Project Linus #3 - a setback

If you've been reading about our little project, you may recall that the girls and I have been working on some quilts for Project Linus. Well, I didn't think very far ahead when we started this. Sure, we have LOADS of scraps, but what about batting? And with no LARGE scraps suitable for a small blanket, that means piecing both sides - seems kinda odd, but OK. So, if any of you readers have extra blanket batting lying around in the garage or Grandma's old sewing room and you don't know what to do with it, send it our way. We'll use it for the project - I promise!

The project:
In spite of this shortcoming, I decided to move ahead with my quilt. While E worked on her math, I sat at the table with her, busying my hands with the trimming of 81 four-inch squares from matching scraps of varying, random sizes.

Time:
90 minutes - some of these scraps date back to BEFORE the girls FINALLY learned to cut their pieces from the EDGES rather than right from the center, so I had some creative problem solving to do in order to get enough squares for this blanket.

Why bother?
It's fun and creative and gives me something to do at the table while the girls work their way through their schoolwork.

Worth it?
I think it will be. Today's effort made for really quite a relaxing morning, and I look forward to the finished product. It helped that I set a timer so I wouldn't obsess too much on it, but move on with my day when my time was up.

Donate old glasses - prescription and NON-prescription alike

It seems we're in cleaning mode around here. I found a pair of my old glasses in my desk, and I knew I had some others around the house. Recently a friend asked me to donate hers as she rushed out of the country with her family to serve on a mission. I figured I'd add ours to the cause.

The project:
Hunt down unused glasses hiding in various drawers and boxes throughout the house. Donate them to the Lions Club Sight Program where they will be assessed, cleaned, repaired then redistributed to people in developing nations.

Time:
10 minutes to search - we'll make the drop tomorrow morning during our errand run

Why bother?
I can't see very well without my glasses. It's tough to imagine getting along without them. I'd certainly be limited in my activities! So if the glasses my eyes have (sadly) adjusted away from can help someone else, WONDERFUL!

Worth it?
Yes, without a doubt.

Lions Club has a long history of providing sight services. I remember when our local Lions Club brought their vision wagon to our school to provide all children with a checkup. They distribute eyeglasses to people in developing nations where vision care isn't high on list of services available. Many doctors, eyeglass centers and other retailers provide drop boxes, as do local Lion's Clubs and their partners. Learn more about the Lions Club program and find your local drop box here.

Used Greeting Cards to St. Jude's

I don't know about you, but over the years we've collected a TON of holiday greetings from friends and family. We love getting them, but what to do with them after the season passes? Some find their way into albums. Others become part of craft items. Now we've found somewhere we can send them to help a cause outside our own sphere.

The project:
Gather the unused, unwanted greeting cards from various stashes throughout the house and garage, and send them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children Card Recycling Program. (Check the site for deadlines as they change each year.) St. Jude's has run this program for more than three decades, serving both their donors and the children served by the program.

St. Jude's Ranch provides residential therapy for abused children, among other service. Check their site for more details.

Time:
30 minutes by the time I searched high and low and got it all packaged up

Why bother?
Our house is really full of stuff we don't actually need. We've saved the memorable cards, but we had plenty to share.

Worth it?
Absolutely.