Oh!  Very exciting things have been happening here at Craft Hope.  We have big news.  Big, big, big news… but I can’t tell you just yet.  What I can tell you is that word of Craft Hope is spreading and the result of that is simply beautiful.

I have begun hearing stories of people whose lives have been touched through this process.  And they are on the giving end.  The mailman who is delivering all of the dolls to Eren.  He happens to be a Nicaraguan gentleman that sang praises when he found out what the dolls were for.  He also vowed right there to find a way to give back to his home country and is currently searching for mission opportunities.

These beautiful girls who have a craft club, and together with their mothers made eight dolls for the Casa Bernabe Orphanage.

It is pictures like these that bring tears to my eyes.  It’s the giving of oneself.  The unselfish act of taking time to help those less fortunate.  THAT, my friends, is why we are here.

Spreading seeds of hope one stitch at a time.

I would love to hear your story, see your pictures.  Please email them to me at jade@crafthope.com.

Many of you are emailing and asking if there is still need.  We currently have sixty two dolls in our possession, with over three hundred women signed up to make dolls.  Boxes of dolls are coming in daily.  The need at that specific orphanage has been met, but we will find homes for all of the dolls in Nicaragua.  If you think you can make and mail the dolls by June 13th, by all means do it.  If you are feeling led to participate in this project, by all means do it.  If you’d like to hold off and wait for Project 3, we will announce that on June 14th.

Look at all of the beautiful dolls and doll quilts.  Thanks to all of you for spreading hope to these children.  You are incredible women.

Now onto Project 2.  I’ve got a few projects in the works and as summer approaches, so do travels to the orphanages around the world.  Fasten your seat belts, this is going to be one awesome ride!

{project 2}

Many of you know Eren from Vintage Chica.  If you don’t, pop on over and say hello.  She’s one heck of a gal, a native Texan I might add, and writes a pretty rockin’ blog as well.  Eren is our resident (in the blogosphere) missionary and has traveled to Nicaragua for the past several years to work at an orphanage.  She is going again this summer and has called upon the wonderful peeps that have joined the Craft Hope cause to craft up a little love to go with her.

Before I tell you what we are doing, let me give you a little background on the children we will be helping.  Eren travels with the ORPHANetwork and will be heading to a little community on the outskirts on Managua, Nicaragua.  The orphanage is called Casa Bernabe and they house children from the ages of 4 to 18, boys and girls.  They are currently working to not only feed and clothe the kids, they are starting to really focus on their psychological and emotional health as well.  When the children arrive at the orphanage, they literally have nothing and we would love to give them something that is “theirs.”

Craft Hope is working with Eren and the ORPHANetwork to provide handmade, soft-bodied dolls for the children.  Many of the children come from abusive situations and the dolls will allow the children to develop the mothering and nurturing instincts that most little girls have.

Here is what we are needing…   Of course, the dolls must be handmade.  We will need girl, as well as boy dolls.  We ask that the dolls have brown hair and brown eyes, since we would like them to resemble the children they are going to.  You may use any pattern you like.  We have found a couple of patterns if you don’t already have one, the Black Apple doll pattern and also this one.  There is a short-cut button to the pattern in the sidebar.

If you have never tried sewing a doll, it’s okay!  Just give it a shot.  We aren’t looking for perfection, we are looking for the love that goes into making the item.  This is also a good project to get your children involved.  You can even put a little heart inside the doll.  Be creative, it’s your creation that will be loved no matter what.

The deadline to get the dolls to Craft Hope is June 13th.  

Please let me know if you are interested in participating by simply leaving a comment.

Eren has spoken with a woman at the orphanage and let her know that we are making dolls for them.  She was in tears and raised her hands in praise.

Thank you all so much for all you do.  You are making a difference in this world.  One child at a time.

Give hope.