JULY 2007 Happy Summer!!

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weather; it took a long time to get here!! The first six months of 2007 promised to be busy for our chapter and I can say now that the promise was kept. Thank you for your continued support of Project Linus, we have accomplished many good things so far this year. We had three months of television coverage on Channel 6 in the form of an awarded Public Service Announcement; and I understand it is still seen on weekends from time to time even now. We published a great cookbook, thanks to all who forwarded recipes. We have had several blanket day events, and made many new friends who want to join our mission of comforting children in need with a handmade “Blanket Hug”. Several schools adopted Project Linus as their community service project and made blankets and one class collected and donated fabric.

We have comforted 691 children in need so far this year. As of March 31, 2007, nation wide we have comforted 2,007,148 children in need. Visit our national web site sometime and check out the map of chapters, we now have 406 chapters nation wide.

NEW CHAPTERS IN MAINE

The State of Maine is better served by Project Linus now then ever before. We have added two new coordinators which takes us from three to five chapters. I am excited to announce that Phyllis Shea, of Ellsworth, covering Hancock and Washington Counties and Dyna-Kaye Curtis, of Albion, covering Kennebec, Franklin, Waldo and Knox Counties, have joined our family of volunteers. We also renamed our chapters to identify them by the counties that we serve. Our chapter is now called:

York/Cumberland/Oxford/Androscoggin/Sagadahoc/Lincoln Counties Maine Chapter

Yes, it is a mouthful, and I have shortened it somewhat by calling it the Southern Maine Chapter. We are hoping this will clarify which chapter services each county.

MARDEN’S BLANKET DAY

Marden’s stores in Maine are sponsoring their “2nd Annual Blanket Day” for Project Linus on Saturday, August 11, 2007. Drop your blanket donation off at any Marden’s store and receive three free fat quarters for each blanket. Check with your local Marden’s Fabric Department to see what activities they may be planning for August 11th. In 2006 Project Linus chapters in Maine netted almost 1,800 blankets. This support from the Marden family and staff is so appreciated by the Project Linus Maine coordinators.

“4th ANNUAL” BOOK/BLANKET CHALLENGE 2007

BLANKETS DUE OCTOBER 15, 2007

BLANKET SHOW TO BE HELD OCTOBER 27, 2007

THORNTON HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

SOUTH PORTLAND (10 AM – 2:00 PM)

PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE TOP THREE WINNERS. VOTING WILL BE IN THE FORM OF $1.00 FOR YOUR FAVORITES, TO BENEFIT PROJECT LINUS

YORK/CUMBERLAND/OXFORD/ANDROSCOGGIN SAGADAHOC/LINCOLN CTYS MAINE CHAPTER

DESIGN A BLANKET BASED ON A BOOK, A CHARACTER IN THE BOOK, OR JUST THE FACT THAT THE BOOK IS FOR A GIRL OR A BOY (birth – 19). THE BLANKET NEEDS TO BE THE SIZE THAT WILL SERVICE THE FUTURE READER; AND A POCKET MUST BE ADDED TO THE BLANKET TO STORE THE BOOK.

YOU MAY REQUEST A BOOK FROM ME, OR, PURCHASE YOUR FAVORITE CHILDREN’S STORY.

THESE BLANKETS WILL GO TO BARBARA BUSH CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOR THE CHILDREN WHO ARE THERE DURING THE HOLIDAYS!!

Our Annual Book/Blanket Challenge is well under way. Many of you have notified me to say you are purchasing your own book, or have requested a book from me. I have even received a couple of blankets already. This year we have quite a few new participants, which is very exciting. The show is such a fun event, and the blankets are a special gift during the holidays for a child spending time away from home, family and friends. My hope is that this year we will have the biggest donation ever for the children’s hospital. There is still plenty of time to request your book, get your creative juices flowing and start your blanket!!

PROJECT LINUS COOKBOOK

The Project Linus Comfort Cooking from Southern Maine “Blanketeers” cook book is complete and available for purchase. Sanford Sewing Machines, 1923 Main Street in Sanford, Quiltessentials, 909 Minot Ave. in Auburn, Kathie’s Quilt Shoppe, 41 Shaw’s Ridge Road in Sanford, Korner Knitters, Rt 114 in Standish, and Mariners Compass Quilt Shop in Bath will have the book in their stores. You can also pick up a copy from me at the Maine State Quilt Show in Augusta, Saturday, July 28th at the Project Linus Booth. They will also be on sale at Marden’s Blanket Day in Sanford and Auburn on August 11th; and at the Book/Blanket Show in October. The price is $10.00 each, with all proceeds benefiting our chapter. We were very fortunate many businesses purchased ad space which covered about 80% of the printing costs. Cory of Express Copy in Portland worked very hard to keep our expenses down and create a very attractive cookbook for us.

MID-WINTER/SPRING 2007 BLANKET DAYS Our Blanket Day events have been well attended and have generated many beautiful blankets for donation by Project Linus. What a great way to meet new people, eat great food, talk, laugh, and while enjoying the fellowship, create a “Blanket Hug” for the benefit of a child in need. If you attended any of our events this year, you know what a fun time we had. Let me know if your group would like to sponsor a Blanket Day or consider attending a blanket day in the future.

