Cami & Liberty Bay Books

Living in a small town can be a wonderful thing, especially when you have a local, independent bookstore like Liberty Bay Books as a keystone on the main street.

Liberty Bay Books is owned by Suzanne, who offers many groups a place to gather in her cozy, welcoming store. A variety of book groups, free game nights, authors' events and the Liberty Bay Books Knitters are just a few of the community events hosted at LBB. The knitting group has been a long-time supporter of Katie's Comforters Guild, and they just contributed six blankets, two hats and a quilt. We don't often know who knit/crocheted which blanket, but in this case, one of them came with a label from Nancy Brennan, so we want to say "thank you" specifically to Nancy, and generally to the Liberty Bay Books Knitters. If you are ever in Poulsbo, stop in and check out the shop!

Nancy's soft and fuzzy knitted blanket

Suzanne's good friend Cami is one of our dear neighbors. Cami is a busy world traveler who still makes time to do things for others; she recently donated 32 fleece blankets in various themes (including University of Washington Huskies, Washington State University Cougars and Seattle Seahawks designs) which are sure to please sports-loving patients and their families! Thank you, Cami!

Thirty-two fleece blankets from Cami, ready to delight sick children!

We are grateful to our local community for its caring and support of Katie's Comforters Guild!

Pillowcases & Receiving Blankets Made with Love by Lucile

We stopped by to visit Lucile, after she called and told us that she had accumulated quite a supply of pillowcases and receiving blankets. She is truly "the Producer!"

Lucile had created, folded, counted and bagged for delivery  
132 pillowcases, 24 receiving blankets and two crocheted blankets. She says (with modesty), "I have to keep busy!" Here is a selection of her latest work:

Lucile, you are doing a wonderful job of keeping busy - and keeping Seattle Children's Hospital's patients supplied with soft, cheerful comfort items.

Thank you - we appreciate you and all you do!

Yarn Donations

We are always grateful to receive inquiries from people interested in donating to Katie's Comforters Guild, whether it's time, talent, treasure or materials they have to share. Recently, we received two offers of yarn, which we truly appreciate.

In some cases, we can coordinate donations so that the materials go directly to our guild's friends or members who need them for making quilts or blankets. We've done this with fabric, and are about to do it again with a yarn donation from Mandy L.

Sometimes, there is too much material for us to take (storage space is an issue), or there isn't a specific need to coincide with the timing of a donor's need to move materials. In that case, we give our thanks, and ask that another charity be the recipient.

Mandy L. is sending her yarn directly to Liberty Bay Books' Knitters. Here is a photo of her son with the yarn she is donating,

and here is one of her son with his own beloved, knitted blanket. His sweet smile confirms that blankets really do bring comfort!

Thank you, Mandy! ...and thanks to all who offer donations to Katie's Comforters Guild!

A Package of Coziness from Elsie

Several years ago, our guild was blessed by a donor named Elsie W.
Several years went by without hearing from her, and then, a surprise message came for us through the Guild Association office: would I call her, please?
Yes, I would - and I learned that Elsie had moved from the west side of the state to the east side, and that she had not forgotten Katie's Comforters.

Elsie wanted to know if she could send me some blankets which she wanted to donate to Seattle Children's Hospital through our guild.
Yes, please!

Today, I opened a box and found these two soft, cozy knitted blankets inside:

The yarn is super fuzzy: thick, yet light, and feels a little bit like holding a favorite pet.

Elsie asked if we would like her to make more of these for our guild to donate.
Yes, please! - so she has already started to make more.

We are grateful to Elsie for remembering Katie's Comforters, after a huge life-change like a big move, and for her generous desire to donate comfort to others. Thank you, Elsie!

Lots of News to Share

Gregg and I visited Lucile a short while ago, and picked up a BIG new donation. She has been making pillowcases for the patients at Seattle Children's Hospital, so instead of hospital-issue bedding, the children will have a cheery, personal pillowcase. In addition, she has been making receiving blankets for the very youngest patients. Lucile donated 60 pillowcases, 13 receiving blankets and one crocheted blanket! She truly is a "producer."

Here is Lucile with some of her most recent work:

 Thank you, Lucile! You are a treasure!

Our guild's far-away friend, Jaimee Martin, has been busy quilting, as well. Here are Jaimee's three most recent beauties:

Aren't they awesome? - so colorful, original and cheerful! Three patients are going to be delighted to cuddle with those quilts.

