(photo: Syliva Rueda)

Thank you.

We are still counting the number of pillowcases that have been sent around the world for Project 9‘s ConKerr Cancer effort.  It is the best kind of work to have — putting numbers to such generosity and love. You, the people that have created this outpouring of help all over the world?  (We have just passed 1,460!)  You are amazing. Ah-maz-ing.

(photo: tinystitches)

It is all too easy to get swept away in the negativity we hear every day.  Don’t.  Take a look back at all of the projects, all of the numbers, the photos and testimonials and reports from just this year and let it fill your hearts.  There is so much good in this world and adding to it is quite possibly one of the best feelings ever.

(Remember that episode of ‘Friends‘ when Phoebe challenged herself by finding the one selfless good deed?  She was so bothered that helping someone made her feel better.  Silly girl!  Go for it. Reach out.)

It is true, though.  Every time we wrap up a project, we are quite convinced that our band of Craft Hope readers and makers has gained just as much as the recipients.  That’s a pretty powerful thing.  We dig it.

(photo: colleen burer)

That’s a wrap, Project 9 is now complete. Of course you can still continue to make pillowcases for ConKerr Cancer and we encourage you to do so. They are a wonderful organization that puts smiles on children’s faces with a simple pillowcase. A HUGE thank you to all of you who stitched up a pillowcase for those kids. What a simple act of kindness that makes such a difference in attitude. And it’s a gift they will have forever to remind them of the generosity of others.

Alright folks, we’re going to attempt to do something here at Craft Hope that we’ve never tried before. Since Project 9 had you mailing your pillowcases to different locations across the globe I have no idea how many pillowcases we actually were able to donate. So here is what we are going to do. If you made a pillowcase or fifty I need you to leave a comment on THIS POST stating how many you donated and the state/country they went to. Easy enough. If you started a new chapter with ConKerr, please also leave a comment so that we can get that marked down as well.

If you happen to leave a comment on our Facebook wall with your count, please do not leave another comment on this post.

Ready. Set. Go.

** Photos taken and pillowcases donated by amershawn. Thanks!!

September is a big month. The kids are going back to school and we start to see signs that the season is changing. When we selected ConKerr Cancer for Project 9 we knew September was Pediatric Cancer Month. There is so much you can do this month to get involved.

** Photo taken by Sarah aka Fifth Street Mama.

Of course you can continue to sew up beautiful pillowcases for our Project 9. Sign up here. The deadline is quickly approaching so pick out those fun fabrics if you haven’t already done so and get to sewing.

ConKerr Cancer is hosting a couple of events in conjunction with Pediatric Cancer Month so please join them. From September 13th – 19th they are hosting Miles of Pillowcase Smiles. Join a group and help them make as many pillowcases as possible this month. You can see the chapters participating on the link.

They are also hosting a Pillowcase Golf Classic to help raise money for ConKerr Cancer. If you live near Pennsylvania you can come on out to participate, if you don’t you can participate online. Super cool.

** Pillowcases made by the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild

Here’s another thank you to show you why we do what we do…

Hello… My son, Ben, just returned home from a week away at Camp Sunrise in Whitehall, MD (a camp for kids who have or have had cancer).  He is 12 and is a survivor of Ewing Sarcoma (bone cancer).  While unpacking him I found the most beautiful pillowcase covered with wonderful, colorful hot air balloons!  I’ve already washed it, dried it and put it on his pillow so he can go to sleep tonight with thoughts of his awesome camp experience this past week.

The business card in the package had the name Anita Stroud on it.  I just want to thank you all so much for your generosity, and the time and love you put into each pillowcase.  What a wonderful idea this is!  What a blessing you are!  Ben is so tickled to have this as a memory of his camp experience, and I am tickled to have a happy, healthy boy who will lay his precious head on that pillowcase every night.

God bless you! Sue

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And we have a winner for the Craft Hope book and Amy Butler patterns. It’s Christy who said “It’s on my Amazon wish list, but it sure would be nice to win a copy of the book and those AB patterns!” Christy, send me your mailing address at jade@crafthope.com and I’ll get your goodies in the mail.

We’ll have the last drawing tomorrow so check back and be sure to leave a comment.

Let’s do what we can this month to put smiles on the faces of children facing terminally ill diseases. Make a difference.

Spread hope.

Being a mom to little ones I always look for ways to get my kids involved in Craft Hope. I’m not ready to hand over my sewing machine to my five year old yet so for the most part they help with the sorting of items when they come in. We do a lot of talking about the charities and who we are helping.