On Saturday, February 17th, the Knit Wits of Sebago along with the Sebago Lake Grange sponsored a blanket day for Project Linus. The Knit Wits had quilt tops ready for layering and tying and a class was held on the Easy Flannel Blanket pattern. A wonderful lunch provided by area businesses was served to the 15 people who attended. Volunteers of all ages and experience worked together on various projects with over 20 blankets completed by the end of the day. Later in the spring some of the blankets were displayed on the lawn at the Sebago Lake Library.

Sunday, March 25th, the Cape Elizabeth Grange sponsored their 3rd Annual Blanket Day. We provided kits and instructions to make our Easy Flannel Blankets with 18 people attending. This was the 3rd year for some of the attendees, and we saw a lot of new faces as well. Along with the 18 kits completed that day, 6 others were taken home by volunteers and completed. It was a fun afternoon!

The Chickadee Quilters of Bridgton sponsored a blanket day in their “nest” on a snowy Saturday in March. They presented me with 40 beautiful quilts, many of which were larger sized boy blankets.

On Saturday, April 28th, we sponsored a Blanket Day in Gorham. We had 22 people in attendance, and several more stopped in during the day to drop off blankets they had made or just to check out what was happening. We had a group of knitters/crocheters and hand stitchers who enjoyed the comfy furniture at the Gorham Savings Bank community room. We had a large round table with a group who completed about 10 fleece blankets. We had tables of sewing machines humming along with the laughter and conversation. At the end of the day we had a PILE of blankets. Morning break, lunch and refreshments were provided by Hannaford of Gorham, Dunkin Donuts of Gorham, Shaw’s of Westbrook, Amato’s of Gorham, Gorham House of Pizza, Poland Spring Water and Pepsi Bottling Company. It was a fun day!

WHO IS A PROJECT LINUS BLANKET MAKER

We have many supporters who meet as groups to work on blankets for Project Linus. I know of a Portland knitting group who meet weekly, and put aside some of their meetings to knit squares to make patchwork afghans. There is a group in Kennebunk who meet at various times to label blankets, and work on new projects. An Old Orchard church group has labeled many blankets during their women’s meetings. A group in Standish, a group in Sebago Lake, a group in Brunswick, Yarmouth, and Westbrook all adopted Project Linus and create blankets.

A group of middle school students in Waterboro met afternoons after school with a teacher for several months to make fleece blankets. An elementary school class in Standish made blankets squares and a grandmother put the squares together to create two beautiful blankets.

A home-economics teacher in Cornish taught her high school students how to make quilts to donate to Project Linus as their class project. An elementary teacher in Gray got her class and their families involved in a community project by collecting new cotton, flannel and fleece fabrics for Project Linus. A group of elementary children met in Cape Elizabeth after school to make fleece blankets. I think we are fostering a new generation of Project Linus volunteers; the idea of kids helping kids is very special to the giver and the receiver.

And our largest group of all is the individual needle enthusiast who loves to knit or crochet while watching television, riding in a car or waiting at the doctor’s office, or the individual quilter who has such a stash and so many patterns and relaxes in front of the sewing machine trying some new design in lime green or lemon yellow, or the individual blanket maker who loves to cut and tie those warm fleece blankets on a cold winter night

Whether you meet with friends, or enjoy your blanket making on your own, you are part of a very large group. We are all working together!!!

NEW DROP OFF SITE

I am excited to announce that we have added a new drop off site. Janice, the store manager of Joann Fabrics at the Topsham Fair Mall in Topsham has volunteered to accept blanket donations at their store. Janice also said when you drop off a blanket for Project Linus at Joann Fabrics at the Topsham Fair Mall you will receive 10% off of fabric or yarn you purchase to make your next blanket for Project Linus. This will provide a convenient drop off site for many of you, just take your donation to the cutting table and they will take care of it.

REMINDERS

Our drop off sites are Kathie’s Quilt Shoppe, Shaw’s Ridge Road, in Sanford, Tony’s Sewing Machines, Rt #1 in Biddeford, A C Moore, Target Shopping Center, Running Hill Road in South Portland, The Korner Knitters ,2 Fort Hill Rd (Rt 114 & 35) in Sebago Lake Village, Quiltessentials, 909 Minot Ave. in Auburn and Mariner’s Compass Quilt Shop, 11 Centre St. in Bath, Edith & Edna on 51 Exchange Street in Portland, Joann Fabrics at the Topsham Fair Mall in Topsham, and any Marden’s store. These shops have been very supportive of Project Linus on an ongoing basis. It would be very difficult to coordinate the collection of blanket donations without their help. Please shop these generous businesses whenever you can.

A Project Linus blanket is made of NEW, WASABLE materials & yarn from SMOKE FREE environments. Knitted and crocheted blankets should be made in acrylic blends or cotton yarn (no wool, please). Quilts should be made of 100% cotton, with a poly, cotton, or poly blend batting. Please tie or machine quilt (hand quilting is fine, too) the layers together so that when the blanket is washed it stays together. Fleece makes a warm, snuggly blanket, but if you “knot” them, remember to make the ties no longer than 3”, they can get tangled in cords and tubes if donated to a child in the hospital. I have also received a few that were tied a little too tight, making a “bowl” effect.

