Summer items are beginning to hit the local stores, and it is now time to begin collecting up some fun things for this year’s Safelight Project.  The director at Safelight is hoping that we can make more of the bags for the residents of the domestic violence shelter.  The 45 bags that we donated last summer lasted until March (just barely 8 months from our August delivery), and the last one has been given away.  The shelter is constantly providing a refuge for new people, so the need is ongoing.  These bags provide much needed support for residents who are going through a horrible time in their lives, betrayed by someone they loved, fleeing abusive situations with their children and virtually nothing else. Last year’s spa bags went a long way to making a difficult transition a little better.  I really hope we can do it again.

I had an idea for a summer fun bag for this year, but have not been able to get any of the donations I was hoping for from water bottle companies or sunglasses manufacturers. So, it is up to us.  I would like to do the bags this time with a summer theme, including items like sunglasses, suntan lotion, water bottles, nail polish and pedicure kits, and personal care items like hair treatments and lip gloss.  The bags will be a gift to help each person receiving one feel that someone cares.

There are three ways you can get involved!

First, again this year a bag will cost $10, and I am asking for your help in funding the cost. If we have 60-80 readers fund just 1/2 a bag at $5, we can make 30-40 bags for the residents. I’ll be purchasing the bags again to make them all the same size and design.  To donate, you can make a Paypal donation to my email at frommycarolinahome at gmail dot com using the ‘send money to a friend’ option.  Or, you can mail a check to my post office box – PO Box 524, Mountain Home, NC 28758.

Second, I had many requests last year to donate a sewn item, so this year I’d like to include reader sewn cosmetic cases and sunglasses cases as I talked about last month.  I created a free pattern for both of these and you can download the pattern by clicking on Omiyage for Safelight.  It is a wonderful way to use up some scraps of fabric and batting.  They can be all the same fabric on the outside, or you could piece them if you liked.  Just make them so it is clear they are a set.  You can see the detailed instructions on the post on Omiyage.  Please mail by April 25th to arrive by the end of April.  I’ll be stuffing them with sunglasses and cosmetic items for the bags.

I have a few sets sent in from the Omiyage post, and we have a good start. But, I will still need a lot more to finish this project.  Thank you Jan R, I hope you got my snail mail note, as I didn’t have an email address for you to thank you for sending 10 sets!!

Note that the cosmetic bag is made differently than the sunglasses case. The bag closes at the top to hold small items inside, while the sunglasses case folds over the top to keep the velcro from scratching the glasses. These pretty sets are from Karen. She did the orange set with the inside print of the cosmetic bag on the outside of the sunglasses case, and vice versa.

Thanks also to Melanie for sending two sets. So I have 16 sets (including the sample I made), and need at least 20 more.

Third, once again I want to include special handmade cards with inspirational messages in each bag, so I need my stamping readers to make cards again.  In my mind, and the counselors at Safelight agree, the cards are really the most important part of the gift.  The cards are to provide encouragement and support as these women (and sometimes men) take a big step to getting their lives back.  The cards can be read over and over as residents need lifting of their spirits.  These were sent in by Carol in Pennsylvania last year.

They can be as creative and ornate as you like, or clean and simple like these lovely cards made by Danice last year.

Here are more design ideas by Gail.

Inside, the message should be one of encouragement, like this lovely sentiment sent in by Lenora last year.

The only request is to keep them uplifting in tone, and not to use a religious theme as there are many different religions represented in the residents, and we won’t know who is getting what. Inside the card you can hand write, stamp, or use your computer to make an uplifting message. You could copy a poem, or make up your own sentiment, like these from Carol…

and these from Lenora.

You can decorate the envelopes as well, just address them generically, such as “For You”, or as Lenora did with “Wishing You Joy”.

I used a stamp “To Someone Special” on some of mine.  You might have something similar to use.  Please mail your cards with envelopes by April 25th.

So, I will collect donations of money, cosmetic bags and sunglasses cases, and cards until April 30.  The bags will be delivered in early May.  Everyone who participates in any way will be entered into a drawing for one of these fabulous prizes!

First, from Quilter’s Dream, a queen size Dream Green batting!! Dream Green is made 100% from recycled plastic bottles! With a high standard of quality, Dream Green is soft, wrinkle resistant and can be machine-washed and dried with little to no shrinkage. Each pound of Dream Green Batting keeps 10 plastic bottles out of our landfills! It quilts beautifully and you will never guess it is made of recycled plastic. I have used it myself and am totally sold on it. After all, we need to buy recycled goods wherever we can if we want recycling to be profitable enough to do and help keep our planet clean.

Next, quilting fiction author Frances Dowell will ship a copy of both her quilting fiction books to one lucky winner in the USA.  Birds In The Air is a novel, and Margaret Goes Modern is a collection of short stores.  I have read both these books, and thoroughly enjoyed them.  I reviewed both on Goodreads, and here on the blog.

My favorite thread, Aurifil, will ship a small spool collection to a donor to this project, it will be a mystery collection so the winner will have a nice surprise.  These spools are from my own stash, the winner will receive a different collection. International participants are welcome.

Stampin’ Up is donating two fantastic kits for our stamper friends in the USA.  See the Stampin’ Up catalog and find a demonstrator near you at Stampin’ Up!

The Lots of Happy Card Kit  shown above contains –
* Makes 20 cards, 4 each of 5 designs, using the included Lots of Happy Stamp Set
* Folded card sizes: 2″ x 3-1/2″, 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″, 4″ x 3-1/2″, 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
* Includes set of 7 photopolymer stamps
* clear stamp block
* 20 printed card bases and coordinating envelopes
* giftable kraft box
* printed, gold foil, white, and vellum die-cut accents
* white/gold foil labels
* Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Spot
* full-size Watercolor Pencils in Flirty Flamingo, Lemon Lime Twist, Old Olive, and Rich Razzleberry
* Lemon Lime Twist 1/4″ (6.4 mm) Ombre Ribbon
* Stampin’ Dimensionals

The Soft Sayings Card Kit shown above has –
* Makes 20 cards–2 each of 10 designs–using the included Soft Sayings Stamp Set
* Folded card sizes: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ (10.8 cm x 14 cm), 3-1/2″ x 5″ (8.9 cm x 12.7 cm), 3″ x 3″ (7.2 cm x 7.2 cm)
* Includes set of 15 photopolymer stamps, clear stamp block, 20 printed card bases and coordinating printed envelopes, giftable kraft box, die-cut accents, Stampin’ Spot, Baker’s Twine, washi tape, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The Fat Quarter Shop will give one lucky winner a $50 Gift Certificate! That is enough to get some goodies and cover the shipping too, even for international winners!!

To enter, just participate in this project in any way you feel moved, make cards, sew cases, make a donation. Makers of cosmetic bags and sunglasses cases will get one entry per item (two entries per set).  Makers of cards will get one entry per card.  Monetary donations will get one entry for every $5 donation. International participants welcome!  Yes, you can participate in however many ways you choose.  Yes, you can make a bag set, and make cards too.  Yes, you can make cards and a donation of money.  Every participation will enter you in the drawings.  Be sure to include your name and email address in any donations mailed, along with your first and second choice of prize if your name is drawn. If you donate through Paypal, put a note on your donation with your prize choices. I’ll draw all the winners in early May at one time, and distribute the prizes guided by your choices. I will try to ensure that a stamper wins the Stampin’ Up kits, and someone who doesn’t quilt doesn’t end up with batting.

Can you help with this project to help the victims of domestic violence feel treasured and encouraged as they take a huge step to changing their lives for the better?

Update – Click here for the next post – Safelight Project 2018.

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