to take up to three children, so that siblings may stay together (isn't the thought of siblings being split up heartbreaking?). Two bedrooms in their home have been reworked to fit beds, dressers and lots of toys. My crochet hooks are at the ready...just waiting for some news, so I know who I am making for and what to make.

But I have to admit that all this anticipation is met with a bit of hesitation, too, as my sister and brother-in-law begin a journey into parenthood that could be, at times, heartbreaking and unfair. We hope for the best and offer our full support.

Lately, different aspects of my life have had a way of weaving themselves together in interesting ways. A friend of mine contacted me to see if I'd be interested in being a vendor at a fund raising event for, what else?...foster care! The artisan show will benefit the Friends of Foster Care, an organization that provides assistance to foster children and their families. How could I say no?

If you're in the Boston area, come shop for a good cause!
The Spring Fling shopping event is this Thursday, April 8th. Over 30 local vendors and artisans will be selling their goods. The event takes place at the Neighborhood Club (27 Glendale Road, Quincy,MA) from 7 - 10 PM.

Freedom and Time

Clematis blooming in clusters on the trellis...

The girls passing time finger knitting (learn how here)...

Blankets for Craft Hope project #3 getting boxed up and ready to go...

And toy birds in a tree...

I came upon these birds in our dogwood tree yesterday quite by surprise. Funny, what the kids will come up with when given freedom and time a-plenty. They learned how to finger knit—and have made scarves for many, many stuffed friends. We have had time to craft for the sake of those who do not have. We have been living in our yard, in its summer-blooming glory.

*Sigh*, Summer!

A Necklace for Lupus

I was recently asked to design a piece that would be auctioned off at a fundraising event for the Lupus Foundation of New England. This is the necklace I created to reflect the sentiment of empowerment and hope for people living with Lupus.

The Lupus Necklace:

A burst of stars, a surge of hope.

The design for this necklace started with the logo for the Lupus Foundation of New England—a small cluster of shooting stars. But as I learned more about Lupus, I came to see that this complicated disease is often vague and without pattern. Considering that, I arranged the stars in a random, asymmetrical order. The two tiers of chain illustrate the support and education available to empower those living with Lupus.

The Lupus Necklace—a delicate chain paired with a shiny burst of stars is a beautiful way to honor this cause.

For more information about this necklace click here.

***The Lupus Foundation of New England is having their fundraising event on Thursday, June 18th at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. Tickets are available at the door and there are a ton of incredible and generous items up for auction. Find out more about the fundraiser and learn more about the Lupus Foundation of N.E. here.

Craft Hope for India

The wheels are a-turnin' as I scheme up what I will be making for Craft Hope's newest call to action.

For Project #3, Craft Hope has teamed up with the Miracle Foundation to supply beanies, blankets and booties for babies/toddlers in India.

Here's your chance to make a difference while doing what you love. It's a great opportunity to get together and knit with your friends, start sewing with your kids, or organize your local group to craft a few items for those little babes that could use some warmth and comfort.

If making things by hand is not your usual M.O., Craft Hope will be posting patterns and instructions soon. If you are a knitter, crocheter or sewer, gather up your stash and get to it.

You can get all the details on Craft Hope's Project #3 here.

Artist Challenge: Create for a Cause

In tough times, sometimes it's easier to donate your skill and labor in lieu of money. As communities, businesses, and families alike struggle with cash flow, the organizations who count on the kindness of others to help those in need suffer even more. With that in mind, now seems like a good time to consider donating an item of your creation to the charity fundraiser of your choice.

Take a cue from Chuck from DownToTheWireDesigns who, after having the opportunity to design some pieces for a non-profit, realized that he could easily donate something to one auction a week throughout the year with little hardship to himself. (read his story, featured on the Etsy blog, here)

Tamara, from McFarland Designs, runs a project called Jewelry for Charity, where she donates a percentage of all her sales from both her bead shop and her jewelry shop to a different charity each month. She started the project in 2007 and as of March 2009, she has raised a whopping $9,685.00 for various causes. Read more about her Jewelry for Charity fundraising project here.

I recently had the opportunity to donate a necklace for a charity auction. Designing a piece that would reflect the specific sentiment of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day was a unique and satisfying challenge. To read more about my experience designing the necklace, click here.

As artists and crafters, we should consider ourselves lucky to have the ability to create objects of value. For the price of our donated time and materials, we can help improve our own communities and beyond, one treasure at a time.

If you need a hand choosing a cause, Charity Navigator can help you find one that's right for you.