Blanket for Domestic Violence Center

In the midst of my craft room remodel, I got a request from the Union County Treehouse Children's Advocacy Center.   They need blankets and toys for the children and teen exam room.

When a child or teen in Union County, NC experiences abuse, they go to the Treehouse Center for support, counseling, and legal advice.  As part of the process, they receive a medical exam.  Unfortunately, some of the children have never even been to the doctor before, so that makes the experience more unsettling than normal.

So, they are given a handmade blanket and toy to keep.  They can hold onto the blanket during the exam, which helps alleviate some of their anxiety.  Here is a photo of how their supply looked when I gave them some handknit blankets and toys in the past:



Right now, the center is low on blankets and toys, so they asked if I could help get some for them.  I want those shelves filled up again, like they were before!

This week, I cast on a blanket, using Lion Boucle yarn.  I have a HUGE bag of that yarn - most of it was given to me for my charity knitting.  So, now is the perfect time to put it to use.  These blankets should go FAST!

I'm using size 13 needles, and cast on about 70 stitches.  Just knitting every row.  I think the children will appreciate the bright, happy colors.

If you would like to help make blankets for the center, just let me know.  I'm willing to accept squares, and seam them together to make blankets.  I can also accept yarn donations for the blankets.

Craft Room Remodel #2

Things never seem to go as planned, do they?

I ended up catching a cold, and was stuck in bed for the last few days.  All that bedrest was needed anyway, because I had worked so hard getting everything out of the craft room, and installing new flooring.

So, after my cold finally went away, I got back to work.   This morning, I sawed and sanded all the toe molding I'll need for the room.  It will make the flooring look even better.



If anyone had been here to see me, they would have gotten a good laugh.  My craft room is at one end of the house, and my driveway is at the other end.  I had placed a table outside on the driveway, for me to do all the sawing and sanding of the toe molding.   All of my stuff is in the rest of the house - including a huge stack of boxes in the hallway, leaving just a tiny walking area.



So, I was constantly walking sideways through that tiny bit of hallway, carrying a long stick of toe molding over my head the entire way.  I think this morning counts as an EXCELLENT workout session, don't you?

The good news is that all my sawing and sanding is DONE.  Tomorrow, I plan on drilling pilot holes for the nails, then sanding the sharp edges on the pilot holes, then painting everything white.  After it dries, I'll be doing the crazy walk down the hallway again, with the toe molding carried over my head.  (It kinda makes me look like I'm ready to throw a javelin. Ha!)

Hopefully, I'll be hammering in my toe molding tomorrow night.  Let's keep our fingers crossed!