There are several patterns out there now for single layer fleece, a cost savings versus double layer, check www.projectlinus.org for free patterns. Very important, please check your blankets for STRAY PINS. These blankets are hugged, dragged, played with, washed and dried over and over again; they need to be of a rugged construction.

Many people have asked me about sizes. I have included a guideline on age versus size, but I usually say, make the size and pattern you want, there is always a need.

Newborn = 30 “x 36” Toddler – Young Child = 36” x 40” (or 45”) “Tweens” = 40” – 45” x 60” Teens = 45” - 50” x 65” - 70”

Enjoy making your blankets, they mean so much to the child who receives them. Believe me, the child and their family feel the love and “hugs” you have put into your creations.

MY THOUGHTS AND THANKS

Project Linus has become such a large part of my life, more so than I would have anticipated. I feel very connected with each blanket maker as I receive your blanket and prepare it for donation to a child. I also feel very connected with the children who receive your blankets. Your blankets provide comfort, warmth, security, and love in a way that is felt deep in the heart of the child and their family; you can’t put that into words.

In May of 2003, I accepted the position of Coordinator for the Southern Maine Chapter of Project Linus. I never knew what an impact that decision would have on my life. I have met so many nice people, formed lifetime friendships and experienced your sincere generosity for the benefit of “our” children. Again, it is very hard to put those feeling into words.

Thank you all for your part in making our mission to provide comfort to a child in need a reality. We are all individuals, who have made such an impact, so simply, and silently, but with such caring for a child in need. We need the blanket makers, we need the people who donate fabric and yarn, we need the store owners who accept blanket donations, we need the business owners who have been supportive with monetary donations, gift cards, etc. Thank you, Thank you!!!!! This quote says it all for me: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much” Helen Keller

I discovered the “Blanket Angel” and have really come to love her. This winter I was cutting out flannel kits and didn’t have enough flannel to complete the large amount of kits I needed, I was stressing a little because I had already spent a lot of money on flannel, then all of a sudden….the “Blanket Angel” arrived, she donated a large bag with 15-20 yards of new flannel, and she didn’t even know I was in need. Next, I needed two pre-teen boy blankets for a family who had lost their mom, I spent almost an hour looking through our inventory of blankets, only to find that I really didn’t have anything suitable……then the “Blanket Angel” arrived, she had six awesome teen boy blankets, and she didn’t even know I was in need. Then, this spring I had received several large blanket donations, and got really far behind in labeling, I was doing that stress thing again….. and the “Blanket Angel” arrived; One Hundred and Twenty Nine blankets got labeled in one afternoon, how did she know I was in need.

Thank you to all you “Blanket Angels” out there, you always seem to know when I need a little “extra” assistance and guidance. I will report more “Blanket Angel” stories in the future. You will know her if you see her, she wears a cape made out of a blanket with Linus embroidered on it.

As I said earlier, we supported 691 children from January 1, 2007 – June 30, 2007. The need is never ending!! We supported Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, MMC International Peds Clinic, MMC Intensive Care Peds Unit, MMC NICU, Saint Mary’s Hospital, SMMC, CMMC, Bridgton Hospital, My Choice, several Sweetser and Ingraham Homes, Camp Sunshine, the children of a local day care whose beloved day care provider passed away suddenly, classmates in another day care who lost a friend unexpectedly, the Lewiston Grieving Program, and numerous individual cases of bereavement, victims of home fires, etc. I am so proud that we, through Project Linus, are prepared to support these children with a “Blanket Hug”.

A mom writes; “our family would like to thank you for the beautiful home-made blankets that you sent. After losing everything in the fire, the kids felt lost without their belongings. Your blankets have given them something of their own and made especially for them”.

A young recipient writes; “thank you for the blanket it was handy today bcuse I was tayrd. Love, John”.

A Grandmother writes; “I didn’t know Project Linus even existed until my daughter died in March of last year. You sent her son a quilt through the mail and he was here when it arrived. OK, this is a 14 year old boy who is bigger than most of us…..the quilt theme was all football fabric; he said how did they know I love football. It was a warm day last year when he received it, but he still wrapped it around him for the rest of the day. A Very Grateful Grandmother.”

A Dad writes; “Ladies, while spending an anxiety-ridden night @ Southern Maine Med in Biddeford, my wife welcomed the wonderful ‘Project Linus’ blanket so much more than our infant daughter did. While your blanket will certainly provide Sydney happiness & security one day; that night, it was welcome comfort to Jodi. Thank you for your thoughtful commitment and effort to children (& mothers) in Maine.”

As always, if you know of a child in need of a “Blanket Hug”, please let me know. Don’t forget to let me know if you need a book for the challenge, or if you are making a blanket with your own favorite book.

“The miracle is this – the more we share, the more we have.” Leonard Nimoy

As you may know, Sue lost her hard drive with most of the past newsletters. I any of you have one (or all) of them, please get in touch so we can complete the archive! Thank you!