Yesterday while browsing through the Craft Hope flickr group I came across this sweet photo, taken by Erica, of kids who made pillowcases for our current project benefiting ConKerr Cancer. These sweet pillowcases will soon find homes with terminally ill children in the hospital. The picture brings tears to my eyes. Kids helping kids. Beautiful.

I’ve had many people ask me how to get kids involved in Craft Hope and I think this is a perfect way. You can buy pre-made pillowcases from the store, create a freezer paper stencil, and let your kids do the painting. This is a perfect way to get groups of kids involved in Craft Hope. Great for church groups, Girl Scouts, youth groups, etc….

Freezer paper stencils are super easy to make. Here is Amy Karol’s tutorial. All you need is an xacto knife, freezer paper, an iron, and fabric paint from Michaels. Super duper simple. Promise.

If you’d like to make pillowcases for Project 9, simply leave a comment on this post. Please upload your pictures to the Craft Hope flickr group to inspire others. Also, join us on Facebook to stay up to date on current happenings.

There’s still time to enter the drawing to win a Craft Hope book and Amy Butler patterns. You have until tomorrow at noon. Just leave a comment on this post.

More ConKerr Cancer chapters are popping up all over the place thanks to Craft Hope peeps. New chapters are now being formed in Israel, Nova Scotia, and two locations in the United Kingdom. We are helping ConKerr Cancer go global. Nice work friends!

**Banner picture by Molly Dunham of Foothill Home Companion. Blogger extraordinaire and Craft Hope book project designer.

Thanks to all of you for your sweet comments in the last post about the Craft Hope book. I truly believe it is a gift that will continue to multiply and spread love around the globe to those who need it most. And I thank you all so much for supporting it.

How are those pillowcases coming along? ConKerr Cancer has chapters starting up all over the place thanks to Craft Hope folks. Thank you. ConKerr now has a chapter in Oxford, United Kingdom so if you are in Europe you now have a local place to mail your pillowcases. I tell you, you people blow my mind. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I meant to do this post on Monday, looked up, and now it’s Thursday. Such is life with three kids under five. We have a winner for last week’s book drawing and Amy Butler patterns and it’s Kelsey who said: congrats on the awesome book and starting an amazing movement. Kelsey is actually a ConKerr coordinator up in British Columbia. Way to go Kelsey!

Never fear though friends I’m doing a giveaway every week in August so we’re doing another one today! To win a signed copy of the Craft Hope book just leave a comment on this post by Monday, 8/16/2010, at noon (central time). And of course we have two more Amy Butler patterns donated by Amy herself.

Spread hope.

We are so excited about the response for Project 9 :: ConKerr Cancer making pillowcases for children in the hospital. I’m going to make this post short and sweet as we’ve had a few updates and questions come in. I really like it when a plan comes together and today Etsy just announced their One Million Pillowcase Craft Party. I think the stars are aligned on this one folks.

Basically, all you have to do is get a group together and announce it through their Meetup Everywhere tool. Invite all of your friends for a craftivism party. And the 15 groups with the most people RSVP’d by Tuesday, August 10th will receive a box of supplies from the peeps at Etsy. How cool is that! So this is your opportunity to get your community involved. I can tell you now we are working on an Austin group so stay tuned!

Frequently asked questions for Project 9…

What type of fabric should we use?

ConKerr has been working with the hospitals and know exactly what they’ll accept. They will only accept 100% cotton fabric. Also, please do not use flannel fabric as it won’t be accepted at the hospitals for their reasons.

What if there isn’t a ConKerr chapter in my area or my country? Can I start one?

If you are interested in establishing a ConKerr chapter in your area or country please email Cindy at cindy@conkerrcancer.org. Let’s help them grow globally!

Where should we send the pillowcases again?

Please send the pillowcases directly to the coordinators, not the hospitals. The hospitals do not have the facilities to store these. The coordinators will make all of the arrangements to deliver the pillowcases to the respective hospitals. Here is the link to the coordinators again. The names are under the names of the hospitals.

What are the metric measurements for the pillowcases?

Body: 67.3 cm x 102.9 cm

Border: 26.7 cm x 102.9 cm

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Also please remember to make pillowcases for boys and teens. A lot of times we get caught up in what’s ‘pretty’ and receive an overwhelming amount of girly items. Please, please, please think of the boys and the teenagers. They have a difficult time finding pillowcases for them.

Remember to get those groups together and register for the One Million Pillowcase Craft Party on Etsy! I know we are!!