Thank you, Jaimee! We are super-grateful to you.

The latest copy of Guild News (the Guild Association's publication) is available here:
https://giveto.seattlechildrens.org/emailviewonwebpage.aspx?erid=1179117&trid=faedbc08-c05e-48e9-a66d-0b3dcba75db5

Briana & St. Olaf's Youth Group, Karol & Nadine Donate Quilts and Blankets

Recently, we've been blessed with some wonderful donations. It's time to say "Thank you!"

Briana Ryan and the youth group of St. Olaf's Catholic Church made these four bright, cheerful fleece blankets:

Thank you, Briana and St. Olaf's Youth Group!

Our cousin, Karol, lives in Scotland, but gets to come home to visit during the year. Karol is a quilter and her mom (Auntie Nadine) is a knitter, who also crochets. Karol made these two beauties:

and her mom crocheted these four cozy blankets:

Thank you Karol and Auntie Nadine! 

All of these gifts will bring warmth and comfort to children and families who are facing hospitalization. This is deeply appreciated by the patients and families, and by the hospital staff!

Lucile, Fabric, Treasurer & the Great Give

Gregg and I had the privilege of a visit with Lucile. She is looking well, and is continuing the sorting of her stash of fabric, re-organizing some of her home - and she still finds time to make blankets for us! Here are two of her latest - one crocheted and one quilted fleece:

We have received the offer of another quilter's stash of fabric. It is all cotton, fills four large 13-gallon bags (1/2 - 3/4 full), and is currently being stored in Kitsap County. If anyone reading this would like to sew for our guild, the fabric is yours for free! If you know someone who fits the bill, please pass the offer along!

There are currently two volunteer opportunities for you with Katie's Comforters Guild:
1. We need a treasurer. This involves receiving and depositing income, writing the occasional check (usually fewer than 5 per year), keeping the bank statements and signing a form for the Guild Association at the end of our fiscal year. If you are interested, please contact me (Karen = president) here, or on facebook.
2. We have been invited to participate in the Kitsap Great Give. This was a success last year - funds were raised which can be used to buy materials, and newspaper coverage helped to let people know about our guild and its mission. We need someone to take on the task of preparing paperwork and fielding all of the social media intake, as well as creating "buzz" on blog and facebook, during the campaign. If you have interested, please contact me (Karen = president) here, or on facebook!

Thank you, Lucile, and thank you, Linda 
 (our current Treasurer, who has served so generously for several years)!

Gratitude for Gifts from Joanie R.

We recently received a surprise: the gift of six warm, soft, knitted blankets from a generous local donor named Joanie R. These are beautifully knitted with great precision and care; the colors are as soft as the yarn she used. The children who receive these will be wrapped in comfort and tender caring.

Thank you, Joanie!

Gratitude for Support from Liberty Bay Books

We are blessed to have an independent, locally-owned bookstore in our town. Liberty Bay Books may be located in a small town, but it has a HUGE heart! The store hosts a knitting group which kindly supports Katie's Comforters Guild with their time and talent. Here is their latest donation:

four knitted and crocheted blankets in a variety of colors and textures, all warm and cozy.

Thank you, Suzanne Droppert and 

Liberty Bay Books Knitters!

Liberty Bay Books Knitting Group

The lovely ladies of Liberty Bay Books' Knitting Group have done it again! Here are their latest contributions to Katie's Comforters Guild:

We give thanks for the knitters, and for Suzanne, owner of Liberty Bay Books, who welcomes their group to her independent, local bookstore in downtown Poulsbo, WA!

Free Yarn Offer!

Would you like to receive the gift of FREE YARN to make it easy for you to knit/crochet blankets for Katie's Comforters Guild at Seattle Children's Hospital? We've received a very kind offer and would love to put it into the hands of people who can transform it into comforters!

Happy New Year 2013

Today, I had the pleasure of a meeting with Lucile & Noble. I was able to give Lucile three bags of donated flannel fabric, and she & Noble gave 22 beautiful, new quilts to our guild so that we can give them to Seattle Children's Hospital:

Here are 10 of the 22 Lucile made recently

Suzanne Droppert gathered and donated a batch of knitted/crocheted blankets from her Liberty Bay Books store's Knitting Group. Our guild's friend, Cami, delivered them to us:

Cozy and attractive blankets from Liberty Bay Books' Knitting Group

Thank you, Lucile & Noble!

