...TEAM 71 HAMMOND ROCKS!!!

ok a quick personal update. My DH made it home from the hospital last Friday so he has been home for a little over a week. His strength increases daily, which is wonderful. Every day does show a new challenge, whether it is accepting the fact that recovery is slow, or coming to peace with the torturous sounds of the Harleys coming thru our open windows...March in the Midwest NEVER has 80 degree stretches and my DH loves to ride his Harley. (which he can't, yet...sometimes he feels they ride past the house mocking him) As I said, each day presents it's challenge, but thank God it does, as the alternative would have been much worse.
NOW, onto Team 71.

This Sunday I was invited out to watch the Hammond Indiana Robotic team demonstrate their Robot. Team 71 participate in FIRST  robotics which is a nation wide technology competition. Let me say, these kids are AMAZING! Not only do they build a working basketball playing robot to specifications in just 6 weeks, they do community charity work throughout the year. Dee, one of their coaches, had read about CDP in SewNews and thought is was a wonderful project that the kids could participate in and would also be fun. Then, she noticed that I lived just 45 minutes away and contacted me to see if I could come up to accept their generous donation. GENEROUS!! The kids made 180 dolls to be distributed! Amazing! I also got to receive one of the team shirts, I was pretty stoked about becoming an "honorary member."

Now, if that wasn't enough, the kids give a gift to all the members of all the other teams, their subject was "safety" so, the switched up the pattern a bit, changed the hair to a hardhat, the dress into a t-shirt and then attached a lamenated card about safety!! I really admire their creativity and their "can do" attitude!!

The Comfort Doll Project gives a giant THANKS to the hardworking kids and mentors of Team 71 Hammond!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful day,
Smiles to All,
Brenda

...I don't like heart attacks!

By the title you can see that something is up in my life! Unfortunately my husband was having chest pains last Friday, had a Cardio Cath on Saturday, quickly followed by 4 stints and then complications that then led to a heart attack! Needless to say, I've been even more distracted than usual.
The positive, he was already in the hospital so it was dealt with swiftly.
He spent 5 day in the ICU,  a regular room for the past 2 (one of which, his birthday) and he will be coming home today!!!
YEAH!!
and another YEAH!! You guys are rocking it out!!!
So far, since the beginning of the year, we have received more than 400 dolls!! I kid you not, that is an amazing total!! So, great job to everyone.
I will be getting to those patterns soon, but luckily, I understand that I cannot get to everything that needs to be done at this time..."patience (or patients) grasshopper".
I'm looking forward to spending a quiet weekend with my DH and kids.
Feeling completely blessed!
Smiles to you All,
Brenda

...time to down-size...

First off, let me just say that, WOW! I am completely floored by the response we have gotten from the SewNews article. We will continue to be their charity of the years, so I can only guess how many more dolls we will receive. Now, the down side of that, the pattern is just too big. I really thought that I would have plenty of individual dolls to go with the sewnews dolls. An insight to how I pack, I collect the dolls, and then when I have a variety, I package. Doing it this way creates a package full of variety. Wonderful right? sure, but...we have received such an influx from the pattern that I'm now out of the other individual dolls.
So, what to do? One solution is to print off the pattern at 75%. If you do that, the pattern is still user friendly, but, it will conserve a ton of space, which will allow more of the dolls to fit into 1 package. I am currently placing 4 of sewnews dolls in each package.
The other solution...make more patterns accessible for our artists!
In the next couple of weeks, I will be working on doing just that.
I can't believe how fortunate we are to be having this as a problem!!
Now, I'm off to the drawing board.
Smiles to All,
Brenda

...and the answers are...

I have to say that I am overwhelmed and GIDDY with the response our project has gotten thanks to Lucy and sewnews making us their charity of the year. Phenomenal!
I have been getting a few questions, and I'd like to share them.

Q. Do CD's have to be people? Can they be animals? and do they have to wear dresses?
A: CD's do not have to be people, they can be ANY form that brings you joy.(a beautifully embellished triangle is a fantastic CD) The only requirement is that we keep them 6" or smaller. We chose this for 2 reasons, 1, because it keeps them very portable for the recipient, and 2) it keeps our shipping down to a minimum.

Q: We are knitters and would like to create our own doll to send, is that alright?
A: Yes. Do not limit your creativity by thinking that only stuffed fabric dolls are acceptable. Feel free to use your imagination - heck I can't wait to see my first steampunk CD!

