Besides spending time with my daughter… crafts, volunteering, fitness, gardening, and writing are the things I enjoy most.
Earlier this week, I stumbled upon an amazing opportunity, called The Mother Bear Project. I learned about it through a local yarn shop, Lovely Yarns.
The Mother Bear Project is a grass-roots, non-profit group dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children, primarily those affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of hand-knit and crocheted bears. To date, 27,300 bears have been sent to South Africa, Zambia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi, Malawi, Botswana, Rwanda, Uganda, Namibia and other countries as we find out more about children in need.
What a great cause, right? I did have a slight problem…I haven’t crocheted in years. Last week I told one of the ladies from my quilting group that I wanted to pick up crochet again. She told me to bring my hook and yarn the following Monday.
Naturally I took her up on that offer. Do you think I’m going to pass up on that opportunity? Mrs. G was thorough! I really appreciated that she took her time to teach me some crochet stitches. Thanks to YouTube, I was able to brush up on the basic and the more complicated stitches that she showed me.
Being that it’s been a while since I’ve picked up my hooks, I was repeatedly pulling out my stitches before I finally hit the sweet spot (well at least for the basic stitches I’m doing) and I wasn’t making anymore mistakes. What a great feeling! I won’t be making a bear right away, I want the first bear I make to be really nice, and so the next few months I’ll devote to making a variety of items before I make a bear for the project.
I learned about The Mother Bear Project (indirectly) through Julia, of Aberrant Crochet. Julia makes gorgeous crochet, so be sure to take a peek at her virtual home. Julia was kind enough to reply to my comment in her Mommy Can’t Right Now, She’s Texting. In her comment, Julia was kind enough to share a few sites that would be beneficial to a noob crocheter like myself.
The website, Ravelry, is an online knitting and crocheting community. It’s chock full of information, through my virtual puttering around on that website, I discovered there were quite a few local yarn stores in my area! Who knew? I visited a few of the websites, and that’s how I eventually learned about the Mother Bear Project.
Crocheted Projects
Let’s see… I’ve already made a shocking pink cape for Draculaura, one of my daughter’s Monster High dolls
My daughter is a true fashionista, and so for Christmas (or perhaps a little after) I’m making her a scarf with beads woven in the fiber. It’s safe too say that I’m enjoying my crochet time. 😉
it is always nice to be able to learn more than what you expect at quilt groups 🙂 I need to one day get one of the ladies to teach me how to knit better and I could learn more than the basic crochet stitch that I know.
Karen
Karen recently posted..WIP Wednesday
Hi @Karen,
It surely is. One of the ladies in my quilting group, mentioned she had trouble finishing her beaded designs. I usually make my own endings with additional beads, and so I’ll be showing her how to make those. 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful project!
I’ll have to check out Julia’s Blog, too! Thanks!
Jennifer recently posted..Catching Up on Posts – Christmas Card – MyG Monday on Wednesday
Hi @Jennifer,
Earlier today, I sent Lovely Yarns an email. I introduced myself, and let them know I’d be stopping by there at the beginning of the year. I’ve marked it in my calender so there’s no way I’ll forget. 🙂
I’m really excited about the opportunity, also saddened about those children. However, viewing the pictures that are posted of the Mother Bear Project; it’s good to see the happiness on those sweet children’s faces.
Oh definitely check out Julia’s site. She writes about more than crafts — I like that!
@Opal, Detox Tisane from Byron Bay Tea Company tonight…Fennel, Nettle, Calendula, Ginger, Chicory Root, Dandelion Root, Licorice, Cinnamon – Just had to share 🙂
Nighty Night…chat with you in the AM 😛
Jennifer recently posted..Catching Up on Posts – Christmas Card – MyG Monday on Wednesday
@Jennifer, I’ve made a few detox teas. These days, it’s how I drink most teas. I purchase the herbs in bulk, and then combine the herbs I want for my tea. 🙂
Crochet? Hmmm…my missus was into this a long time ago…and ended up a lot of unfinished works in the house. Interest not sustained…and she kept starting new ones. Same with her cross-stiches…
suituapui recently posted..Let it snow…
*stitches
suituapui recently posted..Let it snow…
@suituapui, Ahh yes… the unfinished projects.
Hmm, let’s see… I remember as a child (about 12 years old) making a knitted scarf that I never finished. To be fair, the colors were ugly. I had no choice of the colors, since they were chosen by my Home Economics teacher.
I’ve always enjoyed crocheting, so don’t think I’ll have that issue, but there will be a few projects that will take a long time to complete, since they’re some of the designs I’d like to make are elaborate. 😉
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