Thank you, Suzanne, Cami and Liberty Bay Books' Knitters!

 You are helping us to bring comfort into the hospital room of a sick child, and we appreciate it. We can't do it without you!

Blankets, Fabric & Quilt Tops

We have just received two knitted/crocheted blankets from our friends in the Liberty Bay Books knitting group.

Thank you, Bev L. and Liberty Bay Books Knitters!

We also received a donation of fabric and antique quilt tops from Jeanne M.
Thank you, Jeanne M.!
Do you know what this means? More quilts for our (eventual) auction! I am excited to see what our friend Joan M. of Henhouse Quilts does with these "oldies but goodies." When they are finished, I will post photos. Added to the three beautiful antique quilt tops donated by Joan B. (also finished by Joan M.), we will have an exciting variety of quilts to offer at a fundraiser - location, time and date to be determined later.

Blankets from Terry

Yesterday, Gregg and I took a drive to visit his Aunt Barbara and cousins Pam and Terry. Terry has been generously making blankets for our guild for many months now. Look at her latest fleece and crocheted creations:

 Fleece and crocheted blankets.

Terry created her own binding by cutting one piece smaller than the other, and wrapping the edge of the larger piece over the smaller one. It makes a nice contrast.
The turquoise blanket has a matching hat!

The bright colors and patterns in these double-layer fleece blankets are going to make patients very happy!

Thank you, Terry!

Blankets from Elsie

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting a new member of our guild: Elsie. She brought 4 beautifully crocheted/knitted blankets for us to donate to the hospital:

Can you see the lovely detail in those stitches?

Elsie told me that she had been praying about how she could do more for others, and then she saw a piece in the newspaper about our guild. She contacted us, and now she is joining our guild!

I'm thankful for her listening heart, and for those articles that share news about us.

Thank you, Elsie, and

welcome to Katie's Comforters Guild!

West Coast Oddball Knitters

Yesterday, I had a speaking engagement at Seattle Children's Hospital (I'll post about that on my blog soon), so I arranged to meet with Janet D. of West Coast Oddball Knitters at the hospital for a blanket delivery. Janet's group donated 9 handmade blankets, and picked up the bags of yarn that Lucile and Noble donated recently (see the posting below). West Coast Oddball Knitters is going to use that yarn to make more blankets for Children's Hospital.

Please visit West Coast Oddball Knitters' blog - you'll be glad that you did (and don't you just love their name)! It's original and inspiring. They knit blankets as a group, but one section at a time. In other words, one person knits a section, and then sends the blanket on to the next person. That person knits another section onto the same blanket, and sends it on - and so, the blankets grow. Each one is original, with varied colors and stitches. They are a pleasure to look at. When you visit their blog, take time to scroll down and look at the blankets and how different each one is. Their method keeps everyone from feeling overwhelmed, and it clearly keeps the inspiration fresh!

HUGE thanks to Janet and Steven for coming out on a Sunday to make the delivery. I was also able to deliver quilts made by Joan and Lucile (photos posted below), for a total of 31 blankets donated yesterday to Seattle Children's Hospital by Katie's Comforters Guild.

FREE YARN!

Calling all knitters & crocheters (is that a word?): we have just been offered an enormous stash of yarn - 100+ skeins!

Do you need materials for knitting/crocheting blankets for the hospital?
If so, please leave a comment here, or email me at karenlboren@yahoo.com, & I will share the wealth, so you can turn it into comfort for patients at Seattle Children's Hospital! Thanks to our friend Lucile Nilsen for this bounty!

BernatCares

The Bernat yarn company has launched a new charity knitting website called www.BernatCares.com. The site includes free patterns and charity information.

On the search page, you can type in Katie's Comforters Guild, and a paragraph about us pops up, including contact information: 
http://www.bernatcares.com/charity_search.php

Thank you, Bernat! We know you do care!

Free Patterns and Lots of Ideas

This is Liger, one of our two cats. He is cuddling with a beautiful prayer shawl that was made for me by my friend, Angela, years ago, using Lion Brand Homespun Yarn.

Every so often, I receive a newsletter, via email, from Lion Brand Yarns. Here is a link to the one I recieved today: http://www.lionbrand.com/Newsletters/55357.html .


It contains free patterns, and articles about knitting and crochet. If you'd like to receive the newsletter, you may sign up on the Lion Brand Yarn Website: http://www.lionbrand.com.