Q: Our guild would like to make some CD's, but we have a local shelter. Can we donate them there?
A: That is a wonderful idea to keep the connection with your local community. I would love it if you would copy the card and the inspirational quote and attach it to each doll. Then, take some photos of your dolls, the quantity and where they were donated. By doing that, I can post them on the blog and keep them included in the total number of CD's donated.

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have.
Once again, thank you for your support.
Warm Smiles,
Brenda

...and they just keep coming!

Last week was a difficult one. My ex-husband, the father of my 3 boys past away at the age of 49. It has been extremely overwhelming at times. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who empathises with what the boys may be going through as he lost his son a few years ago. We are all now part of, what is described by Melody Beattie as "The Grief Club."  The layers of pain are complex. My boys are amazing, and I know that God is with each of them. I am truly blessed to have this life that I have...thanks folks

 On a brighter note, as life does go on, look what keeps arriving at my doorstep.

Thank you Richard M. from  New Jersey

 I enjoy laying out the dolls, I like to guess which ones were made first...they always seem to morph and take on just that much more character the more you make them...

Thank you Virginia M. from Auburn MI

 an added bow here...maybe some dreadlocks there...I LOVE that everyone adds their own little touch...or big touch, in some cases...what did I say?  I L O V E IT!!!

Peek-a-Boo box thank you to Patricia R. from Chisholm MN

 My friend and I say, "let your freak flag fly!!! The larger, the higher, the better"

What we mean by that is simple: Be proud and embrace the wonderful differences that make you, you!

Thanks to Jane E. from Montara CA

 aren't these bags too sweet!

Thanks to J. Olson of St. Paul MN!

 awwweee, is all I could say when I opened the box!

Once again, your outpouring of support, and the sharing of your creative caring is so warmly appreciated. I know that the love that was put into making these wonderful dolls is given out 10 fold to those who receive them.
Warm Smiles to All,
Brenda

...look who came knocking...

I love it when I read the return address and it says "B. Torres"...why?  because I KNOW there are going to be some fantastic little creatures inside the box. (one might say...hmmm. that might be setting yourself up for a bit of a let down there Brenda..) Oh no, I opened that box up and sure enough, the happiest little creatures shined up right at me! Beverly, the creator of these little gems, is of Heartland Creations. Thanks Beverly!!

Also, dozen numero dos has arrived from the SewNews.com. Comfort Doll pattern I loved these little gals! Not only did Beverly H. (really, what are the odds that packages from 2 Beverly's would arrive on the same day?) give each one of these beauties their own little bag, she gave them all signature hair styles!!! LOVE IT! That is what makes this so much fun. NEVER think that there is just one way to do this project. This is just as much for allowing your creative spirit out as is helping out a worthy cause. The wonderful thing is this: by allowing yourself to have fun, to show your creativity, by taking that little risk... all of that comes through in your doll. By taking that care it is  then  passed right on to the woman receiving it!
Smiles to All,
Brenda

...I think it may get CRAZY around here

...ok first things first.

Nancy C. last month sent in some fantastic dolls, which she was given the old "type" kudo's, but nothing does justice to any ones work like a photo...and since I found my cable, I'm now once again able to provide the visual!!
I love all the different faces, fabrics, and embellishments. Thanks Nancy!

hhhmmmm...goody box

Next, I'm extremely proud to announce our first delivery of Comfort Dolls from the SewNews.com article. Ms. Lotus Moon's, from Boulder CO, package awaited me as I got in from a dental appointment. (I smiled but couldn't really feel it because I had a front cavity filled and I was numb) (47 and STILL cavities...arghhh) ok got off track...but Ms. Moon did not!! 12 wonderful new dolls! In case you missed my last post, SewNews.com has made our Comfort Doll Project their charity of 2012.

they look just like in the article!!

Now, with that being said...I think it is time to make a goal. My hope for 2012 is that we are able to send out 12,000 Comfort Dolls this year. Unfortunately, that number doesn't even come close to the number needed for the courageous women who are taking the first steps to a better life. The care every one of us takes in making our dolls to send forward to their new homes sooo reads through when you look at them. So, when you read my goal, remember that by taking the loving care and time with how ever many you chose to make, let that care shine through. We'll hit our number, just through pure care and love. One doll at a time.
Smiles to All,
Brenda