We are just coming off of the heels of the largest project in Craft Hope history. Over 70,000 towels have been collected and distributed. With more in transit that will soon find homes. The Craft Hope book came out two weeks earlier than scheduled which created a whirlwind of flurry and excitement around here. The way this community rallies and joins forces is absolutely moving. Unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed. It is a true testament that each person can make a difference. But together… together we are changing the world.

We are healing hearts. Spreading love and hope. Sharing joy. Absolutely priceless. Your hands alone are touching lives through your beautifully handmade donations.

I am more than excited to announce this most recent project. The love and outpouring of support that I know you all will give this project brings me to tears already. I’ve seen it time and again with you all here at Craft Hope.

There are times in our lives that stop us in our paths. Heartbreaking news meets us on our journey of life. Unexpectedly. At Craft Hope we cannot stop earthquakes from happening, children from becoming orphans, or children getting sick. But what we can do, we can love those affected. Show them that people care and give them a glimpse of hope.

For Project 9 we will be working with ConKerr Cancer to benefit terminally ill children. ConKerr Cancer was established two years ago to put smiles upon the faces of terminally ill children in the hospital. They provide bright and cheery handmade pillowcases for these children. They have succeeded in delivering 225,000 pillowcases up to this date. They have a goal of providing a beautiful pillowcase for every seriously ill child in North America by 2012. Well I think we can just help them achieve that goal don’t you?

I think we have all somehow been personally affected by a child suffering from illness in some capacity. It’s heartbreaking and doesn’t seem very fair. We can take that energy and transform it into something beautiful for these children.

So we are asking for handmade pillowcases for these children.

If you sew… please use bright/cheerful/beautiful COTTON fabric to make a pillowcase or twenty. Please no flannel, per their requirements.

If you knit/crochet… please make a lace border or embellishment to add to an already beautiful new pillowcase.

If you embroider… please stitch up something sweet on a new pillowcase.

The deadline for this project is September 15th as September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!

We will be posting up links to patterns and ideas later this week. Even great ways to get your kids involved. Please do not send in new packaged pillowcases. They need to be handcrafted with love in some capacity.

This is a testament to the power of what a gift such as this can do…

“Dear kind people of ConKerr Cancer: I first found out about you while my son, recovered from a brain tumor at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The staff told me there was a basket of which we could pick out a pillowcase. He was not allowed out of his room at that point, so I picked him one. When I got there, not many were left. But one Eagles pillowcase caught my eye. I knew he would like that, and he did. It was one of the first smiles I got during his recovery from surgery. It’s funny, but it’s amazing to know how much one pillowcase can brighten a whole life and a whole room. John is doing much better and is now back home. The pillowcase is now a cheerful reminder of hope and kindness during that horrible and frightening time. Not only did the pillowcase tell us that others have shared in these difficult times, but also that a little touch of love and color helps give you a little more strength to fight through such a serious illness. Again, I want to thank you on behalf of my son and my family.”

Here is the pattern ConKerr Cancer provides for making the pillowcase. Please feel free to use whatever pattern you’d like, but make it for a standard size pillow.

For Project 9, you will not be mailing the pillowcases to us here at Craft Hope simply because there are many hospitals in your area that we’d like for you to connect with. Update: Please direct questions and mail pillowcases to the coordinator in your area. Please do not mail the pillowcases directly to the hospital. This page provides a regional directory of hospitals and coordinators for ConKerr. For those of you not in the U.S., they also have locations in South Africa and Canada.

Please include a note that you are with Craft Hope so we can try to keep a tally of how many pillowcases were sent in.

Ready, set, go… Get your groups involved, rally your friends/family/coworkers/craft groups/camps, and tell them what we are doing at Craft Hope. Shout it from the roof tops. Tweet about our latest project. Blog about it. Put your pictures in our Flickr group to inspire others. Join our Facebook group for the latest announcements. Send it out to the world to get more people involved. Let’s make this our largest project yet and help ConKerr Cancer meet their goal of providing a pillowcase for every sick child.

Update: If there is not a coordinator in your area and you’d like to start up a chapter please contact ConKerr.

Please leave a comment on this post if you are going to participate and/or get a group together to participate. Thank you.

Sarah and I will be coordinating this project together so if you have questions, please contact us. We’ll both be fielding questions and writing posts. Thanks Sarah for helping!!

Hope. That’s really what it’s all about after all.

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This project is now complete. We collected over 1,500 pillowcases. Thank you!